INFORMATION BULLETIN (04-26)                                               March 10, 2004    
 Sustainable Fisheries Division                                             2:30 p.m.             
 907-586-7228                         


              NMFS CLOSES THE PACIFIC COD FISHERY
     FOR CATCHER/PROCESSOR VESSELS USING HOOK-AND-LINE GEAR
             IN THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by
catcher/processor vessels using hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI), effective 12 noon, Alaska local time,  March 13, 2004, according to
James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.

This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2004 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated
to catcher/processor vessels using hook-and-line gear in this area and is issued pursuant to 50
CFR 679.20(d)(1)(iii).

After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and
(f) apply at any time during a trip.

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.