IB 04-30: NMFS Closes the Pacific Cod Fishery For Catcher Vessels 60 Feet Length Overall and Longer Using Hook and Line Gear In the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels 60 feet length overall and longer using hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, March 18, 2004, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.

This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allocation of the 2004 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to catcher vessels 60 feet length overall and longer using hook- and-line gear in this area and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(d)(1)(iii).

After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable 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.