NMFS issues this final rule to implement the 2004 fishery specifications and management measures for groundfish taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. This final rule includes the levels of the acceptable biological catch (ABC) and optimum yields (OYs). The commercial OYs (the total

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : Treasury Department

NMFS announces the reallocation of the remaining Pacific sardine harvest guideline in the exclusive economic zone off the Pacific coast. On September 1, 2004, 68,009 metric tons (mt) of the 122,747mt harvest guideline were estimated to remain unharvested. The Coastal Pelagics Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP) requires that a review of the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is publishing this interim final rule to amend the regulations implementing the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to provide for a mandatory, vesselfinanced observer program on atsea processing vessels.

This action is necessary to satisfy the standardized bycatch reporting methodology requirements of the 1996

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces closure of the 2004 catcher-processor fishery for Pacific whiting (whiting) at 0001 local time (l.t.) November 11, 2004, because the allocation for the catcherprocessor sector will be reached by that time. This action is intended to keep the harvest of whiting within the 2004 allocation levels.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes a regulation to implement the annual harvest guideline for Pacific mackerel in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the Pacific coast. The Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and its implementing regulations require NMFS to set an annual harvest guideline for Pacific mackerel based on the formula in the FMP.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 122nd meeting to consider and take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes a rule to implement the 2005-2006 fishery specifications and management measures for groundfish taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. The proposed rule includes the levels of the acceptable biological catch (ABC) and optimum yields (OYs). The commercial OYs (the total

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : Treasury Department

NMFS announces that the commercial fishery in the area from the U.S.Canada Border to Cape Falcon, OR, which was closed on May 5, was modified to reopen May 15 and close at midnight on May 18, 2004, with the provision that no vessel may possess, land, or deliver more than 125 chinook for the entire 4 day open period (Inseason Action 2); and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the commercial salmon fishery in the area from the OregonCalifornia Border to Humboldt South Jetty, CA was modified to close at midnight on Friday, September 17, 2004. This action was necessary to conform to the 2004 management goals. The intended effect of this action is to allow the fishery to operate within the seasons and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the January through February 2004 management measures for groundfish taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. Management measures for January through February 2004 are intended to prevent overfishing; Rebuild overfished species; minimize incidental catch and discard of

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : Treasury Department

NMFS issues this proposed rule that would limit entry into the American Samoabased pelagic longline fishery. This proposed rule, which would implement Amendment 11 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (Pelagics FMP), is intended to: avoid a possible ``boom and bust'' cycle of development that could

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS has approved a regulatory amendment under the Fishery Management Plan for the Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (FMP) submitted by the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and issues this final rule to establish a number of conservation and
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management measures for the fisheries managed under the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 124th meeting to consider and take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region. A meeting of the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will also be held.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) has submitted Amendment 163 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Secretarial review. [[Page 34117]]
Amendment 163 would amend the FMP to include overfished species rebuilding plans for bocaccio, cowcod, widow rockfish, and yelloweye rockfish.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the recreational salmon fishery in the area from the U.S.Canada Border to Cape Alava, WA (Neah Bay Subarea) was modified to reopen effective Friday, September 10, 2004, through the earlier of September 19 or a modified subarea quota of 30,750 coho. This action was necessary to conform to the 2004 management goals.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes a rule to implement the 2004 fishery specifications and management measures for groundfish taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. The proposed rule includes the levels of the acceptable biological catch (ABC) and optimum yields (OYs). The commercial OYs (the total catch

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : Treasury Department

This emergency rule establishes routine management measure authority, under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP), to close the Pacific whiting (whiting) primary season fisheries by sector before the sector's whiting allocation is reached in order to minimize impacts on overfished species. This action

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 16-2 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 162 amended the FMP to include overfished species rebuilding plans for lingcod, canary rockfish, darkblotched rockfish, and Pacific ocean perch (POP) within the FMP. This final rule adds two rebuilding parameters to the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 16-3 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 163 amended the FMP to include overfished species rebuilding plans for bocaccio, cowcod, widow rockfish, and yelloweye rockfish within the FMP. This final rule adds two rebuilding parameters to the Code of Federal

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Amendment 11 to the Fishery Management Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (FMP Amendment 11) would establish a limited access permit program for the domestic pelagic longline fishery based in American Samoa. The amendment is intended to: reduce the potential for fishing gear conflict in waters of the U.S. exclusive economic

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the commercial salmon fishery in the subarea from the Queets River, WA to Cape Falcon OR, was projected to reach its 10,000 coho quota and was closed effective at midnight on Tuesday, September 7, 2004. In addition, regulations for the commercial salmon fishery in the subarea from the U.S.Canada Border to the Queets River, were

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is considering implementing an individual quota (IQ) program for the Pacific Coast groundfish limited entry trawl fishery off Washington, Oregon and California. The trawl IQ program would change management of harvest in the trawl fishery from a trip limit system with cumulative trip limits for every

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the end of the 2004 primary season for the Pacific whiting (whiting) shorebased sector at 1600 local time (l.t.) August 14, 2004, because the allocation is projected to be reached. This action is intended to keep the harvest of whiting at the 2004 allocation levels.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces changes to the recreational fishery, and to the commercial fishery's trawl rockfish conservation areas (RCAs) for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. These actions, which are authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), will allow fisheries to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces changes to the commercial and recreational fisheries, and to the commercial fishery's trawl rockfish conservation areas (RCAs) for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. These actions, which are authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), will allow fisheries to access more abundant groundfish stocks

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration