IB 03-67: NMFS Opens The B Season Atka Mackerel Fishery With Gears Other Than Jig In The Eastern Aleutian District Of The Bering Sea And Aleutian Islands

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issues an inseason adjustment opening the B season for Atka mackerel fishery with gears other than jig in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, for 12 hours effective 12 midnight, Alaska local time (A.l.t), September 1, 2003, until 12 noon, A.l.t September 2, 2003, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.

This inseason adjustment is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2003 total allowable catch of Atka mackerel in these areas. It also is necessary to allow the harvest limit area fisheries in statistical areas 542 and 543, which are by regulation scheduled to open 48 hours after the closure of the Eastern Aleutian District fishery, to begin at 12:00 noon. This action is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.25(a).

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 of the regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations.