INFORMATION BULLETIN (04-99)                                                November 26, 2004 
Sustainable Fisheries Division                                              10:00 a.m.                
            907-586-7228                           
                                
                                
       NMFS REALLOCATES PACIFIC COD FROM CATCHER VESSELS
         USING POT GEAR TO VESSELS USING TRAWL GEAR AND 
       CATCHER PROCESSOR VESSELS USING HOOK-AND-LINE GEAR
             IN THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is reallocating 3,960 metric tons (mt) of Pacific
cod from catcher vessels using pot gear to vessels using trawl gear and catcher processor vessels
using 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    THESE ACTIONS    REVISED SHARE

Pacific cod
Hook and Line gear 
     Catcher Processor                      94,995           + 2,800           97,795
Pot gear                                                            
     Catcher Vessel                         15,695           - 3,960           11,735
Trawl gear
     Catcher Processor                      41,144             + 287           41,431
     Catcher Vessel                         39,844             + 873           40,717

This action is necessary to allow the 2004 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested and
is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(a)(7)(ii).  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.