Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Closure

Through this action NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific sardine off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California. This action is necessary because the non-tribal directed harvest allocation total of 5,446 mt for the interim harvest period of January 1, 2014, through June 30, 2014, has been projected to have been reached. From the effective date of this rule until July 1, 2014, Pacific sardine may be harvested only as part of either the live bait or tribal fishery or incidental to other fisheries; the incidental harvest of Pacific sardine is limited to 40-percent by weight of all fish per trip. Fishing vessels must cease fishing [be at shore and in the process of offloading] at or before the effective date of this closure.