IB 99-16: Closing Pollock for the Mothership Component in the Critical Habitat/Catcher Vessel Operation Area

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the mothership component in the critical habitat/catcher vessel operation area (CH/CVOA) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, February 9, 1999, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.

This action is necessary because the A season limit of pollock total allowable catch specified to the mothership component for harvest within the CH/CVOA has been reached and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.22(a)(11)(iv)(A)&(C).

After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable bycatch amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.

This information bulletin provides notice that a regulatory change has occurred. Do not rely upon it to guide you in complying with the regulatory change.