INFORMATION BULLETIN (01-44)          April 30, 2001       
Sustainable Fisheries Division        4:00 P.M.             
907-586-7228                           

                                
                                
  NMFS PROHIBITS RETENTION OF SHARPCHIN AND NORTHERN ROCKFISH 
                   IN THE BERING SEA SUBAREA
     OF THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS MANAGEMENT AREA
                                
                                
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting
retention of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Bering Sea
subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management
area, effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time, May 4, 2001,
according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS.

This action is necessary because the amount of the 2001 total
allowable catch of sharpchin and northern rockfish in this
area has been achieved and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR
679.20(d)(2).

NMFS is requiring that catches of sharpchin and northern rockfish
in this area be treated in the manner as prohibited species
and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury, in accordance
with 50 CFR 679.21(b).

This information bulletin only provides notice of a regulatory
change. For the purposes of complying with the regulatory
change, you are advised to see the actual text of the
regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations.