Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12567 

Species 

Historic range 

Vertebrate population where endangered or threatened 

Status When listed Critical 

habitat 

Special 

rules Common name Scientific name 

MAMMALS

* * * * * * * 

Seal, Hawaiian monk Neomonachus 

schauinslandi 

(=Monachus 

schauinslandi).

U.S.A. (HI) .............. Entire ...................... E 18 226.201 NA 

* * * * * * * 

* * * * * 

Dated: February 25, 2015. 

Stephen Guertin, 

Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–05330 Filed 3–9–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 660 

[Docket No. 140904754–5188–02] 

RIN 0648–BE27 

Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; 

Fisheries Off West Coast States; 

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 

2015–2016 Biennial Specifications and 

Management Measures; Amendment 

24 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This final rule would 

establish the 2015–2016 harvest 

specifications and management 

measures for groundfish taken in the 

U.S. exclusive economic zone off the 

coasts of Washington, Oregon, and 

California, consistent with the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act 

(MSA) and the Pacific Coast Groundfish 

Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP), 

and approve Amendment 24 to the 

PCGFMP. This final rule would also 

revise the management measures that 

are intended to keep the total catch of 

each groundfish species or species 

complex within the harvest 

specifications. This action also includes 

regulations to implement Amendment 

24 to the PCGFMP, which establishes 

default harvest control rules for setting 

harvest specifications after 2015–2016. 

DATES: This final rule is effective March 

10, 2015, except for the modifications to 

sorting requirements at 

§§ 660.130(d)(1)(i), 660.230(c)(2)(i), and 

660.330(c)(2)(i), which are effective 

April 1, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: Information relevant to this 

final rule and Amendment 24, which 

includes a final environmental impact 

statement (EIS), the Record of Decision 

(ROD), a regulatory impact review (RIR), 

final regulatory flexibility analysis 

(FRFA), and amended PCGFMP, are 

available from William Stelle, Regional 

Administrator, West Coast Region, 

NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., 

Seattle, WA 98115–0070. Electronic 

copies of this final rule are also 

available at the NMFS West Coast 

Region Web site: http://

www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sarah Williams, phone: 206–526–4646, 

fax: 206–526–6736, or email: 

sarah.williams@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Electronic Access 

This rule is accessible via the Internet 

at the Office of the Federal Register Web 

site at https://www.federalregister.gov. 

Background information and documents 

are available at the NMFS West Coast 

Region Web site at http://

www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/

fisheries/groundfish/index.html and at 

the Council’s Web site at http://

www.pcouncil.org. 

Executive Summary 

Purpose of the Regulatory Action 

This final rule implements the 2015– 

2016 harvest specifications and 

management measures for groundfish 

species taken in the U.S. exclusive 

economic zone off the coasts of 

Washington, Oregon, and California. 

The purpose of this action is to conserve 

and manage Pacific Coast groundfish 

fishery resources to prevent overfishing, 

to rebuild overfished stocks, to ensure 

conservation, to facilitate long-term 

protection of essential fish habitats 

(EFH), and to realize the full potential 

of the Nation’s fishery resources. The 

need for this action is to set catch limit 

specifications for 2015–2016 consistent 

with existing or revised harvest control 

rules for all stocks, and establish 

management measures designed to keep 

catch within the appropriate limits. 

These harvest specifications are set 

consistent with the optimum yield (OY) 

harvest management framework 

described in Chapter 4 of the PCGFMP. 

This final rule also implements 

Amendment 24 to PCGFMP. 

Amendment 24 establishes the default 

harvest control rules used to determine 

harvest specifications after 2015–2016. 

This rule is authorized by 16 U.S.C. 

1854–55 and by the PCGFMP. 

Major Provisions 

This final rule contains two types of 

major provisions. The first are the 

harvest specifications (overfishing limits 

(OFLs), acceptable biological catches 

(ABCs), and annual catch limits (ACLs)), 

and the second are management 

measures designed to keep fishing 

mortality within the ACLs. The harvest 

specifications (OFLs, ABCs, and ACLs) 

in this rule have been developed 

through a rigorous scientific review and 

decision-making process, which is 

described in detail in the proposed rule 

for this action (80 FR 687, January 6, 

2015) and is not repeated here. 

In summary, the OFL is the maximum 

sustainable yield (MSY) harvest level 

and is an estimate of the catch level 

above which overfishing is occurring. 

OFLs are based on recommendations by 

the Council’s Scientific and Statistical 

Committee (SSC) as the best scientific 

information available. The ABC is an 

annual catch specification that is the 

stock or stock complex’s OFL reduced 

by an amount associated with scientific 

uncertainty. The SSC-recommended 

method for incorporating scientific 

uncertainty is referred to as the P starsigma approach and is discussed in 

detail in the proposed and final rules for 

the 2011–2012 (75 FR 67810, November 

3, 2010 and 76 FR 27508, May 11, 2011) 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

12568 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

and 2013–2014 (77 FR 67974, November 

12, 2012, and 78 FR 580, January 3, 

2013) biennial harvest specifications 

and management measures. The ACL is 

a harvest specification set equal to or 

below the ABC. The ACLs are decided 

in a manner to achieve OY from the 

fishery, which is the amount of fish that 

will provide the greatest overall benefit 

to the Nation, particularly with respect 

to food production and recreational 

opportunities, and considering the 

protection of marine ecosystems. The 

ACLs are based on consideration of 

conservation objectives, socio-economic 

concerns, management uncertainty, and 

other factors. All known sources of 

fishing and scientific research catch are 

counted against the ACL. 

This final rule includes ACLs for the 

seven overfished species managed 

under the PCGFMP. For the 2015–2016 

biennium only one species, cowcod, 

requires rebuilding plan changes to its 

TMAX and TTARGET rebuilding 

parameters. TMAX is the maximum 

permissible time period for rebuilding 

the stock to its target biomass. TTARGET

is the year by which the stock can be 

rebuilt as soon as possible, taking into 

account the status and biology of the 

stock, the needs of fishing communities, 

and the interaction of the stock of fish 

within the marine ecosystem. The 

changes are necessary because the 

rebuilding analyses prepared showed 

that the current TTARGET is 9 years 

longer than the new TMAX. Accordingly, 

for cowcod, the TTARGET is revised from 

2068 to 2020, which is the median time 

to rebuild based on the established 

harvest control rule. The remaining 

overfished species (bocaccio, canary 

rockfish, darkblotched rockfish, Pacific 

ocean perch, petrale sole and yelloweye 

rockfish) are making adequate progress 

towards rebuilding or are estimated to 

be rebuilt in 2015. Therefore, this rule 

establishes harvest specifications 

consistent with the existing rebuilding 

plan provisions for those species. 

This action also approves and 

implements regulations for Amendment 

24 to the PCGFMP. Amendment 24 

consists of three components: (1) 

Default harvest control rules; (2) a suite 

of minor changes, including 

clarification of routine management 

measures and adjustments to those 

measures, clarification to the harvest 

specifications decision making 

schedule, changes to the description of 

biennial management cycle process, 

updates to make the PCGFMP consistent 

with SSC guidance on the FMSY proxy 

for elasmobranchs, and clarifications to 

definitions; and (3) addition of two 

rockfish species to the PCGFMP and the 

designation of ecosystem component 

(EC) species. 

With respect to the Council’s 

recommendations for EC species, in the 

preamble to the proposed rule, NMFS 

noted that reclassification of Pacific 

grenadier from a stock ‘‘in the fishery’’ 

to an EC species is arguably inconsistent 

with the NS 1 Guidelines, which state 

that EC species should not be a target 

stock and should generally not be 

retained. Recent Pacific grenadier 

landings average about 130 mt per year, 

and Pacific grenadier is landed, 

marketed, and possibly targeted in some 

regions, mainly in central California. 

However, despite relatively high 

amounts of catch when compared to 

catch of other proposed EC species, only 

about 10 percent of the estimated OFL 

contribution for Pacific grenadier was 

caught annually between 2009 and 

2011. In addition, because the stocks 

that are currently in the PCGFMP and 

are proposed to be reclassified as EC 

species were previously managed as 

part of the Other Fish complex rather 

than as individual species, the EC 

classification results in very limited 

changes from existing management 

practices. Because of this, NMFS 

believes that the change to EC status 

will not result in additional fishing 

pressure on Pacific grenadier. Therefore, 

NMFS is approving the Council’s 

recommendation to designate Pacific 

grenadier as an EC species with the 

understanding that continued 

monitoring and evaluation of the stocks’ 

classifications will occur. 

Like Pacific grenadier, big skate is 

also currently in the Groundfish FMP as 

part of the Other Fish complex, and is 

designated as an EC species through 

Amendment 24 and this final rule. The 

information the Council had before it at 

the time of its recommendations 

indicated that recent average catches of 

big skate were only 18 percent of the 

estimated OFL. However, at its February 

2–6, 2015, work session the Council’s 

Groundfish Management Team (GMT) 

discussed new information about the 

catch data that was used to review 

whether big skate was an appropriate 

stock for EC species classification. The 

GMT noted that it was recently 

discovered that the majority of landings 

contributing to an ‘‘unspecified skate’’ 

market category were in fact 

predominantly big skate and that recent 

catches of big skate were much closer to 

the estimated OFL. Anecdotal evidence 

also indicates targeting and marketing 

exist. The Council and its other advisory 

bodies have not yet reviewed the 

preliminary information described by 

the GMT. However, if accurate, big skate 

would likely be in need of conservation 

and management and not an acceptable 

candidate for EC species classification. 

Because this new information came to 

light after Amendment 24 was 

submitted for NFMS’ review, and only 

a few weeks before the statutorilymandated deadline for a decision on the 

amendment, it was not practicable for 

the information to be incorporated into 

Amendment 24. However, NMFS 

understands that the Council intends to 

review the new information regarding 

big skate at its April 2015 meeting. If 

trip limits in the trawl fishery are 

needed to prevent overfishing, the 

Council and NMFS have authority 

under existing regulations to implement 

those changes via inseason action. If the 

GMT verifies this preliminary 

information, the Council would need to 

initiate a process to reclassify big skate 

as a stock in need of conservation and 

management rather than an EC species. 

In order to keep mortality of the 

species managed under the PCGFMP 

within the ACLs the Council also 

recommended management measures 

for recreational and commercial 

fisheries. Generally speaking, 

management measures are intended to 

rebuild overfished species, prevent 

ACLs from being exceeded, and allow 

for the harvest of healthy stocks. 

Management measures include time and 

area restrictions, gear restrictions, trip or 

bag limits, size limits, and other 

management tools. Management 

measures may vary by fishing sector 

because different fishing sectors require 

different types of management to control 

catch. Most of the management 

measures the Council recommended for 

2015–2016 were slight variations to 

existing management measures and do 

not represent a change from current 

management practices. These types of 

changes include changes to trip limits, 

bag limits, closed areas, etc. 

Additionally, several new management 

measures were recommended by the 

Council and proposed by NMFS. Those 

measures are described in detail in the 

proposed rule for this action. 

This final rule implements the same 

regulations that were described in the 

proposed rule with a few exceptions. 

All of these changes are discussed in 

detail below in Changes from the 

Proposed Rule. 

Background 

The Pacific Coast Groundfish fishery 

is managed under the PCGFMP. The 

PCGFMP was prepared by the Council, 

approved on July 30, 1984, and has been 

amended numerous times. Regulations 

at 50 CFR part 660, subparts C through 

G, implement the provisions of the 

PCGFMP. 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12569 

The PCGFMP requires the harvest 

specifications and management 

measures for groundfish to be set at least 

biennially. This final rule is based on 

the Council’s final recommendations 

that were made at its June 2014 meeting 

with updated harvest specifications for 

some stocks adopted at its November 

2014 meeting. The Notice of Availability 

for the FEIS for this action was 

published on January 16, 2015 (80 FR 

2414). The final preferred alternative in 

the FEIS is the same as the Council’s 

preferred alternative from June 2014, 

and includes the updated harvest 

specifications that the Council 

recommended at its November 2014 

meeting. The final preferred alternative, 

including updated harvest 

specifications from November 2014, was 

described in the proposed rule for this 

action. See the preamble to the 

proposed rule for additional background 

information on the fishery and the 

provisions implemented in this final 

rule. 

Comments and Responses 

NMFS published a proposed rule on 

January 6, 2015 (80 FR687) with a 

comment period that closed on January 

26, 2015. NMFS received three letters of 

comment on the proposed rule. NMFS 

received one letter from the Department 

of the Interior stating it had no 

comment, one letter from an anonymous 

commenter, and one letter from the 

Washington Department of Fish and 

Wildlife. 

Comment 1: An anonymous 

commenter requested that PCGFMP 

Amendment 24 incorporate mandatory 

protocols for when a species is 

discovered to be overfished or 

threatened, including reporting of that 

information. 

Response: Amendment 24 establishes 

NMFS’ ability to implement harvest 

specifications based on the harvest 

control rules from the previous 

biennium, applied to the best available 

science, in the absence of Council 

action. If the best available science 

indicates that a species is subject to 

overfishing or is in an overfished 

condition, Section 4.6 of the PCGFMP 

describes procedures for the use of 

precautionary harvest control rules that 

will apply for that species in the interim 

until a rebuilding plan can be developed 

and implemented (e.g. the harvest 

control rules that applied in the 

previous biennium would change based 

on the best available science). Section 

4.6.3.7 of the PCGFMP also describes 

the protocols used with regard to 

species listed as threatened or 

endangered under the Endangered 

Species Act (ESA). Accordingly, the 

PCGFMP already addresses the issues 

raised by the commenter and this action 

does not change those protocols. 

Development of new rebuilding plans 

and steps taken to ensure the 

conservation of species listed under the 

ESA are considered through the Council 

process, which is open to the public. 

Comment 2: The Washington 

Department of Fish and Wildlife 

requested that NMFS delay the addition 

of shortraker and blackspotted/rougheye 

rockfish to the list of species that must 

be sorted coastwide because data is 

collected on a quarterly basis and April 

1st is the beginning of a quarter. 

Response: NMFS supports this delay 

in effectiveness and therefore has 

modified the effective date of the sorting 

requirement changes. This delay does 

not change the current sorting 

requirements, only the addition of the 

new species. NMFS does not believe 

that the short delay in effectiveness with 

result in conservation concerns. 

Changes From the Proposed Rule 

For the recreational fishery in 

California, the Council recommended 

changes for California scorpionfish and 

black rockfish which are incorporated 

into this rule. NMFS requested 

comments on these changes in the 

proposed rule but did not include the 

necessary regulatory text at that time. 

Therefore, this rule will modify 

regulations at § 660.360(c)(3)(v)(A)(1) 

through (4) to prohibit retention of 

California scorpionfish in the California 

recreational fisheries from September 

through December. Additionally, this 

rule will add a 5 fish sub-bag limit for 

black rockfish within the RockfishCabezon-Greenling limits at 

§ 660.360(c)(3)(ii)(B). These changes are 

consistent with the Council’s 

recommendations at the November 2014 

meeting and with the description of 

these changes in the proposed rule for 

this action. 

Classifications 

The Administrator, West Coast 

Region, NMFS, determined that the 

2015–2016 groundfish harvest 

specifications and management 

measures and Amendment 24 to the 

PCGFMP, which this final rule 

implements, are necessary for the 

conservation and management of the 

Pacific Coast Groundfish fishery and are 

consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act and other applicable laws. 

NMFS finds good cause to waive the 

30-day delay in effectiveness pursuant 

to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), so that this final 

rule may become effective upon 

publication in the Federal Register, 

except in the case of the sorting 

requirements for rougheye/blackspotted 

and shortraker rockfish, which will 

become effective on April 1, 2015. 

Because this final rule increases the 

catch limits for several species for 2015, 

leaving 2014 harvest specifications in 

place could unnecessarily delay fishing 

opportunities until later in the year, 

potentially reducing the total catch for 

these species in 2015. Thus, a delay in 

effectiveness could ultimately cause 

economic harm to the fishing industry 

and associated fishing communities or 

result in harvest levels inconsistent with 

the best available scientific information. 

This final rule also approves the 

Council’s 2015–2016 management 

measures, which respond to the needs 

of the fisheries in each state. Therefore, 

allowing the 2014 management 

measures to remain in place would not 

respond to the needs of the fishery and 

would be in conflict with the Council’s 

final recommendation for 2015 

management measures. For example, 

due to higher than expected catches in 

California, the Council recommended 

implementing a 5 fish sub-bag limit for 

black rockfish in order to slow catches 

and provide for year round opportunity 

while managing to the California harvest 

guideline for black rockfish. Because of 

the potential harm to fish stocks and 

fishing communities that could be 

caused by delaying the effectiveness of 

this final rule, NMFS finds good cause 

to waive the 30-day delay in 

effectiveness. 

NMFS prepared an FEIS for the 2015– 

2016 groundfish harvest specifications 

and management measures and 

Amendment 24 to the PCGFMP. The 

Environmental Protection Agency 

published a notice of availability for the 

FEIS on January 16, 2015 (80 FR 2414.) 

A copy of the FEIS is available online 

at http://www.pcouncil.org/. In 

approving the 2015–2016 groundfish 

harvest specifications and management 

measures, NMFS issued a Record of 

Decision (ROD) identifying the selected 

alternatives. A copy of the ROD is 

available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). 

This final rule has been determined to 

be not significant for purposes of 

Executive Order 12866. 

A final regulatory flexibility analysis 

(FRFA) was prepared. The FRFA 

incorporates the IRFA, a summary of the 

significant issues raised by the public 

comments in response to the IRFA, 

NMFS’ responses to those comments, 

and a summary of the analyses 

completed to support the action. A copy 

of the FRFA is available from NMFS 

(see ADDRESSES) and a summary of the 

FRFA, per the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 

604(a), follows: 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

12570 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

NMFS received no comments to the 

RIR/IRFA. NMFS agrees that the 

Council’s choice of preferred 

alternatives would best achieve the 

Council’s objectives while minimizing, 

to the extent practicable, the adverse 

effects on harvesters, processors, fishing 

support industries, and associated 

communities. The preamble above 

provides a statement and need for, and 

objective of this rule. The MSA provides 

the statutory basis for this rule. No 

duplicative, overlapping, or conflicting 

Federal rules have been identified. This 

final rule would not introduce any 

changes to current reporting, 

recordkeeping, and other compliance 

requirements. 

This rule regulates businesses that 

harvest groundfish. This rule directly 

affects limited entry fixed gear permit 

holders, trawl Quota Share (QS) and 

whiting catch history endorsed permit 

holders (which includes shorebased 

whiting processors), tribal vessels, 

charterboat vessels, and open access 

vessels. QS holders are directly affected 

because the amount of Quota Pounds 

(QP) they receive based on their QS are 

affected by the ACLs. Vessels that fish 

under the trawl rationalization program 

receive their QP from the QS holders, 

and thus are indirectly affected if they 

only own vessel accounts rather than 

QS. Similarly, Mothership processors 

are indirectly affected as they receive 

the fish they process from limited entry 

permits that are endorsed with whiting 

catch history assignments. 

According to the Small Business 

Administration (SBA), a small 

commercial harvesting business is one 

that has annual receipts under $20.5 

million (including its affiliates), a small 

charterboat business is one with receipts 

under $7.5 million, and a small 

processor employs less than 500 

employees. Small non-profit 

organizations must be independently 

owned and operated and not dominant 

in its field. Small government 

jurisdictions must have populations less 

than 50,000. For purposes of 

rulemaking, NMFS is applying the $20.5 

million standard to catcher processors 

because whiting catcher processors are 

involved in the commercial harvest of 

finfish. 

To determine the number of small 

entities potentially affected by this rule, 

NMFS reviewed analyses of fish ticket 

data and limited entry permit data. 

NMFS also reviewed the EIS associated 

with this rulemaking. The EIS includes 

information on charterboat, tribal, and 

open access fleets, available costearnings data developed by Northwest 

Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC). 

NMFS also reviewed responses 

associated with the permitting process 

for the trawl rationalization program— 

applicants were asked if they 

considered themselves a small business 

based on SBA definitions. This rule 

would regulate businesses that harvest 

groundfish. 

NMFS makes the following 

conclusions based primarily on analyses 

associated with fish ticket data, limited 

entry permit data, previous analysis of 

the charterboat and tribal fleets, NMFS 

expertise, and the EIS associated with 

this rule making. As part of the 

permitting process for the Trawl 

rationalization program or to participate 

in non-trawl limited entry permit 

fisheries, applicants were asked if they 

considered themselves a small business. 

NMFS reviewed the ownership and 

affiliation relationships of quota share 

permit holders, vessel account holders, 

catcher processor permits, Mothership 

processing, and first receiver/shore 

processor permits. Based on this review, 

there are an estimated 102 unique small 

businesses and 21 large businesses that 

participate in this Trawl Rationalization 

Program. In the non-trawl limited entry 

program, there are 222 small businesses. 

Open access vessels are not federally 

permitted so counts based on landings 

can provide an estimate of the affected. 

The Draft EIS analysis for the 2013–14 

Pacific Groundfish Specifications and 

Management Measures contained the 

following assessment, which is deemed 

reasonable estimates for this rule, as 

these fisheries have not changed 

significantly in recent years. In 2011, 

682 directed open access vessels fished 

while 284 incidental open access 

vessels fished for a total of 966 vessels. 

Over the 2005–2010 period, 1583 

different directed open access vessels 

fished and 837 different incidental open 

access vessels fished for a total of 2420 

different vessels. According to the Draft 

EIS, over the 2008–2010 period, 447 to 

470 charterboats participated in the 

groundfish fishery, 447 in 2010. The 

four tribal fleets sum to a total of 54 

longline vessels, 5 whiting trawlers, and 

5 non-whiting trawlers, for a grand total 

of 64 vessels. Available information on 

average revenue per vessel suggests that 

all the entities in these groups can be 

considered small. 

These regulations implement the 

Council’s preferred alternative. The key 

economic effects of the Council’s 

preferred alternative and the other 

alternatives were described in detail in 

the proposed rule for this action. The 

economic effects of the Council’s 

preferred alternative were compared 

with the no action alternative where the 

no action alternative reflects 

maintaining 2013–2014 harvest 

specifications and management 

measures into 2015–2016. Total 

shoreside sectors’ ex-vessel revenue 

under the Preferred Alternative is 

projected to be the highest among the 

action alternatives. Compared with No 

Action, total non-whiting shoreside exvessel revenue under the preferred 

alternative is projected to increase by 

$16 million (20 percent) in 2015. 

Projected revenues are higher than 

under No Action for every shorebased 

groundfish sector. The greatest absolute 

and percentage increase in revenue is 

projected for the IFQ sector: $12.8 

million (45 percent) in 2015. There is no 

projected change from No Action for the 

incidental Open Access Sector. Future 

rulemaking will address the amount of 

whiting that is to be harvested by 

shoreside IFQ, mothership catcher 

vessels, catcher-processors, and tribal 

fleets. This rule making does affect the 

amount of bycatch that these fleets will 

have for their directed whiting fisheries. 

Under the Preferred Alternative, an 

increase of 11,600 angler trips is 

projected from No Action coastwide. All 

of the increase occurs in California. 

Trips increase by 1,600 (20 percent) in 

the Mendocino region, 5,600 (11 

percent) in the San Francisco region and 

4,400 (4 percent) in the Central region. 

No change from No Action is projected 

for California’s Northern and Southern 

management areas or for recreational 

fisheries in Washington and Oregon. 

This represents a coastwide income 

increase of $1,471,000 compared to No 

Action alternative. 

NMFS issued Biological Opinions 

under the ESA on August 10, 1990, 

November 26, 1991, August 28, 1992, 

September 27, 1993, May 14, 1996, and 

December 15, 1999 pertaining to the 

effects of the PCGFMP fisheries on 

Chinook salmon (Puget Sound, Snake 

River spring/summer, Snake River fall, 

upper Columbia River spring, lower 

Columbia River, upper Willamette 

River, Sacramento River winter, Central 

Valley spring, California coastal), coho 

salmon (Central California coastal, 

southern Oregon/northern California 

coastal), chum salmon (Hood Canal 

summer, Columbia River), sockeye 

salmon (Snake River, Ozette Lake), and 

steelhead (upper, middle and lower 

Columbia River, Snake River Basin, 

upper Willamette River, central 

California coast, California Central 

Valley, south/central California, 

northern California, southern 

California). These biological opinions 

have concluded that implementation of 

the PCGFMP is not expected to 

jeopardize the continued existence of 

any endangered or threatened species 

under the jurisdiction of NMFS, or 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12571 

result in the destruction or adverse 

modification of critical habitat. 

NMFS issued a Supplemental 

Biological Opinion on March 11, 2006 

concluding that neither the higher 

observed bycatch of Chinook in the 

2005 whiting fishery nor new data 

regarding salmon bycatch in the 

groundfish bottom trawl fishery 

required a reconsideration of its prior 

‘‘no jeopardy’’ conclusion. NMFS also 

reaffirmed its prior determination that 

implementation of the PCGFMP is not 

likely to jeopardize the continued 

existence of any of the affected ESUs. 

Lower Columbia River coho (70 FR 

37160, June 28, 2005) and Oregon 

Coastal coho (73 FR 7816, February 11, 

2008) were relisted as threatened under 

the ESA. The 1999 biological opinion 

concluded that the bycatch of salmonids 

in the Pacific whiting fishery were 

almost entirely Chinook salmon, with 

little or no bycatch of coho, chum, 

sockeye, and steelhead. 

NMFS has reinitiated section 7 

consultation on the PCGFMP with 

respect to its effects on listed salmonids. 

In the event the consultation identifies 

either reasonable and prudent 

alternatives to address jeopardy 

concerns or reasonable and prudent 

measures to minimize incidental take, 

NMFS would exercise necessary 

authorities in coordination, to the extent 

possible, with the Council to put such 

additional alternatives or measures into 

place. After reviewing the available 

information, NMFS has concluded that, 

consistent with sections 7(a)(2) and 7(d) 

of the ESA, this action will not 

jeopardize any listed species, would not 

adversely modify any designated critical 

habitat, and will not result in any 

irreversible or irretrievable commitment 

of resources that would have the effect 

of foreclosing the formulation or 

implementation of any reasonable and 

prudent alternative measures. 

On December 7, 2012, NMFS 

completed a biological opinion 

concluding that the groundfish fishery 

is not likely to jeopardize non-salmonid 

marine species including listed 

eulachon, green sturgeon, humpback 

whales, Steller sea lions, and 

leatherback sea turtles. The opinion also 

concludes that the fishery is not likely 

to adversely modify critical habitat for 

green sturgeon and leatherback sea 

turtles. The opinion also concluded that 

the fishery is not likely to adversely 

affect green sea turtles, olive ridley sea 

turtles, loggerhead sea turtles, sei 

whales, North Pacific right whales, blue 

whales, fin whales, sperm whales, 

Southern Resident killer whales, 

Guadalupe fur seals, or the critical 

habitat for Steller sea lions. 

On November 21, 2012, the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued a 

biological opinion concluding that the 

groundfish fishery will not jeopardize 

the continued existence of the shorttailed albatross. The (FWS) also 

concurred that the fishery is not likely 

to adversely affect the marbled murrelet, 

California least tern, southern sea otter, 

bull trout, or bull trout critical habitat. 

This final rule would not alter the 

effects on marine mammals over what 

has already been considered for the 

fishery. West Coast pot fisheries for 

sablefish are considered Category II 

fisheries under the MMPA’s List of 

Fisheries, indicating occasional 

interactions. All other West Coast 

groundfish fisheries, including the trawl 

fishery, are considered Category III 

fisheries under the MMPA, indicating a 

remote likelihood of or no known 

serious injuries or mortalities to marine 

mammals. On February 27, 2012, NMFS 

published notice that the incidental 

taking of Steller sea lions in the West 

Coast groundfish fisheries is addressed 

in NMFS’ December 29, 2010, Negligible 

Impact Determination (NID) and this 

fishery has been added to the list of 

fisheries authorized to take Steller sea 

lions (77 FR 11493, February 27, 2012). 

On September 4, 2013, based on its 

negligible impact determination dated 

August 28, 2013, NMFS issued a permit 

for a period of three years to authorize 

the incidental taking of humpback 

whales by the sablefish pot fishery (78 

FR 54553, September 4, 2013). 

Pursuant to Executive Order 13175, 

this final rule was developed after 

meaningful collaboration with Tribal 

officials from the area covered by the 

PCGFMP. Under the MSA at 16 U.S.C. 

1852(b)(5), one of the voting members of 

the Pacific Council must be a 

representative of an Indian Tribe with 

Federally recognized fishing rights from 

the area of the Council’s jurisdiction. In 

addition, regulations implementing the 

PCGFMP establish a procedure by 

which the Tribes with treaty fishing 

rights in the area covered by the 

PCGFMP request new allocations or 

regulations specific to the Tribes, in 

writing, before the first of the two 

meetings at which the Council considers 

groundfish management measures. The 

regulations at 50 CFR 660.50(d)(2) 

further state ‘‘the Secretary will develop 

Tribal allocations and regulations under 

this paragraph in consultation with the 

affected Tribe(s) and, insofar as 

possible, with Tribal consensus.’’ The 

Tribal management measures in this 

final rule have been developed 

following these procedures. 

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660 

Fisheries, Fishing, and Indian 

fisheries. 

Dated: March 3, 2015. 

Eileen Sobeck, 

Assistant Administrator for 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. and 16 

U.S.C. 773 et seq. 

■ 2. In § 660.11, in the definition for 

‘‘Groundfish,’’ revise paragraphs (1), (2), 

(5), (7) introductory text, (7)(i) 

introductory text, (7)(ii), (7)(iii), (9) and 

(10); in the definition for ‘‘North-South 

management area’’ revise paragraph 

(2)(v) and revise the definitions for 

‘‘Office of Law Enforcement or OLE’’, 

‘‘Regional Administrator’’, and 

‘‘Sustainable Fisheries Division or SFD’’ 

to read as follows: 

§ 660.11 General definitions. 

* * * * * 

Groundfish * * * 

(1) Sharks: Leopard shark, Triakis 

semifasciata; soupfin shark, 

Galeorhinus zyopterus; spiny dogfish, 

Squalus suckleyi. 

(2) Skates: ‘‘Skates’’ in the PCGFMP 

include all genera and species in the 

family Arhynchobatidae that occur off 

Washington, Oregon, and California, 

including but not limited to Aleutian 

skate, Bathyraja aleutica; Bering/

sandpaper skate, B. interrupta; big skate, 

Raja binoculata; California skate, R. 

inornata; longnose skate, R. rhina; 

roughtail/black skate, B. trachura. 

* * * * * 

(5) Grenadiers: ‘‘Grenadiers’’ in the 

PCGFMP include all genera and species 

in the family Macrouridae that occur off 

Washington, Oregon, and California, 

including but not limited to Giant 

grenadier, Albatrossia pectoralis; Pacific 

grenadier, Coryphaenoides acrolepis. 

* * * * * 

(7) Rockfish: ‘‘Rockfish’’ in the 

PCGFMP include all genera and species 

of the family Scorpaenidae that occur 

off Washington, Oregon, and California, 

even if not listed below, including 

longspine thornyhead, Sebastolobus 

altivelis, and shortspine thornyhead, S. 

alascanus. Where species below are 

listed both in a geographic category 

(nearshore, shelf, slope) and as an areaspecific listing (north or south of 40°10′ 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

12572 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

N. lat.) those species are managed 

within a ‘‘minor’’ rockfish complex in 

that area-specific listing. 

(i) Nearshore rockfish includes black 

rockfish, Sebastes melanops and the 

following nearshore rockfish species 

managed in ‘‘minor rockfish’’ 

complexes: 

* * * * * 

(ii) Shelf rockfish includes bocaccio, 

Sebastes paucispinis; canary rockfish, S. 

pinniger; chilipepper, S. goodei; 

cowcod, S. levis; shortbelly rockfish, S. 

jordani; widow rockfish, S. entomelas; 

yelloweye rockfish, S. ruberrimus; 

yellowtail rockfish, S. flavidus and the 

following shelf rockfish species 

managed in ‘‘minor rockfish’’ 

complexes: 

(A) Shelf Rockfish North of 40°10′ N. 

lat.: Bronzespotted rockfish, S. gilli; 

bocaccio, S. paucispinis; chameleon 

rockfish, S. phillipsi; chilipepper, S. 

goodei; cowcod, S. levis; dusky rockfish, 

S. ciliatus; dwarf-red rockfish, S. 

rufianus; flag rockfish, S. rubrivinctus; 

freckled rockfish, S. lentiginosus; 

greenblotched rockfish, S. rosenblatti; 

greenspotted rockfish, S. chlorostictus; 

greenstriped rockfish, S. elongatus; 

halfbanded rockfish, S. semicinctus; 

harlequin rockfish, S. variegatus; 

honeycomb rockfish, S. umbrosus; 

Mexican rockfish, S. macdonaldi; pink 

rockfish, S. eos; pinkrose rockfish, S. 

simulator; pygmy rockfish, S. wilsoni; 

redstripe rockfish, S. proriger; rosethorn 

rockfish, S. helvomaculatus; rosy 

rockfish, S. rosaceus; silvergray 

rockfish, S. brevispinis; speckled 

rockfish, S. ovalis; squarespot rockfish, 

S. hopkinsi; starry rockfish, S. 

constellatus; stripetail rockfish, S. 

saxicola; sunset rockfish, S. crocotulus; 

swordspine rockfish, S. ensifer; tiger 

rockfish, S. nigrocinctus; vermilion 

rockfish, S. miniatus. 

(B) Shelf Rockfish South of 40°10′ N. 

lat.: Bronzespotted rockfish, S. gilli; 

chameleon rockfish, S. phillipsi; dusky 

rockfish, S. ciliatus; dwarf-red rockfish, 

S. rufianus; flag rockfish, S. 

rubrivinctus; freckled rockfish, S. 

lentiginosus; greenblotched rockfish, S. 

rosenblatti; greenspotted rockfish, S. 

chlorostictus; greenstriped rockfish, S. 

elongatus; halfbanded rockfish, S. 

semicinctus; harlequin rockfish, S. 

variegatus; honeycomb rockfish, S. 

umbrosus; Mexican rockfish, S. 

macdonaldi; pink rockfish, S. eos; 

pinkrose rockfish, S. simulator; pygmy 

rockfish, S. wilsoni; redstripe rockfish, 

S. proriger; rosethorn rockfish, S. 

helvomaculatus; rosy rockfish, S. 

rosaceus; silvergray rockfish, S. 

brevispinis; speckled rockfish, S. ovalis; 

squarespot rockfish, S. hopkinsi; starry 

rockfish, S. constellatus; stripetail 

rockfish, S. saxicola; sunset rockfish, S. 

crocotulus; swordspine rockfish, S. 

ensifer; tiger rockfish, S. nigrocinctus; 

vermilion rockfish, S. miniatus; 

yellowtail rockfish, S. flavidus. 

(iii) Slope rockfish includes 

darkblotched rockfish, S. crameri; 

Pacific ocean perch, S. alutus; splitnose 

rockfish, S. diploproa; and the following 

slope rockfish species managed in 

‘‘minor rockfish’’ complexes: 

(A) Slope Rockfish North of 40°10′ N. 

lat.: Aurora rockfish, Sebastes aurora; 

bank rockfish, S. rufus; blackgill 

rockfish, S. melanostomus; blackspotted 

rockfish, S. melanostictus; redbanded 

rockfish, S. babcocki; rougheye rockfish, 

S. aleutianus; sharpchin rockfish, S. 

zacentrus; shortraker rockfish, S. 

borealis; splitnose rockfish, S. 

diploproa; yellowmouth rockfish, S. 

reedi. 

(B) Slope Rockfish South of 40°10′ N. 

lat.: Aurora rockfish, Sebastes aurora; 

bank rockfish, S. rufus; blackgill 

rockfish, S. melanostomus; blackspotted 

rockfish, S. melanostictus; Pacific ocean 

perch, S. alutus; redbanded rockfish, S. 

babcocki; rougheye rockfish, S. 

aleutianus; sharpchin rockfish, S. 

zacentrus; shortraker rockfish, S. 

borealis; yellowmouth rockfish, S. reedi. 

* * * * * 

(9) ‘‘Other fish’’: kelp greenling 

(Hexagrammos decagrammus), leopard 

shark (Trakis semifasciata), and cabezon 

(Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) in 

waters off Washington. 

(10) ‘‘Ecosystem component species’’ 

means species that are included in the 

PCGFMP but are not ‘‘in the fishery’’ 

and therefore not actively managed and 

do not require harvest specifications. 

Ecosystem component species are not 

targeted in any fishery, not generally 

retained for sale or personal use, and are 

not determined to be subject to 

overfishing, approaching an overfished 

condition, or overfished, nor are they 

likely to become subject to overfishing 

or overfished in the absence of 

conservation and management 

measures. Ecosystem component 

species include: All skates listed here in 

paragraph (2), except longnose skate; all 

grenadiers listed here in paragraph (5); 

soupfin shark; ratfish; and finescale 

codling. 

* * * * * 

North-South management area ***

(2) * * * 

(v) Columbia River—46°16.00′ N. lat. 

* * * * * 

Office of Law Enforcement or OLE 

refers to the National Marine Fisheries 

Service, Office of Law Enforcement, 

Western Division. 

* * * * * 

Regional Administrator means the 

Administrator, West Coast Region, 

NMFS. 

* * * * * 

Sustainable Fisheries Division or SFD 

means the Assistant Regional 

Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries 

Division, West Coast Regional Office, 

NMFS, or a designee. 

* * * * * 

■ 3. In § 660.40, revise paragraph (c) to 

read as follows: 

§ 660.40 Overfished species rebuilding 

plans. 

* * * * * 

(c) Cowcod. Cowcod was declared 

overfished in 2000. The target year for 

rebuilding the cowcod stock south of 

40°10′ N. lat. to BMSY is 2020. The 

harvest control rule to be used to 

rebuild the cowcod stock is an annual 

SPR harvest rate of 82.7 percent. 

* * * * * 

■ 4. In § 660.50, revise paragraphs 

(f)(2)(ii), (f)(5) and (7), and add 

paragraph (f)(8) to read as follows: 

§ 660.50 Pacific Coast treaty Indian 

fisheries. 

* * * * * 

(f) * * * 

(2) * * * 

(ii) The Tribal allocation is 479 mt in 

2015 and 524 mt in 2016 per year. This 

allocation is, for each year, 10 percent 

of the Monterey through Vancouver area 

(North of 36° N. lat.) ACL. The Tribal 

allocation is reduced by 1.6 percent for 

estimated discard mortality. 

* * * * * 

(5) Pacific cod. There is a tribal 

harvest guideline of 500 mt of Pacific 

cod per year. The tribes will manage 

their fisheries to stay within this harvest 

guideline. 

* * * * * 

(7) Yellowtail rockfish. Yellowtail 

rockfish taken in the directed tribal midwater trawl fisheries are subject to a 

catch limit of 1,000 mt for the entire 

fleet, per year. 

(8) Spiny dogfish. Spiny dogfish taken 

in the treaty fisheries are subject to an 

overall expected total spiny dogfish 

catch of 275 mt per year. 

* * * * * 

■ 5. In § 660.60, add paragraphs (b)(1) 

and reserved (b)(2) and revise paragraph 

(c)(1)(i) to read as follows: 

§ 660.60 Specifications and management 

measures. 

* * * * * 

(b) * * * 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12573 

(1) Except for Pacific whiting, every 

biennium, NMFS will implement OFLs, 

ABCs, and ACLs, if applicable, for each 

species or species group based on the 

harvest controls used in the previous 

biennium (referred to as default harvest 

control rules) applied to the best 

available scientific information. The 

default harvest control rules for each 

species or species group are listed in 

Appendix F to the PCGFMP and the 

biennial SAFE document. NMFS may 

implement OFLs, ABCs, and ACLs, if 

applicable, that vary from the default 

harvest control rules based on a Council 

recommendation. 

(2) [Reserved] 

(c) * * * 

(1) * * * 

(i) Trip landing and frequency limits, 

size limits, all gear. Trip landing and 

frequency limits have been designated 

as routine for the following species or 

species groups: Widow rockfish, canary 

rockfish, yellowtail rockfish, Pacific 

ocean perch, yelloweye rockfish, black 

rockfish, blue rockfish, splitnose 

rockfish, blackgill rockfish in the area 

south of 40°10’ N. lat., chilipepper, 

bocaccio, cowcod, minor nearshore 

rockfish or shallow and deeper minor 

nearshore rockfish, shelf or minor shelf 

rockfish, and minor slope rockfish; 

Dover sole, sablefish, shortspine 

thornyheads, and longspine 

thornyheads; petrale sole, rex sole, 

arrowtooth flounder, Pacific sanddabs, 

and the other flatfish complex, which is 

composed of those species plus any 

other flatfish species listed at § 660.11; 

Pacific whiting; lingcod; Pacific cod; 

spiny dogfish; longnose skate; cabezon 

in Oregon and California and ‘‘other 

fish’’ as a complex described at § 660.11. 

In addition to the species and species 

groups listed above, sub-limits or 

aggregate limits may be specified, 

specific to the Shorebased IFQ Program, 

for the following species: Big skate, 

California skate, California scorpionfish, 

leopard shark, soupfin shark, finescale 

codling, Pacific rattail (grenadier), 

ratfish, kelp greenling, shortbelly, and 

cabezon in Washington. Size limits have 

been designated as routine for sablefish 

and lingcod. Trip landing and frequency 

limits and size limits for species with 

those limits designated as routine may 

be imposed or adjusted on a biennial or 

more frequent basis for the purpose of 

keeping landings within the harvest 

levels announced by NMFS, and for the 

other purposes given in paragraphs 

(c)(1)(i)(A) and (B) of this section. 

* * * * * 

■ 6. In § 660.72: 

■ a. Revise paragraph (c); 

■ b. Redesignate paragraphs (f)(199) 

through (211) as paragraphs (f)(200) 

through (212); 

■ c. Add new paragraph (f)(199); and 

■ d. Revise newly redesignated 

paragraph (f)(207); 

The revisions and addition read as 

follows: 

§ 660.72 Latitude/longitude coordinates 

defining the 50 fm (91 m) through 75 fm (137 

m) depth contours. 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(1) 34°08.40′ N. lat., 120°33.78′ W. 

long.; 

(2) 34°07.80′ N. lat., 120°30.99′ W. 

long.; 

(3) 34°08.42′ N. lat., 120°27.92′ W. 

long.; 

(4) 34°09.31′ N. lat., 120°27.81′ W. 

long.; 

(5) 34°05.85′ N. lat., 120°17.13′ W. 

long.; 

(6) 34°05.73′ N. lat., 120°05.93′ W. 

long.; 

(7) 34°06.14′ N. lat., 120°04.86′ W. 

long.; 

(8) 34°05.70′ N. lat., 120°03.17′ W. 

long.; 

(9) 34°05.67′ N. lat., 119°58.98′ W. 

long.; 

(10) 34°06.34′ N. lat., 119°56.78′ W. 

long.; 

(11) 34°05.57′ N. lat., 119°51.35′ W. 

long.; 

(12) 34°07.08′ N. lat., 119°52.43′ W. 

long.; 

(13) 34°04.49′ N. lat., 119°35.55′ W. 

long.; 

(14) 34°04.73′ N. lat., 119°32.77′ W. 

long.; 

(15) 34°02.02′ N. lat., 119°19.18′ W. 

long.; 

(16) 34°01.03′ N. lat., 119°19.50′ W. 

long.; 

(17) 33°59.45′ N. lat., 119°22.38′ W. 

long.; 

(18) 33°58.68′ N. lat., 119°32.36′ W. 

long.; 

(19) 33°56.43′ N. lat., 119°41.13′ W. 

long.; 

(20) 33°56.04′ N. lat., 119°48.20′ W. 

long.; 

(21) 33°57.32′ N. lat., 119°51.96′ W. 

long.; 

(22) 33°59.32′ N. lat., 119°55.59′ W. 

long.; 

(23) 33°57.52′ N. lat., 119°55.19′ W. 

long.; 

(24) 33°56.26′ N. lat., 119°54.29′ W. 

long.; 

(25) 33°54.30′ N. lat., 119°54.83′ W. 

long.; 

(26) 33°50.97′ N. lat., 119°57.03′ W. 

long.; 

(27) 33°50.25′ N. lat., 120°00.00′ W. 

long.; 

(28) 33°50.03′ N. lat., 120°03.00′ W. 

long.; 

(29) 33°51.06′ N. lat., 120°03.73′ W. 

long.; 

(30) 33°54.49′ N. lat., 120°12.85′ W. 

long.; 

(31) 33°58.90′ N. lat., 120°20.15′ W. 

long.; 

(32) 34°00.71′ N. lat., 120°28.21′ W. 

long.; 

(33) 34°02.20′ N. lat., 120°30.37′ W. 

long.; 

(34) 34°03.60′ N. lat., 120°30.60′ W. 

long.; 

(35) 34°06.96′ N. lat., 120°34.22′ W. 

long.; 

(36) 34°08.01′ N. lat., 120°35.24′ W. 

long.; and 

(37) 34°08.40′ N. lat., 120°33.78′ W. 

long. 

* * * * * 

(f) * * * 

(199) 32°56.00′ N. lat., 117°19.16′ W. 

long.; 

* * * * * 

(207) 32°44.89′ N. lat., 117°21.89′ W. 

long.; 

* * * * * 

■ 7. In § 660.73, revise paragraph 

(a)(123) to read as follows: 

§ 660.73 Latitude/longitude coordinates 

defining the 100 fm (183 m) through 150 fm 

(274 m) depth contours. 

* * * * * 

(a) * * * 

(123) 43°56.07′ N. lat., 124°55.41′ W. 

long.; 

* * * * * 

■ 8. In § 660.74: 

■ a. Remove paragraphs (l)(80) through 

(82); 

■ b. Redesignate paragraphs (l)(83) 

through (245) as (l)(87) through (249); 

and 

■ c. Add paragraphs (l)(80) through 

(l)(86). 

The additions read as follows: 

§ 660.74 Latitude/longitude coordinates 

defining the 180 fm (329 m) through 250 fm 

(457 m) depth contours. 

* * * * * 

(l) * * * 

(80) 44°48.25′ N. lat., 124°40.61′ W. 

long.; 

(81) 44°42.24′ N. lat., 124°48.05′ W. 

long.; 

(82) 44°41.35′ N. lat., 124°48.03′ W. 

long.; 

(83) 44°40.27′ N. lat., 124°49.11′ W. 

long.; 

(84) 44°38.52′ N. lat., 124°49.11′ W. 

long.; 

(85) 44°21.73′ N. lat., 124°49.82′ W. 

long.; 

(86) 44°17.57′ N. lat., 124°55.04′ W. 

long.; 

* * * * * 

■ 9. In subpart C, tables 1a through 1d 

are revised to read as follows: 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

12574 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

a/ Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual 

catch targets (ACTs) and harvest guidelines 

(HGs) are specified as total catch values. 

b/ Fishery harvest guidelines means the 

harvest guideline or quota after subtracting 

Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribes allocations 

and projected catch, projected research catch, 

deductions for fishing mortality in nonVerDate Sep<11>2014 16:34 Mar 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\10MRR1.SGM 10MRR1

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.000</GPH>

Table la. to Part 660, Subpart C- 2015, Specifications of OFL, ABC, ACL, ACT and 

Fishery Harvest Guidelines (Weights in Metric Tons). 

Fishery 

OFL ABC ACLa/ HGb/ 

BOCACCIO S. of 40°10' N. lat. c/ 1,444 1,380 349 341 

CANARY ROCKFISH d/ 733 701 122 107 

COWCOD S. of 40°10' N. lat. e/ 67 60 10 8 

DARKBLOTCHED ROCKFISH f/ 574 549 338 317 

PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH g/ 842 805 158 143 

PETRALE SOLE hi 2,946 2,816 2,816 2,579 

YELLOWEYE ROCKFISH il 52 43 18 12 

Arrowtooth flounder j1 6,599 5,497 5,497 3,410 

Black rockfiSh (OR-CA) k/ 1,176 1,124 1,000 999 

Black rockfiSh (W A) v 421 402 402 388 

Cabezon (CA) ml 161 154 154 154 

Cabezon (OR) nl 49 47 47 47 

California scorpiorniSh o/ 119 114 114 112 

Chilipepper S. of 40"10' N. lat. p/ 1,703 1,628 1,628 1,604 

Dover sole q/ 66,871 63,929 50,000 48,406 

English sole r/ 10,792 9,853 9,853 9,640 

Lingcod N. of 40°10' N. lat. s/ 3,010 2,830 2,830 2,552 

Lingcod S. of 40"10' N. lat. tl 1,205 1,004 1,004 995 

Longnose skate u/ 2,449 2,341 2,000 1,927 

Longspine thomyhead ( coastwide) v/ 5,007 4,171 NA NA 

Longspine thomyhead N. of34°27' N. lat. NA NA 3,170 3,124 

Longspine thomyhead S. of 34°27' N. lat. NA NA 1,001 998 

Pacific Cod w/ 3,200 2,221 1,600 1,091 

Pacific whiting xl xl xl xl xl 

Sable :fiSh ( coastwide) 7,857 7,173 NA NA 

See Table 

Sable:fiSh N. of 36° N. lat. y/ NA NA 4,793 1c 

Sable:fiSh S. of 36° N. lat. zl NA NA 1,719 1,714 

Shortbelly a a/ 6,950 5,789 500 498 

Shortspine thomyhead ( coastwide) bb/ 3,203 2,668 NA NA 

Shortspine thomyheadN. of34°27' N.lat. NA NA 1,745 1,686 

Shortspine thomyhead S. of 34°27' N. lat. NA NA 923 881 

Spiny dog:fiSh cc/ 2,523 2,101 2,101 1,763 

Splitnose S. of 40°10' N. lat. dd/ 1,794 1,715 1,715 1,705 

Starry flounder eel 1,841 1,534 1,534 1,524 

Widow rockfiSh ff/ 4,137 3,929 2,000 1,880 

Yellowtail N. of 40°10' N. lat. gg/ 7,218 6,590 6,590 5,560 

Minor Nearshore RockfiSh N. of 40°10' N. lat. hh/ 88 77 69 69 

Minor Shelf RockfiSh N. of 40°10' N. lat. iii 2,209 1,944 1,944 1,872 

Minor Slope RockfiSh N. of 40°10' N. lat. jj/ 1,831 1,693 1,693 1,629 

Minor Nearshore RockfiSh S. of 40°10' N. lat. kk/ 1,313 1,169 1,114 1,110 

Minor Shelf RockfiSh S. of 40°10' N. lat. ll/ 1,918 1,625 1,624 1,575 

Minor Slope RockfiSh S. of 40°10' N. lat. mm/ 813 705 693 673 

Other Flat:fiSh nnl 11,453 8,749 8,749 8,545 

Other Fish oo/ 291 242 242 242 
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12575 

groundfish fisheries, and deductions for EFPs 

from the ACL or ACT. 

c/ Bocaccio. A bocaccio stock assessment 

update was conducted in 2013 for the 

bocaccio stock between the U.S.-Mexico 

border and Cape Blanco. The stock is 

managed with stock-specific harvest 

specifications south of 40°10′ N. lat. and 

within the Minor Shelf Rockfish complex 

north of 40°10′ N. lat. A historical catch 

distribution of approximately 6 percent was 

used to apportion the assessed stock to the 

area north of 40°10′ N. lat. The bocaccio 

stock was estimated to be at 31.4 percent of 

its unfished biomass in 2013. The OFL of 

1,444 mt is projected in the 2013 stock 

assessment using an FMSY proxy of F50%. The 

ABC of 1,380 mt is a 4.4 percent reduction 

from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a 

category 1 stock. The 349 mt ACL is based 

on the current rebuilding plan with a target 

year to rebuild of 2022 and an SPR harvest 

rate of 77.7 percent. 8.3 mt is deducted from 

the ACL to accommodate the incidental open 

access fishery (0.7 mt), EFP catch (3.0 mt) 

and research catch (4.6 mt), resulting in a 

fishery HG of 340.7 mt. The California 

recreational fishery has an HG of 178.8 mt. 

d/ Canary rockfish. A canary rockfish stock 

assessment update was conducted in 2011 

and the stock was estimated to be at 23.2 

percent of its unfished biomass coastwide in 

2011. The coastwide OFL of 733 mt is 

projected in the 2011 rebuilding analysis 

using an FMSY proxy of F50%. The ABC of 701 

mt is a 4.4 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a category 1 stock. 

The ACL of 122 mt is based on the current 

rebuilding plan with a target year to rebuild 

of 2030 and an SPR harvest rate of 88.7 

percent. 15.2 mt is deducted from the ACL 

to accommodate the Tribal fishery (7.7 mt), 

the incidental open access fishery (2 mt), EFP 

catch (1.0 mt) and research catch (4.5 mt) 

resulting in a fishery HG of 106.8 mt. 

Recreational HGs are: 3.4 mt (Washington); 

11.7 mt (Oregon); and 24.3 mt (California). 

e/ Cowcod. A stock assessment for the 

Conception Area was conducted in 2013 and 

the stock was estimated to be at 33.9 percent 

of its unfished biomass in 2013. The 

Conception Area OFL of 55.0 mt is projected 

in the 2013 rebuilding analysis using an FMSY

proxy of F50%. The OFL contribution of 11.6 

mt for the unassessed portion of the stock in 

the Monterey area is based on depletionbased stock reduction analysis. The OFLs for 

the Monterey and Conception areas were 

summed to derive the south of 40°10′ N. lat. 

OFL of 66.6 mt. The ABC for the area south 

of 40°10′ N. lat. is 59.9 mt. The assessed 

portion of the stock in the Conception Area 

is considered category 2, with a Conception 

area contribution to the ABC of 50.2 mt, 

which is an 8.7 percent reduction from the 

Conception area OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.45). The 

unassessed portion of the stock in the 

Monterey area is considered a category 3 

stock, with a contribution to the ABC of 9.7 

mt, which is a 16.6 percent reduction from 

the Monterey area OFL (s=1.44/P*=0.45). A 

single ACL of 10.0 mt is being set for both 

areas combined. The ACL of 10.0 mt is based 

on the rebuilding plan with a target year to 

rebuild of 2020 and an SPR harvest rate of 

82.7 percent, which is equivalent to an 

exploitation rate (catch over age 11+ biomass) 

of 0.007. 2.0 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate EFP fishing (less than 0.02 mt) 

and research activity (2.0 mt), resulting in a 

fishery HG of 8.0 mt. Any additional 

mortality in research activities will be 

deducted from the ACL. A single ACT of 4.0 

mt is being set for both areas combined. 

f/ Darkblotched rockfish. A 2013 stock 

assessment estimated the stock to be at 36 

percent of its unfished biomass in 2013. The 

OFL of 574 mt is projected in the 2013 stock 

assessment using an FMSY proxy of F50%. The 

ABC of 549 mt is a 4.4 percent reduction 

from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a 

category 1 stock. The ACL of 338 mt is based 

on the current rebuilding plan with a target 

year to rebuild of 2025 and an SPR harvest 

rate of 64.9 percent. 20.8 mt is deducted from 

the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery 

(0.2 mt), the incidental open access fishery 

(18.4 mt), EFP catch (0.1 mt) and research 

catch (2.1 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 

317.2 mt. 

g/ Pacific Ocean Perch. A POP stock 

assessment was conducted in 2011 and the 

stock was estimated to be at 19.1 percent of 

its unfished biomass in 2011. The OFL of 842 

mt for the area north of 40°10′ N. lat. is 

projected in the 2011 rebuilding analysis 

using an F50% FMSY proxy. The ABC of 805 

mt is a 4.4 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a category 1 stock. 

The ACL of 158 mt is based on the current 

rebuilding plan with a target year to rebuild 

of 2051 and an SPR harvest rate of 86.4 

percent. 15 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the Tribal fishery (9.2 mt), the 

incidental open access fishery (0.6 mt), and 

research catch (5.2 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 143.0 mt. 

h/ Petrale sole. A 2013 stock assessment 

estimated the stock to be at 22.3 percent of 

its unfished biomass in 2013. The OFL of 

2,946 mt is projected in the 2013 assessment 

using an F30% FMSY proxy. The ABC of 2,816 

mt is a 4.4 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a category 1 stock. 

The ACL is based on the 25–5 harvest control 

rule specified in the current rebuilding plan; 

since the stock is projected to be rebuilt at 

the start of 2014, the ACL is set equal to the 

ABC. 236.6 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the Tribal fishery (220 mt), the 

incidental open access fishery (2.4 mt), and 

research catch (14.2 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 2,579.4 mt. 

i/ Yelloweye rockfish. A stock assessment 

update was conducted in 2011. The stock 

was estimated to be at 21.4 percent of its 

unfished biomass in 2011. The 52 mt 

coastwide OFL was projected in the 2011 

rebuilding analysis using an FMSY proxy of 

F50%. The ABC of 43 mt is a 16.7 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.40) as 

it’s a category 2 stock. The 18 mt ACL is 

based on the current rebuilding plan with a 

target year to rebuild of 2074 and an SPR 

harvest rate of 76.0 percent. 5.8 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate the 

Tribal fishery (2.3 mt), the incidental open 

access fishery (0.2 mt), EFP catch (0.03 mt) 

and research catch (3.3 mt) resulting in a 

fishery HG of 12.2 mt. Recreational HGs are: 

2.9 mt (Washington); 2.6 mt (Oregon); and 3.4 

mt (California). 

j/ Arrowtooth flounder. The arrowtooth 

flounder stock was last assessed in 2007 and 

was estimated to be at 79 percent of its 

unfished biomass in 2007. The OFL of 6,599 

mt is derived from the 2007 assessment using 

an F30% FMSY proxy. The ABC of 5,497 mt is 

a 16.7 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.72/P*=0.40) as it’s a category 2 stock. 

The ACL is set equal to the ABC because the 

stock is above its target biomass of B25%. 

2,087 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the Tribal fishery (2,041 mt), 

the incidental open access fishery (30 mt), 

and research catch (16.4 mt), resulting in a 

fishery HG of 3,410 mt. 

k/ Black rockfish south (Oregon and 

California). A stock assessment was 

conducted for black rockfish south of 45°46′ 

N. lat. (Cape Falcon, Oregon) to Central 

California (i.e., the southern-most extent of 

black rockfish, Love et al. 2002) in 2007. The 

biomass in the south was estimated to be at 

70 percent of its unfished biomass in 2007. 

The OFL from the assessed area is derived 

from the 2007 assessment using an FMSY

harvest rate proxy of F50% plus 3 percent of 

the OFL from the stock assessment 

conducted for black rockfish north of 45°46′ 

N. lat., to cover the portion of the stock 

occurring off Oregon north of Cape Falcon 

(the 3% adjustment is based on historical 

catch distribution). The resulting OFL for the 

area south of 46°16′ N. lat. is 1,176 mt. The 

ABC of 1,124 mt is a 4.4 percent reduction 

from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a 

category 1 stock. The 2015 ACL is 1,000 mt, 

which maintains the constant catch strategy 

designed to keep the stock above its target 

biomass of B40%. 1 mt is deducted from the 

ACL to accommodate EFP catch, resulting in 

a fishery HG of 999 mt. The black rockfish 

ACL, in the area south of 46°16′ N. lat. 

(Columbia River), is subdivided with 

separate HGs for waters off Oregon (579 mt/ 

58 percent) and for waters off California (420 

mt/42 percent). 

l/ Black rockfish north (Washington). A 

stock assessment was conducted for black 

rockfish north of 45°46′ N. lat. (Cape Falcon, 

Oregon) in 2007. The biomass in the north 

was estimated to be at 53 percent of its 

unfished biomass in 2007. The OFL from the 

assessed area is derived from the 2007 

assessment using an FMSY harvest rate proxy 

of F50%. The resulting OFL for the area north 

of 46°16′ N. lat. is 421 mt and is 97 percent 

of the OFL from the assessed area based on 

the area distribution of historical catch. The 

ABC of 402 mt for the north is a 4.4 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as 

it’s a category 1 stock. The ACL is set equal 

to the ABC since the stock is above its target 

biomass of B40%. 14 mt is deducted from the 

ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery, 

resulting in a fishery HG of 388 mt. 

m/ Cabezon (California). A cabezon stock 

assessment was conducted in 2009. The 

cabezon spawning biomass in waters off 

California was estimated to be at 48.3 percent 

of its unfished biomass in 2009. The OFL of 

161 mt is calculated using an FMSY proxy of 

F45%. The ABC of 154 mt is based on a 4.4 

percent reduction from the OFL (s=0.36/

P*=0.45) as it’s a category 1 stock. The ACL 

is set equal to the ABC because the stock is 

above its target biomass of B40%. There are no 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

12576 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

deductions from the ACL so the fishery HG 

is equal to the ACL of 154 mt. 

n/ Cabezon (Oregon). A cabezon stock 

assessment was conducted in 2009. The 

cabezon spawning biomass in waters off 

Oregon was estimated to be at 52 percent of 

its unfished biomass in 2009. The OFL of 49 

mt is calculated using an FMSY proxy of F45%. 

The ABC of 47 mt is based on a 4.4 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as 

it’s a category 1 species. The ACL is set equal 

to the ABC because the stock is above its 

target biomass of B40%. There are no 

deductions from the ACL so the fishery HG 

is also equal to the ACL of 47 mt. 

o/ California scorpionfish was assessed in 

2005 and was estimated to be at 79.8 percent 

of its unfished biomass in 2005. The OFL of 

119 mt is projected in the 2005 assessment 

using an FMSY harvest rate proxy of F50%. The 

ABC of 114 mt is a 4.4 percent reduction 

from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a 

category 1 stock. The ACL is set equal to the 

ABC because the stock is above its target 

biomass of B40%. 2 mt is deducted from the 

ACL to accommodate the incidental open 

access fishery, resulting in a fishery HG of 

112 mt. 

p/ Chilipepper. The coastwide chilipepper 

stock was assessed in 2007 and estimated to 

be at 70 percent of its unfished biomass in 

2006. Chilipepper are managed with stockspecific harvest specifications south of 40°10 

N. lat. and within the Minor Shelf Rockfish 

complex north of 40°10′ N. lat. Projected 

OFLs are stratified north and south of 40°10′ 

N. lat. based on the average 1998–2008 

assessed area catch, which is 93 percent for 

the area south of 40°10′ N. lat. and 7 percent 

for the area north of 40°10′ N. lat. The OFL 

of 1,703 mt for the area south of 40°10′ N. 

lat. is projected in the 2007 assessment using 

an FMSY proxy of F50%. The ABC of 1,628 mt 

is a 4.4 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a category 1 stock. 

The ACL is set equal to the ABC because the 

stock is above its target biomass of B40%. 24 

mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the incidental open access 

fishery (5 mt), EFP fishing (10 mt), and 

research catch (9 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,604 mt. 

q/ Dover sole. A 2011 Dover sole 

assessment estimated the stock to be at 83.7 

percent of its unfished biomass in 2011. The 

OFL of 66,871 mt is projected in the 2011 

stock assessment using an FMSY proxy of 

F30%. The ABC of 63,929 mt is a 4.4 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as 

it’s a category 1 stock. The ACL could be set 

equal to the ABC because the stock is above 

its target biomass of B25%. However, the ACL 

of 50,000 mt is set at a level below the ABC 

and higher than the maximum historical 

landed catch. 1,594 mt is deducted from the 

ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery 

(1,497 mt), the incidental open access fishery 

(55 mt), and research catch (41.9 mt), 

resulting in a fishery HG of 48,406 mt. 

r/ English sole. A 2013 stock assessment 

was conducted, which estimated the stock to 

be at 88 percent of its unfished biomass in 

2013. The OFL of 10,792 mt is projected in 

the 2013 assessment using an FMSY proxy of 

F30%. The ABC of 9,853 mt is an 8.7 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.45) as 

it is a category 2 stock. The ACL is set equal 

to the ABC because the stock is above its 

target biomass of B25%. 213 mt is deducted 

from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal 

fishery (200 mt), the incidental open access 

fishery (7 mt) and research catch (5.8 mt), 

resulting in a fishery HG of 9,640 mt. 

s/ Lingcod north. A lingcod stock 

assessment was conducted in 2009. The 

lingcod spawning biomass off Washington 

and Oregon was estimated to be at 62 percent 

of its unfished biomass in 2009. The OFL for 

Washington and Oregon of 1,898 mt is 

calculated using an FMSY proxy of F45%. The 

OFL is re-apportioned by adding 48% of the 

OFL from California, resulting in an OFL of 

3,010 mt for the area north of 40°10′ N. lat. 

The ABC of 2,830 mt is based on a 4.4 

percent reduction from the OFL (s=0.36/

P*=0.45) for the area north of 42° N. lat. as 

it’s a category 1 stock, and an 8.7 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.45) for 

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

as it’s a category 2 stock. The ACL is set 

equal to the ABC. 278 mt is deducted from 

the ACL for the Tribal fishery (250 mt), the 

incidental open access fishery (16 mt), EFP 

catch (0.5 mt) and research catch (11.7 mt), 

resulting in a fishery HG of 2,552 mt. 

t/ Lingcod south. A lingcod stock 

assessment was conducted in 2009. The 

lingcod spawning biomass off California was 

estimated to be at 74 percent of its unfished 

biomass in 2009. The OFL for California of 

2,317 mt is projected in the assessment using 

an FMSY proxy of F45%. The OFL is reapportioned by subtracting 48% of the OFL, 

resulting in an OFL of 1,205 mt for the area 

south of 40°10′ N. lat. The ABC of 1,004 mt 

is based on a 16.7 percent reduction from the 

OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.40) as it’s a category 2 

stock. The ACL is set equal to the ABC since 

the stock is above its target biomass of B40%. 

9 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the incidental open access 

fishery (7 mt), EFP fishing (1 mt), and 

research catch (1.1 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 995 mt. 

u/ Longnose skate. A stock assessment was 

conducted in 2007 and the stock was 

estimated to be at 66 percent of its unfished 

biomass. The OFL of 2,449 mt is derived 

from the 2007 stock assessment using an 

FMSY proxy of F50%. The ABC of 2,341 mt is 

a 4.4 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a category 1 stock. 

The ACL of 2,000 mt is a fixed harvest level 

that provides greater access to the stock and 

is less than the ABC. 73 mt is deducted from 

the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery 

(56 mt), incidental open access fishery (3.8 

mt), and research catch (13.2 mt), resulting in 

a fishery HG of 1,927 mt. 

v/ Longspine thornyhead. A 2013 

longspine thornyhead coastwide stock 

assessment estimated the stock to be at 75 

percent of its unfished biomass in 2013. A 

coastwide OFL of 5,007 mt is projected in the 

2013 stock assessment using an F50% FMSY

proxy. The ABC of 4,171 mt is a 16.7 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.40) as 

it’s a category 2 stock. For the portion of the 

stock that is north of 34°27′ N. lat., the ACL 

is 3,170 mt, and is 76 percent of the 

coastwide ABC based on the average sweptarea biomass estimates (2003–2012) from the 

NMFS NWFSC trawl survey. 47 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate the 

Tribal fishery (30 mt), the incidental open 

access fishery (3 mt), and research catch (13.5 

mt) resulting in a fishery HG of 3,124 mt. For 

that portion of the stock south of 34°27′ N. 

lat. the ACL is 1,001 mt and is 24 percent of 

the coastwide ABC based on the average 

swept-area biomass estimates (2003–2012) 

from the NMFS NWFSC trawl survey. 3 mt 

is deducted from the ACL to accommodate 

the incidental open access fishery (2 mt), and 

research catch (1 mt) resulting in a fishery 

HG of 998 mt. 

w/ Pacific cod. The 3,200 mt OFL is based 

on the maximum level of historic landings. 

The ABC of 2,221 mt is a 30.6 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=1.44/P*=0.40) as 

it’s a category 3 stock. The 1,600 mt ACL is 

the OFL reduced by 50 percent as a 

precautionary adjustment. 509 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate the 

Tribal fishery (500 mt), research catch (7 mt), 

and the incidental open access fishery (2.0 

mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 1,091 mt. 

x/ Pacific whiting. Pacific whiting are 

assessed annually. The final specifications 

will be determined consistent with the U.S.- 

Canada Pacific Whiting Agreement and will 

be announced after the Council’s April 2015 

meeting. 

y/ Sablefish north. A coastwide sablefish 

stock assessment was conducted in 2011. The 

coastwide sablefish biomass was estimated to 

be at 33 percent of its unfished biomass in 

2011. The coastwide OFL of 7,857 mt is 

projected in the 2011 stock assessment using 

an FMSY proxy of F45%. The ABC of 7,173 mt 

is an 8.7 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.36/P*=0.40). The 40–10 adjustment is 

applied to the ABC to derive a coastwide 

ACL value because the stock is in the 

precautionary zone. This coastwide ACL 

value is not specified in regulations. The 

coastwide ACL value is apportioned north 

and south of 36° N. lat., using the 2003–2010 

average estimated swept area biomass from 

the NMFS NWFSC trawl survey, with 73.6 

percent apportioned north of 36° N. lat. and 

26.4 percent apportioned south of 36° N. lat. 

The northern ACL is 4,793 mt and is reduced 

by 479 mt for the tribal allocation (10 percent 

of the ACL north of 36° N. lat.). The 479 mt 

Tribal allocation is reduced by 1.6 percent to 

account for discard mortality. Detailed 

sablefish allocations are shown in Table 1c. 

z/ Sablefish south. The ACL for the area 

south of 36° N. lat. is 1,719 mt (26.4 percent 

of the calculated coastwide ACL value). 5 mt 

is deducted from the ACL to accommodate 

the incidental open access fishery (2 mt) and 

research catch (3 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,714 mt. 

aa/ Shortbelly rockfish. A non-quantitative 

shortbelly rockfish assessment was 

conducted in 2007. The spawning stock 

biomass of shortbelly rockfish was estimated 

to be 67 percent of its unfished biomass in 

2005. The OFL of 6,950 mt is based on the 

estimated MSY in the 2007 stock assessment. 

The ABC of 5,789 mt is a 16.7 percent 

reduction of the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.40) as it’s 

a category 2 stock. The 500 mt ACL is set to 

accommodate incidental catch when fishing 

for co-occurring healthy stocks and in 

recognition of the stock’s importance as a 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12577 

forage species in the California Current 

ecosystem. 2 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate research catch, resulting in a 

fishery HG of 498 mt. 

bb/ Shortspine thornyhead. A 2013 

coastwide shortspine thornyhead stock 

assessment estimated the stock to be at 74.2 

percent of its unfished biomass in 2013. A 

coastwide OFL of 3,203 mt is projected in the 

2013 stock assessment using an F50% FMSY

proxy. The coastwide ABC of 2,668 mt is a 

16.7 percent reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/ 

P*=0.40) as it’s a category 2 stock. For the 

portion of the stock that is north of 34°27′ N. 

lat., the ACL is 1,745 mt. The northern ACL 

is 65.4 percent of the coastwide ABC based 

on the average swept-area biomass estimates 

(2003–2012) from the NMFS NWFSC trawl 

survey. 59 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the Tribal fishery (50 mt), the 

incidental open access fishery (2 mt), and 

research catch (7 mt) resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,686 mt for the area north of 34°27′ 

N. lat. For that portion of the stock south of 

34°27′ N. lat. the ACL is 923 mt. The 

southern ACL is 35.6 percent of the 

coastwide ABC based on the average sweptarea biomass estimates (2003–2012) from the 

NMFS NWFSC trawl survey. 42 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate the 

incidental open access fishery (41 mt) and 

research catch (1 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 881 mt for the area south of 34°27′ N. 

lat. 

cc/ Spiny dogfish. A coastwide spiny 

dogfish stock assessment was conducted in 

2011. The coastwide spiny dogfish biomass 

was estimated to be at 63 percent of its 

unfished biomass in 2011. The coastwide 

OFL of 2,523 mt is derived from the 2011 

assessment using an FMSY proxy of F50%. The 

coastwide ABC of 2,101 mt is a 16.7 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.40) as 

it’s a category 2 stock. The ACL is set equal 

to the ABC because the stock is above its 

target biomass of B40%. 338 mt is deducted 

from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal 

fishery (275 mt), the incidental open access 

fishery (49.5 mt), EFP catch (1 mt), and 

research catch (12.5 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,763 mt. 

dd/ Splitnose rockfish. A splitnose rockfish 

coastwide assessment was conducted in 2009 

that estimated the stock to be at 66 percent 

of its unfished biomass in 2009. Splitnose 

rockfish in the north is managed in the Minor 

Slope Rockfish complex and with speciesspecific harvest specifications south of 40°10′ 

N. lat. The coastwide OFL is projected in the 

2009 assessment using an FMSY proxy of 

F50%. The coastwide OFL is apportioned 

north and south of 40°10′ N. lat. based on the 

average 1916–2008 assessed area catch 

resulting in 64.2 percent of the coastwide 

OFL apportioned south of 40°10′ N. lat., and 

35.8 percent apportioned for the contribution 

of splitnose rockfish to the northern Minor 

Slope Rockfish complex. The southern OFL 

of 1,794 mt results from the apportionment 

described above. The southern ABC of 1,715 

mt is a 4.4 percent reduction from the 

southern OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a 

category 1 stock. The ACL is set equal to the 

ABC because the stock is estimated to be 

above its target biomass of B40%. 10.5 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate 

research catch (9 mt) and EFP catch (1.5 mt), 

resulting in a fishery HG of 1,705 mt. 

ee/ Starry Flounder. The stock was 

assessed in 2005 and was estimated to be 

above 40 percent of its unfished biomass in 

2005 (44 percent in Washington and Oregon, 

and 62 percent in California). The coastwide 

OFL of 1,841 mt is derived from the 2005 

assessment using an FMSY proxy of F30%. The 

ABC of 1,534 mt is a 16.7 percent reduction 

from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.40) as it’s a 

category 2 stock. The ACL is set equal to the 

ABC because the stock is estimated to be 

above its target biomass of B25%. 10.3 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate the 

Tribal fishery (2 mt), and the incidental open 

access fishery (8.3 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,524 mt. 

ff/ Widow rockfish. The widow rockfish 

stock was assessed in 2011 and was 

estimated to be at 51.1 percent of its unfished 

biomass in 2011. The OFL of 4,137 mt is 

projected in the 2011 stock assessment using 

an F50% FMSY proxy. The ABC of 3,929 mt is 

a 5 percent reduction from the OFL (s=0.41/ 

P*=0.45). A unique sigma of 0.41 was 

calculated for widow rockfish since the 

variance in estimated biomass was greater 

than the 0.36 used as a proxy for other 

category 1 stocks. The ACL could be set equal 

to the ABC because the stock is above its 

target biomass of B40%. However, the ACL of 

2,000 mt is less than the ABC due to high 

uncertainty in estimated biomass, yet this 

level of allowable harvest will allow access 

to healthy co-occurring species, such as 

yellowtail rockfish. 120.2 mt is deducted 

from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal 

fishery (100 mt), the incidental open access 

fishery (3.3 mt), EFP catch (9 mt), and 

research catch (7.9 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,880 mt. 

gg/ Yellowtail rockfish. A 2013 yellowtail 

rockfish stock assessment was conducted for 

the portion of the population north of 40°10′ 

N. lat. The estimated stock depletion is 69 

percent of its unfished biomass in 2013. The 

OFL of 7,218 mt is projected in the 2013 

stock assessment using an FMSY proxy of 

F50%. The ABC of 6,590 mt is an 8.7 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.45) as 

it is a category 2 stock. The ACL is set equal 

to the ABC because the stock is above its 

target biomass of B40%. 1,029.6 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate the 

Tribal fishery (1,000 mt), the incidental open 

access fishery (3 mt), EFP catch (10 mt), and 

research catch (16.6 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 5,560 mt. 

hh/ Minor Nearshore Rockfish north. The 

OFL for Minor Nearshore Rockfish north of 

40°10′ N. lat. of 88 mt is the sum of the OFL 

contributions for the component species 

managed in the complex. The ABCs for the 

minor rockfish complexes are based on a 

sigma value of 0.72 for category 2 stocks (i.e., 

blue rockfish in California, brown rockfish, 

China rockfish, and copper rockfish) and a 

sigma value of 1.44 for category 3 stocks (all 

others) with a P* of 0.45. The resulting ABC 

of 77 mt is the summed contribution of the 

ABCs for the component species. The ACL of 

69 mt is the sum of contributing ABCs of 

healthy assessed stocks and unassessed 

stocks plus the ACL contributions for blue 

rockfish in California and China rockfish 

where the 40–10 adjustment was applied to 

the ABC contributions for these two stocks, 

because those stocks are in the precautionary 

zone. No deductions are made to the ACL, 

thus the fishery HG is equal to the ACL, 

which is 69 mt. Between 40°10′ N. lat. and 

42° N. lat. the Minor Nearshore Rockfish 

complex north has a harvest guideline of 23.7 

mt. Blue rockfish south of 42° N. lat. has a 

species-specific HG, described 

in footnote kk/. 

ii/ Minor Shelf Rockfish north. The OFL 

for Minor Shelf Rockfish north of 40°10′ N. 

lat. of 2,209 mt is the sum of the OFL 

contributions for the component species 

within the complex. The ABCs for the minor 

rockfish complexes are based on a sigma 

value of 0.72 for category 2 stocks (i.e., 

greenspotted rockfish between 40°10′ and 42° 

N. lat. and greenstriped rockfish) and a sigma 

value of 1.44 for category 3 stocks (all others) 

with a P* of 0.45. The resulting ABC of 1,944 

mt is the summed contribution of the ABCs 

for the component species. The ACL of 1,944 

mt is the sum of contributing ABCs of 

healthy assessed stocks and unassessed 

stocks, plus the ACL contribution of 

greenspotted rockfish in California where the 

40–10 adjustment was applied to the ABC 

contribution because the stock is in the 

precautionary zone (the ACL is slightly less 

than the ABC but rounds to the ABC value). 

72 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the Tribal fishery (30 mt), the 

incidental open access fishery (26 mt), EFP 

catch (3 mt), and research catch (13.4 mt), 

resulting in a fishery HG of 1,872 mt. 

jj/ Minor Slope Rockfish north. The OFL 

for Minor Slope Rockfish north of 40°10′ N. 

lat. of 1,831 mt is the sum of the OFL 

contributions for the component species 

within the complex. The ABCs for the Minor 

Slope Rockfish complexes are based on a 

sigma value of 0.39 for aurora rockfish, a 

sigma value of 0.36 for other category 1 

stocks (i.e., splitnose rockfish), a sigma value 

of 0.72 for category 2 stocks (i.e., rougheye 

rockfish, blackspotted rockfish and sharpchin 

rockfish), and a sigma value of 1.44 for 

category 3 stocks (all others) with a P* of 

0.45. A unique sigma of 0.39 was calculated 

for aurora rockfish since the variance in 

estimated spawning biomass was greater than 

the 0.36 used as a proxy for other category 

1 stocks. The resulting ABC of 1,693 mt is the 

summed contribution of the ABCs for the 

component species. The ACL is set equal to 

the ABC because all the assessed component 

stocks are above the target biomass of B40%. 

64 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the Tribal fishery (36 mt), the 

incidental open access fishery (19 mt), EFP 

catch (1 mt), and research catch (8.1 mt), 

resulting in a fishery HG of 1,629 mt. 

kk/ Minor Nearshore Rockfish south. The 

OFL for the Minor Nearshore Rockfish 

complex south of 40°10′ N. lat. of 1,313 mt 

is the sum of the OFL contributions for the 

component species within the complex. The 

ABC for the southern Minor Nearshore 

Rockfish complex is based on a sigma value 

of 0.36 for category 1 stocks (i.e., gopher 

rockfish north of 34°27′ N. lat.), a sigma value 

of 0.72 for category 2 stocks (i.e., blue 

rockfish north of 34°27′ N. lat., brown 

rockfish, China rockfish, and copper 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

12578 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

rockfish), and a sigma value of 1.44 for 

category 3 stocks (all others) with a P* of 

0.45. The resulting ABC of 1,169 mt is the 

summed contribution of the ABCs for the 

component species. The ACL of 1,114 mt is 

the sum of contributing ABCs of healthy 

assessed stocks and unassessed stocks, plus 

the ACL contribution for blue rockfish north 

of 34°27′ N. lat. where the 40–10 adjustment 

was applied to the ABC contribution for this 

stock because it is in the precautionary zone. 

4 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the incidental open access 

fishery (1.4 mt) and research catch (2.6 mt), 

resulting in a fishery HG of 1,110 mt. Blue 

rockfish south of 42° N. lat. has a speciesspecific HG set equal to the 40–10-adjusted 

ACL for the portion of the stock north of 

34°27′ N lat. (133.6 mt) plus the ABC 

contribution for the unassessed portion of the 

stock south of 34°27′ N lat. (60.8 mt). The 

California (i.e., south of 42° N. lat.) blue 

rockfish HG is 194.4 mt. 

ll/ Minor Shelf Rockfish south. The OFL 

for the Minor Shelf Rockfish complex south 

of 40°10′ N. lat. of 1,918 mt is the sum of the 

OFL contributions for the component species 

within the complex. The ABCs for the 

southern Minor Shelf Rockfish complex is 

based on a sigma value of 0.72 for category 

2 stocks (i.e., greenspotted and greenstriped 

rockfish) and a sigma value of 1.44 for 

category 3 stocks (all others) with a P* of 

0.45. The resulting ABC of 1,625 mt is the 

summed contribution of the ABCs for the 

component species. The ACL of 1,624 mt is 

the sum of contributing ABCs of healthy 

assessed stocks and unassessed stocks, plus 

the ACL contribution of greenspotted 

rockfish in California where the 40–10 

adjustment was applied to the ABC 

contribution for this stock because it is in the 

precautionary zone. 49 mt is deducted from 

the ACL to accommodate the incidental open 

access fishery (9 mt), EFP catch (30 mt), and 

research catch (9.6 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,575 mt. 

mm/ Minor Slope Rockfish south. The OFL 

for the Minor Slope Rockfish complex south 

of 40°10′ N. lat. of 813 mt is the sum of the 

OFL contributions for the component species 

within the complex. The ABC for the 

southern Minor Slope Rockfish complex is 

based on a sigma value of 0.39 for aurora 

rockfish, a sigma value of 0.72 for category 

2 stocks (i.e., blackgill rockfish, rougheye 

rockfish, blackspotted rockfish, and 

sharpchin rockfish), and a sigma value of 

1.44 for category 3 stocks (all others) with a 

P* of 0.45. A unique sigma of 0.39 was 

calculated for aurora rockfish since the 

variance in estimated biomass was greater 

than the 0.36 used as a proxy for other 

category 1 stocks. The resulting ABC of 705 

mt is the summed contribution of the ABCs 

for the component species. The ACL of 693 

mt is the sum of contributing ABCs of 

healthy assessed stocks and unassessed 

stocks, plus the ACL contribution of blackgill 

rockfish where the 40–10 adjustment was 

applied to the ABC contribution for this stock 

because it is in the precautionary zone. 20 mt 

is deducted from the ACL to accommodate 

the incidental open access fishery (17 mt), 

EFP catch (1 mt), and research catch (2 mt), 

resulting in a fishery HG of 673 mt. Blackgill 

rockfish has a species-specific HG set equal 

to the species’ contribution to 40–10-adjusted 

ACL. The blackgill rockfish HG is 114 mt. 

nn/ Other Flatfish. The Other Flatfish 

complex is comprised of flatfish species 

managed in the PCGFMP that are not 

managed with species-specific OFLs/ABCs/ 

ACLs. Most of the species in the Other 

Flatfish complex are unassessed and include 

butter sole, curlfin sole, flathead sole, Pacific 

sanddab (assessed in 2013 but the assessment 

results were too uncertain to inform harvest 

specifications), rock sole, sand sole, and rex 

sole (assessed in 2013). The Other Flatfish 

OFL of 11,453 mt is based on the sum of the 

OFL contributions of the component stocks. 

The ABC of 8,749 mt is based on a sigma 

value of 0.72 for category 2 stocks (i.e., rex 

sole) and a sigma value of 1.44 for category 

3 stocks (all others) with a P* of 0.40. The 

ACL is set equal to the ABC since all of the 

assessed stocks (i.e., Pacific sanddabs and rex 

sole) were above their target biomass of B25%. 

204 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the Tribal fishery (60 mt), the 

incidental open access fishery (125 mt), and 

research catch (19 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 8,545 mt. 

oo/ Other Fish. The Other Fish complex is 

comprised of kelp greenling coastwide, 

cabezon off Washington, and leopard shark 

coastwide. These species are unassessed. The 

OFL of 291 mt is the sum of the OFL 

contributions for kelp greenling off California 

(the SSC has not approved methods for 

calculating the OFL contributions for kelp 

greenling off Oregon and Washington), 

cabezon off Washington, and leopard shark 

coastwide. The ABC of 242 mt is the sum of 

ABC contributions for kelp greenling off 

California, cabezon off Washington and 

leopard shark coastwide calculated by 

applying a P* of 0.45 and a sigma of 1.44 to 

the OFL contributions for those stocks. The 

ACL is set equal to the ABC. There are no 

deductions from the ACL so the fishery HG 

is equal to the ACL of 242 mt. 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12579 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.001</GPH>

Table lb. to Part 660, Subpart C- 2015, Allocations by Species or Species Group. (Weight 

in Metric Tons) 

l;~,;~~;fc~~,'{l~~v~,\~~~i~~~~~\~~~~z~·I'',~? ',, r:'i~:&j\~~,;~'; 5· •s,; ,.,, < ,.:,·, ~- ~> ,:,, 11:'11il(l; ,,,,,, ''·' y: ';.:~)~~:.?~ • ~,;~ ;: :;, i :: • ',~;. ····;'.\''''~\;; .• !;: ..... l.'%s·.· [).·~(>~~;:;;;•, ••······'~il}•l ;~: ~tr·''} 

BOCACCIO a/ s of 40°10' N. lat. 340.7 N/A 81.9 N/A 258.8 

CANARY ROCKFISH a/ b/ Coast wide 106.8 N/A 56.9 N/A 49.9 

COW COD a/ c/ S of 40°10' N. lat. 4.0 N/A 1.4 N/A 2.6 

DARKBLOTCHED ROCKFISH d/ Coast wide 317.2 95% 301.3 5% 15.9 

PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH e/ N of 40°10' N. lat. 143.0 95% 135.9 5% 7.2 

PETRALE SOLE a/ Coastwide 2,579.4 N/A 2,544.4 N/A 35.0 

YELLOWEYE ROCKFISH a/ Coastwide 12.2 N/A 1.0 N/A 11.2 

Arrowtooth flounder Coast wide 3,410 95% 3,239 5% 170 

Chili pepper S of 40°10' N. lat. 1,604 75% 1,203 25% 401 

Dover sole Coast wide 48,406 95% 45,986 5% 2,420 

English sole Coastwide 9,640 95% 9,158 5% 482 

Lingcod N of 40'10° N. lat. 2,552 45% 1,148 55% 1,404 

Lingcod s of 40'10° N. lat. 995 45% 448 55% 547 

Longnose skate a/ Coastwide 1,927 90% 1,734 10% 193 

Longspine thornyhead N of 34°27' N. lat. 3,124 95% 2,967 5% 156 

Pacific cod Coast wide 1,091 95% 1,036 5% 55 

Pacific whiting Coast wide TBD 100% TBD 0% TBD 

Sablefish N of 36° N. lat. 0 See Table 1 c 

Sablefish s of 36° N. lat. 1,714 42% 720 58% 994 

Short spine thornyhead N of 34°27' N. lat. 1,686 95% 1,601 5% 84 

Short spine thornyhead s of 34°27' N. lat. 881 NA 50 NA 831 

Splitnose s of 40°10' N. lat. 1,705 95% 1,619 5% 85 

Starry flounder Coast wide 1,524 50% 762 50% 762 

Widow rockfish f/ Coast wide 1,880 91% 1, 711 9% 169 

Yellowtail rockfish N of 40°10' N. lat. 5,560 88% 4,893 12% 667 

Minor Shelf Rockfish complex a/ N of 40°10' N. lat. 1,872 60.2% 1,127 39.8% 745 

Minor Shelf Rockfish complex a/ s of 40°10' N. lat. 1,575 12.2% 192 87.8% 1,383 

Minor Slope Rockfish complex N of 40°10' N. lat. 1,629 81% 1,319 19% 309 

Minor Slope Rockfish complex s of 40°10' N. lat. 673 63% 424 37% 249 

Other Flatfish complex Coast wide 8,545 90% 7,691 10% 855 

a/ Allocations decided through the biennial specification process. 

of the total trawl allocation of canary rockfish is allocated to the at-sea whiting 

as follows: 5.7 mt for the mothership fishery, and 8.0 mt for the catcher/processor 

is further reduced to an ACT of 4.0 mt. 

allocation 

to the whiting fisheries, as follows: 11.4 mt for the 

and 9.2 mt for the 

the whiting portion of the 

contributes to the total shorebased trawl allocation, which is found at 

at §660.55(c), 30 mt of the total trawl allocation for POP is 

whiting portion of the shorebased 

which is found at 660.140 

fishery contributes to the total 

regulations at §660.55(c), 500 mt of the total trawl allocation for widow 

is allocated to the whiting fisheries, as follows: 210 mt for the shorebased IFQ 

120 mt for the mothership fishery, and 170 mt for the catcher/processor fishery. The 

calculated here for the whiting portion of the shorebased IFQ fishery contributes to 

which is found at 660.140 

ER10MR15.003</GPH>mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

Table lc. to Part 660, Subpart C- Sablefish North of 36° N. lat. Allocations, 2015 

Set-asides Limited Ent

Recreational Commercial 

Year ACL Tribal a/ Research Estimate EFP HG % 

2015 4,793 479 26 6.1 1 4,281 90.6% 3

Limited Entry Trawl c/ Limited Entry F

Year LE All ALL Trawl At-sea Whiting Shorebased IFQ ALL FG Primary 

2015 3,878 2,249 50 2,199 1,629 1,385 

a/ The tribal allocation is further reduced by 1.6% for discard mortality resulting in 471.6 mt in 2

lb/ The open access HG is taken by the incidental OA fishery and the directed OA fishery. 

c/ The trawl allocation is 58% of the limited entry HG. 

d/ The limited entry fixed gear allocation is 42% of the limited entry HG. 
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12581 

* * * * * 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.004</GPH>

Table ld. to Part 660, Subpart C-At-Sea Whiting Fishery Annual Set-Asides, 2015 

Set Aside 

Species or Species Complex Area (mt) 

BOCACCIO s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

CANARY ROCKFISH a/ Coast wide Allocation 

COW COD s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

DARKBLOTCHED ROCKFISH a/ Coast wide Allocation 

PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH a/ N. of 40°10 N. lat. Allocation 

PETRALE SOLE Coast wide 5 

YELLOWEYE Coast wide 0 

Arrowtooth Flounder Coast wide 45 

Chili pepper s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

Dover Sole Coast wide 5 

English Sole Coast wide 5 

Lingcod N. of 40°10 N. lat. 15 

Lingcod s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

Longnose Skate Coast wide 5 

Longspine Thornyhead N. of 34°27 N. lat. 5 

Longspine Thornyhead s. of 34°27 N. lat. NA 

Minor Nearshore Rockfish N. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

Minor Nearshore Rockfish s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

Minor Shelf Rockfish N. of 40°10 N. lat. 35 

Minor Shelf Rockfish s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

Minor Slope Rockfish N. of 40°10 N. lat. 100 

Minor Slope Rockfish s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

Other Fish Coast wide NA 

Other Flatfish Coast wide 20 

Pacific Cod Coast wide 5 

Pacific Halibut b/ Coast wide 10 

Pacific Whiting Coast wide Allocation 

Sablefish N. of 36° N. lat. 50 

Sablefish s. of 36° N. lat. NA 

Short spine Thorny head N. of 34°27 N. lat. 20 

Short spine Thorny head s. of 34°27 N. lat. NA 

Starry Flounder Coast wide 5 

Widow Rockfish a/ Coast wide Allocation 

Yellowtail N. of 40°10 N. lat. 300 

a/ See Table l.b.' to Subpart c, for the at-sea whiting allocations for 

these species. 

b. As stated in §660. 55 (m), the Pacific halibut set-aside is 10 mt, 

accommodate bycatch in the at-sea Pacific whiting fisheries and in 

shorebased trawl sector south of 40°10 N. lat. (estimated to 5 mt each) . 
12582 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

■ 10. In subpart C, tables 2a through 2d 

are revised to read as follows: 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.005</GPH>

Table 2a. to Part 660, Subpart C- 2016, and Beyond, Specifications of OFL, ABC, ACL, 

ACT and Fishery harvest guidelines (weights in metric tons). 

Fishery 

OFL ABC ACLa/ HGb/ 

BOCACCIO S. of 40°10' N. lat. c/ 1,351 1,291 362 354 

CANARY ROCKFISH dl 729 697 125 110 

COWCOD S. of40°10' N.lat. e/ 68 62 10 8 

DARKBLOTCHED ROCKFISH f/ 580 554 346 325 

PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH fY 850 813 164 149 

PETRALE SOLE hi 3,044 2,910 2,910 2,673 

YELLOWEYE ROCKFISH il 52 43 19 13 

Arrowtooth flounder j/ 6,396 5,328 5,328 3,241 

Black rockfiSh (OR-CA) kl 1,183 1,131 1,000 999 

Black rockfiSh (W A) 11 423 404 404 390 

Cabezon (CA) ml 158 151 151 151 

Cabezon (OR) nl 49 47 47 47 

California scorpion:fiSh o/ 117 111 111 109 

Chilipepper S. of 40"10' N. lat. p/ 1,694 1,619 1,619 1,595 

Dover sole ql 59,221 56,615 50,000 48,406 

English sole r/ 7,890 7,204 7,204 6,991 

Lingcod N. of 40°10' N. lat. s/ 2,891 2,719 2,719 2,441 

Lingcod S. of 40°10' N. lat. tl 1,136 946 946 937 

Longnose skate ul 2,405 2,299 2,000 1,927 

Longspine thomyhead ( coastwide) v/ 4,763 3,968 NA NA 

Longspine thomyhead N. of 34°27' N. lat. NA NA 3,015 2,969 

Longspine thomyhead S. of 34°27' N. lat. NA NA 952 949 

Pacific Cod w/ 3,200 2,221 1,600 1,091 

Pacific whiting xi xi xi xi xi 

Sable :fiSh ( coastwide) 8,526 7,784 NA NA 

See Table 

Sable:fiSh N. of 36° N. lat. y/ NA NA 5,241 2c 

Sable :fiSh S. of 36° N. lat. zJ NA NA 1,880 1,875 

Short belly a a/ 6,950 5,789 500 498 

Shortspine thomyhead ( coastwide) bb/ 3,169 2,640 NA NA 

Shortspine thomyhead N. of 34°27' N. lat. NA NA 1,726 1,667 

Shortspine thomyhead S. of 34°27' N. lat. NA NA 913 871 

Spiny dog:fiSh eel 2,503 2,085 2,085 1,747 

Splitnose S. of 40°10' N. lat. dd/ 1,826 1,746 1,746 1,736 

Starry flounder ee/ 1,847 1,539 1,539 1,529 

Widow rockfiSh ff/ 3,990 3,790 2,000 1,880 

Yellowtail N. of 40°10' N. lat. gfY 6,949 6,344 6,344 5,314 

Minor Nearshore RockfiSh N. of 40°10' N. lat. hh/ 88 77 69 69 

Minor Shelf RockfiSh N. of 40°10' N. lat. iii 2,218 1,953 1,952 1,880 

Minor Slope RockfiSh N. of 40°10' N. lat. jj/ 1,844 1,706 1,706 1,642 

Minor Nearshore RockfiSh S. of 40°10' N. lat. kkl 1,288 1,148 1,006 1,002 

Minor Shelf RockfiSh S. of 40°10' N. lat. 111 1,919 1,626 1,625 1,576 

Minor Slope RockfiSh S. of 40"10' N. lat. mml 814 705 695 675 

Other Flat:fiSh nnl 9,645 7,243 7,243 7,039 

Other Fish ool 291 243 243 243 
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12583 

a/ Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual 

catch targets (ACTs) and harvest guidelines 

(HGs) are specified as total catch values. 

b/ Fishery harvest guidelines means the 

harvest guideline or quota after subtracting 

Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribes allocations 

and projected catch, projected research catch, 

deductions for fishing mortality in nongroundfish fisheries, and deductions for EFPs 

from the ACL or ACT. 

c/ Bocaccio. A bocaccio stock assessment 

update was conducted in 2013 for the 

bocaccio stock between the U.S.-Mexico 

border and Cape Blanco. The stock is 

managed with stock-specific harvest 

specifications south of 40°10′ N. lat. and 

within the Minor Shelf Rockfish complex 

north of 40°10′ N. lat. A historical catch 

distribution of approximately 6 percent was 

used to apportion the assessed stock to the 

area north of 40°10′ N. lat. The bocaccio 

stock was estimated to be at 31.4 percent of 

its unfished biomass in 2013. The OFL of 

1,351 mt is projected in the 2013 stock 

assessment using an FMSY proxy of F50%. The 

ABC of 1,291 mt is a 4.4 percent reduction 

from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a 

category 1 stock. The 362 mt ACL is based 

on the current rebuilding plan with a target 

year to rebuild of 2022 and an SPR harvest 

rate of 77.7 percent. 8.3 mt is deducted from 

the ACL to accommodate the incidental open 

access fishery (0.7 mt), EFP catch (3.0 mt) 

and research catch (4.6 mt), resulting in a 

fishery HG of 353.7 mt. The California 

recreational fishery has an HG of 185.6 mt. 

d/ Canary rockfish. A canary rockfish stock 

assessment update was conducted in 2011 

and the stock was estimated to be at 23.2 

percent of its unfished biomass coastwide in 

2011. The coastwide OFL of 729 mt is 

projected in the 2011 rebuilding analysis 

using an FMSY proxy of F50%. The ABC of 697 

mt is a 4.4 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a category 1 stock. 

The ACL of 125 mt is based on the current 

rebuilding plan with a target year to rebuild 

of 2030 and an SPR harvest rate of 88.7 

percent. 15.2 mt is deducted from the ACL 

to accommodate the Tribal fishery (7.7 mt), 

the incidental open access fishery (2 mt), EFP 

catch (1.0 mt) and research catch (4.5 mt) 

resulting in a fishery HG of 109.8 mt. 

Recreational HGs are: 3.5 mt (Washington); 

12.0 mt (Oregon); and 25.0 mt (California). 

e/ Cowcod. A stock assessment for the 

Conception Area was conducted in 2013 and 

the stock was estimated to be 33.9 percent of 

its unfished biomass in 2013. The 

Conception Area OFL of 56.4 mt is projected 

in the 2013 rebuilding analysis using an FMSY

proxy of F50%. The OFL of 12.0 mt for the 

unassessed portion of the stock in the 

Monterey area is based on depletion-based 

stock reduction analysis. The OFLs for the 

Monterey and Conception areas were 

summed to derive the south of 40°10′ N. lat. 

OFL of 68.4 mt. The ABC for the area south 

of 40°10′ N. lat. is 61.5 mt. The assessed 

portion of the stock in the Conception Area 

is considered category 2, with a Conception 

Area contribution to the ABC of 51.5 mt, 

which is an 8.7 percent reduction from the 

Conception area OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.45). The 

unassessed portion of the stock in the 

Monterey area is considered a category 3 

stock, with a contribution to the ABC of 10.0 

mt, which is a 17 percent reduction from the 

Monterey area OFL (s=1.44/P*=0.45). A 

single ACL of 10.0 mt is being set for both 

areas combined. The ACL of 10.0 mt is based 

on the rebuilding plan with a target year to 

rebuild of 2020 and an SPR harvest rate of 

82.7 percent, which is equivalent to an 

exploitation rate (catch over age 11+ biomass) 

of 0.007. 2.0 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate EFP fishing (less than 0.02 mt) 

and research activity (2.0 mt), resulting in a 

fishery HG of 8.0 mt. Any additional 

mortality in research activities will be 

deducted from the ACL. A single ACT of 4.0 

mt is being set for both areas combined. 

f/ Darkblotched rockfish. A 2013 stock 

assessment estimated the stock to be at 36 

percent of its unfished biomass in 2013. The 

OFL of 580 mt is projected in the 2013 stock 

assessment using an FMSY proxy of F50%.The 

ABC of 554 mt is a 4.4 percent reduction 

from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a 

category 1 stock. The ACL of 346 mt is based 

on the current rebuilding plan with a target 

year to rebuild of 2025 and an SPR harvest 

rate of 64.9 percent. 20.8 mt is deducted from 

the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery 

(0.2 mt), the incidental open access fishery 

(18.4 mt), EFP catch (0.1 mt) and research 

catch (2.1 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 

325.2 mt. 

g/ Pacific Ocean Perch. A POP stock 

assessment was conducted in 2011 and the 

stock was estimated to be at 19.1 percent of 

its unfished biomass in 2011. The OFL of 850 

mt for the area north of 40°10′ N. lat. is 

projected in the 2011 rebuilding analysis 

using an F50% FMSY proxy. The ABC of 850 

mt is a 4.4 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a category 1 stock. 

The ACL of 164 mt is based on the current 

rebuilding plan with a target year to rebuild 

of 2051 and an SPR harvest rate of 86.4 

percent. 15 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the Tribal fishery (9.2 mt), the 

incidental open access fishery (0.6 mt), and 

research catch (5.2 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 149.0 mt. 

h/ Petrale sole. A 2013 stock assessment 

estimated the stock to be at 22.3 percent of 

its unfished biomass in 2013. The OFL of 

3,044 mt is projected in the 2013 assessment 

using an F30% FMSY proxy. The ABC of 2,910 

mt is a 4.4 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a category 1 stock. 

The ACL is based on the 25–5 harvest control 

rule specified in the current rebuilding plan; 

since the stock is projected to be rebuilt at 

the start of 2014, the ACL is set equal to the 

ABC. 236.6 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the Tribal fishery (220 mt), the 

incidental open access fishery (2.4 mt), and 

research catch (14.2 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 2,673.4 mt. 

i/ Yelloweye rockfish. A stock assessment 

update was conducted in 2011. The stock 

was estimated to be at 21.4 percent of its 

unfished biomass in 2011. The 52 mt 

coastwide OFL was projected in the 2011 

rebuilding analysis using an FMSY proxy of 

F50%. The ABC of 43 mt is a 16.77 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.40) as 

it’s a category 2 stock. The 19 mt ACL is 

based on the current rebuilding plan with a 

target year to rebuild of 2074 and an SPR 

harvest rate of 76.0 percent. 5.8 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate the 

Tribal fishery (2.3 mt), the incidental open 

access fishery (0.2 mt), EFP catch (0.03 mt) 

and research catch (3.3 mt) resulting in a 

fishery HG of 13.2 mt. Recreational HGs are 

being established: 3.1 mt (Washington); 2.8 

mt (Oregon); and 3.7 mt (California). 

j/ Arrowtooth flounder. The arrowtooth 

flounder stock was last assessed in 2007 and 

was estimated to be at 79 percent of its 

unfished biomass in 2007. The OFL of 6,396 

mt is derived from the 2007 assessment using 

an F30% FMSY proxy. The ABC of 5,328 mt is 

a 16.7 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.72/P*=0.40) as it’s a category 2 stock. 

The ACL is set equal to the ABC because the 

stock is above its target biomass of B25%. 

2,087 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the Tribal fishery (2,041 mt), 

the incidental open access fishery (30 mt), 

and research catch (16.4 mt), resulting in a 

fishery HG of 3,241 mt. 

k/ Black rockfish south (Oregon and 

California). A stock assessment was 

conducted for black rockfish south of 45°46′ 

N. lat. (Cape Falcon, Oregon) to Central 

California (i.e., the southern-most extent of 

black rockfish, Love et al. 2002) in 2007. The 

biomass in the south was estimated to be at 

70 percent of its unfished biomass in 2007. 

The OFL from the assessed area is derived 

from the 2007 assessment using an FMSY

harvest rate proxy of F50% plus 3 percent of 

the OFL from the stock assessment 

conducted for black rockfish north of 45°46′ 

N. lat., to cover the portion of the stock 

occurring off Oregon north of Cape Falcon 

(the 3% adjustment is based on historical 

catch distribution). The resulting OFL for the 

area south of 46°16′ N. lat. is 1,183 mt. The 

ABC of 1,131 mt is a 4.4 percent reduction 

from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a 

category 1 stock. The 2016 ACL is 1,000 mt, 

which maintains the constant catch strategy 

designed to keep the stock above its target 

biomass of B40%. 1 mt is deducted from the 

ACL to accommodate EFP catch, resulting in 

a fishery HG of 999 mt. The black rockfish 

ACL, in the area south of 46°16′ N. lat. 

(Columbia River), is subdivided with 

separate HGs for waters off Oregon (579 mt/ 

58 percent) and for waters off California (420 

mt/42 percent). 

l/ Black rockfish north (Washington). A 

stock assessment was conducted for black 

rockfish north of 45°46′ N. lat. (Cape Falcon, 

Oregon) in 2007. The biomass in the north 

was estimated to be at 53 percent of its 

unfished biomass in 2007. The OFL from the 

assessed area is derived from the 2007 

assessment using an FMSY harvest rate proxy 

of F50%. The resulting OFL for the area north 

of 46°16′ N. lat. is 423 mt and is 97 percent 

of the OFL from the assessed area based on 

the area distribution of historical catch. The 

ABC of 404 mt for the north is a 4.4 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as 

it’s a category 1 stock. The ACL is set equal 

to the ABC since the stock is above its target 

biomass of B40%. 14 mt is deducted from the 

ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery, 

resulting in a fishery HG of 390 mt. 

m/ Cabezon (California). A cabezon stock 

assessment was conducted in 2009. The 

cabezon spawning biomass in waters off 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

12584 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

California was estimated to be at 48.3 percent 

of its unfished biomass in 2009. The OFL of 

158 mt is calculated using an FMSY proxy of 

F45%. The ABC of 151 mt is based on a 4.4 

percent reduction from the OFL (s=0.36/

P*=0.45) as it’s a category 1 stock. The ACL 

is set equal to the ABC because the stock is 

above its target biomass of B40%. There are no 

deductions from the ACL so the fishery HG 

is equal to the ACL of 151 mt. 

n/ Cabezon (Oregon). A cabezon stock 

assessment was conducted in 2009. The 

cabezon spawning biomass in waters off 

Oregon was estimated to be at 52 percent of 

its unfished biomass in 2009. The OFL of 49 

mt is calculated using an FMSY proxy of F45%. 

The ABC of 47 mt is based on a 4.4 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as 

it’s a category 1 species. The ACL is set equal 

to the ABC because the stock is above its 

target biomass of B40%. There are no 

deductions from the ACL so the fishery HG 

is also equal to the ACL of 47 mt. 

o/ California scorpionfish was assessed in 

2005 and was estimated to be at 79.8 percent 

of its unfished biomass in 2005. The OFL of 

117 mt is projected in the 2005 assessment 

using an FMSY harvest rate proxy of F50%. The 

ABC of 111 mt is a 4.4 percent reduction 

from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a 

category 1 stock. The ACL is set equal to the 

ABC because the stock is above its target 

biomass of B40%. 2 mt is deducted from the 

ACL to accommodate the incidental open 

access fishery, resulting in a fishery HG of 

109 mt. 

p/ Chilipepper. The coastwide chilipepper 

stock was assessed in 2007 and estimated to 

be at 70 percent of its unfished biomass in 

2006. Chilipepper are managed with stockspecific harvest specifications south of 40°10 

N. lat. and within the Minor Shelf Rockfish 

complex north of 40°10′ N. lat. Projected 

OFLs are stratified north and south of 40°10′ 

N. lat. based on the average 1998–2008 

assessed area catch, which is 93 percent for 

the area south of 40°10′ N. lat. and 7 percent 

for the area north of 40°10′ N. lat. The OFL 

of 1,694 mt for the area south of 40°10′ N. 

lat. is projected in the 2007 assessment using 

an FMSY proxy of F50%. The ABC of 1,619 mt 

is a 4.4 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a category 1 stock. 

The ACL is set equal to the ABC because the 

stock is above its target biomass of B40%. 24 

mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the incidental open access 

fishery (5 mt), EFP fishing (10 mt), and 

research catch (9 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,595 mt. 

q/ Dover sole. A 2011 Dover sole 

assessment estimated the stock to be at 83.7 

percent of its unfished biomass in 2011. The 

OFL of 59,221 mt is projected in the 2011 

stock assessment using an FMSY proxy of 

F30%. The ABC of 56,615 mt is a 4.4 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as 

it’s a category 1 stock. The ACL could be set 

equal to the ABC because the stock is above 

its target biomass of B25%. However, the ACL 

of 50,000 mt is set at a level below the ABC 

and higher than the maximum historical 

landed catch. 1,594 mt is deducted from the 

ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery 

(1,497 mt), the incidental open access fishery 

(55 mt), and research catch (41.9 mt), 

resulting in a fishery HG of 48,406 mt. 

r/ English sole. A 2013 stock assessment 

was conducted, which estimated the stock to 

be at 88 percent of its unfished biomass in 

2013. The OFL of 7890 mt is projected in the 

2013 assessment using an FMSY proxy of 

F30%. The ABC of 7,204 mt is an 8.7 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.45) as 

it is a category 2 stock. The ACL could be set 

equal to the ABC because the stock is above 

its target biomass of B25%. 213 mt is deducted 

from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal 

fishery (200 mt), the incidental open access 

fishery (7 mt) and research catch (5.8 mt), 

resulting in a fishery HG of 6,991 mt. 

s/ Lingcod north. A lingcod stock 

assessment was conducted in 2009. The 

lingcod spawning biomass off Washington 

and Oregon was estimated to be at 62 percent 

of its unfished biomass in 2009. The OFL for 

Washington and Oregon of 1,842 mt is 

calculated using an FMSY proxy of F45%. The 

OFL is re-apportioned by adding 48% of the 

OFL from California, resulting in an OFL of 

2,891 mt for the area north of 40°10′ N. lat. 

The ABC of 2,719 mt is based on a 4.4 

percent reduction from the OFL (s=0.36/

P*=0.45) for the area north of 42° N. lat. as 

it’s a category 1 stock, and an 8.7 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.45) for 

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

lat., as it’s a category 2 stock. The ACL is set 

equal to the ABC since the stock is above its 

target biomass of B40%. 278 mt is deducted 

from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal 

fishery (250 mt), the incidental open access 

fishery (16 mt), EFP catch (0.5 mt) and 

research catch (11.7 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 2,441 mt. 

t/ Lingcod south . A lingcod stock 

assessment was conducted in 2009. The 

lingcod spawning biomass off California was 

estimated to be at 74 percent of its unfished 

biomass in 2009. The OFL for California of 

2,185 mt is projected in the assessment using 

an FMSY proxy of F45%. The OFL is reapportioned by subtracting 48% of the OFL, 

resulting in an OFL of 1,136 mt for the area 

south of 40°10′ N. lat. The ABC of 946 mt is 

based on a 16.7 percent reduction from the 

OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.40) as it’s a category 2 

stock. The ACL is set equal to the ABC since 

the stock is above its target biomass of B40%. 

9 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the incidental open access 

fishery (7 mt), EFP fishing (1 mt), and 

research catch (1.1 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 937 mt. 

u/ Longnose skate. A stock assessment was 

conducted in 2007 and the stock was 

estimated to be at 66 percent of its unfished 

biomass. The OFL of 2,405 mt is derived 

from the 2007 stock assessment using an 

FMSY proxy of F50%. The ABC of 2,299 mt is 

a 4.4 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a category 1 stock. 

The ACL of 2,000 mt is a fixed harvest level 

that provides greater access to the stock and 

is less than the ABC. 73 mt is deducted from 

the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery 

(56 mt), incidental open access fishery (3.8 

mt), and research catch (13.2 mt), resulting in 

a fishery HG of 1,927 mt. 

v/ Longspine thornyhead. A 2013 

longspine thornyhead coastwide stock 

assessment estimated the stock to be at 75 

percent of its unfished biomass in 2013. A 

coastwide OFL of 4,763 mt is projected in the 

2013 stock assessment using an F50% FMSY

proxy. The ABC of 3,968 mt is a 16.7 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.40) as 

it’s a category 2 stock. For the portion of the 

stock that is north of 34°27′ N. lat., the ACL 

is 3,015 mt, and is 76 percent of the 

coastwide ABC based on the average sweptarea biomass estimates (2003–2012) from the 

NMFS NWFSC trawl survey. 46 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate the 

Tribal fishery (30 mt), the incidental open 

access fishery (3 mt), and research catch (13.5 

mt) resulting in a fishery HG of 2,969 mt. For 

that portion of the stock south of 34°27′ N. 

lat. the ACL is 952 mt and is 24 percent of 

the coastwide ABC based on the average 

swept-area biomass estimates (2003–2012) 

from the NMFS NWFSC trawl survey. 3 mt 

is deducted from the ACL to accommodate 

the incidental open access fishery (2 mt), and 

research catch (1 mt) resulting in a fishery 

HG of 949 mt. 

w/ Pacific cod. The 3,200 mt OFL is based 

on the maximum level of historic landings. 

The ABC of 2,221 mt is a 30.6 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=1.44/P*=0.40) as 

it’s a category 3 stock. The 1,600 mt ACL is 

the OFL reduced by 50 percent as a 

precautionary adjustment. 509 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate the 

Tribal fishery (500 mt), research catch (7 mt), 

and the incidental open access fishery (2.0 

mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 1,091 mt. 

x/ Pacific whiting. Pacific whiting are 

assessed annually. The final specifications 

will be determined consistent with the U.S.- 

Canada Pacific Whiting Agreement and will 

be announced after the Council’s April 2016 

meeting. 

y/ Sablefish north. A coastwide sablefish 

stock assessment was conducted in 2011. The 

coastwide sablefish biomass was estimated to 

be at 33 percent of its unfished biomass in 

2011. The coastwide OFL of 8,526 mt is 

projected in the 2011 stock assessment using 

an FMSY proxy of F45%. The ABC of 7,784 mt 

is an 8.7 percent reduction from the OFL 

(s=0.36/P*=0.40). The 40–10 adjustment was 

applied to the ABC to derive a coastwide 

ACL value because the stock is in the 

precautionary zone. This coastwide ACL 

value is not specified in regulations. The 

coastwide ACL value is apportioned north 

and south of 36° N. lat., using the 2003–2010 

average estimated swept area biomass from 

the NMFS NWFSC trawl survey, with 73.6 

percent apportioned north of 36° N. lat. and 

26.4 percent apportioned south of 36° N. lat. 

The northern ACL is 5,241 mt and is reduced 

by 524 mt for the tribal allocation (10 percent 

of the ACL north of 36° N. lat.). The 524 mt 

Tribal allocation is reduced by 1.6 percent to 

account for discard mortality. Detailed 

sablefish allocations are shown in Table 1c. 

z/ Sablefish south. The ACL for the area 

south of 36° N. lat. is 1,880 mt (26.4 percent 

of the calculated coastwide ACL value). 5 mt 

is deducted from the ACL to accommodate 

the incidental open access fishery (2 mt) and 

research catch (3 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,875 mt. 

aa/ Shortbelly rockfish. A non-quantitative 

shortbelly rockfish assessment was 

conducted in 2007. The spawning stock 

biomass of shortbelly rockfish was estimated 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12585 

to be 67 percent of its unfished biomass in 

2005. The OFL of 6,950 mt is based on the 

estimated MSY in the 2007 stock assessment. 

The ABC of 5,789 mt is a 16.7 percent 

reduction of the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.40) as it’s 

a category 2 stock. The 500 mt ACL is set to 

accommodate for incidental catch when 

fishing for co-occurring healthy stocks and in 

recognition of the stock’s importance as a 

forage species in the California Current 

ecosystem. 2 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate research catch, resulting in a 

fishery HG of 498 mt. 

bb/ Shortspine thornyhead. A 2013 

coastwide shortspine thornyhead stock 

assessment estimated the stock to be at 74.2 

percent of its unfished biomass in 2013. A 

coastwide OFL of 3,169 mt is projected in the 

2013 stock assessment using an F50% FMSY

proxy. The coastwide ABC of 2,640 mt is a 

16.7 percent reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/ 

P*=0.40) as it’s a category 2 stock. For the 

portion of the stock that is north of 34°27′ N. 

lat., the ACL is 1,726 mt. The northern ACL 

is 65.4 percent of the coastwide ABC based 

on the average swept-area biomass estimates 

(2003–2012) from the NMFS NWFSC trawl 

survey 59 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the Tribal fishery (50 mt), the 

incidental open access fishery (2 mt), and 

research catch (7 mt) resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,667 mt for the area north of 34°27′ 

N. lat. For that portion of the stock south of 

34°27′ N. lat. the ACL is 913 mt. The 

southern ACL is 35.6 percent of the 

coastwide ABC based on the average sweptarea biomass estimates (2003–2012) from the 

NMFS NWFSC trawl survey. 42 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate the 

incidental open access fishery (41 mt) and 

research catch (1 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 871 mt for the area south of 34°27′ N. 

lat. 

cc/ Spiny dogfish. A coastwide spiny 

dogfish stock assessment was conducted in 

2011. The coastwide spiny dogfish biomass 

was estimated to be at 63 percent of its 

unfished biomass in 2011. The coastwide 

OFL of 2,503 mt is derived from the 2011 

assessment using an FMSY proxy of F50%. The 

coastwide ABC of 2,085 mt is a 16.7 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.40) as 

it’s a category 2 stock. The ACL is set equal 

to the ABC because the stock is above its 

target biomass of B40%. 338 mt is deducted 

from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal 

fishery (275 mt), the incidental open access 

fishery (49.5 mt), EFP catch (1 mt), and 

research catch (12.5 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,747 mt. 

dd/ Splitnose rockfish. A splitnose rockfish 

coastwide assessment was conducted in 2009 

that estimated the stock to be at 66 percent 

of its unfished biomass in 2009. Splitnose 

rockfish in the north is managed in the Minor 

Slope Rockfish complex and with speciesspecific harvest specifications south of 40°10′ 

N. lat. The coastwide OFL is projected in the 

2009 assessment using an FMSY proxy of 

F50%. The coastwide OFL is apportioned 

north and south of 40°10′ N. lat. based on the 

average 1916–2008 assessed area catch 

resulting in 64.2 percent of the coastwide 

OFL apportioned south of 40°10′ N. lat., and 

35.8 percent apportioned for the contribution 

of splitnose rockfish to the northern Minor 

Slope Rockfish complex. The southern OFL 

of 1,826 mt results from the apportionment 

described above. The southern ABC of 1,746 

mt is a 4.4 percent reduction from the 

southern OFL (s=0.36/P*=0.45) as it’s a 

category 1 stock. The ACL is set equal to the 

ABC because the stock is estimated to be 

above its target biomass of B40%. 110.5 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate 

research catch (9 mt) and EFP catch (1.5 mt), 

resulting in a fishery HG of 1,736 mt. 

ee/ Starry Flounder. The stock was 

assessed in 2005 and was estimated to be 

above 40 percent of its unfished biomass in 

2005 (44 percent in Washington and Oregon, 

and 62 percent in California). The coastwide 

OFL of 1,847 mt is derived from the 2005 

assessment using an FMSY proxy of F30%. The 

ABC of 1,539 mt is a 16.7 percent reduction 

from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.40) as it’s a 

category 2 stock. The ACL is set equal to the 

ABC because the stock is estimated to be 

above its target biomass of B25%. 10.3 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate the 

Tribal fishery (2 mt), and the incidental open 

access fishery (8.3 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,529 mt. 

ff/ Widow rockfish. The widow rockfish 

stock was assessed in 2011 and was 

estimated to be at 51.1 percent of its unfished 

biomass in 2011. The OFL of 3,990 mt is 

projected in the 2011 stock assessment using 

an F50% FMSY proxy. The ABC of 3,790 mt is 

a 5 percent reduction from the OFL (s=0.41/ 

P*=0.45). A unique sigma of 0.41 was 

calculated for widow rockfish since the 

variance in estimated biomass was greater 

than the 0.36 used as a proxy for other 

category 1 stocks. The ACL could be set equal 

to the ABC because the stock is above its 

target biomass of B40%. However, the ACL of 

2,000 mt is less than the ABC due to high 

uncertainty in estimated biomass, yet this 

level of allowable harvest will allow access 

to healthy co-occurring species, such as 

yellowtail rockfish. 120.2 mt is deducted 

from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal 

fishery (100 mt), the incidental open access 

fishery (3.3 mt), EFP catch (9 mt), and 

research catch (7.9 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,880 mt. 

gg/ Yellowtail rockfish. A 2013 yellowtail 

rockfish stock assessment was conducted for 

the portion of the population north of 40°10′ 

N. lat. The estimated stock depletion is 69 

percent of its unfished biomass in 2013. The 

OFL of 6,949 mt is projected in the 2013 

stock assessment using an FMSY proxy of 

F50%. The ABC of 6,344 mt is an 8.7 percent 

reduction from the OFL (s=0.72/P*=0.45) as 

it is a category 2 stock. The ACL is set equal 

to the ABC because the stock is above its 

target biomass of B40%. 1,029.6 mt is 

deducted from the ACL to accommodate the 

Tribal fishery (1,000 mt), the incidental open 

access fishery (3 mt), EFP catch (10 mt) and 

research catch (16.6 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 5,314 mt. 

hh/ Minor Nearshore Rockfish north. The 

OFL for Minor Nearshore Rockfish north of 

40°10′ N. lat. of 88 mt is the sum of the OFL 

contributions for the component species 

managed in the complex. The ABCs for the 

minor rockfish complexes are based on a 

sigma value of 0.72 for category 2 stocks (i.e., 

blue rockfish in California, brown rockfish, 

China rockfish, and copper rockfish) and a 

sigma value of 1.44 for category 3 stocks (all 

others) with a P* of 0.45. The resulting ABC 

of 77 mt is the summed contribution of the 

ABCs for the component species. The ACL of 

69 mt is the sum of contributing ABCs of 

healthy assessed stocks and unassessed 

stocks, plus the ACL contributions for blue 

rockfish in California and China rockfish 

where the 40–10 adjustment was applied to 

the ABC contributions for these two stocks 

because they are in the precautionary zone. 

No deductions are made to the ACL, thus the 

fishery HG is equal to the ACL, which is 69 

mt. Between 40°10′ N. lat. and 42° N. lat. the 

Minor Nearshore Rockfish complex north has 

a harvest guideline of 23.7 mt. Blue rockfish 

south of 42° N. lat. has a species-specific HG, 

described in footnote kk/. 

ii/ Minor Shelf Rockfish north. The OFL 

for Minor Shelf Rockfish north of 40°10′ N. 

lat. of 2,218 mt is the sum of the OFL 

contributions for the component species 

within the complex. The ABCs for the minor 

rockfish complexes are based on a sigma 

value of 0.72 for category 2 stocks (i.e., 

greenspotted rockfish between 40°10′ and 42° 

N. lat. and greenstriped rockfish) and a sigma 

value of 1.44 for category 3 stocks (all others) 

with a P* of 0.45. The resulting ABC of 1,953 

mt is the summed contribution of the ABCs 

for the component species. The ACL of 1,952 

mt is the sum of contributing ABCs of 

healthy assessed stocks and unassessed 

stocks, plus the ACL contribution of 

greenspotted rockfish in California where the 

40–10 adjustment was applied to the ABC 

contribution for this stock because it is in the 

precautionary zone. 72 mt is deducted from 

the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery 

(30 mt), the incidental open access fishery 

(26 mt), EFP catch (3 mt), and research catch 

(13.4 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 1,880 

mt. 

jj/ Minor Slope Rockfish north. The OFL 

for Minor Slope Rockfish north of 40°10′ N. 

lat. of 1,844 mt is the sum of the OFL 

contributions for the component species 

within the complex. The ABCs for the Minor 

Slope Rockfish complexes are based on a 

sigma value of 0.39 for aurora rockfish, a 

sigma value of 0.36 for other category 1 

stocks (i.e., splitnose rockfish), a sigma value 

of 0.72 for category 2 stocks (i.e., rougheye 

rockfish, blackspotted rockfish and sharpchin 

rockfish), and a sigma value of 1.44 for 

category 3 stocks (all others) with a P* of 

0.45. A unique sigma of 0.39 was calculated 

for aurora rockfish since the variance in 

estimated spawning biomass was greater than 

the 0.36 used as a proxy for other category 

1 stocks. The resulting ABC of 1,706 mt is the 

summed contribution of the ABCs for the 

component species. The ACL is set equal to 

the ABC because all the assessed component 

stocks are above the target biomass of B40%. 

64 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the Tribal fishery (36 mt), the 

incidental open access fishery (19 mt), EFP 

catch (1 mt), and research catch (8.1 mt), 

resulting in a fishery HG of 1,642 mt. 

kk/ Minor Nearshore Rockfish south. The 

OFL for the Minor Nearshore Rockfish 

complex south of 40°10′ N. lat. of 1,288 mt 

is the sum of the OFL contributions for the 

component species within the complex. The 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

12586 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

ABC for the southern Minor Nearshore 

Rockfish complex is based on a sigma value 

of 0.36 for category 1 stocks (i.e., gopher 

rockfish north of 34°27′ N. lat.), a sigma value 

of 0.72 for category 2 stocks (i.e., blue 

rockfish north of 34°27′ N. lat., brown 

rockfish, China rockfish and copper rockfish) 

and a sigma value of 1.44 for category 3 

stocks (all others) with a P* of 0.45. The 

resulting ABC of 1,148 mt is the summed 

contribution of the ABCs for the component 

species. The ACL of 1,006 mt is the sum of 

the contributing ABCs of healthy assessed 

stocks and unassessed stocks, plus the ACL 

contribution for blue rockfish north of 34°27′ 

N. lat. where the 40–10 adjustment was 

applied to the ABC contribution for this stock 

because it is in the precautionary zone. 4 mt 

is deducted from the ACL to accommodate 

the incidental open access fishery (1.4 mt) 

and research catch (2.6 mt), resulting in a 

fishery HG of 1,002 mt. Blue rockfish south 

of 42° N. lat. has a species-specific HG set 

equal to the 40–10-adjusted ACL for the 

portion of the stock north of 34°27′ N lat. 

(137.5) plus the ABC contribution for the 

unassessed portion of the stock south of 

34°27′ N. lat. (60.8 mt). The California (i.e. 

south of 42° N. lat.) blue rockfish HG is 198.3 

mt. 

ll/ Minor Shelf Rockfish south. The OFL 

for the Minor Shelf Rockfish complex south 

of 40°10′ N. lat. of 1,919 mt is the sum of the 

OFL contributions for the component species 

within the complex. The ABCs for the 

southern Minor Shelf Rockfish complex is 

based on a sigma value of 0.72 for category 

2 stocks (i.e., greenspotted and greenstriped 

rockfish) and a sigma value of 1.44 for 

category 3 stocks (all others) with a P* of 

0.45. The resulting ABC of 1,626 mt is the 

summed contribution of the ABCs for the 

component species. The ACL of 1,625 mt is 

the sum of contributing ABCs of healthy 

assessed stocks and unassessed stocks, plus 

the ACL contribution of greenspotted 

rockfish in California where the 40–10 

adjustment was applied to the ABC 

contribution for this stock because it is in the 

precautionary zone. 49 mt is deducted from 

the ACL to accommodate the incidental open 

access fishery (9 mt), EFP catch (30 mt), and 

research catch (9.6 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 1,576 mt. 

mm/ Minor Slope Rockfish south. The OFL 

of 814 mt is the sum of the OFL contributions 

for the component species within the 

complex. The ABC for the southern Minor 

Slope Rockfish complex is based on a sigma 

value of 0.39 for aurora rockfish, a sigma 

value of 0.72 for category 2 stocks (i.e., 

blackgill rockfish, rougheye rockfish, 

blackspotted rockfish, sharpchin rockfish) 

and a sigma value of 1.44 for category 3 

stocks (all others) with a P* of 0.45. A unique 

sigma of 0.39 was calculated for aurora 

rockfish since the variance in estimated 

biomass was greater than the 0.36 used as a 

proxy for other category 1 stocks. The 

resulting ABC of 705 mt is the summed 

contribution of the ABCs for the component 

species. The ACL of 695 mt is the sum of the 

contributing ABCs of healthy assessed stocks 

and unassessed stocks, plus the ACL 

contribution of blackgill rockfish where the 

40–10 adjustment was applied to the ABC 

contribution for this stock because it is in the 

precautionary zone. 20 mt is deducted from 

the ACL to accommodate the incidental open 

access fishery (17 mt), EFP catch (1 mt), and 

research catch (2 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 675 mt. Blackgill rockfish has a 

species-specific HG set equal to the species’ 

contribution to the 40–10-adjusted ACL. The 

blackgill rockfish HG is 117 mt. 

nn/ Other Flatfish. The Other Flatfish 

complex is comprised of flatfish species 

managed in the PCGFMP that are not 

managed with species-specific OFLs/ABCs/

ACLs. Most of the species in the Other 

Flatfish complex are unassessed, and 

include: Butter sole, curlfin sole, flathead 

sole, Pacific sanddab (assessed in 2013, but 

the assessment results were too uncertain to 

inform harvest specifications), rock sole, 

sand sole, and rex sole (assessed in 2013). 

The Other Flatfish OFL of 9,645 mt is based 

on the sum of the OFL contributions of the 

component stocks. The ABC of 7,243 mt is 

based on a sigma value of 0.72 for category 

2 stocks (i.e., rex sole) and a sigma value of 

1.44 for category 3 stocks (all others) with a 

P* of 0.40. The ACL is set equal to the ABC. 

The ACL is set equal to the ABC since all of 

the assessed stocks (i.e., Pacific sanddabs and 

rex sole) were above their target biomass of 

B25%. 204 mt is deducted from the ACL to 

accommodate the Tribal fishery (60 mt), the 

incidental open access fishery (125 mt), and 

research catch (19 mt), resulting in a fishery 

HG of 7,039 mt. 

oo/ Other Fish. The Other Fish complex is 

comprised of kelp greenling coastwide, 

cabezon off Washington, and leopard shark 

coastwide. These species are unassessed. The 

OFL of 291 mt is the sum of the OFL 

contributions for kelp greenling off California 

(the SSC has not approved methods for 

calculating the OFL contributions for kelp 

greenling off Oregon and Washington), 

cabezon off Washington, and leopard shark 

coastwide. The ABC of 243 mt is the sum of 

ABC contributions for kelp greenling off 

California, cabezon off Washington and 

leopard shark coastwide calculated by 

applying a P* of 0.45 and a sigma of 1.44 to 

the OFL contributions for those stocks. The 

ACL is set equal to the ABC. There are no 

deductions from the ACL so the fishery HG 

is equal to the ACL of 243 mt. 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12587 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.006</GPH>

Table 2b. to Part 660, Subpart C- 2016, and Beyond, Allocations by Species or Species 

Group (Weights in Metric Tons). 

';'~1f'i~ ~~:s",~::~cl;~~;{~'~~f~j: 'th';;/'",';'~,\;i\~~;~~~;~~ ~'\~i~,(,}~'~,~~~~\~".'\~.~0t;·:1'i•; ;'~), it; :~~c 1;-hi''i<O!. ""'~~:~. 

·(~,~~,; :.~~:·:';i,,.. ·••··. ;,: ~·'·Cif~~;;~E II"' 

BOCACCIO a/ S of 40°10' N. lat. 353.7 N/A 85.0 N/A 

CANARY ROCKFISH a/ b/ Coast wide 109.8 N/A 58.5 N/A 

COW COD a/ c/ s of 40°10' N. lat. 4.0 N/A 1.4 N/A 

DARKBLOTCHED ROCKFISH d/ Coast wide 325.2 95% 308.9 5% 

PETRALE SOLE a/ Coast wide 2,673.4 N/A 2,638.4 N/A 

PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH e/ N of 40°10' N. lat. 149.0 95% 141.6 5% 

YELLOWEYE ROCKFISH a/ Coast wide 13.2 N/A 1.1 N/A 

Arrowtooth flounder Coast wide 3,241 95% 3,079 5% 

Chili pepper S of 40°10' N. lat. 1,595 75% 1,196 25% 

Dover sole Coast wide 48,406 95% 45,986 5% 

English sole Coast wide 6,991 95% 6,642 5% 

Lingcod N of 40'10° N. lat. 2,441 45% 1,098 55% 

Lingcod S of 40'10° N. lat. 937 45% 422 55% 

Longnose skate a/ Coast wide 1,927 90% 1,734 10% 

Longspine thornyhead N of 34°27' N. lat. 2, 969 95% 2,820 5% 

Pacific cod Coast wide 1,091 95% 1,036 5% 

Pacific whiting Coast wide TBD 100% TBD 0% 

Sablefish N of 36° N. lat. 0 See Table 1 c 

Sable fish s of 36° N. lat. 1,875 42% 788 58% 

Short spine thornyhead N of 34°27' N. lat. 1,667 95% 1,583 5% 

Short spine thornyhead s of 34°27' N. lat. 871 NA 50 NA 

Splitnose s of 40°10' N. lat. 1,736 95% 1,649 5% 

Starry flounder Coast wide 1,529 50% 764 50% 

Widow rockfish f/ Coast wide 1,880 91% 1, 711 9% 

Yellowtail rockfish N of 40°10' N. lat. 5,314 88% 4,677 12% 

Minor Shelf Rockfish complex a/ N of 40°10' N. lat. 1,880 60.2% 1,132 39.8% 

Minor Shelf Rockfish complex a/ s of 40°10' N. lat. 1,576 12.2% 192 87.8% 

Minor Slope Rockfish complex N of 40°10' N. lat. 1,642 81% 1,330 19% 

Minor Slope Rockfish complex s of 40°10' N. lat. 675 63% 425 37% 

Other Flatfish complex Coast wide 7,039 90% 6,335 10% 

a/ Allocations decided through the biennial specification process. 

of the total trawl allocation of canary rockfish is allocated to the at-sea whiting 

follows: 5.8 mt for the mothership fishery, and 8.2 mt for the catcher/processor 

further reduced to an ACT of 4.0 mt. 

268.7 

51.3 

2.6 

16.3 

35.0 

7.5 

12.1 

162 

399 

2,420 

350 

1,342 

515 

193 

148 

55 

TBD 

1,088 

83 

821 

87 

764 

169 

638 

748 

1,384 

312 

250 

704 

§660.55(c), 9 percent (27.8 mt) of the total trawl allocation for 

rockfish is allocated to the whiting fisheries, as follows: 11.7 mt for the shorebased 

fishery, 6.7 mt for the mothership fishery, and 9.4 mt for the catcher/processor fishery. The 

calculated here for the whiting portion of the shorebased IFQ fishery contributes to the 

shorebased trawl allocation, which is found at 660.140 (d) (1) (ii) (D). 

Consistent with regulations at §660.55(c), 30 mt of the total trawl allocation for POP is 

to the whiting fisheries, as follows: 12.6 mt for the shorebased IFQ fishery, 7.2 mt for 

mothership fishery, and 10.2 mt for the catcher/processor fishery. The tonnage calculated here 

shorebased 

which is found at 660.140 

tonnage 

fishery contributes to the total 

ER10MR15.008</GPH>mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

Table 2c. to Part 660, Subpart C- Sablefish North of36° N. lat. Allocations, 2016 and Beyond. 

Set-asides Recreational Commercial Limited Ent

Year ACL Tribal a/ Research Estimate EFP HG % 

2016 5,241 524 26 6.1 1 4,684 90.6% 4

Limited Entry Trawl c/ Limited Entry F

Year LE All ALL Trawl At-sea Whiting Shorebased IFQ ALL FG Primary 

2016 4,244 2,461 50 2,411 1,782 1,515 

a/ The tribal allocation is further reduced by 1.6% for discard mortality resulting in 515.7 mt in 2

lb/ The open access HG is taken by the incidental OA fishery and the directed OA fishery. 

c/ The trawl allocation is 58% of the limited entry HG 

d/ The limited entry fixed gear allocation is 42% of the limited entry HG 
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12589 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.009</GPH>

Table 2d. to Part 660, Subpart C-At-Sea Whiting Fishery Annual Set-Asides, 2016 and 

Beyond. 

Set Aside 

Species or Species Complex Area (mt) 

BOCACCIO s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

CANARY ROCKFISH a/ Coast wide Allocation 

COW COD s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

DARKBLOTCHED ROCKFISH a/ Coast wide Allocation 

PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH a/ N. of 40°10 N. lat. Allocation 

PETRALE SOLE Coast wide 5 

YELLOWEYE Coast wide 0 

Arrowtooth Flounder Coast wide 45 

Chili pepper s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

Dover Sole Coast wide 5 

English Sole Coast wide 5 

Lingcod N. of 40°10 N. lat. 15 

Lingcod s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

Longnose Skate Coast wide 5 

Longspine Thornyhead N. of 34°27 N. lat. 5 

Longspine Thornyhead s. of 34°27 N. lat. NA 

Minor Nearshore Rockfish N. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

Minor Nearshore Rockfish s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

Minor Shelf Rockfish N. of 40°10 N. lat. 35 

Minor Shelf Rockfish s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

Minor Slope Rockfish N. of 40°10 N. lat. 100 

Minor Slope Rockfish s. of 40°10 N. lat. NA 

Other Fish Coast wide NA 

Other Flatfish Coast wide 20 

Pacific Cod Coast wide 5 

Pacific Halibut b/ Coast wide 10 

Pacific Whiting Coast wide Allocation 

Sable fish N. of 36° N. lat. 50 

Sable fish s. of 36° N. lat. NA 

Short spine Thorny head N. of 34°27 N. lat. 20 

Short spine Thorny head s. of 34°27 N. lat. NA 

Starry Flounder Coast wide 5 

Widow Rockfish a/ Coast wide Allocation 

Yellowtail N. of 40°10 N. lat. 300 

a/ See Table 1.b., to Subpart C, for the at-sea whiting allocations for 

I these species. 

lb/ As stated in §660. 55 (m) , the Pacifi, halibut set-aside is 10 mt, to 

accommodate bycatch in the at-sea Pacific whiting fisheries and in the 

shorebased trawl sector south of 40°10 N. lat. (estimated to 5 mt each) . 
12590 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

* * * * * 

■ 11. In § 660.130, revise paragraphs 

(d)(1)(i) and (e)(4)(iv) to read as follows: 

§ 660.130 Trawl fishery—management 

measures. 

* * * * * 

(d) * * * 

(1) * * * 

(i) Coastwide. Widow rockfish, canary 

rockfish, darkblotched rockfish, 

yelloweye rockfish, shortbelly rockfish, 

black rockfish, blue rockfish, minor 

nearshore rockfish, minor shelf rockfish, 

minor slope rockfish, shortraker 

rockfish, rougheye/blackspotted 

rockfish, shortspine and longspine 

thornyhead, Dover sole, arrowtooth 

flounder, petrale sole, starry flounder, 

English sole, other flatfish, lingcod, 

sablefish, Pacific cod, spiny dogfish, 

other fish, longnose skate, and Pacific 

whiting; 

* * * * * 

(e) * * * 

(4) * * * 

(iv) If a vessel fishes in the trawl RCA, 

it may not participate in any fishing on 

that trip that is prohibited within the 

trawl RCA. Nothing in these Federal 

regulations supersedes any state 

regulations that may prohibit trawling 

shoreward of the fishery management 

area (3–200 nm). 

* * * * * 

■ 12. In § 660.140, revise paragraph 

(d)(1)(ii)(D) to read as follows: 

§ 660.140 Shorebased IFQ Program. 

* * * * * 

(d) * * * 

(1) * * * 

(ii) * * * 

(D) For the trawl fishery, NMFS will 

issue QP based on the following 

shorebased trawl allocations: 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12591 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.010</GPH>

IFQ Species Management Area 2015 Shorebased 2016 Shorebased 

Trawl Allocation Trawl Allocation 

(mt) (mt) 

Arrowtooth flmmder 3,193.93 3,033.38 

BOCACCIO South of 40°1 0' N. lat. 81.89 85.02 

CANARY ROCKFISH 43.26 44.48 

Chilipepper South of 40°1 0' N. lat. 1,203.00 1,196.25 

COWCOD South of 40°1 0' N. lat. 1.44 1.44 

DARKBLOTCHED 285.61 292.81 

ROCKFISH 

Dover sole 45,980.80 45,980.80 

English sole 9,153.19 6,636.64 

Lingcod Northof40°10' N.lat. 1,133.32 1,083.37 

Lingcod South of 40°1 0' N. lat. 447.71 421.61 

Longspine thomyhead North of34°27' N. lat. 2,962.33 2,815.08 

Minor Shelf Rockfish complex Northof40°10' N.lat. 1,091.70 1,096.52 

Minor Shelf Rockfish complex South of 40°1 0' N. lat. 192.20 192.32 

Minor Slope Rockfish complex North of40°10' N. lat. 1,219.41 1,229.94 

Minor Slope Rockfish complex South of 40°1 0' N. lat. 423.99 425.25 

Other Flatfish complex 7,670.50 6,315.10 

Pacific cod 1,031.41 1,031.41 

PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH North of 40°1 0' N. lat. 118.45 124.15 

Pacific Whiting - -

PETRALE SOLE 2,539.40 2,633.40 

Sable fish North of36° N. lat. 2,199.37 2,411.24 

Sable fish South of36° N. lat. 719.88 787.50 

Shortspine thomyhead North of34°27' N. lat. 1,581.49 1,563.44 

Shortspine thomyhead South of34°27' N. lat. 50.00 50.00 

Splitnose rockfish South of 40°1 0' N. lat. 1,619.28 1,648.73 

Starry flounder 756.85 759.35 

Widow rockfish 1,420.62 1,420.62 

YELLOWEYE ROCKFISH 1.00 1.08 

Yellowtail rockfish North of 40°1 0' N. lat. 4,593.15 4,376.67 
12592 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

* * * * * ■ 13. In subpart D, tables 1 (North) and 

1 (South) to 660 are revised to read as 

follows: 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.011</GPH>

r-- ------~ 

I I 

I Table 1 (North) to Part 660, Subpart D --Limited Entry Trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas and Landing Allowances for non-IFQ Species I 

~n~!'~i_"ifiC::~\XIlJ!i!l!lt<l~r'tll~ot~-"19~1\1,_1,-aL~~"~~~-~-~~~"~"~~~~-~~~~-~~·~·----·~~~-~-~~-~·"·-·-·-·-~·--~-~-·--·~~-~"~-~·~ _j 

!This table describes Rockfish Conservation Areas for vessels using groundfish trawl gear. This table describes incidental landing allowances for I 

!vessels registered to a Federal limited entry trawl permit and using groundfish trawl or groundfish non-trawl gears to harvest individual fishing quota 

l(IFQ) species. 

t~-~-i'""""·-· . -----~~----·····--~·--·~-- -"""-~---·- ------ -----··· . -~~~-"~: 

1 jOther Limits and Requirements Apply- Read§ 660.10 • § 660.399 before using this table 1 3/1/15 

,Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA)1/: 

1 North of 48°10' N. lat. 

2 48°10' N. lat.- 45"46' N. lat. 

3 45°46' N. lat. - 40"1 0' N. lat. 

JAN-FEB 

shoremodified21 200 

fm line11 

MAR-APR MAY-JUN I JUL-AUG SEP-OCT 

""'"·--'-1"····"--"+·~·-~---~-'- --·~·--'··-'-~~··---····Li..... -~+ ... J ." 

shore- 200 fm 

line 11 shore- 150 fm line11 

100 fm line11 - 150 fm line11 

100 fm line 11 - modified21 200 fm line 11 

shore - 200 fm 

line1/ 

NOV-DEC 

i 

shoremodified2/200 

fmline11 

•. 1 Selective flatfish trawl gear is required shoreward of the RCA; all bottom trawl gear (large footrope, selective flatfish trawl, and small footrope trawl gear) is 

permitted seaward of the RCA Large footrope and small footrope trawl gears (except for selective flatfish trawl gear) are prohibited shoreward of the RCA 

I Mdwater trawl gear is permitted only for vessels participating in the primary whtting season. Vessels fishing groundfish trawl quota pounds with I groundfish non-trawl gears, under gear switching provisions at § 660.140, are subject to the limited entry groundfish trawl fishery landing 

1 allowances in this table, regardless of the type of fishing gear used. Vessels fishing groundfish trawl quota pounds with groundfish non-trawl 

I gears, under gear switching provisions at § 660.140, are subject to the limited entry fixed gear non-trawl RCA, as described in Tables 2 (North) and 

I 2 (South) to Part 660, Subpart E. i i See§ 660.60, § 660.130, and§ 660.140 for Additional Gear, Trip Limit, and Conservation Area Requirements and Restrictions. See§§ 660.70-660.74 l and§§ 660.76-660.79 for Conservation Area Descriptions and Coordinates (including RCAs, YRCA, CCAs, Farallon Islands, Cordell Banks, and 

I ~~ 

I State trip limits and seasons may be more restrictive than federal trip limits, particularly in waters off Oregon and California. 

300 lb/month 

midwater trawl Before the primary whiting season: CLOSED.-- During the primary season: mid-water trawl permitted in 

the RCA See §660.131 for season and trip limit details. -- After the primary whiting season: CLOSED. 

Before the primary whiting season: 20,000 lbltrip. - During the primary season: 10,000 lbltrip. --After the 

large & small footrope gear primary whiting season: 10,000 lbltrip. 

I Bicabezon41 I ! I ! c~rT- --~-~- ~--NOrth.of4EJo1B;N.-IBT Unlimited 

! I I 

~10~i•'---~-----'4-'-6-'o1"'6-'' Ncc·ccla=t'-. -~4'-'0~1'-'0'-' '-'N'-'. l=at,. -----------------'5'-'0'-'I=b/-'m'-'o=n'-"th-'-------------------l 

I 11jShortbelly Unlimited t·--···, 

1 12 :spiny dogfish 60,000 lb/month 

[~tJ[Longnose skate 

i"i41other Fish 41 

Unlimited 

Unlimited 

> CJ 

rm 

-z 

0 

~ ::I: 

-

i i I i ! I I I I .l I 

[il."I~B:~o~i<t;s~~§O:ri~~6/alio~~~.e£~J~::ar,:arei~s~IO:J1ili;;:9~Y:~rtic:l!l~r:-9~1-j'Xil_es:~2~~~9~-~ilirie:s2£~c!f,(,l311y.<J9jiii~~>' laf~u~i;;.en:ciJ~!'.9il~ci~=~~-=~~:~=~==J L __ jcoo~dill~tEJ_~_s.e~_out at.§.§_660J.!:66(),!!..lhis __ "C:A.is_.ll()t_defin.edbX .. de.pt.h co11to~rs~_a_n_d_t.~e tJ()lln(jary_line~S.thf,!t~efin.EJ. the_"C:A.rn~x_close~a~e_f,l.s._~---~---··~··~·-i i... j!ll<3l.~_clee£E!I'_()~_!lh~I()W_Elr:._!h~the deEtll.C()Il!.ollr,_VE!S.lS_e§thf,jt~r~ut.Jie_c:t to tll_e.BC:A..r.e.~tri_c:ti<>.n!Srn!lY.Il_c>!.fi~llinJh.eB_C:!I."()!.()PEl.l'ate.l~tlle.~ • ···~·····~-·J 

i~- .i R_C:Af()r_anx purp<Js_egthertha._n!ransiting,_ .• _ _ ~~- ~········--······~~·-· ~ ~ __ _ --~-· ··-··· ····-~·~---~-············ ·············-····-······ . ~··· -~~·--·····~--·~·· . . ..... --~ i~.Ihe..'.'rn.()di~e(j"fathorn._line_s __ are_ITI()difiecj_t() __ SJ(Ciude c_EJ_rlf,!i~pe_tr_ale_s_ol<3_a!e~s__fr()rnthef<.C::A:_ ______________ ~------···------------·--·-·-~-·--J 

l3i As specificed at §660.131(d), when fishing in t.he Eureka Area, no more than 10,000 lb ofwhit.ing may be taken and retained, possessed, or landed by a vessel that, at. i [an~ tirne_duri~!t tllefishin.gtrip, fis_hed in th_ElfiS.ilE!I)' rna~~f)e_ment~rea_sh()rewarcl o! 1()0 frn contour, . . . . _ . .. ·~····· .... ·~ . · 

j4/ "Other Fish" are defined at§ 660.11 and include kelp greenling, leopard shark, and cabazon in Washington 

I ,-··~----~·---~----~ ------···-··~---·~-~---- ~--~ --------···-·-·-··~--~·~·--·-------~---~~-··- ···--~----~---~-----~--~----~ ----·----··--·----·-----~ 

[!()_l:<>llVert p()Uilcls!o. ~i~og!a_lll!l,(ji1fi(je_t.J:t2:21J:4.6.2,_ the_ nur11_l!_er_ o! p_o_u __ nd!;J'!..Cllle .. ~ilog!arn,~ .• --·· -·--··---~-~······---·~---···----~-~·····-·· --~--- ...... 
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12593 

* * * * * 

■ 14. In § 660.230, revise paragraph 

(c)(2)(i) to read as follows: 

§ 660.230 Fixed gear fishery— 

management measures. 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(2) * * * 

(i) Coastwide—widow rockfish, 

canary rockfish, darkblotched rockfish, 

yelloweye rockfish, shortbelly rockfish, 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.012</GPH>

' 

: 

Table 1 (South) to Part 660, Subpart D -- Limited Entry Trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas and Landing Allowances for non-IFQ Species 

and Pacific Whiting South of 40.10' N. Lat. 

This table describes Rockfish Conservation Areas for vessels using groundfish trawl gear. This table describes incidental landing allowances for 

vessels registered to a Federal limited entry trawl permit and using groundfish trawl or groundfish non-trawl gears to harvest individual fishing quota 

(IFQ) species. 

Other Limits and Requirements Apply-- Read§ 660.10- § 660.399 before using this table 3/1/15 

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

' 

Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA)1/: 

1. South of 40•1 0' N. lat. 100 fm line11 - 150 fm line 1121 

Small footrope trawl gear is required shoreward of the RCA; all trawl gear (large footrope, selective flatfish trawl, midwater trawl, and small footrope trawl gear) 

is permitted seaward of the RCA. Large footrope trawl gear and midwater trawl gear are prohibited shoreward of the RCA. Vessels fishing groundfish trawl 

quota pounds with groundfish non-trawl gears, under gear switching provisions at § 660.140, are subject to the limited entry groundfish trawl 

fishery landing allowances in this table, regardless of the type of fishing gear used. Vessels fishing groundfish trawl quota pounds with 

groundfish non-trawl gears, under gear switching provisions at§ 660.140, are subject to the limited entry fixed gear non-trawl RCA, as described 

in Tables 2 (North) and 2 (South) to Part 660, Subpart E. 

See§ 660.60, § 660.130, and§ 660.140 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, YRCA, CCAs, Farallon Islands, Cordell Banks, and 

EFHCAs). 

State trip limits and seasons may be more restrictive than federal trip limits, particularly in waters off Oregon and California. 

2 Longspine thornyhead 

' 

3 South of 34 •27' N. lat. 24,000 lb/2 months 

Minor Nearshore Rockfish & Black 

4 rockfish 300 lb/ month 

'"'"''~""' ....... ., .... ~ ..... ., '""" ''"'''"'''''"'' .......... ................................ ....... .._.._ .... ., .. ., . •• •• '''" •••••· ••••»•m•·•••»"''''"'' ''"''" •••••• '"''"''"'''m• . . ._ ....................... ""'"''''''" .. -............. .,. ..... ............................. .................. _. .............. O<m,.,,, .. ,,~,.,~O•m•••••• 

5 Whiting : 

6 midwater trawl Before the primary whiting season: CLOSED.-- During the primary season: mid-water trawl permitted in 

the RCA. See §660. 131 for season and trip limit details. -- After the primary whiting season: CLOSED . 

7 large & small footrope gear 

Before the primary whiting season: 20,000 lb/trip. -- During the primary season: 10,000 lb/trip. -- After the 

primary whiting season: 10,000 lbltrip. 

8'Cabezon 50 lb/ month 

9 Shortbelly Unlimited 

10Spinydogfish 60,000 lb/ month 

11 Longnose skate Unlimited 

12 .California scorpionfish Unlimited 

13 Other Fish 31 Unlimited 

: .' 

1/ The Rockfish Conservation Area is an area closed to fishing by particular gear types, bounded by lines specifically defined by latitudeand longitude 

·coordinates set out at§§ 660.71-660.74. This RCA is not defined by depth contours, and the boundary lines that define the RCA may close areas 

that are deeper or shallower than the deeth contour. Vesselsthatare subjecttothe RCArestrictions may not fishin the RCA, or operate in the 

RCA for any purpose other than transiting. 

2/ South of 34.27' N. lat., the RCA is 100 fm line~ 150 fm line along the mainland coast; shoreline -1.50 fm line around islands. 

3/"0ther Fish" are defined at§ 660.11 and include kelp greenling, leopard shark, and cabezon inWashington 

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

-1 

)> 

OJ 

rm 

~ 

-en 

0 

s::::: 

... 

::::r 

-
12594 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

black rockfish, blue rockfish, minor 

nearshore rockfish, minor shelf rockfish, 

minor slope rockfish, shortraker 

rockfish, rougheye/blackspotted 

rockfish, shortspine and longspine 

thornyhead, Dover sole, arrowtooth 

flounder, petrale sole, starry flounder, 

English sole, other flatfish, lingcod, 

sablefish, Pacific cod, spiny dogfish, 

other fish, longnose skate, and Pacific 

whiting; 

* * * * * 

■ 15. In § 660.231, revise paragraph 

(b)(3)(i) to read as follows: 

§ 660.231 Limited entry fixed gear 

sablefish primary fishery. 

* * * * * 

(b) * * * 

(3) * * * 

(i) A vessel participating in the 

primary season will be constrained by 

the sablefish cumulative limit 

associated with each of the permits 

registered for use with that vessel. 

During the primary season, each vessel 

authorized to fish in that season under 

paragraph (a) of this section may take, 

retain, possess, and land sablefish, up to 

the cumulative limits for each of the 

permits registered for use with that 

vessel (i.e., stacked permits). If multiple 

limited entry permits with sablefish 

endorsements are registered for use with 

a single vessel, that vessel may land up 

to the total of all cumulative limits 

announced in this paragraph for the 

tiers for those permits, except as limited 

by paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section. 

Up to 3 permits may be registered for 

use with a single vessel during the 

primary season; thus, a single vessel 

may not take and retain, possess or land 

more than 3 primary season sablefish 

cumulative limits in any one year. A 

vessel registered for use with multiple 

limited entry permits is subject to per 

vessel limits for species other than 

sablefish, and to per vessel limits when 

participating in the daily trip limit 

fishery for sablefish under § 660.232. In 

2015, the following annual limits are in 

effect: Tier 1 at 41,175 (18,677 kg), Tier 

2 at 18,716 lb (8,489 kg), and Tier 3 at 

10,695 lb (4,851 kg). For 2016 and 

beyond, the following annual limits are 

in effect: Tier 1 at 45,053 lb (20,436 kg), 

Tier 2 at 20,479 lb (9,289 kg), and Tier 

3 at 11,702 lb (5,308 kg). 

* * * * * 

■ 16. In subpart E, tables 2 (North) and 

2 (South) to part 660 are revised to read 

as follows: 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12595 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.013</GPH>

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

'lll,_lat, · To!h..,r li;;i~;;-,;;,(J-~~<1~;;..,;;,..,~;~~;;;;1\' =-R~.,<l-§§66o:1oit;;:,;~Qt;660:399 tJ.;rc;;..,-~~inQ ihi~l~t,l9- ·1 ·-r···· ······r········- r· I JAN-FEB I MAR-APR I M'\Y-JUN I JUL·AUG I SEP-OCT I NOV-DEC 

Rockfish Conservation kea (RCAj11: I I ! I I I i , I 

~::~r-~~'--~'-.~'-~~oo"' ;;"'~:-_N_~-a~------+--------------3'-~h"'f:'"'r'-~:"-~ec:~,.;-'_.o.~~"-o"";""~'-inl"'ine'-e 11'"'"---------------t 

-·-·~ f4iOO' N. lat.· 40°10' N.lat. 30 fm line11 -100 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, CCAs, Farallon Islands, Cordell Banks, and EFHCAs). 

State trip limits and seasons may be more restrictiw than Federal trip limits or seasons, particularly in waters off Oregon and California. 

4 lMinor Slope Rockfish21 & 

I Darkblotched rockfish 

5 ·Pacific ocean perch 

6 1Sablefish71 

7 !Longspine thornyhead 

·-·--a·-··· iShortspine thornyhead ·--··9 

-··-·ta··-··: Dover sole, arrowtooth flounder, 

11 ... 12-l petrale sole, English sole, starry 

-13-1 flounder, Other Flatfish" 

4,000 lb/2 months 

1,800 lb/ 2 months 

1 ,025 lb/ week, not to exceed 3,075 lb/2 months 

10,000 lb/2 months 

2,000 lb/2 months I 2,500 lb/2 months 

5,000 lb/ month 

South of 42° N. lat., when fishing for "other flatfish," vessels using hock-and-line gear with no more than 12 

hocks per line, using hooks no larger than "Number 2" hooks, which measure 0.44 in (11 mm) point to shank, 

and up to two 1 lb (0.45 kg) weights per line, are not subject to the RCAs. --14~1 

15-·~~~Wh~it~in-g---------~---------------1~0~.0~00~1b~/tr~ip----------------1 

16 iMinor Shelf Rockfish21, Shortbelly, 

I Widow & Yellowtail rockfish 

17 i Canary rockfish 

18 IYelloweye rockfish I 

19 1 Minor Nearshore Rockfish & Black 

I rockfish 

200 lb/ month 

CLOSED 

CLOSED 

20 North ot4iOO' N. lat. 5,000 lb/2 months, no more than 1,200 lb of which may be species other than black rockfish or blue rockfish41 

······+·--· ······-····-·~··············· +--------------------------------; 

21 4iOO' N. lat.- 40° 10' N. lat. 

22 . I Lingcod" 

23 [Pacific cod 

24 !spiny dogfish 

25 ! Longnose skate 

26 iother Fish61& Cabezon in Oregon 

I and California 

8,500 lb/2 months, of which no more than 1 ,200 lb of which may be species other than black rockfish 

200 lb/2 months 

200,000 lb/2 months 

I 1 ,200 lb/ 2 months 1 600 lb/ 1200 lb/ 

month month 

1,000 lb/2 months 

1

150.000 lb/2 I 

months 

Unlimited 

Unlimited 

100,000 lb/2 months 

3/1/15 

..... 

)> 

OJ 

r 

m 

-

z 

0 

.., 

-:::r 

-

6£:()ther:.f'is~:are<1flfi.f1e(j at§.6f)(J,!1.<3nd_if1Ciud€l_k€llp~reel11inQ,It3()p13rcl.sh_ar:.k,_8:ncj.~l3bezo.J1.ii1.\/VI3_Shi.n(l~On .___ -· ··--~ ·-··---··--·· ~~ -· ·--·~··---· _ ~-----·--i 

71 Beginning on January 1, 2016, the following trip limijs are in effect for sablefish north of 36° N. lat. from January through December 1 ,2751b/week, not to exceed 3,375 lb/2 I 

months I 

T()CO_nllert !l<'und_sto_kilogr.anl!l._<livi.cJ".~~2.20462,_tll!!_niJrnber()fp()Undsin.ol1.e ... kilogrllrnc._ ~-·--·-------- -~---------~-···----····---~ 
12596 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.014</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' 

iN. lat. I ---- r6!her-~mitsand-requirements ar:lfiiy--- Read §§660.1 o it.rou-9ii 66ii:399b916reusin9 iiiistable --- -------- -- ·r ... ----r-· _T____ T --- - i -- 3717rsl 

JAN-FEB I M'\R-APR I M".Y-JUN I JUL-AUG I SEP-OCT I NOV-DEC 

I I ........ _L! _________ cl _____ j ___ _j _____ ...... L ___ L ____________ ,l __________ ,i _ _ __ 

301m line11 -150fm line" 

Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA)11: - _,_ ·-·-----T·~-7'" --~---~-~------- ---T·"·~-~--. -~-----

1 !40 10' N. lat.- 34 27' N. lat. ~~---2~~-~8~-~t-h-~f-34~27~ -N_--I~t. -~- --·~---- --~·---- 60 fm line 11 - 150 fm line 11 (also applies around islands) 

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, CCAs, Farallon Islands, Cordell Banks, and EFHCAs). 

State trip limits and seasons may be more restrictiw than Federal trip limits or seasons, particularly in waters off Oregon and California. 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

[Minor Slope rockfish" & 

I Darkblotched rockfish 

• Splitnose rockfish 

1Sablefish61 

I 40.10' N.lat.- 36"oo· N.lat. 

i South of 36.00' N. lat. 

8 "ilongspine thornyhead 

9 iShortspine thornyhead 

40,000 lb/2 months, of which no more than 1,375 lb may be blackgill rockfish 

40,000 lb/2 months 

1,025 lb/ week, not to exceed 3,075 lb/2 months 

2,000 lb/ week 

10,000 lb/2 months 

---to 1 40.10' N.lat.- 34"27 N.lat. 2.000 lb/2 months I 2,500 lb/2 months 

__ 1_! __ -+i _____ _..:::So,u,th.:..:oe:.f..:::34_,_ • .:::.2T:_:_:N:...:. l::::at,_. _____________ ___c.3:..:,0.::..00=-l=b/...:2:..:mc:.o:.:.n=th.:::s _____________ -l 

~g-~J 13 f ··1.r··1 

~-15~1 

~~~1~=:1 17 I 

Dover sole, arrowtooth flounder, 

petrale sole, English sole, starry 

flounder, Other Flatfish" 

5,000 lb/ month 

South of 4i N. lat., when fishing for "other flatfish," vessels using hook-and-line gear with no more than 12 hooks 

per line, using hooks no larger than "Number 2" hooks, which measure 0.44 in (11 mm) point to shank, and up to 

two 1 lb (0.45 kg) weights per line, are not subject to the RCAs. 

18 !Whiting 10,000 lb/ trip 

19 [Minor Shelf Rockfish21, Shortbelly, Widow rockfish (including Bocaccio and Chilipepper between 40"10"- 34"27" N.lat.) 

Mnor shelf rockfish, shortbelly, widow rockfish, bocaccio & chilipepper: 2,500 lb/2 months, of which no more 

than 500 lb may be any species other than chilipepper. -··----7····--·-·------·---------t--,-,:=::-7.::---,------,---'---'-..:._-----..:..._:..:_ ________ -l 

--~~-..J South of 34"27 N. lat. :~;~~ 2 I CLOSED I 4,000 lb/2 months 

___ ??.__Jf;:~;:;-.!'-;;_i_l'"".i_~-~-!'-.!"'- ..... -.. -... ---------t---===----'--------'--------------------------1 

20 40.10' N.lat.- 34"27 N.lat. 

___ 3~_j _________ ~4()~_t_o:.=-N::.·.:::Ia:.::t._--=34-'.i"2"-7-'' N.::·..:la:::t't. _C_h_ili.:..pe_:p:..:p_e_r_in-::c:clu:::ded=:cun-::d:ce_r_m-::in:co_r_,s:-:he_lf_r_o_ckfi-:-'s_h':-, s_h_o7rt_be_l..:_ly':-, w.,.i7do_w_ro_c_kfi_'sc-h-::a-::n:-d_bo_c_,ac,..c_io-:-::lim-::i:-:ts,..-_-_s_e_e_a_b_o_ve-l 

24 i South of 34"27 N. lat. 2,000 lb/2 months, this opportunity only available seaward of the non-trawl RCA 

25 1 Canary rockfish CLOSED 

26 IYelloweye rockfish CLOSED 

27 [cowcod CLOSED 

28 I Bronzespotted rockfish CLOSED 

29 i Bocaccio 

3o I 40'10" N. lat.- 34"27 N. lat. Bocaccio included under Mnor sheW rockfish, shortbelly, widow rockfish & chilipepper limits --See above 

31 1 South of 34"27 N. lat. 750 lb/2 months I CLOSED I 750 lb/2 months 

... .J. . .. .i .. .: J . .J 

..... 

l> 

m 

r 

m 

-CJ) 

0 

c 

-::T 

-
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12597 

■ 17. In § 660.330, revise paragraphs 

(c)(2)(i) and (d)(13)(iii) to read as 

follows: 

§ 660.330 Open access fishery— 

management measures. 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(2) * * * 

(i) Coastwide—widow rockfish, 

canary rockfish, darkblotched rockfish, 

yelloweye rockfish, shortbelly rockfish, 

black rockfish, blue rockfish, minor 

nearshore rockfish, minor shelf rockfish, 

minor slope rockfish, shortraker 

rockfish, rougheye/blackspotted 

rockfish, shortspine and longspine 

thornyhead, Dover sole, arrowtooth 

flounder, petrale sole, starry flounder, 

English sole, other flatfish, lingcod, 

sablefish, Pacific cod, spiny dogfish, 

longnose skate, other fish, Pacific 

whiting, and Pacific sanddabs; 

* * * * * 

(d) * * * 

(13) * * * 

(iii) The non-groundfish trawl RCA 

restrictions in this section apply to 

vessels taking and retaining or 

possessing groundfish in the EEZ, or 

landing groundfish taken in the EEZ. 

Unless otherwise authorized by Part 

660, it is unlawful for a vessel to retain 

any groundfish taken on a fishing trip 

for species other than groundfish that 

occurs within the non-groundfish trawl 

RCA. If a vessel fishes in a nongroundfish fishery in the nongroundfish trawl RCA, it may not 

participate in any fishing on that trip 

that is prohibited within the nongroundfish trawl RCA. Nothing in these 

Federal regulations supersedes any state 

regulations that may prohibit trawling 

shoreward of the fishery management 

area (3–200 nm). 

* * * * * 

■ 18. In subpart F, tables 3 (North) and 

3 (South) to part 660 are revised to read 

as follows: 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.015</GPH>
12598 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.016</GPH>

r~- ··--

!Table 3 (North) to Part 660, Subpart F -- Non-Trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas and Trip Limits for Open Access Gears North of 40"10' N. lat. 

f··- -- "- ----·---

!Other limits and requirements apply-- Read §§660. 10 through 660.399 before using this table 3/1/1o 

JAN-FEB I 1\AAR-APR I MA.Y-JUN I JUL-AUG I SEP-OCT I NOV-DEC 

Ro_c~os_II!~~:;~:~:~:.;~(~C~f': ····- ________ _! ______ ci _______________ LI ...... -----~~---····--··---'1·····- __ ci";---~~---···· shoreline - 100 1m line 11 

i 

2 !46.16' N. lat -42'00' N. lat 30 fm line11 -100 frn line11 

3 142'00' N.lat- 40.10' N. lat 301m line11 -100 1m 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, CCAs, Farallon Islands, Cordell Banks, and EFHCAs). 

State trip limits and seasons may be more restrictiw than Federal trip limits or seasons, particularly in waters off Oregon and California. 

4 JMinor Slope Rockfish" & 

I Darkblotched rockfish 

~~-~ ~-5~-- i Pacific ocean perch 

---6- JSablefish71 

IShortpine thornyheads and 

jlongspine thornyheads 

·--l!-~ . .J 

Per trip, no more than 25% of weight of the sablefish landed 

100 lb/ month 

300 lb/ day, or 1 landing per week of up to 900 lb. not to exceed 1,800 lb/2 months 

CLOSED 

3,000 lb/ month, no more than 300 lb of which may be species other than Pacific sanddabs. 9 I ·---ilf-i Dover sole, arrowtooth flounder, f--------------------------------------1 

----i ~-- j petrale sole, English sole, starry South of 42' N. lat, when fishing for "other ftatfish." vessels using hook-and-line gear with no more than 12 hooks per r:=1.2=J flounder, Other Flatfish" line, using hooks no larger than "Number 2" hooks, which measure 0.44 in (11 mm) point to shank, and up to two 1 lb 

..... 

)> 

OJ 

rm 

~- 1 (0.45 kg) weights per line are not subject to the RCAs. 

14 -+~~~H~i~n-g--------~----------------~300~1~W~m-o-n~th----------------~ ~ 

!Minor Shelf Rockfish", Shortbelly, 200 IW month 15 !Widow & Yellowtail rockfish 

16 !canary rockfish 

17 1Yelloweye rockfish 

18 )Minor Nearshore Rockfish & 

i Black rockfish 

CLOSED 

CLOSED 

z 

0 

., 

-

=r 19 -~~----------Nb--rt_h_o_f-42-.-00_'_N-.I-m .~-------5-,0-00--Ib-/2 __ m_o_nt_h_s,-n-o_m_o_re __ th_a_n_1_,2_00--lb_o_f_w_hi-ch __ m_a_y_be __ spec---~--ot-h-e-rt-h-an--bl-ac-k-roc--~-,-sh--------1 ~ 

--~-···-~--~~·~ -" 

20 I 42' oo· N. lat - 40' 1 o· N. lru. 8,500 lb/2 months, of which no more than 1,200 lb may be spec~ other than black roc~sh 

~~--------------------~--------------------.-~------------------------------------.-11~10~0~ 

21 '!Lingcod" 100 lb/ month 600 lb/ month Wmonth 

22 IPacificcod 1,0001b/2months 

_ _=J__ __ t:!s_p_in_y_d_o_g_fi-:s-h-:-------1-1--2-oo_.o_o_o_lb_/_2_m_o_nt_h_s ___ .L 1_ _~-·~_c.~hc.~-',.,:-:-'I-::--:------10_o_.o_o_o_lb_/_2_m_o_n_th_s _____ -l 

24 [Longnose skate Unlimtted 

25 !Other Fish" & Cabezon in Oregon 

~and California Unlimtted 
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12599 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.017</GPH>

Table 3 (North). Continued 

26 

27 

28 

29 

SALMON TROLL (subject to RCAs v.hen retaining all species of groundfish, except for ye/loVIRail rockfish and lingcod, as described befol'.j 

North 

Salmon trollers may retain and land up to 1 lb of yellowtail rockfish for every 2 lbs of salmon landed, with a cumulative limit of200 

lb/month, both within and outside of the RCA. This limit is within the 200 lb per month combined limit for minor shelf rockfish, widow 

rockfish and yellowtail rockfish, and not in addition to that limit. Salmon trollers may retain and land up to 1 lingcod per 15 Chinook 

per trip, plus 1 lingcod per trip, up to a trip limit of 10 lingcod, on a trip where any fishing occurs within the RCA. This limit only 

applies during times when lingcod retention is allowed, and is not "CLOSED." This limit is within the per month limit for lingcod 

described in the table abo\€, 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 abo\€, unless otherwise stated here. 

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

North 

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. 

The 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, lhornyheads and yelloweye 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 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 areaclosedto fishing by particular gear types, bounded by lines specifically defined by latitude 

and longitude coordinates set out at §§ 660 71-660.7 4. This RCA is not defined by depthcontours (with the exception of the 20-fm 

depth contour boundary south of 4i N. lat.), andthe 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. 

21 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/ "Otherfiatfish" are defined at§ 660.11 and include butter sole, curlfin sole, flathead sole, Pacific sanddab, rex sole, rocks ole, and sand sole. 

41 For black rockfish north of Cape Alava (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, whichever is greater, per vessel, per fishing trip. 

5/ The minimum size limit for lingcod is 22 inches (56 cm)totallength North of 42° N. lat. and 24 inches (61 em) total length South of 42° N. lat. 

6/ "Other fish" are defined at§ 660.11 and include kelp greenling, leopard shark, and cabezon in Washington. 

-I 

)> 

OJ 

rm 

-

z 

0 

.., 

-::r' 

-

n 

0 

:::s 

""": 

a. 

71 Beginning on January 1, 2016, the following trip limts are in effect for sablefish north of 36, N. lat. 300 lb/ day, or 1 landing per week of up to 1,000 lb, not to exceed 2,000 lb/ 2 

months. 

To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.20462, the number of pounds in one kilogram. 
12600 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.018</GPH>

iillble 3J~()uth} t() f'art 1)60, Sui!Jlarl .. F -~ .~<lii~IrliYIH~IlCkfisll <:.onse.rvati()n. J\r.l!liS .llnd.T.r,iJlJinlit~; for()p~nJI.<:I:lls,s.C?I!li!S.~outh. ()f 4()~1()'.~.-.lllt, .. 1 ' 'Other limits and requirements apply Read §§660 10 through 660 399 before using this table 1 i ' I ' ' 3/1/15 I -- I 

JAN-FEB I M'\R-APR I 1\MY-JUN I JUL-AUG I SEP-OCT I NOV-DEC 

Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA)11: i I i i i I i I : i i ··:;--l.W"ia·-N:I~t.~34'27~N.·~~~-·· ···· 301m line11 -150fm line" "--"·~--~ 

2 !south of 34°27' N. lat. 60 fm line"- 150 fm line11 (also applies around islands) 

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, CCAs, Farallon Islands, Cordell Banks, and EFHCAs). 

State trip limits and seasons may be more restrictiw than Federal trip limits or seasons, particularly in waters off Oregon and California. 

3 !Minor Slope Rockfish21 & 10,000 lb/2 months, of which no more than 4751b may be blackgill rockfish I Darkblotched rockfish ..... .. ~4-·ISplitnose rockfish 200 lb/ month 

~·5··· lSablefish61 :r> !---····-··, 

6 m l 40.10' N. lat.- 36'oo· N. lat. 300 lb/ day, or 1 landing per week of up to 900 lb, not to exceed 1 ,800 lb/2 months j -~~~~-~"0-~-~· ··-·--·-~-- r 7 I South of 36.00' N. lat. 300 lb/ day, or 1 landing per week of up to 1 ,600 lb, not to exceed 3,200 lb/2 months m 8 ! Shortpine thornyheads and 

i longspine thornyheads 

9. 40.10' N. lat.- 34'27' N. lat. CLOSED w 10 South of 34'27' N. lat. 50 lb/ day, no more than 1 ,000 lb/2 months r-·:'7-· 

~-=~~= 3,000 lb/ month, no more than 300 lb of which may be species other than Pacific sanddabs. 

Dover sole, arrowtooth flounder, ............. -(/) 

t~~~t:: petrale sole, English sole, starry South of 42° N. lat., when fishing for "other flatfish," vessels using hook-and-line gear wtth no more than 12 hooks per 0 flounder, Other Flatfish31 line, using hooks no larger than "Number 2" hooks, which measure 0.44 in (11 mm) point to shank, and up to two 1 lb 

t=jt=~ (0.45 kg) weights per line are not subject to the RCAs. c:::: 

17 !Whiting 

jMinor Shelf Rockfish21, Shortbelly, 

300 lb/ month 

-:::r 18 

----·-···- 19 

I Widow rockfish and Chilipepper - ! 40'10' N. lat.- 34'27' N. lat. 300 lb/2 months I I 200 lb/ 2 months I 300 lb/ 2 months 

i South of 34'27' N. lat. 1500 lb/ 2 months I CLOSED I 20 1500 lb/ 2 months 

------ 21 --·------ Canary rockfish CLOSED 

22 iYelloweye rockfish CLOSED -~·-·· 

23 !Cowcod CLOSED .. ··24 ..... ! Bronzespotted rockfish CLOSED 

'''25'' 1Bocaccio ~·--"""~· I 40.10' N. lat.- 34'27' N. lat. 200 lb/2 months I 26 I 1 00 I lbl 2 months 200 lb/ 2 months 

South of 34'27• N. lat. 250 lb/2 months I CLOSED 27 I 250 lb/2 months 
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12601 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–C 

■ 19. In § 660.360, revise paragraphs 

(c)(1)(i)(D)(1) through (3), (c)(1)(iii)(B), 

(c)(1)(iv)(A) and (B), (c)(2)(iii)(A), (D), 

and (E), (c)(3)(i)(A)(2) through (5), 

(c)(3)(ii)(A)(2) through (4), (c)(3)(ii)(B), 

(c)(3)(iii)(A)(2) through (4), (c)(3)(iii)(B), 

and (c)(3)(v)(A)(1) through (4) to read as 

follows: 

§ 660.360 Recreational fishery— 

management measures. 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(1) * * * 

(i) * * * 

(D) * * * 

(1) West of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line 

between the U.S. border with Canada 

and the Queets River (Washington state 

Marine Area 3 and 4), recreational 

fishing for groundfish is prohibited 

seaward of a boundary line 

approximating the 20 fm (37 m) depth 

contour from May 9 through Labor Day, 

except on days when the Pacific halibut 

fishery is open in this area it is lawful 

to retain, lingcod, Pacific cod and 

sablefish seaward of the 20 fm (37 m) 

boundary. Days open to Pacific halibut 

recreational fishing off Washington are 

announced on the NMFS hotline at 

(206) 526–6667 or (800) 662–9825. 

Coordinates for the boundary line 

approximating the 20 fm (37 m) depth 

contour are listed in § 660.71, subpart C. 

(2) Between the Queets River 

(47°31.70′ N. lat.) and Leadbetter Point 

(46°38.17′ N. lat.) (Washington state 

Marine Area 2), recreational fishing for 

groundfish, is prohibited seaward of a 

boundary line approximating the 30 fm 

(55 m) depth contour from March 15 

through June 15 with the following 

exceptions: Recreational fishing for 

lingcod is permitted within the RCA on 

days that the primary halibut fishery is 

open; recreational fishing for rockfish is 

permitted within the RCA from March 

15 through June 15; recreational fishing 

for sablefish and Pacific cod is 

permitted within the recreational RCA 

from May 1 through June 15. In addition 

to the RCA described above, between 

the Queets River (47°31.70′ N. lat.) and 

Leadbetter Point (46°38.17′ N. lat.) 

(Washington state Marine Area 2), 

recreational fishing for lingcod is 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULESER10MR15.019</GPH>
12602 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

prohibited year round seaward of a 

straight line connecting all of the 

following points in the order stated: 

47°31.70′ N. lat., 124°45.00′ W. long.; 

46°38.17′ N. lat., 124°30.00′ W. long. 

with the following exceptions: On days 

that the primary halibut fishery is open 

lingcod may be taken, retained and 

possessed within the lingcod area 

closure. Days open to Pacific halibut 

recreational fishing off Washington are 

announced on the NMFS hotline at 

(206) 526–6667 or (800) 662–9825. For 

additional regulations regarding the 

Washington recreational lingcod fishery, 

see paragraph (c)(1)(iv) of this section. 

Coordinates for the boundary line 

approximating the 30 fm (55 m) depth 

contour are listed in § 660.71. 

(3) Between Leadbetter Point 

(46°38.17′ N. lat.) and the Columbia 

River (Marine Area 1), when Pacific 

halibut are onboard the vessel, no 

groundfish may be taken and retained, 

possessed or landed, except sablefish 

and Pacific cod from May 1 through 

September 30. Except that taking, 

retaining, possessing or landing 

incidental halibut with groundfish on 

board is allowed in the nearshore area 

on days not open to all-depth Pacific 

halibut fisheries in the area shoreward 

of the boundary line approximating the 

30 fathom (55 m) depth contour 

extending from Leadbetter Point, WA 

(46°38.17′ N. lat., 124°15.88′ W. long.) to 

the Columbia River (46°16.00′ N. lat., 

124°15.88′ W. long.) and from there, 

connecting to the boundary line 

approximating the 40 fathom (73 m) 

depth contour in Oregon. Nearshore 

season days are established in the 

annual management measures for 

Pacific halibut fisheries, which are 

published in the Federal Register and 

are announced on the NMFS halibut 

hotline, 1–800–662–9825. Between 

Leadbetter Point (46°38.17′ N. lat.) and 

46°28.00′ N. lat., recreational fishing for 

lingcod is prohibited year round 

seaward of a straight line connecting all 

of the following points in the order 

stated: 46°38.17′ N. lat., 124°21.00′ W. 

long.; and 46°28.00′ N. lat., 124°21.00′ 

W. long. 

* * * * * 

(iii) * * * 

(B) Between 48°10′ N. lat. (Cape 

Alava) and 46°16′ N. lat. (Columbia 

River) (Washington Marine Areas 1–3), 

there is a 2 cabezon per day bag limit. 

(iv) * * * 

(A) Between the U.S./Canada border 

and 48°10′ N. lat. (Cape Alava) 

(Washington Marine Area 4), 

recreational fishing for lingcod is open, 

for 2015, from April 16 through October 

15, and for 2016, from April 16 through 

October 15. Lingcod may be no smaller 

than 22 inches (61 cm) total length. 

(B) Between 48°10′ N. lat. (Cape 

Alava) and 46°16′ N. lat. (Columbia 

River) (Washington Marine Areas 1–3), 

recreational fishing for lingcod is open 

for 2015, from March 14 through 

October 17, and for 2016, from March 12 

through October 15. Lingcod may be no 

smaller than 22 inches (56 cm) total 

length. 

* * * * * 

(2) * * * 

(iii) * * * 

(A) Marine fish. The bag limit is 10 

marine fish per day, which includes 

rockfish, kelp greenling, cabezon and 

other groundfish species. There is a 1 

fish sub-bag limit per day for canary 

rockfish (of the total marine bag limit, 

no more than 1 fish may be canary) from 

January 1 through December 31. 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. The minimum size 

for kelp greenling retained in the 

Oregon recreational fishery is 10 in (25 

cm). 

* * * * * 

(D) In the Pacific halibut fisheries. 

Retention of groundfish is governed in 

part by annual management measures 

for Pacific halibut fisheries, which are 

published in the Federal Register. 

Between the Columbia River and 

Humbug Mountain, during days open to 

the ‘‘all-depth’’ sport halibut fisheries, 

when Pacific halibut are onboard the 

vessel, no groundfish may be taken and 

retained, possessed or landed, except 

sablefish and Pacific cod. ‘‘All-depth’’ 

season days are established in the 

annual management measures for 

Pacific halibut fisheries, which are 

published in the Federal Register and 

are announced on the NMFS Pacific 

halibut hotline, 1–800–662–9825. 

(E) Taking and retaining yelloweye 

rockfish is prohibited at all times and in 

all areas. 

* * * * * 

(3) * * * 

(i) * * * 

(A) * * * 

(2) Between 40°10′ N. lat. and 

38°57.50′ N. lat. (Mendocino 

Management Area), recreational fishing 

for all groundfish (except ‘‘other 

flatfish’’ as specified in paragraph 

(c)(3)(iv) of this section) is prohibited 

seaward of the 20 fm (37 m) depth 

contour along the mainland coast and 

along islands and offshore seamounts 

from May 15 through October 31 

(shoreward of 20 fm is open), and is 

closed entirely from January 1 through 

May 14 and from November 1 through 

December 31. 

(3) Between 38°57.50′ N. lat. and 

37°11′ N. lat. (San Francisco 

Management Area), recreational fishing 

for all groundfish (except ‘‘other 

flatfish’’ as specified in paragraph 

(c)(3)(iv) of this section) is prohibited 

seaward of the boundary line 

approximating the 30 fm (55 m) depth 

contour along the mainland coast and 

along islands and offshore seamounts 

from April 15 through December 31; and 

is closed entirely from January 1 

through April 14. Closures around 

Cordell Banks (see paragraph (c)(3)(i)(C) 

of this section) also apply in this area. 

Coordinates for the boundary line 

approximating the 30 fm (55 m) depth 

contour are listed in § 660.71. 

(4) Between 37°11′ N. lat. and 34°27′ 

N. lat. (Central Management Area), 

recreational fishing for all groundfish 

(except ‘‘other flatfish’’ as specified in 

paragraph (c)(3)(iv) of this section) is 

prohibited seaward of a boundary line 

approximating the 40 fm (73 m) depth 

contour along the mainland coast and 

along islands and offshore seamounts 

from April 1 through December 31; and 

is closed entirely from January 1 

through March 31 (i.e. prohibited 

seaward of the shoreline). Coordinates 

for the boundary line approximating the 

40 fm (73 m) depth contour are 

specified in § 660.71. 

(5) South of 34°27′ N. lat. (Southern 

Management Area), recreational fishing 

for all groundfish (except California 

scorpionfish as specified below in this 

paragraph and in paragraph (c)(3)(v) of 

this section and ‘‘other flatfish’’ as 

specified in paragraph (c)(3)(iv) of this 

section) is prohibited seaward of a 

boundary line approximating the 60 fm 

(109.7 m) depth contour from March 1 

through December 31 along the 

mainland coast and along islands and 

offshore seamounts, except in the CCAs 

where fishing is prohibited seaward of 

the 20 fm (37 m) depth contour when 

the fishing season is open (see 

paragraph (c)(3)(i)(B) of this section). 

Recreational fishing for all groundfish 

(except California scorpionfish and 

‘‘other flatfish’’) is closed entirely from 

January 1 through February 28 (i.e., 

prohibited seaward of the shoreline). 

Recreational fishing for California 

scorpionfish south of 34°27′ N. lat. is 

prohibited seaward of a boundary line 

approximating the 60 fm (109.7 m) 

depth contour from January 1 through 

December 31, except in the CCAs where 

fishing is prohibited seaward of the 20 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 46 / Tuesday, March 10, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 12603 

fm (37 m) depth contour when the 

fishing season is open. 

* * * * * 

(ii) * * * 

(A) * * * 

(2) Between 40°10′ N. lat. and 

38°57.50′ N. lat. (Mendocino 

Management Area), recreational fishing 

for the RCG Complex is open from May 

15 through October 31 (i.e., it’s closed 

from January 1 through May 14 and 

November 1 through December 31). 

(3) Between 38°57.50′ N. lat. and 

37°11′ N. lat. (San Francisco 

Management Area), recreational fishing 

for the RCG complex is open from April 

15 through December 31 (i.e. it’s closed 

from January 1 through April 14). 

(4) Between 37°11′ N. lat. and 34°27′ 

N. lat. (Central Management Area), 

recreational fishing for the RCG 

complex is open from April 1 through 

December 31 (i.e. it’s closed from 

January 1 through March 31). 

* * * * * 

(B) Bag limits, hook limits. In times 

and areas when the recreational season 

for the RCG Complex is open, there is 

a limit of 2 hooks and 1 line when 

fishing for the RCG complex and 

lingcod. The bag limit is 10 RCG 

Complex fish per day coastwide. 

Retention of canary rockfish, yelloweye 

rockfish, bronzespotted rockfish and 

cowcod is prohibited. Within the 10 

RCG Complex fish per day limit, no 

more than 5 may be black rockfish, no 

more than 3 may be bocaccio, and no 

more than 3 may be cabezon. Multi-day 

limits are authorized by a valid permit 

issued by California and must not 

exceed the daily limit multiplied by the 

number of days in the fishing trip. 

* * * * * 

(iii) * * * 

(A) * * * 

(2) Between 40°10′ N. lat. and 

38°57.50′ N. lat. (Mendocino 

Management Area), recreational fishing 

for lingcod is open from May 15 through 

October 31 (i.e., it’s closed from January 

1 through May 14 and November 1 

through December 31). 

(3) Between 38°57.50′ N. lat. and 

37°11′ N. lat. (San Francisco 

Management Area), recreational fishing 

for lingcod is open from April 15 

through December 31 (i.e. it’s closed 

from January 1 through April 14). 

(4) Between 37°11′ N. lat. and 34°27′ 

N. lat. (Central Management Area), 

recreational fishing for lingcod is open 

from April 1 through December 31 (i.e. 

it’s closed from January 1 through 

March 31). 

* * * * * 

(B) Bag limits, hook limits. In times 

and areas when the recreational season 

for lingcod is open, there is a limit of 

2 hooks and 1 line when fishing for 

lingcod. The bag limit is 3 lingcod per 

day. Multi-day limits are authorized by 

a valid permit issued by California and 

must not exceed the daily limit 

multiplied by the number of days in the 

fishing trip. 

* * * * * 

(v) * * * 

(A) * * * 

(1) Between 40°10′ N. lat. and 

38°57.50′ N. lat. (Mendocino 

Management Area), recreational fishing 

for California scorpionfish is open from 

May 15 through August 31 (i.e., it’s 

closed from January 1 through May 14 

and from September 1 through 

December 31). 

(2) Between 38°57.50′ N. lat. and 

37°11′ N. lat. (San Francisco 

Management Area), recreational fishing 

for California scorpionfish is open from 

April 15 through August 31 (i.e., it’s 

closed from January 1 through April 14 

and September 1 through December 31). 

(3) Between 37°11′ N. lat. and 34°27′ 

N. lat. (Central Management Area), 

recreational fishing for California 

scorpionfish is open from April 1 

through August 31 (i.e., it’s closed from 

January 1 through March 31 and 

September 1 through December 31). 

(4) South of 34°27′ N. lat. (Southern 

Management Area), recreational fishing 

for California scorpionfish is open from 

January 1 through December 31. 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2015–05395 Filed 3–9–15; 08:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES