INFORMATION BULLETIN (00-56)         June 30, 2000         
 Sustainable Fisheries Division       2:15 p.m.                 
 907-586-7228



  NMFS PROHIBITS DIRECTED FISHING FOR POLLOCK BY "OPEN ACCESS"
 VESSELS CATCHING POLLOCK IN THE STELLER SEA LION CONSERVATION
  AREA OF THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS MANAGEMENT AREA


The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting
directed fishing for pollock in the Steller sea lion conservation
area (SCA) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI) by "open access" vessels (i.e. those vessels not fishing
in cooperatives, which are catching pollock for processing by the
inshore component).  This prohibition is effective 12 noon,
Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 3, 2000, until 12 noon, A.l.t.,
August 20, 2000, according to James Balsiger, Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS. 
 
This action is necessary because the C season inside SCA
allocation of pollock total allowable catch specified for the non
co-op vessels within the SCA will be reached and is issued
pursuant to 50 CFR 679.22(a)(11)(iv)(A) and (C)(3).

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.