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

NMFS announces the closure of the fishery for Pacific mackerel in the exclusive economic zone off the Pacific coast at 12 a.m. on March 27, 2001. 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 (mt) has been reached. Following this date no more than 1 mt of Pacific mackerel may be landed from any fishing trip. The effect of this action is to ensure conservation of the Pacific mackerel resource.