Fisheries Management - Information Bulletins
Information Bulletin 02-39
Sustainable Fisheries Division
907-586-7228
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June 6, 2002
2:30 p.m.
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NMFS Closes the Pacific Cod Fishery for Catcher Vessels Less Than 60 Feet Length Overall Using Pot Gear in the BSAI
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet length overall (LOA) using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), effective 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 11, 2002, through 12 midnight, A.l.t., September 1, 2002, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS. Pursuant to 50 CFR 679.21(e)(8), directed fishing for Pacific cod by hook- and-line catcher vessels closes on June 10 due to 0 amounts of halibut bycatch allowance apportioned to hook-and-line gear as of this date.
This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2002 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in this area and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(d)(1)(iii). Pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(a)(7)(i)(C)(5)(i), Pacific cod catch by catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear presently accrues to the allocation for catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear specified at 50 CFR 679.20(a)(7)(i)(C)(1)(ii) and will re-open when the third season halibut mortality allowance becomes available on August 15.
After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable bycatch 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.
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