DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
<SUBAGY>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</SUBAGY>
<CFR>50 CFR Part 660</CFR>
<DEPDOC>[Docket No. 260123-0033]</DEPDOC>
<RIN>RIN 0648-BN95</RIN>
<SUBJECT>Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Cordell Bank Groundfish Conservation Area Revisions</SUBJECT>
<HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
<HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
Proposed rule; request for comments.
<SUM>
<HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
NMFS issues these proposed regulations to remove the Cordell Bank Groundfish Conservation Area off central California for all groundfish fisheries and implement a new Groundfish Exclusion Area for all groundfish fisheries to protect sensitive habitat. The purpose of this proposed rule is to simplify regulatory complexity associated with overlapping fishery closures in the Cordell Bank area, and to increase fishing opportunity, while still protecting the Cordell Bank ecosystem. NMFS also announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment that analyzes the potential effects of the proposed rule.
</SUM>
<EFFDATE>
<HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
Comments on this proposed rule must be received on or before March 4, 2026.
</EFFDATE>
<HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
A plain language summary of this proposed rule is available at
<E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2025-0047.</E>
You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2025-0047, by the following method:
•
<E T="03">Electronic Submission:</E>
Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
<E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov</E>
and type NOAA-NMFS-2025-0047 in the Search box. Click on the “Comment” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
<E T="03">Instructions:</E>
Com
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