INFORMATION BULLETIN (02-17)         February 20, 2002     
 Sustainable Fisheries Division       3:00 p.m.             
907-586-7228                           

                                
                                
      NMFS CLOSES DIRECTED FISHING FOR ROCK SOLE/FLATHEAD
       SOLE/"OTHER FLATFISH" BY VESSELS USING TRAWL GEAR
                  IN BYCATCH LIMITATION ZONE 1
             OF THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is closing
directed fishing for rock sole/flathead sole/"other flatfish"
by vessels using trawl gear in Bycatch Limitation Zone 1 of
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI)
effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, February 22, 2002,
according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS.

This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2002 bycatch
allowance of red king crab specified for the trawl rock
sole/flathead sole/"other flatfish" fishery category in Zone 1
and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.21(e)(7)(ii).  

Zone 1 means that part of the Bering Sea Subarea that is south
of 58 degrees N. latitude and east of 165 degrees W.
longitude.

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

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.