IB 08-48: NMFS Prohibits Directed Fishing for Northern Rockfish, Pacific Ocean Perch, and Pelagic Shelf Rockfish for Catcher Vessels Subject to Sideboard Limits in the Central GOA Rockfish Program in the Western Regulatory Area and West Yakutat District o

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch and pelagic shelf rockfish in the West Yakutat District and for northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and pelagic shelf rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area for catcher vessels subject to sideboard limits established under the Central GOA Rockfish Program of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, July 1, 2008, according to Robert D. Mecum, Acting Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.

This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2008 sideboard limits of northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and pelagic shelf rockfish established for catcher vessels subject to sideboard limits established under the Central GOA Rockfish Program in the Western Regulatory Area and West Yakutat District of the GOA and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.82(d)(7)(ii).

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.