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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 103 / Tuesday, June 1, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 660.231b3iv to decrease the incidental Pacific halibut catch limit to enable some efficiency without exceeding the harvest limit. The limit will be reduced from 250 lb 113 kg dressed weight of halibut for every 1,000 lb 454 kg dressed weight of sablefish landed, and up to two halibut in excess of the ratio, to 225 lb 102 kg dressed weight of halibut for every 1,000 lb 454 kg dressed weight of sablefish landed, and up to two halibut in excess of the ratio. This decrease is expected to allow opportunity for total catch of Pacific halibut to approach, but not exceed, the 2021 allocation for the sablefish primary fishery north of Point Chehalis, WA 70,000 lb or 31.8 mt.

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Classification This final rule makes routine inseason adjustments to groundfish fishery management measures, based on the best scientific information available, consistent with the PCGFMP and its implementing regulations.
This action is taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.60c and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
The aggregate data upon which these actions are based are available for public inspection by contacting Abbie Moyer in NMFS West Coast Region see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above, or view at the NMFS West Coast Groundfish website: http
www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/
fisheries/groundfish/index.html.
NMFS finds good cause to waive prior public notice and comment on the revisions to groundfish management measures under 5 U.S.C. 553b because notice and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The adjustments to management measures in this document affect commercial fisheries off the coast of Washington. No aspect of this action is controversial, and changes of this nature were anticipated in the final rule for the 20212022 harvest specifications and management measures, which was published on December 11, 2020 85 FR
79880. Accordingly, for the reasons stated below, NMFS finds good cause to waive prior notice and comment.
At its March 2021 meeting, the Council recommended the decrease to
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the incidental Pacific halibut retention limit for vessels fishing in the sablefish primary fishery north of Point Chehalis.
The sablefish primary fishery opened on April 1. The Council recommends this precautionary reduction be implemented as soon as possible, early in the season, in an effort to prolong the amount of time Pacific halibut may be retained in the sablefish primary fishery north of Point Chehalis.
Additionally, if the new limit is not implemented until closer to the end of the season, after a full rulemaking, the sablefish primary fishery north of Point Chehalis would be more likely to reach or exceed its 2021 allocation of Pacific halibut before the end of the sablefish primary fishery season. Therefore, providing a comment period for this action could limit the equitable benefits to the fishery, and the vessels that participate in the fishery, as they rely on the Pacific halibut retention allowance throughout the entire season and could result in a greater risk of exceeding the Pacific halibut harvest allocation.
Because prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required to be provided for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601
et seq., are not applicable. Accordingly, no Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is required for this rule and none has been prepared.
For the same reasons stated above, NMFS has determined good cause exists to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553d so that this final rule may become effective upon publication in the Federal Register. The adjustments to management measures in this document affect commercial fisheries by decreasing the incidental halibut retention limit in the sablefish primary fishery north of Point Chehalis, WA.
This adjustment was requested by the Councils advisory bodies, as well as members of industry during the Councils March 2021, meeting, and recommended unanimously by the Council. No aspect of this action is controversial, and changes of this nature were anticipated in the biennial harvest specifications and management measures established through a notice
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and comment rulemaking for 20212022
85 FR 79880, December 11, 2020.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660
Fisheries, Fishing, and Indian Fisheries.
Dated: May 25, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is amended as follows:
PART 660FISHERIES OFF WEST
COAST STATES
1. The authority citation for part 660
continues to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16
U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.

2. In 660.231, revise paragraph b3iv to read as follows:

660.231 Limited entry fixed gear sablefish primary fishery.

b
3
iv Incidental Pacific halibut retention north of Pt. Chehalis, WA
4653.30 N lat.. From April 1 through October 31, vessels authorized to participate in the sablefish primary fishery, licensed by the International Pacific Halibut Commission for commercial fishing in Area 2A waters off Washington, Oregon, California, and fishing with longline gear north of Pt.
Chehalis, WA 4653.30 N lat. may possess and land up to 225 lbs 102 kg dressed weight of Pacific halibut for every 1,000 lbs 454 kg dressed weight of sablefish landed, and up to two additional Pacific halibut in excess of the 225-lbs-per-1,000-pound limit per landing. Dressed Pacific halibut in this area means halibut landed eviscerated with their heads on. Pacific halibut taken and retained in the sablefish primary fishery north of Pt.
Chehalis may only be landed north of Pt. Chehalis and may not be possessed or landed south of Pt. Chehalis.

FR Doc. 202111417 Filed 52821; 8:45 am BILLING CODE 351022P

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