Limited Access Management of Federal Fisheries In and Off of Alaska

Résumé

This proposed rule would implement a moratorium for a temporary period on the entry of new vessels into the groundfish, crab, and halibut fisheries contained in proposed Amendment 23 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI), proposed Amendment 28 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), proposed Amendment 4 to the FMP for the Commercial King and Tanner Crab Fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, and a proposed regulatory amendment affecting the Pacific halibut fishery in the waters in and off of Alaska. The moratorium is designed as a temporary measure that is necessary to curtail increases in fishing capacity and provide industry stability while the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) prepare, review, and, if approved, implement a comprehensive management plan for these fisheries. This action is intended to promote the objectives of the Council to promote conservation and management of groundfish, crab, and halibut resources, and to further the objectives of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act)