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DOC/NOAA

RIN: 0648-BE29

Publication ID: Spring 2016

Title: Midwater Trawl Restrictions and Prohibited Species Retention for the Shorebased Trawl Individual Fishing Quota Program
Abstract: This action revised some of the regulations at 50 CFR parts 660 for vessels using midwater trawl gear to target Pacific whiting and non-whiting groundfish in the shorebased individual fishing quota (IFQ) program. Recent amendments to these regulations relating to the creation of the individual fishing quota program resulted in some redundancies, inconsistencies, and unintended implications, particularly regarding midwater trawl fishing for non-whiting groundfish species and the retention of certain non-groundfish species. Revisions clarify the current regulations regarding the use of midwater trawl gear, specifically addressing provisions regarding the use of midwater trawl gear to target non-whiting species, declaration requirements for the use of mid-water trawl gear, and the definition of a Pacific whiting IFQ trip. In addition, the revisions clarify requirements regarding the retention of salmonids, halibut, and Dungeness crab off Washington and Oregon during Pacific whiting individual fishing quota trips.
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)	Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage
Major: No	Unfunded Mandates: No
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 660
Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Legal Deadline: None

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	08/27/2015	80 FR 52015
NPRM Comment Period End	09/28/2015
Final Rule	12/14/2015	80 FR 77267
Final Rule Effective	01/13/2016
Next Stage Undetermined	07/00/2016

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes	Government Levels Affected: None
Small Entities Affected: Businesses	Federalism: No
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No
Agency Contact: William Stelle Jr. Regional Administrator, West Coast Region Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 7600 Sand Point Way Northeast, Building 1, Seattle, WA 98115 Phone:206 526-6150 Email: will.stelle@noaa.gov