Fisheries off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trawl Rationalization Program; Midwater Trawl Fishery Season Date Change

This action implements revisions to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program affecting the limited entry midwater trawl fisheries managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This action revises the primary season- opening date for the Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program midwater trawl fishery (targeting both whiting and non-whiting species) to May 15 north of 40[deg]30' N. lat. to the U.S./Canada border. This moves the season a month earlier for waters off the coasts of Washington and Oregon, and a month and half later for waters off the coast of northern California (north of 40[deg]30' N. lat.). This action increases consistency in the season start date along the coast and between the shorebased and at-sea midwater trawl fleets.