[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 28, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18258-18262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: C1-2023-04877]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 230306-0065]
RTID 0648-XC365
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands; Final 2023 and 2024 Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish
Correction
In rule document 2023-04877 beginning on page 14926 in the issue of
Friday, March 10, 2023, make the following corrections:
1. Table 1, beginning on page 14928, should appear as follows:
Table 1--Final 2023 Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), CDQ Reserve Allocation,
and Non-Specified Reserves of Groundfish in the BSAI \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2023
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Species Area Nonspecified
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\ reserves
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Pollock \4\................................. BS............................ 3,381,000 1,910,000 1,300,000 1,170,000 130,000 ..............
AI............................ 52,383 43,413 19,000 17,100 1,900 ..............
Bogoslof...................... 115,146 86,360 300 300 .......... ..............
Pacific cod \5\............................. BS............................ 172,495 144,834 127,409 113,776 13,633 ..............
AI............................ 18,416 13,812 8,425 7,524 901 ..............
Sablefish \6\............................... Alaska-wide................... 47,390 40,502 n/a n/a n/a ..............
BS............................ n/a 8,417 7,996 6,597 1,099 300
AI............................ n/a 8,884 8,440 6,858 1,424 158
Yellowfin sole.............................. BSAI.......................... 404,882 378,499 230,000 205,390 24,610 ..............
Greenland turbot............................ BSAI.......................... 4,645 3,960 3,960 3,366 n/a ..............
BS............................ n/a 3,338 3,338 2,837 357 144
AI............................ n/a 622 622 529 .......... 93
Arrowtooth flounder......................... BSAI.......................... 98,787 83,852 15,000 12,750 1,605 645
Kamchatka flounder.......................... BSAI.......................... 8,946 7,579 7,579 6,442 .......... 1,137
Rock sole \7\............................... BSAI.......................... 166,034 121,719 66,000 58,938 7,062 ..............
Flathead sole \8\........................... BSAI.......................... 79,256 65,344 35,500 31,702 3,799 ..............
Alaska plaice............................... BSAI.......................... 40,823 33,946 17,500 14,875 .......... 2,625
Other flatfish \9\.......................... BSAI.......................... 22,919 17,189 4,500 3,825 .......... 675
Pacific ocean perch......................... BSAI.......................... 50,133 42,038 37,703 33,157 n/a ..............
BS............................ n/a 11,903 11,903 10,118 .......... 1,785
EAI........................... n/a 8,152 8,152 7,280 872 ..............
CAI........................... n/a 5,648 5,648 5,044 604 ..............
WAI........................... n/a 16,335 12,000 10,716 1,284 ..............
Northern rockfish........................... BSAI.......................... 22,776 18,687 11,000 9,350 .......... 1,650
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish \10\......... BSAI.......................... 703 525 525 446 .......... 79
BS/EAI........................ n/a 359 359 305 .......... 54
CAI/WAI....................... n/a 166 166 141 .......... 25
Shortraker rockfish......................... BSAI.......................... 706 530 530 451 .......... 80
Other rockfish \11\......................... BSAI.......................... 1,680 1,260 1,260 1,071 .......... 189
BS............................ n/a 880 880 748 .......... 132
AI............................ n/a 380 380 323 .......... 57
Atka mackerel............................... BSAI.......................... 118,787 98,588 69,282 61,869 7,413 ..............
BS/EAI........................ n/a 43,281 27,260 24,343 2,917 ..............
CAI........................... n/a 17,351 17,351 15,494 1,857 ..............
WAI........................... n/a 37,956 24,671 22,031 2,640 ..............
Skates...................................... BSAI.......................... 46,220 38,605 27,441 23,325 .......... 4,116
Sharks...................................... BSAI.......................... 689 450 250 213 .......... 38
Octopuses................................... BSAI.......................... 4,769 3,576 400 340 .......... 60
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Total................................... .............................. 4,859,585 3,155,268 2,000,000 1,789,662 196,564 13,773
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Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2 (BSAI=Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, BS=Bering Sea subarea,
AI=Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI=Eastern Aleutian district, CAI=Central Aleutian district, WAI=Western Aleutian district).
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these
harvest specifications, the Bering Sea subarea (BS) includes the Bogoslof District.
[[Page 18259]]
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed gear, and Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, yellowfin sole, rock sole,
flathead sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is placed into a non-specified reserve (Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(i)). The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80
species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 4).
\3\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 10.7
percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)). 20 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed
gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder
are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska
plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, Kamchatka flounder, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, ``other
rockfish,'' skates, sharks, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\4\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second
for the incidental catch allowance (50,000 mt), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore--50 percent; catcher/
processor--40 percent; and motherships--10 percent. Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the
CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (2,500 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a
pollock directed fishery.
\5\ The BS Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 12 percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level in
State waters of the BS. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set to account for 39 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of
the AI.
\6\ The sablefish OFL and ABC are Alaska-wide and include the Gulf of Alaska. The Alaska-wide sablefish OFL and ABC are included in the total OFL and
ABC. The BS and AI sablefish TACs are set to account for the 5 percent of the BS and AI ABC for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level
in State waters of the BS and AI.
\7\ ``Rock sole'' includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (Southern rock sole).
\8\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\9\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
\10\ ``Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted) and Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye).
\11\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for dark rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, blackspotted/
rougheye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish.
2. Table 2, beginning on page 14930, should appear as follows:
Table 2--Final 2024 Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), CDQ Reserve Allocation,
and Non-Specified Reserves of Groundfish in the BSAI \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2024
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Species Area Nonspecified
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\ reserves
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Pollock \4\................................. BS............................ 4,639,000 2,275,000 1,302,000 1,171,800 130,200 ..............
AI............................ 52,043 43,092 19,000 17,100 1,900 ..............
Bogoslof...................... 115,146 86,360 300 300 .......... ..............
Pacific cod \5\............................. BS............................ 166,814 140,159 123,295 110,102 13,193 ..............
AI............................ 18,416 13,812 8,425 7,524 901 ..............
Sablefish \6\............................... Alaska-wide................... 48,561 41,539 n/a n/a n/a ..............
BS............................ n/a 10,185 9,676 4,112 363 363
AI............................ n/a 10,308 9,793 2,081 184 184
Yellowfin sole.............................. BSAI.......................... 495,155 462,890 230,656 205,976 24,680 ..............
Greenland turbot............................ BSAI.......................... 3,947 3,364 3,364 2,859 n/a ..............
BS............................ n/a 2,836 2,836 2,411 303 122
AI............................ n/a 528 528 449 .......... 79
Arrowtooth flounder......................... BSAI.......................... 103,070 87,511 15,000 12,750 1,605 645
Kamchatka flounder.......................... BSAI.......................... 8,776 7,435 7,435 6,320 .......... 1,115
Rock sole \7\............................... BSAI.......................... 196,011 119,969 66,000 58,938 7,062 ..............
Flathead sole \8\........................... BSAI.......................... 81,167 66,927 35,500 31,702 3,799 ..............
Alaska plaice............................... BSAI.......................... 43,328 36,021 18,000 15,300 .......... 2,700
Other flatfish \9\.......................... BSAI.......................... 22,919 17,189 4,500 3,825 .......... 675
Pacific ocean perch......................... BSAI.......................... 49,279 41,322 38,264 33,667 n/a ..............
BS............................ n/a 11,700 11,700 9,945 .......... 1,755
EAI........................... n/a 8,013 8,013 7,156 857 ..............
CAI........................... n/a 5,551 5,551 4,957 594 ..............
WAI........................... n/a 16,058 13,000 11,609 1,391 ..............
Northern rockfish........................... BSAI.......................... 22,105 18,135 11,000 9,350 .......... 1,650
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish \10\......... BSAI.......................... 763 570 570 485 .......... 86
BS/EAI........................ n/a 388 388 330 .......... 58
CAI/WAI....................... n/a 182 182 155 .......... 27
Shortraker rockfish......................... BSAI.......................... 706 530 530 451 .......... 80
Other rockfish \11\......................... BSAI.......................... 1,680 1,260 1,260 1,071 .......... 189
BS............................ n/a 880 880 748 .......... 132
AI............................ n/a 380 380 323 .......... 57
Atka mackerel............................... BSAI.......................... 101,188 86,464 66,855 59,702 7,153 ..............
EAI/BS........................ n/a 37,958 30,000 26,790 3,210 ..............
CAI........................... n/a 15,218 15,218 13,590 1,628 ..............
WAI........................... n/a 33,288 21,637 19,322 2,315 ..............
Skates...................................... BSAI.......................... 44,168 36,837 27,927 23,738 .......... 4,189
Sharks...................................... BSAI.......................... 689 450 250 213 .......... 38
[[Page 18260]]
Octopuses................................... BSAI.......................... 4,769 3,576 400 340 .......... 60
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Total................................... 6,219,700 3,590,412 2,000,000 1,779,703 194,185 13,928
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Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2 (BSAI=Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, BS=Bering Sea subarea,
AI=Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI=Eastern Aleutian district, CAI=Central Aleutian district, WAI=Western Aleutian district).
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these
harvest specifications, the Bering Sea subarea (BS) includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed gear, and Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole,
yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is put into a non-specified reserve (Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(i)). The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80
species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 4).
\3\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 10.7
percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)). 20 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed
gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder
are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). The 2024 fixed gear portion of the sablefish ITAC and CDQ reserve
will not be specified until the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications. Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice,
Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, Kamchatka flounder, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, ``other rockfish,''
skates, sharks, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\4\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second
for the incidental catch allowance (50,000 mt), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore--50 percent; catcher/
processor--40 percent; and motherships--10 percent. Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the
CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (2,500 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a
pollock directed fishery.
\5\ The BS Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 12 percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level in
State waters of the BS. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set to account for 39 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of
the AI.
\6\ The sablefish OFL and ABC are Alaska-wide and include the Gulf of Alaska. The Alaska-wide sablefish OFL and ABC are included in the total OFL and
ABC. The BS and AI sablefish TACs are set to account for the 5 percent of the BS and AI ABC for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level
in State waters of the BS and AI.
\7\ ``Rock sole'' includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (Southern rock sole).
\8\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\9\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
\10\ ``Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted) and Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye).
\11\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for dark rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, blackspotted/
rougheye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish.
3. Table 8, appearing on page 14937, should appear as follows:
Table 8--Final 2023 Sector Allocations and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2023 seasonal apportionment
Sector Percent 2023 share 2023 share of ----------------------------------
of total sector total Season Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS TAC............................... n/a 127,409 n/a n/a..................... n/a
BS CDQ............................... n/a 13,633 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
BS non-CDQ TAC....................... n/a 113,776 n/a n/a..................... n/a
AI TAC............................... n/a 8,425 n/a n/a..................... n/a
AI CDQ............................... n/a 901 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
AI non-CDQ TAC....................... n/a 7,524 n/a n/a..................... n/a
Area 543 Western Aleutian Island n/a 2,233 n/a n/a..................... n/a
Limit.
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\........... 100 121,300 n/a n/a..................... n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear......... 60.8 73,750 n/a n/a..................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\............ n/a 500 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total.......... n/a 73,250 n/a n/a..................... n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor...... 48.7 n/a 58,672 Jan 1-Jun 10............ 29,923
Jun 10-Dec 31........... 28,750
Hook-and-line catcher vessel 0.2 n/a 241 Jan 1-Jun 10............ 123
[gteqt]60 ft LOA.
Jun 10-Dec 31........... 118
Pot catcher/processor................ 1.5 n/a 1,807 Jan 1-Jun 10............ 922
Sept 1-Dec 31........... 886
Pot catcher vessel [gteqt]60 ft LOA.. 8.4 n/a 10,120 Jan 1-Jun 10............ 5,161
Sept 1-Dec 31........... 4,959
Catcher vessel <60 ft LOA using hook- 2.0 n/a 2,410 n/a..................... n/a
and-line or pot gear.
[[Page 18261]]
Trawl catcher vessel................. 22.1 26,807 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1............ 19,837
Apr 1-Jun 10............ 2,949
Jun 10-Nov 1............ 4,021
AFA trawl catcher/processor.......... 2.3 2,790 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1............ 2,092
Apr 1-Jun 10............ 697
Jun 10-Nov 1............ .......
Amendment 80......................... 13.4 16,254 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1............ 12,191
Apr 1-Jun 10............ 4,064
Jun 10-Dec 31........... .......
Jig.................................. 1.4 1,698 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30............ 1,019
Apr 30-Aug 31........... 340
Aug 31-Dec 31........... 340
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Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ The sector allocations and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and
AI Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of the reserves for the CDQ program. If the TAC for Pacific cod in
either the AI or BS is or will be reached, then directed fishing for non-CDQ Pacific cod in that subarea will
be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains (Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2023
based on anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries.
4. Table 9, beginning on page 14937, should appear as follows:
Table 9--Final 2024 Sector Allocations and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 seasonal apportionment
Sector Percent 2024 share 2024 share of ----------------------------------
total sector total Season Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS TAC............................... n/a 123,295 n/a n/a.................... n/a
BS CDQ............................... n/a 13,193 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
BS non-CDQ TAC....................... n/a 110,102 n/a n/a.................... n/a
AI TAC............................... n/a 8,425 n/a n/a.................... n/a
AI CDQ............................... n/a 901 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
AI non-CDQ TAC....................... n/a 7,524 n/a n/a.................... n/a
Area 543 Western Aleutian Island n/a 2,233 n/a n/a.................... n/a
Limit.
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\........... n/a 117,626 n/a n/a.................... n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear......... 60.8 71,517 n/a n/a.................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\............ n/a 500 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total.......... n/a 71,017 n/a n/a.................... n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor...... 48.7 n/a 56,883 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 29,011
Jun 10-Dec 31.......... 27,873
Hook-and-line catcher vessel 0.2 n/a 234 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 119
[gteqt]60 ft LOA.
Jun 10-Dec 31.......... 114
Pot catcher/processor................ 1.5 n/a 1,752 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 894
Sept 1-Dec 31.......... 859
Pot catcher vessel [gteqt]60 ft LOA.. 8.4 n/a 9,812 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 5,004
Sept 1-Dec 31.......... 4,808
Catcher vessel <60 ft LOA using hook- 2.0 n/a 2,336 n/a.................... n/a
and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel................. 22.1 25,995 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 19,237
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 2,859
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 3,899
AFA trawl catcher/processor.......... 2.3 2,705 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 2,029
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 676
Jun 10-Nov 1........... ........
Amendment 80......................... 13.4 15,762 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 11,821
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 3,940
Jun 10-Dec 31.......... ........
Jig.................................. 1.4 1,647 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30........... 988
Apr 30-Aug 31.......... 329
Aug 31-Dec 31.......... 329
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ The sector allocations and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and
AI Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of the reserves for the CDQ program. If the TAC for Pacific cod in
either the AI or BS is or will be reached, then directed fishing for non-CDQ Pacific cod in that subarea will
be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains (Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
[[Page 18262]]
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2024
based on anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries.
[FR Doc. C1-2023-04877 Filed 3-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 0099-10-D