Catch Limit Management in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

Final rule that amends current regulations to provide authority:

1. to prohibit domestic -directed fishing for species for which the remaining total allowable catch (TAC) is necessary as bycatch in fisheries for other groundfish species during the remainder of the year
2. to require domestic fishermen to treat groundfish species for which the TAC has been reached in the same manner as " prohibited species
3. to limit' domestic fishing -for groundfish by any method that will prevent overfishing of that species for which the TAC has been reached

In addition, the final rule clarifies the definition of "fishing year." The intended effect of this action is to promote the full utilization of all groundfish species-without causing biological harm to any one-species and without inhibiting the development of domestic fisheries and is intended as a conservation and management measure to make optimum use of groundfish stocks.