Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Modify Groundfish Season Timing in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Fisheries

NMFS proposes two technical revisions to regulations for the opening and closing times of groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) management areas. First, this proposed rule would authorize NMFS to determine the opening and closing times for the sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) and Community Development Quota (CDQ) fishing season, taking into consideration the halibut IFQ/CDQ season set by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). Second, this proposed rule would allow NMFS flexibility to change the time of day for closing a groundfish fishery. This proposed rule is necessary to minimize regulatory discards, reduce uncertainty for fishery participants, and enable fuller utilization and more precise limitation of allowable harvest. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act), the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the BSAI Management Area (BSAI FMP) and the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fisheries of the GOA (GOA FMP), and other applicable laws.