The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from the A season apportionments for catcher vessels less than 50 ft. length overall (LOA) using hook-and line gear and catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 ft. LOA using hook-and-line gear (1,000 metric tons (mt) and 700 mt, respectively) to vessels using pot gear and vessels using jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
The following table summarizes the reallocation in metric tons:
| Pacific Cod Sector | Current Share | This Action | Revised Share |
| Catcher Vessels <50 feet LOA Using Hook-and-line Gear | |||
| A season apportionment: | 3,411 | - 1,000 | 2,411 |
| Annual apportionment: | 5,347 | - 1,000 | 4,347 |
|
Catcher Vessels > or = to 50 feet LOA Using Hook-and-line Gear |
|||
| A season apportionment: | 2,054 | - 700 | 1,354 |
| Annual apportionment: | 2,456 | - 700 | 1,756 |
| Vessels Using Pot Gear | |||
| A season apportionment: | 6,528 | + 1,500 | 8,028 |
| Annual apportionment: | 10,180 | + 1,500 | 11,680 |
| Vessels Using Jig Gear | |||
| A season apportionment: | 222 | + 200 | 422 |
| Annual apportionment: | 370 | + 200 | 570 |
This action is necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2016 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(a)(12)(ii)(D). 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.
