Dan Hull, Chairman
David Witherell, Executive Director
SUBJECT: title
GOA CV Chinook PSC limit adjustments - Initial Review
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STAFF CONTACT: Sam Cunningham (NPFMC)
ACTION REQUIRED: recommended action
* Review initial analysis
* Consider release for public review and/or identification of a preliminary preferred alternative, especially new information on Chinook salmon fisheries and new Option 4 under Alternatives 2 and 3.
* For the action alternatives, clarify whether increase to Chinook salmon PSC limit (Options 1-3) would affect the application of the incentive buffer (Alternative 2) and/or the maximum inseason reallocations allowed under GOA Groundfish FMP Amendment 103 (Alternatives 2 and 3).
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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 could 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 (Options 1-3) or it could allow for year-to-year rollovers of unused Chinook PSC (Option 4). Alternative 3 could increase the Chinook PSC limit for the Rockfish Program CV sector from 1,200 fish to 300, 600, or 900 fish (Options 1-3) or it could allow for year-to-year rollovers of unused Chinook PSC (Option 4). Under either action alternative, the Option 4 has three suboptions that would cap the rollover at 25%, 50%, or 75% of the sector's base annual PSC limit.
The Council reviewed a previous version of this analysis in February 2018, and requested a second initial review draft that includes, among other items, additional information on the status and management of Chinook salmon fisheries. The bulk of that new information is contained in Section 3.3 of this document. New or enhanced information is provided on Chinook salmon abundance, Chinook PSC size-at-capture, regional stock of or...
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