Categorical Exclusion for requiring full retention of all rockfish caught by catcher vessels using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear targeting groundfish and halibut in the GOA and BSAI.
The purpose of this report is to identify and analyze the potential economic impacts associated with the designation of critical habitat for the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin Distinct Population Segments of yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish, and bocaccio under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
This report contains NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region’s analysis for designating critical habitat under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act for the Distinct Population Segments of yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish, and bocaccio of the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin.
This report contains a biological analysis compiled by the Protected Resources Division of NOAA Fisheries in support of designating critical habitat for the threatened Distinct Population Segments of yelloweye rockfish, the threatened DPS of canary rockfish, and the endangered DPS of bocaccio.
NMFS will make a decision regarding an Amendment to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), Amendment 28. This action was recommended by the Council and could change where bottom trawl fishing and bottom contact gear fishing is allowed off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California.
This rockfish guide includes color images of 37 species (genera: Sebastes, Sebastolobus, and Adelosebastes) photographed under natural and electronic flash conditions in the field. Most specimens were photographed immediately after collection.