Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

[Federal Register: October 3, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 191)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 58289-58307]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03oc06-22]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 051014263-6028-03; I.D. 092106A]

Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish
Fishery; Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason adjustments to groundfish management measures; request
for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces changes to management measures in the
commercial and recreational Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries. These
actions, which are authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
Management Plan (FMP), are intended to allow fisheries to access more
abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.

DATES: Effective 0001 hours (local time) October 1, 2006. Comments on
this rule will be accepted through November 2, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by I.D. 092106A by any
of the following methods:

[[Page 58290]]

? E-mail: GroundfishInseason10.nwr@noaa.gov. Include I.D.
092106A 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, Attn: Jamie Goen, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-0070.
? Fax: 206-526-6736, Attn: Jamie Goen.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie Goen (Northwest Region, NMFS),
phone: 206-526-6150; fax: 206-526-6736; or e-mail: jamie.goen@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

This Federal Register document is available on the Government
Printing Office's website at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
Background information and documents are available at the Pacific
Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council's) website at:
http://www.pcouncil.org.

Background

The Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP and its implementing regulations
at Title 50 in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), part 660, subpart
G, regulate fishing for over 80 species of groundfish off the coasts of
Washington, Oregon, and California. Groundfish specifications and
management measures are developed by the Pacific Council, and are
implemented by NMFS. The specifications and management measures for
2005-2006 were codified in the CFR (50 CFR part 660, subpart G). They
were published in the Federal Register as a proposed rule on September
21, 2004 (69 FR 56550), and as a final rule on December 23, 2004 (69 FR
77012). The final rule was subsequently amended on March 18, 2005 (70
FR 13118); March 30, 2005 (70 FR 16145); April 19, 2005 (70 FR 20304);
May 3, 2005 (70 FR 22808); May 4, 2005 (70 FR 23040); May 5, 2005 (70
FR 23804); May 16, 2005 (70 FR 25789); May 19, 2005 (70 FR 28852); July
5, 2005 (70 FR 38596); August 22, 2005 (70 FR 48897); August 31, 2005
(70 FR 51682); October 5, 2005 (70 FR 58066); October 20, 2005 (70 FR
61063); October 24, 2005 (70 FR 61393); November 1, 2005 (70 FR 65861);
and December 5, 2005 (70 FR 723850). Longer-term changes to the 2006
specifications and management measures were published in the Federal
Register as a proposed rule on December 19, 2005 (70 FR 75115), and as
a final rule on February 17, 2006 (71 FR 8489). The final rule was
subsequently amended on March 27, 2006 (71 FR 10545), April 11, 2006
(71 FR 18227), April 26, 2006 (71 FR 24601), May 11, 2006 (71 FR
27408), May 22, 2006 (71 FR 29257), June 1, 2006 (71 FR 31104), July 3,
2006 (71 FR 37839), August 7, 2006 (71 FR 44590), and August 22, 2006
(71 FR 48824).
The changes to current groundfish management measures implemented
by this action were recommended by the Pacific Council, in consultation
with Pacific Coast Treaty Indian Tribes and the States of Washington,
Oregon, and California, at its September 11-15, 2006, meeting in Foster
City, CA. At that meeting, the Pacific Council recommended: (1)
increasing the widow rockfish bycatch limit and decreasing the canary
rockfish bycatch limit for the commercial limited entry non-tribal
primary whiting fishery; (2) increasing the limited entry trawl trip
limits coastwide in Period 6 (November-December) for sablefish and
petrale sole; (3) closing the open access daily trip limit (DTL)
fishery for sablefish north of 36[deg] N. lat. beginning October 1; (4)
increasing the limited entry fixed gear and open access DTL fishery for
sablefish south of 36[deg] N. lat. beginning October 1; and (5)
prohibiting retention of vermilion rockfish by boat anglers in the
recreational fishery seaward of the state of Oregon. In addition, NMFS
is correcting an error in the footnote for yelloweye rockfish in Table
2b to part 660, subpart G. 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 achievement of,
or to avoid exceeding, optimum yields (OYs).

Limited Entry Trawl Non-tribal Whiting Fishery Bycatch Limits for Widow
and Canary Rockfish

The Pacific Council considered adjusting the bycatch limits for
widow rockfish and canary rockfish in the non-tribal whiting fisheries.
An increase in the widow bycatch limit for the non-tribal whiting
fishery would buffer against the possibility of a disaster tow that
might shut down the fishery before the whiting quota is achieved. A
decrease in the canary bycatch limit would provide a precautionary
adjustment to the projected total mortality of canary rockfish for all
fisheries (commercial, recreational, EFP, and research) while still
allowing the whiting quota to be achieved, based on current information
about the fishery's bycatch rates.
The Pacific Council considered whether to increase the bycatch
limits for widow rockfish in the non-tribal whiting fishery above the
200 mt specified in regulation. Bycatch of widow rockfish in the
whiting fishery was estimated in NMFS Whiting Report #12 to be
at 186.47 mt through September 5, 2006. The whiting fishery is nearing
the end of its seasons for the various sectors. The shorebased fishery
has already closed. The mothership fishery has approximately 5,000 mt
(approximately 9 percent of allocation) remaining, and the catcher/
processor fishery has approximately 15,000 mt (approximately 20 percent
of allocation) remaining. Catch of widow rockfish in the non-tribal
whiting fishery is expected to remain low through the remainder of the
season. However, widow rockfish tends to be taken sporadically and in
infrequent but large amounts. This makes widow rockfish bycatch rates
difficult to predict, and there have been past unexpectedly high tows
upwards of 20 mt. Therefore, while catch of widow rockfish is expected
to remain low, the Pacific Council considered increasing the widow
bycatch limit enough to cover an unexpectedly high tow of approximately
20 mt. Increasing the bycatch limit from 200 mt to 220 mt should
provide enough widow rockfish to allow the whiting fisheries to catch
their whiting allocations without the threat of a single large widow
tow shutting non-tribal whiting fisheries down early. In addition, an
increase in the widow rockfish bycatch limit to 220 mt is still well
within the projected total mortality of widow rockfish (258 mt projected
total mortality for all fisheries out of a 289 mt widow rockfish OY).
The Pacific Council also considered a decrease in the canary
rockfish bycatch limit to provide a precautionary adjustment to the
projected total mortality of canary rockfish for all fisheries
(commercial, recreational, EFP, and research). Catch of canary rockfish
by research vessels is higher than projected for 2006. Previously, an
advisory body to the Pacific Council, the Groundfish Management Team
(GMT), had projected 3 mt of canary rockfish would be taken as 2006
research catch in their bycatch scorecard. The bycatch scorecard is a
tool used by the GMT to track estimated and projected total mortality
of overfished species for the year.
Based on preliminary information from research vessels to date, the
2006 research catch is now 7.5 mt (7.2 mt from the NMFS triennial trawl
survey and 0.3 mt from research off Oregon). Additional catch of canary
rockfish is likely to occur as the NMFS triennial trawl survey
continues from Eureka to San Diego, California. The GMT

[[Page 58291]]

reviewed historical survey trend data from 2003-2005 and estimated that
an additional 0.3 mt should cover the remainder of the research catch
for that area. However, the survey vessel is conducting its survey in
the area between 41[deg] N. latitude and 40[deg]10' N. latitude (off of
Eureka), which is a known ``hot spot'' area for canary rockfish. While
more than 90 percent of the canary rockfish take in the historical
triennial trawl survey occurs north of Eureka, there is the potential
for an unexpectedly high tow of canary rockfish. Therefore, the GMT
suggested increasing the potential additional research catch from 0.3
mt to 1.0 mt, which should buffer against the potential for a high tow
of canary rockfish. Thus, the total projection for canary rockfish
mortality from research in the bycatch scorecard will be increased to
8.5 mt through the end of the year (7.5 mt current total mortality plus
1.0 mt projected total mortality for research during the remainder of
the year).
Because the mortality of canary rockfish from research is estimated
to be much higher in 2006 than estimated in pre-season projections, the
Pacific Council reviewed the bycatch scorecard for estimated mortality
of canary rockfish in other fisheries. Some ongoing fisheries are
tracking behind their projected take of canary rockfish. The non-tribal
whiting fisheries have taken 2.5 mt out of their 4.7 mt canary rockfish
bycatch limit. The tribal whiting fishery has taken 0.3 mt through
August out of a projected 1.6 mt canary mortality, and the tribal
midwater trawl fishery is also tracking behind in the bycatch
scorecard. In addition, recreational fisheries are tracking behind
their estimated take of canary rockfish at this time. Thus, there is
the potential for canary rockfish total mortality to come in below the
bycatch scorecard projections for the year.
Even with many fisheries tracking behind their projected canary
rockfish take for the year, the Pacific Council recommended reducing
the canary rockfish bycatch limit in the non-tribal whiting fishery
from 4.7 mt to 4.0 mt in regulation, as a precautionary measure. The
non-tribal whiting fishery is estimated to have taken 2.5 mt out of
their 4.7 mt canary rockfish bycatch limit, as of September 5, 2006. As
a comparison, the non-tribal whiting fishery took 3.3 mt of canary
rockfish in its 2005 season. Given other updates to the bycatch
scorecard, the non-tribal whiting bycatch limit would need to be
reduced to 4.0 mt, to ensure that estimates within the scorecard remain
within the 2006 OY for canary rockfish. With the shorebased fishery
closed and limited amounts of the whiting allocation remaining for the
mothership and catcher/processor sector, the non-tribal whiting fishery
will likely remain within the lower 4.0 mt canary rockfish bycatch limit.
With all of the updates to the bycatch scorecard, projected total
mortality of canary rockfish for the year in the bycatch scorecard is
47.1 mt, equivalent to the OY for 2006, while widow rockfish is
projected to be 278 mt, below the OY of 289 mt. However, as mentioned
previously, many fisheries are expected to come in below their
projections of canary rockfish take for the year. The Pacific Council's
GMT anticipates updating the bycatch scorecard with new inseason
information at the Council's November 13-17, 2006, meeting.
Therefore, the Pacific Council recommended and NMFS is implementing
a reduction in the canary rockfish bycatch limit from 4.7 mt to 4.0 mt,
and an increase in the widow rockfish bycatch limit from 200 mt to 220 mt.

Limited Entry Trawl Trip Limits

Catch of petrale sole and sablefish in the limited entry bottom
trawl fisheries is tracking behind projections. The Pacific Council
considered increasing trip limits in Period 6 (November-December) to
70,000 lb (31,752 kg) per 2 months for petrale sole and to 20,000 lb
(9,072 kg) per 2 months for sablefish to provide some increase in
fishing opportunity while staying within the OYs for these species.
North of 40[deg]10' N. lat., these increases would only apply seaward
of the trawl rockfish conservation area (RCA). The Pacific Council also
considered whether increased catches of these species could be
accommodated without increasing impacts on overfished species beyond
what is projected to remain within the OY. These trip limit changes
would increase the estimated mortality of the following overfished
species: bocaccio, darkblotched rockfish and Pacific Ocean perch (POP).
However, the estimated impacts on these overfished species as a result
of the trip limit adjustments, combined with all estimated mortality,
are within the 2006 OYs for those species.
Therefore, the Pacific Council recommended and NMFS is implementing
trip limit adjustments for the limited entry bottom trawl fishery in
Period 6 (November-December) as follows: (1) north of 40[deg]10' N.
lat., increase petrale sole trip limits from 60,000 lb (27,216 kg) per
2 months to 70,000 lb (31,752 kg) per 2 months for large and small
footrope trawl gear; (2) north of 40[deg]10' N. lat., increase
sablefish trip limits from 14,000 lb (6.350 kg) per 2 months to 20,000
lb (9,072 kg) per 2 months for large and small footrope trawl gear; (3)
south of 40[deg]10' N. lat., increase petrale sole trip limits from
60,000 lb (27,216 kg) per 2 months to 70,000 lb (31,752 kg) per 2
months; and (4) south of 40[deg]10' N. lat., increase sablefish trip
limits from 17,000 lb (7,711 kg) per 2 months to 20,000 lb (9,072 kg)
per 2 months.

Open Access DTL Fishery for Sablefish North of 36[deg] N. lat.

Catch of sablefish in the open access (OA) DTL fishery continues to
be higher than in previous years. To slow the catch of sablefish
earlier in the year, NMFS reduced the OA sablefish daily trip limit, or
DTL, fishery cumulative trip limit north of 36[deg] N. lat. from 5,000
lb (2,268 kg) per 2 months to 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) per 2 months (71 FR
24601, April 26, 2006). The Council recommended this reduction in
anticipation of a large influx of fishing effort into the sablefish DTL
fishery from vessels unable to participate in this year's highly
restricted salmon fishery. Reducing the cumulative limit was intended
to provide for a longer season, which was thought to most benefit
fishers who have historically participated in the year-round fishery.
To date, the catch of OA sablefish is higher in 2006 than catch
projected from historical data. This supports the assumptions that
restrictions in the salmon fishery may have led to increased effort in
the OA sablefish DTL fishery. PacFIN estimates the OA sablefish DTL
catch through August to be 524 mt, out of a 613 mt harvest guideline
north of 36[deg] N. lat. Given that this sector has caught an average
of 70-80 mt of sablefish per month since March, the OA DTL fishery is
expected to attain their sablefish allocation in early October.
Therefore, the Pacific Council recommended and NMFS is implementing
a reduction in the OA sablefish DTL fishery trip limits north of
36[deg] N. lat. beginning October 1 from ``300 lb (136 kg) per day, or
1 landing per week of up to 1,000 lb (454 kg), not to exceed 3,000 lb
(1,361 kg) per 2 months'' to ``closed.''

Limited Entry Fixed Gear & Open Access DTL Fishery for Sablefish South
of 36[deg] N. lat.

While OA DTL fisheries north of 36[deg] N. lat. are tracking ahead
of schedule, limited entry fixed gear and OA sablefish DTL fisheries
south of 36[deg] N. lat. are tracking behind schedule.

[[Page 58292]]

PacFIN data through the end of August estimates that 52 mt out of a
271-mt total catch OY have been taken south of 36[deg] N. lat. There is
not an allocation between limited entry or open access sablefish
fisheries in this area.
Because sablefish fisheries south of 36[deg] N. lat. are tracking
behind schedule, the Pacific Council discussed increasing trip limits
for the limited entry fixed gear and OA sablefish DTL fisheries south
of 36[deg] N. lat. from 350 lb (159 kg) per day to 500 lb (227 kg) per
day beginning October 1, leaving the weekly limit the same. Leaving the
weekly limit the same is intended to discourage increased effort from
shifting from waters north of 36[deg] N. lat., which will close October
1. This action would not increase estimated impacts on overfished
species, including canary rockfish, because estimated mortality for
overfished species for the year assume that this sector will achieve
its allocation.
Therefore, the Pacific Council recommended and NMFS is implementing
an increase in the limited entry fixed gear and OA sablefish DTL
fishery trip limits south of 36[deg] N. lat. beginning October 1 from
``350 lb (159 kg) per day, or 1 landing per week of up to 1,050 lb (476
kg)'' to ``500 lb (227 kg) per day, or 1 landing per week of up to
1,050 lb. (476 kg).''

Oregon Recreational Fishery

Vermilion rockfish is a federally-managed species under the Pacific
Coast Groundfish FMP. However, the state of Oregon has more restrictive
state harvest limits for vermilion rockfish than the federal limits.
The federal and state governments work cooperatively to manage the OYs
for Pacific Coast groundfish species, such as vermilion rockfish, from
0-200 nm.
In the Oregon recreational groundfish fishery, the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) manages vermilion rockfish under
a state harvest limit as part of the ``other nearshore rockfish''
aggregate, which also includes brown, china, copper, grass, quillback,
and tiger rockfishes). In June, the catch rate of the ``other nearshore
rockfish'' aggregate was tracking higher than expected and projections
showed that without action, the harvest limit would be prematurely
attained. Vermilion rockfish represented approximately half of the
landings in the ``other nearshore rockfish'' aggregate. ODFW took
management action specific to vermilion rockfish to prevent the ``other
nearshore rockfish'' aggregate from reaching the Oregon state harvest
limit. Effective June 24, 2006, ODFW prohibited the retention of
vermilion rockfish in the recreational ocean and estuary boat fisheries.
Therefore, in order to conform recreational management measures for
Federal waters (3-200 nm) to management measures for Oregon state
waters (0-3 nm), the Pacific Council recommended and NMFS is
implementing a prohibition on the retention of vermilion rockfish by
boat anglers in Federal recreational regulations off Oregon.

Yelloweye Rockfish Recreational Harvest Guideline Boundary Correction

NMFS is correcting an error in the footnote for yelloweye rockfish
in Table 2b to part 660, subpart G. Table 2b is part of the acceptable
biological catch (ABC)/OY tables. Footnote aa/ for yelloweye rockfish
was revised on May 22, 2006 (71 FR 29257). In the preamble for this
revision, NMFS explained that the recreational harvest guideline is
divided north and south of the Oregon/California border, at 42[deg] N.
lat., as recommended by the Pacific Council and as analyzed in the
Environmental Impact Statement for the 2005-2006 groundfish
specifications and management measures. However, the footnote in the
table divided the recreational harvest guideline at the wrong place, at
40[deg]10' N. lat. Therefore, NMFS is correcting footnote aa/ for
yelloweye rockfish to break the recreational harvest guideline at
42[deg] N. lat. (Oregon/California border) instead of 40[deg]10' N.
lat. The recreational harvest guideline of 6.7 mt is managed jointly by
Oregon and Washington north of 42[deg] N. lat., and the recreational
harvest guideline of 3.7 mt is managed by California south of 42[deg]
N. lat. This correction is necessary for the states to be able to
manage their respective state harvest guidelines consistent with the
record and intent for this fishery.

Classification

These actions are taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.370(c)
and are exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.
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.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there is good cause to waive prior
notice and opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and
comment would be impracticable. The data upon which these
recommendations were based was provided to the Pacific Council, and the
Pacific Council made its recommendations at its September 11-15, 2006,
meeting in Foster City, CA. 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. For the actions to be
implemented in this notice, prior notice and opportunity for comment
would be impracticable because affording the time necessary for prior
notice and opportunity for public comment would impede the Agency's
function of managing fisheries using the best available science to
approach without exceeding the OYs for federally managed species. The
adjustments to management measures in this document affect commercial
and recreational groundfish fisheries. Changes to the limited entry
non-whiting trawl fishery must be implemented in a timely manner by
November 1, 2006, to allow fishermen an opportunity to harvest higher
trip limits for stocks tracking behind their projected OY and within
projected mortality for overfished species. The reduction to the canary
rockfish bycatch limit for the limited entry non-tribal whiting trawl
fishery must be implemented in a timely manner by October 1, 2006, to
keep mortality of canary rockfish, an overfished species, within its
projection for the year. The increase to the widow rockfish bycatch
limit for the limited entry non-tribal whiting trawl fishery must be
implemented in a timely manner by October 1, 2006, to allow the take of
the whiting allocation while keeping mortality of widow rockfish, an
overfished species, within its projection for the year. Changes to the
open access sablefish fishery north of 36[deg] N. lat. must be
implemented in a timely manner by October 1, 2006, to keep harvest of
sablefish within the allocation for this fishery. Changes to the
limited entry fixed gear and open access sablefish fishery south of
36[deg] N. lat. must be implemented in a timely manner by October 1,
2006, to allow fishermen an opportunity to harvest higher trip limits
for stocks tracking behind their projected OY and within projected
mortality for overfished species. Changes to the recreational fishery
must be implemented by October 1, 2006, in order to conform to existing
state regulations and to keep recreational harvest within state harvest
limits. Changes to the yelloweye rockfish recreational harvest
guideline boundary must be implemented by October 1, 2006, to allow the
states to take management action should a

[[Page 58293]]

yelloweye rockfish recreational harvest guideline be reached before the
end of the year. Delaying any of these changes would keep management
measures in place that are not based on the best available data, which
could risk fisheries exceeding their OY, or deny fishermen access to
available harvest. This would impair managing fisheries to stay within
the OYs for the year, or would impair achievement of one of the Pacific
Coast Groundfish FMP objectives of providing for year-round harvest
opportunities or extending fishing opportunities as long as practicable
during the fishing year.
For these reasons, good cause also exists to waive the 30 day delay
in effectiveness requirement under 5 U.S.C. 553 (d)(3).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

Fisheries, Fishing, Indian fisheries.

Dated: September 27, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.

? For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is amended as
follows:

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES

? 1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows:

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

? 2. In Sec. 660.373, paragraph (b)(4) is revised to read as follows:

Sec. 660.373 Pacific whiting (whiting) fishery management.

* * * * *
(b) * * *
(4) 2005 2006 bycatch limits in the whiting fishery. The bycatch
limits for the whiting fishery may be used inseason to close a sector
or sectors of the whiting fishery to achieve the rebuilding of an
overfished or depleted stock, under routine management measure
authority at Sec. 660.370 (c)(1)(ii). These limits are routine
management measures under Sec. 660.370 (c) and, as such, may be
adjusted inseason or may have new species added to the list of those
with bycatch limits. For 2005, the whiting fishery bycatch limits for
the sectors identified Sec. 660.323(a) are 4.7 mt of canary rockfish
and 212 mt of widow rockfish. For 2006, the whiting fishery bycatch
limits are 4.0 mt of canary rockfish, 220 mt of widow rockfish, and 25
mt of darkblotched rockfish.
* * * * *

? 3. In Sec. 660.384, paragraph (c)(2)(iii) is revised to read as follows:

Sec. 660.384 Recreational fishery management measures.

* * * * *
(c) * * *
(2) * * *
(iii) Bag limits, size limits. The bag limits for each person
engaged in recreational fishing in the EEZ seaward of Oregon are two
lingcod per day, which may be no smaller than 24 in (61 cm) total
length; and 6 marine fish per day, which excludes Pacific halibut,
salmonids, tuna, perch species, sturgeon, sanddabs, lingcod, striped
bass, hybrid bass, offshore pelagic species and baitfish (herring,
smelt, anchovies and sardines), but which includes rockfish, greenling,
cabezon and other groundfish species. 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 Oregon border with Washington and Cape
Falcon, when Pacific halibut are onboard the vessel, groundfish may not
be taken and retained, possessed or landed, except sablefish and
Pacific cod. Between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain, during days open
to the Oregon Central Coast ``all-depth'' sport halibut fishery, when
Pacific halibut are onboard the vessel, no groundfish may be taken and
retained, possessed or landed, except sablefish. ``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 halibut hotline, 1 800 662 9825. The minimum size
limit for cabezon retained in the recreational fishery is 16 in (41 cm)
and for greenling is 10 in (26 cm). Taking and retaining canary
rockfish and yelloweye rockfish is prohibited at all times and in all
areas. From October 1 through December 31, 2006, taking and retaining
vermilion rockfish is prohibited in all areas by boat anglers.
* * * * *

? 4. In part 660, subpart G, Table 2b is revised to read as follows:

Table 2b to Part 660, Subpart G--2006, and Beyond, OYs for Minor
Rockfish by Depth Subgroups (Weights in Metric Tons)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OY (Total Catch) Harvest Guidelines (total
------------------------------------------ catch)
Total Commercial HG ----------------------------
Species Catch for minor Limited Entry Open Access
ABC Total Recreational rockfish and ----------------------------
Catch OY Estimate depth sub-
groups Mt % Mt %
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minor Rockfish north cc/ 3,680... 2,250 78 2,172 1,992 91.7 180 8.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nearshore ........ 122 68 54 ...... ..... ..... .....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shelf ........ 968 10 958 ...... ..... ..... .....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slope ........ 1,160 0 1,160 ...... ..... ..... .....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minor Rockfish south dd/ 3,412... 1,968 443 1,390 774 55.7 616 44.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nearshore ii/ ........ 615 383 97 ...... ..... ..... .....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shelf ........ 714 60 654 ...... ..... ..... .....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slope ........ 639 0 639 ...... ..... ..... .....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a/ ABCs apply to the U.S. portion of the Vancouver area, except as noted under individual species.

[[Page 58294]]

b/ Lingcod was declared overfished on March 3, 1999. A coastwide stock assessment was prepared in 2003. Lingcod
was believed to be at 25 percent of its unfished biomass coastwide in 2002, 31 percent in the north and 19
percent in the south. The ABC projection for 2006 is 2,716 mt and was calculated using an F_MSY proxy of F45%.
The total catch OY of 2,414 mt (the sum of 1,891 mt in the north and 612 mt in the south) is based on the
rebuilding plan with a 70 percent probability of rebuilding the stock to B_MSY by the year 2009 (T_MAX). The
harvest control rule will be F=0.17 in the north and F=0.15 in the south. Out of the OY, it is estimated that
693 mt will be taken in the recreational fishery, 7.2 mt will be taken during research activity, and 2.8 mt
will be taken in non-groundfish fisheries. Under the 2006 management measures, it is anticipated that 214.7 mt
will be taken in the commercial fisheries (which is being set as a commercial HG), leaving a residual amount
of 1,496.3 mt to be used as necessary during the fishing year. There is a recreational harvest guideline of
271 mt for the area north of 42[deg] N. lat. and a recreational harvest guideline of 422 mt for the area south
of 42[deg] N. lat. The tribes do not have a specific allocation at this time, but are expected to take 25.1 mt
of the commercial HG.
c/ ``Other species'', these are neither common nor important to the commercial and recreational fisheries in the
areas footnoted. Accordingly, Pacific cod is included in the non-commercial HG of ``other fish'' and rockfish
species are included in either ``other rockfish'' or ``remaining rockfish'' for the areas footnoted.
d/ Pacific Cod - The 3,200 mt ABC is based on historical landings data and is set at the same level as it was in
2004. The 1,600 mt OY is the ABC reduced by 50 percent as a precautionary adjustment. The OY is reduced by 400
mt for the tribal harvest guideline, resulting in a commercial harvest guideline of 1,200 mt.
e/ Pacific whiting - The most recent stock assessment was prepared in early 2006, and the whiting biomass was
estimated to be between 31 percent and 38 percent of its unfished biomass. The U.S. ABC of 518,294 mt is based
on the 2006 assessment results with the application of an F_MSY proxy harvest rate of 40%. The U.S. ABC is
73.88 percent of the coastwide ABC. The U.S. total catch OY is being set at 269,069 mt. The total catch OY is
reduced by 35,000 mt for the tribal allocation, 200 mt for the amount estimated to be taken during research
fishing, and 1,800 mt for the estimated catch in non-groundfish fisheries, resulting in a commercial OY of
232,069 mt. The commercial OY is allocated between the sectors with 42 percent (97,469 mt) going to the shore-
based sector, 34 percent (78,903 mt) going to the catcher/processor sector, and 24 percent (55,696 mt) going
to the mothership sector. Discards of whiting are estimated from the observer data and counted towards the OY
inseason.
f/ Sablefish north of 36[deg] N. lat. - A coastwide sablefish stock assessment was prepared in 2001 and updated
for 2002. Following the 2002 stock assessment update, the sablefish biomass north of 34[deg]27' N. lat. was
believed to be between 31 percent and 38 percent of its unfished biomass. The coastwide ABC of 8,175 mt is
based on environmentally driven projections with the F_MSY proxy of F45%. The ABC for the management area north
of 36[deg] N. lat. is 7,885 mt (96.45 percent of the coastwide ABC). The coastwide OY of 7,634 mt (the sum of
7,363 mt in the north and 271 mt in the south) is based on the density-dependent model and the application of
the 40-10 harvest policy. The total catch OY for the area north of 36[deg] N. lat is 7,363 mt and is 96.45
percent of the coastwide OY. The OY is reduced by 10 percent (736 mt) for the tribal allocation. Out of the
remaining OY, 86 mt will be taken during research activity, and 19 mt will be taken in non-groundfish
fisheries, resulting in a commercial HG of 6,522 mt. The open access allocation is 9.4 percent (613 mt) of the
commercial HG and the limited entry allocation is 90.6 percent (5,909 mt) of the commercial HG. The limited
entry allocation is further divided with 58 percent (3,427 mt) allocated to the trawl fishery and 42 percent
(2,482 mt) allocated to the fixed-gear fishery. To provide for bycatch in the at-sea whiting fishery, 15 mt of
the limited entry trawl allocation will be set aside.
g/ Sablefish south of 36[deg] N. lat. - The ABC of 290 mt is 3.55 percent of the ABC from the 2002 coastwide
stock assessment update. The total catch OY of 271 mt is 3.55 percent of the OY from the 2002 coastwide stock
assessment update. There are no limited entry or open access allocations in the Conception area at this time.
h/ Cabezon was first assessed in 2003 and was believed to be at 34.7 percent of its unfished biomass. The ABC of
108 mt is based on a harvest rate proxy of F45%. The OY of 69 mt is based on a constant harvest level for 2005
and 2006.
i/ Dover sole north of 34[deg]27' N. lat. was assessed in 2001 and was believed to be at 29 percent of its
unfished biomass. The ABC of 8,589 mt is the 2006 projection from the 2001 assessment with an F_MSY proxy of
F40%. Because the biomass is estimated to be in the precautionary zone, the 40-10 harvest rate policy was
applied, resulting in a total catch OY of 7,564 mt. The OY is reduced by 60 mt for the amount estimated to be
taken as research catch, resulting in a commercial HG of 7,504 mt.
j/ English sole - Research catch is estimated to be 9.7 mt.
k/ Petrale sole was believed to be at 42 percent of its unfished biomass following a 1999 stock assessment. For
2006, the ABC for the Vancouver-Columbia area (1,262 mt) is based on a four year average projection from 2000-
2003 with a F40% F_MSY proxy. The ABCs for the Eureka, Monterey, and Conception areas (1,500 mt) are based on
historical landings data and continue at the same level as 2005. Management measures to constrain the harvest
of overfished species have reduced the availability of these stocks to the fishery during the past several
years. Because the harvest assumptions (from the most recent stock assessment in the Vancouver-Columbia area)
used to forecast future harvest were likely overestimates, carrying the previously used ABCs and OYs forward
into 2006 was considered to be conservative and based on the best available data. Research catch is estimated
to be 2.9 mt and will be taken out of the OY.
l/ Arrowtooth flounder was last assessed in 1993 and was believed to be above 40 percent of its unfished
biomass. Research catch is estimated to be 13.6 mt and will be taken out of the OY.
m/ Other flatfish are those species that do not have individual ABC/OYs and include butter sole, curlfin sole,
flathead sole, Pacific sand dab, rex sole, rock sole, sand sole, and starry flounder. The ABC is based on
historical catch levels. The ABC of 6,781 mt is based on the highest landings for sanddabs (1995) and rex sole
(1982) for the 1981-2003 period and on the average landings from the 1994-1998 period for the remaining other
flatfish species. The OY of 4,909 mt is based on the ABC with a 25 percent precautionary adjustment for
sanddabs and rex sole and a 50 percent precautionary adjustment for the remaining species. Research catch is
estimated to be 20.5 mt and will be taken out of the OY.
n/ POP was declared overfished on March 3, 1999. A stock assessment was prepared in 2003 and POP was determined
to be at 25 percent of its unfished biomass. The ABC of 934 mt was projected from the 2003 stock assessment
and is based on an F_MSY proxy of F50%. The OY of 447 mt is based on a 70 percent probability of rebuilding the
stock to B_MSY by the year 2042 (T_MAX). The harvest control rule will be F=0.0257. Out of the OY it is
anticipated that 4.6 mt will be taken during research activity and 102.6 mt in the commercial fishery (which
is being set as a commercial HG), leaving a residual amount of 339.8 mt to be used as necessary during the
fishing year.
o/ Shortbelly rockfish remains as an unexploited stock and is difficult to assess quantitatively. A 1989 stock
assessment provided 2 alternative yield calculations of 13,900 mt and 47,000 mt. NMFS surveys have shown poor
recruitment in most years since 1989, indicating low recent productivity and a naturally declining population
in spite of low fishing pressure. The ABC and OY therefore are set at 13,900 mt, the low end of the range in
the stock assessment. The available OY is reduced by 12 mt for the amount estimated to be taken as research
catch, resulting in a commercial HG of 13,888 mt.
p/ The widow rockfish stock was declared overfished on January 11, 2001 (66 FR 2338). The most recent stock
assessment was prepared for widow rockfish in 2003. The spawning stock biomass is believed to be at 22.4
percent of its unfished biomass in 2002. The ABC of 3,059 mt is based an F50% F_MSY proxy. The 289 mt OY is
based on a 60 percent probability of rebuilding the stock to B_MSY by the year 2042 (T_MAX). The harvest control
rule is F=0.0093. Out of the OY, it is anticipated that 1.0 mt will be taken during the research activity, 2.3
mt will be taken in the recreational fishery, 0.1 mt will be taken in non-groundfish fisheries, and 285.6 mt
will be taken in the commercial fishery (which is being set as the commercial HG). Specific open access/
limited entry allocations have been suspended during the rebuilding period as necessary to meet the overall
rebuilding target while allowing harvest of healthy stocks. Tribal vessels are estimated to land about 40 mt
of widow rockfish in 2006, but do not have a specific allocation at this time. The widow rockfish bycatch
limit for the commercial Pacific whiting fisheries is 200 mt. This amount may be adjusted via inseason action.

[[Page 58295]]

q/ Canary rockfish was declared overfished on January 4, 2000 (65 FR 221). A stock assessment was completed in
2002 for canary rockfish and the stock was believed to be at 8 percent of its unfished biomass coastwide in
2001. The coastwide ABC of 279 mt is based on a F_MSY proxy of F50%. The coastwide OY of 47.1 mt is based on
the rebuilding plan, which has a 60 percent probability of rebuilding the stock to B_MSY by the year 2076
(T_MAX) and a catch sharing arrangement that has 58 percent of the OY going to the commercial fisheries and 42
percent going to the recreational fisheries. The harvest control rule will be F=0.0220. Out of the OY, it is
anticipated that 2.7 mt will be taken during the research activity, 17.8 mt will be taken in the recreational
fishery, 2.1 mt will be taken in non-groundfish fisheries, and 22.7 mt will be taken in the commercial fishery
(which is being set as the commercial HG), leaving a residual amount of 1.8 mt. The residual amount will be
further divided with 0.9 mt being available as needed for the recreational and 0.9 mt being available as
needed for the commercial fisheries. A recreational HG for the area north of 42[deg] N. lat. will be 8.5 mt.
For the area south of 42[deg] N. lat., the recreational HG will be 9.3 mt. Specific open access/limited entry
allocations have been suspended during the rebuilding period as necessary to meet the overall rebuilding
target while allowing harvest of healthy stocks. Tribal vessels are estimated to land about 2.6 mt of canary
rockfish under the commercial HG, but do not have a specific allocation at this time. The canary rockfish
bycatch limit for the commercial Pacific whiting fisheries is 4.7 mt. This amount may be adjusted via inseason
action.
r/ Chilipepper rockfish - the ABC (2,700 mt) for the Monterey-Conception area is based on a three year average
projection from 1999-2001 with a F50% F_MSY proxy. Because the unfished biomass is believed to be above 40
percent, the default OY could be set equal to the ABC. However, the OY is set at 2,000 mt to discourage effort
on chilipepper, which is taken with bocaccio. Management measures to constrain the harvest of overfished
species have reduced the availability of these stocks to the fishery during the past several years. Because
the harvest assumptions (from the most recent stock assessment) used to forecast future harvest were likely
overestimates, carrying the previously used ABCs and OYs forward into 2006 was considered to be conservative
and based on the best available data. The OY is reduced by 15 mt for the amount estimated to be taken in the
recreational fishery and 21 mt for the amount estimated to be taken during research activity, resulting in a
commercial HG of 1,964 mt. Open access is allocated 44.3 percent (870 mt) of the commercial HG and limited
entry is allocated 55.7 percent (1,094 mt) of the commercial HG.
s/ Bocaccio was declared overfished on March 3, 1999. A new stock assessment and a new rebuilding analysis were
prepared for bocaccio in 2003. The bocaccio stock was believed to be at 7.4 percent of its unfished biomass in
2002. The ABC of 549 mt is based on a F50% F_MSY proxy. The OY of 308 mt is based on the rebuilding analysis
and has a 70 percent probability of rebuilding the stock to B_MSY by the year 2032 (T_MAX). The harvest control
rule is F=0.0498. Out of the OY, it is anticipated that 0.6 mt will be taken during the research activity,
43.0 mt will be taken in the recreational fishery, 1.3 mt will be taken in non-groundfish fisheries, and 75.2
mt will be taken in the commercial fishery (which is being set as the commercial HG), leaving a residual
amount of 187.9 mt to be used as necessary during the fishing year.
t/ Splitnose rockfish - The ABC is 615 mt in the southern area (Monterey-Conception). The 461 mt OY for the
southern area reflects a 25 percent precautionary adjustment because of the less rigorous stock assessment for
this stock. In the north, splitnose is included in the minor slope rockfish OY. Because the harvest
assumptions (from the most recent stock assessment) used to forecast future harvest were likely overestimates,
carrying the previously used ABCs and OYs forward into 2006 was considered to be conservative and based on the
best available data.
u/ Yellowtail rockfish - A yellowtail rockfish stock assessment was prepared in 2003 for the Vancouver-Columbia-
Eureka areas. Yellowtail rockfish was believed to be at 46 percent of its unfished biomass in 2002. The ABC of
3,681 mt is based on the 2003 stock assessment with the F_MSY proxy of F50%. The OY of 3,681 mt was set equal
to the ABC, because the stock is above the precautionary threshold. The OY is reduced by 15 mt for the amount
estimated to be taken in the recreational fishery, 5 mt for the amount estimated to be taken during research
activity, and 6 mt for the amount taken in non-groundfish fisheries, resulting in a commercial HG of 3,655 mt.
The open access allocation (303 mt) is 8.3 percent of the commercial HG. The limited entry allocation (3,352
mt) is 91.7 percent the commercial HG. Tribal vessels are estimated to land about 506 mt of yellowtail
rockfish in 2006, but do not have a specific allocation at this time.
v/ Shortspine thornyhead was last assessed in 2001 and the stock was believed to be between 25 and 50 percent of
its unfished biomass. The ABC (1,077 mt) for the area north of Pt. Conception (34[deg]27' N. lat.) is based on
a F50% F_MSY proxy. The OY of 1,018 mt is based on the 2001 survey with the application of the 40-10 harvest
policy. The OY is reduced by 7 mt for the amount estimated to be taken during research activity, resulting in
a commercial HG of 1,011 mt. Open access is allocated 0.27 percent (27 mt) of the commercial HG and limited
entry is allocated 99.73 percent (984 mt) of the commercial HG. There is no ABC or OY for the southern
Conception area. Tribal vessels are estimated to land about 6.6 mt of shortspine thornyhead in 2006, but do
not have a specific allocation at this time.
w/ Longspine thornyhead north of 36[deg] N. lat. is believed to be above 40 percent of its unfished biomass. The
ABC (2,461 mt) in the north (Vancouver-Columbia-Eureka-Monterey) is based on a F50% F_MSY proxy. Because the
harvest assumptions (from the most recent stock assessment) used to forecast future harvest were likely
overestimates, carrying the previously used ABCs and OYs forward into 2006 was considered to be conservative
and based on the best available data. The total catch OY (2,461 mt) is set equal to the ABC. The OY is reduced
by 12 mt for the amount estimated to be taken during research activity, resulting in a commercial HG of 2,449 mt.
x/ Longspine thornyhead south of 36[deg] - A separate ABC (390 mt) is established for the Conception area and is
based on historical catch for the portion of the Conception area north of 34[deg]27' N. lat. (Point
Conception). To address uncertainty in the stock assessment due to limited information, the ABC was reduced by
50 percent to obtain the OY, 195 mt. There is no ABC or OY for the southern Conception Area.
y/ Cowcod in the Conception area was assessed in 1999 and was believed to be less than 10 percent of its
unfished biomass. Cowcod was declared as overfished on January 4, 2000 (65 FR 221). The ABC in the Conception
area (5 mt) is based on the 1999 stock assessment, while the ABC for the Monterey area (19 mt) is based on
average landings from 1993-1997. The OY of 4.2 mt (2.1 mt in each area) is based on the rebuilding plan
adopted under Amendment 16-3, which has a 60 percent probability of rebuilding the stock to B_MSY by the year
2099 (T_MAX). The harvest control rule is F=0.009. Cowcod retention will not be permitted in 2006. The OY will
be used to accommodate discards of cowcod rockfish resulting from incidental take.
z/ Darkblotched rockfish was assessed in 2000 and a stock assessment update was prepared in 2003. Darkblotched
rockfish was declared overfished on January 11, 2001 (66 FR 2338). Following the 2003 stock assessment update,
the darkblotched rockfish stock was believed to be at 11 percent of its unfished biomass. A new darkblotched
rockfish assessment was prepared for 2005. The 2005 darkblotched rockfish stock assessment found that
darkblotched has been rebuilding at a faster rate than had been shown in the 2003 stock assessment. The ABC of
294 mt was projected from the 2003 assessment update and is based on an FMSY proxy of F50%. The 2006 OY will
be 200 mt. This OY is 94 mt below the 294 mt OY originally in place for 2006, which was based on the
rebuilding plan adopted under Amendment 16-2 and a harvest control rule of F=0.032 [69 FR 77012.] Based on the
results of the 2005 assessment, NMFS estimates that reducing the 2006 OY to 200 mt is projected to rebuild the
darkblotched rockfish stock to B_MSY by March 2010, as compared to the July 2010 rebuilding date that was
projected with a 294 mt OY. Out of the OY, it is anticipated that 5.2 mt will be taken during research
activity, leaving 194.8 mt available to the commercial fishery.
aa/ Yelloweye rockfish was assessed in 2001 and updated for 2002. On January 11, 2002, yelloweye rockfish was
declared overfished (67 FR 1555). In 2002 following the stock assessment update, yelloweye rockfish was
believed to be at 24.1 percent of its unfished biomass coastwide. The 55 mt coastwide ABC is based on an F_MSY
proxy of F50%. The OY of 27 mt, based on a revised rebuilding analysis (August 2002) and the rebuilding plan
proposed under Amendment 16-3, have a 80 percent probability of rebuilding to B_MSY by the year 2071 (T_MAX) and
a harvest control rule of F=0.0153. Out of the OY, it is anticipated that 10.4 mt will be taken in the
recreational fishery (the HG for the area north of 42[deg] N. lat. is 6.7 mt and the HG for the area south of
42[deg] N. lat. is 3.7 mt), 1.0 mt will be taken during research activity, 0.8 mt will be taken in non-
groundfish fisheries and 6.4 mt will be taken in the commercial fishery (which is being set as a commercial
HG), leaving a residual amount of 8.4 mt to be used as necessary during the fishing year. Tribal vessels are
estimated to land about 2.3 mt of yelloweye rockfish of the commercial HG in 2006, but do not have a specific
allocation at this time.

[[Page 58296]]

bb/ Black rockfish was last assessed in 2003 for the Columbia and Eureka area and in 2000 for the Vancouver
area. The ABC for the area north of 46[deg]16' N. lat. is 540 mt and the ABC for the area south of 46[deg]16'
N. lat. is 736 mt. Because of an overlap in the assessed areas between Cape Falcon and the Columbia River,
projections from the 2000 stock assessment were adjusted downward by 12 percent to account for the overlap.
The ABCs were derived using an F_MSY proxy of F50%. The unfished biomass is believed to be above 40 percent.
Therefore, the OYs were set equal to the ABCs, 540 mt for the area north of 46[deg]16' N. lat. and 736 mt for
the area south of 46[deg]16' N. lat. A harvest guideline of 30,000 lb (13.6 mt) is set for the tribes. The
black rockfish OY in the area south of 46[deg]16' N. lat. is subdivided with separate HGs being set for the
area north of 42[deg] N. lat (427 mt/58 percent) and for the area south of 42[deg] N. lat (309 mt/42 percent).
For the 427 mt attributed to the area north of 42[deg] N. lat. 290-360 mt is estimated to be taken in the
recreational fishery, resulting in a commercial HG of 67-137 mt. A range is being provided because the
recreational and commercial shares are not currently available. Of the 309 mt of black rockfish attributed to
the area south of 42[deg] N. lat., a HG of 185 mt (60 percent) will be applied to the area north of 40[deg]10'
N. lat. and a HG of 124 mt (40 percent) will be applied to the area south of 40[deg]10' N. lat. For the area
between 42[deg] N. lat. and 40[deg]10' N. lat., 74 mt is estimated to be taken in the recreational fishery,
resulting in a commercial HG of 111 mt. For the area south of 40[deg]10' N. lat., 101 mt is estimated to be
taken in the recreational fishery, resulting in a commercial HG of 23 mt. Black rockfish was included in the
minor rockfish north and other rockfish south categories until 2004.
cc/ Minor rockfish north includes the ``remaining rockfish'' and ``other rockfish'' categories in the Vancouver,
Columbia, and Eureka areas combined. These species include ``remaining rockfish'', which generally includes
species that have been assessed by less rigorous methods than stock assessments, and ``other rockfish'', which
includes species that do not have quantifiable stock assessments. The ABC of 3,680 mt is the sum of the
individual ``remaining rockfish'' ABCs plus the ``other rockfish'' ABCs. The remaining rockfish ABCs continue
to be reduced by 25 percent (F=0.75M) as a precautionary adjustment. To obtain the total catch OY of 2,250 mt,
the remaining rockfish ABCs were further reduced by 25 percent and other rockfish ABCs were reduced by 50
percent. This was a precautionary measure to address limited stock assessment information. The OY is reduced
by 78 mt for the amount estimated to be taken in the recreational fishery, resulting in a 2,172 mt commercial
HG. Open access is allocated 8.3 percent (180 mt) of the commercial HG and limited entry is allocated 91.7
percent (1,992 mt) of the commercial HG. Tribal vessels are estimated to land about 28 mt of minor rockfish in
2006, but do not have a specific allocation at this time.
dd/ Minor rockfish south includes the ``remaining rockfish'' and ``other rockfish'' categories in the Monterey
and Conception areas combined. These species include ``remaining rockfish'' which generally includes species
that have been assessed by less rigorous methods than stock assessment, and ``other rockfish'' which includes
species that do not have quantifiable stock assessments. The ABC of 3,412 mt is the sum of the individual
``remaining rockfish'' ABCs plus the ``other rockfish'' ABCs. The remaining rockfish ABCs continue to be
reduced by 25 percent (F=0.75M) as a precautionary adjustment. To obtain a total catch OY of 1,968 mt, the
remaining rockfish ABCs are further reduced by 25 percent, with the exception of blackgill rockfish, the other
rockfish ABCs were reduced by 50 percent. This was a precautionary measure due to limited stock assessment
information. The OY is reduced by 443 mt for the amount estimated to be taken in the recreational fishery,
resulting in a 1,525 mt HG for the commercial fishery. Open access is allocated 44.3 percent (676 mt) of the
commercial HG and limited entry is allocated 55.7 percent (849 mt) of the commercial HG.
ee/ Bank rockfish -- The ABC is 350 mt, which is based on a 2000 stock assessment for the Monterey and
Conception areas. This stock contributes 263 mt towards the minor rockfish OY in the south.
ff/ Blackgill rockfish was believed to be at 51 percent of its unfished biomass in 1997. The ABC of 343 mt is
the sum of the Conception area ABC of 268 mt, based on the 1998 stock assessment with an F_MSY proxy of F50%,
and the Monterey area ABC of 75 mt. This stock contributes 306 mt towards minor rockfish south (268 mt for the
Conception area ABC and 38 mt for the Monterey area). The OY for the Monterey area is the ABC reduced by 50
percent as a precautionary measure because of the lack of information.
gg/ ``Other rockfish'' includes rockfish species listed in 50 CFR 660.302 and California scorpionfish. The ABC
is based on the 1996 review of commercial Sebastes landings and includes an estimate of recreational landings.
These species have never been assessed quantitatively. The amount expected to be taken during research
activity is reduced by 22.1 mt.
hh/ ``Other fish'' includes sharks, skates, rays, ratfish, morids, grenadiers, kelp greenling, and other
groundfish species noted above in footnote c/. The amount expected to be taken during research activity is
55.7 mt.
ii/ Minor nearshore rockfish south - The total catch OY is 615 mt. Out of the OY it is anticipated that the
recreational fishery will take 383 mt, and 97 mt will be taken by the commercial fishery (which is being set
as a commercial HG), leaving a residual amount of 135 mt to be used as necessary during the fishing year.

? 5. In part 660, subpart G, Table 3 (North) and Table 3 (South) are
revised to read as follows:

Table 3 (North) to Part 660, Subpart G--2006 Trip Limits for Limited
Entry Trawl Gear North of 40[deg]10' N. Lat.

BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

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Table 3 (South) to Part 660, Subpart G--2006 Trip Limits for Limited
Entry Trawl Gear South of 40[deg]10' N. Lat.

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? 6. In part 660, subpart G, Table 4 (South) is revised to read as follows:

Table 4 (South) to Part 660, Subpart G--2006 Trip Limits for Limited
Entry Fixed Gear South of 40[deg]10' N. Lat.

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? 7. In part 660, subpart G, Table 5 (North) and Table 5 (South) are
revised to read as follows:

Table 5 (North) to Part 660, Subpart G--2006 Trip Limits for Open
Access Gears North of 40[deg]10' N. Lat.

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Table 5 (South) to Part 660, Subpart G--2006 Trip Limits for Open
Access Gears South of 40[deg]10' N. Lat.

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[FR Doc. 06-8402 Filed 9-28-06; 2:45 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-C

Notices For
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994

Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments

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