The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issues an inseason adjustment opening the Chiniak Gully Research Area to directed fishing for groundfish using trawl gear, August 1, 2003, through September 20, 2003, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS. The Chiniak Gully Research Area is closed to trawl fisheries from August 1 through September 20 in 2001 through 2004, as a control for research by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) on the effects of the pollock fishery on pollock abundance and distribution. The AFSC will not conduct testing in this area in 2003, and therefore, the closure is not needed.
This adjustment removes an unnecessary restriction on the trawl fishing industry and facilitates the full harvest of the total allowable catch amounts in the Gulf of Alaska.
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 03-46: NMFS Issues An Inseason Adjustment Opening The Chiniak Gully Research Area To Directed Fishing For Groundfish Using Trawl Gear
June 23, 2003 - 2:15 p.m.
Notice of a fishery management action.
