Rule2023-01571
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2023-2024 Biennial Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 26, 2023
Effective
January 26, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
This final rule announces routine inseason adjustments to management measures in commercial and recreational groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to allow fishing vessels to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting rebuilding stocks.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4910-4919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01571]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 221206-0261]
RIN 0648-BM02
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2023-2024 Biennial Specifications and
Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; inseason adjustments to biennial groundfish
management measures.
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SUMMARY: This final rule announces routine inseason adjustments to
management measures in commercial and recreational groundfish
fisheries. This action is intended to allow fishing vessels to access
more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting rebuilding stocks.
DATES: This final rule is effective January 26, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Electronic Access: This rule is accessible via the internet
at the Office of the Federal Register website at <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov">https://www.federalregister.gov</a>. Background information and documents are
available at the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website at <a href="http://www.pcouncil.org/">http://www.pcouncil.org/</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Sean Matson, phone: 206-526-6187
or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0b786e6a6525666a7f7864654b65646a6a256c647d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="91e2f4f0ffbffcf0e5e2feffd1fffef0f0bff6fee7">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP) and
its implementing regulations at title 50 in the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), part 660, subparts C through G, regulate fishing for
over 90 species of groundfish seaward of Washington, Oregon, and
California. The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) develops
groundfish harvest specifications and management measures for 2-year
periods (biennia). NMFS published the final rule to implement harvest
specifications and management measures for the 2023-2024 biennium for
most species managed under the PCGFMP on December 16, 2022 (87 FR
77007). The management measures set at the start of the biennial
harvest specifications cycle help the various sectors of the fishery
attain, but not exceed, the catch limits for each stock. The Council,
in coordination with Pacific Coast Treaty Indian Tribes and the States
of Washington, Oregon, and California, recommends adjustments to the
management measures during the fishing year to achieve this goal.
At its November 2022 meeting, the Council recommended modifying
fixed gear trip limits for limited entry (LE) and open access (OA)
sablefish, north of 36[deg] N latitude, for LE canary rockfish north
and south of 40[deg]10' N latitude, and for LE and OA lingcod north of
42[deg] N latitude; as well as modifying bag limits in the Oregon
recreational long-leader fishery, after updated information regarding
projected catch and attainment became available, as well as requests
from industry. Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries are managed using
harvest specifications or limits (e.g., overfishing limits [OFL],
acceptable biological catch [ABC], annual catch limits [ACL] and
harvest guidelines [HG]) recommended biennially by the Council and
based on the best scientific information available at that time (50 CFR
660.60(b)). During development of the harvest specifications, the
Council also recommends management measures (e.g., trip limits, area
closures, and bag limits) that are meant to control catch so as not to
exceed the harvest specifications. The harvest specifications and
management measures developed for the 2023-2024 biennium used data
through the 2021 fishing year. Each of the adjustments to management
measures discussed below are based on updated fisheries information
that was unavailable when the analysis for the current harvest
specifications was completed. As new fisheries data becomes available,
adjustments to management measures are projected so as to help
harvesters achieve but not exceed the harvest limits.
Sablefish
Sablefish is an important commercial species on the West Coast with
vessels targeting sablefish with both trawl and fixed gear (longlines
and pots/traps). Sablefish is managed with separate ACLs for the two
areas north and south of 36[deg] N lat. The 2023 ACLs for the North and
South are 8,486 mt and 2,338 mt, respectively.
At the November 2022 Council meeting, the Council's Groundfish
Management Team (GMT) received requests from industry members and
members of the Council's Groundfish Advisory Subpanel (GAP) to examine
the potential to increase sablefish trips limits for the fixed gear, LE
and OA fisheries north of 36[deg] N lat. The intent of increasing trip
limits is to increase harvest opportunities for vessels targeting
sablefish. To evaluate potential increases to sablefish trip limits for
the LE and OA fisheries, the GMT made model-based landings projections
under current regulations and alternative sablefish trip limits,
including the limits ultimately recommended by the Council, through the
remainder of 2023. Table 1 shows the projected sablefish landings by
fishery, relevant sablefish allocations, and the projected attainment
as a percentage of the landing target, under both the current trip
limits and the Council's recommended adjusted trip limits. These
projections were based on the most recent catch information available
through late October 2022. Since industry did not request changes to
sablefish trip limits for either the LE or
[[Page 4911]]
OA fishery south of 36[deg] N lat., NMFS and the Council did not
consider trip limit changes for those southern fisheries at this time.
Table 1--Projected Landings, Allocation, and Projected Percentage of Sablefish Attained Through 2023 by Trip
Limit and Fishery
[Values in parentheses show uncertainty range]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projected target
Fishery Trip limits Projected Landing target attainment
landings (mt) (mt) (percent)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LE North of 36[deg] N lat...... Current: 2,400 lb/ 151 (117-186) 417 36 (28-45)
week, not to exceed
4,800 lb/two months.
Recommended: 4,500 lb/ 253 (196-310) ................. 61 (47-74)
week, not to exceed
9,000 lb/two months.
OA North of 36[deg] N lat...... Current: 2,000 lb/ 322 (278-367) 687 47 (40-53)
week, not to exceed
4,000 lb/two months.
Recommended: 3,000 lb/ 448 (386-509) ................. 65 (56-74)
week, not to exceed
6,000 lb/two months.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As shown in Table 1, under the current trip limits, the models
predict landings of sablefish will be at 36 percent, or 151 mt of the
417 mt landing target (the target is the allocation share converted to
landings, reduced for discard mortality) for LE fishery north of
36[deg] N lat.; and 47 percent, or 322 mt of the 687 mt landing target,
for the OA fishery north of 36[deg] N lat. Under the Council's
recommended trip limits, sablefish attainment is projected to increase
in the LE and OA fisheries north of 36[deg] N lat., to 61 and 65
percent, respectively.
Trip limit increases for sablefish are intended to increase
attainment of the non-trawl HG. The proposed trip limit increases do
not change projected impacts to co-occurring overfished species
compared to the impacts anticipated in the 2023-2024 harvest
specifications because the projected impacts to those species assume
that the entire sablefish ACL is harvested. Therefore, the Council
recommended and NMFS is implementing, by modifying Tables 2 North and
South to part 660, subpart E, and Tables 3 North and South to part 660,
subpart F, trip limit changes for the LE sablefish fishery north of
36[deg] N lat. and trip limit changes for the OA sablefish fishery
north of 36[deg] N lat. as shown above in Table 1. These changes will
start with Period 1 (January and February) and remain in place through
the end of 2023 and beyond, unless otherwise modified.
Canary Rockfish
Prior to the November 2022 meeting, the GMT received a request from
the GAP to increase the canary rockfish OA north of 40[deg]10' N lat.
trip limit both to enable a viable alternative to potentially limited
Dungeness crab fishing opportunities at the beginning of the year, and
to better align with the yellowtail rockfish trip limit in order to
reduce regulatory discarding of canary rockfish. The 2023 coastwide ACL
for canary rockfish is 1,284 mt.
To evaluate potential increases to canary rockfish trip limits, the
GMT made model-based landings projections under current regulations and
alternative trip limits, including the limits ultimately recommended by
the Council, for the LE and OA fisheries throughout the 2023 fishing
year. The GMT evaluated changes to the trip limits for canary rockfish
both north and south of 40[deg]10' N lat. Table 2 shows the projected
canary rockfish landings, the canary rockfish allocations, and the
projected attainment percentage by fishery under both the current trip
limits and the Council's recommended adjusted trip limits for north of
40[deg]10' N lat. and Table 3 shows the same metrics for south of
40[deg]10' N lat. These projections were based on the most recent catch
information available through late October 2022.
Table 2--Projected Landings and Attainment for Canary Rockfish, for the 2023 Fishing Year by Fishery, Area, and
Trip Limit, Under Current Regulations
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Percent
attainment
Fishery Trip limit Projected Projected sum 2023 non-trawl
landings (mt) landings (mt) share (121.2
mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LE North of 40[deg]10' N lat.......... 3,000 lb/two months..... 4.2 27.5 23
OA North of 40[deg]10' N lat.......... 1,000 lb/two months..... 5.2 .............. ..............
LE South of 40[deg]10' N lat.......... 3,500 lb/two months..... 5.9 .............. ..............
OA South of 40[deg]10' N lat.......... 1,500 lb/two months..... 12.2 .............. ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 3--Projected Landings and Attainment for Canary Rockfish, for the 2023 Fishing Year by Fishery, Area, and
Trip Limit, Under Council-Recommended Trip Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent
attainment
Fishery Trip limit Projected Projected sum 2023 non-trawl
landings (mt) landings (mt) share (121.2
mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LE North of 40[deg]10' N lat.......... 4,000 lb/two months..... 5.6 39 32
[[Page 4912]]
OA North of 40[deg]10' N lat.......... 2,000 lb/two months..... 10.4 .............. ..............
LE South of 40[deg]10' N lat.......... 4,000 lb/two months..... 6.8 .............. ..............
OA South of 40[deg]10' N lat.......... 2,000 lb/two months..... 16.2 .............. ..............
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Under the current trip limits, the model predicts catches of canary
rockfish coastwide will total 27.5 mt (including discard mortality),
which is 23 percent of the 2023 non-trawl commercial share of canary
rockfish (121.2 mt). Under the Council's recommended trip limits,
canary rockfish mortality is expected to increase to 39 mt coastwide
(including discard mortality), which is 32 percent of the 2023 non-
trawl commercial share of canary rockfish.
Trip limit increases for canary rockfish are intended to increase
attainment of the non-trawl commercial share. The proposed trip limit
increases do not change projected impacts to co-occurring overfished
species compared to the impacts anticipated in the 2023-2024 harvest
specifications because the projected impacts to those species assume
that the entire canary rockfish ACL is harvested. Therefore, the
Council recommended and NMFS is implementing, by modifying Tables 2
North and South to part 660, subpart E, and Tables 3 North and South to
part 660, subpart F, trip limit changes for LE canary rockfish north
and south of 40[deg]10' N lat. and trip limit changes for OA canary
rockfish fishery north and south of 40[deg]10' N lat. as shown above in
Tables 2 and 3. These changes will start with Period 1 (January and
February) and remain in place through the end of 2023 and beyond,
unless otherwise modified.
Lingcod
For the November 2022 meeting, the GMT also received a request to
continue the lingcod trip limits north of 42[deg] N lat. at the same
levels from Period 6 of 2022, in order to continue the effect of
reduced regulatory discarding and increased economic opportunity.
Lingcod is managed with an ACL north of 40[deg]10' N lat. and an ACL
south of 40[deg]10' N lat. The 2023 ACL for lingcod north of 40[deg]10'
N lat. is 4,378 mt.
To evaluate potential impacts of the requested increases to lingcod
trip limits north of 42[deg] N lat., the GMT made model-based landings
projections under current regulations and alternative trip limits,
including the limits ultimately recommended by the Council, for the LE
and OA fisheries for 2023. Table 4 shows the projected lingcod
landings, the lingcod allocations, the projected attainment percentage,
and accompanying estimated yelloweye rockfish impacts by fishery, under
both the current trip limits and the Council's recommended adjusted
trip limits for north of 42[deg] N lat. These projections were based on
the most recent catch information available through October 2022.
Table 4--Projected Landings of Lingcod, Lingcod Allocation, Projected Percentage of Lingcod North of 42[deg] N
Lat. Attained Through the End of the Year by Trip Limit and Fishery, Together With Projected Yelloweye Rockfish
Impacts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-trawl Projected Projected
Projected lingcod lingcod yelloweye
Fishery Trip limits lingcod allocation attainment rockfish
landings (mt) (mt) (percent) impacts (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LE North of 42[deg] N lat..... Current: 5,000 24.3 2,573.8 5.2 1.11
lb/two months.
OA North of 42[deg] N lat..... Current: 2,500 110.4 .............. .............. ..............
lb/month.
LE North of 42[deg] N lat..... Recommended: 30.0 2573.8 6.2 1.32
7,000 lb/two
months.
OA North of 42[deg] N lat..... Recommended: 129.4 .............. .............. ..............
3,500/month.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under the current trip limits, the model predicts catches of
lingcod north of 42[deg] N lat. will total 134.7 mt, which is 5.2
percent of the 2023 non-trawl allocation of lingcod (2,573.8 mt). Under
the Council's recommended trip limits, lingcod mortality north of
42[deg] N lat. is expected to increase to 159.4 mt, which is 6.2
percent of the 2023 non-trawl allocation of lingcod (2,573.8 mt).
Trip limit increases for lingcod are intended to marginally
increase attainment of the non-trawl allocation. The proposed trip
limit increases do not appreciably change projected impacts to co-
occurring rebuilding species (yelloweye rockfish) compared to the
impacts anticipated in the 2023-2024 harvest specifications (Table 4).
At the higher level of the lingcod non-trawl allocation, projected
impacts to yelloweye rockfish are still projected to be the same under
either current or recommended trip limits (3.9 mt), due a projection of
yelloweye bycatch levels assuming the entire lingcod allocation is
attained, in the harvest specifications analysis.
Therefore, the Council recommended and NMFS is implementing, by
modifying Table 2 North to part 660, subpart E, and Table 3 North to
part 660, subpart F, trip limit changes for LE and OA lingcod north of
42[deg] N lat. as shown above in Table 4. These changes will start with
Period 1 (January and February) and remain in place through the end of
2023 and beyond, unless otherwise modified.
Oregon Recreational Long-Leader Fishery
At the November 2022 Council meeting, the GMT and ODFW received
requests from members of industry and
[[Page 4913]]
the GAP, to examine the potential for increasing the daily bag limit in
the Oregon recreational long-leader fishery to more than the current 10
fish per day. Increasing the daily bag limit is intended to encourage
additional anglers to participate in the long-leader fishery, in order
to reduce effort on nearshore stocks such as black, China, copper, and
quillback rockfishes because the 2023-24 harvest limits for many
nearshore rockfish stocks are very small. At the same time, Oregon
experienced record groundfish effort in 2022, which fits within a
continuing trend of high effort since 2015 forward, and implies similar
fishery behavior in 2023. Impacts of the proposed action were analyzed
by ODFW staff, and the Council ultimately recommended the daily bag
limit in the Oregon recreational long-leader fishery to be increased
from 10 to 15 fish per day.
ODFW staff presented an analysis in which they deterministically
projected 2023 catch by expanding results of the long-leader EFP (2018-
2022), to simulate potential catch under a 15 fish per day limit. The
results appear in Table 5. ODFW staff found that the increases in catch
were small and well within relevant harvest specifications.
Table 5--ODFW's Projected Annual Impacts in mt (Salmon = Counts), for 15 Fish and 10 Fish per Day Bag Limit
Using Long-Leader Gear \a\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Potential max
Projected Hist. avg. additional
Species average catch Projected max with 10 fish impacts (proj.
(recommended) (recommended) limit max- current
(current) avg.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowtail RF............................... 23.58 39.87 15.72 24.15
Widow RF.................................... 4.47 10.24 2.98 7.26
Canary RF................................... 12.84 17.13 8.56 8.58
Silvergray RF............................... 0.12 0.22 0.08 0.14
Redstripe RF................................ 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.01
Greenstriped RF............................. 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01
Chillipepper RF............................. 0.02 0.09 0.02 0.08
Deacon RF................................... 0.14 0.33 0.09 0.24
Black RF.................................... 0.01 0.03 0.01 0.03
Blue RF..................................... 0.01 0.03 0.01 0.03
Yelloweye RF (discard mortality)............ 0.2 0.29 0.13 0.16
Quillback RF................................ 0 0 0 0
Bocaccio.................................... 1.89 4.11 1.26 2.85
Vermilion RF................................ 0 0 0 0
Copper RF................................... 0 0 0 0
Chinook Salmon.............................. 32 96 21 75
Coho Salmon................................. 217 561 145 416
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\a\ Columns from left to right: Species; Projected average catch w/15 fish per day limit (recommended);
Projected maximum catch with 15 fish per day limit (recommended); Historical average catch using 10 fish per
day limit (current); Potential maximum additional impacts (difference between Projected Maximum and Historical
average under 10-fish limit (current), column 3 minus column 4).
Using a conservative approach (risk averse), using the difference
between the expanded (1.5x) maximum annual actual catch from the 5-year
period, and subtracting the average actual catch from the same period,
ODFW staff provided an estimate of ``Potential maximum additional
impacts'' (far right column, Table 5), as projections of maximum
potential additional catch as a result of increasing the bag limit from
10 to 15 fish. As evidence of inconsequential impacts to the ACLs, the
analysis also compared the ``potential maximum additional impacts'',
with the amount of uncaught fish for each species, in the most recent
fishing year (2021), noting that for species other than yellowtail,
canary, widow, and yelloweye rockfish, the projected maximum impacts
were less than 0.3 mt, and thus were not presented (Table 6). For those
species with projected maximum catch greater than 0.3 mt, 2021 catch
statistics (most recent complete data year available) showed sizable
buffers in attainment of the non-trawl allocation, which would easily
absorb the projected additional mortality of this action (Table 6).
Table 6--2021 Harvest Specifications, Sector-Specific Allocations, and Mortality Estimates, and 2023 Projections (Right Column) for Yellowtail, Widow,
Canary, Yelloweye, and Bocaccio Rockfishes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of Potential max
Species ACL Total ACL Non-trawl Non-trawl % of non-trawl OR rec. HG OR rec. addition.
mortality attainment allocation mort. allocation mort. impacts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowtail.......................... 6,050 2,931 48 601.5 96 16 N/A 28 24.2
Widow............................... 14,725 10,880 74 400 11.5 3 N/A 3.6 7.3
Canary.............................. 1,338 562 42 351.6 178.3 51 65.06 38.5 8.6
Yelloweye........................... 50 18 36 37.9 16.7 44 6.9 3.3 0.16
Bocaccio north of 40[deg]10' N lat.. 221 89 40 N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.5 2.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proposed bag limit increases do not appreciably change
projected impacts to co-occurring rebuilding species (yelloweye
rockfish) compared to the impacts anticipated in the 2023-2024 harvest
specifications (Table 6). Therefore the Council recommended, and NMFS
is implementing, trip limit changes for the Oregon recreational long-
leader fishery from 10 to 15 fish per day, by modifying 50 CFR part
660.360, subpart G, paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(A)(Marine fish) to maintain
the previous restrictions, and place a separate bag limit on the long-
leader
[[Page 4914]]
fishery only. The new paragraph text will read: ``(A) Marine fish. The
bag limit is 10 marine fish per day, which includes rockfish, kelp
greenling, cabezon and other groundfish species; except the daily bag
limit in the long-leader gear fishery is 15 fish per day. The bag limit
of marine fish excludes Pacific halibut, salmonids, tuna, perch
species, sturgeon, sanddabs, flatfish, lingcod, striped bass, hybrid
bass, offshore pelagic species and baitfish (herring, smelt, anchovies
and sardines). The minimum size for cabezon retained in the Oregon
recreational fishery is 16 in (41 cm) total length.'' These changes
will be effective beginning in January, 2023 and remain in place
through the end of 2023 and beyond, unless otherwise modified.
Classification
This final rule makes routine inseason adjustments to groundfish
fishery management measures, based on the best scientific information
available, consistent with the PCGFMP and its implementing regulations.
This action is taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.60(c) and is
exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
The aggregate data upon which these actions are based, are
available for public inspection by contacting Dr. Sean Matson in NMFS
West Coast Region (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above), or view
at the NMFS West Coast Groundfish website: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/west-coast-groundfish">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/west-coast-groundfish</a>.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b), NMFS finds good cause to waive prior
public notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action, as
notice and comment would be impracticable and contrary to the public
interest. The adjustments to management measures in this document
increase trip limits for fisheries in Washington, Oregon, and
California to allow additional economic opportunity while keeping catch
within allocations established by the 2023-2024 harvest specifications.
The trip limit increases are for the LE and OA sectors for sablefish
north of 36[deg] N lat., canary rockfish, and lingcod north of 42[deg]
N lat. Over the year 2023, these changes are projected to potentially
increase economic value of the fisheries by $989,793 for sablefish,
$71,025 for canary, and $122,777 for lingcod, as well as reduce
regulatory discards in these fisheries. The increases to bag limits in
the Oregon recreational long-leader fishery are needed to encourage
seaward effort redistribution, in order to prevent conservation issues
in the nearshore. No aspect of this action is controversial, and
changes of this nature were anticipated in the final rule for the 2023-
2024 harvest specifications and management measures which published on
December 16, 2022 (87 FR 77007).
Delaying implementation to allow for public comment would likely
reduce the economic benefits to the commercial fishing industry and the
businesses that rely on that industry, because it is unlikely the new
regulations would publish and could be implemented in time to realize
the projected benefits to fishing communities and the resource. A delay
in implementation could also contribute to conservation issues with
nearshore rockfish species, without swift implementation incentives for
seaward redistribution of recreational fishing effort in the Oregon
recreational long-leader fishery. Therefore, providing a comment period
for this action could significantly limit the economic benefits to the
fishery, and would hamper the achievement of optimum yield from the
affected fisheries.
Therefore, the NMFS finds reason to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1) so that this final rule
may become effective upon publication in the Federal Register. The
adjustments to management measures in this document affect fisheries by
increasing opportunity and allowing greater economic benefit. These
adjustments were requested by the Council's advisory bodies, as well as
members of industry during the Council's November 2022 meeting, and
recommended unanimously by the Council. No aspect of this action is
controversial, and changes of this nature were anticipated in the
biennial harvest specifications and management measures established
through a notice and comment rulemaking for 2023-2024 (87 FR 77007).
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660
Fisheries, Fishing, and Indian Fisheries.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16
U.S.C. 7001 et seq.
Dated: January 23, 2023.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is amended
as follows:
PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES
0
1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and
16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.
0
2. Revise Table 2 (North) to part 660, subpart E, to read as follows:
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
[[Page 4915]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR26JA23.002
0
3. Revise Table 2 (South) to part 660, subpart E, to read as follows:
[[Page 4916]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR26JA23.003
0
4. Revise Table 3 (North) to part 660, subpart F, to read as follows:
[[Page 4917]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR26JA23.004
0
5. Revise Table 3 (South) to part 660, subpart F, to read as follows:
[[Page 4918]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR26JA23.005
[[Page 4919]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR26JA23.006
0
6. In Sec. 660.360, revise paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(A) to read as
follows:
(c) * * *
(2) * * *
(iii) * * *
(A) Marine fish. The bag limit is 10 marine fish per day, which
includes rockfish, kelp greenling, cabezon and other groundfish
species; except the daily bag limit in the long-leader gear fishery is
15 fish per day. The bag limit of marine fish excludes Pacific halibut,
salmonids, tuna, perch species, sturgeon, sanddabs, flatfish, lingcod,
striped bass, hybrid bass, offshore pelagic species and baitfish
(herring, smelt, anchovies and sardines). The minimum size for cabezon
retained in the Oregon recreational fishery is 16 in (41 cm) total
length.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2023-01571 Filed 1-23-23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-C
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