The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is reallocating the projected unused amount (7,000 metric tons) of Pacific cod from catcher vessels greater than 60 feet length overall (LOA) using pot gear and catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear, Amendment 80 catcher processors (C/Ps), American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl C/Ps, and C/Ps using pot gear, in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
The following table summarizes the Pacific cod reallocation in metric tons:
| Pacific Cod | Current Share | This Action | Revised Share |
| Catcher Vessels >= 60 Feet using Pot Gear | 18,641 | -1,000 | 17,641 |
| Catcher Vessels using Trawl Gear | 49,224 | -6,000 | 43,224 |
| AFA Trawl Catcher Processors | 5,123 | +500 | 5,623 |
| Amendment 80 Trawl Catcher Processors | 29,846 | +1,000 | 30,846 |
| Catcher Vessel less than 60 feet using Hook-and-line or Pot Gear | 7,880 | +4,500 | 12,380 |
| Catcher Processors using Pot Gear | 3,329 | +1,000 | 4,329 |
This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A) and 50 CFR 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(B). This action does not imply any change in the status of the fisheries.
This information bulletin only provides notice of a fishery management action. For the purposes of complying with the requirements of this action, you are advised to see the actual text of the action in the Federal Register.
