INFORMATION BULLETIN (00-77)         August 24, 2000     
 Sustainable Fisheries Division       4:20 p.m.                 
 907-586-7228                           

                                
                                
         NMFS CLOSES DIRECTED FISHING FOR SPECIES IN THE 
   ROCK SOLE/FLATHEAD SOLE/"OTHER FLATFISH" FISHERY CATEGORY
                 BY VESSELS USING TRAWL GEAR IN 
              THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS 

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting
directed fishing for rock sole, flathead sole, and "other
flatfish" by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) effective 12 noon, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), August 25, until 12 midnight, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2000, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS.

This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2000 halibut
bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rock sole/flathead
sole/"other flatfish" fishery category and is issued pursuant to
50 CFR 679.21(e)(7)(v).

Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the
regulations at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f).

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