The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced a temporary closure of directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. This decision aims to prevent surpassing the allowed quota, known as the "A season apportionment," for the year 2021. The closure is effective from January 16, 2021, to September 1, 2021, to ensure sustainable fishing practices. The rule is implemented under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, exempt from public notice and comment due to the urgent nature of the recent data, which required a prompt response.
Simple Explanation
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) made a temporary rule to stop some fishermen from catching too many Pacific cod in a certain area to make sure there are enough fish in the future. They did this quickly without asking everyone for their thoughts because they had new information that needed a fast decision.