Center for Independent Experts Independent Peer Review of the November 2010 North Pacific Groundfish Fishery Biological Opinion CIE Independent Peer Review Report

• Main Author: W. D. Bowen
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Bering Sea; Gulf of Alaska; Pacific; Alaska; Aleutian Islands
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.348.3332; http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/PDFdocuments/conservation_issues/SSL/CIEBowen.pdf

documents the consultation on the effects of the authorization of groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands region (BSAI) and in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), including parallel groundfish fisheries in Alaska state waters on both the western and the eastern distinct population segments of Steller sea lions (SSL, Eumetopias jubatus). The objective of this formal consultation was to determine if the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI, GOA and the State of Alaska are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of SSL and are likely to destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat. This report constitutes my scientific review of the findings and conclusions contained in the November 2010 BiOp for the Center of Independent Experts. Chapter 1 reports my findings from a desktop review of the BiOp and Chapter 2 incorporates new information gather during a panel review meeting that I attended in Seattle, WA in August 2012. The five terms of reference specified in the Statement of Work (Appendix 2) are listed below. Although these are addressed separately in each chapter of the report, I have combined my findings in the Executive Summary. Overall conclusion