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

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NMFS proposes regulations that would implement Amendment 25 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (BSAI). This amendment proposes to eliminate the primary Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit that, when reached, requires NMFS to close Bycatch Limitation Zones 1 and 2H of the Bering Sea. NMFS also proposes regulations that would authorize the release of vessel-specific observer data on bycatch of prohibited species, and prohibit the discard of salmon taken as bycatch in the BSAI groundfish trawl fisheries until each salmon has been counted by a NMFS-certified observer. This action is necessary for effective management of the halibut PSC limit established for BSAI trawl fisheries and to provide better information on salmon and other prohibited species bycatch. This action is intended to promote management and conservation of groundfish and other fish resources and to further the goals and objectives contained in the FMP for the Groundfish Fishery of the BSAI and the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA).