Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Reporting Requirements and Conservation Measures

Résumé

NMFS proposes a regulation to implement new reporting and conservation measures under the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). These reporting requirements and prohibitive measures would require coastal pelagic species (CPS) fishermen/vessel operators to employ avoidance measures when southern sea otters are present in the area they are fishing and to report any interactions that may occur between their vessel and/or fishing gear and sea otters. The purpose of this proposed rule is to comply with the terms and conditions of an incidental take statement from a biological opinion issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the implementation of Amendment 11 to the CPS FMP.