§660.230. Non-trawl fishery—management measures.
50 C.F.R. § 660.230
General. Most species taken in limited entry non-trawl fisheries will be managed with cumulative trip limits (see trip limits in tables 2b (north) and (south) of this subpart), size limits (see § 660.60(h)(5)), seasons (see trip limits in tables 2b (north) and (south) of this subpart and sablefish primary season details in § 660.231), gear restrictions (see paragraph (b) of this section), and closed areas (see paragraph (d) of this section and §§ 660.70 through 660.79). Cowcod, yelloweye, and California quillback rockfish retention is prohibited in all fisheries, and groundfish vessels operating south of Point Conception must adhere to GEA restrictions (see paragraph (d)(16) of this section and § 660.70). Regulations governing tier limits for the limited entry non-trawl sablefish primary season north of 36° N lat. are found in § 660.231. Vessels not participating in the sablefish primary season are subject to weekly sablefish limits in addition to cumulative limits for each cumulative limit period. The trip limit for black rockfish caught with hook-and-line gear also applies, see paragraph (e) of this section. The trip limits in tables 2b (north) and (south) of this subpart apply to vessels participating in the limited entry groundfish non-trawl fishery and may not be exceeded.
Gear restrictions.
Non-trawl gear (defined at § 660.11, paragraph (8) of the definition for “Fishing gear”) except entangling nets (defined at § 660.1, paragraph (4) of the definition for “Fishing gear”) is authorized in the limited entry non-trawl fishery, providing the gear is in compliance with the restrictions set forth in this section, and gear identification and marking requirements described in § 660.219.
All fixed gear (longline, trap or pot, and stationary hook-and-line gear, including commercial vertical hook-and-line gear) gear used in the limited entry non-trawl fishery must be attended at least once every 7 days.
Traps or pots must have biodegradable escape panels constructed with 21 or smaller untreated cotton twine in such a manner that an opening at least 8 inches (20.3 cm) in diameter results when the twine deteriorates.
Vessels fishing with bottom longline and snap gears as defined at § 660.11 are subject to the requirements of the Seabird Avoidance Program described in § 660.21.
Inside the Non-Trawl RCA, only legal non-bottom contact hook-and-line gear configurations may be used for target fishing for groundfish by vessels that participate in the limited entry non-trawl sector as defined at § 660.11. On a fishing trip where any fishing will occur inside the Non-Trawl RCA, only one type of legal non-bottom contact gear may be carried on board, and no other fishing gear of any type may be carried on board or stowed during that trip. The vessel may fish inside and outside the Non-Trawl RCA on the same fishing trip, provided a valid declaration report as required at § 660.13(d) has been filed with NMFS OLE. Legal non-bottom contact hook-and-line gear means stationary vertical jig gear not anchored to the bottom and groundfish troll gear, subject to the specifications in paragraphs (b)(5)(i) and (ii) of this section.
Stationary vertical jig gear. The following requirements apply to stationary vertical jig gear:
Must be a minimum of 30 feet (9 m) between the bottom weight and the lowest fishing hook;
No more than four vertical mainlines attached to or fished from the vessel (e.g., rod and reel) may be used in the water at one time.
No more than 100 hooks may be in the water at one time, with no more than 25 extra hooks on board the vessel.
Groundfish troll gear. The following requirements apply to groundfish troll gear:
Must be a minimum of 50 feet (15 m) between the bottom weight and the troll wire's connection to the horizontal mainline;
No more than one mainline attached to or fished form the vessel may be used in the water at one time;
No more than 500 hooks may be in the water at one time, with no more than 25 extra hooks on board the vessel;
Hooks must be spaced apart by a visible maker (e.g., floats, line wraps, colored line splices), with no more than 25 hooks between each marker and no more than 20 markers on the mainline; and
Natural bait or weighted hooks may not be used nor be on board the vessel. Artificial lures and bait are permitted.
Sorting Requirements.
In addition to the requirements at § 660.12(a)(8) the States of Washington, Oregon, and California may also require that vessels record their landings as sorted on their state landing receipts.
For limited entry non-trawl vessels, the following species must be sorted:
Coastwide— arrowtooth flounder, big skate, black rockfish, blue/deacon rockfish, canary rockfish, darkblotched rockfish, Dover sole, English sole, lingcod, longnose skate, longspine thornyhead, petrale sole, minor nearshore rockfish, minor shelf rockfish, minor slope rockfish, other fish, other flatfish, Pacific cod, Pacific whiting, rougheye/blackspotted rockfish, sablefish, shortbelly rockfish, shortraker rockfish, shortspine thornyhead, spiny dogfish, starry flounder, widow rockfish, and yelloweye rockfish;
North of 40°10′ N lat. cabezon (California), copper rockfish (California), Oregon cabezon/kelp greenling complex, POP, quillback rockfish (California), Washington cabezon/kelp greenling complex, yellowtail rockfish; and
South of 40°10′ N lat. blackgill rockfish, bocaccio, bronzespotted rockfish, cabezon, California scorpionfish, chilipepper rockfish, copper rockfish, cowcod, minor shallow nearshore rockfish, minor deeper nearshore rockfish, Pacific sanddabs, quillback rockfish, splitnose rockfish, and vermilion rockfish.
Groundfish conservation areas. GCAs are defined by coordinates expressed in degrees of latitude and longitude. The latitude and longitude coordinates of the GCA boundaries are specified at §§ 660.70 through 660.74. A vessel that is authorized by this paragraph to fish within a GCA (e.g., fishing for “other flatfish” with hook and line gear only), may not simultaneously have other gear on board the vessel that is unlawful to use for fishing within the GCA. The following GCAs apply to vessels using bottom contact gear, defined at § 660.11, and include limited entry non-trawl (e.g., longline and pot/trap,) among other gear types.
North coast recreational yelloweye rockfish conservation area. The latitude and longitude coordinates of the North Coast Recreational Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA) boundaries are specified at § 660.70, subpart C. The North Coast Recreational YRCA is designated as an area to be avoided (a voluntary closure) by commercial fixed gear fishers.
North coast commercial yelloweye rockfish conservation area. The latitude and longitude coordinates of the North Coast Commercial Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA) boundaries are specified at § 660.70, subpart C. Fishing with limited entry non-trawl gear is prohibited within the North Coast Commercial YRCA. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry non-trawl gear within the North Coast Commercial YRCA. Limited entry non-trawl vessels may transit through the North Coast Commercial YRCA with or without groundfish on board.
South coast recreational yelloweye rockfish conservation area. The latitude and longitude coordinates of the South Coast Recreational Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA) boundaries are specified at § 660.70, subpart C. The South Coast Recreational YRCA is designated as an area to be avoided (a voluntary closure) by commercial fixed gear fishers.
Westport offshore recreational YRCA. The latitude and longitude coordinates that define the Westport Offshore Recreational YRCA boundaries are specified at § 660.70, subpart C. The Westport Offshore Recreational YRCA is designated as an area to be avoided (a voluntary closure) by commercial fixed gear fishers.
Tillamook YRCA. The latitude and longitude coordinates that define the Tillamook YRCA boundaries are specified at § 660.70, subpart C. Fishing with limited entry non-trawl gear is prohibited within the Tillamook YRCA on dates when the closure is in effect. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry non-trawl gear within the Tillamook YRCA on dates when the closure is in effect. The closure is not in effect at this time. This closure may be implemented through inseason adjustment. Limited entry non-trawl vessels may transit through the Tillamook YRCA at any time, with or without groundfish on board.
Newport YRCA. The latitude and longitude coordinates that define the Newport YRCA boundaries are specified at § 660.70, subpart C. Fishing with limited entry non-trawl gear is prohibited within the Newport YRCA on dates when the closure is in effect. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry non-trawl gear within the Newport YRCA on dates when the closure is in effect. The closure is not in effect at this time. This closure may be implemented through inseason adjustment. Limited entry non-trawl vessels may transit through the Newport YRCA at any time, with or without groundfish on board.
Florence YRCA. The latitude and longitude coordinates that define the Florence YRCA boundaries are specified at § 660.70, subpart C. Fishing with limited entry non-trawl gear is prohibited within the Florence YRCA on dates when the closure is in effect. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry non-trawl gear within the Florence YRCA on dates when the closure is in effect. The closure is not in effect at this time. This closure may be implemented through inseason adjustment. Limited entry non-trawl vessels may transit through the Florence YRCA at any time, with or without groundfish on board.
Heceta Bank YRCA. The latitude and longitude coordinates that define the Heceta Bank YRCA boundaries are specified at § 660.70, subpart C. Fishing with limited entry non-trawl gear is prohibited within the Heceta Bank YRCA on dates when the closure is in effect. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry non-trawl gear within the Heceta Bank YRCA on dates when the closure is in effect. The closure is currently in effect. This closure may be modified through inseason adjustment. Limited entry non-trawl vessels may transit through the Heceta Bank YRCA at any time, with or without groundfish on board.
Point St. George YRCA. The latitude and longitude coordinates of the Point St. George YRCA boundaries are specified at § 660.70, subpart C. Fishing with limited entry non-trawl gear is prohibited within the Point St. George YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry non-trawl gear within the Point St. George YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. The closure is not in effect at this time. This closure may be imposed through inseason adjustment. Limited entry non-trawl vessels may transit through the Point St. George YRCA, at any time, with or without groundfish on board.
South Reef YRCA. The latitude and longitude coordinates of the South Reef YRCA boundaries are specified at § 660.70, subpart C. Fishing with limited entry non-trawl gear is prohibited within the South Reef YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry non-trawl gear within the South Reef YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. The closure is not in effect at this time. This closure may be imposed through inseason adjustment. Limited entry non-trawl vessels may transit through the South Reef YRCA, at any time, with or without groundfish on board.
Reading Rock YRCA. The latitude and longitude coordinates of the Reading Rock YRCA boundaries are specified at § 660.70, subpart C. Fishing with limited entry non-trawl gear is prohibited within the Reading Rock YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry non-trawl gear within the Reading Rock YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. The closure is not in effect at this time. This closure may be imposed through inseason adjustment. Limited entry non-trawl vessels may transit through the Reading Rock YRCA, at any time, with or without groundfish on board.
Point Delgada (North) YRCA. The latitude and longitude coordinates of the Point Delgada (North) YRCA boundaries are specified at § 660.70, subpart C. Fishing with limited entry non-trawl gear is prohibited within the Point Delgada (North) YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry non-trawl gear within the Point Delgada (North) YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. The closure is not in effect at this time. This closure may be imposed through inseason adjustment. Limited entry non-trawl vessels may transit through the Point Delgada (North) YRCA, at any time, with or without groundfish on board.
Point Delgada (South) YRCA. The latitude and longitude coordinates of the Point Delgada (South) YRCA boundaries are specified at § 660.70, subpart C. Fishing with limited entry non-trawl gear is prohibited within the Point Delgada (South) YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry non-trawl gear within the Point Delgada (South) YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. The closure is not in effect at this time. This closure may be imposed through inseason adjustment. Limited entry non-trawl vessels may transit through the Point Delgada (South) YRCA, at any time, with or without groundfish on board.
Non-trawl Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA). The Non-Trawl RCA is defined at § 660.11 and with latitude and longitude coordinates, at §§ 660.71 through 660.74 or the EEZ, where fishing for groundfish with non-trawl gear is prohibited. Boundaries for the Non-Trawl RCA throughout the year are provided in the header to tables 2 (north) and (south) of this subpart and may be modified by NMFS inseason pursuant to § 660.60(c).
It is unlawful to operate a vessel with limited entry non-trawl gear in the Non-Trawl RCA, except for the purpose of continuous transit, or when the use of limited entry non-trawl gear is authorized in this section. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry non-trawl gear within the Non-Trawl RCA, unless otherwise authorized in this section.
Limited entry non-trawl vessels may transit through the Non-Trawl RCA, with or without groundfish on board, provided all groundfish non-trawl gear is stowed either: below deck; or, if the gear cannot readily be moved, in a secured and covered manner and detached from all lines, so that it is rendered unusable for fishing.
The Non-Trawl RCA restrictions in this section apply to vessels registered to limited entry non-trawl permits fishing for species other than groundfish with non-trawl gear on trips where groundfish species are retained. Unless otherwise authorized in this section, a vessel may not retain any groundfish taken on a fishing trip for species other than groundfish that occurs within the Non-Trawl RCA. If a vessel fishes in a non-groundfish fishery in the Non-Trawl RCA, it may not participate in any fishing for groundfish on that trip that is prohibited within the Non-Trawl RCA. [For example, if a vessel fishes in the salmon troll fishery within the RCA, the vessel cannot on the same trip fish in the sablefish fishery outside of the RCA.]
It is lawful to fish within the Non-Trawl RCA with limited entry non-trawl gear using hook and line gear only when trip limits authorize such fishing, provided that a valid declaration report as required at § 660.13(d), subpart C, has been filed with NMFS OLE.
It is lawful to fish within the Non-Trawl RCA under the limited entry non-trawl trip limits specified in tables 2 (north) and (south) of this subpart only when using the non-bottom contact hook-and-line gear types described in paragraph (b)(5) of this section, and provided a valid declaration report as required at § 660.13(d), subpart C, has been filed with NMFS OLE.
Black rockfish fishery management. The trip limit for black rockfish (Sebastes melanops) for commercial fishing vessels using hook-and-line gear between the U.S.-Canada border and Cape Alava (48°09.50′ N. lat.), and between Destruction Island (47°40′ N. lat.) and Leadbetter Point (46°38.17′ N. lat.), is 100 lbs (45 kg) or 30 percent, by weight of all fish on board, whichever is greater, per vessel per fishing trip. These per trip limits apply to limited entry and open access fisheries, in conjunction with the cumulative trip limits and other management measures in § 660.230, subpart E, and § 660.330, subpart F. The crossover provisions in § 660.60(h)(7), subpart C, do not apply to the black rockfish per-trip limits.
Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Areas (EFHCA). EFHCAs, defined at § 660.11 and with latitude and longitude coordinates at §§ 660.75 through 660.79, apply to vessels using bottom contact gear, defined at § 660.11, within the limited entry non-trawl sector. EFHCAs closed to bottom contact gear are listed at § 660.12(a).
Groundfish exclusion areas (GEAs). GEAs are closed areas defined by specific latitude and longitude coordinates (specified at § 660.70) where recreational and/or commercial fishing for groundfish is prohibited unless otherwise noted at § 660.70(t). It is unlawful to fish for, take and retain, possess (except for the purpose of continuous transit) or land groundfish within the GEAs unless otherwise specified at § 660.70(t). All prohibited fishing gear for targeting groundfish, as specified at § 660.70(t), must be stowed while transiting through a GEA. If fishing for non-groundfish species within a GEA, where all groundfish fishing is prohibited, then no groundfish may be on board the vessel.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Amendments
[75 FR 60897, Oct. 1, 2010, as amended at 76 FR 27549, May 11, 2011; 76 FR 53838, Aug. 30, 2011; 78 FR 634, Jan. 3, 2013; 80 FR 12593, Mar. 10, 2015; 80 FR 71981, Nov. 18, 2015; 82 FR 9662, Feb. 7, 2017; 82 FR 60569, Dec. 21, 2017; 83 FR 64006, Dec. 12, 2018; 84 FR 49962, Sept. 24, 2019; 84 FR 63991, Nov. 19, 2019; 85 FR 79921, Dec. 11, 2020; 86 FR 14381, Mar. 16, 2021; 87 FR 77027, Dec. 16, 2022; 88 FR 83849, Dec. 1, 2023; 89 FR 101522, 101535, Dec. 16, 2024; 90 FR 15414, Apr. 11, 2025; 90 FR 57719, Dec. 12, 2025; 91 FR 37348, June 23, 2026; 91 FR 46008, July 22, 2026; 91 FR 50728, Aug. 6, 2026]
Source
Source: 75 FR 60897, Oct. 1, 2010, unless otherwise noted.
Authority
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.
Source
Source: 61 FR 34572, July 2, 1996, unless otherwise noted.
Amendments
[75 FR 60897, Oct. 1, 2010, as amended at 76 FR 27549, May 11, 2011; 76 FR 53838, Aug. 30, 2011; 78 FR 634, Jan. 3, 2013; 80 FR 12593, Mar. 10, 2015; 80 FR 71981, Nov. 18, 2015; 82 FR 9662, Feb. 7, 2017; 82 FR 60569, Dec. 21, 2017; 83 FR 64006, Dec. 12, 2018; 84 FR 49962, Sept. 24, 2019; 84 FR 63991, Nov. 19, 2019; 85 FR 79921, Dec. 11, 2020; 86 FR 14381, Mar. 16, 2021; 87 FR 77027, Dec. 16, 2022; 88 FR 83849, Dec. 1, 2023; 89 FR 101522, 101535, Dec. 16, 2024; 90 FR 15414, Apr. 11, 2025; 90 FR 57719, Dec. 12, 2025; 91 FR 37348, June 23, 2026; 91 FR 46008, July 22, 2026; 91 FR 50728, Aug. 6, 2026]