Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Annual Specifications and Management Measures

NMFS issues this final rule to implement the 2003 fishery specifications and management measures for groundfish taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and state waters off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. Final specifications include the levels of the acceptable biological catch (ABC) and optimum yields (OYs). Commercial OYs (the total catch OYs reduced by tribal allocations and by amounts expected to be taken in recreational and compensation fisheries) described herein are allocated between the limited entry and open access fisheries. Management measures for 2003 are intended to prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished species, minimize incidental catch and discard of overfished and depleted stocks, provide equitable harvest opportunity for both recreational and commercial sectors, and, within the commercial fisheries, achieve harvest guidelines and limited entry and open access allocations to the extent practicable.