OAR 635-004-0585: Temporary rule language in effect until 08/31/2026. Scope, Inclusion, and Modification of Pacific Halibut Fishery Rules

(1) The commercial Pacific halibut fishery in the Pacific Ocean off Oregon is jointly managed by the state of Oregon, the federal government, and the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). The Code of Federal Regulations provides federal requirements for this fishery, including but not limited to the time, place, and manner of taking Pacific halibut. However, additional federal regulations may be promulgated subsequently by publication in the Federal Register, and Page 1 of 3 these supersede, to the extent of any inconsistency, the Code of Federal Regulations. Therefore, the following publications are incorporated into Oregon Administrative Rule by reference: (a) Code of Federal Regulations, Part 300, Subpart E (October 1, 2025 ed.), as amended; (b) Federal Register Vol. 91, No. 57, dated Wednesday, March 25, 2026 (91 FR 14464); and (c) Federal Register Vol. 91, No. 115, dated Tuesday, June 16, 2026 (91 FR 36094); and (d) Federal Register Vol. 91, No. 137, dated Monday, July 20, 2026 (91 FR 45224); and (e) Federal Register Vol. 91, No. 150, dated Thursday, August 6, 2026 (91 FR 50726). (2) Persons must consult the federal regulations in addition to Division 004 to determine all applicable Pacific halibut fishing requirements. The area that federal regulations apply to is hereby extended to the area from shore to three nautical miles from shore, coterminous with the Exclusive Economic Zone. (3) The Commission may adopt additional or modified regulations that are more conservative than federal regulations, in which case Oregon Administrative Rule takes precedence. (4) It is unlawful to take Pacific halibut for commercial purposes except as set by federal regulations and the IPHC and in accordance with a valid permit issued by the IPHC.