NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 11 to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which changes the framework for the annual apportionment of the Pacific sardine harvest guideline along the U.S. Pacific coast. The purpose of this final rule is to achieve optimal utilization of the Pacific sardine resource

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the end of the 2006 Pacific Whiting (whiting) Primary Season for the catcherprocessor sector at 4 pm local time (l.t.) November 3, 2006, because the allocation for the catcher processor sector is projected to have been reached by that time. This action is intended to keep the harvest of whiting within the 2006 allocation levels.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the commercial salmon fishery in the area from the U.S.Canada Border to Cape Falcon, OR, was modified such that the fishery did not reopen on June 17, 2006, as scheduled and remained closed through Monday, June 26, 2006. The fishery then reopened on June 27 through midnight June 30, 2006, with a 20Chinook per vessel possession

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the closure of several commercial and recreational fisheries in areas extending from Cape Falcon, OR, to Point Sur, CA by inseason action. The recently developed preseason forecast for Klamath River fall Chinook (KRFC) is low such that the expected return in 2006 is significantly less than the 35,000 natural spawner escapement

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes a regulation to implement new reporting and conservation measures under the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). These reporting requirements and prohibitive measures would require coastal pelagic species (CPS) fishermen/vessel operators to employ avoidance measures when southern sea otters are present in the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this proposed rule to implement Amendment 18 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 18 is intended to respond to a court order by setting the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council's) bycatch minimization policies and requirements into the FMP. This rule would implement new standardized bycatch

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) are beginning to develop a groundfish fishery management plan (FMP) amendment and management measures to reduce harvest capacity in the open access portion of the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery in Federal waters off Washington, Oregon, and California. This document announces a control

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the recreational fishery from the U.S.- Canada Border to Cape Falcon, OR was modified, effective Saturday, August 26, 2006, by transferring 2000 coho from the Westport subarea quota with a resulting increase in the La Push subarea quota of 1,140. This modified the Westport subarea quota for marked coho to 25,603 and the La Push

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is closing the shallow-set pelagic longline fishery north of the equator for all vessels registered under the Hawaii longline limited access program. This action is necessary to comply with regulations that govern the pelagic fisheries of the western Pacific region that establish maximum annual limits on the numbers of interactions that occur

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes to revise the method for renewing and replacing permits issued under the Fishery Management Plan(FMP) for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS). Permits are required for all commercial vessels and all recreational charter vessels participating in HMS fisheries managed under the FMP. NMFS proposes to modify the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 18 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Secretarial review. Amendment 18 would modify the FMP to implement a bycatch minimization program for the Pacific coast groundfish fisheries. Amendment 18 is intended to respond to court

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes a rule to implement Amendment 19 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 19 provides for a comprehensive program to describe and protect essential fish habitat (EFH) for Pacific Coast Groundfish. The proposed management measures are intended to minimize, to the extent practicable, adverse effects to

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the commercial fishery from the U.S.- Canada Border, to Cape Falcon, Oregon was modified by two inseason actions. Inseason action 5 increased the landing and possession limit to 60 Chinook per vessel per open period effective Saturday, July 29, 2006. Inseason action 6 increased the landing and possession limit

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

On February 17, 2006, a final rule was published in the Federal Register implementing revisions to the 2006 commercial and recreational groundfish fishery management measures for groundfish taken in the U.S. (exclusive economic zone) EEZ off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. This final rule contained an error in the amendatory

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) requests public comments on Amendment 15 to the Pacific Coast Salmon Fisheries Management Plan (Plan) in accordance with the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MagnusonStevens Act). This action is intended to provide management flexibility in times of low Klamath River fallrun Chinook

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the suspension of the primary season for Pacific whiting (whiting) fishery for the shorebased sector south of 42[deg] N. lat. at 1800 hours local time (l.t.) May 25, 2006. ``Per trip'' limits for whiting will be reinstated until 0001 hours June 15, 2005, at which time the primary season for the shorebased sector will be open

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes a regulation to implement the annual harvest guideline for Pacific sardine in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off the Pacific coast for the fishing season of January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006. This harvest guideline has been calculated according to the regulations implementing the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes a rule to implement Amendment 16-4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and to set the 20072008 harvest specifications and management measures for groundfish taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. Amendment 164 would modify the FMP to implement

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : Transportation Department

NMFS announces changes to management measures in the recreational Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries. These actions, which are authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) are intended to protect overfished groundfish stocks, to reduce possible confusion in the public over differing state and Federal regulations, and to

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has begun its annual preseason management process for the 2007 ocean salmon fisheries. This document announces the availability of Council documents as well as the dates and locations of Council meetings and public hearings comprising the Council's complete schedule of events for determining the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a final rule to implement the annual harvest guideline for Pacific sardine in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off the Pacific coast for the fishing season of January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006. This harvest guideline has been calculated according to the regulations implementing the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This proposed rule would amend the geographic coordinates that define the longline fishing prohibited area in waters of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around Guam. This action is necessary to correct an error in one of the published coordinates. The intended effect of this action is to accurately implement the Guam longline closed area.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces changes to management measures in the commercial and recreational Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries. These actions, which are authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), are intended to allow fisheries to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This final rule establishes the 2006 fishery specifications for Pacific whiting (whiting) in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and state waters off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, as authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). It also adjusts the bycatch limits in the whiting fishery. This

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This final rule implements Amendment 16-4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and sets the 20072008 harvest specifications and management measures for groundfish taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. Amendment 164 modifies the FMP to implement revised

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : Workers’ Compensation Programs Office