Amendment 34 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan: Groundfish Exclusion Area for Coral Research and Restoration

NOAA Fisheries is proposing regulations to implement Amendment 34 of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan.

Amendment 34 and its implementing regulations would implement a closure to commercial groundfish bottom contact gear in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). Specifically, NMFS proposes to implement a new groundfish exclusion area (GEA) for the purposes of coral research and restoration within MBNMS at the site of Sur Ridge. If approved, Amendment 34 would modify the GEA section in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan and refer to the GEAs described in Federal regulation.

The purpose of this action is to close the Sur Ridge site within the MBNMS off California to commercial groundfish bottom contact gear in order to protect future deep-sea coral research and restoration projects from the impact of fishing gear.