50 C.F.R. Subpart K—Highly Migratory Fisheries
Title 50 - Wildlife and Fisheries
Source: 69 FR 18453, Apr. 7, 2004, unless otherwise noted.
This subpart implements the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (FMP). These regulations govern commercial and recreational fishing for HMS in the U.S. EEZ off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California and in adjacent high seas waters. Basket-style longline gear means a type of longline gear that is divided into units called baskets, each consisting of a segment of main line to which 10 or more branch lines with hooks are spliced. The mainline and all branch lines are made of multiple braided strands of cotton, nylon, or other synthetic fibers impregnated with tar or other heavy coatings that cause the lines to sink rapidly in seawater. Closure, when referring to closure of a fishery, means that taking and retaining, possessing, or landing the particular species or species group is prohibited. Commercial fishing means: (1) Fishing by a person who possesses a commercial fishing license or is required by law to possess such license issued by one of the states or the Federal Government as a prerequisite to taking, retaining, possessing, landing and/or sale of fish; or (2) Fishing that results in or can be reasonably expected to result in sale, barter, trade or other disposition of fish for other than personal consumption. Commercial fishing gear includes the following types of gear and equipment used in the highly migratory species fisheries: (1) Harpoon. Gear consisting of a pointed dart or iron attached to the end of a pole or stick that is propelled only by hand and not by mechanical means. (2) Surface hook-and-line. Fishing gear, other than longline gear, with one or more hooks attached to one or more lines (includes troll, rod and reel, handline, albacore jig, live bait, and bait boat). Surface hook and line is always attached to the vessel. (3) Drift gillnet. A panel of netting, 14 inch (35.5 cm) stretched mesh or greater, suspended vertically in the water by floats along the top and weights along the bottom. A drift gillnet is not stationary or anchored to the bottom. (4) Purse seine. An encircling net that may be closed by a purse line threaded through the bottom of the net. Purse seine gear includes ring net, drum purse seine, and lampara nets. (5) Pelagic longline. A main line that is suspended horizontally in the water column and not stationary or anchored, and from which dropper lines with hooks (gangions) are attached. Legal longline gear also includes basket-style longline gear. Council means the Pacific Fishery Management Council, including its Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT), Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS), and any other committee established by the Council. Fishing trip is a period of time between landings when fishing is conducted. Fishing year is the year beginning at 0801 GMT (0001 local time) on April 1 and ending at 0800 GMT on March 31 (2400 local time) of the following year. Harvest guideline means a specified numerical harvest objective that is not a quota. Attainment of a harvest guideline does not require closure of a fishery. Highly Migratory Species (HMS) means species managed by the FMP, specifically:
Billfish/Swordfish: striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Sharks: common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) pelagic thresher shark (Alopias pelagicus) bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus) shortfin mako or bonito shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) blue shark (Prionace glauca) Tunas: north Pacific albacore (Thunnus alalunga) yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) northern bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) Other: dorado or dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS) means the individuals comprised of members of the fishing industry and public appointed by the Council to review proposed actions for managing highly migratory species fisheries. Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP) means the Fishery Management Plan for the U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and approved by the Secretary of Commerce and amendments to the FMP. Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) means the individuals appointed by the Council to review, analyze, and develop management measures for highly migratory species fisheries. Incidental catch or incidental species means HMS caught while fishing for the primary purpose of catching other species with gear not authorized by the FMP. Land or landing means offloading fish from a fishing vessel or arriving in port to begin offloading fish or causing fish to be offloaded from a fishing vessel. Mesh size means the opening between opposing knots in a net. Minimum mesh size means the smallest distance allowed between the inside of one knot to the inside of the opposing knot when the mesh is stretched, regardless of twine size. Offloading means removing HMS from a vessel. Permit holder means a permit owner. Permit owner means a person who owns an HMS permit for a specific vessel fishing with specific authorized fishing gear. Person, as it applies to fishing conducted under this subpart, means any individual, corporation, partnership, association or other entity (whether or not organized or existing under the laws of any state), and any Federal, state, or local government, or any entity of any such government that is eligible to own a documented vessel under the terms of 46 U.S.C. 12102(a). Processing or to process means the preparation or packaging of HMS to render it suitable for human consumption, industrial uses or long-term storage, including, but not limited to, cooking, canning, smoking, salting, drying, filleting, freezing, or rendering into meal or oil, but does not mean heading and gutting or freezing at sea unless additional preparation is done. Prohibited species means those species and species groups whose retention is prohibited unless authorized by other applicable law (for example, to allow for examination by an authorized observer or to return tagged fish as specified by the tagging agency). Quota means a specified numerical harvest objective, the attainment (or expected attainment) of which causes closure of the fishery for that species or species group. Recreational charter vessel means a vessel that carries fee-paying passengers for the purpose of recreational fishing. Recreational fishing means fishing with authorized recreational fishing gear for personal use only and not for sale or barter. Regional Administrator means the Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802–4213, or a designee. Special Agent-In-Charge (SAC) means the Special Agent-In-Charge, NMFS, Office of Enforcement, Southwest Region, or a designee of the Special Agent-In-Charge. Sustainable Fisheries Division (SFD) means the Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Southwest Region, NMFS, or his or her designee. Tranship means offloading or otherwise transferring HMS or products thereof to a receiving vessel. Vessel monitoring system unit (VMS unit) means the hardware and software equipment owned by NMFS, installed on vessels by NMFS, and required by this subpart K to track and transmit the positions from fishing vessels. The fishery management area for the regulation of fishing for HMS has the following designations and boundaries: (a) Southern boundary—the United States-Mexico International Boundary, which is a line connecting the following coordinates: 32°35'22" N. lat. 117°27'49" W. long. 32°37'37" N. lat. 117°49'31" W. long. 31°07'58" N. lat. 118°36'18" W. long. 30°32'31" N. lat. 121°51'58" W. long. (b) Northern boundary—the United States-Canada Provisional International Boundary, which is a line connecting the following coordinates: 48°29'37.19" N. lat. 124°43'33.19" W. long. 48°30'11" N. lat. 124°47'13" W. long. 48°30'22" N. lat. 124°50'21" W. long. 48°30'14" N. lat. 124°54'52" W. long. 48°29'57" N. lat. 124°59'14" W. long. 48°29'44" N. lat. 125°00'06" W. long. 48°28'09" N. lat. 125°05'47" W. long. 48°27'10" N. lat. 125°08'25" W. long. 48°26'47" N. lat 125°09'12" W. long. 48°20'16" N. lat. 125°22'48" W. long. 48°18'22" N. lat. 125°29'58" W. long. 48°11'05" N. lat. 125°53'48" W. long. 47°49'15" N. lat. 126°40'57" W. long. 47°36'47" N. lat. 127°11'58" W. long. 47°22'00" N. lat. 127°41'23" W. long. 46°42'05" N. lat. 128°51'56" W. long. 46°31'47" N. lat. 129°07'39" W. long. (c) Adjacent waters on the high seas in which persons subject to this subpart may fish. (a) Official number. Each fishing vessel subject to this subpart must display its official number on the port and starboard sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on an appropriate weather deck so as to be visible from enforcement vessels and aircraft. (b) Numerals. The official number must be affixed to each vessel subject to this subpart in block Arabic numerals at least 10 inches (25.40 cm) in height for vessels more than 25 ft (7.62 m) but equal to or less than 65 ft (19.81 m) in length; and 18 inches (45.72 cm)in height for vessels longer than 65 ft (19.81 m) in length. Markings must be legible and of a color that contrasts with the background. In addition to the general prohibitions specified in §600.725 of this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to do any of the following: (a) Fish for HMS in the U.S. EEZ off the Pacific coast without a permit issued under §660.707 for the use of authorized fishing gear. (b) Fish with gear in any closed area specified in this subpart that prohibits the use of such gear. (c) Land HMS at Pacific coast ports without a permit issued under §600.707 for the use of authorized fishing gear. (d) Sell HMS without an applicable commercial state fishery license. (e) When fishing for HMS, fail to return a prohibited species to the sea immediately with a minimum of injury. (f) Falsify or fail to affix and maintain vessel markings as required by §660.704. (g) Fish for HMS in violation of any terms or conditions attached to an exempted fishing permit issued under §600.745 of this chapter. (h) When a directed fishery has been closed for a specific species, take and retain, possess, or land that species after the closure date. (i) Refuse to submit fishing gear or fish subject to such person's control to inspection by an authorized officer, or to interfere with or prevent, by any means, such an inspection. (j) Falsify or fail to make and/or file any and all reports of fishing, landing, or any other activity involving HMS, containing all data, and in the exact manner, required by the applicable state law, as specified in §660.708(b). (k) Fail to carry aboard a vessel that vessel's permit issued under §660.707 or exempted fishing permit issued under §660.718, except if the permit was issued while the vessel was at sea. (l) Fail to carry a VMS unit as required under §660.712(d). (m) Interfere with, tamper with, alter, damage, disable, or impede the operation of a VMS unit or to attempt any of the same; or to move or remove a VMS unit without the prior permission of the SAC. (n) Make a false statement, oral or written, to an authorized officer, regarding the use, operation, or maintenance of a VMS unit. (o) Fish for, catch, or harvest HMS with longline gear without a VMS unit on board the vessel after installation of the VMS unit by NMFS. (p) Possess on board a vessel without a VMS unit HMS harvested with longline gear after NMFS has installed the VMS unit on the vessel. (q) Direct fishing effort toward the harvest of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) using longline gear deployed west of 150° W. long. and north of the equator (0° lat.) on a vessel registered for use of longline gear in violation of §660.712(a)(1). (r) Possess a light stick on board a longline vessel when fishing west of 150° W. long. and north of the equator (0° lat.) in violation of §660.712(a)(6) (s) Possess more than 10 swordfish on board a longline vessel from a fishing trip where any part of the trip included fishing west of 150° W. long. and north of the equator (0° lat.) in violation of §660.712(a)(9). (t) Interfere with, impede, delay, or prevent the installation, maintenance, repair, inspection, or removal of a VMS unit. (u) Interfere with, impede, delay, or prevent access to a VMS unit by a NMFS observer. (v) Connect or leave connected additional equipment to a VMS unit without the prior approval of the SAC. (w) Fish for HMS with a vessel registered for use of longline gear within closed areas or by use of unapproved gear configurations in violation of §660.712(a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7), (a)(8), or (a)(9). (x) Fail to use a line setting machine or line shooter, with weighted branch lines, to set the main longline when operating a vessel that is registered for use of longline gear and equipped with monofilament main longline, when making deep sets north of 23° N. lat. in violation of §660.712(c)(1)(i) and (c)(1)(ii). (y) Fail to employ basket-style longline gear such that the mainline is deployed slack when operating a vessel registered for use of longline gear north of 23° N. lat. in violation of §660.712 (c)(1)(iii). (z) Fail to maintain and use blue dye to prepare thawed bait when operating a vessel registered for use of longline gear that is fishing north of 23° N. lat., in violation of §660.712(c)(2) and (c)(3). (aa) Fail to retain, handle, and discharge fish, fish parts, and spent bait strategically when operating a vessel registered for use of longline gear that is fishing north of 23° N. lat. in violation of §660.712 (c)(4) through (c)(7). (bb) Fail to handle short-tailed albatrosses that are caught by pelagic longline gear in a manner that maximizes the probability of their long-term survival, in violation of §660.712(c)(8). (cc) Fail to handle seabirds other than short-tailed albatross that are caught by pelagic longline gear in a manner that maximizes the probability of their long-term survival in violation of §660.712(c)(17). (dd) Own a longline vessel registered for use of longline gear that is engaged in longline fishing for HMS without a valid protected species workshop certificate issued by NMFS or a legible copy thereof in violation of §660.712(e)(3). (ee) Fish for HMS on a vessel registered for use of longline gear without having on board a valid protected species workshop certificate issued by NMFS or a legible copy thereof in violation of §660.712(e). (ff) Fail to carry line clippers, dip nets, and wire or bolt cutters on a vessel registered for use as a longline vessel in violation of §660.712(b). (gg) Fail to comply with sea turtle handling, resuscitation, and release requirements specified in §660.712(b)(4) through (7) when operating a vessel. (hh) Fail to comply with seabird take mitigation or handling techniques required under §660.712(c) (ii) Fish for HMS with a vessel registered for use as a longline vessel without being certified by NMFS for completion of an annual protected species workshop as required under §660.712(e). (jj) Fail to notify the Regional Administrator at least 24 hours prior to departure on a fishing trip using longline gear as required under §660.712(f). (kk) Except when fishing under a western Pacific longline limited entry permit issued under §660.21, direct fishing effort toward the harvest of swordfish or fail to have and use gear in waters west of 150° W. long. in violation of §660.720. (ll) Except when fishing under a western Pacific longline limited entry permit issued under §660.21, possess a light stick on board a longline vessel on the high seas of the Pacific Ocean west of 150° W. long. north of the equator in violation of §660.720 (a)(ii). (mm) Except when fishing under a western Pacific longline limited entry permit issued under §660.21, possess more than 10 swordfish on board a longline vessel from a fishing trip where any part of the trip included fishing on the high seas of the Pacific Ocean west of 150° W. long. north of the equator in violation of §660.720 (a)(iii). (nn) Except when fishing under a western Pacific longline limited entry permit issued under §660.21, fail to employ basket-style longline gear such that the mainline is deployed slack when fishing on the high seas of the Pacific Ocean west of 150° W. long. north of the equator, in violation of §660.720 (a)(iv). (oo) Except when fishing under a western Pacific longline limited entry permit issued under §660.21, when a conventional monofilament longline is deployed by a vessel subject to this section, deploy fewer than 15 branch lines between any two floats, in violation of §660.720 (a)(v). Vessel operators using basket-style longline gear may not set less than 10 branch lines between any 2 floats when fishing in waters west of 150° W. long. north of the equator. (pp) Except when fishing under a western Pacific longline limited entry permit issued under §660.21, fail to deploy longline gear such that the deepest point of the main longline between any two floats, i.e., the deepest point in each sag of the main line, is at a depth greater than 100 m (328.1 ft or 54.6 fm) below the sea surface, in violation of §660.720 (a)(vi). (a) Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribes have treaty rights to harvest HMS in their usual and accustomed (u&a) fishing areas in U.S. waters. (b) Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribes means the Hoh, Makah, and Quileute Indian Tribes and the Quinault Indian Nation. (c) NMFS recognizes the following areas as marine u&a fishing grounds of the four Washington coastal tribes. The Makah u&a grounds were adjudicated in U.S. v. Washington, 626 F.Supp. 1405, 1466 (W.D. Wash. 1985), affirmed 730 F.2d 1314 (9th Cir. 1984). The u&a grounds of the Quileute, Hoh, and Quinault tribes have been recognized administratively by NMFS (See, e.g., 64 FR 24087 (May 5, 1999) (u&a grounds for groundfish); 50 CFR 300.64(i) (u&a grounds for halibut)). The u&a grounds recognized by NMFS may be revised as ordered by a Federal court. (d) Procedures. The rights referred to in paragraph (a) of this section will be implemented by the Secretary of Commerce, after consideration of the tribal request, the recommendation of the Council, and the comments of the public. The rights will be implemented either through an allocation of fish that will be managed by the tribes, or through regulations that will apply specifically to the tribal fisheries. An allocation or a regulation specific to the tribes shall be initiated by a written request from a Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribe to the NMFS Northwest Regional Administrator, at least 120 days prior to the time the allocation is desired to be effective, and will be subject to public review through the Council process. The Secretary of Commerce recognizes the sovereign status and co-manager role of Indian tribes over shared Federal and tribal fishery resources. Accordingly, the Secretary of Commerce will develop tribal allocations and regulations in consultation with the affected tribe(s) and, insofar as possible, with tribal consensus. (e) Identification. A valid treaty Indian identification card issued pursuant to 25 CFR part 249, subpart A, is prima facie evidence that the holder is a member of the Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribe named on the card. (f) Fishing (on a tribal allocation or under a Federal regulation applicable to tribal fisheries) by a member of a Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribe within that tribe's u&a fishing area is not subject to provisions of the HMS regulations applicable to non-treaty fisheries. (g) Any member of a Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribe must comply with any applicable Federal and tribal laws and regulations, when participating in a tribal HMS fishery implemented under paragraph (d) of this section. (h) Fishing by a member of a Pacific Coast treaty Indian tribe outside that tribe's u&a fishing area, or for a species of HMS not covered by a treaty allocation or applicable Federal regulation, is subject to the HMS regulations applicable to non-treaty fisheries. (a) General. This section applies to vessels that fish for HMS off or land HMS in the States of California, Oregon, and Washington. (1) A commercial fishing vessel of the United States must be registered for use under a HMS permit that authorizes the use of specific gear, and a recreational charter vessel must be registered for use under a HMS permit if that vessel is used: (i) To fish for HMS in the U.S. EEZ off the States of California, Oregon, and Washington; or (ii) To land or transship HMS shoreward of the outer boundary of the U.S. EEZ off the States of California, Oregon, and Washington. (2) The permit must be on board the vessel and available for inspection by an authorized officer, except that if the permit was issued while the vessel was at sea, this requirement applies only to any subsequent trip. (3) A permit is valid only for the vessel for which it is registered. A permit not registered for use with a particular vessel may not be used. (4) Only a person eligible to own a documented vessel under the terms of 46 U.S.C. 12102(a) may be issued or may hold (by ownership or otherwise) an HMS permit. (b) Application. (1) Following publication of the final rule implementing the FMP, NMFS will issue permits to the owners of those vessels on a list of vessels obtained from owners previously applying for a permit under the authority of the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act, the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Fishery Management Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region, or whose vessels are listed on the vessel register of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. (2) All permits issued by NMFS in accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section will authorize the use of specific fishing gear by the identified commercial fishing vessels. (3) An owner of a vessel subject to these requirements who has not received an HMS permit from NMFS and who wants to engage in the fisheries must apply to the SFD for the required permit in accordance with the following: (i) A Southwest Region Federal Fisheries application form may be obtained from the SFD or downloaded from the Southwest Region home page (http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/permits.htm) to apply for a permit under this section. A completed application is one that contains all the necessary information and signatures required. (ii) A minimum of 15 days should be allowed for processing a permit application. If an incomplete or improperly completed application is filed, the applicant will be sent a notice of deficiency. If the applicant fails to correct the deficiency within 30 days following the date of notification, the application will be considered abandoned. (iii) A permit will be issued by the SFD. If an application is denied, the SFD will indicate the reasons for denial. (iv) Appeals. (A) Any applicant for an initial permit may appeal the initial issuance decision to the RA. To be considered by the RA, such appeal must be in writing and state the reasons for the appeal, and must be submitted within 30 days of the action by the RA. The appellant may request an informal hearing on the appeal. (B) Upon receipt of an appeal authorized by this section, the RA will notify the permit applicant, or permit holder as appropriate, and will request such additional information and in such form as will allow action upon the appeal. (C) Upon receipt of sufficient information, the RA will decide the appeal in accordance with the permit provisions set forth in this section at the time of the application, based upon information relative to the application on file at NMFS and the Council and any additional information submitted to or obtained by the RA, the summary record kept of any hearing and the hearing officer's recommended decision, if any, and such other considerations as the RA deems appropriate. The RA will notify all interested persons of the decision, and the reasons for the decision, in writing, normally within 30 days of the receipt of sufficient information, unless additional time is needed for a hearing. (D) If a hearing is requested, or if the RA determines that one is appropriate, the RA may grant an informal hearing before a hearing officer designated for that purpose after first giving notice of the time, place, and subject matter of the hearing to the applicant. The appellant, and, at the discretion of the hearing officer, other interested persons, may appear personally or be represented by counsel at the hearing and submit information and present arguments as determined appropriate by the hearing officer. Within 30 days of the last day of the hearing, the hearing officer shall recommend in writing a decision to the RA. (E) The RA may adopt the hearing officer's recommended decision, in whole or in part, or may reject or modify it. In any event, the RA will notify interested persons of the decision, and the reason(s) therefore, in writing, within 30 days of receipt of the hearing officer's recommended decision. The RA's decision will constitute the final administrative action by NMFS on the matter. (F) Any time limit prescribed in this section may be extended for a period not to exceed 30 days by the RA for good cause, either upon his or her own motion or upon written request from the appellant stating the reason(s) therefore. (4) Permits issued under this subpart will remain valid until the first date of renewal, and permits may subsequently be renewed for 2-year terms. The renewal date will be the last day of the month designated by the last digit of the vessel identification number (e.g., if the vessel identification number ends in 3, the renewal date is March 31, 2 years later). The first renewal requirement will occur after the first year of the initial permit but before the end of the second year of the initial permit. (5) Replacement permits may be issued without charge to replace lost or mutilated permits. An application for a replacement permit is not considered a new application. (6) Any permit that has been altered, erased, or mutilated is invalid. (c) Display. Any permit issued under this subpart, or a facsimile of the permit, must be on board the vessel at all times while the vessel is fishing for, taking, retaining, possessing, or landing HMS shoreward of the outer boundary of the fishery management area unless the vessel was at sea at the time the permit was issued. Any permit issued under this section must be displayed for inspection upon request of an authorized officer. (d) Sanctions. Procedures governing sanctions and denials are found at subpart D of 15 CFR part 904. [69 FR 18453, Apr. 7, 2004] (a) Logbooks. The operator of any commercial fishing vessel and any recreational charter vessel fishing for HMS in the management area must maintain on board the vessel an accurate and complete record of catch, effort, and other data on report forms provided by the Regional Administrator or a state agency. All information specified on the forms must be recorded on the forms within 24 hours after the completion of each fishing day. The original logbook form for each day of the fishing trip must be submitted to either the Regional Administrator or the appropriate state management agency within 30 days of each landing or transhipment of HMS. Each form must be signed and dated by the fishing vessel operator. (1) Logbooks that meet the logbook reporting requirement may be found at http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/logbooks.htm and include: (i) The logbook required under 50 CFR 300.21 implementing the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950; (ii) The logbook required under §660.14 implementing the Fishery Management Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region; (iii) The logbook required by 50 CFR 300.17 implementing the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act of 1995. (iv) Any logbook required by the fishery management agency of the States of California, Oregon, or Washington. (2) Any holder of a permit who does not submit logbooks under any of the above authorities must submit a written request to the SFD for the appropriate logbook. The applicant must provide his or her name and address, the name of the vessel, and the type of fishing gear used. (3) The Regional Administrator may, after consultation with the Council, act to modify the information to be provided on the fishing record forms. (b) Any person who is required to do so by the applicable state law must make and/or file, retain, or make available any and all reports of HMS containing all data, and in the exact manner, required by the applicable state law. [69 FR 18453, Apr. 7, 2004] (a) Procedure. (1) In June of each year, the HMSMT will deliver a preliminary SAFE report to the Council for all HMS with any necessary recommendations for harvest guidelines, quotas or other management measures to protect HMS. (2) In September of each year, the HMSMT will deliver a final SAFE report to the Council. The Council will adopt any necessary harvest guidelines, quotas or other management measures for public review. (3) In November each year, the Council will take final action on any necessary harvest guidelines, quotas, or other management measures and make its recommendations to NMFS. (4) The Regional Administrator will implement through rulemaking any necessary and appropriate harvest guidelines, quotas, or other management measures based on the SAFE report, recommendations from the Council, and the requirements contained in the FMP. (b) Fishing seasons for all species will begin on April 1 of each year at 0001 hours local time and terminate on March 31 of each year at 2400 hours local time. (c) Harvest guidelines, quotas, and other management measures announced for a particular year will be in effect the following year unless changed through the public review process described in paragraph (a) of this section. (d) Irrespective of the normal review process, the Council may propose management action to protect HMS at any time. The Council may adopt a management cycle different from the one described in this section provided that such change is made by a majority vote of the Council and a 6-month notice of the change is given. NMFS will implement the new schedule through rulemaking. (a) When a quota has been taken, the Regional Administrator will announce in the (b) When a harvest guideline has been taken, the Regional Administrator will initiate review of the species of concern according to section 8.4.8 of the FMP and publish in the (a) Prohibited species. HMS under the FMP for which quotas have been achieved and the fishery closed are prohibited species. In addition, the following are prohibited species: (1) Any species of salmon. (2) Great white shark. (3) Basking shark. (4) Megamouth shark. (5) Pacific halibut. (b) Incidental landings. HMS caught by gear not authorized by this subpart may be landed in incidental amounts as follows: (1) Drift gillnet vessels with stretched mesh less than 14 inches may land up to 10 HMS per trip, except that no swordfish may be landed. (2) Bottom longline vessels may land up to 20 percent by weight of management unit sharks in landings of all species, or 3 individual sharks of the species in the management unit, whichever is greater. (3) Trawl and pot gear vessels may land up to 1 percent by weight of management unit sharks in a landing of all species or 2 individual sharks of the species in the management unit, whichever is greater. (c) Marlin prohibition. The sale of striped marlin by a vessel with a permit under this subpart is prohibited. (d) Sea turtle handling and resuscitation. All sea turtles taken incidentally in fishing operations by any HMS vessel other than vessels subject to §660.712 must be handled in accordance with 50 CFR 223.206(d)(1). (a) Gear and fishing restrictions. (1) Owners and operators of vessels registered for use of longline gear may not use longline gear to fish for or target HMS within the U.S. EEZ. (2) Owners and operators of vessels registered for use of longline gear may not make shallow sets with longline gear to fish for or target swordfish (Xiphias gladius) west of 150° W. long. and north of the equator (0° N. lat.). (3) A person aboard a vessel registered for use of longline gear fishing for HMS west of 150° W. long. and north of the equator (0° N. lat.) may not possess or deploy any float line that is shorter than or equal to 20 m (65.6 ft or 10.9 fm). As used in this paragraph, float line means a line used to suspend the main longline beneath a float. (4) From April 1 through May 31, owners and operators of vessels registered for use of longline gear may not use longline gear in waters bounded on the south by 0° lat., on the north by 15° N. lat., on the east by 145° W. long., and on the west by 180° long. (5) From April 1 through May 31, owners and operators of vessels registered for use of longline gear may not receive from another vessel HMS that were harvested by longline gear in waters bounded on the south by 0° lat., on the north by 15° N. lat., on the east by 145° W. long., and on the west by 180° long. (6) From April 1 through May 31, owners and operators of vessels registered for use of longline gear may not land or transship HMS that were harvested by longline gear in waters bounded on the south by 0° lat., on the north by 15° N. lat., on the east by 145° W. long., and on the west by 180° long. (7) No light stick may be possessed on board a vessel registered for use of longline gear during fishing trips that include any fishing west of 150° W. long. and north of the equator (0° N. lat.). A light stick as used in this paragraph is any type of light emitting device, including any flourescent glow bead, chemical, or electrically powered light that is affixed underwater to the longline gear. (8) When a conventional monofilament longline is deployed in waters west of 150° W. long. and north of the equator (0° N. lat.) by a vessel registered for use of longline gear, no fewer than 15 branch lines may be set between any two floats. Vessel operators using basket-style longline gear must set a minimum of 10 branch lines between any 2 floats when fishing in waters north of the equator. (9) Longline gear deployed west of 150° W. long. and north of the equator (0° N. lat.) by a vessel registered for use of longline gear must be deployed such that the deepest point of the main longline between any two floats, i.e., the deepest point in each sag of the main line, is at a depth greater than 100 m (328.1 ft or 54.6 fm) below the sea surface. (10) Owners and operators of longline vessels registered for use of longline gear may land or posses no more than 10 swordfish from a fishing trip where any part of the trip included fishing west of 150° W. long. and north of the equator (0° N. lat.). (11) Owners and operators of longline vessels registered for use of longline gear are subject to the provisions at 50 CFR part 223 prohibiting shallow sets to target swordfish in waters beyond the U.S. EEZ and east of 150° W. long. and establishing that no more than 10 swordfish may be landed by a longline vessel registered for use of longline gear from a trip if any sets of longline gear were made on that trip in those waters. (b) Sea turtle take mitigation measures. (1) Owners and operators of vessels registered for use of longline gear must carry aboard their vessels line clippers meeting the minimum design standards specified in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, dip nets meeting minimum standards specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, and wire or bolt cutters capable of cutting through the vessel's hooks. These items must be used to disengage any hooked or entangled sea turtles with the least harm possible to the sea turtles and as close to the hook as possible in accordance with the requirements specified in paragraphs (b)(4) through (b)(7) of this section. (2) Line clippers are intended to cut fishing line as close as possible to hooked or entangled sea turtles. NMFS has established minimum design standards for line clippers. The Arceneaux line clipper (ALC) is a model line clipper that meets these minimum design standards and may be fabricated from readily available and low-cost materials (see figure 1 to §660.32). The minimum design standards are as follows: (i) The cutting blade must be curved, recessed, contained in a holder, or otherwise afforded some protection to minimize direct contact of the cutting surface with sea turtles or users of the cutting blade. (ii) The blade must be capable of cutting 2.0–2.1 mm monofilament line and nylon or polypropylene multistrand material commonly known as braided mainline or tarred mainline. (iii) The line clipper must have an extended reach handle or pole of at least 6 ft (1.82 m). (iv) The cutting blade must be securely fastened to the extended reach handle or pole to ensure effective deployment and use. (3) Dip nets are intended to facilitate safe handling of sea turtles and access to sea turtles for purposes of cutting lines in a manner that minimizes injury and trauma to sea turtles. The minimum design standards for dip nets that meet the requirements of this section are: (i) The dip net must have an extended reach handle of at least 6 ft (1.82 m) of wood or other rigid material able to support a minimum of 100 lbs (34.1 kg) without breaking or significant bending or distortion. (ii) The dip net must have a net hoop of at least 31 inches (78.74 cm) inside diameter and a bag depth of at least 38 inches (96.52 cm). The bag mesh openings may be no more than 3 inches × 3 inches (7.62 cm × 7.62 cm). (4) All incidentally taken sea turtles brought aboard for dehooking and/or disentanglement must be handled in a manner to minimize injury and promote post-hooking survival. (i) When practicable, comatose sea turtles must be brought on board immediately, with a minimum of injury, and handled in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraphs (b)(5) and (b)(6) of this section. (ii) If a sea turtle is too large or hooked in such a manner as to preclude safe boarding without causing further damage/injury to the turtle, line clippers described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section must be used to clip the line and remove as much line as possible prior to releasing the turtle. (iii) If a sea turtle is observed to be hooked or entangled by longline gear during hauling operations, the vessel operator must immediately cease hauling operations until the turtle has been removed from the longline gear or brought on board the vessel. (iv) Hooks must be removed from sea turtles as quickly and carefully as possible. If a hook cannot be removed from a turtle, the line must be cut as close to the hook as possible. (5) If the sea turtle brought aboard appears dead or comatose, the sea turtle must be placed on its belly (on the bottom shell or plastron) so that the turtle is right side up and its hindquarters elevated at least 6 inches (15.24 cm) for a period of no less than 4 hours and no more than 24 hours. The amount of the elevation depends on the size of the turtle; greater elevations are needed for larger turtles. A reflex test, performed by gently touching the eye and pinching the tail of a sea turtle, must be administered by a vessel operator, at least every 3 hours, to determine if the sea turtle is responsive. Sea turtles being resuscitated must be shaded and kept damp or moist but under no circumstance may be placed into a container holding water. A water-soaked towel placed over the eyes, carapace, and flippers is the most effective method to keep a turtle moist. Those that revive and become active must be returned to the sea in the manner described in paragraph (b)(6) of this section. Sea turtles that fail to revive within the 24-hour period must also be returned to the sea in the manner described in paragraph (b)(6)(i) of this section. (6) Live turtles must be returned to the sea after handling in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs (b)(4) and (b)(5) of this section: (i) By putting the vessel engine in neutral gear so that the propeller is disengaged and the vessel is stopped, and releasing the turtle away from deployed gear; and (ii) Observing that the turtle is safely away from the vessel before engaging the propeller and continuing operations. (7) In addition to the requirements in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, a vessel operator shall perform sea turtle handling and resuscitation techniques consistent with 50 CFR 223.206(d)(1), as appropriate. (c) Longline Seabird mitigation measures. (1) Seabird mitigation techniques. Owners and operators of vessels registered for use of longline gear must ensure that the following actions are taken when fishing north of 23° N. lat.: (i) Employ a line setting machine or line shooter to set the main longline when making deep sets west of 150° W. long. using monofilament main longline; (ii) Attach a weight of at least 45 g to each branch line within 1 m of the hook when making deep sets using monofilament main longline; (iii) When using basket-style longline gear, ensure that the main longline is deployed slack to maximize its sink rate; (2) Use completely thawed bait that has been dyed blue to an intensity level specified by a color quality control card issued by NMFS; (3) Maintain a minimum of two cans (each sold as 0.45 kg or 1 lb size) containing blue dye on board the vessel; (4) Discharge fish, fish parts (offal), or spent bait while setting or hauling longline gear, on the opposite side of the vessel from where the longline gear is being set or hauled; (5) Retain sufficient quantities of fish, fish parts, or spent bait, between the setting of longline gear for the purpose of strategically discharging it in accordance with paragraph (a)(6) of this section; (6) Remove all hooks from fish, fish parts, or spent bait prior to its discharge in accordance with paragraph (c)(4) of this section; and (7) Remove the bill and liver of any swordfish that is caught, sever its head from the trunk and cut it in half vertically, and periodically discharge the butchered heads and livers in accordance with paragraph (a)(6) of this section. (8) If a short-tailed albatross is hooked or entangled by a vessel registered for use of longline gear, owners and operators must ensure that the following actions are taken: (i) Stop the vessel to reduce the tension on the line and bring the bird on board the vessel using a dip net; (ii) Cover the bird with a towel to protect its feathers from oils or damage while being handled; (iii) Remove any entangled lines from the bird; (iv) Determine if the bird is alive or dead. (A) If dead, freeze the bird immediately with an identification tag attached directly to the specimen listing the species, location and date of mortality, and band number if the bird has a leg band. Attach a duplicate identification tag to the bag or container holding the bird. Any leg bands present must remain on the bird. Contact NMFS, the Coast Guard, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the numbers listed on the Short-tailed Albatross Handling Placard distributed at the NMFS protected species workshop, inform them that you have a dead short-tailed albatross on board, and submit the bird to NMFS within 72 hours following completion of the fishing trip. (B) If alive, handle the bird in accordance with paragraphs (c)(9) through (c)(14) of this section. (9) Place the bird in a safe enclosed place; (10) Immediately contact NMFS, the Coast Guard, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the numbers listed on the Short-tailed Albatross Handling Placard distributed at the NMFS protected species workshop and request veterinary guidance; (11) Follow the veterinary guidance regarding the handling and release of the bird. (12) Complete the short-tailed albatross recovery data form issued by NMFS. (13) If the bird is externally hooked and no veterinary guidance is received within 24–48 hours, handle the bird in accordance with paragraphs (c)(17)(iv) and (v) of this section, and release the bird only if it meets the following criteria: (i) Able to hold its head erect and respond to noise and motion stimuli; (ii) Able to breathe without noise; (iii) Capable of flapping and retracting both wings to normal folded position on its back; (iv) Able to stand on both feet with toes pointed forward; and (v) Feathers are dry. (14) If released under paragraph (c)(13) of this section or under the guidance of a veterinarian, all released birds must be placed on the sea surface. (15) If the hook has been ingested or is inaccessible, keep the bird in a safe, enclosed place and submit it to NMFS immediately upon the vessel's return to port. Do not give the bird food or water. (16) Complete the short-tailed albatross recovery data form issued by NMFS. (17) If a seabird other than a short-tailed albatross is hooked or entangled by a vessel registered for use of longline gear, owners and operators must ensure that the following actions are taken: (i) Stop the vessel to reduce the tension on the line and bring the seabird on board the vessel using a dip net; (ii) Cover the seabird with a towel to protect its feathers from oils or damage while being handled; (iii) Remove any entangled lines from the seabird; (iv) Remove any external hooks by cutting the line as close as possible to the hook, pushing the hook barb out point first, cutting off the hook barb using bolt cutters, and then removing the hook shank; (v) Cut the fishing line as close as possible to ingested or inaccessible hooks; (vi) Leave the bird in a safe enclosed space to recover until its feathers are dry; and (vii) After recovered, release seabirds by placing them on the sea surface. (d) Vessel monitoring system. (1) Only a VMS unit owned by NMFS and installed by NMFS complies with the requirement of this subpart. (2) After the holder of a permit to use longline gear has been notified by the SAC of a specific date for installation of a VMS unit on the permit holder's vessel, the vessel must carry the VMS unit after the date scheduled for installation. (3) A longline permit holder will not be assessed any fee or other charges to obtain and use a VMS unit, including the communication charges related directly to requirements under this section. Communication charges related to any additional equipment attached to the VMS unit by the owner or operator shall be the responsibility of the owner or operator and not NMFS. (4) The holder of a longline permit and the master of the vessel operating under the permit must: (i) Provide opportunity for the SAC to install and make operational a VMS unit after notification. (ii) Carry the VMS unit on board whenever the vessel is at sea. (iii) Not remove or relocate the VMS unit without prior approval from the SAC. (5) The SAC has authority over the installation and operation of the VMS unit. The SAC may authorize the connection or order the disconnection of additional equipment, including a computer, to any VMS unit when deemed appropriate by the SAC. (e) Protected species workshop. (1) Each year both the owner and the operator of a vessel registered for use of longline gear must attend and be certified for completion of a workshop conducted by NMFS on mitigation, handling, and release techniques for turtles and seabirds and other protected species. (2) A protected species workshop certificate will be issued by NMFS annually to any person who has completed the workshop. (3) An owner of a vessel registered for use of longline gear must have on file a valid protected species workshop certificate or copy issued by NMFS in order to maintain or renew their vessel registration. (4) An operator of a vessel registered for use of longline gear must have on board the vessel a valid protected species workshop certificate issued by NMFS or a legible copy thereof. (f) An operator of a vessel registered for use of longline gear must notify the Regional Administrator at least 24 hours prior to embarking on a fishing trip regardless of the intended area of fishing. (g) An operator of a vessel registered for use of longline gear in waters east of 150° W. long. and beyond the EEZ is subject to the requirements at 50 CFR part 223. [69 FR 18453, Apr. 7, 2004] (a) Take Reduction Plan gear restrictions. Gear restrictions resulting from the Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan established under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 can be found at 50 CFR 229.31. (b) Other gear restrictions. (1) The maximum length of a drift gillnet on board a vessel shall not exceed 6,000 ft (1828 m). (2) Up to 1,500 ft (457 m) of drift gillnet in separate panels of 600 ft (182.88 m) may be on board the vessel in a storage area. (c) Protected Resource Area closures. (1) Pacific leatherback conservation area. No person may fish with, set, or haul back drift gillnet gear in U.S. waters of the Pacific Ocean from August 15 through November 15 in the area bounded by straight lines connecting the following coordinates in the order listed: (i) Pt. Sur at 36°18.5' N. lat., to (ii) 34°27' N. lat. 123°35' W. long., to (iii) 34°27' N. lat. 129° W. long., to (iv) 45° N. lat. 129° W. long., thence to (v) the point where 45° N. lat. intersects the Oregon coast. (2) Pacific loggerhead conservation area. No person may fish with, set, or haul back drift gillnet gear in U.S. waters of the Pacific Ocean east of the 120° W. meridian from June 1 through August 31 during a forecasted, or occurring, El Nino event off the coast of southern California. (i) The Assistant Administrator will publish a notification in the (ii) The Assistant Administrator will rely on information developed by NOAA offices that monitor El Nino events, such as NOAA's Coast Watch program, and developed by the State of California, to determine if such a notice should be published. The requirement for the area closures from January 1 through January 31 and from August 15 through August 31 will remain effective until the Assistant Administrator issues a notice that the El Nino event is no longer occurring. (d) Mainland area closures. The following areas off the Pacific coast are closed to driftnet gear: (1) Within the U.S. EEZ from the United States-Mexico International Boundary to the California-Oregon border from February 1 through April 30. (2) In the portion of the U.S. EEZ within 75 nautical miles from the mainland shore from the United States-Mexico International Boundary to the California-Oregon border from May 1 through August 14. (3) In the portion of the U.S. EEZ within 25 nautical miles of the coastline from December 15 through January 31 of the following year from the United States-Mexico International Boundary to the California-Oregon border. (4) In the portion of the U.S. EEZ from August 15 through September 30 within the area bounded by line extending from Dana Point to Church Rock on Santa Catalina Island, to Point La Jolla, CA. (5) In the portion of the U.S. EEZ within 12 nautical miles from the mainland shore north of a line extending west of Point Arguello, CA, to the California-Oregon border. (6) In the portion of the U.S. EEZ within the area bounded by a line from the lighthouse at Point Reyes to Noonday Rock, to Southeast Farallon Island to Pillar Point, CA. (7) In the portion of the U.S. EEZ off the Oregon coast east of a line approximating 1000 fathoms as defined by the following coordinates: 42°00'00" N. lat. 125°10'30" W. long. 42°25'39" N. lat. 124°59'09" W. long. 42°30'42" N. lat. 125°00'46" W. long. 42°30'23" N. lat. 125°04'14" W. long. 43°02'56" N. lat. 125°06'57" W. long. 43°01'29" N. lat. 125°10'55" W. long. 43°50'11" N. lat. 125°19'14" W. long. 44°03'23" N. lat. 125°12'22" W. long. 45°00'06" N. lat. 125°16'42" W. long. 45°25'27" N. lat. 125°16'29" W. long. 45°45'37" N. lat. 125°15'19" W. long. 46°04'45" N. lat. 125°24'41" W. long. 46°16'00" N. lat. 125°20'32" W. long. (8) In the portion of the U.S. EEZ north of 46°16' N. latitude (Washington coast). (e) Channel Islands area closures. The following areas off the Channel Islands are closed to driftnet gear: (1) San Miguel Island closures. (i) Within the portion of the U.S. EEZ north of San Miguel Island between a line extending 6 nautical miles west of Point Bennett, CA, and a line extending 6 nautical miles east of Cardwell Point, CA. (ii) Within the portion of the U.S. EEZ south of San Miguel Island between a line extending 10 nautical miles west of Point Bennett, CA, and a line extending 10 nautical miles east of Cardwell Point, CA. (2) Santa Rosa Island closure. Within the portion of the U.S. EEZ north of San Miguel Island between a line extending 6 nautical miles west from Sandy Point, CA, and a line extending 6 nautical miles east of Skunk Point, CA, from May 1 through July 31. (3) San Nicolas Island closure. In the portion of the U.S. EEZ within a radius of 10 nautical miles of 33°16'41" N. lat., 119°34'39" W. long. (west end) from May 1 through July 31. (4) San Clemente Island closure. In the portion of the U.S. EEZ within 6 nautical miles of the coastline on the easterly side of San Clemente Island within a line extending 6 nautical miles west from 33°02'16" N. lat., 118°35'27" W. long. and a line extending 6 nautical miles east from the light at Pyramid Head, CA.
Title 50: Wildlife and Fisheries
PART 660—FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES
Subpart K—Highly Migratory Fisheries
§ 660.701 Purpose and scope.
§ 660.702 Definitions.
§ 660.703 Management area.
§ 660.704 Vessel identification.
§ 660.705 Prohibitions.
§ 660.706 Pacific Coast Treaty Indian rights.
§ 660.707 Permits.
§ 660.708 Reporting and recordkeeping.
§ 660.709 Annual specifications.
§ 660.710 Closure of directed fishery.
§ 660.711 General catch restrictions.
§ 660.712 Longline fishery.
§ 660.713 Drift gillnet fishery.
§ 660.714 Purse seine fishery. [Reserved]
§ 660.715 Harpoon fishery. [Reserved]
§ 660.716 Surface hook-and-line fishery. [Reserved]
§ 660.717 Framework for revising regulations.
(a) General. NMFS will establish and adjust specifications and management measures in accordance with procedures and standards in the FMP.
(b) Annual actions. Annual specifications are developed and implemented according to §660.709.
(c) Routine management measures. Consistent with section 3.4 of the FMP, management measures designated as routine may be adjusted during the year after recommendation from the Council, approval by NMFS, and publication in the
(d) Changes to the regulations. Regulations under this subpart may be promulgated, removed, or revised. Any such action will be made according to the framework measures in section 8.3.4 of the FMP and will be published in the
§ 660.718 Exempted fishing.
(a) In the interest of developing an efficient and productive fishery for HMS, the Regional Administrator may issue exempted fishing permits (EFP) for the harvest of HMS that otherwise would be prohibited.
(b) No exempted fishing for HMS may be conducted unless authorized by an EFP issued for the participating vessel in accordance with the criteria and procedures specified in 50 CFR 600.745.
§ 660.719 Scientific observers.
(a) All fishing vessels with permits issued under this subpart and operating in HMS fisheries, including catcher/processors, at-sea processors, and vessels that embark from a port in Washington, Oregon, or California and land catch in another area, may be required to accommodate an NMFS certified observer on board to collect scientific data.
(b) All vessels with observers on board must comply with the safety regulations at 50 CFR 600.746.
(c) NMFS shall advise the permit holder or the designated agent of any observer requirement in response to any pre-trip notification in this subpart.
(d) When NMFS notifies the permit holder or designated agent of the obligation to carry an observer in response to a notification under this subpart or as a condition of an EFP issued under 50 CFR 660.718, the vessel may not engage in the fishery without taking the observer.
(e) A permit holder must accommodate a NMFS observer assigned under this section. The Regional Administrator's office, and not the observer, will address any concerns raised over accommodations.
(f) The permit holder, vessel operator, and crew must cooperate with the observer in the performance of the observer's duties, including:
(1) Allowing for the embarking and debarking of the observer.
(2) Allowing the observer access to all areas of the vessel necessary to conduct observer duties.
(3) Allowing the observer access to communications equipment and navigation equipment as necessary to perform observer duties.
(4) Allowing the observer access to VMS units to verify operation, obtain data, and use the communication capabilities of the units for official purposes.
(5) Providing accurate vessel locations by latitude and longitude or loran coordinates, upon request by the observer.
(6) Providing sea turtle, marine mammal, or sea bird specimens as requested.
(7) Notifying the observer in a timely fashion when commercial fishing operations are to begin and end.
(g) The permit holder, operator, and crew must comply with other terms and conditions to ensure the effective deployment and use of observers that the Regional Administrator imposes by written notice.
(h) The permit holder must ensure that assigned observers are provided living quarters comparable to crew members and are provided the same meals, snacks, and amenities as are normally provided to other vessel personnel.
§ 660.720 Interim protection for sea turtles.
(a) Until the effective date of §§660.707 and 660.712 (d) and (e), it is unlawful for any person who is not operating under a Hawaii longline limited access permit under §660.21(b) to do any of the following:
(1) Direct fishing effort toward the harvest of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) using longline gear deployed on the high seas of the Pacific Ocean west of 150° W. long. and north of the equator (0° lat.).
(2) Possess a light stick on board a longline vessel on the high seas of the Pacific Ocean west of 150° W. long. north of the equator. A light stick as used in this paragraph is any type of light emitting device, including any fluorescent glow bead, chemical, or electrically powered light that is affixed underwater to the longline gear.
(3) An operator of a longline vessel subject to this section may land or possess no more than 10 swordfish from a fishing trip where any part of the trip included fishing west of 150° W. long. and north of the equator (0° N. lat.).
(4) Fail to employ basket-style longline gear such that the mainline is deployed slack when fishing on the high seas of the Pacific Ocean west of 150° W. long. north of the equator.
(5) When a conventional monofilament longline is deployed by a vessel subject to this section, no fewer than 15 branch lines may be set between any two floats. Vessel operators using basket-style longline gear must set a minimum of 10 branch lines between any 2 floats when fishing in waters west of 150° W. long. north of the equator.
(6) Longline gear deployed by a vessel subject to this section must be deployed such that the deepest point of the main longline between any two floats, i.e., the deepest point in each sag of the main line, is at a depth greater than 100 m (328.1 ft or 54.6 fm) below the sea surface.
(b) [Reserved]
Table 2 to Part 660—Vessel Capacity Ratings for West Coast Groundfish Limited Entry Permits
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capacity Vessel length rating------------------------------------------------------------------------<20....................................................... 1.00 21.......................................................... 1.13 22.......................................................... 1.27 23.......................................................... 1.42 24.......................................................... 1.58 25.......................................................... 1.75 26.......................................................... 1.93 27.......................................................... 2.12 28.......................................................... 2.32 29.......................................................... 2.53 30.......................................................... 2.76 31.......................................................... 2.99 32.......................................................... 3.24 33.......................................................... 3.50 34.......................................................... 3.77 35.......................................................... 4.05 36.......................................................... 4.35 37.......................................................... 4.66 38.......................................................... 4.98 39.......................................................... 5.31 40.......................................................... 5.66 41.......................................................... 6.02 42.......................................................... 6.39 43.......................................................... 6.78 44.......................................................... 7.18 45.......................................................... 7.59 46.......................................................... 8.02 47.......................................................... 8.47 48.......................................................... 8.92 49.......................................................... 9.40 50.......................................................... 9.88 51.......................................................... 10.38 52.......................................................... 10.90 53.......................................................... 11.43 54.......................................................... 11.98 55.......................................................... 12.54 56.......................................................... 13.12 57.......................................................... 13.71 58.......................................................... 14.32 59.......................................................... 14.95 60.......................................................... 15.59 61.......................................................... 16.25 62.......................................................... 16.92 63.......................................................... 17.61 64.......................................................... 18.32 65.......................................................... 19.04 66.......................................................... 19.78 67.......................................................... 20.54 68.......................................................... 21.32 69.......................................................... 22.11 70.......................................................... 22.92 71.......................................................... 23.74 72.......................................................... 24.59 73.......................................................... 25.45 74.......................................................... 26.33 75.......................................................... 27.23 76.......................................................... 28.15 77.......................................................... 29.08 78.......................................................... 30.04 79.......................................................... 31.01 80.......................................................... 32.00 81.......................................................... 33.01 82.......................................................... 34.04 83.......................................................... 35.08 84.......................................................... 36.15 85.......................................................... 37.24 86.......................................................... 38.34 87.......................................................... 39.47 88.......................................................... 40.61 89.......................................................... 41.77 90.......................................................... 42.96 91.......................................................... 44.16 92.......................................................... 45.38 93.......................................................... 46.63 94.......................................................... 47.89 95.......................................................... 49.17 96.......................................................... 50.48 97.......................................................... 51.80 98.......................................................... 53.15 99.......................................................... 54.51100.......................................................... 55.90101.......................................................... 57.31102.......................................................... 58.74103.......................................................... 60.19104.......................................................... 61.66105.......................................................... 63.15106.......................................................... 64.67107.......................................................... 66.20108.......................................................... 67.76109.......................................................... 69.34110.......................................................... 70.94111.......................................................... 72.57112.......................................................... 74.21113.......................................................... 75.88114.......................................................... 77.57115.......................................................... 79.28116.......................................................... 81.02117.......................................................... 82.77118.......................................................... 84.55119.......................................................... 86.36120.......................................................... 88.18121.......................................................... 90.03122.......................................................... 91.90123.......................................................... 93.80124.......................................................... 95.72125.......................................................... 97.66126.......................................................... 99.62127.......................................................... 101.61128.......................................................... 103.62129.......................................................... 105.66130.......................................................... 107.72131.......................................................... 109.80132.......................................................... 111.91133.......................................................... 114.04134.......................................................... 116.20135.......................................................... 118.38136.......................................................... 120.58137.......................................................... 122.81138.......................................................... 125.06139.......................................................... 127.34140.......................................................... 129.64141.......................................................... 131.97142.......................................................... 134.32143.......................................................... 136.70144.......................................................... 139.10145.......................................................... 141.53146.......................................................... 143.98147.......................................................... 146.46148.......................................................... 148.96149.......................................................... 151.49150.......................................................... 154.05151.......................................................... 154.68152.......................................................... 155.31153.......................................................... 155.94154.......................................................... 156.57155.......................................................... 157.20156.......................................................... 157.83157.......................................................... 158.46158.......................................................... 159.10159.......................................................... 159.73160.......................................................... 160.36161.......................................................... 160.99162.......................................................... 161.62163.......................................................... 162.25164.......................................................... 162.88165.......................................................... 163.51166.......................................................... 164.14167.......................................................... 164.77168.......................................................... 165.41169.......................................................... 166.04170.......................................................... 166.67171.......................................................... 167.30172.......................................................... 167.93173.......................................................... 168.56174.......................................................... 169.19175.......................................................... 169.82176.......................................................... 170.45177.......................................................... 171.08178.......................................................... 171.72179.......................................................... 172.35180.......................................................... 172.98181.......................................................... 173.61182.......................................................... 174.24183.......................................................... 174.87184.......................................................... 175.50185.......................................................... 176.13186.......................................................... 176.76187.......................................................... 177.40188.......................................................... 178.03189.......................................................... 178.66190.......................................................... 179.29191.......................................................... 179.92192.......................................................... 180.55193.......................................................... 181.18194.......................................................... 181.81195.......................................................... 182.44196.......................................................... 183.07197.......................................................... 183.71198.......................................................... 184.34199.......................................................... 184.97200.......................................................... 185.60201.......................................................... 186.23202.......................................................... 186.86203.......................................................... 187.49204.......................................................... 188.12205.......................................................... 188.75206.......................................................... 189.38207.......................................................... 190.02208.......................................................... 190.65209.......................................................... 191.28210.......................................................... 191.91211.......................................................... 192.54212.......................................................... 193.17213.......................................................... 193.80214.......................................................... 194.43215.......................................................... 195.06216.......................................................... 195.69217.......................................................... 196.33218.......................................................... 196.96219.......................................................... 197.59220.......................................................... 198.22221.......................................................... 198.85222.......................................................... 199.48223.......................................................... 200.11224.......................................................... 200.74225.......................................................... 201.37226.......................................................... 202.01227.......................................................... 202.64228.......................................................... 203.27229.......................................................... 203.90230.......................................................... 204.53231.......................................................... 205.16232.......................................................... 205.79233.......................................................... 206.42234.......................................................... 207.05235.......................................................... 207.68236.......................................................... 208.32237.......................................................... 208.95238.......................................................... 209.58239.......................................................... 210.21240.......................................................... 210.84241.......................................................... 211.47242.......................................................... 212.10243.......................................................... 212.73244.......................................................... 213.36245.......................................................... 213.99246.......................................................... 214.63247.......................................................... 215.26248.......................................................... 215.89249.......................................................... 216.52250.......................................................... 217.15251.......................................................... 217.78252.......................................................... 218.41253.......................................................... 219.04254.......................................................... 219.67255.......................................................... 220.30256.......................................................... 220.94257.......................................................... 221.57258.......................................................... 222.20259.......................................................... 222.83260.......................................................... 223.46261.......................................................... 224.09262.......................................................... 224.72263.......................................................... 225.35264.......................................................... 225.98265.......................................................... 226.61266.......................................................... 227.25267.......................................................... 227.88268.......................................................... 228.51269.......................................................... 229.14270.......................................................... 229.77271.......................................................... 230.40272.......................................................... 231.03273.......................................................... 231.66274.......................................................... 232.29275.......................................................... 232.93276.......................................................... 233.56277.......................................................... 234.19278.......................................................... 234.82279.......................................................... 235.45280.......................................................... 236.08281.......................................................... 236.71282.......................................................... 237.34283.......................................................... 237.97284.......................................................... 238.60285.......................................................... 239.24286.......................................................... 239.87287.......................................................... 240.50288.......................................................... 241.13289.......................................................... 241.76290.......................................................... 242.39291.......................................................... 243.02292.......................................................... 243.65293.......................................................... 244.28294.......................................................... 244.91295.......................................................... 245.55296.......................................................... 246.18297.......................................................... 246.81298.......................................................... 247.44299.......................................................... 248.07300.......................................................... 248.70301.......................................................... 249.33302.......................................................... 249.96303.......................................................... 250.59304.......................................................... 251.22305.......................................................... 251.86306.......................................................... 252.49307.......................................................... 253.12308.......................................................... 253.75309.......................................................... 254.38310.......................................................... 255.01311.......................................................... 255.64312.......................................................... 256.27313.......................................................... 256.90314.......................................................... 257.54315.......................................................... 258.17316.......................................................... 258.80317.......................................................... 259.43318.......................................................... 260.06319.......................................................... 260.69320.......................................................... 261.32321.......................................................... 261.95322.......................................................... 262.58323.......................................................... 263.21324.......................................................... 263.85325.......................................................... 264.48326.......................................................... 265.11327.......................................................... 265.74328.......................................................... 266.37329.......................................................... 267.00330.......................................................... 267.63331.......................................................... 268.26332.......................................................... 268.89333.......................................................... 269.52334.......................................................... 270.16335.......................................................... 270.79336.......................................................... 271.42337.......................................................... 272.05338.......................................................... 272.68339.......................................................... 273.31340.......................................................... 273.94341.......................................................... 274.57342.......................................................... 275.20343.......................................................... 275.83344.......................................................... 276.47345.......................................................... 277.10346.......................................................... 277.73347.......................................................... 278.36348.......................................................... 278.99349.......................................................... 279.62350.......................................................... 280.25351.......................................................... 280.88352.......................................................... 281.51353.......................................................... 282.14354.......................................................... 282.78355.......................................................... 283.41356.......................................................... 284.04357.......................................................... 284.67358.......................................................... 285.30359.......................................................... 285.93360.......................................................... 286.56361.......................................................... 287.19362.......................................................... 287.82363.......................................................... 288.46364.......................................................... 289.09365.......................................................... 289.72366.......................................................... 290.35367.......................................................... 290.98368.......................................................... 291.61369.......................................................... 292.24370.......................................................... 292.87371.......................................................... 293.50372.......................................................... 294.13373.......................................................... 294.77374.......................................................... 295.40375.......................................................... 296.03376.......................................................... 296.66377.......................................................... 297.29378.......................................................... 297.92379.......................................................... 298.55380.......................................................... 299.18381.......................................................... 299.81382.......................................................... 300.44383.......................................................... 301.08384.......................................................... 301.71385.......................................................... 302.34386.......................................................... 302.97387.......................................................... 303.60388.......................................................... 304.23389.......................................................... 304.86390.......................................................... 305.49391.......................................................... 306.12392.......................................................... 306.75393.......................................................... 307.39394.......................................................... 308.02395.......................................................... 308.65396.......................................................... 309.28397.......................................................... 309.91398.......................................................... 310.54399.......................................................... 311.17>400...................................................... 311.80------------------------------------------------------------------------
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