National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration March 6, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council submitted Amendment 97 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) to NMFS for review. If approved, Amendment 97 would allow owners of vessels participating in the Amendment 80 Program, known as Amendment 80 vessels, to replace their vessels for any reason at any time. Amendment 97 includes provisions that would limit the length of a replacement vessel, extend Gulf of Alaska groundfish harvest limits known as ``sideboards'' to replacement vessels, require replacement vessels to meet certain safety standards established by the Coast Guard, and prevent replaced vessels from being used in Federal groundfish fisheries off Alaska other than certain Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands groundfish fisheries. This action is necessary to promote safety-at-sea by allowing Amendment 80 vessels owners to replace aging vessels with newer, larger, and safer vessels and by requiring replacement vessels to meet certain Coast Guard vessel safety standards, and is intended to provide Amendment 80 vessel owners with the opportunity to increase their retention and utilization of groundfish catch through the ability to expand their vessel's range of processing capabilities. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.