Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Revision of Definitions of Overfishing, Maximum Sustainable Yield, and Optimum Yield for the Crab and Scallop Fisheries

NMFS announces the approval of Amendment 7 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Commercial King and Tanner Crab Fisheries in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI crab FMP) and Amendment 6 to the FMP for the Scallop Fishery Off Alaska (scallop FMP). These amendments revise definitions of overfishing, maximum sustainable yield (MSY), and optimum yield (OY) for the crab and scallop fisheries. These actions are necessary to ensure that conservation and management measures continue to be based on the best scientific information available and are intended to advance the Council's ability to achieve, on a continuing basis, the OY from fisheries under its geographical area of authority.