NOAA Fisheries Issues Final Rule Implementing Pacific Whiting Fishery
Federal fisheries officials have implemented the domestic 2024 harvest specifications for Pacific whiting fisheries off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California, including the 2024 Tribal allocation for the Pacific whiting fishery, the non-tribal sector allocations, and a set-aside for incidental mortality in research activities and non-groundfish fisheries.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) issued the rule effective June 24 for the Pacific whiting fishery under the authority of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Pacific Whiting Act of 2006, and other applicable laws.
The rule was published in the Federal Register.
These measures are intended to help prevent overfishing, achieve optimum yield, ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available, and provide for the implementation of tribal treaty fishing rights.
The transboundary stock of Pacific whiting is managed through the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada on Pacific Hake/Whiting of 2003.
The agreement establishes bilateral management bodies to implement the terms of the agreement, including the Joint Management Committee, which recommends the annual catch limit for Pacific whiting.
