Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan, 1690-1700 [E7-420]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 16, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1690-1700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-420]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 300

[Docket No. 061229343-6343-01; I.D. 121406A]
RIN 0648-AV03


Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan

AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:  Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS proposes to approve and implement changes to the Pacific 
Halibut Catch Sharing Plan (Plan) for the International Pacific Halibut 
Commission's (IPHC or Commission) regulatory Area 2A off Washington, 
Oregon, and California (Area 2A). NMFS proposes to implement the 
portions of the Plan and management measures that are not implemented 
through the IPHC, which includes the sport fishery management measures 
for Area 2A. NMFS also proposes to revise the Area 2A non-treaty 
commercial fishery closed areas, codified at 50 CFR part 300, subpart 
E. These actions are intended to enhance the conservation of Pacific 
halibut, to provide greater angler opportunity where available, to 
protect yelloweye rockfish and other overfished groundfish species from 
incidental catch in the halibut fisheries, and to ensure consistency 
between Federal groundfish and halibut regulations and between State 
and Federal regulations.

DATES:  Comments on the proposed changes to the Plan and on the 
proposed domestic Area 2A halibut management measures must be received 
no later than 5 p.m., local time on February 2, 2007.

ADDRESSES:  Copies of the Plan, Regulatory Impact Review (RIR)/Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), and/or Categorical Exclusion 
(CE) are available from D. Robert Lohn, Regional Administrator, 
Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-0070. 
Electronic copies of the Plan, including proposed changes for 2007, and 
of the CE and draft RIR/IRFA are also available at the NMFS Northwest 
Region website: https://www.nwr.noaa.gov, click on ``Groundfish & 
Halibut.''
    You may submit comments on the proposed Plan and domestic Area 2A 
halibut management measures or supporting documents, identified by I.D. 
121406A, by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: PHalibut2007.nwr@noaa.gov. Include the I.D. number 
121406A in the subject line of the message.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: D. Robert Lohn, Administrator, Northwest Region,
    NMFS, Attn: Jamie Goen, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-
0070.
     Fax: 206-526-6736, Attn: Jamie Goen.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jamie Goen or Yvonne deReynier 
(Northwest Region, NMFS), phone: 206-526-6150, fax: 206-526-6736 or e-
mail: jamie.goen@noaa.gov or yvonne.dereynier@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Northern Pacific Halibut Act (Halibut 
Act) of 1982, at 16 U.S.C. 773c, gives the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) general responsibility for implementing the provisions of 
the Halibut Convention between the United States and Canada (Halibut 
Convention). It requires the Secretary to adopt regulations as may be 
necessary to carry out the purposes and objectives of the Halibut 
Convention and the Halibut Act. Section 773c of the Halibut Act 
authorizes the regional fishery management councils to develop 
regulations governing the Pacific halibut catch in their corresponding 
U.S. Convention waters that are in addition to, but not in conflict 
with, regulations of the IPHC. Each year between 1988 and 1995, the 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) had developed a 
catch sharing plan in accordance with the Halibut Act to allocate the 
total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific halibut between treaty Indian 
and non-treaty harvesters and among non-treaty commercial and sport 
fisheries in Area 2A.
    In 1995, NMFS implemented the Pacific Council-recommended long-term 
Plan (60 FR 14651, March 20, 1995). In each of the intervening years 
between 1995 and the present, minor revisions to the Plan have been 
made to adjust for the changing needs of the fisheries. The Plan 
allocates 35 percent of the Area 2A TAC plus 25,000 lb (11.3 mt) to 
Washington treaty Indian tribes in Subarea 2A-1 and 65 percent minus 
25,000 lb (11.3 mt) to non-Indian fisheries in Area 2A. The annual 
shift of 25,000 lb (11.3 mt) from the non-tribal to the tribal 
fisheries has been made in response to a court order; 2007 is the final 
year that this shift must be made. The allocation to non-Indian 
fisheries is

[[Page 1691]]

divided into three shares, with the Washington sport fishery (north of 
the Columbia River) receiving 36.6 percent, the Oregon/California sport 
fishery receiving 31.7 percent, and the commercial fishery receiving 
31.7 percent. The commercial fishery is further divided into a directed 
commercial fishery that is allocated 85 percent of the commercial 
allocation and an incidental catch in the salmon troll fishery that is 
allocated 15 percent of the commercial allocation. The directed 
commercial fishery in Area 2A is confined to southern Washington (south 
of 46[deg]53.30' N. lat.), Oregon, and California. North of 
46[deg]53.30' N. lat. (Pt. Chehalis), the Plan allows for incidental 
halibut retention in the primary limited entry longline sablefish 
fishery when the overall Area 2A TAC is above 900,000 lb (408.2 mt). 
The Plan also divides the sport fisheries into seven geographic 
subareas, each with separate allocations, seasons, and bag limits.
    The Area 2A TAC will be set by the IPHC at its annual meeting on 
January 16-19, 2007, in Victoria, BC. NMFS requests public comments on 
the Pacific Council's recommended modifications to the Plan and the 
proposed domestic fishing regulations by February 2, 2007. This allows 
the public the opportunity to consider the final Area 2A TAC before 
submitting comments on the proposed rule. The States of Washington and 
Oregon will conduct public workshops shortly after the IPHC meeting to 
obtain input on the sport season dates. After the Area 2A TAC is known 
and after NMFS reviews public comments and comments from the states, 
NMFS will issue a final rule for the Area 2A Pacific halibut fisheries 
concurrent with the IPHC regulations for the 2007 Pacific halibut 
fisheries.
    Pacific Council Recommended Changes to the Plan and Domestic 
Fishing Regulations
    Each year, the states (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 
(WDFW) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)) and tribes 
consider whether changes to the Plan are needed or desired by their 
fishery participants. Fishery managers from the states hold public 
meetings before both the September and November Pacific Council 
meetings to get public input on revisions to the Plan. At the September 
2006 Pacific Council meeting, WDFW recommended several changes to the 
Plan and ODFW and the tribes announced that they had no proposals for 
revising the Plan in 2007. Following the meeting, the states again 
reviewed their proposals with the public and drafted their recommended 
revisions for review by the Pacific Council.
    At its November 13-17, 2006, meeting in Del Mar, CA, the Pacific 
Council considered the results of state-sponsored workshops on the 
proposed changes to the Plan, NMFS-proposed changes to the Plan, and 
public comments, and made final recommendations for modifications to 
the Plan as follows:
    (1) Constrain the Washington North Coast subarea June fishery to 
two specific nearshore areas on the first Tuesday and Thursday 
following June 17;
    (2) Reopen the Washington North Coast subarea June fishery in the 
entire north coast subarea on the first Saturday following June 17;
    (3) If sufficient quota remains, reopen the entire Washington North 
Coast subarea for one day on the first Thursday following June 24, 
otherwise, reopen the nearshore areas on the first Thursday following 
June 24 for up to four days per week (Thursday-Sunday) until the quota 
is taken;
    (4) Set aside 5 percent of the Washington South Coast subarea quota 
for the nearshore fishery once the primary fishery has closed;
    (5) Set the Washington South Coast subarea nearshore fishery as a 
2-day per week fishery, open Fridays and Saturdays;
    (6) Implement additional closed areas (Yelloweye Rockfish 
Conservation Areas, or YRCAs) off the coast of Washington that would 
affect commercial and sport halibut fisheries;
    (7) Remove latitude/longitude coordinates from the Plan but refer 
to the regulations in which they are published to reduce duplication;
    (8) Remove language referring to salmon troll fishery July-
September season;
    (9) Add a definition of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line; and
    (10) Decrease the California possession limit on land from two 
daily limits to one daily limit statewide to conform with state 
regulation.

Proposed Changes to the Plan

    NMFS is proposing to approve the Pacific Council recommendations 
and to implement the above-described changes by making the following 
changes to the Plan:
    In section (e) of the Plan, Non-Indian Commercial Fisheries, revise 
the last sentence of paragraph (1) to read as follows:
    The secondary management objective is to harvest the remaining 
troll quota as an incidental catch during the remainder of the salmon 
troll fishery.
    In section (e) of the Plan, Non-Indian Commercial Fisheries, revise 
paragraph (1)(iii) to read as follows:
    If the overall quota for the non-Indian, incidental commercial 
troll fishery has not been harvested by salmon trollers during the May/
June fishery, additional landings of halibut caught incidentally during 
salmon troll fisheries will be allowed in July and will continue until 
the amount of halibut that was initially available as quota for the 
troll fishery is taken or until the end of the season date for 
commercial halibut fishing determined by the IPHC and implemented in 
IPHC regulation. Landing restrictions implemented for the May/June 
salmon troll fishery will apply for as long as this fishery is open. 
Notice of the July opening of this fishery will be announced on the 
NMFS hotline (206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-9825. Halibut retention in the 
salmon troll fishery will be allowed after June only if the opening has 
been announced on the NMFS hotline.
    In section (e) of the Plan, Non-Indian Commercial Fisheries, add 
paragraph (1)(v) to read as follows:
    Under the Pacific Coast groundfish regulations at 50 CFR 660.383, 
fishing with salmon troll gear is prohibited within the Salmon Troll 
Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA). The Salmon Troll YRCA is 
an area off the northern Washington coast and is defined by straight 
lines connecting latitude and longitude coordinates. Coordinates for 
the Salmon Troll YRCA are specified in groundfish regulations at 50 CFR 
660.390 and in salmon regulations at 50 CFR 660.405.
    In section (e) of the Plan, Non-Indian Commercial Fisheries, revise 
the fourth sentence of paragraph (2) to read as follows:
    Any such closed areas will be described annually in Federal halibut 
regulations published in the Federal Register and specifically defined 
at 50 CFR 300.63(e).
    In section (e) of the Plan, Non-Indian Commercial Fisheries, add a 
third paragraph to paragraph (3) to read as follows:
    Under Pacific Coast groundfish regulations at 50 CFR 660.382, 
fishing with limited entry fixed gear is prohibited within the North 
Coast Commercial Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA) and the 
Non-Trawl Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA). The North Coast Commercial 
YRCA is an area off the northern Washington coast, overlapping the 
northern part of the North Coast Recreational YRCA. The Non-Trawl RCA 
is an area off the Washington coast. These closed areas are defined by

[[Page 1692]]

straight lines connecting latitude and longitude coordinates. 
Coordinates for the North Coast Commercial YRCA are specified in 
groundfish regulations at 50 CFR 660.390. Coordinates for the Non-Trawl 
RCA are specified in groundfish regulations at 50 CFR 660.393.
    In section (f) of the Plan, Sport Fisheries, revise the sixth 
sentence through the remainder of paragraph (1)(ii) to read as follows:
    The fishery will then reopen for two days on the first Tuesday and 
Thursday following June 17, in the following nearshore areas only:
    A. WDFW Marine Catch Area 4B, which is all waters west of the Sekiu 
River mouth, as defined by a line extending from 48[deg]17.30' N. lat., 
124[deg]23.70' W. long. north to 48[deg]24.10' N. lat., 124[deg]23.70' 
W. long., to the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, as defined by a line connecting 
the light on Tatoosh Island, WA, with the light on Bonilla Point on 
Vancouver Island, British Columbia (at 48[deg]35.73' N. lat., 
124[deg]43.00' W. long.) south of the International Boundary between 
the U.S. and Canada (at 48[deg]29.62' N. lat., 124[deg]43.55' W. 
long.), and north of the point where that line intersects with the 
boundary of the U.S. territorial sea.
    B. Shoreward of the recreational halibut 30-fm boundary line, a 
modified line approximating the 30-fm depth contour from the Bonilla-
Tatoosh line south to the Queets River. Coordinates for the closed area 
will be specifically defined annually in federal halibut regulations 
published in the Federal Register.
    The fishery will reopen for one day on the first Saturday following 
June 17 in the entire north coast subarea. If sufficient quota remains, 
the fishery would reopen, as a first priority, in the entire north 
coast subarea for one day on the first Thursday following June 24. If 
there is insufficient quota remaining to reopen the entire north coast 
subarea for another day, then the nearshore areas described above would 
reopen on the first Thursday following June 24, up to four days per 
week (Thursday-Sunday), until the remaining subarea quota is projected 
to be taken. No sport fishing for halibut is allowed after September 
30. If the fishery is closed prior to September 30, and there is 
insufficient quota remaining to reopen the nearshore areas for another 
fishing day, then any remaining quota may be transferred inseason to 
another Washington coastal subarea by NMFS via an update to the 
recreational halibut hotline. The daily bag limit in all fisheries is 
one halibut per person with no size limit.
    Recreational fishing for groundfish and halibut is prohibited 
within the North Coast Recreational Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation 
Area (YRCA). The North Coast Recreational YRCA is a C-shaped area off 
the northern Washington coast and is defined by straight lines 
connecting latitude and longitude coordinates. Coordinates for the 
North Coast Recreational YRCA are specified in groundfish regulations 
at 50 CFR 660.390 and will be specifically defined annually in federal 
halibut regulations published in the Federal Register.
    In section (f) of the Plan, Sport Fisheries, revise the fifth 
sentence through the remainder of paragraph (1)(iii) to read as 
follows:
    The south coast subarea quota will be allocated as follows: 95 
percent for the primary fishery, and 5 percent for the nearshore 
fishery, once the primary fishery has closed. The fishery will open on 
May 1. If May 1 falls on a Friday or Saturday, the fishery will open on 
the following Sunday. The primary fishery will be open Sunday through 
Thursday in all areas, except where prohibited, and the nearshore 
fishery will be open 7 days per week in the area from 47[deg]25.00' N. 
lat. south to 46[deg]58.00' N. lat. and east of 124[deg]30.00' W. long. 
The primary fishery will continue until September 30, or until 95% of 
the quota is achieved, whichever is earlier. Subsequent to this 
closure, if there is insufficient quota remaining to reopen the primary 
fishery for another fishing day, then any remaining quota may be used 
to accommodate incidental catch in the nearshore area from 
47[deg]25.00' N. lat. south to 46[deg]58.00' N. lat. and east of 
124[deg]30.00' W. long. on Fridays, and Saturdays, until the remaining 
quota is projected to be taken. If the fishery is closed prior to 
September 30, and there is insufficient quota remaining to reopen the 
nearshore areas for another fishing day, then any remaining quota may 
be transferred inseason to another Washington coastal subarea by NMFS 
via an update to the recreational halibut hotline. The daily bag limit 
is one halibut per person, with no size limit.
    Recreational fishing for groundfish and halibut is prohibited 
within the South Coast Recreational YRCA. The South Coast Recreational 
YRCA is an area off the southern Washington coast and is defined by 
straight lines connecting latitude and longitude coordinates. 
Coordinates for the South Coast Recreational YRCA are specified in 
groundfish regulations at 50 CFR 660.390 and will be specifically 
defined annually in Federal halibut regulations published in the 
Federal Register.
    In section (f) of the Plan, Sport Fisheries, replace the eighth 
sentence of paragraph (1)(v), including the coordinates, to read as 
follows:
    Recreational fishing for groundfish and halibut is prohibited 
within the Stonewall Bank YRCA. The Stonewall Bank YRCA is an area off 
central Oregon, near Stonewall Bank, and is defined by straight lines 
connecting latitude and longitude coordinates. Coordinates for the 
Stonewall Bank YRCA are specified in groundfish regulations at 50 CFR 
660.390 and will be specifically defined annually in federal halibut 
regulations published in the Federal Register.
    In section (f) of the Plan, Sport Fisheries, revise paragraph (3) 
to read as follows:
    Possession limits. The sport possession limit on land in Washington 
is two daily bag limits, regardless of condition, but only one daily 
bag limit may be possessed on the vessel. The sport possession limit on 
land in Oregon is three daily bag limits, regardless of condition, but 
only one daily bag limit may be possessed on the vessel. The sport 
possession limit on land in California and on the vessel is one daily 
bag limit, regardless of condition.

Proposed 2007 Sport Fishery Management Measures

    NMFS is proposing sport fishery management measures that are 
necessary to implement the Plan in 2007. The 2007 TAC for Area 2A will 
be determined by the IPHC at its annual meeting on January 16-19, 2007, 
in Victoria, BC. Because the 2007 TAC has not yet been determined, 
these proposed sport fishery management measures use the IPHC's 
preliminary 2007 Area 2A TAC recommendation of 1,020,000 lb (463 mt), 
which is lower than the 2006 TAC of 1,380,000 lb (626 mt). The proposed 
sport fishery regulations are based on the preliminary 2007 Area 2A TAC 
of 1,020,000 lb (463 mt). Where season dates are not indicated, those 
dates will be provided in the final rule, following determination of 
the 2007 TAC and consultation with the states and the public. In 
Section 25 of the annual domestic management measures, ``Sport Fishing 
for Halibut,'' paragraph (4)(b) is proposed to read as follows:
* * * * *
    (4)* * *
    (b) The sport fishing subareas, subquotas, fishing dates, and daily 
bag limits are as follows, except as modified under the inseason 
actions in Sec.  300.63(c). All sport fishing in Area 2A is managed on 
a ``port of landing'' basis, whereby any halibut landed into a port 
counts toward the quota for the area in

[[Page 1693]]

which that port is located, and the regulations governing the area of 
landing apply, regardless of the specific area of catch.
    (i) The area in Puget Sound and the U.S. waters in the Strait of 
Juan de Fuca, east of a line extending from 48[deg]17.30' N. lat., 
124[deg]23.70' W. long. north to 48[deg]24.10' N. lat., 124[deg]23.70' 
W. long., is not managed inseason relative to its quota. This area is 
managed by setting a season that is projected to result in a catch of 
57,393 lb (26 mt).
    (A) The fishing season in eastern Puget Sound (east of 
123[deg]49.50' W. long., Low Point) is (season dates will be provided 
by NMFS in the final rule) and the fishing season in western Puget 
Sound (west of 123[deg]49.50' W. long., Low Point) is (season dates 
will be provided by NMFS in the final rule), 5 days a week (Thursday 
through Monday). (The final determination of the season dates would be 
based on the allowable harvest level and projected 2007 catch rates 
after the 2007 TAC is set by the IPHC.)
    (B) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person.
    (ii)The quota for landings into ports in the area off the north 
Washington coast, west of the line described in paragraph (4)(b)(i) of 
this section and north of the Queets River (47[deg]31.70' N. lat.), is 
108,030 lb (49 mt).
    (A)The fishing seasons are:
    (1) Commencing on May 15 and continuing 3 days a week (Tuesday, 
Thursday, and Saturday) until 77,782 lb (35 mt) are estimated to have 
been taken and the season is closed by the Commission.
    (2) On June 19 and 21, the fishery will open only in the nearshore 
areas defined at the end of this paragraph. The fishery will open for 
one day on June 23 in the entire north coast subarea. If sufficient 
quota remains, the fishery would reopen, as a first priority, in the 
entire north coast subarea for one day on June 28. If there is 
insufficient quota remaining to reopen the entire north coast subarea 
on June 28, then the nearshore areas described below would reopen on 
June 28, up to four days per week (Thursday-Sunday), until the overall 
quota of 108,030 lb (49 mt) are estimated to have been taken and the 
area is closed by the Commission, or until September 30, whichever is 
earlier. After June 23, any fishery opening will be announced on the 
NMFS hotline at 800-662-9825. No halibut fishing will be allowed after 
June 23 unless the date is announced on the NMFS hotline. The nearshore 
areas for Washington's North Coast fishery are defined as follows:
    (i) WDFW Marine Catch Area 4B, which is all waters west of the 
Sekiu River mouth, as defined by a line extending from 48[deg]17.30' N. 
lat., 124[deg]23.70' W. long. north to 48[deg]24.10' N. lat., 
124[deg]23.70' W. long., to the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, as defined by a 
line connecting the light on Tatoosh Island, WA, with the light on 
Bonilla Point on Vancouver Island, British Columbia (at 48[deg]35.73' 
N. lat., 124[deg]43.00' W. long.) south of the International Boundary 
between the U.S. and Canada (at 48[deg]29.62' N. lat., 124[deg]43.55' 
W. long.), and north of the point where that line intersects with the 
boundary of the U.S. territorial sea.
    (ii) Shoreward of the recreational halibut 30-fm boundary line, a 
modified line approximating the 30-fm depth contour from the Bonilla-
Tatoosh line south to the Queets River. The recreational halibut 30-fm 
boundary line is defined by the following coordinates in the order 
listed:
    (1) 48[deg]24.79' N. lat., 124[deg]44.07' W. long.;
    (2) 48[deg]24.80' N. lat., 124[deg]44.74' W. long.;
    (3) 48[deg]23.94' N. lat., 124[deg]44.70' W. long.;
    (4) 48[deg]23.51' N. lat., 124[deg]45.01' W. long.;
    (5) 48[deg]22.59' N. lat., 124[deg]44.97' W. long.;
    (6) 48[deg]21.75' N. lat., 124[deg]45.26' W. long.;
    (7) 48[deg]21.23' N. lat., 124[deg]47.78' W. long.;
    (8) 48[deg]20.32' N. lat., 124[deg]49.53' W. long.;
    (9) 48[deg]16.72' N. lat., 124[deg]51.58' W. long.;
    (10) 48[deg]10.00' N. lat., 124[deg]52.58' W. long.;
    (11) 48[deg]05.63' N. lat., 124[deg]52.91' W. long.;
    (12) 47[deg]56.25' N. lat., 124[deg]52.57' W. long.;
    (13) 47[deg]40.28' N. lat., 124[deg]40.07' W. long.;
    and connecting back to 47[deg]31.70' N. lat., 124[deg]37.03' W. 
long.
    (B) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person.
    (C) Recreational fishing for groundfish and halibut is prohibited 
within the North Coast Recreational Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation 
Area (YRCA). It is unlawful for recreational fishing vessels to take 
and retain, possess, or land halibut taken with recreational gear 
within the North Coast Recreational YRCA. A vessel fishing in the North 
Coast Recreational YRCA may not be in possession of any halibut. 
Recreational vessels may transit through the North Coast Recreational 
YRCA with or without halibut on board. The North Coast Recreational 
YRCA is a C-shaped area off the northern Washington coast intended to 
protect yelloweye rockfish. The North Coast Recreational YRCA is 
defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude 
and longitude coordinates in the order listed:
    (1) 48[deg]18.00' N. lat.; 125[deg]18.00' W. long.;
    (2) 48[deg]18.00' N. lat.; 124[deg]59.00' W. long.;
    (3) 48[deg]11.00' N. lat.; 124[deg]59.00' W. long.;
    (4) 48[deg]11.00' N. lat.; 125[deg]11.00' W. long.;
    (5) 48[deg]04.00' N. lat.; 125[deg]11.00' W. long.;
    (6) 48[deg]04.00' N. lat.; 124[deg]59.00' W. long.;
    (7) 48[deg]00.00' N. lat.; 124[deg]59.00' W. long.;
    (8) 48[deg]00.00' N. lat.; 125[deg]18.00' W. long.;
    and connecting back to 48[deg]18.00' N. lat.; 125[deg]18.00' W. 
long.
    (iii) The quota for landings into ports in the area between the 
Queets River, WA (47[deg]31.70' N. lat.) and Leadbetter Point, WA 
(46[deg]38.17' N. lat.), is 42,739 lb (19 mt).
    (A) The fishing season commences on May 1 and continues 5 days a 
week (Sunday through Thursday) in all waters (the primary fishery), 
except that in the area from 47[deg]25.00' N. lat. south to 
46[deg]58.00' N. lat. and east of 124[deg]30.00' W. long. (the 
Washington South coast, northern nearshore area), the fishing season 
commences on May 1 and continues 7 days a week. The south coast subarea 
quota will be allocated as follows: 40,602 lb (18 mt), 95 percent, for 
the primary fishery, and 2,137 lb (1.0 mt), 5 percent, for the northern 
nearshore fishery, once the primary fishery has closed. The primary 
fishery will continue from May 1 until 40,602 lb (18 mt) are estimated 
to have been taken and the season is closed by the Commission, or until 
September 30, whichever is earlier. Subsequent to this closure, if 
there is insufficient quota remaining to reopen the primary fishery for 
another fishing day, then any remaining quota may be used to 
accommodate incidental catch in the northern nearshore area from 
47[deg]25.00' N. lat. south to 46[deg]58.00' N. lat. and east of 
124[deg]30.00' W. long. on Fridays and Saturdays, until 42,739 lb (19 
mt) is projected to be taken and the fishery is closed by the 
Commission. If the fishery is closed prior to September 30, and there 
is insufficient quota remaining to reopen the northern nearshore area 
for another fishing day, then any remaining quota may be transferred 
inseason to another Washington coastal subarea by NMFS via an update to 
the recreational halibut hotline.

[[Page 1694]]

    (B) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person.
    (C) Recreational fishing for groundfish and halibut is prohibited 
within the South Coast Recreational YRCA. It is unlawful for 
recreational fishing vessels to take and retain, possess, or land 
halibut taken with recreational gear within the South Coast 
Recreational YRCA. A vessel fishing in the South Coast Recreational 
YRCA may not be in possession of any halibut. Recreational vessels may 
transit through the South Coast Recreational YRCA with or without 
halibut on board. The South Coast Recreational YRCA is an area off the 
southern Washington coast intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The 
South Coast Recreational YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting 
the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order 
listed:
    (1) 46[deg]58.00' N. lat., 124[deg]48.00' W. long.;
    (2) 46[deg]55.00' N. lat., 124[deg]48.00' W. long.;
    (3) 46[deg]58.00' N. lat., 124[deg]49.00' W. long.;
    (4) 46[deg]55.00' N. lat., 124[deg]49.00' W. long.;
    and connecting back to 46[deg]58.00' N. lat., 124[deg]48.00' W. 
long.
    (iv) The quota for landings into ports in the area between 
Leadbetter Point, WA (46[deg]38.17' N. lat.) and Cape Falcon, OR 
(45[deg]46.00' N. lat.), is 16,060 lb (7.3 mt).
    (A) The fishing season commences on May 1, and continues 7 days a 
week until 11,242 lb (5 mt) are estimated to have been taken and the 
season is closed by the Commission or until July 21, whichever is 
earlier. The fishery will reopen on August 3 and continue 3 days a week 
(Friday through Sunday) until 16,060 lb (7 mt) have been taken and the 
season is closed by the Commission, or until September 30, whichever is 
earlier. Subsequent to this closure, if there is insufficient quota 
remaining in the Columbia River subarea for another fishing day, then 
any remaining quota may be transferred inseason to another Washington 
and/or Oregon subarea by NMFS via an update to the recreational halibut 
hotline. Any remaining quota would be transferred to each state in 
proportion to its contribution.
    (B) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person.
    (C) Pacific Coast groundfish may not be taken and retained, 
possessed or landed, except sablefish and Pacific cod when allowed by 
Pacific Coast groundfish regulations, if halibut are on board the 
vessel.
    (v) The quota for landings into ports in the area off Oregon 
between Cape Falcon (45[deg]46.00' N. lat.) and Humbug Mountain 
(42[deg]40.50' N. lat.), is 186,066 lb (84 mt).
    (A) The fishing seasons are:
    (1) The first season (the ``inside 40-fm'' fishery) commences May 1 
and continues 7 days a week through October 31, in the area shoreward 
of a boundary line approximating the 40-fm (73-m) depth contour, or 
until the sub-quota for the central Oregon ``inside 40-fm'' fishery 
(14,885 lb (6.8 mt)) or any inseason revised subquota is estimated to 
have been taken and the season is closed by the Commission, whichever 
is earlier. The boundary line approximating the 40-fm (73-m) depth 
contour between 45[deg]46.00' N. lat. and 42[deg]40.50' N. lat. is 
defined by straight lines connecting all of the following points in the 
order stated:
    (1) 45[deg]46.00' N. lat., 124[deg]04.49' W. long.;
    (2) 45[deg]44.34' N. lat., 124[deg]05.09' W. long.;
    (3) 45[deg]40.64' N. lat., 124[deg]04.90' W. long.;
    (4) 45[deg]33.00' N. lat., 124[deg]04.46' W. long.;
    (5) 45[deg]32.27' N. lat., 124[deg]04.74' W. long.;
    (6) 45[deg]29.26' N. lat., 124[deg]04.22' W. long.;
    (7) 45[deg]20.25' N. lat., 124[deg]04.67' W. long.;
    (8) 45[deg]19.99' N. lat., 124[deg]04.62' W. long.;
    (9) 45[deg]17.50' N. lat., 124[deg]04.91' W. long.;
    (10) 45[deg]11.29' N. lat., 124[deg]05.19' W. long.;
    (11) 45[deg]05.79' N. lat., 124[deg]05.40' W. long.;
    (12) 45[deg]05.07' N. lat., 124[deg]05.93' W. long.;
    (13) 45[deg]03.83' N. lat., 124[deg]06.47' W. long.;
    (14) 45[deg]01.70' N. lat., 124[deg]06.53' W. long.;
    (15) 44[deg]58.75' N. lat., 124[deg]07.14' W. long.;
    (16) 44[deg]51.28' N. lat., 124[deg]10.21' W. long.;
    (17) 44[deg]49.49' N. lat., 124[deg]10.89' W. long.;
    (18) 44[deg]44.96' N. lat., 124[deg]14.39' W. long.;
    (19) 44[deg]43.44' N. lat., 124[deg]14.78' W. long.;
    (20) 44[deg]42.27' N. lat., 124[deg]13.81' W. long.;
    (21) 44[deg]41.68' N. lat., 124[deg]15.38' W. long.;
    (22) 44[deg]34.87' N. lat., 124[deg]15.80' W. long.;
    (23) 44[deg]33.74' N. lat., 124[deg]14.43' W. long.;
    (24) 44[deg]27.66' N. lat., 124[deg]16.99' W. long.;
    (25) 44[deg]19.13' N. lat., 124[deg]19.22' W. long.;
    (26) 44[deg]15.35' N. lat., 124[deg]17.37' W. long.;
    (27) 44[deg]14.38' N. lat., 124[deg]17.78' W. long.;
    (28) 44[deg]12.80' N. lat., 124[deg]17.18' W. long.;
    (29) 44[deg]09.23' N. lat., 124[deg]15.96' W. long.;
    (30) 44[deg]08.38' N. lat., 124[deg]16.80' W. long.;
    (31) 44[deg]08.30' N. lat., 124[deg]16.75' W. long.;
    (32) 44[deg]01.18' N. lat., 124[deg]15.42' W. long.;
    (33) 43[deg]51.60' N. lat., 124[deg]14.68' W. long.;
    (34) 43[deg]42.66' N. lat., 124[deg]15.46' W. long.;
    (35) 43[deg]40.49' N. lat., 124[deg]15.74' W. long.;
    (36) 43[deg]38.77' N. lat., 124[deg]15.64' W. long.;
    (37) 43[deg]34.52' N. lat., 124[deg]16.73' W. long.;
    (38) 43[deg]28.82' N. lat., 124[deg]19.52' W. long.;
    (39) 43[deg]23.91' N. lat., 124[deg]24.28' W. long.;
    (40) 43[deg]20.83' N. lat., 124[deg]26.63' W. long.;
    (41) 43[deg]17.96' N. lat., 124[deg]28.81' W. long.;
    (42) 43[deg]16.75' N. lat., 124[deg]28.42' W. long.;
    (43) 43[deg]13.98' N. lat., 124[deg]31.99' W. long.;
    (44) 43[deg]13.71' N. lat., 124[deg]33.25' W. long.;
    (45) 43[deg]12.26' N. lat., 124[deg]34.16' W. long.;
    (46) 43[deg]10.96' N. lat., 124[deg]32.34' W. long.;
    (47) 43[deg]05.65' N. lat., 124[deg]31.52' W. long.;
    (48) 42[deg]59.66' N. lat., 124[deg]32.58' W. long.;
    (49) 42[deg]54.97' N. lat., 124[deg]36.99' W. long.;
    (50) 42[deg]53.81' N. lat., 124[deg]38.58' W. long.;
    (51) 42[deg]50.00' N. lat., 124[deg]39.68' W. long.;
    (52) 42[deg]49.14' N. lat., 124[deg]39.92' W. long.;
    (53) 42[deg]46.47' N. lat., 124[deg]38.65' W. long.;
    (54) 42[deg]45.60' N. lat., 124[deg]39.04' W. long.;
    (55) 42[deg]44.79' N. lat., 124[deg]37.96' W. long.;
    (56) 42[deg]45.00' N. lat., 124[deg]36.39' W. long.;
    (57) 42[deg]44.14' N. lat., 124[deg]35.16' W. long.;
    (58) 42[deg]42.15' N. lat., 124[deg]32.82' W. long.; and
    (59) 42[deg]40.50' N. lat., 124[deg]31.98' W. long.;
    (2) The second season (spring season), which is for the ``all-
depth'' fishery, is

[[Page 1695]]

open on (dates will be provided by NMFS in the final rule). The 
projected catch for this season is 128,386 lb (58 mt). If sufficient 
unharvested catch remains for additional fishing days, the season will 
re-open. Dependent on the amount of unharvested catch available, the 
potential season re-opening dates will be: (dates will be provided by 
NMFS in the final rule). If NMFS decides inseason to allow fishing on 
any of these re-opening dates, notice of the re-opening will be 
announced on the NMFS hotline (206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-9825. No 
halibut fishing will be allowed on the re-opening dates unless the date 
is announced on the NMFS hotline. (The final determination of the 
season dates would be based on the allowable harvest level and 
projected 2007 catch rates and on a public meeting held by ODFW after 
the 2007 TAC is set by the IPHC.)
    (3) If sufficient unharvested catch remains, the third season 
(summer season), which is for the ``all-depth'' fishery, will be open 
on (dates will be provided by NMFS in the final rule), or until the 
combined spring season and summer season quotas in the area between 
Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain, OR, totaling 171,181 lb (78 mt), are 
estimated to have been taken and the area is closed by the Commission, 
or October 31, whichever is earlier. NMFS will announce on the NMFS 
hotline in July whether the fishery will re-open for the summer season 
in August. No halibut fishing will be allowed in the summer season 
fishery unless the dates are announced on the NMFS hotline. Additional 
fishing days may be opened if a certain amount of quota remains after 
August 5 and September 2. If after August 5, greater than or equal to 
60,000 lb (27.2 mt) remains in the combined all-depth and inside 40-fm 
(73-m) quota, the fishery may re-open every Friday through Sunday, 
beginning August 10 - 12, and ending October 26 - 28. If after 
September 2, greater than or equal to 30,000 lb (13.6 mt) remains in 
the combined all-depth and inside 40-fm (73-m) quota, and the fishery 
is not already open every Friday through Sunday, the fishery may re-
open every Friday through Sunday, beginning September 7 - 9, and ending 
October 26 - 28. After September 2, the bag limit may be increased to 
two fish of any size per person, per day. NMFS will announce on the 
NMFS hotline whether the summer all-depth fishery will be open on such 
additional fishing days, what days the fishery will be open and what 
the bag limit is.
    (B) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person, unless otherwise specified. NMFS will announce on the NMFS 
hotline any bag limit changes.
    (C) During days open to all-depth halibut fishing, no Pacific Coast 
groundfish may be taken and retained, possessed or landed, except 
sablefish when allowed by Pacific Coast groundfish regulations, if 
halibut are on board the vessel.
    (D) When the all-depth halibut fishery is closed and halibut 
fishing is permitted only shoreward of a boundary line approximating 
the 40-fm (73-m) depth contour, halibut possession and retention by 
vessels operating seaward of a boundary line approximating the 40-fm 
(73-m) depth contour is prohibited.
    (E) Recreational fishing for groundfish and halibut is prohibited 
within the Stonewall Bank YRCA. It is unlawful for recreational fishing 
vessels to take and retain, possess, or land halibut taken with 
recreational gear within the Stonewall Bank YRCA. A vessel fishing in 
the Stonewall Bank YRCA may not be in possession of any halibut. 
Recreational vessels may transit through the Stonewall Bank YRCA with 
or without halibut on board. The Stonewall Bank YRCA is an area off 
central Oregon, near Stonewall Bank, intended to protect yelloweye 
rockfish. The Stonewall Bank YRCA is defined by straight lines 
connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in 
the order listed:
    (1) 44[deg]37.46 N. lat.; 124[deg]24.92 W. long.;
    (2) 44[deg]37.46 N. lat.; 124[deg]23.63 W. long.;
    (3) 44[deg]28.71 N. lat.; 124[deg]21.80 W. long.;
    (4) 44[deg]28.71 N. lat.; 124[deg]24.10 W. long.;
    (5) 44[deg]31.42 N. lat.; 124[deg]25.47 W. long.;
    and connecting back to 44[deg]37.46 N. lat.; 124[deg]24.92 W. long.
    (vi) The area south of Humbug Mountain, Oregon (42[deg]40.50' N. 
lat.) and off the California coast is not managed inseason relative to 
its quota. This area is managed on a season that is projected to result 
in a catch of 6,067 lb (2.8 mt).
    (A) The fishing season will commence on May 1 and continue 7 days a 
week until October 31.
    (B) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person.

Area 2A Non-Treaty Commercial Fishery Closed Areas

    Since 2003, large closed areas have applied to commercial vessels 
operating in the directed non-treaty commercial fishery for halibut in 
Area 2A. The Area 2A non-treaty commercial fishery closed areas 
implement the Plan and previously appeared in the annual halibut 
management measures published in the Federal Register. Beginning in 
2006, this section was codified into regulatory language at 50 CFR part 
300, subpart E. Coordinates for the boundary lines approximating the 
30-fm and 100-fm depth contours for the closed areas are being revised 
to to better approximate depth contours. Therefore, NMFS is proposing 
new coordinates for these boundary lines in this proposed rule.

Classification

    NMFS has prepared an RIR/IRFA and a CE on the proposed changes to 
the Plan and annual domestic Area 2A halibut management measures. 
Copies of these documents are available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).
    NMFS prepared an IRFA that describes the economic impact this 
proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. A description 
of the action, why it is being considered, and the legal basis for this 
action are contained at the beginning of this section in the preamble 
and in the SUMMARY section of the preamble. The IRFA is available from 
NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A summary of the IRFA follows:
    A fish-harvesting business is considered a ``small'' business by 
the Small Business Administration (SBA) if it has annual receipts not 
in excess of $4.0 million. For related fish-processing businesses, a 
small business is one that employs 500 or fewer persons. For wholesale 
businesses, a small business is one that employs not more than 100 
people. For marinas and charter/party boats, a small business is one 
with annual receipts not in excess of $6.5 million. All of the 
businesses that would be affected by this action are considered small 
businesses under Small Business Administration guidance.
    The proposed changes to the Plan, which allocates the catch of 
Pacific halibut among users in Washington, Oregon and California, 
would: constrain the Washington North Coast subarea June fishery to two 
specific nearshore areas on the first Tuesday and Thursday following 
June 17; reopen the Washington North Coast subarea June fishery in the 
entire north coast subarea on the first Saturday following June 17; if 
sufficient quota remains, reopen the entire Washington North Coast 
subarea for one day on the first Thursday following June 24, otherwise, 
reopen the nearshore areas on the first Thursday following June 24 for 
up to four days per week (Thursday-Sunday) until the quota

[[Page 1696]]

is taken; set aside 5 percent of the Washington South Coast subarea 
quota for the nearshore fishery once the primary fishery has closed; 
set the Washington South Coast subarea nearshore fishery as a 2-day per 
week fishery, open Fridays and Saturdays; implement additional closed 
areas (Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Areas, or YRCAs) off the coast 
of Washington that would affect commercial and sport halibut fisheries; 
remove latitude/longitude coordinates from the Plan but refer to where 
in the regulations they are published to reduce duplication; remove 
language referring to salmon troll fishery July-September season; add a 
definition of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line; and decrease the California 
possession limit on land from two daily limits to one daily limit 
statewide to conform with state regulation. NMFS also proposes to 
implement the portions of the Plan and management measures that are not 
implemented through the IPHC, which includes the sport fishery 
management measures for Area 2A and to revise Area 2A non-treaty 
commercial fishery closed areas specified at 50 CFR 300.63. These 
actions are intended to enhance the conservation of Pacific halibut, to 
provide greater angler opportunity where available, to protect 
yelloweye rockfish and other overfished groundfish species from 
incidental catch in the halibut fisheries, and to ensure consistency 
between Federal groundfish and halibut regulations and between State 
and Federal regulations.
    As mentioned in the preamble, WDFW and ODFW held state meetings and 
crafted alternatives to adjust management of the sport halibut 
fisheries in their respective states. These alternatives were then 
narrowed down by the states and brought to the Council at the Council's 
September and November 2006 meetings. Generally, by the time the 
alternatives reach the Council, and because they have been through the 
state public review process, they are narrowed down into the proposed 
action and status quo. There were no alternatives that could have 
similarly improved angler enjoyment of and participation in the 
fisheries while simultaneously protecting halibut and co-occurring 
groundfish species from overharvest.
    In 1995, NMFS implemented the Plan, when the TAC was 520,000 pounds 
(236 mt). In each of the intervening years between 1995 and the 
present, minor revisions to the Plan have been made to adjust for the 
changing needs of the fisheries, even though the TAC reached levels of 
over 1,000,000 pounds (454 mt), with a peak of 1,480,000 pounds (671 
mt) in 2004. Since 2004, there has been very little change in the total 
allowable catch and sector allocations. In 2005, the Area 2A Halibut 
TAC set by the IPHC was 1.33 million pounds (603 mt) and for 2006 it 
was 1.38 million pounds (626 mt). However, preliminary estimates of the 
2007 TAC are lower than the TAC levels since 2001. The preliminary 2007 
Area 2A TAC of 1.02 million pounds (463 mt) is lower than previous 
years due to the IPHC's new stock assessment information, revised 
selectivity assumptions and revised harvest policy. This is a 26-
percent decline from the 2006 TAC. As this is a sizable decline, there 
may be changes to the regulations described in this proposed rule due 
to IPHC recommendations at their annual meeting in January 2007 or as 
an outcome of the state public workshops held after the IPHC meeting. 
Expectations are that any proposed changes in the regulations will be 
ones that seek to mitigate the adverse impacts of the decline of the 
TAC in order to maximize available fishing opportunities and benefits 
to fishing communities.
    Six hundred sixty two vessels were issued IPHC licenses to retain 
halibut in 2006. IPHC issues licenses for: the directed commercial 
fishery in Area 2A, including licenses issued to retain halibut caught 
incidentally in the primary sablefish fishery (298 licenses in 2006); 
incidental halibut caught in the salmon troll fishery (224 licenses in 
2006); and the charterboat fleet (140 licenses in 2006). No vessel may 
participate in more than one of these three fisheries per year. 
Individual recreational anglers and private boats are the only sectors 
that are not required to have an IPHC license to retain halibut.
    Specific data on the economics of halibut charter operations is 
unavailable. However, in January 2004, the Pacific States Marine 
Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) completed a report on the overall West 
Coast charterboat fleet. In surveying charterboat vessels concerning 
their operations in 2000, the PSMFC estimated that there were about 315 
charterboat vessels in operation off Washington and Oregon. In 2000, 
IPHC licensed 130 vessels to fish in the halibut sport charter fishery. 
Comparing the total charterboat fleet to the 130 and 140 IPHC licenses 
in 2000 and 2006, respectively, approximately 41 to 44 percent of the 
charterboat fleet could participate in the halibut fishery. The PSMFC 
has developed preliminary estimates of the annual revenues earned by 
this fleet and they vary by size class of the vessels and home state. 
Small charterboat vessels range from 15 to 30 ft (4.572 to 9.144 m), 
and typically carry 5 to 6 passengers. Medium charterboat vessels range 
from 31 to 49 ft (9.44 to 14.93 m) in length and typically carry 19 to 
20 passengers. (Neither state has large vessels of greater than 49 ft 
(14.93 m) in their fleet.) Average annual revenues from all types of 
recreational fishing, whalewatching and other activities ranged from 
$7,000 for small Oregon vessels to $131,000 for medium Washington 
vessels. Estimates from the RIR show the recreational halibut fishery 
generated approximately $2.5 million in personal income to West Coast 
communities, while the non-tribal commercial halibut fishery generated 
approximately $1.8 million in income impacts. Because these estimated 
impacts for the entire halibut fishery overall are less than the SBA 
criteria for individual businesses, these data confirm that charterboat 
and commercial halibut vessels qualify as small entities under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).
    These changes are authorized under the Pacific Halibut Act, 
implementing regulations at 50 CFR 300.60 through 300.65, and the 
Pacific Council process of annually evaluating the utility and 
effectiveness of Area 2A Pacific halibut management under the Plan. 
Given the TAC, the proposed sport management measures implement the 
Plan by managing the recreational fishery to meet the differing fishery 
needs of the various areas along the coast according to the Plan's 
objectives. The proposed commercial management measures will allow the 
fishery access to a portion of the Area 2A TAC while protecting 
overfished rockfish species that co-occur with halibut. The measures 
will be very similar to last year's management measures. The changes to 
the Plan and domestic management measures are minor changes and are 
intended to increase flexibility in management and opportunity to 
harvest available quota. There are no large entities involved in the 
halibut fisheries; therefore, none of these changes to the Plan and 
domestic management measures will have a disproportionate negative 
effect on small entities versus large entities.
    These changes do not include any reporting or recordkeeping 
requirements. These changes will also not duplicate, overlap or 
conflict with other laws or regulations. Consequently, these changes to 
the Plan and annual domestic Area 2A halibut management measures are 
not expected to meet any of the RFA tests of having a ``significant'' 
economic impact on a

[[Page 1697]]

``substantial number'' of small entities. Nonetheless, NMFS has 
prepared a IRFA. Through this proposed rule, NMFS is requesting 
comments on these conclusions.
    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.
    Pursuant to Executive Order 13175, the Secretary recognizes the 
sovereign status and co-manager role of Indian tribes over shared 
Federal and tribal fishery resources. At section 302(b)(5), the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act establishes a 
seat on the Pacific Council for a representative of an Indian tribe 
with federally recognized fishing rights from California, Oregon, 
Washington, or Idaho.
    The U.S. Government formally recognizes that the 12 Washington 
Tribes have treaty rights to fish for Pacific halibut. In general 
terms, the quantification of those rights is 50 percent of the 
harvestable surplus of Pacific halibut available in the tribes' usual 
and accustomed (U and A) fishing areas (described at 50 CFR 300.64). 
Each of the treaty tribes has the discretion to administer their 
fisheries and to establish their own policies to achieve program 
objectives. Accordingly, tribal allocations and regulations, including 
the proposed changes to the Plan, have been developed in consultation 
with the affected tribe(s) and, insofar as possible, with tribal 
consensus.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 300

    Fishing, Fisheries, and Indian fisheries.

    Dated: January 9, 2007.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 300 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 300 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.
    2. In Sec.  300.63, paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) are revised to read 
as follows:


Sec.  300.63  Catch sharing plan and domestic management measures in 
Area 2A.

* * * * *
    (e) Area 2A Non-Treaty Commercial Fishery Closed Areas.
    (1) Non-treaty commercial vessels operating in the directed 
commercial fishery for halibut in Area 2A are required to fish outside 
of a closed area, known as the Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA), that 
extends along the coast from the U.S./Canada border south to 40[deg]10' 
N. lat. Between the U.S./Canada border and 46[deg]16' N. lat., the 
eastern boundary of the RCA is the shoreline. Between 46[deg]16' N. 
lat. and 40[deg]10' N. lat., the RCA is defined along an eastern 
boundary approximating the 30-fm (55-m) depth contour. Coordinates for 
the 30-fm (55-m) boundary are listed at Sec.  300.63 (f). Between the 
U.S./Canada border and 40[deg]10' N. lat., the RCA is defined along a 
western boundary approximating the 100-fm (183-m) depth contour. 
Coordinates for the 100-fm (183-m) boundary are listed at Sec.  300.63 
(g).
    (2) Non-treaty commercial vessels operating in the incidental catch 
fishery during the sablefish fishery north of Pt. Chehalis, WA, in Area 
2A are required to fish outside of a closed area. Under Pacific Coast 
groundfish regulations at 50 CFR 660.382, fishing with limited entry 
fixed gear is prohibited within the North Coast Commercial Yelloweye 
Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA). It is unlawful to take and retain, 
possess, or land halibut taken with limited entry fixed gear within the 
North Coast Commercial YRCA. The North Coast Commercial Yelloweye 
Rockfish Conservation Area YRCA is an area off the northern Washington 
coast, overlapping the northern part of North Coast Recreational YRCA, 
and is defined by straight lines connecting latitude and longitude 
coordinates. Coordinates for the North Coast Commercial YRCA are 
specified in groundfish regulations at 50 CFR 660.390.
    (3) Non-treaty commercial vessels operating in the incidental catch 
fishery during the salmon troll fishery in Area 2A are required to fish 
outside of a closed area. Under the Pacific Coast groundfish 
regulations at 50 CFR 660.383, fishing with salmon troll gear is 
prohibited within the Salmon Troll Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area 
(YRCA). It is unlawful for commercial salmon troll vessels to take and 
retain, possess, or land fish within the Salmon Troll YRCA. The Salmon 
Troll YRCA is an area off the northern Washington coast and is defined 
by straight lines connecting latitude and longitude coordinates. 
Coordinates for the Salmon Troll YRCA are specified in groundfish 
regulations at 50 CFR 660.390 and in salmon regulations at 50 CFR 
660.405.
    (f) The 30-fm (55-m) depth contour between 46[deg]16' N. lat. and 
40[deg]10' N. lat. is defined by straight lines connecting all of the 
following points in the order stated:
    (1) 46[deg]16.00' N. lat., 124[deg]13.05' W. long.;
    (2) 46[deg]16.00' N. lat., 124[deg]13.04' W. long.;
    (3) 46[deg]07.00' N. lat., 124[deg]07.01' W. long.;
    (4) 45[deg]55.95' N. lat., 124[deg]02.23' W. long.;
    (5) 45[deg]54.53' N. lat., 124[deg]02.57' W. long.;
    (6) 45[deg]50.65' N. lat., 124[deg]01.62' W. long.;
    (7) 45[deg]48.20' N. lat., 124[deg]02.16' W. long.;
    (8) 45[deg]46.00' N. lat., 124[deg]01.86' W. long.;
    (9) 45[deg]43.46' N. lat., 124[deg]01.28' W. long.;
    (10) 45[deg]40.48' N. lat., 124[deg]01.03' W. long.;
    (11) 45[deg]39.04' N. lat., 124[deg]01.68' W. long.;
    (12) 45[deg]35.48' N. lat., 124[deg]01.90' W. long.;
    (13) 45[deg]29.81' N. lat., 124[deg]02.45' W. long.;
    (14) 45[deg]27.97' N. lat., 124[deg]01.90' W. long.;
    (15) 45[deg]27.22' N. lat., 124[deg]02.66' W. long.;
    (16) 45[deg]24.20' N. lat., 124[deg]02.94' W. long.;
    (17) 45[deg]20.60' N. lat., 124[deg]01.74' W. long.;
    (18) 45[deg]20.25' N. lat., 124[deg]01.85' W. long.;
    (19) 45[deg]16.44' N. lat., 124[deg]03.22' W. long.;
    (20) 45[deg]13.63' N. lat., 124[deg]02.69' W. long.;
    (21) 45[deg]11.05' N. lat., 124[deg]03.59' W. long.;
    (22) 45[deg]08.55' N. lat., 124[deg]03.47' W. long.;
    (23) 45[deg]02.81' N. lat., 124[deg]04.64' W. long.;
    (24) 44[deg]58.06' N. lat., 124[deg]05.03' W. long.;
    (25) 44[deg]53.97' N. lat., 124[deg]06.92' W. long.;
    (26) 44[deg]48.89' N. lat., 124[deg]07.04' W. long.;
    (27) 44[deg]46.94' N. lat., 124[deg]08.25' W. long.;
    (28) 44[deg]42.72' N. lat., 124[deg]08.98' W. long.;
    (29) 44[deg]38.16' N. lat., 124[deg]11.48' W. long.;
    (30) 44[deg]33.38' N. lat., 124[deg]11.54' W. long.;
    (31) 44[deg]28.51' N. lat., 124[deg]12.04' W. long.;
    (32) 44[deg]27.65' N. lat., 124[deg]12.56' W. long.;
    (33) 44[deg]19.67' N. lat., 124[deg]12.37' W. long.;
    (34) 44[deg]10.79' N. lat., 124[deg]12.22' W. long.;
    (35) 44[deg]09.22' N. lat., 124[deg]12.28' W. long.;

[[Page 1698]]

    (36) 44[deg]08.30' N. lat., 124[deg]12.30' W. long.;
    (37) 44[deg]00.22' N. lat., 124[deg]12.80' W. long.;
    (38) 43[deg]51.56' N. lat., 124[deg]13.18' W. long.;
    (39) 43[deg]44.26' N. lat., 124[deg]14.50' W. long.;
    (40) 43[deg]33.82' N. lat., 124[deg]16.28' W. long.;
    (41) 43[deg]28.66' N. lat., 124[deg]18.72' W. long.;
    (42) 43[deg]23.12' N. lat., 124[deg]24.04' W. long.;
    (43) 43[deg]20.83' N. lat., 124[deg]25.67' W. long.;
    (44) 43[deg]20.48' N. lat., 124[deg]25.90' W. long.;
    (45) 43[deg]16.41' N. lat., 124[deg]27.52' W. long.;
    (46) 43[deg]14.23' N. lat., 124[deg]29.28' W. long.;
    (47) 43[deg]14.03' N. lat., 124[deg]28.31' W. long.;
    (48) 43[deg]11.92' N. lat., 124[deg]28.26' W. long.;
    (49) 43[deg]11.02' N. lat., 124[deg]29.11' W. long.;
    (50) 43[deg]10.13' N. lat., 124[deg]29.15' W. long.;
    (51) 43[deg]09.26' N. lat., 124[deg]31.03' W. long.;
    (52) 43[deg]07.73' N. lat., 124[deg]30.92' W. long.;
    (53) 43[deg]05.93' N. lat., 124[deg]29.64' W. long.;
    (54) 43[deg]01.59' N. lat., 124[deg]30.64' W. long.;
    (55) 42[deg]59.72' N. lat., 124[deg]31.16' W. long.;
    (56) 42[deg]53.75' N. lat., 124[deg]36.09' W. long.;
    (57) 42[deg]50.00' N. lat., 124[deg]38.39' W. long.;
    (58) 42[deg]49.37' N. lat., 124[deg]38.81' W. long.;
    (59) 42[deg]46.42' N. lat., 124[deg]37.69' W. long.;
    (60) 42[deg]46.07' N. lat., 124[deg]38.56' W. long.;
    (61) 42[deg]45.29' N. lat., 124[deg]37.95' W. long.;
    (62) 42[deg]45.61' N. lat., 124[deg]36.87' W. long.;
    (63) 42[deg]44.27' N. lat., 124[deg]33.64' W. long.;
    (64) 42[deg]42.75' N. lat., 124[deg]31.84' W. long.;
    (65) 42[deg]40.50' N. lat., 124[deg]29.67' W. long.;
    (66) 42[deg]40.04' N. lat., 124[deg]29.20' W. long.;
    (67) 42[deg]38.09' N. lat., 124[deg]28.39' W. long.;
    (68) 42[deg]36.73' N. lat., 124[deg]27.54' W. long.;
    (69) 42[deg]36.56' N. lat., 124[deg]28.40' W. long.;
    (70) 42[deg]35.77' N. lat., 124[deg]28.79' W. long.;
    (71) 42[deg]34.03' N. lat., 124[deg]29.98' W. long.;
    (72) 42[deg]34.19' N. lat., 124[deg]30.58' W. long.;
    (73) 42[deg]31.27' N. lat., 124[deg]32.24' W. long.;
    (74) 42[deg]27.07' N. lat., 124[deg]32.53' W. long.;
    (75) 42[deg]24.21' N. lat., 124[deg]31.23' W. long.;
    (76) 42[deg]20.47' N. lat., 124[deg]28.87' W. long.;
    (77) 42[deg]14.60' N. lat., 124[deg]26.80' W. long.;
    (78) 42[deg]13.67' N. lat., 124[deg]26.25' W. long.;
    (79) 42[deg]10.90' N. lat., 124[deg]24.56' W. long.;
    (80) 42[deg]07.04' N. lat., 124[deg]23.35' W. long.;
    (81) 42[deg]02.16' N. lat., 124[deg]22.59' W. long.;
    (82) 42[deg]00.00' N. lat., 124[deg]21.81' W. long.;
    (83) 41[deg]55.75' N. lat., 124[deg]20.72' W. long.;
    (84) 41[deg]50.93' N. lat., 124[deg]23.76' W. long.;
    (85) 41[deg]42.53' N. lat., 124[deg]16.47' W. long.;
    (86) 41[deg]37.20' N. lat., 124[deg]17.05' W. long.;
    (87) 41[deg]24.58' N. lat., 124[deg]10.51' W. long.;
    (88) 41[deg]20.73' N. lat., 124[deg]11.73' W. long.;
    (89) 41[deg]17.59' N. lat., 124[deg]10.66' W. long.;
    (90) 41[deg]04.54' N. lat., 124[deg]14.47' W. long.;
    (91) 40[deg]54.26' N. lat., 124[deg]13.90' W. long.;
    (92) 40[deg]40.31' N. lat., 124[deg]26.24' W. long.;
    (93) 40[deg]34.00' N. lat., 124[deg]27.39' W. long.;
    (94) 40[deg]30.00' N. lat., 124[deg]31.32' W. long.;
    (95) 40[deg]28.89' N. lat., 124[deg]32.43' W. long.;
    (96) 40[deg]24.77' N. lat., 124[deg]29.51' W. long.;
    (97) 40[deg]22.47' N. lat., 124[deg]24.12' W. long.;
    (98) 40[deg]19.73' N. lat., 124[deg]23.59' W. long.;
    (99) 40[deg]18.64' N. lat., 124[deg]21.89' W. long.;
    (100) 40[deg]17.67' N. lat., 124[deg]23.07' W. long.;
    (101) 40[deg]15.58' N. lat., 124[deg]23.61' W. long.;
    (102) 40[deg]13.42' N. lat., 124[deg]22.94' W. long.; and
    (103) 40[deg]10.00' N. lat., 124[deg]16.65' W. long.;
    (g) The 100-fm (183-m) depth contour used between the U.S. border 
with Canada and 40[deg]10' N. lat. is defined by straight lines 
connecting all of the following points in the order stated:
    (1) 48[deg]15.00' N. lat., 125[deg]41.00' W. long.;
    (2) 48[deg]14.00' N. lat., 125[deg]36.00' W. long.;
    (3) 48[deg]09.50' N. lat., 125[deg]40.50' W. long.;
    (4) 48[deg]08.00' N. lat., 125[deg]38.00' W. long.;
    (5) 48[deg]05.00' N. lat., 125[deg]37.25' W. long.;
    (6) 48[deg]02.60' N. lat., 125[deg]34.70' W. long.;
    (7) 47[deg]59.00' N. lat., 125[deg]34.00' W. long.;
    (8) 47[deg]57.26' N. lat., 125[deg]29.82' W. long.;
    (9) 47[deg]59.87' N. lat., 125[deg]25.81' W. long.;
    (10) 48[deg]01.80' N. lat., 125[deg]24.53' W. long.;
    (11) 48[deg]02.08' N. lat., 125[deg]22.98' W. long.;
    (12) 48[deg]02.97' N. lat., 125[deg]22.89' W. long.;
    (13) 48[deg]04.47' N. lat., 125[deg]21.75' W. long.;
    (14) 48[deg]06.11' N. lat., 125[deg]19.33' W. long.;
    (15) 48[deg]07.95' N. lat., 125[deg]18.55' W. long.;
    (16) 48[deg]09.00' N. lat., 125[deg]18.00' W. long.;
    (17) 48[deg]11.31' N. lat., 125[deg]17.55' W. long.;
    (18) 48[deg]14.60' N. lat., 125[deg]13.46' W. long.;
    (19) 48[deg]16.67' N. lat., 125[deg]14.34' W. long.;
    (20) 48[deg]18.73' N. lat., 125[deg]14.41' W. long.;
    (21) 48[deg]19.67' N. lat., 125[deg]13.70' W. long.;
    (22) 48[deg]19.70' N. lat., 125[deg]11.13' W. long.;
    (23) 48[deg]22.95' N. lat., 125[deg]10.79' W. long.;
    (24) 48[deg]21.61' N. lat., 125[deg]02.54' W. long.;
    (25) 48[deg]23.00' N. lat., 124[deg]49.34' W. long.;
    (26) 48[deg]17.00' N. lat., 124[deg]56.50' W. long.;
    (27) 48[deg]06.00' N. lat., 125[deg]00.00' W. long.;
    (28) 48[deg]04.62' N. lat., 125[deg]01.73' W. long.;
    (29) 48[deg]04.84' N. lat., 125[deg]04.03' W. long.;
    (30) 48[deg]06.41' N. lat., 125[deg]06.51' W. long.;
    (31) 48[deg]06.00' N. lat., 125[deg]08.00' W. long.;
    (32) 48[deg]07.08' N. lat., 125[deg]09.34' W. long.;
    (33) 48[deg]07.28' N. lat., 125[deg]11.14' W. long.;

[[Page 1699]]

    (34) 48[deg]03.45' N. lat., 125[deg]16.66' W. long.;
    (35) 47[deg]59.50' N. lat., 125[deg]18.88' W. long.;
    (36) 47[deg]58.68' N. lat., 125[deg]16.19' W. long.;
    (37) 47[deg]56.62' N. lat., 125[deg]13.50' W. long.;
    (38) 47[deg]53.71' N. lat., 125[deg]11.96' W. long.;
    (39) 47[deg]51.70' N. lat., 125[deg]09.38' W. long.;
    (40) 47[deg]49.95' N. lat., 125[deg]06.07' W. long.;
    (41) 47[deg]49.00' N. lat., 125[deg]03.00' W. long.;
    (42) 47[deg]46.95' N. lat., 125[deg]04.00' W. long.;
    (43) 47[deg]46.58' N. lat., 125[deg]03.15' W. long.;
    (44) 47[deg]44.07' N. lat., 125[deg]04.28' W. long.;
    (45) 47[deg]43.32' N. lat., 125[deg]04.41' W. long.;
    (46) 47[deg]40.95' N. lat., 125[deg]04.14' W. long.;
    (47) 47[deg]39.58' N. lat., 125[deg]04.97' W. long.;
    (48) 47[deg]36.23' N. lat., 125[deg]02.77' W. long.;
    (49) 47[deg]34.28' N. lat., 124[deg]58.66' W. long.;
    (50) 47[deg]32.17' N. lat., 124[deg]57.77' W. long.;
    (51) 47[deg]30.27' N. lat., 124[deg]56.16' W. long.;
    (52) 47[deg]30.60' N. lat., 124[deg]54.80' W. long.;
    (53) 47[deg]29.26' N. lat., 124[deg]52.21' W. long.;
    (54) 47[deg]28.21' N. lat., 124[deg]50.65' W. long.;
    (55) 47[deg]27.38' N. lat., 124[deg]49.34' W. long.;
    (56) 47[deg]25.61' N. lat., 124[deg]48.26' W. long.;
    (57) 47[deg]23.54' N. lat., 124[deg]46.42' W. long.;
    (58) 47[deg]20.64' N. lat., 124[deg]45.91' W. long.;
    (59) 47[deg]17.99' N. lat., 124[deg]45.59' W. long.;
    (60) 47[deg]18.20' N. lat., 124[deg]49.12' W. long.;
    (61) 47[deg]15.01' N. lat., 124[deg]51.09' W. long.;
    (62) 47[deg]12.61' N. lat., 124[deg]54.89' W. long.;
    (63) 47[deg]08.22' N. lat., 124[deg]56.53' W. long.;
    (64) 47[deg]08.50' N. lat., 124[deg]57.74' W. long.;
    (65) 47[deg]01.92' N. lat., 124[deg]54.95' W. long.;
    (66) 47[deg]01.08' N. lat., 124[deg]59.22' W. long.;
    (67) 46[deg]58.48' N. lat., 124[deg]57.81' W. long.;
    (68) 46[deg]56.79' N. lat., 124[deg]56.03' W. long.;
    (69) 46[deg]58.01' N. lat., 124[deg]55.09' W. long.;
    (70) 46[deg]55.07' N. lat., 124[deg]54.14' W. long.;
    (71) 46[deg]59.60' N. lat., 124[deg]49.79' W. long.;
    (72) 46[deg]58.72' N. lat., 124[deg]48.78' W. long.;
    (73) 46[deg]54.45' N. lat., 124[deg]48.36' W. long.;
    (74) 46[deg]53.99' N. lat., 124[deg]49.95' W. long.;
    (75) 46[deg]54.38' N. lat., 124[deg]52.73' W. long.;
    (76) 46[deg]52.38' N. lat., 124[deg]52.02' W. long.;
    (77) 46[deg]48.93' N. lat., 124[deg]49.17' W. long.;
    (78) 46[deg]41.50' N. lat., 124[deg]43.00' W. long.;
    (79) 46[deg]34.50' N. lat., 124[deg]28.50' W. long.;
    (80) 46[deg]29.00' N. lat., 124[deg]30.00' W. long.;
    (81) 46[deg]20.00' N. lat., 124[deg]36.50' W. long.;
    (82) 46[deg]18.40' N. lat., 124[deg]37.70' W. long.;
    (83) 46[deg]18.03' N. lat., 124[deg]35.46' W. long.;
    (84) 46[deg]17.00' N. lat., 124[deg]22.50' W. long.;
    (85) 46[deg]16.00' N. lat., 124[deg]20.62' W. long.;
    (86) 46[deg]13.52' N. lat., 124[deg]25.49' W. long.;
    (87) 46[deg]12.17' N. lat., 124[deg]30.74' W. long.;
    (88) 46[deg]10.63' N. lat., 124[deg]37.96' W. long.;
    (89) 46[deg]09.29' N. lat., 124[deg]39.01' W. long.;
    (90) 46[deg]02.40' N. lat., 124[deg]40.37' W. long.;
    (91) 45[deg]56.45' N. lat., 124[deg]38.00' W. long.;
    (92) 45[deg]