Publications

Analysis of fishery management plan amendments regarding Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology requirements.

Hatchery and Genetics Management Plans (HGMPs)

This documentation contains Salmon, Cods, and Skates identification information to assist North Pacific Observers while in the field.

A genetic analysis of the prohibited species catch (PSC) of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) collected during 2015 from the federally managed walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) trawl fishery in the Bering Sea and from the federal groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) was undertaken to determine the overall stock composition of the sample sets. Additionally, a genetic analysis was conducted of chum salmon collected in the southeastern Bering Sea during a test of a salmon excluder device. Samples were genotyped for 11 microsatellite markers from which stock contributions were estimated using the current chum salmon microsatellite baseline. In 2015, one genetic sample was collected for every 30.5 chum salmon caught in the Bering Sea midwater trawl fishery. The evaluation of sampling in the Bering Sea based on time, location, and vessel indicated that the genetic samples were representative of the total chum salmon PSC in the Bering Sea. The small set of chum salmon samples (142) from the A-season were mostly from Northeast Asia (41%) and Eastern GOA/PNW (47%) stocks. Based on the analysis of 1,836 chum salmon collected throughout the B- season, the largest stock group in the catch was Eastern GOA/Pacific Northwest (PNW) (51%), followed by Northeast Asia (17%), Western Alaska (16%), Southeast Asia (10%), Upper/Middle Yukon (4%), and Southwest Alaska (< 2%) stocks. The regional stock estimates for the 2015 chum salmon caught in the Bering Sea differed from most previous years, with contributions from Eastern GOA/PNW stocks surpassing those from Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia stocks. Of the 131 chum salmon samples from the GOA groundfish fisheries, the highest proportion was from Eastern GOA/PNW (88%) stocks. As with the Bering Sea fishery samples, the highest proportion of the 549 excluder device test samples were also from Eastern GOA/PNW (51%) stocks and included fish from multiple geographic regions despite being collected at small spatial and temporal scales.

A genetic analysis of the prohibited species catch (PSC) of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) collected during 2016 from the federally managed walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) trawl fishery in the Bering Sea and from the federal groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) was undertaken to determine the overall stock composition of the sample sets. Samples were genotyped for 11 microsatellite markers from which stock contributions were estimated using the current chum salmon microsatellite baseline. In 2016, one genetic sample was collected for every 30.6 chum salmon caught in the Bering Sea midwater trawl fishery. The evaluation of sampling in the Bering Sea based on time, location, and vessel indicated that the genetic samples were representative of the total chum salmon PSC in the Bering Sea. The majority of the 114 chum salmon samples from the A-season were from Northeast Asia (37%) and Eastern GOA/Pacific Northwest (PNW) (37%) stocks. Based on the analysis of 2,701 chum salmon collected throughout the B-season, the largest stock groups in the catch were Eastern GOA/PNW (35%) and Northeast Asia (31%), followed by Western Alaska (19%), Southeast Asia (9%), Upper/Middle Yukon (5%), and Southwest Alaska (< 2%) stocks. The chum salmon caught in the Bering Sea in 2016 shared general patterns of stock distribution with those from past years, but differed by some finer-scale spatiotemporal strata. Of the 473 chum salmon samples from the GOA groundfish fisheries, the highest proportion was from Eastern GOA/PNW (93%) stocks, similar to previous years.

The Endangered Species Act requires periodic reviews of species that are listed as threatened or endangered to ensure that the listing is still accurate.

Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) are prohibited species in the federally managed Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish fisheries, which are subject to complex management rules (NPMFC 2017a,b) that are in part designed to reduce prohibited species catch (PSC). It is important to understand the stock composition of Pacific salmon caught in these fisheries, which take place in areas that are known feeding habitat for multiple brood years of chum salmon (O. keta) from many different localities in North America and Asia (Myers et al. 2007, Davis et al. 2009, Urawa et al. 2009). Determining the geographic origin of salmon caught in federally managed fisheries is essential to understanding the effects that fishing has on chum salmon stocks, especially those with conservation concerns (NPFMC 2012).

On February 6, 2015, we announced the initiation of five year reviews for 17 ESUs of salmon and 11 DPSs of steelhead in Oregon, California, Idaho, and Washington (80 FR 6695). We requested that the public submit new information on these species that has b

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.

The goal of ESA recovery under this plan is to improve the viability of these salmon and steelhead, and the ecosystems upon which they depend, to the point that they no longer require ESA protection.