Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Chinook Salmon Savings Area

Resumo

NMFS is implementing Amendment 21b to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP). This amendment prohibits the use of trawl gear in specified areas of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) until April 15 of a fishing year if and when 48,000 chinook salmon are taken as bycatch by trawl vessels in the BSAI during the period from January 1 until April 15 of that fishing year. This action is necessary to limit chinook salmon bycatch in the trawl fisheries and is intended to promote the objectives of the FMP.