Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Restrictions on Frequency of Limited Entry Permit Transfers

NMFS issues this final rule that revises restrictions on the frequency and timing of limited entry permit transfers and clarifies NMFS regulatory requirements for transferring limited entry permits. This rule also updates and clarifies limited entry program regulations so that they are more readable for the public. This action is needed to and is intended to revise limited entry permit regulations to better address the needs of the small businesses participating in the Pacific Coast groundfish limited entry fishery.