INFORMATION BULLETIN (00-32)          March 7, 2000       
 Sustainable Fisheries Division        3:35 p.m.                
 907-586-7228                           

                                
NMFS PROHIBITS DIRECTED FISHING FOR GROUNDFISH BY VESSELS USING 
            HOOK-AND-LINE GEAR IN THE GULF OF ALASKA
                                
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting
directed fishing for groundfish by vessels using hook-and-line
gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) except for sablefish and
demersal shelf rockfish, effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), March 9, 2000, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., May 18, 2000,
according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS. 

This action is necessary because the first seasonal bycatch
mortality allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to hook-and-
line gear targeting groundfish other than sablefish and demersal
shelf groundfish in the GOA has been caught and is issued
pursuant to 50 CFR 679.21(d)(7)(ii).

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.