INFORMATION BULLETIN (02-64)         August 14, 2002     
 Sustainable Fisheries Division       1:15 p.m.              
 907-586-7228                           

                                
                                
             NMFS ANNOUNCES PUBLIC SCOPING MEETINGS ON
                 GULF OF ALASKA RATIONALIZATION

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces public
scoping meetings to be held throughout Alaska and Seattle to
gather information on an upcoming Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement (SEIS) on Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish
rationalization, according to James W. Balsiger,
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.

These public meetings will provide an opportunity for anyone
interested in GOA rationalization for input on the scope,
alternatives, and issues that should be considered by NMFS and
the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Meetings are scheduled for Sand Point on August 17, King Cove
on August 18, Kodiak on August 23, Cordova on September 16,
Homer on September 24, Petersburg on September 26, and
Seattle, WA on October 1.  Full details on meeting times and
locations are available through the Sustainable Fisheries
Division or the NMFS website at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov.

There are no regulatory measures or changes associated with
this informational bulletin.