Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

概要

NMFS proposes regulations to revise the management of seasonal Pacific halibut bycatch allowances annually specified for nontrawl fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This proposed rule also would provide the authority to determine annually whether to apportion a halibut bycatch allowance to the BSAI jig gear fishery or the BSAI or Gulf of Alaska (GOA) hook-and- line gear fisheries for sablefish, or to exempt these fisheries from halibut bycatch restrictions. In order not to delay the promulgation of timely specifications for the 1995 fishing year that would be consistent with the adoption of the proposed regulations, this notice proposes halibut bycatch allowances for the 1995 GOA hook-and-line gear fisheries and the 1995 BSAI nontrawl fisheries, seasonal apportionments thereof, and the manner in which these seasonal apportionments would be managed, all under these proposed regulations. This action is necessary to manage halibut bycatch allowances consistent with the intent of seasonal apportionments of groundfish total allowable catch (TAC) amounts, prevent preemption of the BSAI jig gear fisheries by the attainment of halibut bycatch allowance