The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is reallocating the projected unused amount (5,300 metric tons) of Pacific cod from catcher vessels greater than 60 feet length overall using pot gear, American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher processors (C/Ps), and catcher vessels using trawl gear to C/Ps using hook-and-line gear 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 reallocation in metric tons:
PACIFIC COD | CURRENT SHARE | THIS ACTION | REVISED SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|
Catcher Vessels Greater Than 60 feet Using Pot Gear | 16,641 | -3,000 | 13,641 |
Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear | 39,354 | - 1,500 | 37,854 |
AFA Trawl C/P Vessels | 4,623 | - 800 | 3,823 |
Catcher Processors Using Hook-and-line Gear | 111,071 | + 4,300 | 115,371 |
C/Ps Using Pot Gear | 5,829 | + 1,000 | 6,829 |
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.
