The National Marine Fisheries service (NMFS) is rescinding an action reallocating Pacific cod among gear types in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) that was effective October 3, 2003. NMFS is also establishing an action befitting current catching effort activity by reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using trawl and jig gear to catcher/processor vessels using hook-and-line gear and vessels using pot gear in the BSAI, according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
On October 3, 2003 NMFS reallocated the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using trawl, jig, and pot gear to vessels using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI, reducing the amount available to pot gear by 500 metric tons (mt). NMFS has determined that vessels using pot gear will be able to harvest the total amount originally apportioned to them by the final 2003 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI, and the amount available to pot gear pursuant to CFR 679.20(a)(7)(i)(C)(2). NMFS also reallocated 200 mt to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI. Effort by catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear has not materialized, nor is it expected to by the end of the fishing year. Therefore, NMFS is rescinding the previous action and reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod TAC as follows.
The following table summarizes the reallocation in metric tons:
| CURRENT SHARE | THESE ACTIONS | REVISED SHARE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific cod | |||
| Hook and Line gear | |||
| Catcher Processor | 77,911 | +20,045 | 97,956 |
| Pot gear | 17,822 | + 1,055 | 18,877 |
| Jig gear | 3,893 | - 3,600 | 293 |
| Trawl gear | |||
| Catcher Processor | 45,105 | -11,500 | 33,605 |
| Catcher Vessel | 45,105 | - 6,000 | 39,105 |
This action is necessary to allow the 2003 TAC of Pacific cod to be harvested and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.20(a)(7)(ii). This action does not imply any change in the status of the fisheries.
This information bulletin only provides notice of a regulatory change. For the purposes of complying with the regulatory change, you are advised to see the actual text of the regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations.
