AK Southeast Salmon Drift Gillnet Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries

Current Classification on the List of Fisheries

Category	I
Estimated Number of Participants	474
Target Species	Salmon
Applicable Take Reduction Plans	N/A
Observer Coverage	N/A
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured	Dall’s porpoise, AK; Harbor porpoise, northern Southeast Alaska inland waters; Harbor porpoise, southern Southeast Alaska inland waters¹; Harbor seal, Southeast, AK; Humpback whale, Hawai’i; Humpback whale, Mexico-North Pacific; Pacific white-sided dolphin, central North Pacific; Steller sea lion, Eastern U.S.

^ Number of participants estimates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data. The estimated number of participants is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, then the number from the most recent LOF is used. NOAA Fisheries acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflating actual effort.

*Observer coverage levels include the latest information reported in the most current final Stock Assessment Report (SAR).

¹ Indicates the stock or species is driving the classification of the fishery.

Basis for Current Classification

The total annual mortality and serious injury of harbor porpoise (Southern Southeast Alaska inland waters stock) in this fishery is greater than or equal to 50% of the stock’s Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level.

Distribution

This fishery generally operates from June 18 to early October in five main fishing areas off Southeast AK, as well as at Annette Island, in terminal harvest areas (THA) adjacent to hatchery facilities, and for hatchery cost recovery. The majority of salmon are caught by drift gillnets in the five main fishing areas (81% in 2003) and the THAs (13% in 2003), with small contributions from Annette Island (4% in 2003), and for hatchery cost recovery (1.8% in 2003).

Gear Description

This fishery uses drift gillnet gear with soak times of 20 minutes to 3 hours. The gear is set during the day and night, with 6-20 sets set per day.

Management

This fishery is managed by the AK Department of Fish and Game as a limited entry fishery with gear restrictions on the mesh and net size, and area closures.

Historical Information

Original Category (Year added to the LOF)	II (1996)
Original Number of Participants	443
Basis for Original Classification	This fishery was categorized as a Category II because observer and stranding data indicated that mortality and serious injury of harbor porpoise (Southeast AK) was 3 animals/year, or 1.3% of PBR (PBR=231); and serious injury and mortality of humpback whale (Central North Pacific) was 0.13 animals/year, or 4.6% PBR (PBR=2.8). Also, Category III reports from fishermen indicated that mortalities of both species occurred prior to 1994.
Past Names	Southeast Alaska salmon drift gillnet (until 2001)
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list)	N/A

Timeline of Changes

2024	Reclassified from a Category II to a Category I fishery based on mortality and serious injury of harbor porpoise (Southern Southeast Alaska inland waters stock) in this fishery is greater than or equal to 50% of the stock’s PBR level. Revised marine mammal stock names on the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured as follows: Harbor porpoise, southeast Alaska to harbor porpoise, southern Southeast Alaska inland waters and harbor porpoise, northern Southeast Alaska inland waters Humpback whale, Central North Pacific to humpback whale, Hawai’i and humpback whale, Mexico-North Pacific Added a superscript “1” to the southern Southeast Alaska inland waters stocks of harbor porpoise to indicate the stock is driving the Category I classification.
2013	Estimated number of participants updated from 476 to 474.
2009	Estimated number of participants updated from 481 to 476.
2006	Added a superscript “1” to humpback whale (Central North Pacific), indicating that takes of this stock are driving the classification of the fishery.
2001	Renamed this fishery from “Southeast AK salmon drift gillnet” to "AK Southeast salmon drift gillnet.” Estimated number of participants updated from 439 to 481.
1999	Estimated number of participants updated from 452 to 439.
1998	The stock of harbor porpoise on the list of species/stocks killed/injured in this fishery was changed from “AK” to “Southeast AK.” Estimated number of participants updated from 443 to 452.

Last updated by Office of Protected Resources on 02/26/2024

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