Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Limited Entry Fixed Gear Sablefish Fishery Permit Stacking Program

Résumé

NMFS issues this proposed rule to implement portions of Amendment 14 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for 2007 and beyond. Amendment 14, approved by NOAA in August 2001, created a permit stacking program for limited entry permits with sablefish endorsements. This proposed rule would implement regulatory measures from Amendment 14 that the agency could not set in place in time for the 2001 through 2006 primary sablefish seasons. Amendment 14 was intended to improve safety in the primary sablefish fishery and to provide greater season flexibility for sablefish fishery participants.