74036 Data Set Published / External 72351 Sustainable Fisheries Division Project On Going 2025 2024-12-01 This geodatabase contains spatial data for NOAA's West Coast Region (WCR) Groundfish Conservation Areas (GCA). GCA's are conservation areas created or modified and enforced to control catch of groundfish or protected species (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-660/subpart-C/section-660.11). The geodatabase contains the following feature datasets, each containing feature classes that depict the spatial representation of a GCA: YRCA - Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Areas GEA -Groundfish Exclusion Areas CCA - Cowcod Conservation Areas RCA - Rockfish Conservation Areas Within each feature dataset, the feature class naming convention reflects the 1) type of area (YRCA, GEA, CCA, or RCA), 2) the name of the area and 3) the date (YYYYMMDD) that the conservation area was published in the Federal Register (FR). For example GEA_Potato_Bank_20231201 Last Update: 06/2026 The purpose of this geodatabase is to provide spatial data representing NOAA's West Coast Region (WCR) Groundfish Conservation Areas (GCAs). These GIS feature classes serve as approximate visual representations and do not constitute official legal records for regulated area boundaries. For complete and legally binding descriptions of each conservation area, including regulatory text that may modify or clarify these maps, users must consult the Code of Federal Regulations (50 CFR 660). Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > AQUATIC SCIENCES > FISHERIES Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category biota Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category boundaries Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category oceans Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA Theme Cowcod Conservation Area Theme GEA Theme Groundfish Conservation Area Theme Groundfish Exclusion Area Theme RCA Theme Rockfish Conservation Area Theme YRCA Theme Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area Spatial California Spatial Oregon Spatial Washington Sandpoint WA United States Data Set As Needed National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, Sustainable Fisheries Division Data Steward 2025 Person Onisko, Stephani stephani.onisko@noaa.gov Metadata Contact 2025 Person Onisko, Stephani stephani.onisko@noaa.gov Point of Contact 2025 Person Kent, Keeley keeley.kent@noaa.gov Publication Date -125.7 -117.3 48.505897 32.35 Continuing 2024-12 Unclassified Because GIS projection and topology functions can change or generalize coordinates, these GIS files are considered to be approximate representations and are NOT an OFFICIAL record for the exact regulated area boundaries. For information on the official legal definition refer to theCode of Federal Regulations (eCFR 50 CFR 660.70) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-660/subpart-C/section-660.70These data were produced by NOAA and are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. NOAA waives any potential copyright and related rights in these data worldwide through the Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication (CC0 1.0) https://maps.fisheries.noaa.gov/portal/home/item.html?id=0efdb83291e34ffb91dda02ce0c7d975 NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region Groundfish Conservation Area WCR_GCA.gdb NOAA Fisheries GIS Portal This geodatabase contains spatial data for NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region (WCR) Groundfish Conservation Areas (GCA). GCA's are conservation areas created or modified and enforced to control catch of groundfish or protected species (50 CFR 660.11 “Conservation area(s)”. The following WCR groundfish conservation area types are included in this geodatabase: YRCA - Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Areas GEA -Groundfish Exclusion Areas CCA - Cowcod Conservation Areas RCA - Rockfish Conservation Areas 2026-06-23T00:00:00 ESRI File Geodatabase Zip https://maps.fisheries.noaa.gov/portal/home/index.html NOAA Fisheries GIS Portal Online Resource https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/section-660.70 Code of Federal Regulations § 660.70 Groundfish Conservation Areas and Groundfish Exclusion Areas Online Resource This geodatabase includes spatial representations of federally recognized Groundfish Conservation Areas (GCAs) within the U.S. West Coast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that were active as of January 1, 2026. The spatial features are fully representative of federal closures but explicitly exclude state-managed conservation areas (0-3 nautical miles from shore). Polygons were derived from official bounding coordinates published in the Federal Register. Because the boundaries were digitized at a 1:100,000 scale, the data is highly representative for regional-scale ecological modeling and spatial planning, but it may not accurately represent micro-scale coastal features necessary for site-specific navigational compliance. This geodatabase was developed in 2025 by NOAA Fisheries GIS staff. The spatial boundaries for each Groundfish Conservation Area (GCA) were generated using GIS software by plotting the official coordinates published in the Code of Federal Regulations (50 CFR 660). Any subsequent boundary modifications established through final regulatory rules have been incorporated into these spatial features. Not Applicable Not Applicable 74116 Data Set 74119 Data Set 74108 Data Set 74125 Data Set 74123 Data Set 74133 Data Set 74135 Data Set 80194 Data Set 74137 Data Set 74139 Data Set 74143 Data Set 74147 Data Set 80188 Data Set 74145 Data Set 80196 Data Set 74153 Data Set 74158 Data Set 74160 Data Set 74162 Data Set 74164 Data Set 74166 Data Set 74168 Data Set 74170 Data Set 74112 Data Set 74174 Data Set 74176 Data Set 74178 Data Set 74180 Data Set 74182 Data Set 74184 Data Set 74188 Data Set 74190 Data Set 74110 Data Set 74114 Data Set gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:74036 Stephani Onisko 2024-12-17T19:14:05 Stephani Onisko 2026-07-16T18:29:46 2024-12-18 West Coast Regional Office WCRO 501 West Ocean Blvd Long Beach CA 90802-4213 https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 1001 Public No No 2024-12-18 1 Year 2025-12-18