2021 Harvest Specifications for Pacific Whiting and 2021 Pacific Whiting Tribal Allocation

NOAA Fisheries is announcing a proposed rule for the 2021 Pacific whiting fishery.  The proposed rule includes the 2021 tribal Pacific whiting allocation of 17.5 percent of the U.S. total allowable catch for 2021. This percentage is applied to the total U.S. whiting allocation, set through the Pacific whiting United States / Canada treaty process in March 2021.  The proposed 2021 tribal allocation is consistent with the tribal request.  The Makah Tribe is the only tribe that has expressed interest in participating in the 2021 fishery. The Quileute Indian Tribe, Quinault Indian Nation, and Hoh Indian Tribe, while reserving the right to fish Pacific whiting, do not have plans to enter into or participate in the 2021 Pacific whiting fishery.

The proposed rule would also include a research set-aside of 750 mt.  This is consistent with the Pacific Fishery Management Council recommendations made during their November 2020 meeting.

The public comment period for this proposed rule is 30 days, giving the public adequate time to comment on the proposed measures while implementing the management measures and announcing the Pacific whiting allocations by May 15, 2021.