Dan Hull, Chairman
David Witherell, Executive Director
SUBJECT: title
GOA Catcher Vessel Chinook PSC Limit Adjustments - Initial Review
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STAFF CONTACT: Sam Cunningham (NPFMC)
ACTION REQUIRED: recommended action
* Review and approve/modify Purpose and Need
* Review initial analysis; consider release for public review and/or identification of a preliminary preferred alternative
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BACKGROUND:
The Council is considering an action that would modify the Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) limits for the non-pollock catcher vessel (CV) groundfish trawl fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). Alternative 2 would increase the annual Chinook PSC limit for the non-pollock non-Rockfish Program CV sector from 2,700 fish by 1,000, 2,000, or 3,000 fish. Alternative 3 would increase the Chinook PSC limit for the Rockfish Program CV sector from 1,200 fish by 300, 600, or 900 fish. When the Council initiated this analysis in April 2017 it directed staff to draft a description of the Purpose and Need for action (Section 1.1); the Council should review this section in particular and specify any needed modification.
The draft Purpose and Need section notes that Chinook salmon PSC levels in the GOA trawl fisheries have continued to display wide variation from year-to-year since the implementation of non-pollock PSC limits in 2015. Moreover, the expansion of observer coverage onto vessels of less than 60' LOA and the continued collection of genetic data from trawl-caught Chinook salmon has provided new information and context to the issue that was not available when the Council took action on PSC limits in 2013. Finally, the Council has not moved forward with action that could have established a cooperative structure to manage the fishery, so continued uncertainty regarding the likelihood and timing of trawl closures might be contributing to a race for fish under certain conditions in the limited access sector. For these reasons, the Council is considering hi...
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