View Rule

The Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) manages seven stocks off the U.S. West Coast, under the guidance of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council). In April 2022, the Council approved Amendment 20 the CPS FMP which removes stock management category terms: Active and Monitored from the FMP. This action was prompted by a perceived lack of clarity regarding the meaning and use of the Active and Monitored stock management categories within the CPS FMP. Specifically, the intent was to remove references to the named management categories, but not to revise the manner in which the CPS stocks are managed. Because this action does not change the manner in which CPS stocks are managed, it is administrative in nature. To align with the proposed Amendment, NMFS is proposing this rule to remove the management category terms from Federal regulations, and make some small additional modifications in place of where those terms were removed to ensure flow and readability of the regulations. This proposed rule would remove the two places in Federal CPS regulations that reference these management category terms by: removing Actively Managed Species” from definitions in 50 CFR 660.502, and removing a reference to monitored stocks” from 50 CFR 660.511(k). These regulatory changes are administrative in nature and do not change management of CPS stocks. This amendment and accompanying rule are being done under the Authority of Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act (MSA).