Information Bulletins from September and October 1999

IB 99-131: NMFS Prohibits Retention of Other Rockfish in the Aleutian Islands October 12, 1999 - 4:15 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries is prohibiting retention of other rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time, October 14, 1999, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. This action is necessary because the amount of the 1999 total allowable catch of other rockfish in this area has been achieved and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(d)(2). NOAA Fisheries is requiring that catches of other rockfish in this area be treated in the manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury.

IB 99-132: NMFS Prohibits Retention of Sharpchin and Northern Rockfish in the Aleutian Islands October 12, 1999 - 4:15 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries is prohibiting retention of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time, October 14, 1999, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. This action is necessary because the amount of the final 1999 initial total allowable catch of sharpchin and northern rockfish in this area has been achieved and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(d)(2). NOAA Fisheries is requiring that catches of sharpchin and northern rockfish in this area be treated in the manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury.

IB 99-133: NMFS Opens Pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA for 36 Hours October 13, 1999 - 1:20 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries issues an inseason adjustment opening the D fishing season for pollock in Statistical Area 620 (between 154 and 159 degrees W. longitudes) of the Gulf of Alaska for 36 hours effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 14, 1999, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., October 15, 1999, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. This adjustment is necessary to manage the D seasonal allowance of the pollock total allowable catch in this area. After the effective date of this closure, maximum retainable bycatch amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.

IB 99-134: NMFS Closes Trawl Yellowfin Sole in the BSAI October 14, 1999 - 2:20 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries is closing directed fishing for yellowfin sole by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, October 15, 1999, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1999 halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the trawl yellowfin sole fishery category in this area and is issued pursuant to § 679.21(e)(7)(v). 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.

IB 99-135: NMFS Closes Trawl Pacific Cod in the BSAI October 14, 1999 - 3:00 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) effective 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 18, 1999, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1999 halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the trawl Pacific cod fishery category and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.21(e)(7)(v). Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f).

IB 99-136: NMFS Closes Hook-and-Line and Pot Pacific Cod in the BSAI October 14, 1999 - 3:00 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries is closing directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using hook-and-line and pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, October 19, 1999, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1999 total allowable catch of Pacific cod allocated to vessels using hook-and-line and pot gear in this area and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(d)(1)(iii). 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.

IB 99-137: NMFS Closes Trawl Gear in the GOA October 14, 1999 - 4:10 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries is closing directed fishing by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. This closure does not apply to fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear in those portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for pollock. This closure is effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 16, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999. This action is necessary because the 1999 Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limit for trawl gear in the GOA has been caught and is issued pursuant to ? 679.21(d)(7)(i). 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.

IB 99-138: NMFS Reallocates Pollock in the BSAI October 15, 1999 - 3:15 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries is reallocating the projected unused amount (2,000 metric tons (mt)) of Bering Sea subarea (BS) pollock from the incidental catch account to the directed fisheries according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. The following table summarizes the reallocation in metric tons:

Bering Sea C season (B/C season for motherships) pollock fishery

IB 99-139: NMFS Opens Inshore Pollock in the BSAI October 20, 1999 - 3:50 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries is opening directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, October 24, 1999, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator,NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region. This action is necessary to fully utilize the 1999 pollock total allowable catch specified to the inshore component in the Bering Sea subarea. Vessel operators are reminded that directed fishing for pollock in the critical habitat/catcher vessel operation area in the BSAI is prohibited for vessels greater than 99 feet LOA who are catching pollock for processing by the inshore component. See information bulletins 99-125 and 99-122. All other closures remain in full force and effect.

IB 99-140: NMFS Prohibits Directed Fishing for Pollock by the Inshore Component in the BSAI October 25, 1999 - 3:00 p.m.

NOAA Fisheries is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, effective 6:00 p.m., Alaska local time, October 26, 1999, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region.
This action is necessary because the 1999 pollock total allowable catch specified to the inshore component in the Bering Sea subarea has been reached and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(d)(1)(iii). 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.