Amendment 77 to the FMP for the Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

NOAA Fisheries issues a final rule to implement Amendment 77 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area. This action apportions the fixed gear portion of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area Pacific cod total allowable catch among the fixed gear sectors. In addition, this action further splits the pot sector share of the TAC between pot catcher/processors and pot catcher vessels and changes how the 2 percent annual BSAI Pacific cod allocation to jig gear is seasonally apportioned and how unused portions are reallocated to other gear types. Amendment 77 and its implementing regulations are necessary to maintain the stability of the fixed gear Pacific cod fishery. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.