Rule2026-01150
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Emergency Action to Temporarily Increase 2026 Harvest Specifications and Sector Allocations for Shortspine Thornyhead, Canary Rockfish, and Petrale Sole
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Published
January 22, 2026
Effective
January 21, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
This emergency rule temporarily increases 2026 harvest specifications and sector allocations for shortspine thornyhead, canary rockfish, and petrale sole in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. This increase in harvest specifications is based on new, recently discovered information from the latest catch-only projections, which show a higher biomass of these species available for harvest than determined by stock assessments used to set the 2025-26 harvest specifications and management measures. This action is necessary to alleviate significant direct economic loss caused by restrictive annual catch limits for these species.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 14 (Thursday, January 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 14 (Thursday, January 22, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2714-2719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01150]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 260116-0030]
RIN 0648-BO30
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish
Fishery; Emergency Action to Temporarily Increase 2026 Harvest
Specifications and Sector Allocations for Shortspine Thornyhead, Canary
Rockfish, and Petrale Sole
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; emergency action; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This emergency rule temporarily increases 2026 harvest
specifications and sector allocations for shortspine thornyhead, canary
rockfish, and petrale sole in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery.
This increase in harvest specifications is based on new, recently
discovered information from the latest catch-only projections, which
show a higher biomass of these species available for harvest than
determined by stock assessments used to set the 2025-26 harvest
specifications and management measures. This action is necessary to
alleviate significant direct economic loss caused by restrictive annual
catch limits for these species.
DATES: Effective January 21, 2026 until July 20, 2026. Comments must be
submitted by February 23, 2026.
ADDRESSES: A plain language summary of this emergency rule is available
at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2025-0900">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2025-0900</a>. You may
submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2025-0900, by
the following method:
<bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Visit <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and type NOAA-NMFS-2025-0900 in the Search box.
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information,
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
Electronic Access
Electronic copies of the emergency rule may be obtained from
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and the NMFS West Coast Region website at
<a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/west-coast">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/west-coast</a>. A Supplemental
Environmental Assessment that addresses National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) requirements may be obtained from the West Coast Groundfish
Actions NEPA website at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-policies/groundfish-actions-nepa-documents">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-policies/groundfish-actions-nepa-documents</a>. Additional background
information is available at the Pacific Fishery Management Council's
(Council) website at <a href="http://www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/fishery-management-plan/groundfish-amendments-in-development/">http://www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/fishery-management-plan/groundfish-amendments-in-development/</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Massey, phone: 562-900-2060, or
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0e6277606020636f7d7d6b774e60616f6f20696178"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="630f1a0d0d4d0e021010061a230d0c02024d040c15">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Pacific Coast groundfish fishery in the
U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) seaward of Washington, Oregon, and
California is managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
Management Plan (FMP). The Council developed the Groundfish FMP
pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). The Secretary of
Commerce approved the Groundfish FMP and implemented the provisions of
the plan through Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 660, subparts C
through G. The Groundfish FMP manages species of roundfish, flatfish,
rockfish, sharks, and skates.
Chapter 5 of the Groundfish FMP requires the Council to assess the
biological, social, and economic conditions of the Pacific Coast
groundfish fishery and use this information to develop recommended
harvest specifications and management measures at least biennially. In
alignment with the Council's June 2024 recommendations, NMFS set
harvest specifications for the 2025-26 fishing years (89 FR 101514;
December 16, 2024; effective January 1, 2025). These harvest
specifications were informed either by: (1) stock assessments conducted
in the summer of 2023, which projected the biomass of each assessed
stock starting January 1, 2025, based on catch assumptions provided by
the Council's Groundfish Management Team (GMT) for 2023 and 2024; or
(2) projections of harvest specifications based on the most recent
stock assessment or recommendations by the Council's Scientific and
Statistical Committee (SSC).
Informed by their 2023 assessments, the 2025 coastwide annual catch
limits (ACL) for shortspine thornyhead, canary rockfish, and petrale
sole, decreased 60 percent, 56 percent, and 28 percent, respectively,
from the 2024 ACLs. During the development of the recommended 2025-26
harvest specifications and management measures, the Council and its
advisory bodies had discussions over and took public comment regarding
anticipated fishery constraints from these reduced ACLs (see Groundfish
Advisory Subpanel (GAP) and GMT reports from the June 2023 through June
2024 meetings at <a href="https://www.pcouncil.org/">https://www.pcouncil.org/</a>). However, the type and
extent of constraints experienced by the fishery in response to these
restrictive 2025 ACLs was beyond those anticipated during the biennial
harvest specifications process. During the March 2025 Council meeting,
industry representatives from the trawl sector provided in-person
public testimony on the constraints that were experienced in early
2025. Additional testimony on the significant constraints experienced
by the fishery in response to the 2025 catch limits was presented at
the April, June, and September 2025 Council meetings. Industry
representatives testified that the 2025 ACLs for the three constraining
species are so reduced that affected vessels and fishery participants
are either ceasing to fish or minimally fishing to avoid exceeding
their quotas for shortspine thornyhead, canary rockfish, and petrale
sole. Additionally, 2025 quota pound prices for all three constraining
species have increased so significantly from 2024 prices that minimal
trading to purchase additional quota is occurring. These challenges are
resulting in significant direct economic loss for fishery participants
and an overall underattainment of these constraining species and their
co-occurring species, both target and non-target. Detailed information
on species-
[[Page 2715]]
specific constraints are documented in GAP Reports submitted at the
June 2025 and September 2025 meetings (see Agenda Item E.3.a
Supplemental GAP Report 1 June 2025 and Agenda Item G.8.a Supplemental
GAP Report 1 September 2025 at <a href="https://www.pcouncil.org/">https://www.pcouncil.org/</a>).
In June 2024, when making its final recommendations on stocks to be
assessed in 2025 (and preliminary recommendations for 2027), the
Council recommended catch-only projections for shortspine thornyhead,
canary rockfish, and petrale sole (see June 2024 Decision Summary
Document at <a href="https://www.pcouncil.org/">https://www.pcouncil.org/</a>) to provide updated data and
information to inform harvest specifications for 2027 and beyond, based
on actual catches in 2023 and 2024. NMFS adopted those recommendations.
However, in response to the continued public comment from industry on
the adverse impacts resulting from the constraints on the fishery
created by the low ACLs for shortspine thornyhead, canary rockfish, and
petrale sole, a sentiment reinforced by the GAP, in June 2025, the
Council requested that NMFS' Northwest Fisheries Science Center conduct
new catch-only projections for 2026 and beyond for these species, with
the goal of generating new 2026 harvest specifications, if supported by
the new science. Additionally, the Council recommended that Council and
NMFS staff develop alternative harvest control rules (HCRs) for
consideration. The new projections and alternative HCRs were discussed
at the September and November 2025 Council meetings, and serve as the
basis for this emergency rule.
The 2023 stock assessments used to set the 2025-26 harvest
specifications included actual catch information through 2022 and
projected catch for 2023 and 2024, whereas the new catch-only
projections include actual catch information through 2024 and estimated
projections for 2025 and 2026. Actual catch for most Pacific Coast
groundfish species is typically less than their corresponding ACLs,
meaning that more fish remain in the ocean for spawning and
reproduction than projected in an assessment that assumes full harvest
of the ACLs for the years immediately preceding a biennial cycle.
Accordingly, the new 2025 catch-only projections for shortspine
thornyhead (see Agenda Item G.8 Supplemental Attachment 2 September
2025 at <a href="https://www.pcouncil.org/">https://www.pcouncil.org/</a>), canary rockfish (Agenda Item G.8
Supplemental Attachment 4 September 2025 at <a href="https://www.pcouncil.org/">https://www.pcouncil.org/</a>),
and petrale sole (see Agenda Item G.8 Supplemental Attachment 3
September 2025 at <a href="https://www.pcouncil.org/">https://www.pcouncil.org/</a>) indicate that there is a
higher biomass of all three species available for harvest than was
projected in the 2023 stock assessments used to set 2025-26 harvest
specifications.
At the September 2025 Council meeting, the Council adopted the 2025
catch-only projections for the three species as the best scientific
information available (BSIA) required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16
U.S.C. 1851(2)) as the basis for new 2026 harvest limits (see September
2025 Decision Summary at <a href="https://www.pcouncil.org">https://www.pcouncil.org</a>) and recommended
increasing the 2026 harvest specifications and sector allocations for
all three species in accordance with the results of the updated catch-
only projections. The Council's recommendation also included
alternative HCRs for canary rockfish and shortspine thornyhead, which
reduce the buffer that accounts for scientific uncertainty in stock
assessments between the overfishing limit (OFL) and the acceptable
biological catch (ABC); the details of the revised HCRs are described
below under the Emergency Measures section. The Council recommended the
new HCRs and ACLs to NMFS, which accepted them and is acting upon them
via this emergency rule. Altering the HCRs enables NMFS to set a higher
ACL for each species without presenting conservation concerns, as the
higher ACLs are informed by new BSIA, which indicates that there is a
higher biomass of all three species available for harvest than was
projected in the 2023 stock assessments. Additionally, the new ABCs and
ACLs that would result from the alternative HCRs are still set below
the OFL in the catch-only projections.
Additional information on the economic concerns that inform and
justify this emergency action are summarized in the next section.
Justification for Emergency Action
Criteria
Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act authorizes the Secretary
of Commerce to implement emergency regulations to address fishery
emergencies. NMFS has issued policy guidelines that define criteria for
determining whether an emergency exists under section 305(c) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act (62 FR 44421; August 21, 1997). Under NMFS' Policy
Guidelines for the Use of Emergency Rules, the phrase ``an emergency
exists involving any fishery'' is defined as a situation that meets the
following three criteria:
1. Results from recent, unforeseen events or recently discovered
circumstances;
2. Presents serious conservation or management problems in the
fishery; and
3. Can be addressed through emergency regulations for which the
immediate benefits outweigh the value of advance notice, public
comment, and deliberative consideration of the impacts on participants
to the same extent as would be expected under the normal rule making
process.
NMFS' guidelines further provide that emergency action might be
justified to prevent significant direct economic loss or to preserve a
significant economic opportunity that otherwise might be foregone. Id.
In addition, the Magnuson-Stevens Act section 305(c)(3) allows for
an extension of an emergency rule for an additional 186 days if the
public has had the opportunity to comment and, in the case of a Council
recommendation for emergency regulations or interim measures, the
Council is actively preparing a fishery management plan, plan
amendment, or proposed regulations to address the emergency or
overfishing on a permanent basis.
Information on the fishery constraints experienced in 2025 and the
new BSIA that supports taking emergency action under the criteria
described above is summarized below for each species.
Shortspine Thornyhead
Shortspine thornyhead is commonly caught in both the trawl and
commercial non-trawl sectors. The coastwide ACL for shortspine
thornyhead decreased from 2,030 metric tons (mt) in 2024 to 815 mt in
2025 (i.e., a 60 percent reduction). This decrease led to substantive
reductions in annual vessel limits (AVLs) and quota availability for
individual fishing quota (IFQ) vessels in the trawl sector and reduced
trip limits for the commercial non-trawl sector during the 2025-26
biennium. The ACL reduction for shortspine thornyhead, combined with
the increased ACL for sablefish--a species commonly caught alongside
thornyheads--led to the new management measure in 2025-26 to eliminate
the management line at 34[deg]27' North latitude (89 FR 101514;
December 16, 2024). This action was intended to combine two area-based
ACLs and establish a single coastwide ACL for shortspine thornyhead,
with the goal of increasing flexibility and providing relief to sectors
and areas where projected mortality of shortspine thornyhead was
expected to exceed harvest limits. However, IFQ midwater trawl vessels
reported in late 2024 that
[[Page 2716]]
after final action on the 2025-26 harvest specifications and management
measures, more shortspine thornyhead had been encountered while fishing
for Pacific whiting along the Pacific Northwest coast than in any year
over the previous decade. This pattern of encountering shortspine
thornyhead in the Pacific whiting fishery continued into early 2025,
not only causing midwater trawlers to avoid Pacific whiting early in
the fishing season, but also preventing bottom trawlers from fishing
for other co-occurring species, (i.e., dover sole, thornyheads, and
sablefish (the DTS complex)). In addition, 2025 quota pound prices for
shortspine thornyhead have increased from 2024 prices by approximately
233 percent on a commonly used trading platform, which has restricted
IFQ vessels' ability to purchase additional quota for targeting
shortspine thornyhead or to cover a bycatch event. This restriction has
been especially severe for vessels with smaller profit margins as
compared to vessels that are part of large corporations or owned by a
processor (see Agenda Item E.3.a Supplemental GAP Report 1 June 2025 at
<a href="http://www.pcouncil.org">http://www.pcouncil.org</a>). These challenges have resulted in vessels
making minimal deliveries or voluntarily ceasing to fish, which, if
continued, will result in severe economic loss to fishery participants
and fishing communities and overall low attainment of shortspine
thornyhead and co-occurring species in 2026.
The 2025 catch-only update stock assessment for shortspine
thornyhead, combined with the alternative HCR (which phases in changes
to the ABC) to reduce the scientific uncertainty buffer between the OFL
and ABC, will increase the 2026 ACL from 825 mt to 897 mt (i.e., a 9
percent increase). This ACL increase will allow trawl and commercial
non-trawl vessels more flexibility to resume normal fishing operations,
with less risk of exceeding a shortspine thornyhead quota, while still
protecting the stock from overfishing. See table 1 below for a full
list of revised harvest specifications and alternative HCRs.
Canary Rockfish
Canary rockfish is a species commonly caught in all groundfish
sectors, both commercial and recreational. The coastwide ACL for canary
rockfish decreased from 1,296 mt in 2024, to 571 mt in 2025 (i.e., a 56
percent reduction). This decrease led to reduced bag and sub-bag limits
in the recreational fisheries, lower trip limits in the commercial non-
trawl fisheries, and reduced quota availability and AVLs for IFQ
vessels in the trawl fisheries for the 2025-26 biennium. Canary
rockfish are occasionally caught as ``lightning strikes'' (i.e., large
catch events) in the trawl fishery, making it difficult for IFQ vessels
to plan how and when to use their quota during the fishing year,
especially under low allocations. Typically, when a lightning strike
occurs, IFQ vessels trade or buy quota from a different vessel to cover
a deficit or increase the amount of quota they own to cover a future
potential lightning strike. However, 2025 canary rockfish allocations
are so low that minimal canary rockfish quota trading is occurring.
Quota owners are keeping their quota in order to protect their ability
to fish throughout the year in the event of an unexpected lightning
strike. Additionally, quota prices for canary rockfish have increased
by approximately 99 percent from 2024 prices on a commonly used trading
platform (see Agenda Item E.3.a Supplemental GAP Report 1 at <a href="http://www.pcouncil.org">http://www.pcouncil.org</a>), which has restricted IFQ vessels' ability to
purchase additional quota to cover a bycatch event, especially vessels
with smaller profit margins, as compared to vessels that are part of
large corporations or owned by a processor. Vessels may alternatively
choose to shift their fishing strategy to avoid canary rockfish;
however, concurrent low allocation of shortspine thornyhead has impeded
trawl vessels from switching to the DTS complex, which is one of the
most common alternative targets for bottom trawl vessels. The low
canary rockfish ACL is also affecting midwater Pacific whiting vessels
that fish closer to the bottom, where Pacific whiting have commonly
schooled in recent years. Although the at-sea Pacific whiting sectors
had only recently begun fishing operations in June 2025, due to the low
canary rockfish allocations, participating vessels bypassed the only
Pacific whiting school encountered off southern Washington because of
the potential to also encounter schools of canary rockfish in the area.
These challenges have resulted in vessels making minimal deliveries or
voluntarily ceasing to fish, which, if continued, will result in severe
economic loss to fishery participants and fishing communities and
overall low attainment of canary rockfish and co-occurring species in
2026.
The 2025 catch-only update stock assessment for canary rockfish,
combined with the alternative HCR to reduce the management uncertainty
buffer between the ABC and ACL, will increase the 2026 ACL from 573 mt
to 626 mt (i.e., a 9.5 percent increase). This ACL increase will allow
recreational and commercial groundfish vessels more flexibility to
resume normal fishing operations, with less risk of exceeding a quota
at the expense of a lightning strike, while still protecting the stock
from overfishing.
Petrale Sole
Petrale sole is a species commonly targeted in the IFQ sector with
bottom trawl gear. The petrale sole coastwide ACL decreased from 3,285
mt in 2024, to 2,354 mt in 2025 (i.e., a 28 percent decrease). This
reduction led to reduced quota availability for IFQ vessels during the
2025-26 biennium. Typically, bottom trawl vessels could switch to other
target species (e.g., rex sole, sanddabs, English sole) to avoid
petrale sole, but bottom trawl representatives have reported that
opportunities to diversify in 2025 are severely limited due to market
constraints. Delivery opportunities have become much more prescriptive,
mandating that only specific amounts of specific species be brought in,
with price penalties for going over the trip limits set by the
processor (see Agenda Item E.3.a Supplemental GAP Report 1 at <a href="http://www.pcouncil.org">http://www.pcouncil.org</a>). Additionally, quota prices for petrale sole have
increased by approximately 66 percent from 2024 prices on a commonly
used trading platform (see Agenda Item E.3.a Supplemental GAP Report 1
at <a href="http://www.pcouncil.org">http://www.pcouncil.org</a>). This price increase restricts vessels'
ability to buy more quota for additional catch, especially vessels with
smaller profit margins, as compared to vessels that are part of large
corporations or owned by a processor. These challenges, in combination
with the inability to target the DTS complex because of shortspine
thornyhead constraints, have resulted in bottom trawl vessels making
minimal deliveries or voluntarily ceasing to fish, which, if continued,
will result in severe economic loss to fishery participants and fishing
communities.
The 2025 catch-only update stock assessment for petrale sole
supports increasing the 2026 ACL from 2,238 mt to 2,489 mt (i.e., an 11
percent increase). This increase will allow bottom trawlers more
flexibility to target petrale sole, while still protecting the stock
from overfishing.
Emergency Measures
In alignment with the Council's September 2025 recommendation, this
emergency rule temporarily increases the 2026 OFL, ABC, ACL, harvest
guidelines (HG), tribal set-asides, and
[[Page 2717]]
sector allocations for shortspine thornyhead, canary rockfish, and
petrale sole, effective January 21, 2026. These increased harvest
specifications include the implementation of alternative HCRs for
canary rockfish and shortspine thornyhead. For canary rockfish, this
emergency rule eliminates the buffer between the 2026 ABC and ACL that
is applied when the stock is in the precautionary zone (i.e., the ``40-
10'' rule \1\) and sets the ABC equal to the ACL. For shortspine
thornyhead, this emergency rule implements a phase-in ABC control rule
that reduces the buffer between the OFL and ABC. Per the National
Standard 1 guidelines (see 50 CFR 600.310(f)(2)(ii)(A)), Councils can
develop and recommend to NMFS ABC control rules that allow for changes
in catch limits to be phased in over time to help stabilize catch
levels as stock assessments are updated.
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\1\ The 40-10 HCR is applied when a stock's biomass falls below
the management target of 40 percent unfished biomass; the further
the stock's biomass is below the 40 percent threshold, the greater
the reduction in ACL relative to the ABC. When a stock's biomass
raises above the management target of 40 percent, the 40-10 rule
automatically no longer applies.
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Finally, this emergency action would increase the off-the-top
deductions from ACLs for Tribal harvest; increase the set-aside for
bycatch in the at-sea Pacific whiting sectors, which is deducted from
the trawl allocation; and increase the non-trawl allocation for petrale
sole. The new harvest specifications, Tribal set-asides, and sector
allocations are provided below in table 1. This emergency rule will not
change any other aspect of the 2025-26 harvest specifications and
management measures.
Table 1--Revised 2026 Harvest Specifications, Tribal Set-Asides, and Allocations in Metric Tons
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Shorebased
Species OFL ABC ACL Tribal HG Trawl At-sea trawl Non-trawl
allocation allocation allocation
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Shortspine thornyhead.......................................... 970 902 897 54.4 820.6 582.6 76.3 506 238
Canary rockfish................................................ 673 626 626 54.7 558.4 403.7 21.9 382 154.7
Petrale sole................................................... 2,676 2,489 2,489 322.5 2,138 2,104.6 76.3 2,099 33.4
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Under these emergency measures, temporarily increasing harvest
specifications according to the updated BSIA is expected to alleviate
continued significant direct economic harm in 2026. Affected vessels
are expected to have increased access to target stocks and their co-
occurring species while management measures continue to protect
constraining stocks from overfishing. The new, increased harvest
specifications and alternative HCRs are not expected to present
conservation concerns in the fishery, as they are informed by new BSIA,
which indicates that there is a higher biomass of all three species
available for harvest than was projected in the 2023 stock assessments
used to set 2025-26 harvest specifications and that the SSC has deemed
sufficient to support the new catch limits.
Renewal of Emergency Regulations
The Magnuson-Stevens Act limits NMFS' emergency action authority to
an initial period of 180 days, with a potential extension up to an
additional 186 days, if warranted. The public has an opportunity to
comment on the initial emergency action (see ADDRESSES). After
considering public comments on this emergency rule, NMFS may take
action to extend the emergency measures before expiration.
Classification
The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this emergency
rule is consistent with the Groundfish FMP, section 305(c) and other
provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Administrative Procedure
Act (APA), and other applicable law. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B),
the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries finds prior notice and public
comment is not required because it would be impracticable and contrary
to the public interest. As described throughout this notice, providing
prior notice and opportunity to comment would be impracticable and
counter to the public interest because it would delay implementation of
emergency measures intended to provide relief for a time-sensitive
management problem. Maintaining the currently scheduled 2026 harvest
specifications and sector allocations would present immediate and
continuous significant economic impacts to fishery participants and
fishing communities. Implementing this action as soon as possible will
maximize the time available for all affected sectors to adjust business
plans for the year and take advantage of the economic relief intended
to be provided by the increased harvest specifications. For the reasons
outlined above, NMFS finds it impracticable and contrary to the public
interest to provide prior notice and public comment on these emergency
measures.
Additionally, this rule is exempt from the 30-day delayed
effectiveness provision of the APA under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) because it
removes a restriction in the form of the pre-existing 2026 shortspine
thornyhead, canary rockfish, and petrale sole specifications.
This action is being taken pursuant to the emergency provision of
the Magnuson-Stevens Act and is exempt from Office of Management and
Budget review.
This emergency rule is exempt from Executive Order 14192 because it
is a routine fishing action.
This emergency rule is exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act because the rule is issued without opportunity for
prior notice and opportunity for public comment.
This emergency rule contains no information collection requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660
Fisheries, Fishing, Fishing vessels.
Dated: January 16, 2026.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, NMFS amends 50 CFR part
660 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. At Sec. 660.50, revise paragraphs (f)(4), (18), and (21) to read as
follows:
[[Page 2718]]
Sec. 660.50 Pacific Coast treaty Indian fisheries.
* * * * *
(f) * * *
(4) Canary rockfish. The Tribal harvest guideline is 54.7 mt per
year.
* * * * *
(18) Petrale sole. The Tribal harvest guideline is 322.5 mt per
year.
* * * * *
(21) Thornyheads. The Tribal harvest guideline for shortspine
thornyhead is 54.4 mt per year and the Tribal harvest guideline for
longspine thornyhead is 30 mt per year.
* * * * *
0
3. In tables 2a and 2b to part 660, subpart C, revise the entries for
``Canary Rockfish'', ``Petrale Sole'', and ``Shortspine Thornyhead'' to
read as follows:
* * * * *
Table 2a to Part 660, Subpart C--2026, and Beyond, Specifications of OFL, ABC, ACL, ACT, and Fishery HG (Weights in Metric Tons). Capitalized Stocks Are
Rebuilding
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species/stock Area OFL ABC ACL \a\ Fishery HG \b\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
Canary Rockfish............................... Coastwide............................... 673 626 626 558.4
* * * * * * *
Petrale Sole.................................. Coastwide............................... 2,676 2,489 2,489 2,138
* * * * * * *
Shortspine Thornyhead \e\..................... Coastwide............................... 970 902 897 820.6
* * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs) and harvest guidelines (HGs) are specified as total catch values.
\b\ Fishery HGs means the HG or quota after subtracting Pacific Coast treaty Indian Tribes allocations and projected catch, projected research catch,
deductions for fishing mortality in non-groundfish fisheries, and deductions for EFPs from the ACL or ACT. These deductions, as well as any HG sharing
agreements between states and/or sectors, are published in the SAFE.
* * * * * * *
\e\ Shortspine thornyhead has a commercial ACT of 55 mt for north of 34[deg]27' N lat.
* * * * *
Table 2b to Part 660, Subpart C--2026, and Beyond, Allocations by Species or Species Group
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl Non-Trawl
Species/stock & complexes Area Fishery HG ---------------------------------------------------
or ACT % mt % mt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
Canary rockfish.............................. Coastwide............................... 558.4 72.3 403.7 27.7 154.7
* * * * * * *
Petrale sole................................. Coastwide............................... 2,138 ........... 2,104.6 ........... 33.4
* * * * * * *
Shortspine thornyhead........................ Coastwide............................... 820.6 71 582.6 29 238
* * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec. 660.140, in table 1 to paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(D), revise the
entries for ``Canary rockfish'', ``Petrale sole'', and ``Shortspine
thornyhead'' to read as follows:
Sec. 660.140 Shorebased IFQ Program.
* * * * *
(d) * * *
(1) * * *
(ii) * * *
(D) * * *
Table 1 to Paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(D)--Shorebased Trawl Allocations for 2025 and 2026
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 Shorebased 2026 Shorebased
IFQ species Area trawl allocation trawl allocation
(mt) (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
Canary rockfish........................... Coastwide................... 348 382
* * * * * * *
Petrale sole.............................. Coastwide................... 2,001 2,099
[[Page 2719]]
* * * * * * *
Shortspine thornyhead..................... Coastwide................... 406 506
* * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2026-01150 Filed 1-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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