The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is opening directed fishing for pollock by the American Fisheries Act (AFA) inshore sector, AFA mothership sector, and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) program in the Summer Herring Savings Area 2 of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area at 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 1, 2020 through August 15, 2020, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
This action is necessary to prevent the underharvest of the 2020 pollock total allowable catch and facilitate pollock harvest by the AFA inshore sector, AFA mothership sector, and CDQ program in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.25(a)(1)(i), (a)(2)(i)(C), (a)(2)(iii)(D), and (b)(1), (6), (7), (8). Other closures remain in full force and effect.
The Summer Herring Savings Area 2 is that part of the Bering Sea subarea that is south of 56°30” North latitude and between 164° W longitude and 167° W longitude from 1200 hours, A.l.t., July 1 through 1200 hours A.l.t., August 15, 2020.
NMFS will continue to monitor herring PSC and will consider additional inseason action to close the Summer Herring Savings Area 2 if herring PSC increases in this area relative to herring PSC outside of the Summer Herring Savings Area 2.
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.
