Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Skates Management in the Groundfish Fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska

NMFS issues a 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. By listing skates as a target species, management of a directed fishery for skates in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) is improved. The final rule revises the definition of "other species" and revises the listings for skates and "other species" to allow for the management of incidental catch of skates in groundfish fisheries and for groundfish in the skates directed fishery. This action is necessary to reduce the potential for overfishing skates. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act), the FMP, and other applicable laws.