INFORMATION BULLETIN (02-47)        July 10, 2002       
 Sustainable Fisheries Division      11:30 a.m.                
 907-586-7228                         

                    

           NMFS ANNOUNCES REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR 
                       HARVEST LIMIT AREA
                 ATKA MACKEREL B SEASON FISHERY
                                

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the
registration deadline for the harvest limit area (HLA) Atka
mackerel B season fishery in the Aleutian Islands.  The HLA
includes Steller sea lion critical habitat in statistical areas
542 and 543.  In order to participate in the lottery for HLA
directed fishery assignments, vessels must be registered by
August 1, 2002, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS.

Participants in the A season HLA fishery that maintain their
registration will be entered into the lottery.  Vessel owners
that did not register for the A season HLA may participate in the
B season HLA fishery by contacting the Restricted Access
Management Program at 1-800-304-4846, option 2 for registration
information or visit the NMFS Alaska Region website at
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ and go to Federal fishery permits
(Block F on the Federal fishery permit application).

Please contact the Sustainable Fisheries Division at the number
listed above for more information.