Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Prohibited Species Catch Limits for Tanner Crab

Résumé

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 41 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) for Secretarial review. Amendment 41 would adjust the prohibited species catch (PSC) limits for Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) (C. bairdi) in Zones 1 and 2 of the Bering Sea. This action is necessary to protect the C. bairdi stock in the Bering Sea, which has declined to a level that presents a serious conservation problem. The intended effect of the proposed action is to further limit crab bycatch in the Bering Sea groundfish fisheries. DATES: Comments on the FMP amendment must be received by January 31, 1997.