Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area Fishery Management Plan Historical Amendments 21-30
Summary
These actions are necessary to promote management and conservation of groundfish and other living marine resources. They are intended to further the goals and objectives contained in the fishery management plan that governs these fisheries.
Amendment 21
This amendment addresses the following management problems in both the Bering Strait Aleutian Islands (BSAI) area and the Gulf of Alaska (GOA):
- prohibited species bycatch management,
- procedures for specifying total allowable catch
- gear restrictions
Regulations specific to GOA address management of demersal shelf rockfish. Definitions of overfishing to amend both Fishery Management Plans, while not codified, are referenced. In addition, the reapportionment procedures for BSAI groundfish are clarified.
Federal Register
- Final Rule (56 FR 21619, 05/10/1991)
- Final Rule (56 FR 2700, 01/24/1991)
- Correction (56 FR 2981, 01/25/1991)
- Proposed Rule (56 FR 1612, 01/16/1991)
- Notice of Availability (55 FR 50727, 12/10/1990)
- Correction (55 FR 43063, 10/25/1990)
- Proposed Rule (55 FR 38347, 09/18/1990)
- Notice of Availability (55 FR 33340, 08/15/1990)
Supporting Materials
Amendment 22
This amendment would implement the following measures:
- a new manage subarea in the BSAI would be established
- area closures would be established around walrus haulouts in the BSAI
- Statistical Area 68 in the GOA would be removed
- Regional Director, Alaska Region NOAA Fisheries, would be authorized to issue experimental fishing permits in the GOA and/or BSAI.
In addition, certain amendments to existing implementing regulations are proposed.
Federal Register
Supporting Materials
Amendment 23
This amendment imposed a temporary moratorium on the entry of new vessels into the groundfish fisheries under Federal jurisdiction in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area, the crab fisheries under Federal jurisdiction in the BSAI Area, and the groundfish fisheries under Federal jurisdiction in the Gulf of Alaska. This action curtails increases in fishing capacity and provides industry stability while the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries prepare, review, and, if approved, implement a comprehensive management plan for these fisheries. This action is intended to promote the conservation and management objectives of the Council and the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act).
Federal Register
- Correction (60 FR 47312, 09/12/1995)
- Final Rule (60 FR 40763, 08/10/1995)
- Proposed Rule (57 FR 46133, 10/07/1992)
- Proposed Rule (56 FR 66009, 12/20/1991)
- Notice of Availability (56 FR 64738, 12/12/1991)
Supporting Materials
Amendment 24
This amendment established 1992 Pacific halibut bycatch limits for trawl and non-trawl gear in the BSAI. It also authorized regulatory amendments that would provide for in-season time/area closures to further reduce prohibited species bycatch rates. In addition, existing regulations are amended to revise the management and monitoring of prohibited species bycatch amounts and the vessel incentive program to reduce prohibited species bycatch rates.
Federal Register
- Correction (57 FR 49653, 11/03/1992)
- Final Rule (57 FR 43926, 09/23/1992)
- Proposed Rule (57 FR 22695, 05/29/1992)
- Notice of Availability (57 FR 17879, 04/28/1992)
Supporting Materials
Amendment 25
This amendment authorizes regulations to protect marine mammal populations. This final rule:
- prohibits trawling year-round within 10 nautical miles (nm) of 37 Steller sea lion rookeries in the GOA and BSAI
- expands the prohibited zone to 20 nm for five of these rookeries from January 1 through April 15 each year
- establishes new GOA pollock management districts
- imposes a limit on the amount of an excess pollock seasonal harvest that may be taken in a quarter in each district.
These actions are necessary to minimize potential adverse effects of groundfish fisheries on Steller sea lions.
Federal Register
- Final Rule (57 FR 2684, 01/23/1992)
- Proposed Rule (56 FR 58214, 11/18/1991)
- Notice of Availability (56 FR 56623, 11/06/1991)
Supporting Materials
Amendment 26
The proposed amendment would extend the effective date of regulations implementing time/area closures around Kodiak Island on vessels using trawl gear other than pelagic trawl gear. This action is necessary to protect the habitat of depressed stocks of red king crab and Tanner crab in the Kodiak Island area.
Federal Register
Supporting Materials
Amendment 27
This amendment would establish two trawl test areas in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and one trawl test area in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) area. Pelagic and bottom trawl fishermen could test their trawl fishing gear in these areas when they would otherwise be closed to trawling. Establishment of these test areas would allow vessel operators the opportunity to test their trawl gear before a season opens so that they could begin fishing efficiently at the beginning of a season. Authority to establish test areas is contained in Amendment 27 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA. This amendment was submitted to the Secretary of Commerce by the Council pending the Secretary's review and approval.
Federal Register
Supporting Materials
Amendment 28
Correction to final rule to impose a temporary moratorium on the entry of new vessels into the groundfish fisheries under Federal jurisdiction in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area, the crab fisheries under Federal jurisdiction in the BSAI Area, and the groundfish fisheries under Federal jurisdiction in the Gulf of Alaska. The final rule curtails increases in fishing capacity and provides industry stability while the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries prepare, review, and, if approved, implement a comprehensive management plan for these fisheries.
Federal Register
- Correction (60 FR 47312, 09/12/1995)
- Final Rule (60 FR 40763, 08/10/1995)
- Notice of Availability (60 FR 22542, 05/08/1995)
- Proposed Rule (59 FR 28827, 06/02/1994)
- Proposed Rule (60 FR 25677, 05/12/1995)
- Disapproval (59 FR 43534, 08/24/1994)
- Notice of Availability (59 FR 23284, 05/12/1994)
Supporting Materials
Amendment 29
This amendment authorized a voluntary Salmon Donation Program for distribution of Pacific salmon taken as bycatch in the groundfish trawl fisheries off Alaska. Distribution is to economically disadvantaged individuals by tax-exempt organizations through a NOAA Fisheries-authorized distributor. This action was necessary to support industry initiatives to reduce waste from discard in the groundfish fisheries by processing salmon bycatch for human consumption.
Federal Register
- Final Rule (61 FR 38357, 07/24/1996)
- Proposed Rule (61 FR 24750, 05/16/1996)
- Notice of Availability (61 FR 16456, 04/15/1996)
Amendment 30
This amendment incorporated the provisions of the North Pacific Fisheries Research Plan into the fishery management plan to provide a standard application of the Research Plan and associated observer coverage throughout applicable fisheries.