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Bycatch and Prohibited Species Catch in Groundfish and Shellfish Fisheries in Alaska

Fish species that are not targeted and are discarded are considered bycatch or incidental catch. Certain species taken incidentally in Alaska's groundfish fisheries are called Prohibited Species Catch (PSC).

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Alaska salmon troller Bay of Pillars in Chatham Strait. Alaska salmon troller Bay of Pillars in Chatham Strait. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Oceanic whitetip shark swimming in deep ocean waters. Oceanic whitetip shark. Hawaiʻi longline fishermen use leaders to connect weighed branch lines and baited hooks. A new rule prohibits steel wire leaders in the Hawaiʻi deep-set longline fishery, starting May 31, 2022. The rule aims to increase the survival of hooked oceanic whitetip sharks caught as bycatch in the Pacific Islands region. Credit: Andy Mann