Dan Hull, Chairman
David Witherell, Executive Director
SUBJECT: title
Bering Sea Cod Trawl CV Participation - Discussion Paper
end
STAFF CONTACT: Jon McCracken and Darrell Brannan (NPFMC)
ACTION REQUIRED: recommended action
• Review discussion paper
• Decide what further action is warranted
BACKGROUND:
In April 2017, the Council tasked staff to prepare a discussion paper that examines participation and effort in the Bering Sea (BS) trawl catcher vessel (CV) Pacific cod fishery in response to a potential need to limit entry and participation in the trawl CV sector and the sector’s delivery of BS Pacific cod to Amendment 80 catcher/processor (C/P) vessels acting as motherships. Starting in 2016, the number of Amendment 80 vessels acting as a mothership in the BS Pacific cod fishery and the number of trawl CVs delivering BS Pacific cod to those Amendment 80 C/Ps has increased. Some historical Pacific cod participants are concerned about the increased participation by Amendment 80 C/Ps and the potential to negatively impact the historical distribution of harvest.
The discussion paper addresses the Council’s request by providing a general description of the different vessel sectors that participate in the BS trawl Pacific cod fishery and their historical participation in that fishery. The discussion paper also includes sections that examine management of the BS Pacific cod fishery, License Limitation Program (LLP) management and activity, halibut mortality in the BS trawl CV Pacific cod fishery, Pacific cod ex-vessel prices and products, and State of Alaska and Alaska community fish taxes.