On May 12, NOAA Fisheries published final 2004 specifications for skates, and a separate final rule to implement Amendment 63 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). Amendment 63 moves skates from the "other species'' list to the “target species” list in the FMP. The implementing final rule will facilitate incidental catch management by clarifying the maximum retainable amounts (MRAs) of groundfish in the skate directed fishery and the MRAs for skates in other groundfish directed fisheries. Harvest specifications establishing overfishing levels (OFLs), acceptable biological catch (ABC), and total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for skates will allow management of the directed fishery for skates, reducing the potential for overfishing of skate species.

For more information on the implementation of Amendment 63, contact melanie.brown@noaa.gov, and for further information on the 2004 specifications, contact tom.pearson@noaa.gov.