The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting retention of Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, October 9, 2019, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
This action is necessary because the 2019 total allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will be reached and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(d)(2).
NMFS is requiring that Pacific cod caught by vessels using trawl gear and not participating in the cooperative fishery in the Rockfish Program in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and be discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This closure does not apply to fishing by vessels participating in the cooperative fishery of the Rockfish Program for the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
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.
