Federal Register #2026-20234

NOAA Pacific Sardine Harvest Specifications and West Coast Fishery Management Measures

NOAA finalized Pacific sardine fishing rules for the West Coast, rather than announcing a purchase or service contract. - Government buyer and issuing offices: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). - Scope: Management of the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine off Washington, Oregon, and California. - Harvest specifications: Overfishing limit of 4,645 metric tons; acceptable biological catch of 3,613 metric tons; annual catch limit of 2,200 metric tons; and annual catch target of 2,100 metric tons. - Fishing restrictions: Most directed commercial sardine fishing is prohibited. Limited harvest is allowed for live bait, minor directed fisheries, incidental catch in other fisheries, and activities authorized under exempted fishing permits. - Incidental catch limits include a 20-percent per-landing or per-trip limit when sardine are caught with other Coastal Pelagic Species stocks, and a 2-metric-ton limit when caught with non-CPS stocks. - No OEMs, vendors, products, or services are identified; this is a fisheries management action, not a procurement.

Description

NMFS is implementing annual harvest specifications and management measures for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine for the July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, fishing year. The rule prohibits most directed commercial fishing for Pacific sardine off Washington, Oregon, and California, with harvest allowed for live bait, minor directed fisheries, incidental catch, or as authorized under exempted fishing permits. It sets 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 is intended to conserve, manage, and rebuild the Pacific sardine stock.

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