The action is aimed at a fleet of nearly 20 factory trawlers known as the Amendment 80 sector.
The measure replaces the fleet's current static bycatch limit with one based on halibut abundance. It took years to develop and comes over the fleet's strenuous objections.
Here are three letters from companies who urged NMFS not to approve the measure:
Now that the government is finalizing the halibut measure, it'll be interesting to see if the Amendment 80 fleet challenges the action in court.
