Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Allocating Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crab Fishery Resources

NMFS issues a final rule implementing Amendment 20 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner crabs (FMP). This action amends the Crab Rationalization Program (hereinafter referred to as the Program) to modify the allocation of harvesting shares and processing shares for Bering Sea Tanner crab Chionoecetes bairdi (Tanner crab) to allow this species to be managed as two separate stocks. This action is necessary to increase resource conservation and economic efficiency in the crab fisheries that are subject to the Program. 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 law.