IB 01-20: NMFS Issues Enforcement Policy Pertaining to Amounts of Pollock Roe That Can Be Retained On Board a Vessel

During the current pollock roe fishery being conducted in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will not enforce the current 7 percent pollock roe retention limitation, according to Jeff Passer, Special-Agent-In- Charge, Alaska Enforcement Division, NMFS. Currently, regulations stipulate that the amount of roe must not exceed 7 percent of the total round-weight equivalent of pollock, as calculated from the primary pollock product on board the vessel during the same fishing trip. Actual roe content, however, may at times exceed 7 percent.

Given that vessels already must comply with improved retention/improved utilization regulations when fishing for pollock as recommended by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and approved by NMFS, requiring them to discard pollock roe in excess of 7 percent is inconsistent with goals and objectives of the Council. Therefore, as previously requested by the Council, NMFS intends to propose regulations that would revise the pollock roe retention requirements in a manner that militates against waste in the pollock fishery. This enforcement policy expires April 15, 2001, which is a date that represents when the 2001 pollock roe fishing season will be over.

This information bulletin only provides notice of a policy change that affects regulatory enforcement.