The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting trawling within Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, February 2, 2001, until the directed fishery for Atka mackerel closes within the entire Central Aleutian District, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
This action is necessary because the A season critical habitat limit of the 2001 total allowable catch of Atka mackerel allocated to the Central Aleutian District has been caught and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.22(a)(12)(iii)(A).
The Steller sea lion haulouts and rookeries affected by this action are defined in Table 21 to 50 CFR part 679 including footnotes describing closures associated with the Atka mackerel fishery.
This information bulletin provides notice that of a regulatory change. Do not rely upon it to guide you in complying with the regulatory change.
IB 01-8: NMFS Prohibiting Trawling in Steller Sea Lion Protection Areas in the Central Aleutian District
February 01, 2001 - 11:40 a.m.
Notice of a fishery management action.
