NOAA Fisheries is exchanging flathead sole and rock sole Amendment 80 allocations of the total allowable catch (TAC) for yellowfin sole Amendment 80 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 TAC of yellowfin sole by Alaska Seafood cooperative, 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 Amendment 80 allocations of the TAC, and increases the Amendment 80 ABC reserves for flathead sole by 850 metric tons (mt) and rock sole by 1,670 mt. This action also increases the Amendment 80 allocations of the TAC and decreases the Amendment 80 ABC reserves for yellowfin sole by 2,520 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) and inseason adjustments can be 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.
