IB 23-44: Exchange of Flatfish Reserves for Community Development Quota and Total Allowable Catch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) isexchanging flathead sole Community Development Quota (CDQ) for rock sole CDQ Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area according to Jonathan M. Kurland, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS. This action is necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2023 total allowable catch (TAC) of rock sole by the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.

This action decreases the TAC and CDQ reserves and increases the CDQ ABC reserve for flathead sole sole by 400 metric tons (mt) and increases the TAC and CDQ reserves and decreases the CDQ ABC reserve for rock sole by 400 mt.

Fishermen are reminded that all actions and closures remain in full force and effect. This reallocation does not rescind or modify closures to directed fishing or actions prohibiting retention of a groundfish species.

This information bulletin only provides notice of a fishery management action. For the purposes of complying with any requirements of this action, you are advised to see the actual text of the action in the Federal Register.