Acting Regional Administrator

• Main Authors: National Marine, Fisheries Service, Robert D. Mecum, Jason Anderson
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2006
• Subjects: Bering Sea
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.232.5119; http://209.112.168.2/analyses/efp/salmonICA2007.pdf

Abstract: This document is an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the potential impacts of issuing an exempted fishing permit (EFP) to exempt vessels engaged in directed fishing for pollock and operating under a salmon bycatch reduction intercooperative agreement (ICA) from salmon savings area closures. The purpose of the project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a “voluntary rolling hot spot ” (VRHS) salmon bycatch management system developed by the Bering Sea pollock harvesting cooperatives as a mechanism for identifying areas of elevated salmon bycatch during the course of the Bering Sea pollock season and reducing pollock fishing activity within those areas. The bycatch management system to be evaluated is described in the “Salmon Bycatch Management Agreement 2006 – 2008 Bering Sea Pollock Fishery ” (the Intercooperative Agreement or ICA), a copy of which is attached. The goal of the project is to develop a Bering Sea pollock fishery salmon bycatch management system that quickly and efficiently adapts to changes in salmon bycatch patterns through the course of pollock fishing seasons, and that effectively reduces pollock fishing activity in areas of elevated salmon bycatch during years of relatively low, moderate, and high salmon bycatch incidence without imposing impracticable restrictions on the affected fleet. Our analysis found no significant impacts on the human environment for this action. [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK] BSAI Salmon Bycatch EA/RIR/IRFA Executive Summary