The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is opening fishing with non-pelagic trawl gear in the red king crab savings subarea (RKCSS) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) effective 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 1, 1999, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
The RKCSS was previously closed to fishing with non-pelagic trawl gear to prevent exceeding the interim 1999 red king crab bycatch limit specified for the RKCSS. We have determined that as of January 25, 1999, 3,000 red king crab remain in the prohibited species bycatch allowance.
The RKCSS is that part of the Bering Sea subarea defined by straight lines connecting the following coordinates, in the order listed:
Latitude | Longitude |
56 degrees 00' N.; | 162 degrees 00' W. |
56 degrees 00' N.; | 164 degrees 00' W. |
56 degrees 10' N.; | 164 degrees 00' W. |
56 degrees 10' N.; | 162 degrees 00' W. |
56 degrees 00' N.; | 162 degrees 00' W. |
This information bulletin provides notice that a regulatory change has occurred. Do not rely upon it to guide you in complying with the new regulatory change.