Amendment 27 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan and 2017-2018 Harvest Specifications and Management Measures, December 2016

"In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), NMFS' proposed actions consist of the following: The adoption of 2017-2018 harvest specifications and new management measures (Section 1.4) and (2) a decision on the proposed Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (Groundfish FMP) Amendment 27 to change a stock classification and implement other management measures (Section 1.5). These two actions are designed to prevent overfishing, to rebuild overfished stocks, to ensure conservation, to facilitate long-term protection of essential fish habitat (EFH), and to realize the full potential of the nation's fishery resources. These actions are needed to respond to new scientific information and information about the needs of fishing communities, to provide additional tools to ensure that annual catch limits (ACLs) and other federal harvest guidelines are not exceeded and to afford additional fishing opportunities where warranted"--Introduction.

Environmental Assessment

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)