Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Annual Specifications; 2023-2024 Annual Specifications and Management Measures for Pacific Sardine

NMFS is implementing annual harvest specifications and management measures for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine (hereafter, Pacific sardine), for the July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, fishing year. This final rule will prohibit most directed commercial fishing for Pacific sardine off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. Pacific sardine harvest will be allowed only in the live bait fishery, minor directed fisheries, as incidental catch in other fisheries, or as authorized under exempted fishing permits. The incidental harvest of Pacific sardine will be limited to 20 percent by weight of all fish per trip when caught with other stocks managed under the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan, or up to 2 metric tons per trip when caught with non-Coastal Pelagic Species stocks. The annual catch limit for the 2023-2024 Pacific sardine fishing year is 3,953 metric tons. This final rule is intended to conserve and manage the Pacific sardine stock off the U.S. West Coast.