The National Marine Fisheries service (NMFS) is reallocating 4,000 metric tons (mt) of Pacific cod from vessels using trawl gear and 3,400 mt of Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
The following table summarizes the reallocation in metric tons:
Bering Sea Pacific Cod
| Current Share | These Action | Revised Share | |
| Jig Gear | 3,700 | -3,400 | 300 |
| Hook and Line Gear Catcher Processors | 75,080 | +6,840 | 81,920 |
| Hook and Line Gear Catcher Vessels | 282 | + 200 | 482 |
| Pot Gear | 17,175 | + 360 | 17,535 |
| Trawl Gear Catcher Processors | 43,475 | -3,000 | 40,475 |
| Trawl Gear Catcher Vessels | 43,475 | -1,000 | 42,475 |
This action is necessary to allow the 2002 TAC of Pacific cod to be harvested and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(a)(7)(ii). This action does not imply any change in the status of the fisheries.
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.
