Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Western Pacific Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish Fishery; Fishing Moratorium

Samenvatting

NOAA Fisheries issues this final rule to extend the current moratorium on harvesting seamount groundfish from the Hancock Seamount in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands for 6 years, until August 31, 2010. The fishery has been closed since 1986. NMFS is promulgating this final rule in response to recommendation by the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council). The closure is intended to conserve pelagic armorhead (Pseudopentaceros wheeleri, formerly, Pentaceros richardsoni), which is an overfished stock.