Federal Register #2026-13054

Proposed Annual Harvest Specifications and Management Measures for Pacific Sardine, 2026-2027

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the Department of Commerce, is proposing annual harvest specifications and management measures for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine for the 2026-2027 fishing year. - Government Buyer: - Department of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - No OEMs or commercial vendors are involved, as this is a regulatory action, not a procurement. - Products/Services Requested: - No products or services are being procured; this action sets regulatory catch limits and management measures for Pacific sardine fisheries. - Key Regulatory Measures: - Overfishing limit (OFL): 4,645 metric tons - Acceptable biological catch (ABC): 3,613 metric tons - Annual catch limit (ACL): 2,200 metric tons - Annual catch target (ACT): 2,100 metric tons - Prohibits most directed commercial fishing for Pacific sardine off Washington, Oregon, and California - Allows limited harvest for live bait, minor directed fisheries, incidental catch, or under exempted fishing permits - Unique/Notable Requirements: - The action is intended to conserve, manage, and rebuild the Pacific sardine stock - Specific catch limits and restrictions are set to prevent overfishing - No procurement of goods or services is involved

Description

NMFS proposes annual harvest specifications and management measures for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine for the fishing year July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The proposed rule prohibits most directed commercial fishing for Pacific sardine off Washington, Oregon, and California coasts, allowing harvest only for live bait, minor directed fisheries, incidental catch, or exempted fishing permits. The harvest specifications include an overfishing limit of 4,645 metric tons, an acceptable biological catch of 3,613 metric tons, an annual catch limit of 2,200 metric tons, and an annual catch target of 2,100 metric tons. The rule aims to conserve, manage, and rebuild the Pacific sardine stock in the specified region.

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