Rule2026-08533
Pacific Halibut Fisheries of the West Coast; 2026 Catch Sharing Plan and Recreational Fishery Management Measures
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
May 1, 2026
Effective
April 30, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
This final rule approves changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan (CSP) for the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) Regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. In addition, the rule implements management measures for the 2026 recreational fisheries in Regulatory Area 2A, including the recreational fishery season open dates and subarea allocations for Regulatory Area 2A. These actions are intended to conserve Pacific halibut, while providing additional angler opportunity to achieve the Regulatory Area 2A allocation set by the IPHC.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 84 (Friday, May 1, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 84 (Friday, May 1, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23369-23373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08533]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 300
[RTID 0648-XF353; Docket No. 260428-0118]
Pacific Halibut Fisheries of the West Coast; 2026 Catch Sharing
Plan and Recreational Fishery Management Measures
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This final rule approves changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch
Sharing Plan (CSP) for the International Pacific Halibut Commission's
(IPHC) Regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. In
addition, the rule implements management measures for the 2026
recreational fisheries in Regulatory Area 2A, including the
recreational fishery season open dates and subarea allocations for
Regulatory Area 2A. These actions are intended to conserve Pacific
halibut, while providing additional angler opportunity to achieve the
Regulatory Area 2A allocation set by the IPHC.
[[Page 23370]]
DATES: This rule is effective April 30, 2026.
ADDRESSES: This rule is accessible via the Office of the Federal
Register website at <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/">https://www.federalregister.gov/</a>. Background
information is available at 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> and the Catch Sharing
Plan and other related documents at the Pacific Fishery Management
Council's (Council) website at <a href="https://www.pcouncil.org">https://www.pcouncil.org</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Mandrup, phone: 562-980-3231
or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7f121a13160c0c1e51121e111b0d0a0f3f11101e1e51181009"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9d4dcd5d0cacad897d4d8d7ddcbccc9f9d7d6d8d897ded6cf">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act), 16 U.S.C.
773-773k, gives the Secretary of Commerce responsibility for
implementing the provisions of the Halibut Convention between Canada
and the United States for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of
the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea (Halibut Convention, signed at
Ottawa, ON, on March 2, 1953), as amended by a Protocol Amending the
Halibut Convention (signed at Washington, DC, on March 29, 1979),
including the responsibility to adopt regulations to carry out the Act
(16 U.S.C. 773c).
The Halibut Act provides that the regional fishery management
council with authority for the geographic area concerned may develop
regulations governing Pacific halibut fishing in U.S. waters that are
in addition to, and not in conflict with, approved IPHC regulations
(id. 773c(c)). Such regulations may only be implemented with the
approval of the Secretary of Commerce.
Under the Halibut Act, the Secretary of State, with the concurrence
of the Secretary of Commerce, may accept or reject, on behalf of the
United States, regulations recommended by the IPHC in accordance with
the Halibut Convention (16 U.S.C. 773b). Following acceptance by the
Secretary of State, the annual management measures promulgated by the
IPHC are published in the Federal Register to provide notice of their
immediate regulatory effectiveness and to inform persons subject to the
regulations of their restrictions and requirements (50 CFR 300.62).
At its annual meeting held January 19-22, 2026, the IPHC adopted
new regulations that open the recreational fisheries in the Washington
Puget Sound and U.S. Convention waters in the Strait of Juan de Fuca
subarea on the first Thursday of April (i.e., April 2, 2026) and in the
Northern California and South of Point Arena subareas on April 1, 2026.
At its annual meeting, the IPHC also adopted a Regulatory Area 2A catch
limit, referred to as the fishery constant exploitation yield (FCEY),
of 1.54 million pounds (lb) or 699.0 metric tons (mt) of Pacific
halibut. The FCEY is derived from the total constant exploitation yield
(TCEY) of 1.65 million lb (748 mt) for Regulatory Area 2A, which
includes commercial discards and bycatch estimates calculated using a
formula developed by the IPHC. On March 23, 2026, the Secretary of
State accepted, with concurrence from the Secretary of Commerce, the
opening dates and bag limits for the recreational fisheries in the
Washington and California subareas, the Regulatory Area 2A TECY, the
Regulatory Area 2A FCEY, and commercial and recreational fishery
allocations (in net weight \1\) that were adopted by the IPHC. These
management measures, catch limits, and allocations were subsequently
published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2026 (91 FR 14464).
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\1\ ``Net weight'' of a Pacific halibut means ``the weight of
Pacific halibut that is without gills and entrails, head-off,
washed, and without ice and slime. If a Pacific halibut is weighed
with the head on or with ice and slime, the required conversion
factors for calculating net weight are a 2 percent deduction for ice
and slime and a 10 percent deduction for the head'' (<a href="https://www.iphc.int/uploads/2025/02/IPHC-Fishery-Regulations-2025-5-Feb-2026.pdf">https://www.iphc.int/uploads/2025/02/IPHC-Fishery-Regulations-2025-5-Feb-2026.pdf</a>).
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This final rule implements the opening dates and management
measures (e.g., season dates and bag limits) for the Washington North
Coast, Washington South Coast, Columbia River, Oregon Central Coast,
and Southern Oregon subareas, along with the 2026 recreational fishery
subarea allocations based on the 2026 Regulatory Area 2A FCEY, which
was adopted by the IPHC and published in the Federal Register on March
25, 2026 (91 FR 14464). Additionally, the March 25, 2026 final rule (91
FR 14464) contains IPHC regulations and other Regulatory Area 2A annual
domestic management measures that are published each year under NMFS's
authority to implement the Halibut Convention (50 CFR 300.62).
Since 1988, the Council's CSP has included an allocation framework
for apportioning the IPHC Regulatory Area 2A Pacific halibut FCEY
between treaty Tribal and non-Tribal harvesters and among non-Tribal
commercial and recreational (sport) fisheries. At 50 CFR 300.63 et
seq., NMFS has implemented certain provisions of the CSP. NMFS also
issues rules containing annual management measures consistent with the
CSP. In 1995, a long-term Regulatory Area 2A CSP took effect (60 FR
14651, March 20, 1995). NMFS has been promulgating adjustments to the
Regulatory Area 2A CSP, based on Council recommendations, each year, to
address the changing needs of these fisheries. While the full CSP is
not published in the Federal Register, it is made available on the
Council website: <a href="https://www.pcouncil.org/managed_fishery/pacific-halibut/">https://www.pcouncil.org/managed_fishery/pacific-halibut/</a>.
This rule finalizes changes to the 2026 Regulatory Area 2A CSP,
which were developed through the Council's public process over multiple
meetings. The changes to the CSP were detailed in the proposed rule and
are not repeated here (91 FR 14511, March 25, 2026). This rule also
implements recreational Pacific halibut fishery management measures for
2026, including certain season opening and closing dates for the Area
2A subareas that are not implemented through the annual IPHC
regulations. These management measures are consistent with the
recommendations made by the Council for the 2026 CSP and the season
dates recommended by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)
during the proposed rule's public comment period.
2026 Annual Recreational Management Measures
This rule finalizes recreational fishery management measures
consistent with the revisions to the 2026 CSP. If there is any
discrepancy between the CSP and regulations, the regulations take
precedence. These provisions may be modified through inseason action
consistent with 50 CFR 300.63(c). All recreational fishing in
Regulatory Area 2A is managed on a ``port of landing'' basis, whereby
any halibut landed into a port counts toward the allocation, in net
weight, for the subarea in which that port is located, and the
regulations governing the subarea of landing apply regardless of the
specific area of catch.
The 2026 recreational fishing subareas, allocations (in net
weight), fishing dates, and daily bag limits are described below. The
provisions contained in this rule may be modified through inseason
action consistent with 50 CFR 300.63(c). For example, subarea
allocations may be transferred between subareas within a State inseason
in accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 300.63--specifically,
paragraphs (c)(6)(i)(C), (c)(6)(i)(D), and (c)(6)(i)(E)--and from one
State to another inseason in accordance with Federal regulations
[[Page 23371]]
at 50 CFR 300.63(c)(6)(i)(G). Inseason actions taken by NMFS will be
published in the Federal Register. In addition to publication in the
Federal Register, NMFS will make the public aware of inseason
management actions by telephone hotline, (206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-
9825, and fishery bulletins administered through email by NMFS West
Coast Region. Since provisions of these regulations may be changed by
inseason actions, recreational anglers are encouraged to monitor the
telephone hotline and subscribe to receive fishery bulletin emails for
current information for the subarea in which they are landing fish. To
sign up to receive fishery bulletins about Pacific halibut via email
from the West Coast Region use the following link: <a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNOAAFISHERIES/subscriber/new">https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNOAAFISHERIES/subscriber/new</a>.
Washington Puget Sound and the U.S. Convention Waters in the Strait of
Juan de Fuca
Subarea Allocation
The Pacific halibut recreational fishing allocation for landings
into ports in Puget Sound and the U.S. waters in the Strait of Juan de
Fuca subarea is 80,512 lb (36.5 mt).
Season Structure
Consistent with IPHC regulations, the Puget Sound subarea is open 7
days per week from April 2 through June 30. If the subarea allocation
remains for at least another full day of fishing after June 30, NMFS
may take inseason action to reopen the fishery in August through
September, up to 7 days per week. The area will be closed when there is
not sufficient subarea allocation for another full day of fishing. If
the subarea season is closed prior to September 30 and there is
insufficient allocation for an additional fishing day, NMFS may take
inseason action to transfer any remaining subarea allocation to another
Washington coastal subarea.
Any inseason action, including closures and reallocation, will be
announced in accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c)
and on the NMFS hotline at (206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-9825.
Landing Restrictions
Consistent with the 2026 IPHC regulations, the daily bag limit is
one Pacific halibut of any size per person.
Washington North Coast Subarea
Subarea Allocation
The allocation for landings into ports in the Washington North
Coast subarea is 131,149 lb (59.5 mt).
Season Structure
The Washington North Coast subarea is open:
<bullet> April 30 (Thursday);
<bullet> May 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, (Thursday, Friday,
Saturday);
<bullet> May 22, 23, 24, (Friday, Saturday, Sunday of Memorial Day
weekend);
<bullet> May 28, 29, 30 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday); and
<bullet> June 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26,
27, 28 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday).
If the subarea allocation remains for at least another full day of
fishing after June 30, NMFS may take inseason action to reopen the
fishery up to 7 days per week while sufficient subarea allocation
remains in August through September. The specific day or days of the
week that the fishery may reopen would be determined through inseason
action. The subarea will be closed when there is not sufficient subarea
allocation for another full day of fishing. If the fishery is closed
prior to September 30 and there is insufficient allocation remaining to
reopen for another fishing day, NMFS may take inseason action to
transfer any remaining allocation to another Washington subarea.
Any inseason action, including closures and reallocation, will be
announced in accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c)
and on the NMFS hotline at (206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-9825.
Landing Restrictions
The daily bag limit is one Pacific halibut of any size per person.
Washington South Coast Subarea
Subarea Allocation
The Pacific halibut recreational fishing allocation for landings
into ports in the Washington South Coast subarea is 65,857 lb (29.9
mt).
Season Structure
The Washington South Coast primary fishery is open:
<bullet> April 30 (Thursday);
<bullet> May 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26,
28, 29, 31 (Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Tuesday); and
<bullet> June 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30
(Thursday, Sunday, Tuesday).
The fishery will close when there is not sufficient subarea
allocation for another full day of fishing. However, if the subarea
allocation remains for at least another full day of fishing after June
30, NMFS may take inseason action to reopen the fishery up to 7 days
per week while sufficient subarea allocation remains in August through
September. The specific day or days of the week that the fishery may
reopen would be determined through inseason action. The subarea will be
closed when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for another full
day of fishing.
When the primary fishery does not have sufficient allocation to
open for at least another full day of fishing, any remaining primary
fishery allocation will be used to open a nearshore fishery. The
nearshore fishery will open the first Saturday after the closure of the
primary fishery and will be open 7 days per week until there is not
sufficient nearshore fishery allocation remaining for another full day
of fishing, at which point the subarea will be closed.
If the primary fishery is closed prior to September 30 and there is
not sufficient allocation remaining for at least a full day of fishing
in the nearshore fishery, NMFS may take inseason action to transfer any
remaining subarea allocation to another Washington subarea.
Any inseason action, including closures and reallocation, will be
announced in accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c)
and on the NMFS hotline at (206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-9825.
Landing Restrictions
The daily bag limit is one Pacific halibut of any size per person.
Columbia River Subarea
Subarea Allocation
The Pacific halibut recreational fishing allocation for landings
into ports in the Columbia River subarea is 19,299 lb (8.8 mt).
Season Structure
The Columbia River subarea is open:
<bullet> April 30 (Thursday);
<bullet> May 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22, 24, 28, 29, 31
(Thursday, Friday, Sunday); and
<bullet> June 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 21, 25, 26, 28
(Thursday, Friday, Sunday).
Additionally, if NMFS determines that sufficient allocation is
available to add fishing dates for this subarea in June, NMFS may take
inseason action to allow the fishery to open the following additional
days in June:
<bullet> June 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 (Monday, Tuesday).
The determination of whether allocation is sufficient to open these
[[Page 23372]]
additional days will be based on catch and effort in May and
projections for June. The proposed rule for this action stated that
this determination would be based on whether 55 percent of the Columbia
River subarea allocation remained as of May 25, 2026. However, that was
residual language from the 2025 CSP and included by error. Rather than
the specific percentage employed in the 2025 CSP, consistent with the
revised 2026 CSP, and as recommended by the Council and expected by the
public following the Council process, the new determination of whether
additional fishing dates are warranted in June is based on a
qualitative assessment by NMFS of whether sufficient allocation remains
based on catch effort in May and projections in June.
If the subarea allocation remains for at least another full day of
fishing after June 30, NMFS may also take inseason action to reopen the
fishery up to 7 days per week in August through September. The area
will be closed when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for
another full day of fishing. Any remaining subarea allocation may be
transferred inseason to other Washington or Oregon subareas by NMFS, in
proportion to the allocation formula in the CSP, in accordance with
Federal regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c). Any inseason action, including
closures and reallocation, will be announced in accordance with Federal
regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c) and on the NMFS hotline at (206) 526-
6667 or (800) 662-9825.
Landing Restrictions
The daily bag limit is one Pacific halibut of any size per person.
Oregon Central Coast Subarea
The Pacific halibut recreational fishing allocation for landings
into ports in the Oregon Central Coast subarea is 278,835 lb (126.5
mt). The nearshore fishery allocation is 10,000 lb (4.5 mt), the spring
all-depth fishery allocation is 209,126 lb (94.9 mt), and the summer
all-depth fishery allocation is 59,709 lb (27.1 mt).
Season Structure
The nearshore fishery is open 7 days per week from May 1 through
October 31. The area will close when there is not sufficient subarea
allocation for another full day of fishing. Any inseason action,
including closures and reallocation, will be announced in accordance
with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c) and on the NMFS hotline at
(206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-9825.
The spring all-depth fishery is open 7 days per week from May 1
through July 31. The area will be closed when there is not sufficient
subarea allocation for another full day of fishing. Any inseason
action, including closures and reallocation, will be announced in
accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c) and on the NMFS
hotline at (206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-9825.
The summer all-depth fishery is open 7 days per week from August 1
through October 31; however, the weeks the fishery is open depends on
the remaining amount of allocation from the nearshore and spring all-
depth fisheries by July 31, the close of the spring all-depth fishery.
If there is 50,000 lb (22.7 mt) or more allocation remaining, the
summer all-depth fishery will open 7 days per week, every week, from
August 1 through October 31. If there is less than 50,000 lb (22.7 mt)
allocation remaining the summer all-depth fishery will open 7 days per
week, every other week, from August 1 through October 31. If the entire
Oregon Central Coast subarea allocation remaining is 30,000 lb (13.6
mt) or more following Labor Day Weekend, the summer all-depth season
will be open 7 days per week, every week. The subarea will close when
the remaining combined spring all-depth fishery and summer all-depth
fishery allocations in the Oregon Central Coast subarea is not
sufficient for another full day of fishing. If the Oregon Central Coast
subarea is not projected to utilize its allocation by the season ending
date, NMFS may take inseason action to transfer any projected unused
allocation to another Oregon subarea.
Any inseason action, including closures and reallocation, will be
announced in accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c)
and on the NMFS hotline at (206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-9825.
Landing Restrictions
The daily bag limit is two Pacific halibut of any size per person.
Southern Oregon Subarea
Subarea Allocation
The allocation for landings into ports in the Southern Oregon
subarea is 8,000 lb (3.6 mt).
Season Structure
The fishery is open 7 days per week from May 1 through October 31.
The area will close when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for
another full day of fishing. If the Southern Oregon subarea is not
projected to utilize its allocation by the season ending date, NMFS may
take inseason action to transfer any projected unused allocation to
another Oregon subarea.
Any inseason action, including closures and reallocation, will be
announced in accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c)
and on the NMFS hotline at (206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-9825.
Landing Restrictions
The daily bag limit is two Pacific halibut of any size per person.
Northern California Coast Subarea
Subarea Allocation
The Pacific halibut recreational fishing allocation for landings
into ports in the Northern California Coast subarea is 39,540 lb (17.9
mt).
Season Structure
Consistent with the 2026 IPHC regulations, the fishery is open 7
days per week from April 1 through November 15. If the Northern
California Coast subarea is not projected to utilize its respective
allocation, prior to or by the season ending date, NMFS may take
inseason action to transfer any projected unused allocation to the
South of Point Arena subarea. The area will close when there is not
sufficient subarea allocation for another full day of fishing.
Any inseason action, including closures and reallocation, will be
announced in accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c)
and on the NMFS hotline at (206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-9825.
Landing Restrictions
Consistent with the 2026 IPHC regulations, the daily bag limit is
one Pacific halibut of any size per person.
South of Point Arena Subarea
The Pacific halibut recreational fishing allocation for landings
into ports in the South of Point Arena subarea is 500 lb (0.2 mt).
Season Structure
Consistent with the 2026 IPHC regulations, the fishery is open 7
days per week from April 1 through December 31. The area will close
when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for another full day of
fishing.
Any inseason action, including closures and reallocation, will be
announced in accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c)
and on the NMFS hotline at (206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-9825.
[[Page 23373]]
Landing Restrictions
Consistent with the 2026 IPHC regulations, the daily bag limit is
one Pacific halibut of any size per person.
Comments and Responses
NMFS published a proposed rule on March 25, 2026 (91 FR 14511) and
requested public comment on the 2026 Regulatory Area 2A CSP and the
proposed 2026 annual management measures. NMFS received four distinct
public comments on the proposed rule only; one of which was responsive
to this action from the ODFW.
Comment 1: ODFW submitted a comment recommending that the 2026
Oregon Central Coast subarea's spring all-depth recreational fishery
season dates be those included in the proposed rule: 7 days per week,
May 1-July 31. In contrast to the one Pacific halibut of any size per
person daily bag limit included in the proposed rule, ODFW recommended
that the daily bag limit for the Oregon Central Coast and Southern
Oregon subareas be two Pacific halibut of any size per person. ODFW's
recommendations for the 2026 season dates and bag limits are based on
feedback from a public meeting ODFW conducted following the IPHC annual
meeting, as well as on past fishing effort and harvest rates, other
fishing opportunities anticipated for 2026, the potential for adverse
weather impacts on fishing in 2026, and the risk of exceeding the
combined spring and summer all-depth fishery allocations.
Response: NMFS appreciates ODFW's public outreach and its
recommendations for the 2026 season dates and bag limits and has
revised the Oregon Central Coast and Southern Oregon subarea daily bag
limits to be two Pacific halibut of any size per person, which is a
change from the proposed rule.
Classification
This final rule is consistent with section 773 of the Halibut Act,
which gives relevant regional fishery management councils the authority
to develop regulations governing Pacific halibut fishing in U.S. waters
that are in addition to, and not in conflict with, approved IPHC
regulations, and that ``shall only be implemented with the approval of
the Secretary.'' (Id. 773c(c)).
This action is exempt from review under Executive Order (E.O.)
12866. This final rule is exempt from the requirements of E.O. 14192
because it is a routine fishing action. A Treaty Tribal summary impact
statement under section (5)(b)(2)(B) and section (5)(c)(2) of E.O.
13175 was not required for this final rule because this action does not
impose substantial direct compliance costs on Treaty Tribal Governments
and this action does not preempt Treaty Tribal law. A Treaty Tribal
summary impact statement is not required and has not been prepared.
NMFS finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the date of
effectiveness of this rule pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1) and (3) and
make the 2026 Regulatory Area 2A recreational fishery management
measures (i.e., season dates and bag limits) in this rule effective
immediately upon the filing of this rule with the Office of Federal
Register. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), this rule relieves a
restriction on fishing. The fishing seasons for the recreational
Pacific halibut fisheries in the first subareas for which open dates
are established under this rule are set to begin on April 30, 2026. The
next subarea open date established under this rule is May 1, 2026.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), delaying the effective date of the
annual management measures contained in this rule would be contrary to
the public interest as it would prevent the recreational Pacific
halibut fisheries in these subareas to begin on time. Accordingly,
waiving the 30-day delay in effectiveness will benefit the public
because it will provide additional opportunity for Pacific halibut
fishermen in 2026 and thus increase the likelihood of full utilization
of the 2026 Pacific halibut allocations in Area 2A.
Moreover, a delayed effective date is not necessary to provide
sufficient notice to the fishing community. The purpose of the 30-day
delay in effectiveness provision of the Administrative Procedure Act
(APA) is generally to give the regulated community time to adjust to
new regulations. This rule does not make changes that would require
fishery participants to purchase new gear or make other time-consuming
adjustments. By contrast, this rule contains season structures and open
dates for the Area 2A recreational Pacific halibut fishery that were
recommended by the Council following a public process consisting of
multiple meetings, which included the opportunity for public comment.
The regulated community has made business plans based on these
anticipated annual management measures. The final rule is also
virtually unchanged from the proposed rule except for two minor
changes. NMFS found a minor error in the proposed rule in the Columbia
River subarea section regarding how inseason action may be taken to add
additional dates in June, if appropriate. This section of the final
rule has therefore been corrected to reflect the language in the 2026
CSP. Additionally, NMFS received a comment from ODFW, which expressed
overall support for the proposed management measures; however, included
a recommendation to revise the Central Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon
subarea daily bag limits to two Pacific halibut of any size per person.
NMFS made this revision to the final rule. No other changes were
necessary to accommodate public comment.
Finally, waiver of the APA's 30-day delay in effectiveness is
appropriate because this rule implements the 2026 Regulatory Area 2A
subarea allocations for the recreational Pacific halibut fishery, as
published in the proposed rule (91 FR 14511, March 25, 2026), based on
the formulas set in the 2026 CSP and using the 2026 Area 2A FCEY for
Pacific halibut set by the IPHC and accepted by the Secretary of State,
with concurrence from the Secretary of Commerce, on March 12, 2026.
Said differently, the compressed timeline necessitated by the processes
outlined in the Halibut Act makes it impossible for NMFS to delay the
effective date of this final rule and still allow for a timely start to
the Area 2A recreational fishing season.
In conclusion, NMFS finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in
effective date pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1) and (3).
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration during the proposed rule stage that this action would
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities for purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The factual
basis for the certification was published in the proposed rule and is
not repeated here. No comments were received regarding this
certification. As a result, a regulatory flexibility analysis was not
required for this action and none was prepared.
This final rule contains no information collection requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Dated: April 29, 2026.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-08533 Filed 4-29-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 1, 2026.
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