INFORMATION BULLETIN (04-39)                                                     April 7, 2004    
Sustainable Fisheries Division                                                   12:00 p.m.              
907-586-7228                           
                                
                                
        NMFS REALLOCATES PACIFIC COD FROM VESSELS USING
         JIG GEAR TO CATCHER VESSELS LESS THAN 60 FEET 
         LENGTH OVERALL USING POT OR HOOK-AND-LINE GEAR
             IN THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

The National Marine Fisheries service (NMFS) is reallocating 1,545 metric tons (mt) of Pacific
cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall
(LOA) using pot or hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.

The following table summarizes the reallocation in metric tons:
______________________________________________________________________________
                                     CURRENT SHARE    THIS ACTION    REVISED SHARE

Pacific cod                   
Jig gear                               1,595             - 1,545                  50
Catcher vessels <60 ft LOA
using pot or hook-and-line gear        1,416             + 1,545               2,961

This action is necessary to allow the 2004 A season total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be
harvested and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(C)(1).  This action does not imply
any change in the status of the fisheries.

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 of the regulation in
the Code of Federal Regulations.