NMFS Issues Final Rule to Implement Groundfish Fishery Management Plan Amendments

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued a final rule to implement Amendment 31 and Amendment 35 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area and the Gulf of Alaska, respectively, as well as a regulatory amendment affecting the Pacific halibut fishery in and off of Alaska. The rule aims to prevent excessive consolidation of the halibut and sablefish fisheries by implementing the Modified Block Proposal.