Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Scallop Fishery Off Alaska; Change in Season Dates

Resumo

NMFS changes the dates of the fishing season for Registration Area D (Yakutat), Registration Area E (Prince William Sound), and Registration Area H exclusive of the Kamishak District in the scallop fishery in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Alaska. The new fishing season will begin on July 1 and end on February 15 of the following year. The intended effect of this action, which makes the Federal fishing season parallel to that of the State of Alaska scallop fishery, is to improve vessel safety and product quality, and to maintain consistency between Federal and State of Alaska fishing season regulations. This action is necessary to promote the conservation and management objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska (FMP).