INFORMATION BULLETIN (04-68)                                           August 18, 2004
 Sustainable Fisheries Division                                         12:00 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.), September 3, 2004, and will remain open until 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
September 11, 2004.  

The second directed fisheries in the HLA in area 542 and area 543 open effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
September 13, 2004, and will remain open until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 21, 2004.

This action is necessary to conduct directed fishing in the HLA in areas 542 and 543 and to
prevent exceeding allowances and limits of Atka mackerel and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR
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.