Fisheries Off West Coast States; the Highly Migratory Species Fishery; Closure
endangered-species · west coast · Published 2014-07-25 · Effective 2014-07-23 · 79 FR 43268
Document
Document number
2014-17644
Federal Register citation
79 FR 43268
Type
Rule
Action
Inseason action; closure.
Category
endangered-species
Region
west coast
Publication date
2014-07-25
Effective date
2014-07-23
NOAA docket
Docket No. 031125294-4091-02
Abstract
We, NMFS, are immediately closing the Pacific loggerhead conservation area, prohibiting fishing with large mesh drift gillnet (DGN) gear (>14 in mesh) off the coast of southern California east of 120[deg] West meridian through August 31, 2014. This prohibition is based on the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries' (AA) determination that El Ni[ntilde]o conditions are occurring off the coast of southern California. This action protects Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), specifically the endangered North Pacific Ocean Distinct Population Segment. Large mesh DGN fishing vessels must cease fishing east of 120[deg] west on publication of this document.