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Final Rule
Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan
Allocation of Pacific Sardine

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA - NMFS has published final regulations (68 FR 52523, September 4, 2003) implementing a regulatory amendment to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that changes the way Pacific sardine is allocated along the Pacific coast. The amendment was submitted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council for review and approval by the Secretary of Commerce. The purpose of the rule is to establish a more effective and efficient allocation process for Pacific sardine and increase the possibility of achieving optimum yield (OY).

The rule (1) changes the definition of Subarea A and Subarea B by moving the geographic boundary between the two areas from Pt. Piedras Blancas at 35 40' 00" N. lat. to Pt. Arena at 39 00' 00" N. lat., (2) changes the date when Pacific sardine that remain unharvested is reallocated to Subarea A and Subarea B from October 1 to September 1, (3) changes the percentage of the unharvested sardine that is reallocated to Subarea A and Subarea B from 50 percent to both subareas to 20 percent to Subarea A and 80 percent to Subarea B, and (4) reallocates all unharvested sardine that remain on December 1 coast wide. This procedure will be in effect for 2003, 2004, and 2005, if the 2005 harvest guideline is at least 90 percent of the 2003 harvest guideline.

In accordance with the above procedure, NMFS filed a notice with the Federal Register on September 5, 2003, reallocating the unharvested portion of the Pacific sardine harvest guideline as required by the FMP. Landings to September 1 in Subarea A north of Pt. Arena were estimated to be 23,400 mt. Landings to September 1 in Subarea B south of Pt. Arena were estimated to be 28,000 mt. From the best information available, a total of 59,508 mt of the 110,908 mt harvest guideline is anticipated will remain unharvested on September 1. Therefore, according to the requirements of the FMP, as amended, 80 percent of 59,508 mt (47,606 mt) has been allocated to Subarea B and 20 percent of 59,508 mt (11,902 mt) has been allocated to Subarea A. Pacific sardine that remains unharvested in Subarea A or Subarea B on December 1, 2003, will be available to harvesters in either area until the harvest guideline is reached.

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