Amendment 57 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area

NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule to implement Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, Amendment 57 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, and Amendment 9 to the FMP for the Commercial King and Tanner Crab Fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands submitted by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. These amendments extend the Vessel Moratorium Program authorized under the subject FMPs from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 1999. This action is necessary to prevent a 1-year hiatus between the original expiration of the VMP on December 31, 1998, and the start of fishing under the License Limitation Program on January 1, 2000. This action is intended to implement approved amendments to, and further the objectives of, the subject FMPs.