0648-BH34 201804 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 0600 Department of Commerce DOC Announce Pacific Council Deliberations to Limit Gear Switching in the West Coast Trawl Catch Share Groundfish Fishery

This action announces that gear switching conducted after September 15, 2017, may not be credited by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is studying changes to the West Coast groundfish trawl catch share program (Program). The Council is studying limits to the extent, location, and ability to use non-trawl gear types to prosecute the trawl fishery (termed "gear switching"). This Council announcement for the Program is intended to discourage increased acquisition and usage of permits and/or usage of the shoreside trawl allocation using fixed-gear based on economic speculation while the Pacific Council develops changes to the trawl catch share program. 

]]> Substantive, Nonsignificant First Time Published in The Unified Agenda Prerule Stage No No Not subject to, not significant 50 CFR 660 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. No ANPRM 05/00/2018 No No None No No No No Barry Thom Regional Administrator, West Coast Region 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 503 231-6266 barry.thom@noaa.gov 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100, Portland OR 97232