Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Amendment 22 to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan
Key claim: Amendment 22 to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan proposes updated essential fish habitat provisions based on a recent information review, with no new management measures or regulations required.
Abstract
(Proposed Rule · Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 22 to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for review by the Secretary of Commerce. This notification announces that the proposed Amendment 22 to the CPS FMP is available for public review and comment and is currently being reviewed by NMFS for approval, disapproval, or partial approval. If approved, Amendment 22 would update essential fish habitat (EFH) provisions for stocks managed under the CPS FMP based on a recent review of available information. There are no management measures proposed as part of this action, and no regulations are necessary to implement the proposed updates. The Council has proposed this amendment with the intention to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the CPS FMP, and other applicable laws. NMFS will consider public comments in deciding whether to approve, disapprove, or partially approve Amendment 22.
Why this matters
Essential fish habitat designations shape which federal actions trigger consultation with NMFS, indirectly affecting permitting timelines for coastal development, dredging, and offshore energy along the West Coast. An EFH refresh without new regulatory measures signals a maintenance update rather than a substantive shift in fishing constraints or habitat protections.