[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40805-40817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15379]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 031216314-3314-01; I.D. 0070104B]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Annual Specifications and Management 
Measures; Inseason Adjustments

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

ACTION: Inseason adjustments to management measures and a request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces inseason adjustments to the Pacific Coast 
limited entry trawl and fixed gear groundfish fisheries. 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.

DATES: Changes to management measures are effective 0001 hours (local 
time) on July 1, 2004, until the 2005-2006 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management measures are effective, unless modified, superseded, or 
rescinded through a publication in the Federal Register.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 August 2, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by (i.d ), by 
any of the following methods:
     E-mail: GroundfishInseason#[email protected]. Include the 
I.D. number in the subject line of the message.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: D. Robert Lohn, Administrator, Northwest Region, 
NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070, Attn. Carrie 
Nordeen.
     Fax: 206-526-6736.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Nordeen (Northwest Region, 
NMFS), phone: 206-526-6144; fax: 206-526-6736; and e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    This Federal Register document is available on the Government 
Printing Office's Web site at: www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
    Background information and documents are available at the NMFS 
Northwest Region Web site at: www.nwr.noaa.gov/1sustfsh/gdfsh01.htm and 
at the Pacific Fishery Management Council's Web site at: 
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 coast of Washington, Oregon, and California. 
Groundfish specifications and management measures are developed by the 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) and are 
implemented by NMFS. The specifications and management measures for the 
2004 fishing year (January 1--December 31, 2004) were initially 
published in the Federal Register as an emergency rule for January 1-
February 29, 2004 (69 FR 1322, January 8, 2004) and as a proposed rule 
for March 1-December 31, 2004 (69 FR 1380, January 8, 2004). The 
emergency rule was amended at 69 FR 4084, January 28, 2004. The final 
rule for March 1-December 31, 2004 was published in the Federal 
Register on March 9, 2004 (69 FR 11064) and amended at 69 FR 23440, 
April 29, 2004, at 69 FR 25013, May 5, 2004, at 69 FR 28086, May 18, 
2004, and at 69 FR 38857, June 29, 2004.
    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 June 13-18, 2004, meeting in Foster City, CA. 
Inseason adjustments to limited entry trawl and fixed gear management 
measures are in response to groundfish landings through the end of 
April and projected catch through the end of the year. Adjusted 
management measures are intended to: (1) Allow groundfish optimum 
yields (OYs) to be achieved but not exceeded, (2) reduce the discard of 
overfished species by providing for incidental catch allowances in 
target fisheries for abundant groundfish species, (3) clarify limited 
entry trawl differential trip limits, (4) adjust limited entry trawl 
gear requirements, and (5) revise both the 75 fm (137 m) and 150 fm 
(274 m) rockfish conservation area boundaries so that they more closely 
follow their respective depth contours. Pacific Coast groundfish 
landings will be monitored throughout the year, and further adjustments 
to trip limits or management measures will be made as necessary to 
allow the achievement of or to avoid exceeding the 2004 OYs.

Limited Entry Trawl Differential Footrope Limits Coastwide

    Differential limited entry trawl trip limits have been used as a 
fisheries management tool in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery since 
2000. Initially, higher trip limits were available if fishers used 
small footrope or midwater gear, as opposed to large footrope gear, 
during harvesting. Generally, neither small footrope or midwater gear 
are useful for trawling the ocean floor in areas of high relief, rocky 
habitat. Encouraging the use of these gear types was intended to 
decrease the catch of certain rockfish species associated with the 
ocean floor and to protect rocky habitat. When rockfish conservation 
areas (RCAs) were established in 2003, NMFS slightly modified the 
intent and application of differential trawl trip limits. As of 2003, 
the use of small footrope and/or midwater gear has been permitted both 
shoreward and seaward of the RCA coastwide, while the use of large 
footrope gear has only been permitted seaward of the RCA

[[Page 40806]]

coastwide. Certain overfished species, specifically canary rockfish, 
require low harvest levels for rebuilding and are more likely to be 
encountered shoreward of the trawl RCA than seaward of the trawl RCA. 
In 2003, management measures were designed in part to discourage 
trawling on the ocean floor shoreward of the RCA and encourage fishing 
seaward of the RCA and/or the use of midwater trawl gear. For 2003, 
higher trip limits were available seaward of the RCA if fishers used 
large footrope or midwater trawl gear rather than small footrope trawl 
gear. In the area between the U.S./Canada border and 40[deg]10' N. 
lat., higher trip limits were available if fishers used large footrope 
or midwater trawl gear during 2004, with large footrope gear permitted 
only seaward of the RCA. Because canary rockfish are less frequently 
encountered by trawl fisheries in the area between 40[deg]10' N. lat. 
and the U.S./Mexico border, differential trip limits vary on a species 
by species basis and encourage fishing both shoreward and seaward of 
the RCA.
    At the June Pacific Council meeting, the Pacific Council's 
Groundfish Management Team (GMT) discussed the intent and application 
of differential trip limits. They clarified that in the area between 
the U.S./Canada border and 40[deg]10' N. lat. midwater trawl gear 
should only be used in the Pacific whiting fishery and that midwater 
trawl trip limits were only intended as incidental catch allowances in 
the whiting fishery. In order to discourage the use of midwater trawl 
gear shoreward of the RCA in the area between the U.S./Canada border 
and 40[deg]10' N. lat. and restore the intent of midwater trawl trip 
limits, the GMT recommended removing midwater trawl trip limits for 
groundfish species not associated with the whiting fishery. Widow 
rockfish, an overfished species, and yellowtail rockfish are 
encountered in the whiting fishery. Incidental catch allowances for 
these two species minimizes the harvest of widow rockfish by 
discouraging directed fishing for these species while reducing 
groundfish discard by allowing the landing of widow and yellowtail 
rockfish encountered in the whiting fishery. The Pacific Council 
concurred with the GMT's recommendation, therefore, midwater trip 
limits will be removed from Table 3 (North) for all groundfish species 
except whiting, widow rockfish, and yellowtail rockfish. The GMT also 
identified for 2004 that offering low trip limits for small footrope 
and/or midwater trawl gear, in the area between 40[deg]10' N. lat. and 
the U.S./Mexico border, does not provide for a midwater chilipepper 
fishery seaward of the RCA (for more information see the discussion 
below under Limited Entry Trawl Chilipepper Trip Limit heading). 
Therefore, the GMT recommended that higher trip limits be contingent 
upon the use of large footrope and/or midwater trawl gear seaward of 
the RCA for the remainder of the year. To ensure consistency with the 
chilipepper fishery and enhance the enforceability of differential trip 
limits south of 40[deg]10' N. lat., higher trip limits offered for 
bocaccio, lingcod, and minor shelf and widow rockfish will be 
contingent upon the use of large footrope and/or midwater trawl gear 
seaward of the RCA (for more information see discussion below under 
Incidental Catch Allowances in the Limited Entry Trawl Fishery 
heading).
    In order to further encourage trawling seaward rather than 
shoreward of the RCA, thereby limiting the harvest of canary rockfish, 
NMFS also implemented another requirement associated with differential 
trawl trip limits coastwide in 2003. If fishers used small footrope 
trawl gear at any time or in any area coastwide during a two-month 
cumulative limit period, they would be restricted to the more 
restrictive, smaller trip limits available with small footrope gear for 
the two-month cumulative limit period. The GMT reviewed the intent and 
application of this differential trip limit requirement at the June 
Pacific Council meeting and found this requirement to be unnecessarily 
restrictive. This requirement was primarily developed to limit the 
harvest of canary rockfish. While canary rockfish are distributed 
coastwide, the stock is more concentrated in the area between the U.S./
Canada border and 40[deg]10' N. lat. Therefore, the GMT recommended, 
and the Pacific Council concurred with, the requirement that if fishers 
use small footrope trawl gear north of 40[deg]10' N. lat. any time 
during a two-month cumulative limit period, they would be restricted to 
the more restrictive, smaller trip limits available with small footrope 
gear for the two-month cumulative limit period. However, the Pacific 
Council also recommended that if vessels do not use small footrope 
trawl gear north of 40[deg]10' N. lat., vessels are not restricted to 
the more restrictive, smaller trip limits available with small footrope 
gear for the two-month cumulative limit period. Additionally, for the 
area north of 40[deg]10' N. lat., the Pacific Council recommended that 
on non-whiting trips, vessels with both large footrope and midwater 
trawl gear on board during a trip may land the large footrope limits 
while fishing with large footrope gear seaward of the RCA should be 
added. In the area south of 40[deg]10' N. lat., vessels may have more 
than one type of limited entry bottom trawl gear on board, but the most 
restrictive trip limit associated with the gear on board applies for 
that trip and will count toward the cumulative trip limit for that 
gear. For clarification, the Pacific Council recommended that language 
be added stating that for vessels using more than one type of trawl 
gear during a cumulative limit period, limits are additive up to the 
largest limit for the type of gear used during that period. For 
example, if a vessel harvests 800 lb (363 kg) of chilipepper rockfish 
with small footrope gear, it may harvest up to 11,200 lb (5,080 kg) of 
chilipepper rockfish with large footrope gear during July and August. 
These differential trip limit changes are reflected in the limited 
entry trawl trip limit tables (Table 3(North) and Table 3(South)).

Limited Entry Trawl Sablefish, Dover Sole, and Shortspine Thornyhead 
and Petrale Sole Trip Limits

    At the beginning of 2004, NMFS took precautionary measures and set 
relatively low limited entry trawl trip limits pending new trawl 
bycatch model catch predictions. NMFS updated trawl bycatch model catch 
predictions by incorporating additional West Coast Observer Program 
data (2002-2003) and by adjusting for the limited entry trawl permit 
and vessel buyback. Based on these updated trawl catch predictions, 
NMFS increased the limited entry trawl trip limits for the remainder of 
2004 (69 FR 28086, May 18, 2004).
    Following the increased limited entry trawl trip limits effective 
in May, landings reported in the Pacific Coast Fisheries Information 
Network (PacFIN) were higher than predicted for Dover sole, shortspine 
thornyhead, sablefish, and petrale sole. In order to slow the fishery 
and allow for year-around trawling opportunities, the Council 
recommended that trip limits be lowered for these species.
    When the 2004 trawl trip limits for flatfish were developed, NMFS's 
intent was to include the petrale sole trip limit as a sublimit of the 
``other flatfish'' trip limit. However, in both the emergency rule (69 
FR 1322, January 8, 2004) implementing groundfish specifications and 
management measures for January-February and the final rule (69 FR 
11064, March 9, 2004) implementing management measures for March-
December, both petrale sole and ``other flatfish'' had independent trip 
limits. As

[[Page 40807]]

mentioned above, the catch of petrale sole is tracking higher than 
predicted in PacFIN through the end of April. Therefore, the Pacific 
Council recommended that the petrale sole trip limit be incorporated as 
a sublimit of the ``other flatfish'' limit with this inseason action as 
was NMFS's intent at the beginning of the year, as well as reducing the 
trip limit.
    Given the above recommendations, in the area between the U.S./
Canada border and 40[deg]10' N. lat., the adjusted trip limits for 
sablefish, shortspine thornyhead, Dover sole, petrale sole, and ``other 
flatfish'' are as follows. The limited entry trawl large footrope trip 
limit for sablefish will be decreased from 16,000 lb (7,257 kg) per two 
months to 15,000 lb (6,804 kg) per two months for July-October. The 
previously scheduled November-December large footrope sablefish trip 
limit of 11,000 lb (4,990 kg) per two months remains unchanged. The 
limited entry trawl large footrope trip limit for shortspine thornyhead 
will be decreased from 4,500 lb (2,041 kg) per two months to 4,100 lb 
(1,860 kg) per two months for July-December. The limited entry trawl 
large footrope trip limit for Dover sole will be decreased from 32,000 
lb (14,515 kg) per two months to 31,000 lb (13,801 kg) per two months 
for July-October. The previously scheduled November-December large 
footrope Dover sole trip limit of 50,000 lb (22,680 kg) per two months 
remains unchanged. The limited entry trawl large footrope trip limit 
for petrale sole will be decreased from 100,000 lb (45,359 kg) per two 
months to a combined ``other flatfish'' large footrope limit of 100,000 
lb (45,359 kg) per two months, no more than 30,000 lb (13,608 kg) of 
which may be petrale sole, for July-October. As was previously 
scheduled for November-December, the harvest of petrale sole with large 
footrope gear will not be limited. The limited entry trawl small 
footrope trip limit for ``other flatfish'' will be decreased from 
80,000 lb (36,287 kg) per two months, no more than 30,000 lb (13,608 
kg) of which may be petrale sole, to 80,000 lb (36,287 kg) per two 
months, no more than 26,000 lb (11,793 kg) of which may be petrale 
sole, for July-October. The previously scheduled November-December 
small footrope ``other flatfish'' trip limit of 70,000 lb (31,752 kg) 
per two months, no more than 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) of which may be 
petrale sole, remains unchanged.
    In the area between 40[deg]10' N. lat. and the U.S./Mexico border, 
the adjusted trip limits for sablefish, shortspine thornyhead, and 
Dover sole are as follows. The limited entry trawl trip limit for 
sablefish will be decreased from 14,500 lb (6,577 kg) per two months to 
13,000 lb (5,897 kg) per two months for July-December. The limited 
entry trawl trip limit for shortspine thornyhead will be decreased from 
4,500 lb (2,041 kg) per two months to 4,100 lb (1,860 kg) per two 
months for July-December. The limited entry trawl trip limit for Dover 
sole will be decreased from 49,000 lb (22,226 kg) per two months to 
48,000 lb (21,772 kg) per two months for July-October. The previously 
scheduled November-December Dover sole trip limit of 49,000 lb (22,226 
kg) per two months remains unchanged.

Limited Entry Midwater and Small Footrope Trawl Chilipepper Trip Limit 
South of 40[deg]10' N. Lat.

    Because chilipepper rockfish (an abundant groundfish species) and 
bocaccio (an overfished groundfish species) are co-occurring species, 
limited entry trawl limits for chilipepper rockfish were incorporated 
as part of minor shelf rockfish limits in 2003 to eliminate all 
targeting opportunities for chilipepper where bocaccio may have been 
incidentally taken. The 2004 bocaccio OY (250 mt) was set higher than 
the 2003 bocaccio OY (<= 20 mt) following a new stock assessment. With 
a higher bocaccio OY in 2004, conservative targeting opportunities for 
chilipepper were restored.
    At the June Pacific Council meeting, the GMT received a request 
from the Pacific Council's Groundfish Advisory Panel (GAP) that trip 
limits in Table 3 (South) allow for a midwater chilipepper fishery 
seaward of the RCA. The previously scheduled midwater trawl and/or 
small footrope chilipepper limit was low (300 lb (136 kg) per two 
months) to allow for incidental catch while discouraging fishing 
shoreward of the RCA. By specifying that midwater trawl gear may not be 
used shoreward of the RCA south of 40[deg]10' N. lat., midwater trip 
limits are available only seaward of the RCA and may be increased to be 
equivalent to the limits available using large footrope trawl gear. 
Therefore, the GMT recommended and the Pacific Council concurred that 
the limited entry trawl midwater limit for chilipepper be increased 
from 300 lb (136 kg) per month to the previously scheduled large 
footrope limit of 12,000 lb (5,443 kg) per two months during July-
August and 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) per two months for September-December. 
Additionally, the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) 
recommended and the Pacific Council concurred that the limited entry 
trawl small footrope limit for minor shelf, widow, and chilipepper 
rockfish be increased from 300 lb (136 kg) per month to 1,000 lb (454 
kg) per month, no more than 200 lb (90 kg) per month of which may be 
minor shelf and widow rockfish. These trip limit adjustments will 
provide much needed revenue for the limited entry trawl fleet without 
resulting in excessive catch of bocaccio.

Limited Entry Trawl Widow Rockfish and Yellowtail Rockfish Midwater 
Trip Limits

    When developing the 2004 groundfish management measures and 
specifications in the fall of 2003, it was NMFS's intention to prohibit 
the directed widow rockfish and yellowtail rockfish midwater trawl 
fishery during November-December. This action is necessary to prohibit 
the directed widow rockfish midwater fishery during November-December 
because the 2004 widow rockfish OY is intended to allow for the 
incidental catch of widow rockfish, but it cannot accommodate a 
directed fishery. Because widow and canary rockfish are known to co-
occur with yellowtail rockfish, it is necessary to also prohibit the 
directed yellowtail rockfish midwater fishery during November and 
December to keep the harvest of widow and canary rockfish within their 
2004 OYs. Therefore, the Pacific Council recommended that the limited 
entry trawl trip limit Table 3 (North) be adjusted to prohibit the 
directed midwater fishery for widow rockfish and yellowtail rockfish 
during November-December.

Incidental Catch Allowances in the Limited Entry Trawl Fishery

    Harvest levels for overfished groundfish species are developed 
using each species' rebuilding plan specifications. Trip limits for 
overfished species are generally low and designed to allow overfished 
stocks to rebuild while allowing for the incidental catch of overfished 
species during the harvesting of co-occurring abundant groundfish 
species. These trip limits are not intended to provide for directed 
fishing on overfished stocks.
    At the June Pacific Council meeting, the GMT received feedback from 
the GAP that some limited entry trawl limits for overfished species are 
not adequate to provide incidental catch allowances in the limited 
entry trawl fishery and are resulting in discard. In May 2004, NMFS 
implemented limited entry trawl increases for DTS (Dover sole, 
thornyheads, sablefish) species and chilipepper rockfish (69 FR 28086, 
May 18, 2004). Based on those trip limit increases, the GMT determined 
that trip

[[Page 40808]]

limits for lingcod and widow rockfish, could be increased to 
accommodate incidental catch in the DTS fishery. Similarly, trip limits 
for bocaccio could be increased to allow for the incidental catch in 
the chilipepper fishery. Incorporating the previously discussed 
inseason adjustments to differential trip limits, the Pacific Council 
recommended the following trip limit increases.
    In the area between the U.S./Canada border and 40[deg]10' N. lat., 
the limited entry trawl large footrope trip limit for lingcod will be 
500 lb (227 kg) per two months for July-December. In the area between 
40[deg]10' N. lat. and the U.S./Mexico border, the limited entry trawl 
large footrope and midwater trip limit for lingcod will be 500 lb (227 
kg) per two months for July-December. Previously, the retention of 
lingcod with large footrope or midwater trawl gear was prohibited 
coastwide. In the area between the U.S./Canada border and 40[deg]10' N. 
lat., the limited entry trawl large footrope trip limit for minor shelf 
and widow rockfish will be 300 lb (136 kg) per two months for July-
December. Similar to the previously scheduled lingcod limit, the 
retention of minor shelf and widow rockfish was prohibited. In the area 
between 40[deg]10' N. lat. and the U.S./Mexico border, the limited 
entry trawl large footrope and midwater trip limit for bocaccio will be 
increased from 100 lb (45 kg) per two months to 300 lb (136 kg) per two 
months for July-December. These limited entry trawl trip limit 
increases will reduce discard in the Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries 
and enable the OYs for DTS species and chilipepper rockfish to be 
achieved but not exceeded while continuing to allow for the rebuilding 
of overfished stocks.

Limited Entry Fixed Gear Bocaccio Limits Between 40[deg]10' N. Lat. and 
34[deg]27' N. Lat.

    In keeping with bocaccio trip limit increases in the limited entry 
trawl fishery, to accommodate incidental catch in the chilipepper 
fishery, the Pacific Council also recommended increasing the fixed gear 
bocaccio trip limit for the remainder of the year. Therefore, in the 
area between 40[deg]10' N. lat. and 34[deg]27' N. lat., the limited 
entry fixed gear limit for bocaccio will be increased from 100 lb (45 
kg) per two months during July-August and 200 lb (90 kg) per two months 
during September-December to 300 lb (136 kg) per two months for the 
remainder of the year. Neither this inseason adjustment nor any other 
inseason adjustments are predicted to cause the total mortality of 
bocaccio to exceed its 2004 OY.

Adjustments to Rockfish Conservation Area Boundaries

    During the June Pacific Council meeting, Washington Department of 
Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and CDFG requested adjustments to RCA 
boundaries. CDFG requested adjustments to specific latitude and 
longitude coordinates in the 75 fm (137 m) RCA boundary to allow the 
RCA to more closely follow the 75 fm (137 m) depth contour and allow 
access to sandy areas for sanddab fishing in California's Half Moon Bay 
area. This request was included in the GMT's statement on inseason 
actions and recommended by the Pacific Council. Additionally, WDFW 
requested adjustments to the 150 fm (274 m) RCA boundary off Washington 
so that it would more closely follow the 150 fm (274 m) depth contour 
and would be similar to Washington's Winter Petrale RCA boundary (which 
also follows the 150 fm (137 m) depth contour). WDFW's request was made 
to NMFS directly and was not included in the GMT statement or Pacific 
Council recommendation. NMFS will implement both adjustments to the RCA 
boundaries with this inseason action.

NMFS Actions

    For the reasons stated herein, NMFS concurs with the Pacific 
Council's recommendations and hereby announces the following changes to 
the 2004 specifications and management measures (69 FR 11064, March 9, 
2004, as amended at 69 FR 23440, April 29, 2004, at 69 FR 25013, May 5, 
2004, at 69 FR 28086, May 18, 2004, and at 69 FR 38857, June 29, 2004) 
to read as follows:
    1. On page 11087, in section IV. NMFS Actions, under A. General 
Definitions and Provisions, revise paragraphs (14)(b)(ii) and (iii) to 
read as follows:

IV. NMFS Actions

* * * * *

A. General Definitions and Provisions

    (14) * * *
    (b) * * *
    (ii) Small footrope or midwater trawl gear. Cumulative trip limits 
for canary rockfish, widow rockfish (South of 40[deg]10' N. lat.,) 
yellowtail rockfish (North of 40[deg]10' N. lat.,) minor shelf rockfish 
(North of 40[deg]10' N. lat.,) minor nearshore rockfish, as indicated 
in Table 3 to section IV., are allowed only if small footrope gear or 
midwater trawl gear is used, and if that gear meets the specifications 
in paragraph IV.A.(14) and at 50 CFR 660.322. For Dover sole, longspine 
thornyhead, shortspine thornyhead, flatfish complex species including 
petrale sole, rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder there are or may be 
cumulative trip limits that are more restrictive for vessels using 
small footrope gear than for large footrope gear or midwater gear. 
These more restrictive limits recognize that small footrope gear may be 
used inshore of the RCAs and are intended to limit trawl effort in the 
nearshore area. North of 40[deg]10' N. lat., limits are generally more 
restrictive for small footrope trawl gear. When limits are more 
restrictive for small footrope gear, those limits apply to and 
constrain any vessel using small footrope gear north of 40[deg]10' N. 
lat. at any time during the cumulative limit period to which the 
landings limits apply.
    (iii) Midwater trawl gear. Yellowtail and widow rockfish are only 
available to trawl vessels using midwater trawl gear when those vessels 
are fishing for Pacific whiting during the primary whiting season. Each 
landing that contains yellowtail or widow rockfish is attributed to the 
gear on board with the most restrictive trip limit for those species. 
Landings attributed to small footrope trawl must not exceed the small 
footrope limit, and landings attributed to midwater trawl must not 
exceed the midwater trawl limit. If a vessel has landings attributed to 
small footrope and midwater trawl during a cumulative trip limit 
period, all landings are counted toward the most restrictive gear-
specific cumulative limit. On non-whiting trips, vessels with both 
large footrope and midwater trawl gear on board during a trip may land 
the large footrope limits while fishing with large footrope gear 
seaward of the RCA.
    2. On pages 11094-11095, in section IV. NMFS Actions, under A. 
General Definitions and Provisions, paragraph (17)(vi) is revised to 
read as follows:
* * * * *

(131) 37[deg]24.16' N. lat., 122[deg]51.96' W. long.;
(132) 37[deg]23.32' N. lat., 122[deg]52.38' W. long.;
(133) 37[deg]04.12' N. lat., 122[deg]38.94' W. long.;
(134) 36[deg]00.64' N. lat., 122[deg]33.26' W. long.;
(135) 36[deg]59.15' N. lat., 122[deg]27.84' W. long.;
(136) 37[deg]01.41' N. lat., 122[deg]24.41' W. long.;
(137) 36[deg]58.75' N. lat., 122[deg]23.81' W. long.;
(138) 36[deg]59.17' N. lat., 122[deg]21.44' W. long.;
(139) 36[deg]57.51' N. lat., 122[deg]20.69' W. long.;
(140) 36[deg]51.46' N. lat., 122[deg]10.01' W. long.;
(141) 36[deg]48.43' N. lat., 122[deg]06.47' W. long.;
(142) 36[deg]48.66' N. lat., 122[deg]04.99' W. long.;
(143) 36[deg]47.75' N. lat., 122[deg]03.33' W. long.;
(144) 36[deg]51.23' N. lat., 121[deg]57.79' W. long.;
(145) 36[deg]49.72' N. lat., 121[deg]57.87' W. long.;
(146) 36[deg]48.84' N. lat., 121[deg]58.68' W. long.;
(147) 36[deg]47.89' N. lat., 121[deg]58.53' W. long.;
(148) 36[deg]48.66' N. lat., 121[deg]50.49' W. long.;
(149) 36[deg]45.56' N. lat., 121[deg]54.11' W. long.;
(150) 36[deg]45.30' N. lat., 121[deg]57.62' W. long.;
(151) 36[deg]38.54' N. lat., 122[deg]01.13' W. long.;
(152) 36[deg]35.76' N. lat., 122[deg]00.87' W. long.;

[[Page 40809]]

(153) 36[deg]32.58' N. lat., 121[deg]59.12' W. long.;
(154) 36[deg]32.95' N. lat., 121[deg]57.62' W. long.;
(155) 36[deg]31.96' N. lat., 121[deg]56.27' W. long.;
(156) 36[deg]31.74' N. lat., 121[deg]58.24' W. long.;
(157) 36[deg]30.57' N. lat., 121[deg]59.66' W. long.;
(158) 36[deg]27.80' N. lat., 121[deg]59.30' W. long.;
(159) 36[deg]26.52' N. lat., 121[deg]58.09' W. long.;
(160) 36[deg]23.65' N. lat., 121[deg]58.94' W. long.;
(161) 36[deg]20.93' N. lat., 122[deg]00.28' W. long.;
(162) 36[deg]18.23' N. lat., 122[deg]03.10' W. long.;
(163) 36[deg]14.21' N. lat., 121[deg]57.73' W. long.;
(164) 36[deg]14.68' N. lat., 121[deg]55.43' W. long.;
(165) 36[deg]10.42' N. lat., 121[deg]42.90' W. long.;
(166) 36[deg]02.55' N. lat., 121[deg]36.35' W. long.;
(167) 36[deg]01.04' N. lat., 121[deg]36.47' W. long.;
(168) 35[deg]58.25' N. lat., 121[deg]32.88' W. long.;
(169) 35[deg]39.35' N. lat., 121[deg]22.63' W. long.;
(170) 35[deg]24.44' N. lat., 121[deg]02.23' W. long.;
(171) 35[deg]10.84' N. lat., 120[deg]55.90' W. long.;
(172) 35[deg]04.35' N. lat., 120[deg]51.62' W. long.;
(173) 34[deg]55.25' N. lat., 120[deg]49.36' W. long.;
(174) 34[deg]47.95' N. lat., 120[deg]50.76' W. long.;
(175) 34[deg]39.27' N. lat., 120[deg]49.16' W. long.;
(176) 34[deg]31.05' N. lat., 120[deg]44.71' W. long.;
(177) 34[deg]27.00' N. lat., 120[deg]36.54' W. long.;
(178) 34[deg]22.60' N. lat., 120[deg]25.41' W. long.;
(179) 34[deg]25.45' N. lat., 120[deg]17.41' W. long.;
(180) 34[deg]22.94' N. lat., 119[deg]56.40' W. long.;
(181) 34[deg]18.37' N. lat., 119[deg]42.01' W. long.;
(182) 34[deg]11.22' N. lat., 119[deg]32.47' W. long.;
(183) 34[deg]09.58' N. lat., 119[deg]25.94' W. long.;
(184) 34[deg]03.89' N. lat., 119[deg]12.47' W. long.;
(185) 34[deg]03.57' N. lat., 119[deg]06.72' W. long.;
(186) 34[deg]04.53' N. lat., 119[deg]04.90' W. long.;
(187) 34[deg]02.84' N. lat., 119[deg]02.37' W. long.;
(188) 34[deg]01.30' N. lat., 119[deg]00.26' W. long.;
(189) 34[deg]00.22' N. lat., 119[deg]03.20' W. long.;
(190) 33[deg]59.60' N. lat., 119[deg]03.16' W. long.;
(191) 33[deg]59.46' N. lat., 119[deg]00.88' W. long.;
(192) 34[deg]00.49' N. lat., 118[deg]59.08' W. long.;
(193) 33[deg]59.07' N. lat., 118[deg]47.34' W. long.;
(194) 33[deg]58.73' N. lat., 118[deg]36.45' W. long.;
(195) 33[deg]55.24' N. lat., 118[deg]33.42' W. long.;
(196) 33[deg]53.71' N. lat., 118[deg]38.01' W. long.;
(197) 33[deg]51.22' N. lat., 118[deg]36.17' W. long.;
(198) 33[deg]49.85' N. lat., 118[deg]32.31' W. long.;
(199) 33[deg]49.61' N. lat., 118[deg]28.07' W. long.;
(200) 33[deg]49.95' N. lat., 118[deg]26.38' W. long.;
(201) 33[deg]50.36' N. lat., 118[deg]25.84' W. long.;
(202) 33[deg]49.84' N. lat., 118[deg]24.78' W. long.;
(203) 33[deg]47.53' N. lat., 118[deg]30.12' W. long.;
(204) 33[deg]44.11' N. lat., 118[deg]25.25' W. long.;
(205) 33[deg]41.77' N. lat., 118[deg]20.32' W. long.;
(206) 33[deg]38.17' N. lat., 118[deg]15.70' W. long.;
(207) 33[deg]37.48' N. lat., 118[deg]16.73' W. long.;
(208) 33[deg]36.01' N. lat., 118[deg]16.55' W. long.;
(209) 33[deg]33.76' N. lat., 118[deg]11.37' W. long.;
(210) 33[deg]33.76' N. lat., 118[deg]07.94' W. long.;
(211) 33[deg]35.59' N. lat., 118[deg]05.05' W. long.;
(212) 33[deg]33.75' N. lat., 117[deg]59.82' W. long.;
(213) 33[deg]35.10' N. lat., 117[deg]55.68' W. long.;
(214) 33[deg]34.91' N. lat., 117[deg]53.76' W. long.;
(215) 33[deg]30.77' N. lat., 117[deg]47.56' W. long.;
(216) 33[deg]27.50' N. lat., 117[deg]44.87' W. long.;
(217) 33[deg]16.89' N. lat., 117[deg]34.37' W. long.;
(218) 33[deg]06.66' N. lat., 117[deg]21.59' W. long.;
(219) 33[deg]03.35' N. lat., 117[deg]20.92' W. long.;
(220) 33[deg]00.07' N. lat., 117[deg]19.02' W. long.;
(221) 32[deg]55.99' N. lat., 117[deg]18.60' W. long.;
(222) 32[deg]54.43' N. lat., 117[deg]16.93' W. long.;
(223) 32[deg]52.13' N. lat., 117[deg]16.55' W. long.;
(224) 32[deg]52.61' N. lat., 117[deg]19.50' W. long.;
(225) 32[deg]46.95' N. lat., 117[deg]22.81' W. long.;
(226) 32[deg]45.01' N. lat., 117[deg]22.07' W. long.;
(227) 32[deg]43.40' N. lat., 117[deg]19.80' W. long.; and
(228) 32[deg]33.74' N. lat., 117[deg]18.67' W. long


    3. On pages 11099-11100, in section IV. NMFS Actions, under A. 
General Definitions and Provisions, paragraph (17)(ix) is revised to 
read as follows:
* * * * *
(13) 47[deg]56.53' N. lat., 125[deg]30.33' W. long.;
(14) 47[deg]57.28' N. lat., 125[deg]27.89' W. long.;
(15) 47[deg]59.00' N. lat., 125[deg]25.50' W. long.;
(16) 48[deg]01.77' N. lat., 125[deg]24.05' W. long.;
(17) 48[deg]02.13' N. lat., 125[deg]22.80' W. long.;
(18) 48[deg]03.00' N. lat., 125[deg]22.50' W. long.;
(19) 48[deg]03.46' N. lat., 125[deg]22.10' W. long.;
(20) 48[deg]04.29' N. lat., 125[deg]20.37' W. long.;
(21) 48[deg]02.00' N. lat., 125[deg]18.50' W. long.;
(22) 48[deg]00.01' N. lat., 125[deg]19.90' W. long.;
(23) 47[deg]58.75' N. lat., 125[deg]17.54' W. long.;
(24) 47[deg]53.50' N. lat., 125[deg]13.50' W. long.;
(25) 47[deg]48.88' N. lat., 125[deg]05.91' W. long.;
(26) 47[deg]48.50' N. lat., 125[deg]05.00' W. long.;
(27) 47[deg]45.98' N. lat., 125[deg]04.26' W. long.;
(28) 47[deg]45.00' N. lat., 125[deg]05.50' W. long.;
(29) 47[deg]42.11' N. lat., 125[deg]04.74' W. long.;
(30) 47[deg]39.00' N. lat., 125[deg]06.00' W. long.;
(31) 47[deg]35.53' N. lat., 125[deg]04.55' W. long.;
(32) 47[deg]30.90' N. lat., 124[deg]57.31' W. long.;
(33) 47[deg]29.54' N. lat., 124[deg]56.50' W. long.;
(34) 47[deg]29.50' N. lat., 124[deg]54.50' W. long.;
(35) 47[deg]28.57' N. lat., 124[deg]51.50' W. long.;
(36) 47[deg]25.00' N. lat., 124[deg]48.00' W. long.;
(37) 47[deg]23.95' N. lat., 124[deg]47.24' W. long.;
(38) 47[deg]23.00' N. lat., 124[deg]47.00' W. long.;
(39) 47[deg]21.00' N. lat., 124[deg]46.50' W. long.;
(40) 47[deg]18.20' N. lat., 124[deg]45.84' W. long.;
(41) 47[deg]18.50' N. lat., 124[deg]49.00' W. long.;
(42) 47[deg]19.17' N. lat., 124[deg]50.86' W. long.;
(43) 47[deg]18.07' N. lat., 124[deg]53.29' W. long.;
(44) 47[deg]17.78' N. lat., 124[deg]51.39' W. long.;
(45) 47[deg]16.81' N. lat., 124[deg]50.85' W. long.;
(46) 47[deg]15.96' N. lat., 124[deg]53.15' W. long.;
(47) 47[deg]14.31' N. lat., 124[deg]52.62' W. long.;
(48) 47[deg]11.87' N. lat., 124[deg]56.90' W. long.;
(49) 47[deg]12.39' N. lat., 124[deg]58.09' W. long.;
(50) 47[deg]09.50' N. lat., 124[deg]57.50' W. long.;
(51) 47[deg]09.00' N. lat., 124[deg]59.00' W. long.;
(52) 47[deg]06.06' N. lat., 124[deg]58.80' W. long.;
(53) 47[deg]03.62' N. lat., 124[deg]55.96' W. long.;
(54) 47[deg]02.89' N. lat., 124[deg]56.89' W. long.;
(55) 47[deg]01.04' N. lat., 124[deg]59.54' W. long.;
(56) 46[deg]58.47' N. lat., 124[deg]59.08' W. long.;
(57) 46[deg]58.29' N. lat., 125[deg]00.28' W. long.;
(58) 46[deg]56.30' N. lat., 125[deg]00.75' W. long.;
(59) 46[deg]57.09' N. lat., 124[deg]58.86' W. long.;
(60) 46[deg]55.95' N. lat., 124[deg]54.88' W. long.;
(61) 46[deg]54.79' N. lat., 124[deg]54.14' W. long.;
(62) 46[deg]58.00' N. lat., 124[deg]50.00' W. long.;
(63) 46[deg]54.50' N. lat., 124[deg]49.00' W. long.;
(64) 46[deg]54.53' N. lat., 124[deg]52.94' W. long.;
(65) 46[deg]49.52' N. lat., 124[deg]53.41' W. long.;
(66) 46[deg]42.24' N. lat., 124[deg]47.86' W. long.;
(67) 46[deg]39.50' N. lat., 124[deg]42.50' W. long.;
(68) 46[deg]37.50' N. lat., 124[deg]41.00' W. long.;
(69) 46[deg]36.50' N. lat., 124[deg]38.00' W. long.;
(70) 46[deg]33.85' N. lat., 124[deg]36.99' W. long.;
(71) 46[deg]33.50' N. lat., 124[deg]29.50' W. long.;
(72) 46[deg]32.00' N. lat., 124[deg]31.00' W. long.;
(73) 46[deg]30.53' N. lat., 124[deg]30.55' W. long.;
(74) 46[deg]25.50' N. lat., 124[deg]33.00' W. long.;
(75) 46[deg]23.00' N. lat., 124[deg]35.00' W. long.;
(76) 46[deg]21.05' N. lat., 124[deg]37.00' W. long.;
(77) 46[deg]20.64' N. lat., 124[deg]36.21' W. long.;
(78) 46[deg]20.36' N. lat., 124[deg]37.85' W. long.;
(79) 46[deg]19.48' N. lat., 124[deg]38.35' W. long.;
(80) 46[deg]18.09' N. lat., 124[deg]38.30' W. long.;
(81) 46[deg]16.15' N. lat., 124[deg]25.20' W. long.;
(82) 46[deg]14.87' N. lat., 124[deg]26.15' W. long.;
(83) 46[deg]13.38' N. lat., 124[deg]31.36' W. long.;
(84) 46[deg]12.09' N. lat., 124[deg]38.39' W. long.;
(85) 46[deg]09.46' N. lat., 124[deg]40.64' W. long.;
(86) 46[deg]07.30' N. lat., 124[deg]40.68' W. long.;
(87) 46[deg]02.76' N. lat., 124[deg]44.01' W. long.;
(88) 46[deg]01.22' N. lat., 124[deg]43.47' W. long.;
(89) 45[deg]51.82' N. lat., 124[deg]42.89' W. long.;
(90) 45[deg]45.95' N. lat., 124[deg]40.72' W. long.;
(91) 45[deg]44.11' N. lat., 124[deg]43.09' W. long.;
(92) 45[deg]34.50' N. lat., 124[deg]30.27' W. long.;
(93) 45[deg]21.10' N. lat., 124[deg]23.11' W. long.;
(94) 45[deg]09.69' N. lat., 124[deg]20.45' W. long.;
(95) 44[deg]56.25' N. lat., 124[deg]27.03' W. long.;
(96) 44[deg]44.47' N. lat., 124[deg]37.85' W. long.;
(97) 44[deg]31.81' N. lat., 124[deg]39.60' W. long.;
(98) 44[deg]31.48' N. lat., 124[deg]43.30' W. long.;
(99) 44[deg]12.04' N. lat., 124[deg]58.16' W. long.;
(100) 44[deg]07.38' N. lat., 124[deg]57.87' W. long.;
(101) 43[deg]57.06' N. lat., 124[deg]57.20' W. long.;
(102) 43[deg]52.52' N. lat., 124[deg]49.00' W. long.;
(103) 43[deg]51.55' N. lat., 124[deg]37.49' W. long.;
(104) 43[deg]47.83' N. lat., 124[deg]36.43' W. long.;
(105) 43[deg]31.79' N. lat., 124[deg]36.80' W. long.;
(106) 43[deg]29.34' N. lat., 124[deg]36.77' W. long.;
(107) 43[deg]26.46' N. lat., 124[deg]40.02' W. long.;
(108) 43[deg]16.15' N. lat., 124[deg]44.37' W. long.;
(109) 43[deg]09.33' N. lat., 124[deg]45.35' W. long.;
(110) 43[deg]08.85' N. lat., 124[deg]48.92' W. long.;
(111) 43[deg]03.23' N. lat., 124[deg]52.41' W. long.;
(112) 43[deg]00.25' N. lat., 124[deg]51.93' W. long.;
(113) 42[deg]56.62' N. lat., 124[deg]53.93' W. long.;
(114) 42[deg]54.84' N. lat., 124[deg]54.01' W. long.;
(115) 42[deg]52.31' N. lat., 124[deg]50.76' W. long.;
(116) 42[deg]47.78' N. lat., 124[deg]47.27' W. long.;
(117) 42[deg]46.32' N. lat., 124[deg]43.59' W. long.;
(118) 42[deg]41.63' N. lat., 124[deg]44.07' W. long.;
(119) 42[deg]38.83' N. lat., 124[deg]42.77' W. long.;
(120) 42[deg]35.37' N. lat., 124[deg]43.22' W. long.;
(121) 42[deg]32.78' N. lat., 124[deg]44.68' W. long.;
(122) 42[deg]32.19' N. lat., 124[deg]42.40' W. long.;
(123) 42[deg]30.28' N. lat., 124[deg]44.30' W. long.;
(124) 42[deg]28.16' N. lat., 124[deg]48.38' W. long.;
(125) 42[deg]18.34' N. lat., 124[deg]38.77' W. long.;
(126) 42[deg]13.65' N. lat., 124[deg]36.82' W. long.;
(127) 42[deg]00.15' N. lat., 124[deg]35.81' W. long.;
(128) 42[deg]00.00' N. lat., 124[deg]35.99' W. long.;
(129) 41[deg]47.80' N. lat., 124[deg]29.41' W. long.;
(130) 41[deg]23.51' N. lat., 124[deg]29.50' W. long.;
(131) 41[deg]13.29' N. lat., 124[deg]23.31' W. long.;
(132) 41[deg]06.23' N. lat., 124[deg]22.62' W. long.;
(133) 40[deg]55.60' N. lat., 124[deg]26.04' W. long.;
(134) 40[deg]49.62' N. lat., 124[deg]26.57' W. long.;
(135) 40[deg]45.72' N. lat., 124[deg]30.00' W. long.;
(136) 40[deg]40.56' N. lat., 124[deg]32.11' W. long.;
(137) 40[deg]37.33' N. lat., 124[deg]29.27' W. long.;
(138) 40[deg]35.60' N. lat., 124[deg]30.49' W. long.;
(139) 40[deg]37.38' N. lat., 124[deg]37.14' W. long.;
(140) 40[deg]36.03' N. lat., 124[deg]39.97' W. long.;
(141) 40[deg]31.59' N. lat., 124[deg]40.74' W. long.;
(142) 40[deg]29.76' N. lat., 124[deg]38.13' W. long.;
(143) 40[deg]28.22' N. lat., 124[deg]37.23' W. long.;
(144) 40[deg]24.86' N. lat., 124[deg]35.71' W. long.;
(145) 40[deg]23.01' N. lat., 124[deg]31.94' W. long.;
(146) 40[deg]23.39' N. lat., 124[deg]28.64' W. long.;
(147) 40[deg]22.29' N. lat., 124[deg]25.25' W. long.;
(148) 40[deg]21.90' N. lat., 124[deg]25.18' W. long.;
(149) 40[deg]22.02' N. lat., 124[deg]28.00' W. long.;
(150) 40[deg]21.34' N. lat., 124[deg]29.53' W. long.;
(151) 40[deg]19.74' N. lat., 124[deg]28.95' W. long.;
(152) 40[deg]18.13' N. lat., 124[deg]27.08' W. long.;
(153) 40[deg]17.45' N. lat., 124[deg]25.53' W. long.;
(154) 40[deg]17.97' N. lat., 124[deg]24.12' W. long.;
(155) 40[deg]15.96' N. lat., 124[deg]26.05' W. long.;
(156) 40[deg]17.00' N. lat., 124[deg]35.01' W. long.;
(157) 40[deg]15.97' N. lat., 124[deg]35.90' W. long.;

[[Page 40810]]

(158) 40[deg]10.00' N. lat., 124[deg]22.96' W. long.;
(159) 40[deg]07.00' N. lat., 124[deg]19.00' W. long.;
(160) 40[deg]08.10' N. lat., 124[deg]16.70' W. long.;
(161) 40[deg]05.90' N. lat., 124[deg]17.77' W. long.;
(162) 40[deg]02.99' N. lat., 124[deg]15.55' W. long.;
(163) 40[deg]02.00' N. lat., 124[deg]12.97' W. long.;
(164) 40[deg]02.60' N. lat., 124[deg]10.61' W. long.;
(165) 40[deg]03.63' N. lat., 124[deg]09.12' W. long.;
(166) 40[deg]02.18' N. lat., 124[deg]09.07' W. long.;
(167) 39[deg]58.25' N. lat., 124[deg]12.56' W. long.;
(168) 39[deg]57.03' N. lat., 124[deg]11.34' W. long.;
(169) 39[deg]56.30' N. lat., 124[deg]08.96' W. long.;
(170) 39[deg]54.82' N. lat., 124[deg]07.66' W. long.;
(171) 39[deg]52.57' N. lat., 124[deg]08.55' W. long.;
(172) 39[deg]45.34' N. lat., 124[deg]03.30' W. long.;
(173) 39[deg]34.75' N. lat., 123[deg]58.50' W. long.;
(174) 39[deg]34.22' N. lat., 123[deg]56.82' W. long.;
(175) 39[deg]32.98' N. lat., 123[deg]56.43' W. long.;
(176) 39[deg]31.47' N. lat., 123[deg]58.73' W. long.;
(177) 39[deg]05.68' N. lat., 123[deg]57.81' W. long.;
(178) 39[deg]00.24' N. lat., 123[deg]56.74' W. long.;
(179) 38[deg]54.31' N. lat., 123[deg]56.73' W. long.;
(180) 38[deg]41.42' N. lat., 123[deg]46.75' W. long.;
(181) 38[deg]39.61' N. lat., 123[deg]46.48' W. long.;
(182) 38[deg]37.52' N. lat., 123[deg]43.78' W. long.;
(183) 38[deg]35.25' N. lat., 123[deg]42.00' W. long.;
(184) 38[deg]28.79' N. lat., 123[deg]37.07' W. long.;
(185) 38[deg]19.88' N. lat., 123[deg]32.54' W. long.;
(186) 38[deg]14.43' N. lat., 123[deg]25.56' W. long.;
(187) 38[deg]08.75' N. lat., 123[deg]24.48' W. long.;
(188) 38[deg]10.10' N. lat., 123[deg]27.20' W. long.;
(189) 38[deg]07.16' N. lat., 123[deg]28.18' W. long.;
(190) 38[deg]06.42' N. lat., 123[deg]30.18' W. long.;
(191) 38[deg]04.28' N. lat., 123[deg]31.70' W. long.;
(192) 38[deg]01.88' N. lat., 123[deg]30.98' W. long.;
(193) 38[deg]00.75' N. lat., 123[deg]29.72' W. long.;
(194) 38[deg]00.00' N. lat., 123[deg]28.60' W. long.;
(195) 37[deg]58.23' N. lat., 123[deg]26.90' W. long.;
(196) 37[deg]55.32' N. lat., 123[deg]27.19' W. long.;
(197) 37[deg]51.47' N. lat., 123[deg]24.92' W. long.;
(198) 37[deg]44.47' N. lat., 123[deg]11.57' W. long.;
(199) 37[deg]36.33' N. lat., 123[deg]01.76' W. long.;
(200) 37[deg]15.16' N. lat., 122[deg]51.64' W. long.;
(201) 37[deg]01.68' N. lat., 122[deg]37.28' W. long.;
(202) 36[deg]59.70' N. lat., 122[deg]33.71' W. long.;
(203) 36[deg]58.00' N. lat., 122[deg]27.80' W. long.;
(204) 37[deg]00.25' N. lat., 122[deg]24.85' W. long.;
(205) 36[deg]57.50' N. lat., 122[deg]24.98' W. long.;
(206) 36[deg]58.38' N. lat., 122[deg]21.85' W. long.;
(207) 36[deg]55.85' N. lat., 122[deg]21.95' W. long.;
(208) 36[deg]52.02' N. lat., 122[deg]12.10' W. long.;
(209) 36[deg]47.63' N. lat., 122[deg]07.37' W. long.;
(210) 36[deg]47.26' N. lat., 122[deg]03.22' W. long.;
(211) 36[deg]50.34' N. lat., 121[deg]58.40' W. long.;
(212) 36[deg]48.83' N. lat., 121[deg]59.14' W. long.;
(213) 36[deg]44.81' N. lat., 121[deg]58.28' W. long.;
(214) 36[deg]39.00' N. lat., 122[deg]01.71' W. long.;
(215) 36[deg]29.60' N. lat., 122[deg]00.49' W. long.;
(216) 36[deg]23.43' N. lat., 121[deg]59.76' W. long.;
(217) 36[deg]18.90' N. lat., 122[deg]05.32' W. long.;
(218) 36[deg]15.38' N. lat., 122[deg]01.40' W. long.;
(219) 36[deg]13.79' N. lat., 121[deg]58.12' W. long.;
(220) 36[deg]10.12' N. lat., 121[deg]43.33' W. long.;
(221) 36[deg]02.57' N. lat., 121[deg]37.02' W. long.;
(222) 36[deg]01.01' N. lat., 121[deg]36.95' W. long.;
(223) 35[deg]57.74' N. lat., 121[deg]33.45' W. long.;
(224) 35[deg]51.32' N. lat., 121[deg]30.08' W. long.;
(225) 35[deg]45.84' N. lat., 121[deg]28.84' W. long.;
(226) 35[deg]38.94' N. lat., 121[deg]23.16' W. long.;
(227) 35[deg]26.00' N. lat., 121[deg]08.00' W. long.;
(228) 35[deg]07.42' N. lat., 120[deg]57.08' W. long.;
(229) 34[deg]42.76' N. lat., 120[deg]55.09' W. long.;
(230) 34[deg]37.75' N. lat., 120[deg]51.96' W. long.;
(231) 34[deg]29.29' N. lat., 120[deg]44.19' W. long.;
(232) 34[deg]27.00' N. lat., 120[deg]40.42' W. long.;
(233) 34[deg]21.89' N. lat., 120[deg]31.36' W. long.;
(234) 34[deg]20.79' N. lat., 120[deg]21.58' W. long.;
(235) 34[deg]23.97' N. lat., 120[deg]15.25' W. long.;
(236) 34[deg]22.11' N. lat., 119[deg]56.63' W. long.;
(237) 34[deg]19.00' N. lat., 119[deg]48.00' W. long.;
(238) 34[deg]15.00' N. lat., 119[deg]48.00' W. long.;
(239) 34[deg]08.00' N. lat., 119[deg]37.00' W. long.;
(240) 34[deg]08.39' N. lat., 119[deg]54.78' W. long.;
(241) 34[deg]07.10' N. lat., 120[deg]10.37' W. long.;
(242) 34[deg]10.08' N. lat., 120[deg]22.98' W. long.;
(243) 34[deg]13.16' N. lat., 120[deg]29.40' W. long.;
(244) 34[deg]09.41' N. lat., 120[deg]37.75' W. long.;
(245) 34[deg]03.15' N. lat., 120[deg]34.71' W. long.;
(246) 33[deg]57.09' N. lat., 120[deg]27.76' W. long.;
(247) 33[deg]51.00' N. lat., 120[deg]09.00' W. long.;
(248) 33[deg]38.16' N. lat., 119[deg]59.23' W. long.;
(249) 33[deg]37.04' N. lat., 119[deg]50.17' W. long.;
(250) 33[deg]42.28' N. lat., 119[deg]48.85' W. long.;
(251) 33[deg]53.96' N. lat., 119[deg]53.77' W. long.;
(252) 33[deg]59.94[min] N. lat., 119[deg]19.57[min] W. long.;
(253) 34[deg]03.12[min] N. lat., 119[deg]15.51[min] W. long.;
(254) 34[deg]01.97[min] N. lat., 119[deg]07.28[min] W. long.;
(255) 34[deg]03.60[min] N. lat., 119[deg]04.71[min] W. long.;
(256) 33[deg]59.30[min] N. lat., 119[deg]03.73[min] W. long.;
(257) 33[deg]58.87[min] N. lat., 118[deg]59.37[min] W. long.;
(258) 33[deg]58.08[min] N. lat., 118[deg]41.14[min] W. long.;
(259) 33[deg]50.93[min] N. lat., 118[deg]37.65[min] W. long.;
(260) 33[deg]39.54[min] N. lat., 118[deg]18.70[min] W. long.;
(261) 33[deg]35.42[min] N. lat., 118[deg]17.14[min] W. long.;
(262) 33[deg]32.15[min] N. lat., 118[deg]10.84[min] W. long.;
(263) 33[deg]33.71[min] N. lat., 117[deg]53.72[min] W. long.;
(264) 33[deg]31.17[min] N. lat., 117[deg]49.11[min] W. long.;
(265) 33[deg]16.53[min] N. lat., 117[deg]36.13[min] W. long.;
(266) 33[deg]06.77[min] N. lat., 117[deg]22.92[min] W. long.;
(267) 32[deg]58.94[min] N. lat., 117[deg]20.05[min] W. long.;
(268) 32[deg]55.83[min] N. lat., 117[deg]20.15[min] W. long.;
(269) 32[deg]46.29[min] N. lat., 117[deg]23.89[min] W. long.;
(270) 32[deg]42.00[min] N. lat., 117[deg]22.16[min] W. long.;
(271) 32[deg]39.47[min] N. lat., 117[deg]27.78[min] W. long.; and
(272) 32[deg]34.83[min] N. lat., 117[deg]24.69[min] W. long.

    4. On pages 11108-11114, in section IV. NMFS Actions, under B. 
Limited Entry Fishery, at the end of paragraph (1), Table 3 (North), 
Table 3 (South), Table 4 (North), and Table 4 (South) are revised to 
read as follows:

IV. NMFS Actions

B. Limited Entry Fishery

    (1) * * *
* * * * *
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* * * * *

Classification

    These actions are authorized by the Pacific Coast groundfish FMP 
and their 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 NOAA, 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. Providing prior notice and comment 
on the inseason adjustments would be impracticable because the data 
upon which these recommendations were based were provided to the 
Pacific Council and the Pacific Council made its recommendations at 
its June 13-18, 2004, meeting in Foster City, CA. As described 
below, there is not sufficient time after that meeting to draft this 
notice and undergo proposed and final rulemaking before the 
beginning of the next cumulative limit period, July 1, 2004, when 
these actions need to be in effect. Many of the previously scheduled 
management measures for the July-August period are more liberal than 
the adjustments contained in this inseason action. The delay 
required by notice and comment would allow sufficient fishing time 
so that most participants in the fishery could take the previously 
scheduled higher trip limits before this inseason action would be in 
effect. Therefore, 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.
    Adjustments to management measures in this inseason action 
include changes to the management measures for the limited entry 
groundfish fisheries. Changes to limited entry trawl trip limits for 
DTS species, yellowtail rockfish, and widow rockfish implemented 
with this inseason action are more conservative than previously 
scheduled DTS trip limits. These more conservative trip limits must 
be implemented in a timely manner to keep harvest of DTS species and 
yellowtail and widow rockfish within their 2004 OYs and/or to allow 
the fisheries to continue throughout the year. This inseason action 
contains a clarification of the intent and application of 
differential trip limits. Changes to differential trip limits, in 
the area between 40[deg]10' N. lat. and the U.S./Mexico border, 
relieve unnecessary restrictions. Incidental catch allowances for 
overfished species taken in the directed limited entry trawl and 
fixed gear fisheries for abundant groundfish stocks are also part of 
this inseason action. Because these incidental catch allowances will 
reduce discards in the Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries, while 
keeping the total mortality of overfished species within their 2004 
OYs, they should be implemented as quickly as possible.
    For these reasons, good cause also exists to waive the 30-day 
delay in effectiveness requirement under 5 U.S.C. 553 (d)(3).
    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: July 1, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-15379 Filed 7-1-04; 3:19 pm]
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