NMFS comes out with new rules by prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by non-American Fisheries Act (AFA) crab vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). The new rules effected from February 4 at 12 noon, Alaska local time.
James W. Basiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, informed that the action is taken to prevent the excessive fishing of Pacific cod in a season. He said that the rules were imposed to check the exceeding of the A season allowance of the 2008 Pacific cod sideboard limits apportioned to non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
He also said that the rule is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 680.22(e)(3). He further informed that after the effective date of this restriction, the maximum retainable amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip. This regulatory change only provides basic information and the full detail of the regulation has been updated in the Cod of Federal Regulations.
