Pacific Halibut Fisheries of the West Coast; 2023 Catch Sharing Plan and Recreational Management Measures

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 300 [Docket No. 230331-0089] RIN 0648-BL92 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This final rule approves changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for the International Pacific Halibut Commission's regulatory Area 2A off of Washington, Oregon, and California. In addition, this final rule implements management measures governing the 2023 recreational fisheries that are not implemented through the International Pacific Halibut Commission. Management measures include the recreational fishery seasons and subarea allocations for Area 2A. These actions are intended to conserve Pacific halibut and provide angler opportunity where available. DATES: This rule is effective May 11, 2023. The season dates and bag limits in this rule are effective on April 6, 2023. The remaining provisions of this final rule are effective on May 11, 2023. ADDRESSES: Additional information regarding this action may be obtained by contacting the Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS West Coast Region, 500 W Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802. For information regarding all halibut fisheries and general regulations not contained in this rule, contact the International Pacific Halibut Commission, 2320 W Commodore Way Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98199-1287. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Davis, phone: 323-372-2126 …