INFORMATION BULLETIN (03-01)                                                            January 10, 2003  
Sustainable Fisheries Division                                                           3:30 p.m.             
907-586-7228                           

                                
                                
         NMFS ANNOUNCES ATKA MACKEREL FISHERY DATES FOR
       HARVEST LIMIT AREA FISHERIES IN AREAS 542 AND 543

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is announcing Atka mackerel fishery dates for the
harvest limit area (HLA) fisheries in areas 542 and 543 according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS.

The first directed fisheries in the HLA in area 542 and area 543 are open effective 1200 hrs, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.),  January 24, 2003.  The first HLA fishery in area 542 will remain open until 1200
hrs, A.l.t., January 29, 2003.  The first HLA fishery in area 543 will remain open until 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
January 28, 2003.

The second directed fisheries in the HLA in area 542 and area 543 open effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
January 31, 2003. The second HLA fishery in area 542 will remain open until 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
February 5, 2003. The second HLA fishery in area 543 will remain open until 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
February 4, 2003.

This action is necessary to conduct directed fishing in the HLA in areas 542 and 543 and to prevent
exceeding interim allowances and limits of Atka mackerel and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR
679.20(d)(1)(iii) and 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(C) and (E).         

This information bulletin only provides notice of a regulatory change.  For the purposes of complying
with the regulatory  change, you are advised to see the actual text in the Code of Federal Regulations.