83354 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

1The most recent five-year reauthorization was 

pursuant to the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014, 

Public Law 113–200. The license was made 

permanent by the Satellite Television Community 

Protection and Promotion Act of 2019, Public Law 

116–94, div. P, title XI, section 1102(a), (c)(1), 133 

Stat. 3201, 3203. 

2Program Suppliers and Joint Sports Claimants 

comprised the Copyright Owners while DIRECTV, 

Inc., DISH Network, LLC, and National 

Programming Service, LLC, comprised the Satellite 

Carriers. 

3On November 14, 2023, the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics announced that the CPI–U increased 3.2% 

over the last 12 months. 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

Copyright Royalty Board 

37 CFR Part 386 

[Docket No 23–CRB–0010–SA–COLA (2024)] 

Cost of Living Adjustment to Satellite 

Carrier Compulsory License Royalty 

Rates 

AGENCY: Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), 

Library of Congress. 

ACTION: Final rule; cost of living 

adjustment. 

SUMMARY: The Copyright Royalty Judges 

announce a cost of living adjustment 

(COLA) of 3.2% in the royalty rates 

satellite carriers pay for a compulsory 

license under the Copyright Act. The 

COLA is based on the change in the 

Consumer Price Index from October 

2022 to October 2023. 

DATES: 

Effective date: November 29, 2023. 

Applicability dates: These rates are 

applicable to the period January 1, 2024, 

through December 31, 2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Anita Brown, (202) 707–7658, crb@

loc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

satellite carrier compulsory license 

establishes a statutory copyright 

licensing scheme for the distant 

retransmission of television 

programming by satellite carriers. 17 

U.S.C. 119. Congress created the license 

in 1988 and reauthorized the license for 

additional five-year periods until 2019 

when it made the license permanent.1

On August 31, 2010, the Copyright 

Royalty Judges (Judges) adopted rates 

for the section 119 compulsory license 

for the 2010–2014 term. See 75 FR 

53198. The rates were proposed by 

Copyright Owners and Satellite 

Carriers 2 and were unopposed. Id. 

section 119(c)(2) of the Copyright Act 

provides that, effective January 1 of each 

year, the Judges shall adjust the royalty 

fee payable under section 119(b)(1)(B) 

‘‘to reflect any changes occurring in the 

cost of living as determined by the most 

recent Consumer Price Index (for all 

consumers and for all items) [CPI–U] 

published by the Secretary of Labor 

before December 1 of the preceding 

year.’’ Section 119 also requires that 

‘‘[n]otification of the adjusted fees shall 

be published in the Federal Register at 

least 25 days before January 1.’’ 17 

U.S.C. 119(c)(2). 

The change in the cost of living as 

determined by the CPI–U during the 

period from the most recent index 

published before December 1, 2022, to 

the most recent index published before 

December 1, 2023, is 3.2%.3 Application 

of the 3.2% COLA to the current rate for 

the secondary transmission of broadcast 

stations by satellite carriers for private 

home viewing—34 cents per subscriber 

per month—results in a rate of 35 cents 

per subscriber per month (rounded to 

the nearest cent). See 37 CFR 

386.2(b)(1). Application of the 3.2% 

COLA to the current rate for viewing in 

commercial establishments—70 cents 

per subscriber per month—results in a 

rate of 72 cents per subscriber per 

month (rounded to the nearest cent). See 

37 CFR 386.2(b)(2). 

List of Subjects in 37 CFR Part 386 

Copyright, Satellite, Television. 

Final Regulations 

In consideration of the foregoing, the 

Judges amend part 386 of title 37 of the 

Code of Federal Regulations as follows: 

PART 386—ADJUSTMENT OF 

ROYALTY FEES FOR SECONDARY 

TRANSMISSIONS BY SATELLITE 

CARRIERS 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 386 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 17 U.S.C. 119(c), 801(b)(1). 

■ 2. Section 386.2 is amended by adding 

paragraphs (b)(1)(xiv) and (b)(2)(xiv) to 

read as follows: 

§ 386.2 Royalty fee for secondary 

transmission by satellite carriers. 

* * * * * 

(b) * * * 

(1) * * * 

(xiv) 2024: 35 cents per subscriber per 

month. 

(2) * * * 

(xiv) 2024: 72 cents per subscriber per 

month. 

Dated: November 21, 2023. 

David P. Shaw, 

Chief Copyright Royalty Judge. 

[FR Doc. 2023–26122 Filed 11–28–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 1410–72–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 660 

[Docket No. 221206–0261] 

RIN 0648–BM72 

Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; 

Fisheries Off West Coast States; 

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 

2023–2024 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. 

SUMMARY: This final rule announces 

routine inseason adjustments to 

management measures in commercial 

and recreational groundfish fisheries for 

the 2024 fishing year. This action is 

intended to allow commercial and 

recreational fishing vessels to access 

more abundant groundfish stocks while 

protecting overfished and depleted 

stocks. 

DATES: This final rule is effective 

January 1, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Electronic Access: This rule 

is accessible via the internet at the 

Office of the Federal Register website at 

https://www.federalregister.gov. 

Background information and documents 

are available at the Pacific Fishery 

Management Council’s website at 

https://www.pcouncil.org/ including 

and supporting information for the 

Council’s recommendations at the 

November 2023 meeting. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Keeley Kent, phone: 206–247–8252 or 

email: keeley.kent@noaa.gov. 

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 over 90 species of groundfish 

in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) 

off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, 

and California. The Pacific Fishery 

Management Council (Council) 

develops groundfish harvest 

specifications and management 

measures for 2 year periods (i.e., a 

biennium). NMFS published the final 


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rule to implement harvest specifications 

and management measures for the 

2023–2024 biennium for most species 

managed under the PCGFMP on 

December 16, 2022 (87 FR 77007). 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. 

Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries are 

managed using harvest specifications or 

limits (e.g., overfishing limits [OFL], 

acceptable biological catch [ABC], 

annual catch limits [ACL], and harvest 

guidelines [HG]) recommended 

biennially by the Council and based on 

the best scientific information available 

at that time (50 CFR 660.60(b)). During 

development of the harvest 

specifications, the Council also 

recommends management measures 

(e.g., Annual Catch Targets [ACTs], trip 

limits, area closures, and bag limits) that 

are meant to mitigate catch so as not to 

exceed the harvest specifications. The 

harvest specifications and mitigation 

measures developed for the 2023–2024 

biennium used data through the 2021 

fishing year. Each of the adjustments to 

mitigation measures discussed below 

are based on updated fisheries 

information that was unavailable when 

the analysis for the current harvest 

specifications was completed. As new 

fisheries data becomes available, 

adjustments to mitigation measures are 

projected so as to help harvesters 

achieve but not exceed the harvest 

limits. 

At its November 2023 meeting, the 

Council recommended that NMFS 

extend the duration of several measures 

implemented through an inseason 

published on October 2, 2023 (88 FR 

67656), to continue the minimization of 

mortality of quillback rockfish off 

California for the 2024 fishing season. 

The Council also recommended NMFS 

reset trip limits for several species for 

the 2024 fishing season. 

Quillback Rockfish Off California 

Under current management, quillback 

rockfish are a contributing species 

within the Minor Nearshore Rockfish 

complex north and south of 40°10′ N lat. 

The harvest specifications for this 

species (ACL, ABC, and OFL) contribute 

to the harvest specifications of the 

complex. Amendment 31 to the 

PCGFMP, which was approved on 

November 13, 2023, defined quillback 

rockfish as three separate stocks 

(Washington, Oregon, and California). 

In an analysis for the November 2021 

Council meeting, a report by the 

Groundfish Management Team (GMT) 

showed continued exceedances of the 

OFL contribution of quillback rockfish 

to the nearshore rockfish complex every 

year in all 4 years between 2017 and 

2020 (Agenda Item E.3.a GMT Report 2, 

November 2021). Additionally, the 

Council noted that quillback rockfish 

has a 2.22 vulnerability score, making it 

one of the most vulnerable rockfishes in 

the PCGFMP. For these reasons, the 

Council recommended species-specific 

ACTs for quillback rockfish off the coast 

of California as part of the 2023–24 

harvest specifications and management 

measures (87 FR 77007, December 16, 

2022) to support better tracking of 

mortality in light of the depleted nature 

of quillback off California. 

Quillback rockfish have a shared 

commercial and recreational speciesspecific ACT of 0.87 metric tons (mt) for 

the area between 42° N lat. and 40°10′ 

N lat. and 0.89 mt for south of 40°10′ N 

lat. (see 50 CFR part 660, tables 1a and 

2a to subpart C). The ACTs were set 

under the 2023–24 Groundfish Harvest 

Specifications and Management 

Measures action in response to the 2021 

stock assessment for quillback rockfish 

off the coast of California, which has 

been deemed the best scientific 

information available by NOAA 

Fisheries and the scientific advisors to 

the Council. Given quillback rockfish 

are currently managed in a stock 

complex, the new ACT was meant to 

formalize the ACL contributions for 

management purposes. Setting the ACTs 

equal to the ACL contributions allows 

the Council to recommend necessary 

management measures inseason when 

the ACL contribution is met or projected 

to be met. 

At the November 2023 Council 

meeting, the PFMC recommended 

inseason changes to commercial 

fisheries in order to limit the mortality 

of quillback rockfish off California for 

2024. The ACTs, and OFL contributions 

for the stock of quillback rockfish off 

California were estimated to be 

significantly exceeded in 2023 (see 88 

FR 67656, October 2, 2023, for more 

information). Further action relative to 

mortality of quillback rockfish off 

California in the recreational fisheries is 

expected at the March 2024 PFMC 

meeting. 

At the November 2023 meeting, the 

Council’s GMT conducted analysis to 

see if there were any particular aspects 

of the fishery (by sector, location, gear 

type, etc.) where quillback were most 

commonly encountered, in order to 

narrow the scope of potential 

restrictions that may be most effective at 

reducing further impacts to quillback 

rockfish for 2024. 

The limited available spatial data 

indicated that quillback rockfish are 

very rarely encountered south of 36° N 

latitude. Additionally, the data available 

suggest that quillback rockfish off 

California north of 36° N latitude are 

rarely encountered in waters deeper 

than 50 fathoms (fm) (91.4 meters (m)) 

but that the depth ranges where they are 

most commonly encountered varies 

somewhat by latitude with more 

attributed catches in shallower depths 

(e.g., 11–30 fathoms, 20.1–54.9 m) in the 

more northern areas and deeper than 20 

fathoms (36.6 m) in southern parts of 

the California coast. 

The GMT also looked at whether the 

legal non-bottom contact hook-and-line 

gear allowed in the non-trawl rockfish 

conservation area (RCA) (50 CFR 

660.330(b)(3)) has been encountering 

quillback rockfish. This gear was a new 

management measure under the 2023– 

24 harvest specifications and 

management measures (87 FR 77007, 

December 16, 2022) within the nontrawl RCA in order to provide 

additional opportunity to commercial 

non-trawl fisheries to target healthy 

stocks while relieving pressure on 

depleted or constraining nearshore 

stocks. While data is limited so far, the 

gear configurations have shown to have 

relatively low bycatch of groundfish 

species of concern while being able to 

harvest healthy midwater rockfish. In 

the 14 years the three Experimental 

Fishing Permits (EFPs) operated that 

used similar gear (Emley-Platt, Real 

Good Fish, and Oregon Cook EFP), a 

total of only three quillback rockfish 

were caught. Further analysis showed 

that of the 108 mt of total catch in all 

three EFPs combined, approximately 

only 3 percent was quillback rockfish. 

In light of this new information, the 

Council recommended limiting the 

reductions in trip limits by gear type 

and by area in order to maintain some 

fishing opportunity with limited 

quillback rockfish impacts, and focusing 

action on the sectors with greater 

quillback impacts. The 

recommendations from the Council are 

projected to reduce discard mortality of 

quillback rockfish in order to address 

depletion while minimizing the 

economic impact to fishing 

communities to the extent possible. 

The Council recommended and, by 

revising tables 2 North and South to part 

660, subpart E, and tables 3 North and 

South to part 660, subpart F, NMFS is 

implementing an expansion of the 

shoreward extent of the non-trawl RCA 


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83356 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

off California. Currently, the shoreward 

boundary off California is either 40 or 

50 fathoms (73 meters (m) or 91 m), 

depending on latitude. This action 

moves the boundary to the shoreward 

boundary of the EEZ (3 nautical miles 

(5556 m) from shore). This closure 

reduces access to demersal co-occurring 

targets in the range of quillback 

rockfish. While new area will be closed 

to bottom-contact gears, legal nonbottom contact hook-and-line gear are 

allowed in the non-trawl RCA (50 CFR 

660.330(b)(3)). This change to the 

shoreward extent of the non-trawl RCA 

allows fishery participants to continue 

to access healthy midwater stocks inside 

the non-trawl RCA, consistent with 

§ 660.330(b)(3). 

Additionally, the Council 

recommended and, by revising tables 2 

North and South to part 660, subpart E, 

and tables 3 North and South to part 

660, subpart F, NMFS is extending the 

non-trawl RCA south of 34° 27′ N lat. in 

the 100–150 fm (183 m–274 m) depths 

to include additional islands and banks 

that were formerly in the Cowcod 

Conservation Area (CCA) (for more 

information see 88 FR 59838, August 30, 

2023). This change, which expands the 

non-trawl RCA, is being promulgated as 

a precautionary measure because 

recreational fishing may increase fishing 

pressure in areas which were 

historically closed for some or all of the 

year, and this anticipated increase in 

anglers may increase catch of 

constraining species such as copper 

rockfish, vermilion/sunset rockfish and/ 

or species with prohibited retention 

such as bronzespotted rockfish and 

cowcod. Similarly, commercial fisheries 

operating in these depths around the 

islands and banks may increase the 

likelihood of interactions with 

prohibited species (e.g., cowcod and 

bronzespotted rockfish). Additionally, 

the consistency in areas formerly closed 

by the CCA with the RCA lines in use 

along the mainland coast and Channel 

Islands south of Point Conception (34° 

27′ N lat.) will reduce regulatory 

complexity for stakeholders. 

The Council also recommended and, 

by modifying tables 2 North and South 

to part 660, subpart E, and tables 3 

North and South to part 660, subpart F, 

NMFS is implementing a zero pound 

trip limit for limited entry (LE) and 

open access (OA) fisheries between 42° 

N latitude and 36° N latitude for the 

following targets for all cumulative 

periods in 2024: Nearshore Rockfish 

complex and cabezon. These targets are 

only found in depths co-occurring with 

quillback rockfish, so in order to reduce 

quillback discard mortality, fishing on 

these targets is not allowed. 

The Council recommended and, by 

modifying tables 2 North and South to 

part 660, subpart E, and tables 3 North 

and South to part 660, subpart F, NMFS 

is implementing an area-based trip limit 

for LE and OA fisheries between 42° N 

latitude and 36° N latitude seaward of 

the non-trawl RCA for the following 

targets for all cumulative periods in 

2024: lingcod and other flatfish. Inside 

of the non-trawl RCA, the trip limit is 

zero pounds for LE and OA fisheries for 

both lingcod and other flatfish, which 

co-occur with quillback rockfish, in 

order to reduce quillback discard 

mortality. The area-based trip limits will 

allow access to these stocks in deeper 

waters, seaward of the non-trawl RCA, 

where they do not co-occur with 

quillback rockfish, providing fishing 

opportunity in this area. 

Minor Shelf Rockfish; Vermilion/Sunset 

Rockfish 

Vermilion/Sunset rockfish off 

California are currently managed as part 

of the Minor Shelf Rockfish complex, 

south of 40°10′ N latitude; as well as the 

Minor Shelf Rockfish complex north of 

40°10′ N latitude, but only in the area 

between 42° and 40°10′ N lat. For 2024, 

the southern complex has an ACL of 

1,469 metric tons (mt), and vermilion/ 

sunset rockfish has an ACL contribution 

of 281.29 mt; the northern complex has 

an ACL of 1,278 mt, and vermilion/ 

sunset rockfish has an ACL contribution 

of 6.62 mt within it. 

With the changes described above, 

which will shift fishing effort from the 

nearshore out to the shelf, concerns 

about limiting shelf stocks, specifically 

minor shelf rockfish and vermilion/ 

sunset rockfish, arose. The GMT 

analyzed reductions to the trip limits for 

Minor Shelf Rockfish in the LE and OA 

sectors off California. Based on the GMT 

analysis, the Council recommended 

reducing the trip limits, in anticipation 

of increased effort. The expected 

mortality by sector under current limits 

and under the recommended changes 

are shown in table 1. 

TABLE 1—OPTIONS CONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL TO ADJUST MINOR SHELF ROCKFISH TRIP LIMITS BY PERIOD IN THE

LEN (LIMITED ENTRY NORTH) (40°10′–42° N LAT.), LES (LIMITED ENTRY SOUTH) (40°10′–36° N LAT.), OAN (OPEN

ACCESS NORTH) (40°10′–42° N LAT.), AND OAS (OPEN ACCESS NORTH) (40°10′–36° N LAT.) SECTORS, ASSOCIATED LANDINGS PROJECTIONS, AND TOTAL LANDINGS

[Bolded row represents the GMT recommendation, which was adopted by the Council. There is no geographic harvest target to compare 

estimated total landings against the trip limit change due to the split at 36° N lat.] 

Option Sector Trip limit 

Est. total 

landings 

(mt) 

Estimated total 

landings 

(mt) 

No Action ............. LEN .......... 800 lbs. (363 kg)/mo ........................................................................................ 0.6 101 

OAN ......... 800 lbs. (363 kg)/mo ........................................................................................ 5.0 

LES .......... 8,000 lbs. (3,629 kg)/2 mos ............................................................................. 11.8 

OAS ......... 4,000 lbs. (1,814 kg)/2 mos ............................................................................. 83.6 

Option 1 ............... LEN ......... 800 lbs. (363 kg)/mo ...................................................................................... 0.6 84.9 

OAN ......... 600 lbs. (272 kg)/mo ...................................................................................... 4.7 

LES .......... 6,000 lbs. (2,722 kg)/2 mos ........................................................................... 11.6 

OAS ......... 3,000 lbs. (1,361 kg)/2 mos ........................................................................... 68.0 

Option 2 ............... LEN .......... 800 lbs. (363 kg)/mo ........................................................................................ 0.6 71.8 

OAN ......... 400 lbs. (181 kg)/mo ........................................................................................ 4.6 

LES .......... 4,000 lbs. (1,814 kg)/2 mos ............................................................................. 10.6 

OAS ......... 2,000 lbs. (907 kg)/2 mos ................................................................................ 56.0 

Additionally, within the Minor Shelf 

Rockfish Complex, vermilion rockfish 

south of 40°10′ ACL contribution is 

projected to be exceeded in 2023 and 

therefore the Council determined that 

additional trip limit reductions should 

be taken for 2024. Consequently, the 

Council recommended and NMFS is 

approving this change by modifying 


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tables 2 and 3 North and South for all 

cumulative periods in 2024. The 

expected mortality by sector under 

current limits and under the 

recommended changes are shown in 

table 2. 

TABLE 2—PROJECTED LANDINGS OF VERMILION/SUNSET, VERMILION/SUNSET ALLOCATION, AND PROJECTED PERCENTAGE

OF VERMILION/SUNSET ATTAINED THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR BY CURRENT TRIP LIMIT AND FISHERY

[LEN (40°10′ N lat.–34°27′ N lat.). LES (south of 34°27′ N lat.). OAN (40°10′ N lat.–34°27′ N lat.). OAS (south of 34°27′ N lat.). 

Bolded row represents the GMT recommendation which was recommended by the Council to NMFS.] 

Sector, 

option Trip limit 

Landing 

projection 

(mt) 

Est. total 

landings 

(mt) 

Est. discard 

mortality 

(mt) 

Est. total 

mortality 

(mt) 

No Action ............. LEN .......... 500 lbs. (227 kg)/2 mos ........................................... 2.4 90.9 0.1 91.0 

OAN ......... 400 lbs. (181 kg)/2 mos ........................................... 17.8 

LES .......... 3,000 lbs. (1,361 kg)/2 mos ..................................... 35.1 

OAS ......... 1,200 lbs. (544 kg)/2 mos ........................................ 35.6 

Option 1 .............. LEN ......... 500 lbs. (227 kg)/2 mos ......................................... 2.4 77.7 0.1 77.8 

OAN ......... 300 lbs. (136 kg)/2 mos ......................................... 13.4 

LES .......... 3,000 lbs. (1,361 kg)/2 mos ................................... 35.1 

OAS ......... 900 lbs. (408 kg)/2 mos ......................................... 26.8 

Bocaccio Rockfish South of 40°10′ N 

Lat. 

Bocaccio on the West Coast is 

managed as a separate stock south of 

40°10′ N lat., while bocaccio north of 

40°10′ N lat. is managed as part of the 

minor shelf rockfish complex north of 

40°10′ N lat. Bocaccio south of 40°10′ N 

lat., the subject of this action, is caught 

both commercially and recreationally, 

with commercial vessels harvesting it 

with both trawl and fixed gear 

(longlines and pots/traps) in the bottom 

trawl, nearshore, limited entry, and 

open access fixed gear fisheries. It is 

caught in shelf and nearshore areas, 

often together with chilipepper rockfish. 

The 2024 ACL and harvest guideline for 

bocaccio south of 40°10′ N lat. are 1,828 

mt, and 1,779.9 mt, respectively. 

Subsequent to the June 2023 Council 

meeting, the Council recommended and 

NMFS implemented increases to the 

bocaccio trip limits for the LE and OA 

sectors through table 2 South and table 

3 South such that the new limits were 

set at 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) per period for 

LE and 6,000 pounds (2,721 kg) per 

period for OA. Subsequent to the 

September 2023 Council meeting, the 

Council recommended revising the 

bocaccio trip limits between 40°10 ′ and 

34°27′ N lat. for both sectors due to 

concerns due to quillback rockfish off 

California. NMFS implemented via 

inseason action a zero bag limit for 

bocaccio in the LE sector for period 6 in 

2023 and a gear restriction for the 

existing bag limit for bocaccio in the OA 

sector (see 88 FR 67656, October 2, 

2023). As part of the November 2023 

analysis, the GMT concluded that there 

is minimal expected impact of target 

fishing for bocaccio on quillback 

rockfish as bocaccio is a midwater 

species and quillback rockfish are 

demersal and therefore they are not cooccurring. Therefore, the Council 

recommended applying the trip limits 

in place for each sector for periods 1– 

5 to period 6 for 2024. NMFS is 

implementing this change through 

revisions to table 2 South and table 3 

South. 

Other Flatfish 

Fishing for ‘‘other flatfish ’’ off 

California as defined at § 660.11 General 

definitions (between 42° N lat. south to 

the U.S./Mexico border) is allowed 

within the non-trawl RCA with hook 

and line gear only (§ 660.330(d)(12)(iv)). 

To prevent the possible interaction with 

quillback rockfish within the RCA, the 

Council recommended reducing the 

‘‘other flatfish’’ trip limit to 0 lbs./2 

months between 42° N lat. to 36° N lat. 

inside the Non-Trawl RCA, and 

maintaining the current trip limits 

seaward of the Non-Trawl RCA. This 

modification would allow for the 

opportunity to land other flatfish caught 

seaward of the RCA while preventing 

interactions with quillback rockfish. 

Lingcod 

Prior to the November 2023 meeting, 

the GMT received a request to increase 

the lingcod trip limits north of 42° N lat. 

to reduce regulatory discarding and 

increase economic opportunity. Status 

quo is currently resulting in regulatory 

discard for certain participants in the 

fishery. Lingcod is managed with an 

ACL north of 40°10′ N lat. and an ACL 

south of 40°10′ N lat. The 2024 ACL for 

lingcod north of 40°10′ N lat. is 3,854 

mt. 

To evaluate potential increases to 

lingcod trip limits north of 42° N lat., 

the GMT made model-based landings 

projections under current regulations 

and alternative trip limits, including the 

limits ultimately recommended by the 

Council, for the LE and OA fisheries 

through the remainder of the year. Table 

3 shows the projected lingcod landings, 

the lingcod allocations, and the 

projected attainment percentage by 

fishery under both the current trip 

limits and the Council’s recommended 

adjusted trip limits for north of 42° N 

lat. These projections were based on the 

most recent catch information available 

through late October 2023. 

TABLE 3—PROJECTED LANDINGS OF LINGCOD, LINGCOD ALLOCATION, AND PROJECTED PERCENTAGE OF LINGCOD NORTH

OF 42° N LAT. ATTAINED THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR BY TRIP LIMIT AND FISHERY

Fishery Trip limits 

Projected landings 

(round weight) 

(mt) 

LE North of 42° N lat ......................................... Current: 9,000 lb. (4,082.3 kg)/two months ............................................ 157.63 

OA North of 42° N lat ........................................ Current: 4,500 lb. (2,041.2 kg)/month.

LE North of 42° N lat ......................................... Recommended: 11,000 lb. (4,989.5 kg)/two months .............................. 173.45 

OA North of 42° N lat ........................................ Recommended: 5,500 lb. (2,494.8 kg)/month.


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Under the current trip limits, the 

model predicts catches of lingcod north 

of 42° N lat. will total 157.63 mt, which 

is 8 percent of the 2024 non-trawl 

allocation of lingcod (1,965.9 mt). Under 

the Council’s recommended trip limits, 

lingcod mortality north of 42° N lat. is 

expected to increase to 173.45 mt, 

which is 9 percent of the 2024 non-trawl 

allocation of lingcod. 

Trip limit increases for lingcod are 

intended to marginally increase 

attainment of the non-trawl allocation. 

The recommended trip limit increases 

do not appreciably change projected 

impacts to yelloweye rockfish (a cooccurring rebuilding species) compared 

to the impacts anticipated in the 2023– 

2024 harvest specifications because the 

projected impacts to those species 

assume that the entire lingcod ACL is 

harvested. Therefore, the Council 

recommended and NMFS is 

implementing, by modifying table 2 

North to part 660, subpart E, and table 

3 North to part 660, subpart F, trip limit 

changes for LE and OA lingcod north of 

42° N lat. for all cumulative periods in 

2024 as shown above in table 3. 

Canary Rockfish 

At the November 2023 meeting, the 

GMT evaluated a request to decrease the 

2024 canary rockfish trip limits for the 

LE fixed gear and OA in light of the 

2023 stock assessment indicating canary 

rockfish are below the healthy biomass 

management target. The request was to 

reverse a trip limit increase that was 

implemented pursuant to a November 

2022 inseason action (88 FR 4910, 

January 26, 2023). Table 4 provides the 

projected landings, mortality, and 

attainment of the commercial share of 

canary under the status quo and under 

the recommended decrease in the limits. 

TABLE 4—OPTIONS TO DECREASE CANARY TRIP LIMITS BY PERIOD IN THE LEN, OAN, LES, AND OAS SECTORS, 

ASSOCIATED LANDINGS PROJECTIONS, ESTIMATED MORTALITY, AND NON-TRAWL COMMERCIAL SHARE ATTAINMENT

[Bolded row represents the GMT recommendation that was adopted by the Council] 

Option Sector Trip limit 

Landing 

projection 

(mt) 

Est. total 

landings 

(mt) 

Est. discard 

mortality 

(mt) 

Est. total 

mortality 

(mt) 

% of the 2024 

non-trawl 

commercial 

share 

(122.4 mt) 

No Action .............. LEN ............ 4,000 lbs. (1,814 kg)/2 mos ...................................... 5.4 31.3 0.8 32.0 26 

OAN ........... 2,000 lbs. (907 kg)/2 mos ......................................... 3.9 

LES ............ 4,000 lbs. (1,814 kg)/2 mos ...................................... 8.7 

OAS ............ 2,000 lbs. (907 kg)/2 mos ......................................... 13.3 

Option 1 ............... LEN ............ 3,000 lbs. (1,361 kg)/2 mos ..................................... 4.0 23.9 0.6 24.5 20 

OAN ........... 1,000 lbs. (454 kg)/2 mos ........................................ 3.4 

LES ............ 3,500 lbs. (1,588 kg)/2 mos ..................................... 6.5 

OAS ........... 1,500 lbs. (680 kg)/2 mos ........................................ 10.0 

Therefore, the Council recommended, 

and by modifying tables 2 North and 

South and tables 3 North and South, 

NMFS is implementing a revision to the 

LE and OA trip limits for all cumulative 

periods in 2024 as shown in table 4 

above. The adjustment will provide 

proactive adjustment looking to the 

2025–2026 biennium. 

Longleader (Holloway Gear)—Oregon 

Recreational Fishery 

The longleader gear is used to harvest 

midwater rockfish seaward of the 40- 

fathom regulatory line. Due to low 

impacts to yelloweye rockfish and other 

benthic species, the bag limit for this 

fishery has been higher than the 

nearshore traditional bottomfish bag 

limit. In 2023, the bag limit was 

increased from 10 fish to 15 fish as a 

way to further entice anglers to 

participate in the offshore fishery to 

alleviate some of the fishing pressure 

from the nearshore reefs. For 2024, the 

GMT recommended decreasing the 

Oregon longleader fishery bag limit to 

12 fish due to an increase of canary 

rockfish, a limiting stock, encountered 

in the fishery and to be consistent with 

state regulatory action which decreased 

bag limits in state waters. Consequently, 

the Council recommended and NMFS is 

implementing this change in the bag 

limit by modifying 50 CFR 

660.360(c)(2)(iii)(A). 

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 the NMFS 

West Coast Region (see FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT, above), or view at 

the NMFS West Coast Groundfish 

website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 

species/west-coast-groundfish. 

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. Changes 

of this nature were anticipated in the 

final rule for the 2023–24 harvest 

specifications and management 

measures which published on December 

16, 2022 (87 FR 76007). The majority of 

the adjustments to management 

measures in this action address a 

conservation concern for quillback 

rockfish off of California as new 

information demonstrates the current 

management measures are not sufficient 

to control mortality as is needed. 

Therefore, providing a comment period 

for this action could hamper the 

adherence to scientifically informed 

reference points, created to ensure 

sustainability of the affected fisheries, 

and would delay measures intended to 

address localized depletion of quillback 

rockfish. In addition, by allowing for 

fishing in areas where quillback rockfish 

are not likely to occur and through trip 

limit increases for lingcod, this action is 

expected to potentially increase 

economic value of the fisheries by 

increasing harvest opportunity and 

reducing regulatory discards. Delaying 

implementation to allow for public 

comment would likely reduce the 

economic benefits to the commercial 

fishing industry and the businesses that 

rely on that industry, because the new 

regulations could not be implemented 

in time to realize the projected benefits 

to fishing communities. For these same 

reasons, NMFS finds reason 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 on 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 83359 

January 1, 2024, for the start of the new 

fishing year. 

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660 

Fisheries, Fishing, Indian Fisheries. 

Dated: November 20, 2023. 

Kelly Denit, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

For the reasons set out in the 

preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is amended 

as follows: 

PART 660—FISHERIES OFF WEST 

COAST STATES 

■ 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. 

■ 2. Revise table 2 (North) to part 660, 

subpart E, to read as follows: 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

■ 3. Revise table 2 (South) to part 660, 

subpart E, to read as follows: 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1ER29NO23.000</GPH>

Table 2 (North) to Part 660, Subpart E •· Non-Trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas and Trip Limits for Limited Entry Fixed Gear North of 40°10' N lat. 

Other limits and requirements apply -- Read §§660 10 through 660 399 before using this table 1/1/2024 

JAN-FEB I MAR-APR I MAY-JUN I JUL-AUG I SEP-OCT I NOV-DEC 

Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA)11 : 

1 North of 46°16' N lat. Shoreward EEZ -100 fm line" 

2 46°16' N lat. - 42°00' N lat. 30 fm line" - 75 fm line" 

3 42°00' N lat. - 40°1 0' N lat. Shoreward EEZ - 75 fm line11 

See §§660.60 and 660.230 for additional gear, trip limit and conservation area requirements and restrictions. See §§660.70-660.74 and §§660.76-

660.79 for conservation area descriptions and coordinates (including RCAs, YRCAs, Farallon Islands, Cordell Bank, and EFHCAs). 

3 Minor Slope Rockfish21 & Darkblotched 

8,000 lb/ 2 months rockfish 

4 Pacific ocean perch 3,600 lb/ 2 months 

5 Sablefish 4,500 lb/ week, not to exceed 9,000 lb /2 months 

6 Lonasoine thornvhead 10,000 lb/ 2 months 

7 Shortspine thornvhead 2,000 lb/ 2 months I 2,500 lb/ 2 months 

8 Dover sole, arrowtooth flounder, petrale 10,000 lb/ month sole, English sole, starry flounder 

9 Other Flatfish31 

10 North of 42°00' N lat. 10,000 lb/ month 

11 42°00' N lat. - 40° 10' N lat. 10,000 lb/ month seaward of the non-trawl RCA; 0 lb/month inside the non-trawl RCA 

12 Whitina 10,000 lb/ trip 

13 Minor Shelf Rockfish21 800 lb/ month 

14 Widow rockfish 4,000 lb/ 2 months 

15 Yellowtail rockfish 3,000 lb/ month 

16 Canarv rockfish 3,000 lb/ 2 months 

17 Yelloweve rockfish CLOSED 

18 Quillback rockfish 

19 42°00' N lat. - 40° 1 0' N lat. 0 lb/ 2 months 

20 Minor Nearshore Rockfish Oreaon black/blue/deacon rockfish & black rockfish41 

21 North of 42°00' N lat. 5,000 lb/ 2 months, no more than 1,200 lb of which may be species other than black rockfish or blue/deacon 

rockfish31 

-

22 42°00' N lat. - 40° 1 0' N lat. 

Minor Nearshore Rockfish 0 lb/ 2 months 

- 42°00' N lat. - 40° 10' N lat. 23 0 lb/ 2 months Black Rockfish 

24 Linacod51 

25 North of 42°00' N lat. 11,000 lb/ 2 months 

26 42°00' N lat. - 40°1 0' N lat. 2,000 lb/ 2 months seaward of the non-trawl RCA; 0 lb/ 2 months inside the non-trawl RCA 

27 Pacific cod 1,000 lb/ 2 months 

28 Spiny dogfish 200,000 lb/ 2 months I 

150,000 lb/ 2 

I 100,000 lb/ 2 months months 

29 Lonanose skate Unlimited 

30 Other Fish61 Unlimited 

31 Cabezon in California 0 lb/ 2 months 

32 Oreaon Cabezon/KelP Greenlina Unlimited 

33 Bia skate Unlimited 

1/The Rockfish Conservation Area Is an area closed to fishing by particular gear types, bounded by the EEZ (exclusIw economic zone, I.e., federal waters from 3-200 nautical miles from shore) 

or lines specifically defined by latitude and longitude coordinates set out at§§ 660.71-660.74. This RCA is not defined by depth contours (with the exception of the 20-fm 

depth contour boundary south of 42° N lat.), and the boundary lines that define the RCA may close areas that are deeper or shallower 

than the depth contour. Vessels that are subject to RCA restrictions may not fish in the RCA, or operate in the RCA for any purpose 

other than transiting. LEFG vessels may be allowed to fish inside groundfish conservation areas using non-bottom contact hook and line only. 

See§ 660.230 (d) of the regulations for more infom,ation. 

2/ Minor Shelf and Slope Rockfish complexes are defined at§ 660.11. Bocaccio, chili pepper and cowcod are included in the trip limits for Minor Shelf Rockfish. Splitnose rockfish is included 

in the trip limits for Minor Slope Rockfish. 

3/"otherflatfish" are defined at§ 660.11 and include butter sole, curlfin sole, flathead sole, Pacific sanddab, rexsole, rock sole, and sand sole. 

4/ For black rockfish north of Cape Aiava (48°09.50' N lat.), and between Destruction Is. (47°40' N lat.) and Leadbetter Pnt. (46°38.17' N lat.), there is an additional limit 

of 100 lb or 30 percent by weight of all fish on board, whichever is greater, per vessel, per fishing trip. 

5/The minimum size limit forlingcod is 22 inches (56 cm) total length North of42° N lat. and 22 inches (56 cm) total length South of42° N lat. 

6/"other Fish" are defined at§ 660.11 and include kelp greenling off Califomia and leopard shark. 

To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.20462, the nurn:>er of pounds in one kilogram. 

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83360 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 

■ 4. Revise table 3 (North) to part 660, 

subpart F, to read as follows: 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1ER29NO23.001</GPH>

Table 2 (South) to Part 660, Subpart E - Non-Trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas and Trip Limits for Limited Entry Fixed Gear South of 40°10' N lat. 

Other limits and requirements apply -- Read §§660 10 through 660 399 before using this table 1/1/2024 

JAN-FEB I MAR-APR I MAY-JUN I JUL-AUG I SEP-OCT I NOV-DEC 

Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA)11: 

1 40°1 0' N lat. - 36°00' N lat. Shoreward EEZ11 - 75 Im line11 

2 36°00' N lat. - 34°27' N lat. 50 fm line11 - 75 fm line11 

3 I South of 34°27' N lat. 100 frn line11 - 150 fm line11 falso annlies around islands and banks\ 

See §§660.60 and 660.230 for additional gear, trip limit and conservation area requirements and restrictions. See §§660.70-660.74 and §§660.76-660.79 for 

conservation area descriptions and coordinates (including RCAs, YRCAs, Farallon Islands, Cordell Bank, and EFHCAs). 

4 Minor Slope rockfish21 & Darkblotched 40,000 lb/ 2 months, of which no more than 6,000 lb may be blackgill rockfsh rockfish 

5 Splitnose rockfish 40,000 lb/ 2 months 

6 Sablefish 

7 40°10' N lat. - 36°00' N lat. 4,500 lb/ week, not to exceed 9,000 lb /2 months 

8 South of 36°00' N lat. 2,500 lb/ week 

9 Lonascine thomvhead 10,000 lb/ 2 months 

10 Shortspine thomyhead 

11 40°10' N lat. -34°27' N lat. 2,000 lb/ 2 months I 2,500 lb/ 2 months 

12 South of 34 °27' N lat. 3,000 lb/ 2 months 

13 Dover sole, arrowtooth flounder, petrale sole, 

English sole, starry flounder 10,000 lb/ month 

14 Other Flatfish31 

15 I 40°10' N lat. -36°00' N lat. 10,000 lb/ month 

16 I South of 36°00' N lat. 10,000 lb/ month seaward of the non-trawl RCA; 0 lb/month inside the non-trawl RCA 

17 Whitina 10,000 lb/ trip 

tB Minor Shelf Rockfish21 

19 I 40°10' N lat. -34°27' N lat. 6,000 lb/ 2 months, of which no more than 500 lb mav be vermilion 

20 South of 34 °27' N lat. 6,000 lb/ 2 months, of which no more than 3,000 lb mav be vermilion 

21 Widow rockfish 

22 I 40°10' N lat. -34°27' N lat. 10,000 lb/2 months 

23 South of 34 °27' N lat. 8,000 lb/ 2 months 

24 Chilipepper rockfish 

25 I 40°10' N lat. -34°27' N lat. 10,000 lb. / 2 months 

26 South of 34 °27' N lat. 8,000 lb./ 2 months 

27 Canary rockfish 3,500 lb/ 2 months 

28 Yelloweye rockfish CLOSED 

29 Quillback rockfish 0 lb/ 2 months 

30 Cowcod CLOSED 

31 Bronzespotted rockfish CLOSED 

32 Bocaccio 8,000 lb/ 2 months 

33 Minor Nearshore Rockfish 

34 40°1 0' N lat. - 36° N lat. Shallow nearshore41 0 lb/ 2 months 

35 South of 36° N lat. Shallow nearshore41 2,000 lb/ 2 months 

36 40°1 0' N lat. - 36° N lat. Deeper nearshore51 0 lb/ 2 months 

37 South of 36° N lat. Deeper nearshore51 2,000 lb/ 2 months, of which no more than 75 lb may be copper rockfish 

38 California Scorpionfish 3,500 lb/ 2 months 

39 Linacod61 

40 I 40°10' N lat. - 36° N lat. 1,600 lb / 2 months seaward of the non-trawl RCA; 0 lb / 2 months inside the non-trawl RCA 

41 South of 36° N lat. 1,600 lb/ 2 months 

42 Pacific cod 1,000 lb/ 2 months 

43 Spiny dogfish 200,000 lb/ 2 months I 150,000 lb/ 2 

months I 44 Longnose skate Unlimited 

45 Other Fish71 0 lb / 2 months 

48 Cabezon in C&lifornia 

47 40°10' N lat. - 36° N lat. 0 lb/ 2 months 

48 South of 36° N lat. Unlimited 

49 Big Skate Unlimited 

1/ The Roclcfish Conservation Afea is an area closed to fishing by particular gear types, bounded by lines specifically defined by latitude 

and longitude coordinates set out at§§ 660.71-660.74. This RCA is not defined by depth contours (with the exception of the 20-fm 

depth contour boundary south of 42° N lat.), and the boundary lines that define the RCA may close areas that are deeper or shallower 

than the depth contour. Vessels that are subject to RCA restrictions may not fish in the RCA, or operate in the RCA for any purpose 

other than transiting. LEFG vessels may be allowed to fish inside groundfish conservation areas using non-bottom contact hook and line only. 

See § 660.230 (d) of the regulations for more information. 

100,000 lb/ 2 months 

2/ Minor Shelf and Slope Rockfish complexes are defined at§ 660.11. Pacific ocean perch is included in the trip limits for Minor Slope Rockfish. Blackgill rockfish have a 

species specific trip sub-limit within the Minor Slope Rockfish cumulative limit. Yellowtail rockfish are included in the trip limits for Minor Shelf Rockfish. Bronzespotted 

rockfish have a species specific trip limit. 

3/ "Other Flatfish" are defined at§ 660.11 and include butter sole, curlfin sole, flathead sole, Pacific sanddab, rex sole, rock sole, and sand sole. 

4/ "Shallow Nearshore" are defined at§ 660.11 under "Groundfish" (7)(i)(B)(1 ). 

5/ "Deeper Nearshore" are defined at§ 660.11 under "Groundfish" (7)(i)(B)(2). 

6/ The commercial mimimum size limit for lingcod is 22 inches (56 cm) total length South of 42° N lat. 

7/ "Other Fish" are defined at§ 660.11 and include kelp greenling off California and leopard shark. 

To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.20462, the number of pounds in one kilogram. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 83361 

■ 5. Revise table 3 (South) to part 660, 

subpart F, to read as follows: 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1ER29NO23.002</GPH>

Table 3 (North) to Part 660, Subpart F -- Non-Trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas and Trip Limits for Open Access Gears North of 40°1 O' N lat. 

Other limits and requirements apply -- Read §§660.10 through 660.399 before using this table 1/1/2024 

JAN-FEB I MAR-APR I MAY✓UN I JUL-AUG I SEP-OCT I NOV-DEC 

Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA)11: I I I I I I I I I I I 1 North of46'16' N lat. Shoreward EEZ-100 fm line11 

2 46'16' N lat. -42'00' N lat. 30 fm line11 - 75 fm line11 

3 42'00' N lat. - 40'1 0' N lat. Shoreward EEZ - 75 fm line11 

See §§660.60, 660.330 and 660.333 for additional gear, trip limit and conservation area requirements and restrictions. See §§660.70-660.74 and §§660.76-660.79 

for conservation area descriptions and coordinates (including RCAs, YRCAs, Farallon Islands, Cordell Bank, and EFHCAs). 

4 Minor Slope Rockfish21 & Darkblotched 2,000 lb/ month rockfish 

5 Pacific ocean perch 100 lb/ month 

6 Sablefish 3,000 lb/ week, not to exceed 6,000 lb/ 2 months 

7 Shortpine thornyheads 50 lb/ month 

a Longspine thornvheads 50 lb/ month 

9 Dover sole, arrowtooth flounder, petrale sole, 5,000 lb/ month English sole, starry flounder 71 

10 Other Flatfish31 

11 North of 42'00' N lat. 5,000 lb/ month 

12 42'00' N lat. - 40'1 0' N lat. 5,000 lb/ month seaward of the non-trawl RCA; O lb/month inside the non-trawl RCA 

13 Whiting 300 lb/ month 

14 Minor Shelf Rockfish21 

15 North of 42'00' N lat. 800 lb/ month 

16 42'00' N lat. - 40'1 0' N lat. 600 lb/month 

17 Widow rockfish 2,000 lb/ 2 months 

18 Yellowtail rockfish 1,500 lb/month 

19 Canarv rockfish 1,000 lb/ 2 months 

20 Yelloweye rockfish CLOSED 

21 Quillback rockfish 

22 42'00' N lat. - 40'1 0' N lat. 0 lb/ 2 months 

23 Minor Nearshore Rockfish, Oregon black/blue/deacon rockfish, & black rockfish 

24 North of 42'00' N lat. 5,000 lb/ 2 months, no more than 1,200 lb of which may be species other than black rockfish or blue/deacon rockfish41 

25 42'00' N lat. - 40'1 0' N lat. 0 lb/ 2 months Minor Nearshore Rock.fish 

26 42'00' N lat. - 40'1 0' N lat. 0 lb/ 2 months Black rockfish 

27 Linncod51 

28 North of 42°00' N lat. 5,500 lb/ month 

29 42°00' N lat.-40°10' N lat. 1,000 lb/ month seaward of the non-trawl RCA; 0 lb/ month inside the non-trawl RCA 

30 Pacific cod 1,000 lb/ 2 months 

31 Spiny dogfish 200,000 lb/ 2 months I 150,000 lb/ 2 I 100,000 lb/ 2 months months 

32 Lonanose skate Unlimited 

33 Bia skate Unlimited 

34 Other Fish61 Unlimited 

35 Cabezon in California O lb/ 2 months 

36 Oreaon Cabezon/Kelp Greenlina Unlimited 

37 SALM ON TROLL (subject to RCAs when retaining all species of groundfish, except for yellowtail rockfish and lingcod, as described below) 

Salmon trollers may retain and land up to 500 lb ofyellowtail rockfish per month as long as salmon is on board, both 

within and outside of the RCA. Salmon trollers may retain and land up to 1 ling cod per 2 Chinook per trip, plus 1 

38 North ling cod per trip, up to a trip limit of 1 O lingcod, on a trip where any fishing occurs within the RCA. The ling cod limit only 

applies during times when lingcod retention is allm,ved, and is not "CLOSED." Theses limits are within the per month 

limits described in the table above, and not in addition to those limits. All groundfish species are subject to the open 

access limits, seasons, size limits and RCA restrictions listed in the table above, unless otherwise stated here. 

39 PINK SHRIMP NON-GROUNDFISH TRAWL (not subject to RCAs) 

Effective April 1 - October 31: Groundfish: 500 lb/day, multiplied by the number of days of the trip, not to exceed 

1,500 lb/trip. Toe following sublimits also apply and are counted toward the overall 500 lb/day and 1,500 lb/trip 

groundfish limits: lingcod 300 lb/month (minimum 24 inch size limit); sablefish 2,000 lb/month; canary, thomyheads 

40 North and yelloweye rockfish are PROHIBITED. All othergroundfish species taken are managed under the overall 500 

lb/day and 1,500 lb/trip groundfish limits. Landings of these species count toward the per day and per trip groundfish 

limits and do not have species-specific limits. The amount of groundfish landed may not exceed the amount of pink 

shrimp landed. 

1/ The Rockfish Conservation Area is an area closed to fishing by particular gear types, bounded by the EEZ (exclusive economic zone, i.e,, federal waters from 3-200 nautical miles from shore) 

or lines specifically defined by latitude and longitude coordinates set out at§§ 660.71-660.74. This RCA is not defined by depth contours (with the exception of the 20-fm 

depth contour boundary south of 42° N lat.), and the boundary lines that define the RCA may close areas that are deeper or shallower 

than the depth contour. Vessels that are subject to RCA restrictions may not fish in the RCA or operate in the RCA for any purpose 

other than transiting. Open access vessels may be allowed to fish inside groundfish conservation areas using hook and line only. 

See§ 660.330 (d) of the regulations for more information. 

2/ Minor Shelf and Slope Rockfish complexes are defined at§ 660.11. Bocaccio, chilipepper and cowcod rockfishes are included in the trip limits for Minor Shelf Rockfish. Splitnose 

rockfish is included in the trip limits for Minor Slope Rockfish. 

3/ "other flatfish" are defined at§ 660.11 and include butter sole, curlfin sole, flathead sole, Pacific sanddab, rex sole, rock sole, and sand sole. 

4/ For black rockfish north of Cape Aiava (48°09.50' N lat.), and between Destruction Is. (47°40' N lat.) and Leadbetter Pnt. (46°38.17' N lat.), 

there is an additional limit of 100 lbs or 30 percent by weight of all fish on board, wtlichever is greater, per vessel, per fishing trip. 

5/ The minimum size limit for lingcod is 22 inches (56 cm) total length North of 42° N lat. and 22 inches (56 cm) South of 42° N lat. 

6/ "other fish" are defined at§ 660.11 and include kelp green ling off California and leopard shark. 

7/ Open access vessels may be allowed to fish inside groundfish conservation areas using hook and line only. See§ 660.330 (d) of the regulations for more information. 

To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.20462, the number of pounds in one kilogram. 

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83362 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1ER29NO23.003</GPH>

Table 3 (South) to Part 660, Subpart F -- Non-Trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas and Trip Limits for Open Access Gears South of40°10' N lat. 

Other limits and reauirements aoolv - Read &&660 1 0 throuah 660 399 before usina this table 1/1/2024 

JAN-FEB I MAR-APR I MAY-JUN I JUL-AUG I SEP-OCT I NOV-DEC 

Rockfish Conservation Area IRCAl : I I I I I I I I I I I 

1 40°1 0' N lat. - 36°00' N lat. Shoreward EEZ11 - 75 Im line11 

2 36°00' N lat. - 34 °27' N lat. 50 Im line11 - 75 Im line11 

3 South of 34°27' N lat. 100 Im line 11 - 150 Im line 11 (also aoolies around islands and banks\ 

See §§660.60 and 660.230 for additional gear, trip limlt and conservation area requirements and restrictions. See §§660.70-660.74 and §§660.76-

660.79 for conservation area descriptions and coordinates (including RCAs, YRCAs, Farallon Islands, Cordell Bank, and EFHCAs). 

4 Minor Slope Rockfish21 & Darkblotched 10,000 lb/ 2 months, of which no more than 2,500 lb may be blackgill rockfish rockfish 

5 Splitnose rockfish 200 lb/ month 

6 Sablefish 

7 140°10' N lat. -36°00' N lat. 3,000 lb/ week, not to exceed 6,000 lb/ 2 months 

8 I south of 36°00' N lat. 2,000 lb/ week, not to exceed 6,000 lb/ 2 months 

9 Shortoine thornvheads 

10 140°10' N lat. -34°27' N lat. 50 lb/month 

11 Longspine thornyheads 

12 140°10' N lat. -34°27' N lat. 50 lb/month 

13 Shortpine thornyheads and longspine 

thornvheads 

14 I south of 34°27' N lat. 100 lb/ day, no more than 1,000 lb/ 2 months 

Dover sole, arrowtooth flounder, petrale 

15 sole, English sole, starry flounder, Other 5,000 lb/ month 

-I Flatfish3181 

16 Other Flatfish" )> 

17 140° 10' N lat. - 36°00' N lat. 5,000 lb/ month m 18 I South of 36°00' N lat. 5,000 lb/ month seaward of the non-trawl RCA; 0 lb/month inside the non-trawl RCA r 19 Whitina 300 lb/ month m 20 Minor Shelf Rockfish21 

21 140°10' N lat. -34°27' N lat. 3,000 lb/ 2 months, of which no more than 300 lb may be vennilion/sunset 

22 I South of 34 °27' N lat. 3,000 lb/ 2 months, of which no more than 900 lb may be vennilion/sunset w 23 Widow rockfish 

24 I 40°10' N lat. -34°27' N lat. 6,000 lb/ 2 months 

-- 25 I South of 34°27' N lat. 4,000 lb/ 2 months C/) 

26 Chilipepper rockfish 0 27 140°10' N lat. -34°27' N lat. 6,000 lb/ 2 months C: 28 I South of 34 °27' N lat. 4,000 lb/ 2 months 

29 Canary rockfish 1,500 lb/ 2 months -:::r 30 Yelloweve rockfish CLOSED 

31 Cowcod CLOSED 

32 Bronzespotted rockfish CLOSED 

33 Quillback rockfish 0 lb/ 2 months 

34 Bocaccio 6,000 lb/ 2 months 

35 Minor Nearshore Rockfish 

36 40° 1 0' N lat. - 36°00' N lat. Shallow nearshore41 0 lb/ 2 months 

37 South of 36°00' N lat. Shallow nearshore41 2,000 lb/ 2 months 

38 40°10' N lat. - 36°00' N lat. Deepernearshore51 0 lb/ 2 months 

39 South of 36°00' N lat. Deeoer nearshore51 2,000 lb/ 2 months, of which no more than 75 lb may be copper rockfish 

40 California Scorpionfish 3,500 lb/ 2 months 

41 Lin11cod" 

42 I 40°10' N lat. -36°00' N lat. 700 lb / month seaward of the non-trawl RCA; 0 lb/ month inside the non-trawl RCA 

43 South of 36°00' N lat. 700 lb/ month 

44 Pacific cod 1,000 lb/ 2 months 

45 Spiny dogfish 200,000 lb/ 2 months I 150,000 lb/ 2 I 100,000 lb/ 2 months months 

46 Longnose skate Unlimited 

47 Big skate Unlimited 

48 Other Fish71 Unlimited 

49 Cabezon in California 

50 140°1 0' N lat. - 36°00' N lat. 0 lb/month 

51 I South of 36°00' N lat. I Unlimited 
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 228 / Wednesday, November 29, 2023 / Rules and Regulations 83363 

■ 6. Amend § 660.360 by revising 

paragraph (c)(2)(iii)(A) to read as 

follows: 

§ 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 12 fish per day. 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 (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. 2023–26018 Filed 11–28–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–C 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES1ER29NO23.004</GPH>

Table 3 (South) Continued 

Other limits and requirements apply -- Read §§660 1 O through 660 399 before using this table 1/1/2024 

JAN-FEB I MAR-APR I MAY-JUN I JUL-AUG I SEP-OCT I NOV-DEC 

Rockfish Conservation Area {RCA)11: 

1 40"10' N lat. - 36"00' N lat. Shoreward EEZ11 - 75 fm line11 

2 36"00' N lat. - 34"27' N lat. 50 fm line11 - 75 fm line11 

3 South of 34 °27' N lat. 100 fm line11 -150 fm line11 (also aoolies around islands and banks) 

See §§660.60 and 660.230 for additional gear, trip limit and conservation area requirements and restrictions. See §§660. 70-660. 74 and §§660.76-660. 79 for 

conservation area descriptions and coordinates (including RCAs, YRCAs, Farallon Islands, Cordell Bank, and EFHCAs). 

59 SALM ON TROLL (subject to RCAs when retainin all species of groundfish, except for yellowtail rockfish, as described below) 

Salmon trollers may retain and land up to 1 lb of yellowtail rockfish for every 2 lb of Chinook salmon landed, with a 

cumulative limit of 200 lb/month, both within and outside of the RCA. This limit is within the 4,000 lb per 2 month limit 

60 South of 40°1 O' N lat. for minor shelf rockfish between 40°1 O' and 34 °27' N lat., and not in addition to that limit. All groundfish species are 

subject to the open access limits, seasons, size limits and RCA restrictions listed in the table above, unless otherwise 

stated here. 

61 RIDGEBACK PRAWN AND, SOUTH OF 38°57.50' N lat., CA HALIBUT AND SEA CUCUMBER NON-GROUNDFISH TRAWL 

62 NON-GROUNDFISH TRAWL Rockfish Conservation Area {RCAl for CA Halibut, Sea Cucumber & Ridoeback Prawn: 

63 100 fmline 11 -

I 100 fm line 11 - 150 fm line 11 I 

100 fmline 11 - 40"10' N tat. - 38"00' N tat. 200fmline 11 200 fmline 11 

64 38"00' N tat. - 34"27' N tat. 100 fm line 11 - 150 fm line 11 

65 South of 34"27' N tat. 100 fm line 11 - 150 fm line 11 

Groundfish: 300 lb/trip. Species-specific limits described in the table above also apply and are counted toward the 300 

lb groundfish per trip limit. The amount of groundfish landed may not exceed the amount of the target species landed, 

except that the amount of spiny dogfish landed may exceed the amount of target species landed. Spiny dogfish are 

limited by the 300 lb/trip overall groundfish limit. The daily trip limits for sablefish coastwide and thornyheads south of 

66 Pt. Conception and the overall groundfish "per trip" limit may not be multiplied by the number of days of the trip. 

Vessels participating in the California halibut fishery south of 38"57.50' N lat. are allowed to (1) land up to 100 lb/day of 

groundfish without the ratio requirement, provided that at least one California halibut is landed and (2) land up to 3,000 

lb/month of flatfish, no more than 300 lb of which may be species other than Pacific sanddabs, sand sole, stany 

flounder, rock sole, curlfin sole, or California scorpionfish (California scorpionfish is also subject to the trip limits and 

closures in line 29). 

67 PINK SHRIMP NON-GROUNDFISH TRAWL GEAR (not subject to RCAs) 

Effective April 1 - October 31: Groundfish: 500 lb/day, multiplied by the number of days of the trip, not to exceed 

1,500 lb/trip. Toe following sublimits also apply and are counted toward the overall 500 lb/ day and 1,500 lb/ trip 

groundfish limits: lingcod 300 lb/ month (minimum 24 inch size limit); sablefish 2,000 lb/ month; canary rockfish, 

69 South thornyheads and yello\o\Eye rockfish are PROHIBITED. All other groundfish species taken are managed under the 

overall 500 lb/day and 1,500 lb/ trip groundfish limits. Landings of all groundfish species count toward the per day, per 

trip or other species-specific sublimits described here and the species-specific limits described in the table above do 

not apply. The amount of groundfish landed may not exceed the amount of pink shrimp landed. 

1/ The Rockfish Conservation P.rea is an area closed to fishing by particular gear types, bounded by lines specifically defined by latitude 

and longitude coordinates set out at§§ 660.71-660.74. This RCA is not defined by depth contours (with the exception of the 20-fm 

depth contour boundary south of 42° N lat.), and the boundary lines that define the RCA may close areas that are deeper or shallower 

than the depth contour. Vessels that are subject to RCA restrictions may not fish in the RCA or operate in the RCA for any purpose 

other than transiting. Open access vessels may be allowed to fish inside groundfish conservation areas using hook and line only. 

See§ 660.330 (d) of the regulations for more information. 

21 Minor Shelf and Slope Rockfish complexes are defined at§ 660.11. Pacific ocean perch is included in the trip limits for minor slope rockfish. Blackgill rockfish have 

a species specific trip sub-limit within the minor slope rockfish cumulative limits. Yellowtail rockfish is included in the trip limits for minor shelf rockfish. Bronzespotted rockfish 

have a species specific trip limit. 

3/ "other flatfish" are defined at§ 660.11 and include butter sole, curlfin sole, flathead sole, Pacific sanddab, rex sole, rock sole, and sand sole. 

4/ "Shallow Nearshore" are defined at§ 660.11 under "Groundfish" (7)(i)(B)(1 ). 

5/ "Deeper Nearshore" are defined at§ 660.11 under "Groundfish" (7)(i)(B)(2). 

6/ The commercial mimimum size limit for lingcod is 22 inches (56 cm) South of 42° N lat. 

7/ "other fish" are defined at§ 660.11 and includes kelp greenling off California and leopard shark. 

8/ Open access vessels may be allowed to fish inside groundfish conservation areas using hook and line only. See§ 660.330 (d) of the regulations for more information. 

To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.20462, the number of pounds in one kilogram. 

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