Wards Cove Packing Corp. v. National Marine Fisheries Service

OPINION

WARE, District Judge.

The issue in this case is whether, under federal regulations, a commercial fishing company is qualified to participate in both the sablefish and halibut fishing industries if it fished for only one species during the regulatory base period. Wards Cove Packing Corporation (“Wards Cove”) appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (“NMFS”) decision finding Wards Cove ineligible to harvest sablefish in the regulated area because, during the qualifying base period set forth in the regulations, it harvested…