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In accordance with a recommendation from the Council, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing to open the Cordell Bank Groundfish Conservation Area (GCA) off the coast of central California, and implement a new Groundfish Exclusion Area (GEA) over a portion of the existing GCA footprint to protect sensitive habitat. This action would result in a net opening of approximately 40 square miles of historically important fishing grounds to California fishermen while still protecting sensitive rocky reef habitat in the Cordell Bank area. This action would also decrease regulatory complexity and address enforcement challenges associated with other overlapping closures in the area.