The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, March 22, 2023, according to Jonathan M. Kurland, Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season apportionment of the 2023 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to catcher/processors using pot gear in the BSAI and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(d)(1)(iii). This closure does not apply to fishing by vessels participating in the Community Development Program.
While this closure is effective the maximum retainable amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
