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ALASKA REGIONAL OFFICE

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INFORMATION BULLETIN (99-147)
Sustainable Fisheries Division
907-586-7228 		December 23, 1999
10:00 a.m.


NOTICE OF BYCATCH RATE STANDARDS FOR THE FIRST HALF OF 2000 FOR PURPOSES OF THE VESSEL INCENTIVE PROGRAM

Halibut and red king crab bycatch rate standards for the Alaska groundfish trawl fisheries included under the vessel incentive program are established for the first half of 2000, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region.

These standards are specified for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) trawl fisheries during the first half of 2000 as follows: 

Fishery and quarter			                         2000 bycatch rate standard

Halibut bycatch rate standards
(kilograms of halibut/metric ton of groundfish)
					
	BSAI Midwater pollock			
		Qt 1			    			   1.0		
		Qt 2			    			   1.0		
	BSAI Bottom pollock
		Qt 1						   7.5
		Qt 2						   5.0
	BSAI Yellowfin sole
		Qt 1						   5.0
		Qt 2                                                               5.0 
	BSAI Other trawl
		Qt 1						  30.0
		Qt 2						  30.0
	GOA Midwater pollock
		Qt 1						   1.0
		Qt 2						   1.0	
	GOA Other trawl
		Qt 1						  40.0
		Qt 2						  40.0

Zone 1 red king crab bycatch rate standards
(number of crab/metric ton of groundfish)

	BSAI yellowfin sole
		Qt 1						   2.5 
		Qt 2						   2.5	
	BSAI Other trawl
		Qt 1						   2.5
		Qt 2						   2.5
	_______________________________________________________
A vessel's observed bycatch rate for a fishing month that is above the applicable bycatch rate standard constitutes a violation of the regulations implementing the vessel incentive program. The 2000 fishing months are specified as the following periods for purposes of calculating vessel bycatch rates:

Month 1: January 1 through January 29;
Month 2: January 30 through February 26;
Month 3: February 27 through April 1;
Month 4: April 2 through May 6;
Month 5: May 7 through June 3;
Month 6: June 4 through July 1;
Month 7: July 2 through July 29;
Month 8: July 30 through September 2;
Month 9: September 3 through September 30;
Month 10: October 1 through October 28;
Month 11: October 29 through December 2; and
Month 12: December 3 through December 31.

Comments on the bycatch rate standards implemented for the first and second quarters of 2000 will be accepted through January 27, 2000. 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.


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