Publications

In Section 802 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004, the U.S. Congress included a directive to the Secretary of Commerce to establish, in consultation with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (the Council), a pilot program for management of three rockfish fisheries in the Central Gulf of Alaska (the Central Gulf rockfish fisheries). At the February 2004 Council meeting, National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) presented a brief discussion paper requesting Council input in the development of the pilot program. Based on this request and public testimony, the Council requested industry stakeholders to prepare and submit proposed alternatives for establishing the program to the Council at its April 2004 meeting. Industry representatives presented a proposal at that meeting that defined an alternative for management of the fisheries under the pilot program. Using the industry proposal and public input and staff discussion papers, the Council developed alternatives for the pilot program management of the rockfish fisheries at its June 2004, October 2004, December 2004, and February 2005 meetings. The Council conducted an initial review of the analysis of alternatives at its April 2005 meeting, directing staff to release the document, after making suggested revisions, for final review at its June 2005 meeting.

This Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review examines a suite of measures to change Steller Sea Lion protection measures in the Gulf of Alaska.

This Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) evaluates the costs and benefits of a proposed regulatory amendment to relax a harvest restriction for participants in the harvest limit area (HLA) Atka mackerel fishery in the Aleutian Islands. The proposed action would allow participants in the HLA fishery to harvest Atka mackerel outside of the HLA during the first assigned HLA fishery. Regulations currently prohibit harvest of any groundfish other than Atka mackerel, and then only within the HLA, during the first HLA fishery. This action would relieve a restriction on participants in the HLA Atka mackerel fishery and potentially provide additional protection for Steller sea lions by allowing for less harvest from within the HLA. The regulatory amendment would allowmore efficient harvest of Atka mackerel. This RIR addresses the requirements of Presidential Executive Order 12866.

This document provides an analysis of alternative administrative procedures necessary to support the harvest specifications process for setting total allowable catch and other management measures for Alaska groundfish.

Analysis of pollock Incidental Catch Allowance in the Aleutian Islands Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch, and Atka mackerel fisheries.

The purpose of this Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is to provide an evaluation of the environmental, social, and economic effects of alternative management programs for the Bering Sea  and Aleutian Islands  (BSAI) crab  fisheries.  

Published Date: 2004

A study evaluating models used in capture-recapture estimates in a free-ranging population of Hawaiian Monk Seals.

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-26 Workshop Date: 11-13 February 2003