Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

الملخص

NMFS requires the operators of catcher or processor vessels equal to or greater than 60 feet (18.3 m) length overall (LOA) and less than 125 feet (38.1) LOA to have a NMFS-certified observer on board the vessel each day it is used to participate in a directed fishery for groundfish in statistical area 517 during the period that the 1994 directed fishery is open for Pacific cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to collect further information on prohibited species bycatch rates experienced by vessels fishing in this area for purposes of assessing current and future bycatch management measures. It is intended to carry out the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the BSAI (FMP).