[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 206 (Friday, October 24, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60865-60884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26927]



[[Page 60865]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 021209300-3048-02; I.D. 100303B]


Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Annual Specifications and Management 
Measures; Trip Limit Adjustments; Corrections

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

ACTION: Inseason adjustments to trip limits and rockfish conservation 
areas; corrections; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces changes to trip limits and trawl rockfish 
conservation areas (RCAs) for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. 
Trip limit adjustments include changes to the limited entry trawl Dover 
sole, thornyhead, and sablefish (DTS) limits coastwide; limits for 
limited entry midwater trawl widow rockfish coastwide and yellowtail 
rockfish north of 40[deg]10 N. lat.; and the limited entry fixed gear 
and open access sablefish limits north of 36[deg] N. lat. This inseason 
action also implements coordinates for the previously scheduled 
western, seaward boundary line for the trawl RCA which approximates the 
200-fm depth contour as modified to accommodate petrale sole fishing 
grounds during November and December. For the trawl ``A'' platoon, trip 
limit adjustments and RCAs will be effective November 1, 2003. Inseason 
adjustments to trip limits and RCAs for the trawl ``B'' platoon will be 
effective November 16, 2003. These actions, which are authorized by the 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), will allow 
fisheries access to more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting 
overfished and depleted stocks. This action also contains a correction 
to the trip limits for the limited entry midwater trawl fishery for 
widow rockfish and whiting.

DATES: Changes to management measures are effective 0001 hours (local 
time) October 24, 2003, until the 2004 annual specifications and 
management measures are effective, unless modified, superseded, or 
rescinded through a publication in the Federal Register. Comments on 
this rule will be accepted through November 24, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to D. Robert Lohn, Administrator, Northwest 
Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or Rod 
McInnis, Acting Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean 
Blvd, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie Goen or Carrie Nordeen 
(Northwest Region, NMFS), phone: 206-526-6140; fax: 206-526-6736; and 
e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    This Federal Register document is available on the Government 
Printing Office's website at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/ca/docs/aces/aces140.html. Background information and documents are 
available at the NMFS Northwest Region website at: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/1sustfsh/gdfsh01.htm and at the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org.

Background

    The Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP and its implementing regulations 
at 50 CFR part 660, subpart G, regulate fishing for over 80 species of 
groundfish off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. Annual 
groundfish specifications and management measures are initially 
developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council), 
and are implemented by NMFS. The specifications and management measures 
for the 2003 fishing year (January 1 - December 31, 2003) were 
initially published in the Federal Register as an emergency rule for 
January 1 - February 28, 2003 (68 FR 908, January 7, 2003) and as a 
proposed rule for March 1 - December 31, 2003 (68 FR 936, January 7, 
2003). The emergency rule was amended at 68 FR 4719, January 30, 2003, 
and the final rule for March 1 - December 31, 2003 was published in the 
Federal Register on March 7, 2003 (68 FR 11182). The final rule has 
been subsequently amended at 68 FR 18166 (April 15, 2003), at 68 FR 
23901 (May 6, 2003), at 68 FR 23924 (May 6, 2003), at 68 FR 32680 (June 
2, 2003), at 68 FR 35575 (June 16, 2003), at 68 FR 40187 (July 7, 
2003), at 68 FR 42643 (July 18, 2003), at 68 FR 43473 (July 23, 2003), 
and at 68 FR 52703 (September 5, 2003).
    The following changes to current groundfish management measures 
were recommended by the Pacific Council, in consultation with Pacific 
Coast Treaty Tribes and the States of Washington, Oregon, and 
California, at its September 8-12, 2003, meeting in Seattle, WA. 
Pacific Coast groundfish landings will be monitored throughout the 
year, and further adjustments will be made as necessary to allow 
achievement of or avoid exceeding the 2003 optimum yields (OYs) and 
allocations.

Limited Entry Trawl Limits for the DTS (Dover Sole, Thornyhead, 
Sablefish) Fishery Coastwide

    In an effort to provide for fishing opportunity along the coast 
while keeping groundfish species within their respective 2003 OYs, the 
Pacific Council recommended trip limit adjustments for the DTS fishery 
for the November and December fishing period. Limited entry landed 
catch data through August 15, 2003, in the Pacific Fisheries 
Information Network (PacFIN) database, indicate that shortspine 
thornyhead catch was at 68 percent of the annual target (514 mt landed 
out of a 751 mt landed catch OY). Based on the reported landed catch 
through August 2003 and anticipated landed catch for the remainder of 
2003 (Exhibit C.2.b, Supplemental NMFS Report, from the September 2003 
Pacific Council meeting), approximately another 41 percent of the 
shortspine thornyhead catch (308 mt projected landings out of a 751-mt 
landed catch OY) is forecast to be taken over the remainder of the 
year. If landed catch continues as projected, shortspine thornyhead 
landings could be at 822 mt out of a 751-mt landed catch OY, exceeding 
the 2003 OY by 71 mt. For the other three species in the DTS complex, 
Dover sole, longspine thornyhead and sablefish, reported landed catch 
through August 2003 and anticipated landed catch for the remainder of 
2003 (Exhibit C.2.b, Supplemental NMFS Report, from the September 2003 
Pacific Council meeting) are under the OYs set for those species in 
2003. Thus, shortspine thornyhead is the constraining species in the 
DTS complex at this time. Since the four species in the DTS complex are 
caught together, trip limits for all DTS complex species are being 
reduced during November and December to slow the catch of shortspine 
thornyhead in 2003. Trip limits north of 40[deg]10' N. lat. are larger 
for vessels using large footrope gear than for vessels using small 
footrope gear because large footrope gear is only permitted offshore of 
the RCAs, where DTS complex species are less likely to co-occur with 
overfished groundfish species.
    Therefore, the limited entry trawl Dover sole limit north of 
40[deg]10' N. lat. is decreased from the previously scheduled limit of 
34,000 lb (15,422 kg)

[[Page 60866]]

per 2 months to 30,000 lb (13,608 kg) per 2 months, providing that only 
large footrope or midwater trawl gear is used to land any groundfish 
species during the entire limit period. The limited entry small 
footrope trawl Dover sole limit, (i.e., if small footrope gear is used 
at any time in any area (north or south, seaward or shoreward of the 
RCA) during the entire limit period) is decreased from the previously 
scheduled limit of 12,500 lb (5,670 kg) per 2 months to 11,000 lb 
(4,990 kg) per 2 months. South of 40[deg]10' N. lat., the limited entry 
trawl Dover sole limit is decreased from the previously scheduled limit 
of 34,000 lb (15,422 kg) per 2 months to 30,000 lb (13,608 kg) per 2 
months. The limited entry trawl shortspine thornyhead limit north of 
40[deg]10' N. lat. is decreased from the previously scheduled limit of 
2,400 lb (1,089 kg) per 2 months to 900 lb (408 kg) per 2 months, 
providing that only large footrope or midwater trawl gear is used to 
land any groundfish species during the entire limit period. The limited 
entry small footrope trawl shortspine thornyhead limit, (i.e., if small 
footrope gear is used at any time in any area (north of south, seaward 
or shoreward of the RCA) during the entire limit period) is decreased 
from the previously scheduled limit of 1,000 lb (454 kg) per 2 months 
to 300 lb (136 kg) per 2 months. South of 40[deg]10' N. lat., the 
limited entry trawl shortspine thornyhead limit is decreased from the 
previously scheduled limit 2,400 lb (1,089 kg) per 2 months to 900 lb 
(408 kg) per 2 months.
    In response to reduced trip limits for shortspine thornyhead and 
the need to maintain the catch ratio of 5 lb (2.27 kg) longspine 
thornyhead to 1 lb (0.45 kg) shortspine thornyhead, the Pacific Council 
also recommended an adjustment in longspine thornyhead trip limits. 
Therefore, the limited entry trawl longspine thornyhead limit north of 
40[deg]10' N. lat. is decreased from the previously scheduled limit of 
11,500 lb (5,216 kg) per 2 months to 4,500 lb (2,041 kg) per 2 months, 
providing that only large footrope or midwater trawl gear is used to 
land any groundfish species during the entire limit period. The limited 
entry small footrope trawl longspine thornyhead limit, (i.e., if small 
footrope gear is used at any time in any area (north of south, seaward 
or shoreward of the RCA) during the entire limit period) is decreased 
from the previously scheduled 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) per 2 months to 2,000 
lb (907 kg) per 2 months. South of 40[deg]10' N. lat., the limited 
entry trawl longspine thornyhead limit is decreased from the previously 
scheduled limit of 11,500 lb (5,216 kg) per 2 months to 4,500 lb (2,041 
kg) per 2 months. The limited entry trawl sablefish limit north of 
40[deg]10' N. lat. is decreased from the previously scheduled limit of 
9,000 lb (4,082 kg) per 2 months to 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) per 2 months, 
providing that only large footrope or midwater trawl gear is used to 
land any groundfish species during the entire limit period. The limited 
entry small footrope trawl sablefish limit, (i.e., if small footrope 
gear is used at any time in any area (north or south, seaward or 
shoreward of the RCA) during the entire limit period) is decreased from 
the previously scheduled limit of 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) per 2 months to 
2,300 lb (1,043 kg) per 2 months. South of 40[deg]10' N. lat., the 
limited entry trawl sablefish limit is decreased from the previously 
scheduled limit of 9,000 lb (4,082 kg) per 2 months to 7,000 lb (3,175 
kg) per 2 months.

Limited Entry Midwater Trawl Widow Rockfish Coastwide and Yellowtail 
Rockfish North of 40[deg]10' N. Lat.

    Retention of widow rockfish coastwide and yellowtail rockfish north 
of 40[deg]10' N. lat. in the limited entry midwater trawl fisheries is 
being prohibited during November and December to reduce the potential 
for incidental catch of canary rockfish. Limited entry landed catch 
data through August 15, 2003, in PacFIN, indicate that the catch of 
canary rockfish was at 29 percent of the annual target (4 mt landed out 
of a 14 mt landed catch OY). However, total mortality of canary 
rockfish in all commercial, recreational, and experimental fisheries, 
including the trip limit adjustments in this inseason action, is 
estimated to be 43.5 mt out of a 44-mt total catch OY by the end of the 
year. Because canary rockfish co-occur with yellowtail and widow 
rockfish, opportunities for directed midwater widow and yellowtail 
rockfish fisheries are being eliminated to keep the total estimated 
mortality of canary rockfish within its total catch OY for 2003.
    Therefore, limited entry midwater trawl fisheries for widow 
rockfish coastwide are being reduced during November and December from 
the previously scheduled 12,000 lb (5,443 kg) per 2 months to no 
retention (i.e., closed). Limited entry midwater trawl fisheries for 
yellowtail rockfish north of 40[deg]10' N. lat. are being reduced 
during November and December from the previously scheduled 18,000 lb 
(8,165 kg) per 2 months to no retention (i.e., closed).

Limited Entry Fixed Gear and Open Access Sablefish Limits North of 
36[deg] N. Lat.

    Landed catch in the daily trip limit (DTL) fishery for sablefish 
north of 36[deg] N. lat. is tracking behind schedule (i.e., the fishery 
will not attain the OY for 2003 if cumulative limits remain as 
previously scheduled). Total fleet landed catch data through September 
12, 2003, in PacFIN, indicate that the non-trawl DTL sablefish fishery 
combined with the non-trawl primary sablefish fishery was at 66 percent 
of the annual target (1,667 mt landed out of a 2,518 mt landed catch 
OY). With an estimated 851 mt of the OY available for non-trawl 
sablefish fisheries and with the primary sablefish fishery ending on 
October 31, 2003, there is room for additional harvest opportunity in 
the DTL sablefish fishery. Thus, because sablefish catch in the DTL 
fishery is tracking behind schedule for the year and because the impact 
of this fishery on shortspine thornyhead is likely minimal, the DTL 
sablefish fishery north of 36[deg] N. lat. will be increased during 
November and December from the previously scheduled 300 lb (136 kg) per 
day or one landing per week of up to 800 lb (363 kg), not to exceed 
3,200 lb (1,452 kg) per 2 months to 300 lb (136 kg) per day or one 
landing per week of up to 900 lb (408 kg), not to exceed 3,600 lb 
(1,633 kg) per 2 months.

Limited Entry Fixed Gear and Open Access Minor Deeper Nearshore 
Rockfish Limits South of 40[deg]10' N. Lat.

    At their September 8-12, 2003 meeting, the Pacific Council 
recommended increasing limited entry fixed gear and open access trip 
limits for minor deeper nearshore rockfish as soon as practicable after 
the Pacific Council meeting. The Pacific Council recommended the 
increase because commercial landings of minor deeper nearshore rockfish 
south of 40[deg]10' N. lat. were lower than expected in 2003. Minor 
deeper nearshore rockfish are managed within an overall harvest 
guideline for minor nearshore rockfish. The minor nearshore rockfish 
harvest guideline is shared between the commercial and recreational 
sectors. In addition, the minor nearshore rockfish harvest guideline is 
included as a subset of the minor rockfish OY. There are two minor 
rockfish OYs, one for the area north of 40[deg]10' N. lat. and one for 
the area south of 40[deg]10' N. lat.
    Subsequent to the Pacific Council meeting, the Pacific Council's 
Groundfish Management Team (GMT) held a meeting in Seattle, WA, October 
14-16, 2003. The GMT discussed

[[Page 60867]]

information from the Recreational Fisheries Information Network 
(RecFIN) at that meeting, which showed landings of minor nearshore 
rockfish in the recreational fishery south of 40[deg]10' N. lat. during 
July and August, the first two months open to recreational groundfish 
fishing, have exceeded the projected recreational landings of minor 
nearshore rockfish for the remainder of the year. The GMT raised 
concerns over the accuracy of RecFIN's catch estimates since the 
estimates for July and August were substantially higher than in recent 
years. The GMT has requested that the RecFIN program review its 
estimates reported for the 2003 California recreational fishery.
    While landings in the commercial sector south of 40[deg]10' N. lat. 
continue to remain lower than expected in 2003 (landed catch data 
through October 10, 2003, indicate that minor deeper nearshore rockfish 
catch was at 44 percent of the annual target 21 mt landed out of a 48 
mt commercial total catch OY), combined recreational and commercial 
landings are still estimated to have exceeded the minor nearshore 
harvest guideline, even if RecFIN estimates are adjusted downward. The 
state of California intends to close recreational fishing for nearshore 
rockfish at the beginning of November.
    In light of this new information, NMFS is not approving the Pacific 
Council's September recommendation to increase minor deeper nearshore 
rockfish trip limits for the commercial sector (limited entry fixed 
gear and open access) south of 40[deg]10' N. lat. Because of the recent 
receipt of this information, NMFS does not have time to fully consider 
the information, determine what additional actions may be appropriate, 
and incorporate any additional actions into this Federal Register 
Notice. Attempting to incorporate additional actions into this notice 
would delay the other inseason adjustments contained in this action, 
which need to be implemented as soon as possible. However, NMFS will 
review the new information, and determine what additional action, if 
any, should be taken. Therefore, the limited entry fixed gear and open 
access minor deeper nearshore rockfish limit south of 40[deg]10' N. 
lat. remains as scheduled for the remainder of the September through 
October cumulative limit period at 300 lb (136 kg) per 2 months. During 
the months of November through December, the limited entry fixed gear 
and open access minor deeper nearshore rockfish limit south of 
40[deg]10' N. lat. also remains as previously scheduled at 200 lb (91 
kg) per 2 months, unless it is adjusted through a subsequent action.

Corrections

    The limited entry midwater trawl fishery for widow rockfish during 
the primary season north of 40[deg]10' N. lat., Table 3 (North), is 
corrected in this inseason action to allow retention of widow rockfish 
during September through October up to the limits previously specified 
in the table for May though August. This allowance for widow rockfish 
retention during the primary whiting season was intended to be for May 
through October, the same time frame as the yellowtail rockfish 
allowance during the primary whiting season. This inseason action 
corrects Table 3 (North) for the limited entry midwater trawl fishery 
for widow rockfish north of 40[deg]10' N. lat. May through October to 
read, ``During primary whiting season, in trips of at least 10,000 lb 
of whiting: combined widow and yellowtail limit of 500 lb/ trip, 
cumulative widow limit of 1,500 lb/ month.''
    Similarly, the primary season for whiting is corrected coastwide 
(Table 3 (North) and Table 3 (South)) to reflect that it may extend 
from May through October, the same time frame as the yellowtail 
rockfish allowance during the primary whiting season. The primary 
whiting season begins on different dates for different sectors of the 
fishery, but generally extends from approximately April through quota 
attainment. Currently the mothership and catcher/processor sectors 
remain open with quota available. Therefore, to more accurately reflect 
the open season for the primary whiting season, this inseason action 
corrects Table 3 (North) and Table 3 (South) for whiting during May 
through October to read, ``Primary Season (only mid-water trawl 
permitted within the RCA).''

NMFS Actions

    For the reasons stated herein, NMFS concurs with all of the Pacific 
Council's recommendations, except the recommendation to increase minor 
deeper nearshore limits south of 40[deg]10' N. lat., implemented herein 
and hereby announces the following changes to the 2003 specifications 
and management measures (68 FR 11182, March 7, 2003, as amended at 68 
FR 18166, April 15, 2003, at 68 FR 23901, May 6, 2003, at 68 FR 23925, 
May 6, 2003, at 68 FR 32680, June 2, 2003, at 68 FR 35575, June 16, 
2003), at 68 FR 40187, July 7, 2003, at 68 FR 42643, July 18, 2003, at 
68 FR 43473, July 23, 2003, and at 68 FR 52703, September 5, 2003, to 
read as follows:
    1. In section IV., under A. General Definitions and Provisions, 
paragraph (19)(e), section (xviii) is added to read as follows:
* * * * *
    (xviii) The 200-fm (366-m) depth contour used between the U.S. 
border with Canada and the U.S. border with Mexico as a western 
boundary for the trawl RCA, modified to allow fishing for petrale in 
the winter months of January, February, November, and December, is 
defined by straight lines connecting all of the following points in the 
order stated:
    (1) 48[deg]14.75' N. lat., 125[deg]41.73' W. long.;
    (2) 48[deg]12.85' N. lat., 125[deg]38.06' W. long.;
    (3) 48[deg]11.52' N. lat., 125[deg]39.45' W. long.;
    (4) 48[deg]10.14' N. lat., 125[deg]42.81' W. long.;
    (5) 48[deg]08.96' N. lat., 125[deg]42.08' W. long.;
    (6) 48[deg]08.33' N. lat., 125[deg]44.91' W. long.;
    (7) 48[deg]07.19' N. lat., 125[deg]45.87' W. long.;
    (8) 48[deg]05.66' N. lat., 125[deg]44.79' W. long.;
    (9) 48[deg]05.91' N. lat., 125[deg]42.16' W. long.;
    (10) 48[deg]04.11' N. lat., 125[deg]40.17' W. long.;
    (11) 48[deg]04.07' N. lat., 125[deg]36.96' W. long.;
    (12) 48[deg]03.05' N. lat., 125[deg]36.38' W. long.;
    (13) 48[deg]01.98' N. lat., 125[deg]37.41' W. long.;
    (14) 48[deg]01.46' N. lat., 125[deg]39.61' W. long.;
    (15) 47[deg]57.00' N. lat., 125[deg]37.00' W. long.;
    (16) 47[deg]55.50' N. lat., 125[deg]28.50' W. long.;
    (17) 47[deg]57.88' N. lat., 125[deg]25.61' W. long.;
    (18) 48[deg]01.63' N. lat., 125[deg]23.75' W. long.;
    (19) 48[deg]02.21' N. lat., 125[deg]22.43' W. long.;
    (20) 48[deg]03.60' N. lat., 125[deg]21.84' W. long.;
    (21) 48[deg]03.98' N. lat., 125[deg]20.65' W. long.;
    (22) 48[deg]03.26' N. lat., 125[deg]19.76' W. long.;
    (23) 48[deg]01.49' N. lat., 125[deg]18.80' W. long.;
    (24) 48[deg]01.03' N. lat., 125[deg]20.12' W. long.;
    (25) 48[deg]00.04' N. lat., 125[deg]20.26' W. long.;
    (26) 47[deg]58.10' N. lat., 125[deg]18.91' W. long.;
    (27) 47[deg]58.17' N. lat., 125[deg]17.50' W. long.;
    (28) 47[deg]52.28' N. lat., 125[deg]16.06' W. long.;

[[Page 60868]]

    (29) 47[deg]51.92' N. lat., 125[deg]13.89' W. long.;
    (30) 47[deg]49.20' N. lat., 125[deg]10.67' W. long.;
    (31) 47[deg]48.69' N. lat., 125[deg]06.50' W. long.;
    (32) 47[deg]46.54' N. lat., 125[deg]07.68' W. long.;
    (33) 47[deg]47.24' N. lat., 125[deg]05.38' W. long.;
    (34) 47[deg]45.95' N. lat., 125[deg]04.61' W. long.;
    (35) 47[deg]44.58' N. lat., 125[deg]07.12' W. long.;
    (36) 47[deg]42.24' N. lat., 125[deg]05.15' W. long.;
    (37) 47[deg]38.54' N. lat., 125[deg]06.76' W. long.;
    (38) 47[deg]34.86' N. lat., 125[deg]04.67' W. long.;
    (39) 47[deg]30.75' N. lat., 124[deg]57.52' W. long.;
    (40) 47[deg]28.51' N. lat., 124[deg]56.69' W. long.;
    (41) 47[deg]29.15' N. lat., 124[deg]54.10' W. long.;
    (42) 47[deg]28.43' N. lat., 124[deg]51.58' W. long.;
    (43) 47[deg]24.13' N. lat., 124[deg]47.51' W. long.;
    (44) 47[deg]18.31' N. lat., 124[deg]46.17' W. long.;
    (45) 47[deg]19.57' N. lat., 124[deg]51.01' W. long.;
    (46) 47[deg]18.12' N. lat., 124[deg]53.66' W. long.;
    (47) 47[deg]17.59' N. lat., 124[deg]52.94' W. long.;
    (48) 47[deg]17.71' N. lat., 124[deg]51.63' W. long.;
    (49) 47[deg]16.90' N. lat., 124[deg]51.23' W. long.;
    (50) 47[deg]16.10' N. lat., 124[deg]53.67' W. long.;
    (51) 47[deg]14.24' N. lat., 124[deg]53.02' W. long.;
    (52) 47[deg]12.16' N. lat., 124[deg]56.77' W. long.;
    (53) 47[deg]13.35' N. lat., 124[deg]58.70' W. long.;
    (54) 47[deg]09.53' N. lat., 124[deg]58.32' W. long.;
    (55) 47[deg]09.54' N. lat., 124[deg]59.50' W. long.;
    (56) 47[deg]05.87' N. lat., 124[deg]59.29' W. long.;
    (57) 47[deg]03.65' N. lat., 124[deg]56.26' W. long.;
    (58) 47[deg]00.91' N. lat., 124[deg]59.73' W. long.;
    (59) 46[deg]58.74' N. lat., 124[deg]59.40' W. long.;
    (60) 46[deg]58.55' N. lat., 125[deg]00.70' W. long.;
    (61) 46[deg]55.57' N. lat., 125[deg]01.61' W. long.;
    (62) 46[deg]55.77' N. lat., 124[deg]55.04' W. long.;
    (63) 46[deg]53.16' N. lat., 124[deg]53.69' W. long.;
    (64) 46[deg]52.39' N. lat., 124[deg]55.24' W. long.;
    (65) 46[deg]44.88' N. lat., 124[deg]51.97' W. long.;
    (66) 46[deg]33.28' N. lat., 124[deg]36.96' W. long.;
    (67) 46[deg]33.20' N. lat., 124[deg]30.64' W. long.;
    (68) 46[deg]27.85' N. lat., 124[deg]31.95' W. long.;
    (69) 46[deg]18.16' N. lat., 124[deg]39.39' W. long.;
    (70) 46[deg]16.48' N. lat., 124[deg]27.41' W. long.;
    (71) 46[deg]16.73' N. lat., 124[deg]23.20' W. long.;
    (72) 46[deg]14.13' N. lat., 124[deg]26.26' W. long.;
    (73) 46[deg]12.81' N. lat., 124[deg]33.73' W. long.;
    (74) 46[deg]12.86' N. lat., 124[deg]38.65' W. long.;
    (75) 46[deg]10.81' N. lat., 124[deg]39.54' W. long.;
    (76) 46[deg]09.78' N. lat., 124[deg]41.27' W. long.;
    (77) 46[deg]06.44' N. lat., 124[deg]41.08' W. long.;
    (78) 46[deg]03.79' N. lat., 124[deg]47.94' W. long.;
    (79) 46[deg]02.31' N. lat., 124[deg]48.59' W. long.;
    (80) 45[deg]59.01' N. lat., 124[deg]44.40' W. long.;
    (81) 45[deg]46.91' N. lat., 124[deg]43.57' W. long.;
    (82) 45[deg]44.05' N. lat., 124[deg]45.85' W. long.;
    (83) 45[deg]39.96' N. lat., 124[deg]40.10' W. long.;
    (84) 45[deg]38.27' N. lat., 124[deg]40.47' W. long.;
    (85) 45[deg]34.80' N. lat., 124[deg]32.25' W. long.;
    (86) 45[deg]13.00' N. lat., 124[deg]21.98' W. long.;
    (87) 45[deg]09.59' N. lat., 124[deg]23.33' W. long.;
    (88) 45[deg]11.35' N. lat., 124[deg]38.37' W. long.;
    (89) 45[deg]00.22' N. lat., 124[deg]29.24' W. long.;
    (90) 44[deg]55.28' N. lat., 124[deg]31.70' W. long.;
    (91) 44[deg]41.42' N. lat., 124[deg]49.13' W. long.;
    (92) 44[deg]21.46' N. lat., 124[deg]49.29' W. long.;
    (93) 44[deg]12.43' N. lat., 124[deg]56.56' W. long.;
    (94) 43[deg]58.92' N. lat., 124[deg]54.42' W. long.;
    (95) 43[deg]50.76' N. lat., 124[deg]52.75' W. long.;
    (96) 43[deg]47.22' N. lat., 124[deg]45.70' W. long.;
    (97) 43[deg]43.11' N. lat., 124[deg]39.85' W. long.;
    (98) 43[deg]20.19' N. lat., 124[deg]43.28' W. long.;
    (99) 43[deg]13.29' N. lat., 124[deg]47.09' W. long.;
    (100) 43[deg]13.17' N. lat., 124[deg]52.77' W. long.;
    (101) 43[deg]05.65' N. lat., 124[deg]52.96' W. long.;
    (102) 43[deg]00.03' N. lat., 124[deg]53.71' W. long.;
    (103) 42[deg]53.90' N. lat., 124[deg]54.49' W. long.;
    (104) 42[deg]49.50' N. lat., 124[deg]53.15' W. long.;
    (105) 42[deg]47.50' N. lat., 124[deg]50.28' W. long.;
    (106) 42[deg]46.21' N. lat., 124[deg]44.55' W. long.;
    (107) 42[deg]41.30' N. lat., 124[deg]44.38' W. long.;
    (108) 42[deg]38.83' N. lat., 124[deg]43.02' W. long.;
    (109) 42[deg]31.92' N. lat., 124[deg]46.17' W. long.;
    (110) 42[deg]32.11' N. lat., 124[deg]43.49' W. long.;
    (111) 42[deg]31.03' N. lat., 124[deg]43.75' W. long.;
    (112) 42[deg]28.42' N. lat., 124[deg]49.08' W. long.;
    (113) 42[deg]20.36' N. lat., 124[deg]42.43' W. long.;
    (114) 42[deg]15.35' N. lat., 124[deg]38.86' W. long.;
    (115) 42[deg]09.59' N. lat., 124[deg]38.13' W. long.;
    (116) 42[deg]04.56' N. lat., 124[deg]38.86' W. long.;
    (117) 42[deg]04.45' N. lat., 124[deg]36.72' W. long.;
    (118) 41[deg]59.98' N. lat., 124[deg]36.70' W. long.;
    (119) 41[deg]47.85' N. lat., 124[deg]30.41' W. long.;
    (120) 41[deg]43.34' N. lat., 124[deg]29.89' W. long.;
    (121) 41[deg]23.47' N. lat., 124[deg]30.29' W. long.;
    (122) 41[deg]21.30' N. lat., 124[deg]29.36' W. long.;
    (123) 41[deg]13.53' N. lat., 124[deg]24.41' W. long.;
    (124) 41[deg]06.72' N. lat., 124[deg]23.3' W. long.;
    (125) 40[deg]54.67' N. lat., 124[deg]28.13' W. long.;
    (126) 40[deg]49.02' N. lat., 124[deg]28.52' W. long.;
    (127) 40[deg]40.45' N. lat., 124[deg]32.74' W. long.;
    (128) 40[deg]37.11' N. lat., 124[deg]38.03' W. long.;
    (129) 40[deg]34.22' N. lat., 124[deg]41.13' W. long.;
    (130) 40[deg]32.90' N. lat., 124[deg]41.83' W. long.;
    (131) 40[deg]31.30' N. lat., 124[deg]40.97' W. long.;
    (132) 40[deg]29.63' N. lat., 124[deg]38.04' W. long.;
    (133) 40[deg]24.99' N. lat., 124[deg]36.37' W. long.;

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    (134) 40[deg]22.23' N. lat., 124[deg]31.78' W. long.;
    (135) 40[deg]16.95' N. lat., 124[deg]31.93' W. long.;
    (136) 40[deg]17.59' N. lat., 124[deg]45.23' W. long.;
    (137) 40[deg]13.25' N. lat., 124[deg]32.36' W. long.;
    (138) 40[deg]10.16' N. lat., 124[deg]24.57' W. long.;
    (139) 40[deg]6.43' N. lat., 124[deg]19.19' W. long.;
    (140) 40[deg]7.07' N. lat., 124[deg]17.75' W. long.;
    (141) 40[deg]5.53' N. lat., 124[deg]18.02' W. long.;
    (142) 40[deg]4.71' N. lat., 124[deg]18.10' W. long.;
    (143) 40[deg]2.35' N. lat., 124[deg]16.57' W. long.;
    (144) 40[deg]1.53' N. lat., 124[deg]9.82' W. long.;
    (145) 39[deg]58.28' N. lat., 124[deg]13.51' W. long.;
    (146) 39[deg]56.60' N. lat., 124[deg]12.02' W. long.;
    (147) 39[deg]55.20' N. lat., 124[deg]07.96' W. long.;
    (148) 39[deg]52.55' N. lat., 124[deg]09.40' W. long.;
    (149) 39[deg]42.68' N. lat., 124[deg]02.52' W. long.;
    (150) 39[deg]35.96' N. lat., 123[deg]59.49' W. long.;
    (151) 39[deg]34.62' N. lat., 123[deg]59.59' W. long.;
    (152) 39[deg]33.78' N. lat., 123[deg]56.82' W. long.;
    (153) 39[deg]33.02' N. lat., 123[deg]57.07' W. long.;
    (154) 39[deg]32.21' N. lat., 123[deg]59.13' W. long.;
    (155) 39[deg]7.85' N. lat., 123[deg]59.07' W. long.;
    (156) 39[deg]00.90' N. lat., 123[deg]57.88' W. long.;
    (157) 38[deg]59.95' N. lat., 123[deg]56.99' W. long.;
    (158) 38[deg]56.82' N. lat., 123[deg]57.74' W. long.;
    (159) 38[deg]56.40' N. lat., 123[deg]59.41' W. long.;
    (160) 38[deg]50.23' N. lat., 123[deg]55.48' W. long.;
    (161) 38[deg]46.77' N. lat., 123[deg]51.49' W. long.;
    (162) 38[deg]45.28' N. lat., 123[deg]51.56' W. long.;
    (163) 38[deg]42.76' N. lat., 123[deg]49.76' W. long.;
    (164) 38[deg]41.54' N. lat., 123[deg]47.76' W. long.;
    (165) 38[deg]40.98' N. lat., 123[deg]48.07' W. long.;
    (166) 38[deg]38.03' N. lat., 123[deg]45.78' W. long.;
    (167) 38[deg]37.20' N. lat., 123[deg]44.01' W. long.;
    (168) 38[deg]33.44' N. lat., 123[deg]41.75' W. long.;
    (169) 38[deg]29.45' N. lat., 123[deg]38.42' W. long.;
    (170) 38[deg]27.89' N. lat., 123[deg]38.38' W. long.;
    (171) 38[deg]23.68' N. lat., 123[deg]35.40' W. long.;
    (172) 38[deg]19.63' N. lat., 123[deg]33.98' W. long.;
    (173) 38[deg]16.23' N. lat., 123[deg]31.83' W. long.;
    (174) 38[deg]14.79' N. lat., 123[deg]29.91' W. long.;
    (175) 38[deg]14.12' N. lat., 123[deg]26.29' W. long.;
    (176) 38[deg]10.85' N. lat., 123[deg]25.77' W. long.;
    (177) 38[deg]13.15' N. lat., 123[deg]28.18' W. long.;
    (178) 38[deg]12.28' N. lat., 123[deg]29.81' W. long.;
    (179) 38[deg]10.19' N. lat., 123[deg]29.04' W. long.;
    (180) 38[deg]07.94' N. lat., 123[deg]28.45' W. long.;
    (181) 38[deg]06.51' N. lat., 123[deg]30.89' W. long.;
    (182) 38[deg]04.21' N. lat., 123[deg]31.96' W. long.;
    (183) 38[deg]02.07' N. lat., 123[deg]31.3' W. long.;
    (184) 38[deg]00.00' N. lat., 123[deg]29.55' W. long.;
    (185) 37[deg]58.13' N. lat., 123[deg]27.21' W. long.;
    (186) 37[deg]55.01' N. lat., 123[deg]27.46' W. long.;
    (187) 37[deg]51.40' N. lat., 123[deg]25.18' W. long.;
    (188) 37[deg]43.97' N. lat., 123[deg]11.49' W. long.;
    (189) 37[deg]36.00' N. lat., 123[deg]02.25' W. long.;
    (190) 37[deg]13.65' N. lat., 122[deg]54.18' W. long.;
    (191) 37[deg]00.66' N. lat., 122[deg]37.84' W. long.;
    (192) 36[deg]57.40' N. lat., 122[deg]28.25' W. long.;
    (193) 36[deg]59.25' N. lat., 122[deg]25.54' W. long.;
    (194) 36[deg]56.88' N. lat., 122[deg]25.42' W. long.;
    (195) 36[deg]57.40' N. lat., 122[deg]22.62' W. long.;
    (196) 36[deg]55.43' N. lat., 122[deg]22.43' W. long.;
    (197) 36[deg]52.29' N. lat., 122[deg]13.18' W. long.;
    (198) 36[deg]47.12' N. lat., 122[deg]07.56' W. long.;
    (199) 36[deg]47.10' N. lat., 122[deg]02.11' W. long.;
    (200) 36[deg]43.76' N. lat., 121[deg]59.11' W. long.;
    (201) 36[deg]38.85' N. lat., 122[deg]02.20' W. long.;
    (202) 36[deg]23.41' N. lat., 122[deg]00.11' W. long.;
    (203) 36[deg]19.68' N. lat., 122[deg]06.93' W. long.;
    (204) 36[deg]14.75' N. lat., 122[deg]01.51' W. long.;
    (205) 36[deg]09.74' N. lat., 121[deg]45.00' W. long.
    (206) 36[deg]06.67' N. lat., 121[deg]41.06' W. long.;
    (207) 35[deg]57.07' N. lat., 121[deg]34.32' W. long.;
    (208) 35[deg]52.31' N. lat., 121[deg]32.45' W. long.;
    (209) 35[deg]51.21' N. lat., 121[deg]30.91' W. long.;
    (210) 35[deg]46.32' N. lat., 121[deg]30.30' W. long.;
    (211) 35[deg]33.74' N. lat., 121[deg]20.10' W. long.;
    (212) 35[deg]31.37' N. lat., 121[deg]15.23' W. long.;
    (213) 35[deg]23.32' N. lat., 121[deg]11.44' W. long.;
    (214) 35[deg]15.28' N. lat., 121[deg]04.45' W. long.;
    (215) 35[deg]07.08' N. lat., 121[deg]00.3' W. long.;
    (216) 34[deg]57.46' N. lat., 120[deg]58.23' W. long.;
    (217) 34[deg]44.25' N. lat., 120[deg]58.29' W. long.;
    (218) 34[deg]32.30' N. lat., 120[deg]50.22' W. long.;
    (219) 34[deg]19.08' N. lat., 120[deg]31.21' W. long.;
    (220) 34[deg]17.72' N. lat., 120[deg]19.26' W. long.;
    (221) 34[deg]22.45' N. lat., 120[deg]12.81' W. long.;
    (222) 34[deg]21.36' N. lat., 119[deg]54.88' W. long.;
    (223) 34[deg]09.95' N. lat., 119[deg]46.18' W. long.;
    (224) 34[deg]09.08' N. lat., 119[deg]57.53' W. long.;
    (225) 34[deg]07.53' N. lat., 120[deg]06.35' W. long.;
    (226) 34[deg]10.54' N. lat., 120[deg]19.07' W. long.;
    (227) 34[deg]14.68' N. lat., 120[deg]29.48' W. long.;
    (228) 34[deg]09.51' N. lat., 120[deg]38.32' W. long.;
    (229) 34[deg]03.06' N. lat., 120[deg]35.54' W. long.;
    (230) 33[deg]56.39' N. lat., 120[deg]28.47' W. long.;
    (231) 33[deg]50.25' N. lat., 120[deg]09.43' W. long.;
    (232) 33[deg]37.96' N. lat., 120[deg]00.08' W. long.;
    (233) 33[deg]34.52' N. lat., 119[deg]51.84' W. long.;
    (234) 33[deg]35.51' N. lat., 119[deg]48.49' W. long.;
    (235) 33[deg]42.76' N. lat., 119[deg]47.77' W. long.;
    (236) 33[deg]53.62' N. lat., 119[deg]53.28' W. long.;
    (237) 33[deg]57.61' N. lat., 119[deg]31.26' W. long.;
    (238) 33[deg]56.34' N. lat., 119[deg]26.4' W. long.;

[[Page 60870]]

    (239) 33[deg]57.79' N. lat., 119[deg]26.85' W. long.;
    (240) 33[deg]58.88' N. lat., 119[deg]20.06' W. long.;
    (241) 34[deg]02.65' N. lat., 119[deg]15.11' W. long.;
    (242) 33[deg]59.02' N. lat., 119[deg]02.99' W. long.;
    (243) 33[deg]57.61' N. lat., 118[deg]42.07' W. long.;
    (244) 33[deg]50.76' N. lat., 118[deg]37.98' W. long.;
    (245) 33[deg]38.41' N. lat., 118[deg]17.03' W. long.;
    (246) 33[deg]37.14' N. lat., 118[deg]18.39' W. long.;
    (247) 33[deg]35.51' N. lat., 118[deg]18.03' W. long.;
    (248) 33[deg]30.68' N. lat., 118[deg]10.35' W. long.;
    (249) 33[deg]32.49' N. lat., 117[deg]51.85' W. long.;
    (250) 32[deg]58.87' N. lat., 117[deg]20.36' W. long.; and
    (251) 32[deg]35.53' N. lat., 117[deg]29.67' W. long.
* * * * *
    2. On pages 11218-11221, in section IV., under B. Limited Entry 
Fishery, Table 3 (North), Table 3 (South), Table 4 (North), and Table 4 
(South) are revised to read as follows:
* * * * *

BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

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* * * * *
    3. On pages 11224-11225, in section IV., under C. Trip Limits in 
the Open Access Fishery, Table 5 (North) and Table 5 (South) are 
revised to read as follows:
* * * * *
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* * * * *

Classification

    These actions are authorized by the Pacific Coast groundfish FMP 
and its implementing regulations, and are based on the most recent data 
available. The aggregate data upon which these actions are based are 
available for public inspection at the Office of the Administrator, 
Northwest Region, NMFS, (see ADDRESSES) during business hours.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NMFS, finds good 
cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity 
for public comment on this action pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), 
because providing prior notice and opportunity for comment would be 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The data upon which 
these recommendations were based was provided to the Pacific Council 
and the Pacific Council made its recommendations at its September 8-12, 
2003 meeting in Seattle, WA. There was not sufficient time after that 
meeting to draft this notice and undergo proposed and final rulemaking 
before these actions need to be in effect as explained below. For the 
actions to be implemented in this notice, prior notice and opportunity 
for comment would be impracticable because affording prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment would take too long, thus impeding the 
Agency's function of managing fisheries to approach without exceeding 
the OYs for federally managed species. For November through December, 
the trip limit adjustments in this document include both increases and 
decreases from previously scheduled trip limits, as well as 
implementation of a trawl RCA boundary line which approximates the 200-
fm depth contour as modified to incorporate petrale sole fishing 
grounds. Trip limit decreases must be implemented in a timely manner to 
protect overfished groundfish species, such as canary rockfish, and 
slow the harvest of other groundfish species, such as shortspine 
thornyhead, thereby, ensuring harvesting opportunities without 
exceeding the OY for those species throughout the remainder of the 
year. Additionally, trip limit increases are intended to allow harvest 
opportunity for fisheries targeting more abundant groundfish stocks 
with little or no impact on overfished stocks. Implementation of the 
coordinates for the trawl RCA boundary line which approximates the 200-
fm depth contour, as modified to allow access to the petrale sole 
fishing grounds during the winter months (November and December), is 
intended to allow fishermen access to fishing grounds in areas when and 
where petrale sole tend to aggregate. These are also the times and 
areas where flatfish trawl tows are less likely to intercept overfished 
groundfish species. Because the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery is 
managed by trip limits and area closures, most of which are based on a 
2 month cumulative period (January-February, March-April, May-June, 
July-August, September-October, November-December), these actions must 
be implemented by the beginning of the next cumulative trip limit 
period (November 1, 2003). Otherwise, for species for which the trip 
limits are being reduced, fishers may be able to take the entire 2-
month cumulative limit before the new lower limits are in place, 
thereby eliminating the conservation benefit anticipated from the lower 
trip limits in November and December and possibly exceeding the OY for 
some species. For the increases to trip limits to be effective November 
1, 2003, the increased trip limits allow fishers to access groundfish 
allocations without exceeding the OY for those species or the OYs of 
overfished or depleted stocks and delaying the increase could prevent 
the industry from obtaining the intended benefit of increased harvest 
opportunity.
    For these reasons, good cause also exists to waive the 30 day delay 
in effectiveness requirement under 5 U.S.C. 553 (d)(3). In addition, 
the increased trip limits relieve restrictions by allowing fishermen to 
harvest more fish than would have been allowed under the limits 
previously scheduled for the remainder of the year; thus, they are not 
subject to a 30 day delay in effectiveness under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1).
    These actions are taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.323(b)(1) 
and are exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: October 21, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-26927 Filed 10-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-C