Rule2025-13683
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2025-2026 Biennial Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments
Primary source
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Published
July 21, 2025
Effective
July 21, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
This final rule announces routine inseason adjustments to management measures in commercial groundfish fisheries. These inseason adjustments will increase sablefish trip limits in the limited entry fixed gear and open access groundfish fisheries to allow more attainment of sablefish within the sector allocations. This action is intended to allow commercial fishing vessels to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 137 (Monday, July 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 137 (Monday, July 21, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34186-34189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-13683]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 241022-0278; RIN 0648-BO01]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2025-2026 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 groundfish fisheries. These inseason
adjustments will increase sablefish trip limits in the limited entry
fixed gear and open access groundfish fisheries to allow more
attainment of sablefish within the sector allocations. This action is
intended to allow commercial fishing vessels to access more abundant
groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.
DATES: This final rule is effective July 21, 2025.
ADDRESSES: This final rule is accessible 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
[[Page 34187]]
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: Megan Mackey, Fishery Management
Specialist, at 206-526-6140 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#503d3537313e7e3d31333b3529103e3f31317e373f26"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="45282022242b6b2824262e203c052b2a24246b222a33">[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
groundfish seaward of Washington, Oregon, and California. 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 by
the Pacific Fishery Management Council (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
recommends management measures (e.g., trip limits, area closures, and
bag limits) that are meant to mitigate catch so as not to exceed the
harvest specifications. Based on recommendations from the Council, NMFS
develops and implements groundfish harvest specifications and
management measures for 2-year periods (i.e., a biennium).
NMFS published the final rule to implement harvest specifications
and management measures for the 2025-2026 biennium for most species
managed under the PCGFMP on December 16, 2024 (89 FR 101514) (final
rule). That final rule was effective January 1, 2025. In general, 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 annual allocations for each stock. During the
fishing year, the Council, in coordination with Pacific Coast Treaty
Indian Tribes and the States of Washington, Oregon, and California,
recommends adjustments to the management measures to achieve this goal.
A sablefish adjustment is warranted for the 2025 fishing year. The
harvest specifications and mitigation measures developed for the 2025-
2026 biennium used data through the 2023 fishing year. The adjustments
to mitigation measures provided in this inseason action are based on
updated information that was unavailable when the analysis for the
current harvest specifications was completed. As new fisheries data
becomes available, adjustments to mitigation measures are projected so
as to help harvesters achieve but not exceed the annual allocations.
Sablefish is an important commercial species on the U.S. West Coast
with vessels targeting sablefish with both trawl and fixed gear
(including longline and pots/traps). Sablefish is managed with a coast-
wide ACL that is apportioned north and south of 36[deg] North latitude
(N lat.). The sablefish market has stabilized recently and prices for
product have increased in some areas. Considering the high sablefish
allocations in 2025, fixed gear representatives for both limited entry
fixed gear (LEFG) and open access (OA) sectors on the Council's
Groundfish Advisory Panel (GAP) requested that the Council's Groundfish
Management Team (GMT) analyze whether trip limit increases could be
implemented for the remainder of 2025 to allow for greater opportunity
in the fishery to utilize sablefish. At least some vessels in both the
LEFG and OA sectors north and south of 36[deg] N lat. have attained
more than 90 percent of the Status Quo (SQ) sablefish trip limits on
trips taken in 2025, and landings information to-date indicates growing
utilization of the trip limits and participation in all four sector-
areas compared to recent years. Nonetheless, attainment of the 2025
sablefish allocation for each sector is projected to be low. Under SQ
trip limits, LEFG landings north of 36[deg] N lat. for the full year
are projected to be only 17-20 percent of the 2025 landings target,
while LEFG landings south of 36[deg] N lat. for the full year are
projected to be only 9-11 percent of the 2025 landings target. For the
OA sector, under SQ trip limits, landings north of 36[deg] N lat. for
the full year are projected to be only 19-22 percent of the 2025
landings target, while landings south of 36[deg] N lat. for the full
year are projected to be only 0.9 percent of the 2025 landings target.
Therefore, the GMT modeled sablefish trip limit increases for all four
sector-areas and provided recommendations for precautionary increases,
accounting for the uncertainty in impacts to shortspine thornyhead,
which has a low allocation due to the most recent stock assessment. For
both sectors north of 36[deg] N lat., the GMT modeled an Option 1 that
is identical to the next highest option modeled in the 2025-26 harvest
specifications analysis. For both sectors south of 36[deg] N lat., the
Option 1 trip limits were requested by industry members.
At its June 2025 meeting, the Council reviewed the analytical
documents drafted by its GMT and its GAP and recommended inseason
adjustments to increase the LEFG and OA sablefish trip limits north and
south of 36[deg] N lat. to allow for more attainment of sablefish
within the sector allocations.
Option 1 provides a precautionary increase while minimizing the
risk of exceeding the shortspine thornyhead non-trawl allocation and
annual catch target (ACT) north of 34[deg] 27' N lat. Given that
sablefish attainments are projected to be low, but some vessels would
benefit from higher trip limits, the Council recommended the Option 1
trip limit increases for LEFG and OA sablefish north and south of
36[deg] N lat. as shown in table 1.
NMFS is approving and implementing this recommendation through this
inseason action.
Table 1--New LEFG and OA Sablefish Trip Limits for North and South of
36[deg] N Lat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fishery Area New trip limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEFG.......................... North of 36[deg] 5,500 lbs./week not
N lat. to exceed 11,000
lbs./2 months.
South of 36[deg] 3,000 lbs./week.
N lat.
OA............................ North of 36[deg] 4,000 lbs./week not
N lat. to exceed 8,000 lbs./
2 months.
South of 36[deg] 2,500 lbs./week not
N lat. to exceed 7,500 lbs./
2 months.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Megan Mackey
[[Page 34188]]
in NMFS West Coast Region (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section
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 routine adjustments to management measures in this
document modify restrictive trip limits for sablefish while keeping
catch within allocations established by the 2025-2026 harvest
specifications. No aspect of this action is controversial, and changes
of this nature were anticipated in the final rule for the 2025-2026
harvest specifications and management measures, which published on
December 16, 2024 (89 FR 101514). Moreover, the sablefish trip limit
increases implemented through this action were discussed at the
Council's June 2025 meeting, which included an opportunity for public
comment.
Delaying implementation to allow for additional public comment
would likely reduce the economic benefits of this action to the
commercial fishing industry and the businesses that rely on that
industry, because it would be unlikely that the new regulations would
be implemented in time to realize the projected benefits of the
increased trip limits to fishing communities and the resource during
the 2025 fishing year. A delay in implementation could also contribute
to unnecessarily discarded and largely wasted fish for any fishermen
who are attaining the lower trip limit, which could otherwise be landed
to provide food and revenue, and responsible use of the resource.
Therefore, providing a comment period for this action would likely
significantly limit the economic benefits to the fishery, and would
hamper the potential to achieve optimum yield from the affected
fisheries.
For the same reasons, the NMFS finds good cause 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 would
affect commercial fisheries by increasing opportunity and allowing
greater economic benefit; thus helping harvesters achieve but not
exceed annual allocations. These adjustments were requested by the
Council's advisory bodies, as well as members of industry during the
Council's June 2025 meeting, and are recommended by the Council,
following the opportunity for public comment at the June 2025 meeting.
No aspect of this action is controversial, and routine changes of this
nature were anticipated in the 2025-2026 biennial harvest
specifications and management measures, which were established through
a notice and comment rulemaking for (December 16, 2024 (89 FR 101514)).
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660
Fisheries, Fishing, Indian fisheries.
Dated: July 16, 2025.
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. Amend table 2b (North) to part 660, subpart E by revising the entry
for ``Sablefish'' to read as follows:
Table 2b (North) to Part 660, Subpart E--Trip Limits for Limited Entry
Fixed Gear North of 40[deg]10' N Lat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Trip limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
Sablefish.............................. 5,500 lb/week not to exceed
11,000 lb/2 months.
* * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
3. Amend table 2b (South) to part 660, subpart E by revising the
entries for ``Sablefish (40[deg]10' N lat.-36[deg] N lat.)'' and
``Sablefish (south of 36[deg] N lat.)'' to read as follows:
Table 2b (South) to Part 660, Subpart E--Trip Limits for Limited Entry
Fixed Gear South of 40[deg]10' N Lat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Trip limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
Sablefish (40[deg]10' N lat.-36[deg] N 5,500 lb/week not to exceed
lat.). 11,000 lb/2 months.
Sablefish (south of 36[deg] N lat.).... 3,000 lb/week.
* * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
4. Amend table 3b (North) to part 660, subpart F by revising the entry
for ``Sablefish'' to read as follows:
[[Page 34189]]
Table 3b (North) to Part 660, Subpart F--Trip Limits for Open Access
North of 40[deg]10' N Lat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Trip limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
Sablefish.............................. 4,000 lb/week not to exceed
8,000 lb/2 months.
* * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
5. Amend table 3b (South) to part 660, subpart F by revising the
entries for ``Sablefish (40[deg]10' N lat.-36[deg] N lat.)'' and
``Sablefish (south of 36[deg] N lat.)'' to read as follows:
Table 3b (South) to Part 660, Subpart F--Trip Limits for Open Access
South of 40[deg]10' N Lat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Trip limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
Sablefish (40[deg]10' N lat.-36[deg] N 4,000 lb/week not to exceed
lat.). 8,000 lb/2 months.
Sablefish (south of 36[deg] N lat.).... 2,500 lb/week not to exceed
7,500 lb/2 months.
* * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[FR Doc. 2025-13683 Filed 7-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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