Alaska Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Rockfish Trawl Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries

Category

III

Estimated Number of Participants

17

Target Species

Pacific ocean perch (rockfish)

sablefish

Applicable Take Reduction Plans

N/A

Observer Coverage

Of the 18 trawl vessels operating in 2012, 16 are trawl catcher/processors that have 2 observers, and 2 are trawl catcher vessels with no observer delivering to a catcher/processor acting as a mothership with 2 observers.

Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured

Harbor seal, Aleutian Islands;

Ribbon seal, AK

Original Category (Year added to the LOF)

III (2004)

Original Number of Participants

9

Basis for Original Classification

Data indicating serious injury or mortality in this fishery did not exceed 1% of the PBR of any marine mammal stock.

Past Names

For the purposes of the List of Fisheries, this fishery was included in the larger “Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands groundfish trawl” fishery prior to 2004.

Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list)

Killer whale, ENP AK resident;

Killer whale, GOA, AI, BS, transient

• Reclassified fishery to a Category III fishery based on killer whale mortality or serious injuries have been observed or reported from 2014 through 2018.
• Removed killer whale (ENP AK resident) and killer whale (GOA, AI, BS, transient).

• Added harbor seal (Aleutian Islands).

• Added ribbon seal (AK).

2018

• Added sablefish as a target species.

2015

• Estimated number of participants updated from 10 to 17.

2013

• Elevated to Category II based on observed mortality of killer whale (GOA, AI, BS transient) that occurred between 2007 and 2010. The mean annual mortality of killer whales (GOA, AI, BS transient) across all fisheries is 1.25 or 22.7% of PBR (5.5).  The mean annual mortality caused by this fishery is 0.25 or 4.5% of PBR. This fishery is classified as Category II because the mean annual mortality caused by this fishery falls between 1% and 50% of PBR.

2009

• Estimated number of participants updated from 9 to 10.

2004

• In 2004 four large groups of federally managed fisheries in Alaskan waters were separated into 25 fisheries based on geographic location, target species and gear type.  This fishery was included in the larger group of “Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands groundfish trawl” fishery prior to 2004, and in 2004 was broken out as the “Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands rockfish trawl” fishery.  It was placed in Category III at that time as no specific information on marine mammal takes were attributed to that fishery.