NMFS Exempts Non-AFA Trawl C/Ps and Amendment 80 Cooperatives from Groundfish Retention Standard in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

Summary

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has exempted non-American Fisheries Act trawl catcher/processor vessels and Amendment 80 cooperatives from the groundfish retention standard in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area due to concerns over the high costs and complexity of implementing and enforcing the standard.