Rule2026-08544
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2025-2026 Biennial Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments
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Published
May 1, 2026
Effective
May 1, 2026
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 commercial and recreational fishing vessels to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks. Additionally, this inseason action is expected to help achieve the full attainment of the groundfish annual catch limit (ACL), thereby supporting $164 million in ex-vessel revenue for commercial non-whiting groundfish landings and approximately 100,000 annual angler trips off Oregon.
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 23374-23376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08544]
[[Page 23374]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 241022-0278]
RIN 0648-BO13
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 and recreational groundfish
fisheries. This action is intended to allow commercial and recreational
fishing vessels to access more abundant groundfish stocks while
protecting overfished and depleted stocks. Additionally, this inseason
action is expected to help achieve the full attainment of the
groundfish annual catch limit (ACL), thereby supporting $164 million in
ex-vessel revenue for commercial non-whiting groundfish landings and
approximately 100,000 annual angler trips off Oregon.
DATES: This final rule is effective May 1, 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 and documents are available at the Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council) website at <a href="https://www.pcouncil.org/">https://www.pcouncil.org/</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Biegel, 503-231-6291,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#395a514b504a4d5649515c4b175b505c5e5c557957565858175e564f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c9aaa1bba0babda6b9a1acbbe7aba0acaeaca589a7a6a8a8e7aea6bf">[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 off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. The
Council develops 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). The final rule became 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 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.
Canary Rockfish Commercial Trip Limits
In September 2025, the Council recommended, and NMFS implemented,
an emergency rule revising the 2026 harvest specifications for
shortspine thornyhead, canary rockfish, and petrale sole; the temporary
rule became effective January 21, 2026 (91 FR 2714). The 2026
commercial non-trawl harvest guidelines (HG) for canary rockfish
increased from 50.8 to 55.7 metric tons (mt), adding 4.9 mt to the
fishery. This increase, combined with low attainment and discard
concerns, supports reconsideration of trip limits to improve
utilization. The current trip limits north of latitude 40[deg]10' N for
limited entry fixed gear (LEFG) are 3,000 lbs. (1,361 kilogram (kg))
per 2 months and for open access (OA) are 1,000 lbs. (454 kg) per 2
months. The current trip limits south of latitude 40[deg]10' N for LEFG
are 3,500 lbs. (1,588 kg) per two months and for OA are 1,500 lbs. (680
kg) per 2 months. As detailed in Agenda Item D.5.a Supplemental
Groundfish Management Team (GMT) Report 1, March 2026, the GMT
evaluated two inseason trip limit change options.
Option 1 would increase the trip limit north of latitude 40[deg]10'
N to match the limit south of latitude 40[deg]10' N for each sector,
setting LEFG at 3,500 lbs. (1,588 kg) per 2 months and OA at 1,500 lbs.
(680 kg) per 2 months. Option 2 would increase coastwide trip limits
north and south of latitude 40[deg]10' N to 4,000 lbs. (1,814 kg) per 2
months for LEFG and 2,000 lbs. (907 kg) per 2 months for OA.
Table 1 of the Supplemental GMT Report provided the projected
canary rockfish mortality associated with each option as compared to
the 2026 commercial non-trawl HG (55.7 mt). Under option 1, attainment
of the commercial non-trawl HG is projected to increase to 70 percent.
Under option 2, attainment is projected to increase to 87 percent.
Option 2 provides a substantial buffer between projected mortality and
the fishery HG, while increasing access to shelf species, reducing
discards, improving HG attainment, and simplifying management.
Additionally, option 2 was requested by LEFG and OA fishery
participants and has industry support. Therefore, at the March 2026
meeting, the GMT recommended Option 2 to set coastwide canary rockfish
trip limits at 4,000 lbs. (1,814 kg) per 2 months for LEFG and 2,000
lbs. (907 kg) per 2 months for OA, north and south of latitude
40[deg]10' N.
For these reasons, the Council recommended, and NMFS is
implementing, an inseason increase in the commercial non-trawl canary
rockfish trip limits coastwide. The new limits for 2026, north and
south of latitude 40[deg]10' N will be 4,000 lbs. (1,814 kg) per 2
months for LEFG, and 2,000 lbs. (907 kg) per 2 months for OA.
Oregon Long-Leader Recreational Bag Limits
At the March 2026 meeting, the Council also recommended, and NMFS
is implementing, inseason adjustments to the Oregon recreational long-
leader fishery overall bag limit and the canary rockfish sub-bag limit.
Currently, the long-leader fishery's overall bag limit for fishing in
federal waters off Oregon is 12 fish and the canary rockfish sub-bag
limit for federal waters is 1 fish.
During the 2025-26 harvest specifications process, a 5-fish sub-bag
limit for canary rockfish was evaluated to provide a range for state
regulations to work within, as the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission
(OFWC) adopts state regulations each December for the following
calendar year. For 2026, the OFWC adopted a 2-fish sub-bag for canary
rockfish in the long-leader fishery to reduce regulatory discards and
respond to the recent emergency action to increase the coastwide ACL
for canary rockfish. As recommended by the Council in September 2025,
NMFS took emergency action to increase the Oregon recreational HG for
canary rockfish from 26.1 to 28.6 mt for 2026, adding 2.5 mt to the
fishery.
The Oregon recreational HG of 26 mt was fully attained in 2025. For
2026, in order to attain but not exceed other species' catch limits,
OFWC adopted a 10-fish bag limit for the long-leader fishery instead of
the 12-fish bag limit for federal waters. In order to allow additional
opportunity for full utilization of the Oregon recreational HG for
canary rockfish for 2026, the Council recommended, and NMFS is
implementing, inseason action to increase the canary rockfish sub-bag
[[Page 23375]]
limit from 1 to 2-fish for the recreational long-leader fishery in
federal waters off Oregon. Further, the Council recommended, and NMFS
is implementing, inseason action to reduce the long-leader fishery bag
limit in federal waters from 12 to 10-fish in order to establish
consistent regulations for the fishery. To ensure that the 2026 canary
rockfish ACL is not exceeded, ODFW will continue to monitor canary
rockfish landings and discard mortality inseason from the long-leader
gear.
In summary, the Council recommended, and NMFS is implementing, an
increase of the canary rockfish sub-bag limit from 1 to 2-fish for the
Oregon recreational long-leader fishery in federal waters and a
reduction in the fishery's bag limit from 12 to 10-fish.
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 Christopher Biegel in NMFS West
Coast Region (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above), or view at
the NMFS West Coast Groundfish website: <a href="http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/groundfish/index.html">http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/groundfish/index.html</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 inseason adjustments to management measures in
this rule modify trip limits for fisheries in federal waters off the
coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California by implementing trip
limits designed to increase utilization 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).
The Council recommended, and NMFS is implementing, an increase to
the commercial non-trawl canary rockfish trip limits north and south of
latitude 40[deg]10' N to 4,000 lbs. (1,814 kg) per 2 months for LEFG
and 2,000 lbs. (907 kg) per 2 months for OA. Non-trawl rockfish
allocations are generally underutilized and providing the LEFG and OA
fishery with increased access to these stocks will have economic
benefits without jeopardizing the stocks' ACLs. Additionally, the
Council recommended, and NMFS is implementing, an increase of the
canary rockfish sub-bag limit for the Oregon recreational long-leader
fishery in federal waters from 1 to 2-fish and a reduction of the
fishery's overall bag limit from 12 to 10-fish. Both measures are
already in effect in state regulations. This action will therefore
create consistency between Federal and State regulations.
This inseason action was developed through the Council process,
which includes the opportunity for public comment. There was no
opposition to any aspect of the rule in that venue. Delaying
implementation of this rule to allow for additional public comment
would reduce the economic and other benefits to commercial and
recreational fishermen and fishing communities, including to businesses
that rely on the fishing industry. To realize the full projected
benefits of this inseason action to fishermen and fishing communities
the new trip limits should be effective as soon as possible. A delay in
implementation could also contribute to unnecessarily discarded and
largely wasted fish, which could otherwise be landed to provide food
and revenue. Thus, waiver of the requirement for prior notice and an
opportunity for public comment under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) supports
responsible use of the resource.
In addition, for the reasons described above, 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 filing with
the Office of Federal Register. The adjustments to management measures
in this rule affect commercial and recreational fisheries by increasing
opportunity and allowing greater economic and other benefits to
fishermen and fishing communities, while keeping catch within
allocations established by the 2025-2026 harvest specifications. These
adjustments were requested by the Council's advisory bodies, as well as
members of industry during the Council's March 2026 meeting, and
recommended unanimously by the Council following a public process. No
aspect of this action is controversial, and changes of this nature were
anticipated in the biennial harvest specifications and management
measures established through notice and comment rulemaking (89 FR
101514).
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660
Fisheries, Fishing, and Indian fisheries.
Dated: April 29, 2026.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 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. Amend table 2b (North) to part 660, subpart E by revising the entry
for ``Canary rockfish'' 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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
Canary rockfish........................... 4,000 lb/2 months.
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
3. Amend table 2b (South) to part 660, subpart E by revising the entry
for ``Canary rockfish'' 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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
Canary rockfish........................... 4,000 lb/2 months.
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 23376]]
0
4. Amend table 3b (North) to part 660, subpart F by revising the entry
for ``Canary rockfish'' to read as follows:
Table 3b (North) to Part 660, Subpart F--Trip Limits for Open Access
North of 40[deg]10' N Lat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Trip limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
Canary rockfish........................... 2,000 lb/2 months.
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
5. Amend table 3b (South) to part 660, subpart F by revising the entry
for ``Canary rockfish'' 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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
Canary rockfish........................... 2,000 lb/2 months.
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0
6. In Sec. 660.360 revise paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(A) to read as follows:
Sec. 660.360 Recreational fishery--management measures.
* * * * *
(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
10 fish per day with a sub-bag limit of 2 fish per day for canary
rockfish. 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
(e.g., 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. 2026-08544 Filed 4-30-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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