The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces that a revised Table 2 of 50 CFR Part 679 will be posted on December 31, 2003, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS. Table 2 lists species codes. The revisions to this table will be codified soon in regulations. Participants are encouraged to use these codes prior to codification to ensure consistency of codes in the database for 2004.
Table 2 is reformatted into 4 subtables. Table 2a is entitled, "a. FMP Groundfish Species," and contains the groundfish species that are managed under a Fishery Management Plan (FMP groundfish).
Species codes in Table 2a must be recorded and reported in NMFS logbooks and forms.
- Species code 702, is added to Table 2a to describe Big Skate. See: Identification of Big Skates and Longnose Skates
- Species code 700 in Table 2a is revised to say "Skate, other (if longnose or big skate, use specific species code)."
- Species code 689 in Table 2a is revised to say "Sharks, other (if salmon, spiny dogfish or Pacific sleeper shark, use specific species code)."
- Species code 120 "miscellaneous flatfish" is added to Table 2a.
- The Latin names for all individual rockfish species are added to Table 2a.
Table 2b is entitled, "b. Prohibited Species," and contains the prohibited species that are identified as prohibited under a Fishery Management Plan. Species codes in Table 2b must be recorded and reported in NMFS logbooks and forms.
- Species code 932 in Table 2b is revised to say "Opilio (snow) tanner crab."
- Species code 923 in Table 2b is revised to say "Golden king (brown) crab."
Table 2c is entitled, "c. FMP Forage fish," and contains forage fish species that are managed under a Fishery Management Plan. Species codes in Table 2c must be recorded and reported in NMFS logbooks and forms.
Table 2d is entitled, "d. Non-FMP Species Codes," and contains species codes agreed upon by ADF&G and NMFS Alaska Region for use on ADF&G fish tickets as well as NMFS logbooks and forms. The non-FMP species include species that are frequently caught in association with FMP species. These species codes may be recorded in NMFS logbooks and forms but are not required by regulations at 50 CFR part 679.
- Species code 112, is added to Table 2d for the species, Pacific hake.
- Species code 961 in Table 2d is revised to say "Northern (pink) shrimp."
Group species codes are removed: 144, slope rockfish; 168, demersal shelf rockfish; 169, pelagic shelf rockfish; and 171, shortraker/rougheye rockfish. See: Guide to Rockfishes of the Northeast Pacific Ocean (Large 2.7 MB file).
