Amendment 45 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area

NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule to implement Amendment 45 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. This rule combines the third and fourth quarterly allowances for pollock in the three statistical areas of the combined Western and Central Regulatory Area into single seasonal allowances that will become available on September 1 of each fishing year. Changes to the final 1996 harvest specifications of Gulf of Alaska pollock are also made to reflect the revised seasonal allowances. These measures are necessary to address management problems that have been identified by the fishing industry. They are intended to further the management objectives of the FMP.