Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels using trawl gear in the Winter Herring Savings Area of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is required by regulation and is necessary to prevent herring prohibited species catch (bycatch) in the Winter Herring Savings Area by vessels directing fishing for pollock using trawl gear. This action includes prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in the Winter Herring Savings Area by vessels using trawl gear participating in the Community Development Quota Program.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 260305-0066, RTID 0648-XG026] AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Temporary rule; closure. SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels using trawl gear in the Winter Herring Savings Area of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is required by regulation and is necessary to prevent herring prohibited species catch (bycatch) in the Winter Herring Savings Area by vessels directing fishing for pollock using trawl gear. This action includes prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in the Winter Herring Savings Area by vessels using trawl gear participating in the Community Development Quota Program. DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 30, 2026, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 1, 2027. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Olson, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared and recommended by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appea…
Citation: 91 FR 62343