INFORMATION BULLETIN (00-19)         February 17, 2000     
 Sustainable Fisheries Division       8:00 a.m.                 
 907-586-7228                           

                                
                NMFS CLOSES SPECIFIED FISHERIES
     IN THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS MANAGEMENT AREA
                                 
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is closing specified
fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI), effective February 15, 2000, according to Steven
Pennoyer, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.          

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for:

Bogoslof District: Pollock                              
Aleutian Islands subarea: 
  Pollock                   
  Sharpchin/northern rockfish                        
  Shortraker/rougheye rockfish                         
  "Other rockfish"
  Trawling within Steller sea lion critical habitat, Central Aleutian District                                       
Bering Sea subarea:
  Pacific ocean perch                 
  "Other rockfish"                                     
  "Other red rockfish"
  Pollock by vessels not participating in cooperatives that are  
     catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in  
     the SCA
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area:
   Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish by vessels      
     using trawl gear
   Rockfish by vessels using trawl gear
   Rockfish by vessels using trawl gear in Zone 1
Eastern Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea subarea:
   Atka mackerel, other gear

These actions are necessary to prevent exceeding the amounts of
groundfish and halibut bycatch allowances specified for the Final
2000 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish.

After the effective date of this closure, the maximum retainable
bycatch amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.

This information bulletin provides notice of a regulatory change. 
Do not rely upon it to guide you in complying with the regulatory
change.