Chiniak Gully Research Area in the Gulf of Alaska

NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule to close the Chiniak Gully Research Area on the east side of Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska to all commercial trawl fishing and testing of trawl gear from August 1 to a date no later than September 20 from 2006 through 2010. NOAA Fisheries plans to conduct controlled experiments on the effects of commercial fishing on pollock distribution and abundance, as part of a comprehensive investigation of Steller sea lion and commercial fishery interactions.