The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is exchanging unused flathead sole total allowable catch (TAC) and unused rock sole TAC allocated to the Amendment 80 sector for yellowfin sole Amendment 80 Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) according to Jonathan Kurland, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS. This action is necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2025 TAC of yellowfin sole by the Alaska Seafood Cooperative, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI.
This action decreases the TAC and Amendment 80 allocation and increases the Amendment 80 ABC reserves for flathead sole by 9,000 mt and rock sole by 8,000 mt. This action increases the TAC and Amendment 80 allocations and decreases the Amendment 80 ABC reserves for yellowfin sole by 17,000 mt. This action changes Tables 13 and 15 of the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (90 FR 12640, March 18, 2025).
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.
