IB 26-29: NMFS Reapportions Halibut PSC Limits from the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program to Trawl Catcher Vessels for the Pacific Cod Fishery in the BSAI

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is reapportioning the unused amounts of Pacific cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit to the Pacific cod trawl limited access catcher vessel sector C season in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), according to Jonathan M. Kurland, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.

The following table summarizes the reapportionment of the halibut PSC limit in metric tons for the Pacific cod fishery:

This action is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.131(c)(3), which allows for unused PCTC Program halibut PSC limits to be reapportioned to the trawl limited access catcher vessel sector C season, and is necessary to account for the trawl catcher vessel sector's C season halibut PSC. Fishermen are reminded that all actions and closures remain in full force and effect. This reapportionment does not rescind or modify closures to directed fishing or actions prohibiting retention of a groundfish species.

This information bulletin only provides notice of a fishery management action. For the purposes of complying with the requirements of this action, you are advised to see the actual text of the action in the Federal Register.