The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher processor vessels using pot gear and catcher vessels 60 feet length overall and longer using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, March 16, 2002, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season apportionment of the 2002 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to these vessels and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(d)(1)(iii).
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 in the Code of Federal Regulations.
IB 02-24: NMFS Closes the Pot Gear Fishery for pacific Cod by Catcher Processor Vessels and Catcher Vessels 60 Feet in Length and Longer in the BSAI
March 13, 2002 - 4:30 p.m.
Notice of a fishery management action.
