Federal Register #2026-19346

NOAA Proposed Rule: 2027-28 Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Specifications and Management Measures

This opportunity concerns the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA under the Department of Commerce, proposing new management measures for the 2027-28 Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries. - Government Buyer: - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), NOAA, Department of Commerce - NMFS West Coast Region - Products/Services Requested: - Development and implementation of harvest specifications and management measures for over 90 groundfish stocks - Key stocks include canary rockfish, chilipepper rockfish, petrale sole, rougheye/blackspotted rockfish, shortspine thornyhead, widow rockfish, yelloweye rockfish, yellowtail rockfish (north of 40°10' N lat.), sablefish, and Pacific whiting - Services include regulatory amendments, stock assessments, allocation adjustments, and fishery closure modifications - Unique or Notable Requirements: - Implementation of amendment 38, removing rebuilding plan requirements for yelloweye and California quillback rockfish - Modifications to area closures affecting groundfish and Pacific halibut - Adjustments to annual catch limits (ACLs), harvest control rules, and allocations for tribal, commercial, and recreational fisheries - Exemptions for two exempted fishing permits (EFPs) - Measures based on recent scientific research and stock assessments - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are mentioned, as this is a regulatory and management action, not a procurement of commercial products.

Description

This proposed rule sets forth the 2027-28 harvest specifications and management measures for groundfish caught in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off Washington, Oregon, and California. It aims to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan. The rule includes implementation of amendment 38, which removes rebuilding plan requirements for yelloweye rockfish and California quillback rockfish, and proposes modifications to certain fishery closures affecting groundfish and Pacific halibut. Public comments are requested by October 22, 2026.

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