NOAA Fisheries News Releases
NEWS RELEASE
March 14, 2008
Sheela McLean, Public Affairs
(907) 586-7032
NOAA Fisheries corrects sablefish quota error
The Alaska Region of NOAA Fisheries has corrected an error that gave 170 tons of total allowable sablefish catch to fishermen in one area of the Gulf of Alaska that should have gone to fishermen in another area of the Gulf.
The fishery opened Saturday, March 8.
Five hundred and sixty-two quota holders were affected by the error.
“The fishing industry alerted us to the possible error, and they were right,” said NOAA Fisheries Acting Regional Administrator Doug Mecum. “We re-figured our numbers and made corrections. Certified letters with revised annual permits have gone out to all involved quota holders.”
“We’ve also prepared a new Federal Register Notice which we expect to be published in the Register soon. It will be posted on our website, alaskafisheries.noaa.gov,” he said.
The 2008 sablefish total allowable catch was incorrectly specified as 1,950 metric tons in the West Yakutat district of the Gulf of Alaska, and 3,390 metric tons in the Southeast Outside District.
The new federal register notice gives the correct numbers: the 2008 West Yakutat total allowable catch is 2,120 metric tons, of which 1,853 metric tons is available for individual fishing quota. Individual permits have been adjusted upwards accordingly. The total allowable catch in the Southeast Outside area is 3,220 metric tons, and individual permits in that area have been adjusted downwards accordingly.
Additionally, the 2008 vessel cap for Southeast Alaska has decreased and is now 70,988 pounds in round weight equivalents.
Individuals with questions about their individual fishing quota permits can contact staff at (800) 304-4846 (opt 2) or (907) 586-7202 (opt 2), by fax at (907) 586-7354, or by email at ram.alaska@noaa.gov.
For assistance with landings, fishermen are advised to contact the local NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Office.
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service) is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement, and the conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine species and their habitat. To learn more about NOAA Fisheries in Alaska, please visit our websites at: alaskafisheries.noaa.gov or at: www.afsc.noaa.gov
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 70 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.