BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 210217–0022; RTID 0648-XB722]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish in the Red King
Crab Savings Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish by vessels using
nonpelagic trawl gear in the Red King Crab Savings Subarea of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the State of
Alaska, Department of Fish and Game did not established a guideline harvest level
fishery for red king crab in the Bristol Bay area for the 2021/2022 fishing year.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 20, 2022, through
2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7447.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with
the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
In accordance with § 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(1), this action is necessary because the
State of Alaska, Department of Fish and Game did not established a guideline harvest

level fishery for red king crab in the Bristol Bay area for the 2021/2022 fishing year.
Consequently, the Regional Administrator is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish
by vessels using nonpelagic trawl gear in the Red King Crab Savings Subarea of the
BSAI.
While this closure is effective the maximum retainable amounts at § 679.20(e)
and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
Classification
NMFS issues this action pursuant to section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
This action is required by 50 CFR part 679, which was issued pursuant to section 304(b),
and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior notice and an
opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and comment would be
impracticable and contrary to the public interest, as it would prevent NMFS from
responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and would delay the
directed fishing closure of groundfish by vessels using nonpelagic trawl gear in the Red
King Crab Savings Subarea of the BSAI. NMFS was unable to publish a notification
providing time for public comment because the most recent, relevant data only became
available as of January 1, 2022.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA also finds good cause to waive
the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This
finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and
opportunity for public comment.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 11, 2022.



Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-00739 Filed: 1/14/2022 8:45 am; Publication Date: 1/18/2022]