The Council reviewed an initial review document that would adjust Amendment 113 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. The intent of the proposed action is to adjust Amendment 113 such that the prosecution of the BSAI Pacific cod fishery aligns with the Council’s original objective of providing stability to AI shoreplant operations, AI harvesters, and AI fishing communities dependent on AI Pacific cod harvesting and shoreside processing activity.
At this meeting, the Council released the document for public review, selected Alternative 4 as the preliminary preferred alternative, and added two options to Alternative 4. The new options adjust the BS trawl CV Pacific cod A-season limitation. Option 1 would change the end date for the limitation to from March 21 to March 15, while Option 2 would continue the March 21 end date for the limitation but modify the limitation restriction to only require harvesting of the limitation in the AI.
The final motion is available on the Council’s website under the C-7 October agenda item. Staff contact is Jon McCracken.
