TITLE 50 - WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES

CHAPTER VI - FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

PART 660 - FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES AND IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC

subpart g - WEST COAST GROUNDFISH FISHERIES

660.390 - Groundfish conservation areas.

In 660.302, a groundfish conservation area is defined as a geographic area defined by coordinates expressed in latitude and longitude, created and enforced for the purpose of contributing to the rebuilding of overfished West Coast groundfish species. While some groundfish conservation areas may be designed with the intent that their shape be determined by ocean bottom depth contours, their shapes are defined in regulation by latitude/longitude coordinates and are enforced by those coordinates. Latitude/longitude coordinates designating the large-scale boundaries for rockfish conservation areas are found in 660.391 through 660.394. Fishing activity that is prohibited or permitted within a particular groundfish conservation area is detailed in Federal Register documents associated with the harvest specifications and management measures process and at 660.381 through 660.384.

  (a) Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area. The Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA) is a C-shaped area off the northern Washington coast intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed: 4818.00' N. lat.; 12518.00' W. long.; 4818.00' N. lat.; 12459.00' W. long.; 4811.00' N. lat.; 12459.00' W. long.; 4811.00' N. lat.; 12511.00' W. long.; 4804.00' N. lat.; 12511.00' W. long.; 4804.00' N. lat.; 12459.00' W. long.; 4800.00' N. lat.; 12459.00' W. long.; 4800.00' N. lat.; 12518.00' W. long.; and connecting back to 4818.00' N. lat.; 12518.00' W.long.

  (b) Cowcod Conservation Areas. The Cowcod Conservation Areas (CCAs) are two areas off the southern California coast intended to protect cowcod.

The Western CCA is an area south of Point Conception defined by the straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed: 3350.00' N. lat., 11930.00' W. long.; 3350.00' N. lat., 11850.00' W. long.; 3220.00' N. lat., 11850.00' W. long.; 3220.00' N. lat., 11937.00' W. long.; 3300.00' N. lat., 11937.00' W. long.; 3300.00' N. lat., 11953.00' W. long.; 3333.00' N. lat., 11953.00' W. long.; 3333.00' N. lat., 11930.00' W. long.; and connecting back to 3350.00' N. lat., 11930.00' W. long.

The Eastern CCA is an area west of San Diego defined by the straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed: 3242.00' N. lat., 11802.00' W. long.; 3242.00' N. lat., 11750.00' W. long.; 3236.70' N. lat., 11750.00' W. long.; 3230.00' N. lat., 11753.50' W. long.; 3230.00' N. lat., 11802.00' W. long.; and connecting back to 3242.00' N. lat., 11802.00' W. long.

  (c) Farallon Islands. The Farallon Islands, off San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, include Southeast Farallon Island, Middle Farallon Island, North Farallon Island and Noon Day Rock. Generally, the State of California prohibts fishing for groundfish between the shoreline and the 10 fm (18 m) depth contour around the Farallon Islands.

  (d) Cordell Banks. Cordell Banks are located offshore of California's Marin County. Generally, fishing for groundfish is prohibited in waters less than 100 fm (183 m) around Cordell Banks as defined by specific latitude and longitude coordinates.The Cordell Banks closed area is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed: 3803.18' N. lat., 12320.77' W. long.; 3806.29' N. lat., 12325.03' W. long.; 3806.34' N. lat., 12329.32' W. long.; 3804.57' N. lat., 12331.30' W. long.; 3802.32' N. lat., 12331.07' W. long.; 3800.00' N. lat., 12328.40' W. long.; 3758.10' N. lat., 12326.66' W. long.; 3755.07' N. lat., 12326.81' W. long.; and connecting back to 3803.18' N. lat., 12320.77' W. long.

  (e) Rockfish Conservation Areas. RCAs are defined in the Federal Register through the harvest specifications and management measures process. RCAs may apply to a single gear type or to a group of gear types such as trawl RCAs or non-trawl RCAs. Specific latitude and longitude coordinates for RCA boundaries that approximate the depth contours selected for both trawl, non-trawl, and recreational RCAs are provided in 660.391 through 660.394. Also provided in 660.391 through 660.394 are references to islands and rocks that serve as reference points for the RCAs.

  (1) Trawl (Limited Entry and Open Access Nongroundfish Trawl Gears) Rockfish Conservation Area. Trawl RCAs are intended to protect a complex of species, such as overfished shelf rockfish species, and have boundaries defined by specific latitude and longitude coordinates intended to approximate particular depth contours. Boundaries for the trawl RCA throughout the year are provided in Tables 3 and 5 (North) and Tables 3 and 5 (South) and may be modified by NMFS inseason pursuant to 660.370(c). Trawl RCA boundaries are defined by specific latitude and longitude coordinates and are provided in 660.391 through 660.394.

  (2) Non-Trawl (Limited Entry Fixed Gear and Open Access Non-trawl Gears) Rockfish Conservation Area. Non-trawl RCAs are intended to protect a complex of species, such as overfished shelf rockfish species, and have boundaries defined by specific latitude and longitude coordinates intended to approximate particular depth contours. Boundaries for the non-trawl RCA throughout the year are provided in Tables 4 and 5 (North) and Tables 4 and 5 (South) of this subpart and may be modified by NMFS inseason pursuant to 660.370(c). Non-trawl RCA boundaries are defined by specific latitude and longitude coordinates and are provided in 660.391 through 660.394.

  (3) Recreational Rockfish Conservation Area. Recreational RCAs are closed areas intended to protect overfished rockfish species.

Recreational RCAs may either have boundaries defined by general depth contours or boundaries defined by specific latitude and longitude coordinates intended to approximate particular depth contours.

Boundaries for the recreational RCAs throughout the year are provided in the text in 660.384(c) under each state (Washington, Oregon and California) and may be modified by NMFS inseason. Recreational RCA boundaries that are defined by specific latitude and longitude coordinates and are provided in 660.391 through 660.394.

[69 FR 77041, Dec. 23, 2004]