Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Revisions to the Annual Harvest Specifications Process for the Groundfish Fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

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NMFS issues a final rule that implements Amendment 48 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Amendment 48 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) (Amendments 48/48). Amendments 48/48 revise the administrative process used to establish annual harvest specifications for the groundfish fisheries of the GOA and the BSAI and update the FMPs by revising the description of the groundfish fisheries and participants, revising the name of the BSAI FMP, revising text to simplify wording and correct typographical errors, and revising the description of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Groundfish Plan Teams' responsibilities. This action is necessary to manage fisheries based on the best scientific information available, to provide adequate opportunity for prior public review and comment to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) on Council recommendations, to provide additional opportunity for Secretarial review, to minimize unnecessary disruption to fisheries, to promote the public's understanding, and to promote administrative efficiency. The final rule revises regulations to impl