INFORMATION BULLETIN (00-17)         February 10, 2000         
 Sustainable Fisheries Division       3:40 p.m.                 
 907-586-7228



NMFS PROHIBITS DIRECTED FISHING FOR POLLOCK BY CERTAIN VESSELS  
    CATCHING POLLOCK FOR PROCESSING 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 by vessels not participating in
cooperatives that are catching pollock for processing by the
inshore component in the Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA)
of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area.  This
prohibition is effective 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.),
February 11, 2000, until 12 noon, A.l.t., April 1, 2000,
according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS. 
 
This action is necessary because the interim A season inside SCA
allocation of pollock total allowable catch specified for the
vessels not participating in cooperatives within the SCA will be
reached and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.22(a)(11)(iv)(A) and
(D)(1).

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.