The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, and is opening fishing with trawl gear in Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Central Aleutian District for species open to directed fishing.
These actions are effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, September 18, 2001, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the Atka mackerel total allowable catch specified for the Central Aleutian District and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(d)(1)(iii) and 50 CFR 679.22(a)(12)(iii)(C).
After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable bycatch amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
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 01-86: NMFS Closes the Atka Mackerel Fishery in the Central Aleutian District and Opens Critical Habitat to Fishing with Trawl Gear for Species Open to Directed Fishing
September 17, 2001 - 3:45 p.m.
Notice of a fishery management action.
