Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Amendment 9

NOAA issues this final rule to implement Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery (FMP). Amendment 9 requires a sablefish endorsement on limited entry permits for permit holders to participate in the regular and mop-up limited entry fixed gear sablefish fishery north of 36 deg. N. lat. (the U.S.- Vancouver, Columbia, Eureka, and Monterey management areas). The intended effect of this sablefish endorsement is to promote safety, stability, and economic viability of the sablefish fishery by limiting or reducing harvesting capacity in the Pacific Coast sablefish fishery. This rule also eliminates limited entry permit ``B'' endorsement language that expired January 1, 1997. Elimination of ``B'' endorsement language is a routine update of the Pacific Coast groundfish regulations.