Dan Hull, Chairman
David Witherell, Executive Director
SUBJECT: title
Protected Species Report
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STAFF CONTACT: Steve MacLean
ACTION REQUIRED: recommended action
* Review Protected Species Report
* Action as necessary
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BACKGROUND:
2018 Proposed List of Fisheries
On October 12, 2017, NMFS published the proposed List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2018. There are a number of changes for Alaska fisheries, as noted below:
* NMFS proposes to reclassify the Category III AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish longline fishery to Category II based on interactions with sperm whales. The 2016 Stock Assessment Report (SAR) for the North Pacific stock of sperm whale does not have a minimum abundance estimate (Nmin) or estimate for Potential Biological Removal (PBR). Because of this uncertainty, NMFS cannot conclude that the fishery meets the definition for Category III fisheries, "a remote likelihood of or no known incidental mortality of serious injury of marine mammals". Instead, NMFS proposes reclassifying the fishery as Category II, defined as "occasional incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals". The change from Category III to Category II fishery would require the owners of vessels engaging in the Category II fishery to obtain a marine mammal authorization by registering with the Marine Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP), and to accommodate an observer onboard upon request. More information about requirements for Category II fisheries is available at the NOAA List of Fisheries page.
* NMFS proposes to add the AK BSAI halibut longline fishery as a Category III fishery, by analogy to other sablefish pot fisheries in Alaska.
* NMFS proposes to add the AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish pot fishery as a Category III fishery, by analogy to other sablefish pot fisheries in Alaska.
* NMFS proposes removing a number of Category III fisheries in Alaska because the species identified are not target species for the gear or fishery identified.
* NMFS also proposes to ren...
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