NMFS Opens Comment on Proposed BSAI Groundfish Management Plan Amendment

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is seeking comment through March 13 on a proposed r ule that would establish a program allocating Pacific cod harvest quota to a limited access group of harvesters and processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI).

The proposed rule would implement Amendment 122 to the fi shery management plan for g roundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. It would establish the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program (PCTC) to a llocate the Pacific cod harvest quota to qualifying groundfish License Limitation Program (LLP) license holders and qualifying processors.

The limited access privilege program would be for harvesting Pacific cod in the BSAI trawl catcher vessel sector.

According to NMFS, the proposed action is necessary to increase the value of t he fishery, minimize bycatch to the extent practicable, provide for the sustained pa rticipation of fishery-dependent communities, ensure the sustainability and v iability of the resource, and promote safety and stability in the harvesting and processing sectors.

N MFS also said this action would promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and M anagement Act and other applicable laws.

Comments can be sent electronically by visiting https://www.regulations.gov and entering NOAA-NMFS-2022-0072 in the search box. Then click the “comment” icon, complete the required fields, and attach your comments.

C omments can also be sent via the U.S. Post Office by mailings comments to Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region NMFS, at P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, A laska 99802-1668.

All comments received become part of the public record and are posted for public viewing on w ww.regulations.gov. NMFS also accepts anonymous comments. Enter “N/A” in the required fields if you want to remain anonymous.