[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 87 (Thursday, May 4, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25881-25887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11108]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 600 and 660

[Docket No. 991223347-9347; I.D. 042600B]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trip Limit Adjustments

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Fishing restrictions; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces changes to trip limits in the Pacific Coast 
groundfish fishery. These actions, which are authorized by the Pacific 
Coast groundfish fishery management plan (FMP), are intended to help 
the fisheries achieve optimum yield (OY).

DATES: Effective 0001 hours local time May 1, 2000 (May 16, 2000 for 
the ``B'' platoon), unless modified, superseded or rescinded, until the 
effective date of the 2001 annual specifications and management 
measures for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery, which will be 
published in the Federal Register. Comments on this rule will be 
accepted through May 19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to William Stelle, Jr., Administrator, 
Northwest Region (Regional Administrator), NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way 
N.E., BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or Rodney McInnis, 
Acting Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., 
Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine King or Yvonne deReynier, 
Northwest Region, NMFS, 206-526-6140.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following changes to current management 
measures were recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council), in consultation with the States of Washington, Oregon, and 
California, at its April 3-7, 2000, meeting in Portland, OR. Pacific 
coast groundfish landings will be monitored throughout the year, and 
further adjustments to the trip limits will be made as necessary to 
stay within the OYs and allocations announced in the annual 
specifications and management measures for the groundfish fishery, 
published in the Federal Register at 65 FR 221 (January 4, 2000), as 
amended at 65 FR 17805 (April 5, 2000).

Housekeeping

    The Council made a number of housekeeping recommendations that 
would remedy minor problems in the management measures that were 
implemented at the beginning of the year. (1) The trip limits for 
Pacific ocean perch (POP) were inadvertently applied coastwide even 
though POP south of 40 deg.10' N. lat. were already included in the 
trip limits for minor slope rockfish. This document clarifies that the 
trip limits for POP (line 5 in Tables 3, 4, and 5) apply only north of 
40 deg.10' N. lat., South of 40 deg.10' N. lat., POP remains in the 
minor slope rockfish category. (2) Flag rockfish are not found north of 
40 deg.10' N. lat., and in Table 2 are removed from the minor shelf 
rockfish category in that area. (3) New testimony from fishers revealed 
that red-banded rockfish are not caught on the continental shelf, but 
are taken in deeper waters. Consequently, red-banded rockfish, which is 
one of the minor rockfish species that occurs both north and south of 
40 deg.10' N. lat., is moved from the shelf to the slope category in 
Table 2. These reassignments result in no change to the OYs or trip 
limits for any species or species group. Other provisions remain the 
same except as explained below.

Flatfish

    The Council heard testimony that limited entry trawl fishers were 
encountering small amounts of flatfish, particularly English sole, when 
fishing with large footropes in deeper water on the continental slope. 
Current restrictions would have required the use of small footrope gear 
for landings of any flatfish except Dover and rex soles between May 1-
October 31, 2000. (This provision also applies to petrale sole from 
March 1-April 30, 2000.) The Council recommended an incidental trip 
limit for other flatfish of 400 lb (181 kg) per trip for large footrope 
trawls between May and October so that unavoidable incidental catch 
would not have to be discarded. This amount is believed to be too small 
to encourage any target fishing for flatfish on the shelf with large 
footrope gear, which is discouraged due to the potential interception 
of depleted species. Dover and rex soles remain in the only flatfish 
species in the FMP that are not managed according to the size of the 
trawl footrope onboard; there continues to be no poundage limit on 
arrowtooth flounder, petrale sole, and other flatfish taken with small 
footrope trawls.

Nearshore Minor Rockfish

    A new strategy for managing rockfish was implemented on January 1, 
2000, which reduced the amount of rockfish available to nearshore 
commercial fisheries (65 FR 221, January 4, 2000, as amended). When the 
current limits were recommended by the Council in November 1999, there 
was a clear need to reduce landings significantly, but there was no way 
to anticipate reductions in participation. The best available 
information at the April Council meeting indicated that landings of 
rockfish through February 2000 were minimal. Although the commercial 
nontrawl fisheries are subject to a high degree of seasonality, it 
appears unlikely that the current limits would allow achievement of the 
nearshore rockfish limited entry and open access allocations. The 
Council recommended that cautious increases to the nearshore rockfish 
limits begin May 1, with further adjustments to be made later in the 
year as needed. Any increase runs some risk of accelerating the 
fisheries to the point where they would need to be closed before the 
end of the year, but the Council believed the risk to be preferable to 
continuing with limits that provide very little opportunity for 
profitable trips. Even with these increases, the trip limits for 
nearshore rockfish remain significantly lower than in recent years, and 
will not accommodate the needs of the entire open access fleet. The 
Council made the following recommendations:
    For the limited entry nontrawl fishery north of 40 deg.10' N. lat., 
the nearshore minor rockfish trip limit is changed from 2,400 lb (1,089 
kg) per 2 months, of which no more than 1,200 lb (544 kg) may be 
species other than black or blue rockfish, to 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) per 2 
months, of which no more than 1,400 lb (635 kg) may be species other 
than black or blue rockfish.

[[Page 25882]]

    For the limited entry nontrawl fishery south of 40 deg.10' N. lat., 
the nearshore minor rockfish trip limit is increased from 1,000 (454 
kg) to 1,300 lb (590 kg) per 2-month period.
    For the open access nontrawl fishery north of 40 deg.10' N. lat., 
the nearshore minor rockfish trip limit is increased from 1,000 lb (454 
kg) per 2 months, of which no more than 500 lb (227 kg) per 2 months, 
of which no more than 700 lb (318 kg) may be species other than black 
or blue rockfish. In addition, special provisions were made for vessels 
landing in Pacific City, OR.
    The Council heard testimony from two dory fishers from Pacific 
City, who stated that the limits were so low that vessels were not 
fishing and virtually no landings of groundfish had occurred so far 
this year. (Less than 200 lb (113 kg) of groundfish have been landed in 
Pacific City through March 30, 2000.) The dory representatives asked 
the Council to consider compressing their groundfish fishery into a 5-
month season, from May 1 through September 30, 2000, after which no 
landings of groundfish would be allowed in Pacific City for the rest of 
the year. This could provide larger monthly cumulative limits when the 
season is open, at the expense of closing Pacific City to landings of 
groundfish for the rest of the year.
    Pacific City is a small community, geographically isolated from the 
rest of the coast. The nearest ports with processing facilities are 
Garibaldi to the north and Newport to the south, both in Oregon. The 
higher limit and later closure would be linked to landing in Pacific 
City. There are no docks for offloading in Pacific City. Therefore, 
these limits are only available to small vessels that can land on the 
beach, and cannot be harvested by larger vessels that later can land in 
other areas. The Pacific City groundfish fleet consists entirely of 
open access dories, small vessels less than 25 feet (7.68 m) in length, 
that are launched from, and land on, the beach. These vessels are so 
small that they conduct only day trips near shore. This dory fleet 
consists of about 11 vessels of which half are active in the fishery. 
The groundfish taken by these vessels are almost entirely black and 
blue rockfish, predominantly black. Occasionally a dory fisher also 
participates in the salmon fishery. Alternative fisheries do not exist 
for the dory fleet in Pacific City.
    The Council carefully considered the composition of the fleet, the 
inability of dories to participate in other fisheries, the geographical 
isolation and lack of port and processing facilities that would 
discourage other vessels from landing in Pacific City, and agreed to 
recommend a variation in the season and trip limit for this localized 
fleet. The Council recommended a cumulative trip limit of 2,200 lb (998 
kg) per month from May 1 through September 30, after which no open 
access landings of groundfish may be made in Pacific City, even if 
taken in the salmon fishery. The amount of groundfish available during 
the year is intended to be no different than for open access fishers 
operating under a longer season and landing elsewhere along the coast. 
This action is consistent with the Council's intent ``* * * to provide 
a continued opportunity to nearshore fishers to selectively harvest 
black and blue rockfish * * *'' (65 FR 235, January 4, 2000).
    For the open access nontrawl fishery south of 40 deg.10' N. lat., 
the nearshore minor rockfish trip limit is increased from 550 lb (249 
kg) to 800 lb (363 kg) per 2-month period. Sablefish North of 35 deg. 
N. lat.
    Similarly, landing by the daily trip limit fisheries for sablefish 
taken with nontrawl gear north of 36 deg. N. lat., were lower than 
expected through the end of February 2000, although close to 1999 
levels. The Council recommended continuing the 300-lb (136-kg) daily 
trip limit, but increasing the cumulative amount that may be landed 
from 2,100 (953 kg) to 2,400 lb (1,089 kg) per 2-month period in both 
the limited entry and open access nontrawl sablefish fisheries.
    At its June meeting in Portland, Oregon, the Council will make 
recommendations for the opening date, duration, and level of cumulative 
trip limits for the nontrawl, limited entry regular sablefish season.

NMFS Actions

    For the reasons stated here, NMFS concurs with the Council's 
recommendations and announces the following changes to the 2000 annual 
management measures (65 FR 221, January 4, 2000, as amended at 65 FR 
17805, April 5, 2000), as follows:
    In Section IV., a new paragraph C.(4) is added and Tables 2, 3, 4, 
and 5 are revised to read as follows:
IV. NMFS Actions
* * * * *

                             Table 2.--Minor Rockfish Species (Excludes Thornyheads)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      North of 40 deg. 10" N. lat.                             South of 40 deg. 10" N. lat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Nearshore
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
black, Sebastes melanops................  black, Sebastes melanops.
black and yellow, S. chrysolmelas.......  black and yellow, S. chrysolmelas.
blue, S. mystinus.......................  blue, S. mystinus.
brown, S. auriculatus...................  brown, S. auriculatus.
calico, S. dalli........................  calico, S. dalli.
China, S. Nebulosus.....................  California scorpionfish, Scorpaena guttata.
copper, S. caurinus.....................  China, Sebastes nebulosus.
gopher, S. carnatus.....................  copper, S. caurinus.
grass, S. rastrelliger..................  gopher, S. carnatus.
kelp, S. atrovirens.....................  grass, S. rastrelliger.
olive, S. serranoides...................  kelp, S. atrovirens.
quillback, S. maliger...................  olive, S. serranoides.
treefish, S. serriceps..................  quillback, S. maliger.
                                          treefish, S. serriceps.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Shelf
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
bronzespotted, S. gilli.................  bronzespotted, S. gilli.
bocaccio, S. paucispinis................  chameleon, S. phillipsi.
chameleon, S. phillipsi.................  dwarf-red, S. rufinanus.
chilipepper, S. goddei..................  flag, S. rubrivinctus.

[[Page 25883]]

 
cowcod, S. levis........................  freckled, S. lentiginosus.
dwarf-red, S. rufinanus.................  greenblotched, S. rosenblatti.
freckled, S. lentiginosus...............  greenspotted, S. chlorostictus.
greenblotched, S. rosenblatti...........  greenstriped, S. elongatus.
greenspotted, S. chlorostictus..........  halfbanded, S. semicinctus.
greenstriped, S. elongatus..............  honeycomb, S. umbrosus.
halfbanded, S. semicinctus..............  Mexican, S. macdonaldi.
honeycomb, S. umbrosus..................  pink, S. eos.
Mexican, S. macdonaldi..................  pinkrose, S. simulator.
pink, S. eos............................  pygmy, S. wilsoni.
pinkrose, S. simulator..................  redstriped, S. proriger.
pygmy, S. wilsoni.......................  rosethorn, S. helvomaculatus.
redstriped, S. proriger.................  rosy, S. rosaceus.
rosethorn, S. helvomaculatus............  silvergrey, S. brevispinis.
rosy, S. rosaceus.......................  speckled, S. ovalis.
silvergrey, S. brevispinis..............  squarespot, S. hopkinsi.
speckled, S. ovalis.....................  starry, S. constellatus.
squarespot, S. hopkinsi.................  stripetail, S. saxicola.
starry, S. constellatus.................  swordspine, S. ensifer.
stripetail, S. saxicola.................  tiger, S. nigrocinctus.
swordspine, S. ensifer..................  vermilion, S. miniatus.
tiger, S. nigrocinctus..................  yelloweye, S. ruberrimus.
vermilion, S. miniatus..................  yellowtail, S. flavidus.
yelloweye, S. ruberrimus................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Slope
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
aurora, S. aurora.......................  aurora, S. aurora.
bank, S. rufus..........................  bank, S. rufus.
blackgill, S. melanostomus..............  blackgill, S. melanostomus.
darkblotched, S. crameri................  darkblotched, S. crameri.
redbanded, S. babcocki..................  Pacific ocean perch (POP), S. alutus.
rougheye, S. aleutianus.................  redbanded, S. babcocki.
sharpchin, S. zacentrus.................  rougheye, S. aleutianus.
shortraker, S. borealis.................  sharpchin, S. zacentrus.
splitnose, S. diploproa.................  shortraker, S. borealis.
yellowmouth, S. reedi...................  yellowmouth, S. reedi.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

                                  Table 3.--2000 Trip Limits \1\ and Gear Requirements \2\ for Limited Entry Trawl Gear
                                               [Read Section IV.A. NMFS Actions before using this table.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Species/groups                Jan-Feb              Mar-Apr             May-Jun             Jul-Aug             Sep-Oct             Nov-Dec
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minor slope rockfish:
    North......................             3,000 lb/2 months
                                                      5,000 lb/2 months                       1,500 lb/month.
    South......................             3,000 lb/2 months
                                                      5,000 lb/2 months                       1,500 lb/month.
Splitnose-South................             8,500 lb/2 months
                                                      14,000 lb/2 months                      4,000 lb/month.
POP-North......................                500 lb/month
                                                        2,000 lb/month                        500 lb/month.
Sablefish......................   7,000 lb/2 months; 22-inch size limit
                                                    \3\
                                          10,000 lb/2 months; 22-inch size limit \3\          3,000 lb/month; 22-
                                                                                               inch size
                                                                                               limit.\3\
Longspine thornyhead...........             2,000 lb/2 months
                                                      4,000 lb/2 months                       6,000 lb/month.
Shortspine thornyhead..........             3,000 lb/2 months
                                                      1,000 lb/2 months                       1,500 lb/month.
Dover Sole.....................             55,000 lb/2 months
                                                      20,000 lb/2 months                      20,000 lb/month.
Arrowtooth flounder............              10,000 lb/ trip
                                 Small footrope--No pound limit; Large footrope--Included in  10,000 lb/trip.
                                               ``other flatfish'' trip limit \2\
Petrale sole...................  No restriction       No limit but small   Small footrope--No pound limit; Large footrope--Included   No restriction.
                                                       footrope required              in ``other flatfish'' trip limit \2\
Rex sole.......................                                                          No limit
Other flatfish \4\.............                            Small footrope--No pound limit; Large footrope--400 lb per trip \2\
Whiting shoreside \5\..........    20,000 lb/trip before primary season
                                                        Primary season                        20,000 lb/trip
                                                                                               after primary
                                                                                               season.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Use of small footrope bottom trawl or midwater trawl required for landing all the following species: \6\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minor shelf rockfish:
    North......................                300 lb/month
                                                        1,000 lb/month                        300 lb/month.

[[Page 25884]]

 
    South......................                500 lb/month
                                                        1,000 lb/month                        500 lb/month.
Canary rockfish................                100 lb/month
                                                         300 lb/month                         100 lb/month.
Widow rockfish:
    Mid-water trawl............             30,000 lb/2 months
                                                      30,000 lb/2 months                      30,000 lb/2
                                                                                               months.
    Small footrope trawl.......               1,000 lb/month
                                                        1,000 lb/month                        1,000 lb/month.
Yellowtail--North: \7\
    Mid-Water trawl............             10,000 lb/2 months
                                                      30,000 lb/2 months                      10,000 lb/2
                                                                                               months.
    Small footrope trawl.......               1,500 lb/month
                                                        1,500 lb/month                        1,500 lb/month.
Bocaccio--South \7\............                300 lb/month
                                                         500 lb/month                         300 lb/month.
Chilipepper--South: \7\
    Mid-water trawl............             25,000 lb/2 months
                                                      25,000 lb/2 months                      25,000 lb/2
                                                                                               months.
    Small footrope trawl.......             7,500 lb/2 months
                                                      7,500 lb/2 months                       7,500 lb/2 months.
Cowcod--South \7\..............             1 fish per landing
                                                      1 fish per landing                      1 fish per
                                                                                               landing.
Minor nearshore rockfish:
    North......................                200 lb/month
                                                         200 lb/month                         200 lb/month.
    South......................                200 lb/month
                                                         200 lb/month                         200 lb/month.
Lingcod........................                   CLOSED
                                             400 lb/month; 24-inch size limit \8\             CLOSED.
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\1\ These trip limits apply coastwide unless otherwise specified. ``North'' means 40 deg.10' N. lat. to the US-Canada border. ``South'' means 40 deg.10'
  N. lat to the US-Mexico border. 40 deg.10' N. lat. is about 20 nautical miles south of Cape Mendocino CA.
\2\ Gear requirements and prohibitions are explained at paragraph IV.A.(14).
\3\ No more than 500 lbs (227 kg) per trip may be sablefish smaller than 22 inches (56 cm) total length, which counts toward the cumulative limit.
\4\ Other flatfish means all flatfish listed at 50 CFR 660.302 except those in this Table 3 with a trip limit (excludes rex sole).
\5\ The whiting ``per trip'' limit in the Eureka area inside 100 fm is 10,000 lb/trip throughout the year (See IV.B.(3)(c)).
\6\ Small footrope trawl means a bottom trawl net with a footrope no larger than 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter. Midwater gear also may be used; the
  footrope must be bare. See paragraph IV.A.(14).
\7\ Yellowtail rockfish and POP in the south and bocaccio, chilipepper, and cowcod rockfishes in the north are included in the trip limits for minor
  shelf rockfish in the appropriate area (Table 2).
\8\ Lingcod must be greater than or equal to 24 inches (61 cm) total length. See IV.A.(6).
To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.20462, the number of pounds in one kilogram.


                                                Table 4.--2000 Trip Limits <SUP>1</SUP> for Limited Entry Fixed Gear
                                               [Read Section IV. A. NMFS Actions before using this table.]
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         Species/groups                Jan-Feb              Mar-Apr             May-Jun            July-Aug             Sep-Oct             Nov-Dec
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minor slope rockfish:
    North......................             3,000 lb/2 months
                                                      5,000 lb/2 months                       1,500 lb/month.
    South......................             3,000 lb/2 months
                                                      5,000 lb/2 months                       1,500 lb/month.
Splitnose--South...............             8,500 lb/2 months
                                                      14,000 lb/2 months                      4,000 lb/month.
POP--North.....................                500 lb/month
                                                        2,500 lb/month                        500 lb/month.
Sablefish (daily trip limit
 fishery):<SUP>2</SUP>
    North of 36\1/2\ N. lat....     300 lb/day, 2,100 lb/2 months or 1
                                  landing above 300 lb but less than 600
                                   lb/week, less than 1,800 lb/2 months
                                  300 lb/day, 2,400 lb/2 months (option to make one landing   300 lb/day, 2,400
                                   per week above 300 lb removed May 1; may be reinstated in   lb/2 months.
                                                             July)
    South of 36\1/2\ N. lat....   350 lb/day; or 1 landing above 350 lb
                                         per week, up to 1,050 lb
                                 350 lb/day; or 1 landing above 350 lb per week, up to 1,050  350 lb/day; or 1
                                                              lb                               landing above 350
                                                                                               lb per week, up
                                                                                               to 1,050 lb.
Longspine thornyhead...........             12,000 lb/2 months
                                                      4,000 lb/2 months                       6,000 lb/month.
Shortspine thornyhead..........               1,000 lb/month
                                                        1,000 lb/month                        1,000 lb/month.
Dover sole.....................             55,000 lb/2 months
                                                      20,000 lb/2 months                      20,000 lb/month.
Arrowtooth flounder............               10,000 lb/trip
                                                        No restriction                        10,000 lb/trip.
Petrale sole...................               No restriction
                                                        No restriction                        No restriction.
Rex sole.......................               No restriction
                                                        No restriction                        No restriction.
Other flatfish <SUP>3</SUP>...............               No restriction
                                                        No restriction                        No restriction.
Shoreside whiting <SUP>4</SUP>............               20,000 lb/trip
                                                             Open                             20,000 lb/trip.
Minor shelf rockfish:
    North......................                300 lb/month
                                                        1,000 lb/month                        300 lb/month.
    South:
        40\1/2\10\1/4\-36\1/     500 lb/month         CLOSED <SUP>5</SUP>                                  1,000 lb/month                        500 lb/month.
         2\00\1/4\ N. lat..

[[Page 25885]]

 
        South of 36\1/2\00\1/4\  CLOSED               500 lb/month                              1,000 lb/month                        500 lb/month.
         N. lat..
Canary--Coastwise:
    North......................                100 lb/month
                                                         300 lb/month                         100 lb/month.
    South:
        40\1/2\10\1/4\-36\1/     100 lb/month         CLOSED                                     300 lb/month                         100 lb/month.
         2\00\1/4\ N. lat.
        South of 36\1/2\00\1/4\  CLOSED               100 lb/month                               300 lb/month                         100 lb/month.
         N. lat.
Widow rockfish--Coastwide:
    North......................               3,000 lb/month
                                                        3,000 lb/month                        3,000 lb/month.
    South:
        40\1/2\10\1/4\-36\1/     3,000 lb/month       CLOSED                                    3,000 lb/month                        3,000 lb/month.
         2\00\1/4\ N. lat.
        South of 36\1/2\00\1/4\  CLOSED               3,000 lb/month                            3,000 lb/month                        3,00 lb/month.
         N. lat.
Yellowtail--North <SUP>6</SUP>............               1,500 lb/month
                                                        1,500 lb/month                        1,500 lb/month.
Bocaccio--South: <SUP>6</SUP>
        40\1/2\10\1/4\-36\1/     300 lb/month         CLOSED                                     500 lb/month                         300 lb/month.
         2\00\1/4\ N. lat.
        South of 36\1/2\00\1/4\  CLOSED               300 lb/month                               500 lb/month                         300 lb/month.
         N. lat.
Chilipepper--South: <SUP>6</SUP>
        40\1/2\10\1/4\-36\1/     2,000 lb/month       CLOSED                                    2,000 lb/month                        2,000 lb/month.
         2\00\1/4\ N. lat.
        South of 36\1/2\00\1/4\  CLOSED               2,000 lb/month                            2,000 lb/month                        2,000 lb/month.
         N. lat.
Cowcod--South: <SUP>6</SUP>
        40\1/2\10\1/4\-36\1/     1 fish per landing   CLOSED                                  1 fish per landing                      1 fish per
         2\00\1/4\ N. lat.                                                                                                             landing.
        South of 36\1/2\00\1/4\  CLOSED               1 fish per landing                      1 fish per landing                      1 fish per
                                                                                                                                       landing.
Minor nearshore rockfish:
    North......................    2,400 lb/2 months, of which no more
                                    than 1,200 lb may be species other
                                       than black or blue rockfish <SUP>7</SUP>
                                   3,000 lb/2months, of which no more than 1,400 lb may be    3,000 lb/2 months,
                                           species other than black or blue rockfish           of which no more
                                                                                               than 1,400 lb may
                                                                                               be species other
                                                                                               than black or
                                                                                               blue rockfish.<SUP>7</SUP>
    South:
        40\1/2\10\1/4\-36\1/     1,000 lb/2 months    CLOSED                                   1,300 lb/2 months                      1,300 lb/2 months.
         2\00\1/4\ N. lat.
        South of 36\1/2\00\1/4\  CLOSED               1,000 lb/2 months                        1,300 lb/2months                       1,300 lb/2 months.
         N. lat.
Lingcod <SUP>8</SUP>......................                   CLOSED
                                  400 lb/month; size limit 24 inches north, 26 inches south   CLOSED.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<SUP>1</SUP> Trip limits apply coastwise unless otherwise specified. North means 40\1/2\ 10\1/4\ N. lat. to the US-Canada border. ``South'' means 40\1/2\ 10\1/4\
  N. lat. to the U.S.-Mexico border.
<SUP>2</SUP> The sablefish size limit does not apply during the daily trip limit fishery, but does apply during the ``regular'' and ``mop-up'' seasons north of
  36\1/2\ N. lat. See IV.B(2).
<SUP>3</SUP> Other flatfish means all flatfish listed at 50 CFR 660.302 except those in this Table 4 with a trip limit.
<SUP>4</SUP> The whiting ``per trip'' limit in the Eureka area for catch inside 100 fathoms is 10,000 lb/trip throughout the year.
<SUP>5</SUP> Closed means it is prohibited to take and retain, possess, or land the designated species in the time or area indicated (see IV.A(7)).
<SUP>6</SUP> Yellowtail rockfish and POP in the south and bocaccio, chilipepper, and cowcod rockfishes in the north are included in trip limits for minor shelf
  rockfish (Table 2).
<SUP>7</SUP> The ``per trip'' limit for black rockfish off Washington also applies. See paragraph IV.B.(4).
<SUP>8</SUP> The size limit for lingcod is 24 inches (61 cm) in the north and 26 inches (66 cm) in the south, total length.
To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.20462, the number of pounds in one kilogram.

* * * * *
C. Trip Limits in the Open Access Fishery
* * * * *
    (4) Landings in Pacific City, Oregon. For purposes of this 
paragraph, Pacific City, Oregon is the area between 45 deg.20'15"N. 
lat.
    (a) May 1-September 30, 2000: No more than 2,200 lb (998 kg) of 
minor nearshore rockfish may be landed per month in Pacific City. 
Within the 2,200 lb (998 kg) monthly limit, no more than 700 lb (318 
kg) may be species other than black or blue rockfish.
    October 1-December 31, 2000: Groundfish may not be landed in 
Pacific City, even if harvested in a nongroundfish fishery.
* * * * *

[[Page 25886]]



                                     Table 5.--2000 Trip Limits \1\ for All Open Access Gear Except Exempted Trawl Gear Engaged in Fishing for Pink Shrimp *
                                                                   [Read Section IV. A. NMFS Actions before using this table.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Species/groups                  JAN-FEB                MAR-APR                MAY-JUN                JULY-AUG               SEP-OCT                  NOV                   DEC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minor slope rockfish:
    North........................                 500 lb/2 months
                                                             500 lb/2 months
                                                 500 lb/2 months.
    South........................                 500 lb/2 months
                                                             500 lb/2 months
                                                 500 lb/2 months.
Splitnose--South.................                  200 lb/month
                                                               200 lb/month
                                                   200 lb/month.
POP--North.......................                  100 lb/month
                                                               100 lb/month
                                                   100 lb/month.
Sablefish:\2\
    North of 36 deg..............     300 lb/day, but no more than 2,100 lb/2
                                                       months
                                              300 lb/day, but no more than 2,400 lb/2months
                                              300 lb/day, but no more than 2,400 lb/2 months
    South of 36 deg..............                   350 lb/day
                                                                350 lb/day
                                                    350 lb/day.
Thornyheads (longspine and
 shortspine combined):
    North of Pt. Conception......                   CLOSED \3\
                                                                  CLOSED
                                                      CLOSED.
    South of Pt. Conception......                    50 lb/day
                                                                50 lb/day
                                                    50 lb/day.
Arrowtooth.......................                  200 lb/month
                                                               200 lb/month
                                                   200 lb/month.
Dover sole.......................                                                              (included in ``other'' flatfish limit)
Petrale sole.....................                                                              (included in ``other'' flatfish limit)
Nearshore flatfish...............                                                              (included in ``other'' flatfish limit)
``Other'' flatfish \4\...........                  300 lb/month
                                                               300 lb/month
                                                   300 lb/month.
Shoreside whiting................                  300 lb/month
                                                               300 lb/month
                                                   300 lb/month.
Minor shelf rockfish:
    North........................                  100 lb/month
                                                               100 lb/month
                                                   100 lb/month.
    South:
        40 deg.10'-36 deg.00' N.   200 lb/month           CLOSED                                             200 lb/month
         lat.
                                                   200 lb/month.
        South of 36 deg.00' N.     CLOSED                 200 lb/month                                       200 lb/month
         lat.
                                                   200 lb/month.
Canary:
    North........................                   50 lb/month
                                                               50 lb/month
                                                   50 lb/month.
    South:
        40 deg.10'-36 deg.00' N.   50 lb/month            CLOSED                                             50 lb/month
         lat.
                                                   50 lb/month.
        South of 36 deg.00' N.     CLOSED                 50 lb/month                                        50 lb/month
         lat.
                                                   50 lb/month.
Widow:
    North........................                 3,000 lb/month
                                                              3,000 lb/month
                                                  3,000 lb/month.
    South:
        40 deg.10'-36 deg.00' N.   3,000 lb/month         CLOSED                                            3,000 lb/month
         lat.
                                                  3,000 lb/month.
        South of 36 deg.00' N.     CLOSED                 3,000 lb/month                                    3,000 lb/month
         lat.
                                                  3,000 lb/month.
Yellowtail--North \5\............                  100 lb/month
                                                               100 lb/month
                                                   100 lb/month.
Bocaccio--South:\5\
        40 deg.10'-36 deg.00' N.   200 lb/month           CLOSED                                             200 lb/month
         lat.
                                                   200 lb/month.
        South of 36 deg.00' N.     CLOSED                 200 lb/month                                       200 lb/month
         lat.
                                                   200 lb/month.
Chilipepper--South:\5\
        40 deg.10'-36 deg.00' N.   2,000 lb/month         CLOSED                                            2,000 lb/month
         lat.
                                                  2,000 lb/month.
        South of 36 deg.00' N.     CLOSED                 2,000 lb/month                                    2,000 lb/month
         lat.
                                                  2,000 lb/month.
Cowcod--South:\5\
        40 deg.10'-36 deg.00' N.   1 fish per landing     CLOSED                                          1 fish per landing
         lat.
                                                1 fish per landing.
        South of 36 deg.00' N.     CLOSED                 1 fish per landing                              1 fish per landing
         lat.
                                                1 fish per landing.
Minor nearshore rockfish:

[[Page 25887]]

 
    North........................   1,000 lb/2 months,\6\ of which no more than
                                     500 lb may be species other than black or
                                                   blue rockfish
                                      1,500 lb/2 months,\6\ \7\ of which no more than 700 lb may be
                                                 species other than black or blue rockfish
                                    1,500 lb/2 months,\6\ \7\ of which no more
                                    than 700 lb may be species other than black
                                                 or blue rockfish.
    South:
        40 deg.10'-36 deg.00' N.   550 lb/2 months        CLOSED                                           800 lb/2 months
         lat.
                                                 800 lb/2 months.
        South of 36 deg.00' N.     CLOSED                 550 lb/2 months                                  800 lb/2 months
         lat.
                                                 800 lb/2 months.
Lingcod \8\......................                     CLOSED
                                         400 lb/month size limit 24 inches north, 26 inches south
                                                      CLOSED.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Trip limits apply coastwide unless otherwise specified. North means 40 deg.10' N. lat. to the US-Canada border. ``South'' means 40 deg.10' N. lat. to the US-Mexico border.
\2\ There is no size limit for sablefish taken and retained with nontrawl gear in the open access fishery. See IV.B.2.
\3\ Closed means it is prohibited to take and retain, possess, or land the species in the time or area indicated (see IV.A.(7)).
\4\ Other flatfish means all flatfish listed at 50 CFR 660.302 except those in this Table 5 with a trip limit.
\5\ Yellowtail rockfish and POP in the south and bocaccio, chilipepper, and cowcod rockfishes in the north are included in the trip limits for minor shelf rockfish in the appropriate area
  (Table 2).
\6\ The ``per trip'' limit for black rockfish off Washington also applies. See paragraph IV.B.(4).
\7\ Provisions for landing groundfish in Pacific City, OR are found at paragraph IV.C.(4).
\8\ The size limit for lingcod is 25 inches (61 cm) in the north and 26 inches (66 cm) in the south, total length.
To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.20462, the number of pounds in one kilogram.

* * * * *

Classification

    These actions are authorized by the regulations implementing the 
FMP and the emergency rule published at 65 FR 221 (January 4, 2000), 
and are based on the most recent data available. The aggregate data 
upon which these actions are based are available for public inspection 
at the office of the Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES) during business hours.
    NMFS finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior 
notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), because providing prior notice and opportunity for 
comment would be impracticable. It would be impracticable because the 
next cumulative limit period begins on May 1, 2000, and affording 
additional notice and opportunity for public comment would impede the 
due and timely execution of the agency's function of managing fisheries 
to achieve OY. In addition, the affected public had the opportunity to 
comment on these actions at the April 3-7, 2000 Council meeting.
    NMFS also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in 
effectiveness pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), because all of the trip 
limit changes in this notice liberalize trip limits, thereby relieving 
restrictions. This action should be implemented at the beginning of the 
cumulative trip limit period to avoid confusion and provide fishers the 
uninterrupted opportunity to achieve the new trip limits. For these 
reasons good cause exists to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness.
    These actions are taken under the authority of 50 CFR 
660.323(b)(1), and are exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 28, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-11108 Filed 5-1-00; 3:07 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M