Publications

Analysis of the proposed amendment to remove dark rockfish from the Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Fishery Management Plan and from the Bering Sea Aleutian Islands Groundfish Fishery Management Plan.

An analysis prepared for Amendments 13/18 to the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Fishery Management Plans. These amendments established the current framework for a Recordkeeping and Reporting program in the groundfish fisheries.

On September 1, 2008, the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) completed the thirtieth annual longline survey of Alaska sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) resources of the upper continental slope (Figure 1). This survey was designed to continue the time series (1979-94) of the Gulf of Alaska portion of the Japan-U.S. cooperative longline survey that was discontinued after 1994. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has surveyed the Gulf of Alaska annually since 1987, the eastern Aleutian Islands biennially since 1996, and the eastern Bering Sea biennially since 1997. The Gulf of Alaska and eastern Aleutian Islands were sampled in 2008.

The primary goal of this recovery plan is to ensure the recovery of the white abalone population throughout its range, defined as the establishment of self-sustaining populations.

In 2000, NOAA Fisheries designated Cook Inlet belugas as depleted in response to a significant population decline. We also took steps to restrict subsistence harvest of Cook Inlet belugas. In 2008 we developed a Cook Inlet beluga whale conservation plan.

An examination of harbor seal population status and decline.

NAO 216-6, Environmental Review Procedures, requires all proposed agency actions to be reviewed with respect to potential impacts on the human environment. This memorandum summarizes the determination that this Proposed Rule to revise pollock trip limit regulations in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) qualifies to be categorically excluded from further National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.

NAO 216-6, Environmental Review Procedures, requires all proposed agency actions to be reviewed with respect to potential impacts on the human environment.

Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Subsistence Harvest Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (2008)

Alaska Department of Fish and Game report on ribbon seals to NOAA Fisheries.