Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Vessel Moratorium Program

Riepilogo

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 59 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (BSAI) and Amendment 57 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), and Amendment 9 to the FMP for the Commercial King and Tanner Crab Fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area. These amendments, submitted by the Council, would extend the Vessel Moratorium Program for a vessel with a Moratorium Qualification for which a Vessel Moratorium Permit was issued on or before December 31, 1998, or for which a Vessel Moratorium Permit was applied for on or before December 31, 1998. The Vessel Moratorium Program is managed under the FMP for the Groundfish Fishery of the BSAI, the FMP for Groundfish of the GOA, and the FMP for the Commercial King and Tanner Crab Fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area. The Vessel Moratorium Program extension, from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 1999, is intended to prevent a hiatus between the ending of the Vessel Moratorium Program and the beginning of the License Limitation Program. Comments are requested from the public.