IB 01-97: NMFS Announces Approval of Amendment 67 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the BSAI Area

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces that the Secretary of Commerce approved Amendment 67 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (BSAI) on November 14, 2001, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.

Amendment 67 is intended to stabilize the fully utilized hook- and-line and pot gear Pacific cod fisheries in the BSAI by granting exclusive access to longtime participants. This would be accomplished through the issuance of a Pacific cod endorsement to the participant's License Limitation Program (LLP) license.

The Council recommended Amendment 67 in response to intensified use of the Pacific cod resources. Eligibility for a Pacific cod endorsement would be based on past participation in the BSAI hook-and-line or pot gear fisheries. Four different endorsements would be available depending on the non-trawl gear used to harvest Pacific cod (hook-and-line or pot), and whether the Pacific cod was processed on board the harvesting vessel (catcher vessel or catcher/processor vessel). Amendment 67 exempts catcher vessels less than 60 feet length overall from the requirement to have a Pacific cod endorsement to participate in the hook-and-line or pot gear Pacific cod fisheries in the BSAI.

NMFS published a proposed rule to implement Amendment 67 on October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49908). The public comment period on the proposed rule ends November 15, 2001. After review of public comments, NMFS will develop a final rule to implement Amendment 67. Anticipated publication time for the final rule is early 2002. NMFS plans to have the requirements of Amendment 67 in place by the 2003 fishing season.