INFORMATION BULLETIN (98-81)         August 14, 1998     
 Sustainable Fisheries Division                                 
 907-586-7228                         

                                
       NMFS PROHIBITS DIRECTED FISHING FOR SPECIES IN THE 
   ROCK SOLE/FLATHEAD SOLE/"OTHER FLATFISH" FISHERY CATEGORY
                 BY VESSELS USING TRAWL GEAR IN 
              THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS 

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is prohibiting
directed fishing for species in the rock sole, flathead sole, and
"other flatfish" fishery category by vessels using trawl gear in
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI)
effective 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 16, 1998.

This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1998 Pacific
halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rock
sole/flathead sole/"other flatfish" fishery category and is
issued pursuant to 50 CFR 679.21(e)(7)(v).

Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the
regulations at 50 CFR 679.20(e) and (f).

This information bulletin provides notice that a regulatory
change has occurred.  Do not rely upon it to guide you in
complying with the new regulatory change.MFuruness:\6-12-98:\file
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