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These data delineate Commercial Trawl Groundfish Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCA) off the West Coast of the United States for 2015. These areas are closed to commercial fishing for groundfish with trawl gear. Closures may vary seasonally. Boundaries are lines that connect a series of coordinates that approximate particular depth contours. North/south boundaries are designated by specific lines of latitude. Keep in mind that RCAs are fairly dynamic and may change as often as 5 times per year. See http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/management/groundfish_closures/rockfish_areas.html for the latest information. This data set is a companion data set to: "West Coast Commercial and Recreational Fishing Closures, 2015," West Coast Commercial Groundfish Non-Trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCA), 2015," "West Coast Commercial Non-Groundfish Trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCA), 2015," and "West Coast Drift Gillnet Protected Resource Closure Areas, 2015." |