NOAA Fisheries is exchanging flathead sole and yellowfin sole Community Development Quota (CDQ) for rock sole CDQ Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Reserves the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region. This action is necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2016 total allowable catch (TAC) of rock sole by Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.
This action decreases the TAC and CDQ reserves and increases the CDQ ABC reserves for flathead sole and yellowfin sole by 15 metric tons (mt) and 35 mt, respectively, and increases the TAC and CDQ reserve and decreases the CDQ ABC reserve for rock sole by 50 mt.
The changes to Tables 11 and 13 of the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications for groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (81 FR 14773, March 18, 2016) including previous flatfish exchanges can found at: Tables 11 and 13.
Fishermen are reminded that all actions and closures remain in full force and effect. This reallocation does not rescind or modify closures to directed fishing or actions prohibiting retention of a groundfish species.
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.
