Changes to Affect 2006 and 2007 Groundfish Harvest

November 7, 2006

Release from:
NOAA

NOAA Fisheries has announced the final 2006 and 2007 harvest specifications for the "other species'' complex in the Gulf of Alaska, including a reduced total allowable catch (TAC) of 4,500 metric tons (mt) annually. This rule also revises the 2006 and 2007 "other species'' harvest sideboard limitations for non-exempt American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher vessels and non-AFA crab vessels. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's recommendation in December 2005 was based on the Gulf of Alaska plan team's 4,000 mt estimate of the annual incidental catch of "other species'' in the targeted groundfish and Pacific halibut fisheries, the Council Advisory Panel's recommendation, and public testimony. A 4,500 mt TAC for the "other species'' complex allows for incidental catch needs and a small directed fishery for "other species'' of approximately 500 mt in each year. An estimated 782 small catcher vessels and 18 small catcher processors in the Gulf of Alaska may be affected by these harvest specifications.

The new measures take effect at noon, Alaska local time, on November 30, 2006.

For more information, contact Tom.Pearson@noaa.gov.