Section 660.70 - Groundfish conservation areas(a)General. Groundfish conservation area (GCA) is defined in § 660.11 . This section defines GCAs whose shapes are not exclusively defined by boundary lines approximating depth contours found in §§ 660.71 through 660.74 or commonly used geographic coordinates at § 660.11 . Fishing activity that is prohibited or permitted within a particular GCA is detailed at subparts C through G of part 660.(b)North Coast Recreational Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area. The North Coast Recreational Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA) is a C-shaped area off the northern Washington coast intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The North Coast Recreational YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed: (1) 48°18.00' N. lat.; 125°18.00' W. long.;(2) 48°18.00' N. lat.; 124°59.00' W. long.;(3) 48°11.00' N. lat.; 124°59.00' W. long.;(4) 48°11.00' N. lat.; 125°11.00' W. long.;(5) 48°04.00' N. lat.; 125°11.00' W. long.;(6) 48°04.00' N. lat.; 124°59.00' W. long.;(7) 48°00.00' N. lat.; 124°59.00' W. long.;(8) 48°00.00' N. lat.; 125°18.00' W. long.; and connecting back to 48°18.00' N. lat.; 125°18.00' W. long.
(c)North Coast Commercial Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area. The North Coast Commercial Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA) is an area off the northern Washington coast, overlapping the northern part of North Coast Recreational YRCA, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The North Coast Commercial YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed:(1) 48°11.77' N. lat., 125°13.03' W. long.;(2) 48°16.43' N. lat., 125°07.55' W. long.;(3) 48°14.72' N. lat., 125°01.84' W. long.;(4) 48°13.36' N. lat., 125°03.20' W. long.;(5) 48°12.74' N. lat., 125°05.83' W. long.;(6) 48°11.55' N. lat., 125°04.99' W. long.;(7) 48°09.96' N. lat., 125°06.63' W. long.;(8) 48°09.68' N. lat., 125°08.75' W. long.; and connecting back to 48°11.77' N. lat., 125°13.03' W. long.
(d)Salmon Troll Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area. The Salmon Troll Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA) is an area off the northern Washington coast, overlapping the southern part of North Coast Recreational YRCA, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish.The Salmon Troll YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed: (1) 48°00.00' N. lat., 125°14.00' W. long.;(2) 48°02.00' N. lat., 125°14.00' W. long.;(3) 48°02.00' N. lat., 125°16.50' W. long.;(4) 48°00.00' N. lat., 125°16.50' W. long.; and connecting back to 48°00.00' N. lat., 125°14.00' W. long.(e)South Coast Recreational Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area. The South Coast Recreational Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA) is an area off the southern Washington coast intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The South Coast Recreational YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed: (1) 46°58.00' N. lat., 124°48.00' W. long.;(2) 46°55.00' N. lat., 124°48.00' W. long.;(3) 46°55.00' N. lat., 124°49.00' W. long.;(4) 46°58.00' N. lat., 124°49.00' W. long.; and connecting back to 46°58.00' N. lat., 124°48.00' W. long.(f)Westport Offshore Recreational YRCA. The Westport Offshore Recreational YRCA is an area off the southern Washington coast intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Westport Recreational YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed:(1) 46°54.30' N. lat., 124°53.40' W. long.;(2) 46°54.30' N. lat., 124°51.00' W. long.;(3) 46°53.30' N. lat., 124°51.00' W. long.;(4) 46°53.30' N. lat., 124°53.40' W. long.; and connecting back to 46°54.30' N. lat., 124°53.40' W. long.(g)Tillamook YRCA. The Tillamook YRCA is an area off northern Oregon intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Tillamook YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed: (1) 45°40.96' N lat.; 124°27.52' W long.;(2) 45°40.96' N lat.; 124°19.99' W long.;(3) 45°34.44' N lat.; 124°14.48' W long.;(4) 45°31.93' N lat.; 124°14.05' W long.;(5) 45°31.84' N lat.; 124°22.04' W long.;(6) 45°36.95' N lat.; 124°24.45' W long.;(7) 45°38.89' N lat.; 124°25.92' W long.; and connecting back to 45°40.96' N lat.; 124°27.52' W long.(h)Newport YRCA. The Newport YRCA is an area off central Oregon intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Newport YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed:(1) 44°46.00' N lat.; 124°32.57' W long.;(2) 44°46.00' N lat.; 124°32.00' W long.;(3) 44°42.00' N lat.; 124°30.00' W long.;(4) 44°39.00' N lat.; 124°30.00' W long.;(5) 44°39.00' N lat.; 124°34.00' W long.;(6) 44°43.16' N lat.; 124°34.00' W long.;(7) 44°44.54' N lat.; 124°33.58' W long.; and connecting back to 44°46.00' N lat.; 124°32.57' W long.(i)Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area. The Stonewall Bank YRCA is an area off central Oregon, near Stonewall Bank, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Stonewall Bank YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed:(1) 44°37.46' N lat.; 124°24.92' W long.;(2) 44°37.46' N lat.; 124°23.63' W long.;(3) 44°28.71' N lat.; 124°21.80' W long.;(4) 44°28.71' N lat.; 124°24.10' W long.;(5) 44°31.42' N lat.; 124°25.47' W long.; and connecting back to 44°37.46' N lat.; 124°24.92' W long.(j)Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area, Expansion 1. The Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA) Expansion 1 is an area off central Oregon, near Stonewall Bank, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Stonewall Bank YRCA Expansion 1 is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed:(1) 44°41.76' N lat.; 124°30.02' W long.;(2) 44°41.73' N lat.; 124°21.60' W long.;(3) 44°25.25' N lat.; 124°16.94' W long.;(4) 44°25.29' N lat.; 124°30.14' W long.;(5) 44°41.76' N lat.; 124°30.02' W long.; and connecting back to 44°41.76' N lat.; 124°30.02' W long.(k)Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area, Expansion 2. The Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA) Expansion 2 is an area off central Oregon, near Stonewall Bank, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Stonewall Bank YRCA Expansion 2 is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed:(1) 44°38.54' N lat.; 124°27.41' W long.;(2) 44°38.54' N lat.; 124°23.86' W long.;(3) 44°27.13' N lat.; 124°21.50' W long.;(4) 44°27.13' N lat.; 124°26.89' W long.;(5) 44°31.30' N lat.; 124°28.35' W long.; and connecting back to 44°38.54' N lat.; 124°27.41' W long.(l)Florence YRCA. The Florence YRCA is an area off central Oregon intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Florence YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in order listed:(1) 44°30.04' N lat.; 124°42.31' W long.;(2) 44°30.19' N lat.; 124°40.46' W long.;(3) 44°25.00' N lat.; 124°37.00' W long.;(4) 44°25.00' N lat.; 124°45.00' W long.;(5) 44°26.71' N lat.; 124°45.00' W long.; and connecting back to 44°30.04' N lat.; 124°42.31' W long.(m)Heceta Bank YRCA. The Heceta Bank YRCA is an area off central Oregon intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Heceta Bank YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in order listed: (1) 44°16.28' N lat., 124°47.86' W long.;(2) 44°15.38' N lat., 124°49.86' W long.;(3) 44°14.49' N lat., 124°51.82' W long.;(4) 44°14.01' N lat., 124°52.88' W long.;(5) 44°13.47' N lat., 124°54.08' W long.;(6) 44°12.72' N lat., 124°54.07' W long.;(7) 44°11.53' N lat., 124°54.06' W long.;(8) 44°08.72' N lat., 124°54.02' W long.;(9) 44°06.68' N lat., 124°54.00' W long.;(10) 44°05.34' N lat., 124°53.10' W long.;(11) 44°02.88' N lat., 124°53.96' W long.;(12) 44°02.18' N lat., 124°54.29' W long.;(13) 44°00.14' N lat., 124°55.25' W long.;(14) 43°58.36' N lat., 124°55.42' W long.;(15) 43°57.68' N lat., 124°55.48' W long.;(16) 43°56.66' N lat., 124°55.45' W long.;(17) 43°56.65' N lat., 124°55.49' W long.;(18) 43°56.64' N lat., 124°56.53' W long.;(19) 43°56.74' N lat., 124°56.74' W long.;(20) 43°59.18' N lat., 124°56.94' W long.;(21) 44°00.45' N lat., 124°56.35' W long.;(22) 44°02.34' N lat., 124°55.49' W long.;(23) 44°04.81' N lat., 124°55.65' W long.;(24) 44°06.45' N lat., 124°55.78' W long.;(25) 44°08.47' N lat., 124°55.93' W long.;(26) 44°09.85' N lat., 124°56.04' W long.;(27) 44°11.34' N lat., 124°56.16' W long.;(28) 44°12.92' N lat., 124°56.28' W long.;(29) 44°14.06' N lat., 124°55.10' W long.;(30) 44°15.32' N lat., 124°53.79' W long.;(31) 44°16.90' N lat., 124°52.16' W long.;(32) 44°16.96' N lat., 124°52.11' W long.;(33) 44°16.96' N lat., 124°51.95' W long.;(34) 44°17.02' N lat., 124°48.02' W long.;(35) 44°17.02' N lat., 124°47.47' W long.; and connecting back to 44°16.28' N lat., 124°47.86' W long.(n)Point St. George YRCA. The Point St. George YRCA is an area off the northern California coast, northwest of Point St. George, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Point St. George YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed:(1) 41°51.00' N lat., 124°23.75' W long.;(2) 41°51.00' N lat., 124°20.75' W long.;(3) 41°48.00' N lat., 124°20.75' W long.;(4) 41°48.00' N lat., 124°23.75' W long.; and connecting back to 41°51.00' N lat., 124°23.75' W long.(o)South Reef YRCA. The South Reef YRCA is an area off the northern California coast, southwest of Crescent City, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The South Reef YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed: (1) 41°42.20' N lat., 124°16.00' W long.;(2) 41°42.20' N lat., 124°13.80' W long.;(3) 41°40.50' N lat., 124°13.80' W long.;(4) 41°40.50' N lat., 124°16.00' W long.; and connecting back to 41°42.20' N lat., 124°16.00' W long.(p)Reading Rock YRCA. The Reading Rock YRCA is an area off the northern California coast, between Crescent City and Eureka, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Reading Rock YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed:(1) 41°21.50' N lat., 124°12.00' W long.;(2) 41°21.50' N lat., 124°10.00' W long.;(3) 41°20.00' N lat., 124°10.00' W long.;(4) 41°20.00' N lat., 124°12.00' W long.; and connecting back to 41°21.50' N lat., 124°12.00' W long.(q)Point Delgada YRCAs. The Point Delgada YRCAs are two areas off the northern California coast, south of Point Delgada and Shelter Cove, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Northern Point Delgada YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed:(1) 39°59.00' N lat., 124°05.00' W long.;(2) 39°59.00' N lat., 124°03.00' W long.;(3) 39°57.00' N lat., 124°03.00' W long.;(4) 39°57.00' N lat., 124°05.00' W long.; and connecting back to 39°59.00' N lat., 124°05.00' W long.(r)Southern Point Delgada YRCA. The Southern Point Delgada YRCA is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed:(1) 39°57.00' N lat., 124°05.00' W long.;(2) 39°57.00' N lat., 124°02.00' W long.;(3) 39°54.00' N lat., 124°02.00' W long.;(4) 39°54.00' N lat., 124°05.00' W long.; and connecting back to 39°57.00' N lat., 124°05.00' W long.(s)Cowcod Conservation Areas. The Cowcod Conservation Areas (CCAs) are two areas off the southern California coast intended to protect cowcod.(1)Western CCA. The Western CCA is an area south of Point Conception defined by the straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed and connecting back to 33°50.00' N lat., 119°30.00' W long.:(i) 33°50.00' N lat., 119°30.00' W long.;(ii) 33°50.00' N lat., 118°50.00' W long.;(iii) 32°20.00' N lat., 118°50.00' W long.;(iv) 32°20.00' N lat., 119°37.00' W long.;(v) 33°00.00' N lat., 119°37.00' W long.;(vi) 33°00.00' N lat., 119°53.00' W long.;(vii) 33°33.00' N lat., 119°53.00' W long.; and(viii) 33°33.00' N lat., 119°30.00' W long.(2)Transit corridor. The Western CCA transit corridor is bounded on the north by the latitude line at 33°00.50' N lat., and bounded on the south by the latitude line at 32°59.50' N lat.(3)Eastern CCA. The Eastern CCA is an area west of San Diego defined by the straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed and connecting back to 32°42.00' N lat., 118°02.00' W long.:(i) 32°42.00' N lat., 118°02.00' W long.;(ii) 32°42.00' N lat., 117°50.00' W long.;(iii) 32°36.70' N lat., 117°50.00' W long.;(iv) 32°30.00' N lat., 117°53.50' W long.; and(v) 32°30.00' N lat., 118°02.00' W long.(t)Groundfish Exclusion Areas. The Groundfish Exclusion Areas (GEAs) are eight areas south of Point Conception intended to protect sensitive areas, including areas with coral and sea pens. (1)Hidden Reef. The Hidden Reef GEA is defined by the straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed and connecting back to 33°46.14' N lat., 119°10.45' W long.: (i) 33°46.14' N lat., 119°10.45' W long.;(ii) 33°46.14' N lat., 119°05.96' W long.;(iii) 33°41.40' N lat., 119°05.96' W long.; and(iv) 33°41.40' N lat., 119°10.45' W long.(2)West of Santa Barbara Island. The West of Santa Barbara Island GEA is defined by the straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed and connecting back to 33°33.64' N lat., 119°18.54' W long.:(i) 33°33.64' N lat., 119°18.54' W long.;(ii) 33°33.64' N lat., 119°07.57' W long.;(iii) 33°27.90' N lat., 119°07.57' W long; and(iv) 33°27.90' N lat., 119°18.54' W long.(3)Potato Bank. The Potato Bank GEA is defined by the straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed and connecting back to 33°21.00' N lat., 119°53.00' W long.:(i) 33°21.00' N lat., 119°53.00' W long.;(ii) 33°21.00' N lat., 119°45.67' W long.;(iii) 33°11.00' N lat., 119°45.67' W long.; and(iv) 33°11.00' N lat., 119°53.00' W long.(4)107/118 Bank. The 107/118 Bank GEA is defined by the straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed and connecting back to 33°05.51' N lat., 119°41.29' W long.: (i) 33°05.51' N lat., 119°41.29' W long.;(ii) 33°08.64' N lat., 119°36.71' W long.;(iii) 33°03.50' N lat., 119°31.69' W long.; and(iv) 33°00.36' N lat., 119°36.27' W long.(5)Cherry Bank. The Cherry Bank GEA is defined by the straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed and connecting back to 32°50.86' N lat., 119°29.40' W long.: (i) 32°50.86' N lat., 119°29.40' W long.;(ii) 32°56.96' N lat., 119°19.82' W long.;(iii) 32°54.69' N lat., 119°17.78' W long.; and(iv) 32°48.59' N lat., 119°27.35' W long.(6)Seamount 109. The Seamount 109 GEA is defined by the straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed and connecting back to 32°43.75' N lat., 119°37.00' W long.: (i) 32°43.75' N lat., 119°37.00' W long.;(ii) 32°43.75' N lat., 119°34.29' W long.;(iii) 32°31.95' N lat., 119°26.94' W long.;(iv) 32°30.47' N lat., 119°29.71' W long.; and(v) 32°39.54' N lat., 119°37.00' W long.(7)43-Fathom Spot. The 43-Fathom Spot GEA is defined by the straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed and connecting back to 32°42.00' N lat., 118°00.05' W long.:(i) 32°42.00' N lat., 118°00.05' W long.;(ii) 32°42.00' N lat., 117°50.00' W long.;(iii) 32°36.70' N lat., 117°50.00' W long.;(iv) 32°36.18' N lat., 117°50.27' W long.; and(v) 32°36.18' N lat., 118°00.05' W long.(8)Northeast Bank. The Northeast Bank GEA is defined by the straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed and connecting back to 32°27.39' N lat., 119°37.00' W long.: (i) 32°27.39' N lat., 119°37.00' W long.;(ii) 32°27.39' N lat., 119°31.60' W long.;(iii) 32°20.00' N lat., 119°31.60' W long.; and(iv) 32°20.00' N lat., 119°37.00' W long.(u)Farallon Islands. The Farallon Islands, off San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, include Southeast Farallon Island, Middle Farallon Island, North Farallon Island and Noon Day Rock. Generally, the State of California prohibits fishing for groundfish between the shoreline and the 10-fm (18-m) depth contour around the Farallon Islands.(v)Cordell Bank. Cordell Bank is located offshore of California's Marin County. Generally, fishing for groundfish is prohibited within Cordell Bank as defined by specific latitude and longitude coordinates. The Cordell Bank closed area is defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed:(1) 38°03.18' N lat., 123°20.77' W long.;(2) 38°06.29' N lat., 123°25.03' W long.;(3) 38°06.34' N lat., 123°29.32' W long.;(4) 38°04.57' N lat., 123°31.30' W long.;(5) 38°02.32' N lat., 123°31.07' W long.;(6) 38°00.00' N lat., 123°28.40' W long.;(7) 37°58.10' N lat., 123°26.66' W long.;(8) 37°55.07' N lat., 123°26.81' W long.;(9) 38°00.00' N lat., 123°23.08' W long.; and connecting back to 38°03.18' N lat., 123°20.77' W long.71 FR 78663, Dec. 29, 2006, as amended at 72 FR 53167, Sept. 18, 2007; 74 FR 9893, Mar. 6, 2009. Redesignated at 75 FR 60995, Oct. 1, 2010; 76 FR 53835, Aug. 30, 2011; 82 FR 9640, Feb. 7, 2017; 84 FR 63973, Nov. 19, 2019; 88 FR 83842, Dec. 1, 2023 82 FR 9640, 2/7/2017; 84 FR 63973, 11/19/2019; 88 FR 83842, 1/1/2024