Amendment 19 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

NOAA Fisheries issues final regulations to implement Amendment 19 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area and Amendment 24 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. These regulations implement FMP amendments which establish 1992 Pacific halibut bycatch limits for trawl and non-trawl gear in the BSAI and authorize regulatory amendments that would provide for in-season time/area closures to further reduce prohibited species bycatch rates.

In addition, existing regulations are amended to revise the management and monitoring of prohibited species bycatch amounts and the vessel incentive program to reduce prohibited species bycatch rates. These actions are intended to promote management and conservation of groundfish and other fish resources and to further the goals and objectives contained in the FMPs that govern these fisheries.