Amendment 15 to the Fishery Management Plan for the King and Tanner Crab Fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

Amendment 15 is a rebuilding plan for the St. Matthew stock of blue king crab (Paralithodes platypus). On October 8, 1999, the stock was deemed overfished because the spawning stock was below the minimum stock size threshold established for this stock. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires a rebuilding plan to be prepared within 1 year from October 8, 1999. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted this rebuilding plan, which has components of harvest strategy, bycatch controls, and habitat protection. The actions in this amendment are expected to allow the St. Matthew crab stock to. rebuild with a 50% probability in 10 years.