Amendment 84 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

NOAA Fisheries amends regulations governing salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to enhance the effectiveness of salmon bycatch measures by exempting pollock vessels from Chinook and Chum Salmon Savings Area closures if they participate in an inter-cooperative agreement to reduce salmon bycatch, and exempting vessels participating in non-pollock trawl fisheries from Chum Salmon Savings Area closures because these fisheries intercept minimal amounts of salmon. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.