EA/RIR/IRFA for Amendment 93 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska: Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch in the Gulf of Alaska Pollock Fishery
February 02, 2012
Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis of proposed management measures that would apply exclusively to the directed pollock fishery in the Western and Central Gulf of Alaska.
The management measures under consideration include:
- setting prohibited species catch limits in the Central and Western Gulf of Alaska for Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
- full retention of salmon species
- increased observer coverage on vessels under 60 feet length overall
The catch limits would close the directed pollock fishery in those regulatory areas once attained. The purpose of this action is to address prohibited species catch of Chinook salmon in the Gulf of Alaska, and establish measures that protect against the risk of high Chinook salmon removals in the Gulf of Alaska pollock trawl fisheries in future years.