Federal Register #2026-20873

NOAA Pacific Coast Groundfish Gear-Marking and Entanglement-Risk Reduction Rule

NOAA issued a final rule for gear marking and entanglement-risk reduction in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. - Government buyer and issuing offices: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through the National Marine Fisheries Service. - Nature of notice: This is a regulatory action, not a procurement. No products or services are requested, and no OEMs or vendors are named. - Scope: Applies to commercial pot and bottom longline gear used to harvest groundfish in federal waters off Washington, Oregon, and California. - Key requirements: Gear-specific marking is required on buoys and the upper 20 fathoms of vertical lines. Temporary line-marking methods are allowed during a transition period, and surface line is limited to 60 feet. - Other provisions: Allows a single surface gear and vertical line for gear identification and clarifies requirements for pot-gear escape panels and bottom longline gear. - Purpose: Improve attribution of marine-animal entanglements and reduce bycatch.

Description

This final rule establishes gear marking requirements and entanglement risk reduction measures for portions of the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. The requirements apply to commercial pot and bottom longline gear used to harvest groundfish in Federal waters off Washington, Oregon, and California, and include marking buoys and the upper portion of vertical lines. The rule also includes measures intended to reduce surface and vertical fishing lines and marine animal entanglements, including limits on surface line length. It takes effect January 11, 2027, except for specified provisions effective October 13, 2026.

View original listing