Regulatory Amendment to Increase Pacific Whiting Utilization in the At-Sea Sectors
Summary
NMFS is implementing regulatory amendments that apply to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program participants that operate in the non-tribal Pacific whiting fishery.
This rule revises regulations that may be unnecessarily constraining, in order to provide increased operational flexibility in the Pacific whiting fishery and increase the mothership (MS) sector’s ability to utilize its whiting allocation, while maintaining fair and equitable access to Pacific whiting by all sectors of the program.
Specifically, this rule:
- Adjusts the primary whiting season start date for all sectors of the Pacific whiting fishery from May 15 to May 1.
- Removes from regulation the catcher vessel (MSCV) processor obligation deadline of November 30.
- Removes from regulation the MS processor cap of 45 percent.
- Provides the ability for vessels to operate as a Catcher/Processor (CP) and a MS in the same year.
This rulemaking is being promulgated in accordance with a Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) action from their March 2022 meeting. Further details on this rule, and the Council’s recommendation, are provided below.