The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is rescinding the trawl closure in the Chiniak Gully Research Area. This opening is effective at 12 noon, Alaska local time, September 1, 2001, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
This action is necessary to allow vessels using trawl gear to participate in directed fishing for groundfish in the Chiniak Gully Research Area after the completion of NMFS research on August 31, 2001 and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.22(b)(6)(ii)(B). The 20 nm Pacific cod and pollock fishing closure in the Chiniak Gully area around Cape Chiniak and Long Island haulouts will be reduced to 10 nm closures from October 1 through December 31. Other closures remain in full force and effect.
The Chiniak Gully Research Area is defined as that part of statistical Area 630 bounded by straight lines connecting the coordinates in the order listed:
57.81 degrees N lat., 152.37 degrees W long.;
57.81 degrees N lat., 151.85 degrees W long.;
57.22 degrees N lat., 150.64 degrees W long.;
56.98 degrees N lat., 151.27 degrees W long.;
57.62 degrees N lat., 152.16 degrees W long.; and hence
counterclockwise along the shoreline of Kodiak Island to
57.81 degrees N lat., 152.37 degrees W long.
This information bulletin only provides notice of a regulatory change. For the purposes of complying with the regulatory change, you are advised to see the actual text of the regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations.
IB 01-78: NMFS Opens the Chiniak Gully Research Area for Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the GOA
August 23, 2001 - 12:00 p.m.
Notice of a fishery management action.
