The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting retention of sculpins in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, December 1, 2015, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
This action is necessary because the 2015 total allowable catch of sculpins in the BSAI has been reached and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(d)(2).
NMFS is requiring that sculpins caught in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury.
This information bulletin only provides notice of a fishery management action. For the purposes of complying with any requirements of this action, you are advised to see the actual text of the action in the Federal Register.