Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Revised Management Authority for Pelagic Shelf Rockfish

Zusammenfassung

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 46 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) which has been submitted by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) for Secretarial review. Amendment 46 would remove black and blue rockfish from the complex of species managed under the FMP. The State of Alaska (State) would regulate fishing for these species by vessels registered under Alaska law. This action is necessary to allow the State to implement more responsive, regionally- based, management of these species than is currently possible under the FMP. The intended effect of this action is to repeal duplicative Federal regulations, provide for more responsive State management and prevent localized overfishing of black and blue rockfish stocks.