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National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Regional Office

Amendment 80 to the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Fishery Management Plan (FMP)

Amendment 80

Dutch Harbor, Alaska
Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Photo: NOAA Fisheries

Amendment 80 was adopted by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) in June 2006. The final rule implementing Amendment 80 published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2007. This action allocates several Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) non-pollock trawl groundfish species among trawl fishery sectors, and facilitate the formation of harvesting cooperatives in the non-American Fisheries Act (non-AFA) trawl catcher/processor sector.

The Council adopted Amendment 80 to meet the broad goals of: (1) improving retention and utilization of fishery resources by the non-AFA trawl catcher/processor fleet by extending the groundfish retention standard (GRS) to non-AFA trawl catcher/processor vessels of all lengths; (2) allocating fishery resources among BSAI trawl harvesters in consideration of historic and present harvest patterns and future harvest needs; (3) authorizing the allocation of groundfish species to harvesting cooperatives and establishing a limited access privilege program (LAPP) for the non-AFA trawl catcher/processors to reduce potential GRS compliance costs, encourage fishing practices with lower discard rates, and improve the opportunity for increasing the value of harvested species; and (4) limiting the ability of non-AFA trawl catcher/processors to expand their harvesting capacity into other fisheries not managed under a LAPP.

The groundfish species in the BSAI directly affected by Amendment 80 include Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, Flathead sole, Pacific cod, Rock sole, and Yellowfin sole. In addition, Amendment 80 modified the management of halibut and crab prohibited species catch (PSC) limits.

Fishery Information


Allocations - Groundfish and Prohibited Species Catch (PSC)

        • Allocations 2008-present: For Amendment 80 BSAI allocations refer to the table for Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole; also refer to the BSAI table for Atka mackerel, and the PSC limits. There are tables for Amendment 80 sideboard limits in the GOA.

Applications and Forms



Program Information


Groundfish Retention Standard

  • Final RIR/EA/IRFA to Remove the Groundfish Retention Standard for the Non-AFA Trawl Catcher/Processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, December 2012
  • 77 FR 62482, October 15, 2012. Proposed rule to modify the groundfish retention standard program in the BSAI management area by removing certain regulatory requirements mandating minimum levels of groundfish retention and adding requirements for annual reports on groundfish retention performance. Comment period through November 14, 2012.
    • Draft EA/RIR/IRFA to Remove the Groundfish Retention Standard for the Non-AFA Trawl Catcher/Processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, September 2012

Amendment 97 - Trawl Catcher/Processor Vessel Replacement (AFA and Amendment 80 vessels)



Amendment 93 - Harvesting Cooperatives Criteria

  • 76 FR 68354, November 4, 2011. Final regulations to implement Amendment 93 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI. Effective on December 5, 2011, except for the provisions at CFR 679.91(h)(3)(ii) and (iii), effective November 4, 2011.

Checklist - Small Entity Compliance Guide


Cooperative Reports

  • Alaska Groundfish Cooperative: 2011
  • Alaska Seafood Cooperative (formerly Best Use Cooperative): 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008

Permits Issued and Related Information


Sideboard Management


Final Rules

  • 76 FR 31881, June 2, 2011. Emergency rule extension exempting trawl catcher/processor vessels that are not specified in regulation as American Fisheries Act vessels, and Amendment 80 cooperatives from the groundfish retention standard program in the BSAI management area. Effective from June 13, 2011, through December 17, 2011
  • 75 FR 78172, December 15, 2010. Emergency rule to exempt trawl catcher/ processor vessels, that are not specified in regulation as American Fisheries Act vessels, and Amendment 80 cooperatives from the groundfish retention standard in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. Effective December 15, 2010 through June 13, 2011. Comments must be received by January 14, 2010.
  • 73 FR 27768, May 14, 2008. Correction to 72 FR 52668 (September 14, 2007). Effective January 1, 2008.

Fishery Management Plan (FMP) Amendment


Contact Information


Glenn Merrill
PH: (907) 586-7228
Email: Glenn.Merrill@noaa.gov


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