Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2015-2016 Biennial Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments
catch-limit · west coast · Published 2015-12-31 · Effective 2016-01-01 · 80 FR 81773
Document
Document number
2015-32884
Federal Register citation
80 FR 81773
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule; inseason adjustments to biennial groundfish management measures.
Category
catch-limit
Region
west coast
Publication date
2015-12-31
Effective date
2016-01-01
NOAA docket
Docket No. 140904754-5188-02
Abstract
This final rule announces inseason changes to management measures in the Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries. This action, which is authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP), is intended to allow fisheries to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks. This document also announces a prohibition on the use of midwater trawl gear in the Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program shoreward of the boundary line approximating the 150 fm (274 m) depth contour via automatic action, with actual notice (by phone and email) to participants, at noon local time, November 26, 2015 in order to reduce the risk of exceeding the canary rockfish annual catch limit (ACL).