IB 00-3: American Fisheries Act Sideboard Closures During 2000

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) provides advance notice of anticipated directed fishing prohibitions by unrestricted AFA catcher/processors for the species in the specified areas set out below, effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 20, 2000, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2000, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.

AFA UNRESTRICTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR SIDEBOARD DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES:

NMFS also provides advance notice of anticipated directed fishing prohibitions by non-exempt AFA catcher vessels for the species in the specified areas set out below. These closures are effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 20, 2000, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2000, except for pollock in Statistical area 610 and in the Shelikof Strait Conservation Zone which closes 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 21, 2000, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.

AFA CATCHER VESSEL SIDEBOARD DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES

¹Closures take effect 12 noon A.l.t., January 21, 2000.

These actions will be necessary to prevent exceeding the 2000 sideboard amounts of groundfish, established under an Emergency Interim Rule to implement the American Fisheries Act that will be published in the Federal Register.

After the effective date of the rulemaking authorizing these closures, the maximum retainable bycatch amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip. Other closures would remain in full force and effect.

This information bulletin provides notice that a regulatory change is anticipated.