Publications

Environmental Impact Statement for Minimizing Non-Chinook Salmon Bycatch in the Bering Sea Pollock Fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Fishery Management Plan Area

This document describes genetic research by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center to study chum and Chinook salmon bycatch in the Alaska pollock trawl fishery in the Bering Sea.

This report presents stock composition estimates for samples collected from the bycatch of the 2016 GOA federal trawl fisheries.  

A genetic analysis of samples from the Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) bycatch of the 2015 Bering Sea-Aleutian Island (BSAI) trawl fishery for walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) was undertaken to determine the overall stock composition of the bycatch. Samples were genotyped for 43 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) DNA markers and results were estimated using the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) SNP baseline. In 2015, genetic samples from the Bering Sea were collected using a systematic random sampling protocol where one out of every 10 Chinook salmon encountered was sampled. Based on the analysis of 1,757 Chinook salmon bycatch samples collected throughout the 2015 BSAI walleye pollock trawl fishery, Coastal Western Alaska stocks dominated the sample set (40%) with smaller contributions from British Columbia (22%), West Coast U.S. (WA/OR/CA) (15%), and North Alaska Peninsula (11%) stocks. Analysis of temporal groupings within the pollock “A” and “B” seasons revealed changes in stock composition during the course of the year with lower contributions of Coastal Western Alaska, North Alaska Peninsula, and Upper Yukon stocks and higher contributions of West Coast U.S. (WA/OR/CA), British Columbia, NW Gulf of Alaska, and Coastal Southeast Alaska stocks during the “B” season.

A genetic analysis of samples from the Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) Prohibited Species Catch (bycatch) of the 2016 Gulf of Alaska (GOA) trawl fisheries for walleyepollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) and rockfish (Sebastes spp.), was undertaken to determine the stock composition of the sample sets. Samples were genotyped for 43 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) DNA markers and results were estimated using the Alaska Department of Fish and Game SNP baseline. In 2016, genetic samples were collected from Chinook salmon taken in the bycatch of the GOA pollock trawl fisheries using a simple random sample protocol with trip being the primary unit. This was the third year for this sampling protocol and which resulted in the largest available genetic sample set to date with 24% of the estimated salmon bycatch from the pollock fishery successfully genotyped. Based on analysis of 4,962 Chinook salmon bycatch samples, British Columbia (42%), West Coast US (40%), and Coastal Southeast Alaska (15%) comprised the largest stock groups, at an estimated 8,602, 8,301, and 3,080 Chinook salmon, respectively, out of 20,589 fish total. In 2016, genetic samples from the bycatch of the GOA rockfish CV fishery were collected by the fishing industry using a censussampling protocol. Based on the genotyping of 493 Chinook salmon bycatch samples collected from this fishery in NMFS Statistical Areas 620 and 630, West Coast US stocks represented the largest stock group (62%) with smaller contributions from British Columbia (27%), Coastal Southeast Alaska (7%), and Northwest GOA (4%) stock groups.

This Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review analyzes proposed management measures to address bycatch of Chinook salmon and chum salmon in the Bering Sea pollock fishery.

This analysis evaluates the potential economic impacts on directly regulated small entities accruing from the proposed action to implement Amendment 91 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.

This Environmental Impact Statement evaluates the environmental effects of measures to minimize Chinook salmon Bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery.

This report summarizes the comments received during the January 8, 2009, to March 23, 2009, scoping period for an analysis of Bering Sea Non-Chinook Salmon Bycatch Management.

This report summarizes the comments received during the December 26, 2007, to February 15, 2008, scoping period for the Bering Sea Salmon Bycatch Management Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).