Final Rule Addresses Bycatch in Groundfish Fisheries

November 21, 2006

Release from:
NOAA

NOAA Fisheries has published a final rule to implement Amendment 18 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This rule fully describes the standardized bycatch reporting methodology and bycatch minimization requirements for groundfish fisheries off the U.S. Pacific Coast. The regulations require groundfish fishery management measures to take into account the co-occurrence ratios of overfished species with more abundant target stocks, and require vessels that participate in the open access groundfish fisheries to carry observers if directed by NOAA. This rule also authorizes the use of depth-based closed areas to achieve the following goals: protecting and rebuilding overfished stocks; preventing the overfishing of any groundfish species; minimizing the incidental harvest of any protected or prohibited non-groundfish species; controlling effort to extend the fishing season; minimizing the disruption of traditional commercial fishing and marketing patterns; spreading the available recreational catch over a large number of anglers; discouraging target fishing while allowing small incidental catches to be landed; and allowing small fisheries to operate outside the normal season. Boundary definitions of the Klamath and Columbia River Salmon Conservation Zones and Eureka nearshore area are updated, using latitude and longitude coordinates in an approach similar to that of the Groundfish Conservation Areas. The effective date of this rule is December 13, 2006. For more information, read the full text of the final rule or contact Yvonne.deReynier@noaa.gov.