Amendment 28 to the FMP: Pacific Coast Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat and Rockfish Conservation Area Modifications

Amendment 28 to the FMP intends to accomplish three goals: (1) revise the EFH components of the FMP; (2) make adjustment to the trawl RCAs; and (3) use the discretionary authorities in the MSA to protect deep-sea benthic habitats, including deep sea corals, from the adverse effects of fishing. In order to achieve these three goals, the PFMC, in coordination with the NMFS has identified multiple purposes and needs of the proposed action.