Dan Hull, Chairman
David Witherell, Executive Director
SUBJECT: title
Western GOA Pollock C/D Season Timing Chinook PSC - Discussion Paper
end
STAFF CONTACT: Jim Armstrong and Sam Cunningham (NPFMC)
ACTION REQUIRED: recommended action
• Review discussion paper
• Decide what further action is warranted
BACKGROUND:
In December 2016, the Council requested that staff evaluate the timing of trawl pollock harvest and Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) in the Western Gulf of Alaska (GOA) C and D seasons. The Council’s primary concern at this time is to determine if there are times during the C and D seasons when Chinook salmon PSC rates tend to be greatest.
The discussion paper describes the basis for the seasonal allocation of pollock in the WGOA, in the context of Steller Sea Lion considerations, and also describes the regulatory apportionment of Chinook salmon in the GOA. Trends in pollock trawl landings and Chinook PSC are discussed for the WGOA during the C/D seasons, and these are considered differentially for +/- 58’ LOA vessels. Management options for reducing pollock effort in the C/D season are evaluated including re-distribution of pollock TAC among seasons, combining seasons, and adjusting season start dates. Brief appendices describing the ESA Section 7 consultation process and the current status of western DPS Steller sea lions are also included.