Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Salmon Donation Program

NMFS issues a final rule to implement Amendment 26 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area and Amendment 29 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. This rule authorizes a voluntary Salmon Donation Program (SDP) for distribution of Pacific salmon taken as bycatch in the groundfish trawl fisheries off Alaska to economically disadvantaged individuals by tax-exempt organizations through a NMFS-authorized distributor. This action is necessary to support industry initiatives to reduce waste from discard in the groundfish fisheries by processing salmon bycatch for human consumption. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the FMPs that govern the commercial groundfish fisheries off Alaska.