Amendment 16a to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

Amendment 16a was designed to address management of herring bycatch and other bycatch taken in domestic trawl fisheries. In particular, it defined the “hot spot authority,” intended to give the Regional Director flexibility to close specific small areas inseason when bycatch rates were high. This also allowed for limitation of the pollock TAC to gears other than pelagic trawl gear, and established a prohibited species limit for herring.