Fisheries off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan; Amendments 20 and 21; Trawl Rationalization Program

Streszczenie

NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendments 20 and 21 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for review by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary). Amendment 20 would modify the FMP to create the structure and management details of the trawl rationalization program for the limited entry trawl fishery. Amendment 21 would modify the FMP to allocate the groundfish stocks between trawl and non-trawl fisheries and within trawl fisheries. The trawl rationalization program (Amendments 20 and 21) is intended to increase net economic benefits, create individual economic stability, provide full utilization of the trawl sector allocation, consider environmental impacts, and achieve individual accountability of catch and bycatch.