Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Closure of Directed Fishery for Pacific Mackerel

NMFS announces the closure of the directed fishery for Pacific mackerel in the exclusive economic zone off the Pacific coast October 27, 2000.The Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and its implementing regulations require NMFS to set an annual harvest guideline for Pacific mackerel based on a formula in the FMP and to close the fishery when the harvest guideline is reached. The harvest guideline of 20,740 metric tons is projected to be reached before the end of the fishing season on June 30, 2001, which requires closing the directed fishery and setting an incidental harvest limit for Pacific mackerel so that the harvest of other coastal pelagic species will not be further restricted. The intended effect of this action is to ensure conservation of the Pacific mackerel resource.