Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Seasonal Apportionments of Pollock

NMFS issues a final rule to change the seasonal apportionment of the pollock total allowable catch amount (TAC) in the combined Western and Central (W/C) Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) by moving 10 percent of the TAC from the third fishing season, which starts on September 1, to the second fishing season, which starts on June 1. This seasonal TAC shift is a precautionary measure intended to reduce the potential impacts on Steller sea lions of pollock fishing under an increased 1998 TAC by reducing the percentage of the pollock TAC that is available to the commercial fishery during the fall and winter months, a period that is critical to Steller sea lions. This action is intended to promote the conservation and management objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP).