NMFS Reduces Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rate Assumed for Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Fishery

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has reduced the assumed Pacific halibut discard mortality rate for the 1995 hook-and-line Pacific cod fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) from 12.5 percent to 11.5 percent, in line with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) intent to assess discard mortality rates observed in the fishery during the first half of 1995.