NOAA Fisheries announces a proposed rule for the 2027-28 Pacific Coast Groundfish Harvest Specifications and Management Measures and Amendment 38 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which published today in the Federal Register (91 FR 60238). The public comment period on the proposed rule is open through October 22, 2026. 

What is included in this proposed rule?  

This rule proposes:

• 2027-28 harvest specifications for groundfish caught in the U.S. exclusive economic zone seaward of Washington, Oregon, and California; and
• Management measures intended to keep the total annual catch of each groundfish stock or stock complex within the annual catch limits.

These proposed measures are intended to help prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, achieve optimum yield, and ensure management measures are based on the best scientific information available.

This rule also includes proposed regulations to implement Amendment 38 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP. A Notice of Availability (91 FR 45764) containing the proposed changes to the FMP published in the Federal Register on July 19, 2026; the comment period for Amendment 38 ended on September 19, 2026. If approved, Amendment 38 would remove yelloweye rockfish and California quillback rockfish from their respective rebuilding plans.

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