Overview
The groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) and the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) are managed through two separate but complementary fishery management plans (FMPs): the BSAI Groundfish FMP and the GOA Groundfish FMP. These FMPs establish management measures that are consistent with the ten National Standards established through the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act as well as other required and discretionary provisions for FMPs. Both FMPs contain the Council’s Groundfish Management Policy “to apply judicious and responsible fisheries management practices, based on sound scientific research and analysis, proactively rather than re-actively, to ensure the sustainability of fishery resources and associated ecosystems for the benefit of future, as well as current generations.”
Annually, the Council develops harvest specifications based on information from the Groundfish Plan Teams, Scientific and Statistical Committee, Advisory Panel, the public, and any other relevant information. Harvest specifications may be effective for up to two fishing years. Final harvest specifications are implemented by mid-February each year to replace those already in effect for that year, and based on new information contained in the latest groundfish SAFE reports.
Current Harvest Specifications (OFL, ABC, TAC)
BSAI Groundfish Specifications for 2016 and final recommended 2017-2018
GOA Groundfish Specifications for 2016 and final recommended 2017-2018
Newsletter Articles
- Stock Assessment Prioritization (2/13/2017)
- BSAI Harvest Specifications for 2017/2018 (12/19/2016)
- GOA Specifications for 2017/2018 (12/19/2016)
Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Groundfish
The Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI Groundfish FMP, Appendices) includes all species of groundfish (pollock, cod, flatfish, sablefish, rockfish, etc.) fished commercially by vessels using trawl, longline, pot, and jig gear. This FMP has been amended over 100 times and an overview of those amendments is now available: BSAI Amendment Action Summaries There are hyperlinks in the document to additional information such as the supporting analyses, Federal Register notices, and regulation summaries.
Staff contact is Diana Stram: 907-271-2806.
Gulf of Alaska Groundfish
The Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA Groundfish FMP, Appendices) includes includes the major groundfish species targeted by trawl, hook-and-line, pot, and jig gear in the Gulf, with the exception of a few that are managed by the State of Alaska. A summary of the amendments to the GOA Groundfish FMP, similar to that prepared for the BSAI, is in preparation.
Staff contact is Jim Armstrong: 907-271-2805.
Groundfish Management Policy, Programmatic Review
In 2004, the Council published a programmatic review of the BSAI and GOA groundfish fisheries (the Alaska Groundfish Fisheries Programmatic Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement), and revised its BSAI and GOA groundfish management policy. The policy contains a management approach and 45 objectives, which are categorized by goal statements. In order to implement the management policy the Council developed a groundfish work plan that integrates the management objectives with recent, current, ongoing and pending Council actions and statements. The status of this work plan is updated at every meeting, and is reviewed under the “Staff Tasking” agenda item. The work plan includes cumulative actions taken by the Council under the policy since 2004. The addition of actions over the course of each year contributes to that list and facilitates mandatory annual review of the policy.
In 2014, the Council reviewed and approved a Supplemental Information Report (SIR) for the 2004 Alaska Groundfish Programmatic EIS. The SIR provides a review of management actions under the FMP since 2004, as well as new information about the impacts of the groundfish fisheries on the environment. Through the SIR it has been determined that the 2004 Programmatic EIS continues to adequately frame the environmental consequences of fishing activities permitted through the groundfish FMPs.
