NMFS prohibits directed fishing for Pacific cod by non-American Fisheries Act crab vesselscatching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by non-American Fisheries Act (AFA) crab vessels that are subject to sideboard limits catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), effective 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 3, 2008, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2008, according to Robert D. Mecum, Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.
This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2008 Pacific cod sideboard limit established for non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA and is issued pursuant to 50 CFR 680.22(e)(3).
After the effective date of this closure the maximum retainable amounts at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a trip.
