INFORMATION BULLETIN (03-101)                                                        December 24, 2003    
 Sustainable Fisheries Division                                                       11:45 a.m.             
 907-586-7228                         


                   APPORTIONMENT OF RESERVE 
              FOR FOUR GROUNDFISH TARGET SPECIES 
             IN THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
 
The 2003 total allowable catch (TAC) specifications for four groundfish target species in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area have been supplemented by amounts of the
reserve according to James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS.  This action is
being taken in accordance with 679.20(b)(3).

The following table summarizes the apportionments in metric tons: 
________________________________________________________________
                                   Current Initial TAC      This Action         Revised ITAC
                                        (ITAC)    
Bering Sea subarea
Greenland turbot                        2,278               +    100            2,378

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Arrowtooth flounder                     10,200              + 3,000             13,200
Yellowfin sole                          71,188              + 3,500             74,688
Alaska plaice                           9,250               +   750             10,000
 
Total BSAI                              1,984,088           +7,350              1,991,438
Available Reserve                       15,912              -7,350              8,562
                                             
Fishermen are reminded that all actions and closures remain in full force and effect.  These
apportionments do not rescind or modify closures to directed fishing or actions prohibiting
retention of a groundfish species.

This information bulletin only provides notice of a regulatory change. For the purposes of
complying with the regulatory change, you are advised to see the actual text of the regulation in
the Code of Federal Regulations.