Council Holds First Hybrid Meeting For the first time in two years, the Council met in-person, along with an online option for presenters and attendees. The meeting was held at the Anchorage Hilton, using double the meeting space allowing for extra distancing for both the Council members as well as the public following COVID protocols.… Read More →
Cooperative Reports
Every April, the Council reviews cooperative reports submitted by representatives from the American Fisheries Act Program, Amendment 80 Program, Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program, and BSAI Crab Rationalization Program. As part of these programs, cooperatives have been required or requested to provide an annual written report detailing the use of the cooperative quota or addressing other… Read More →
IFQ Omnibus and Enforcement Committee Report
The Council took final action on the IFQ Omnibus Amendments analysis to modify IFQ and CDQ Program regulations. The analysis considered several elements intended to increase operational flexibility for vessels using pot gear and jig gear to harvest IFQ/CDQ as well as a separate alternative to temporarily remove the Adak CQE residency requirement to provide… Read More →
Recreational Quota Entity Funding Mechanism
The Council took final action to recommend a Charter Halibut Stamp mechanism for charter vessel operators to fund the Recreational Quota Entity (RQE). The Council recommended that NMFS develop regulations to establish the fee requirement for a Charter Halibut Stamp and contract with the RQE to develop the fee collection system. The Charter Halibut Stamp… Read More →
Scallop Specs
In April 2022, the Council reviewed the 2022 Alaska Weathervane Scallop SAFE report and specified scallop ABC for the 2021/2022 fishing year at 1.156 million pounds (546 t), a level equivalent to 90% of OFL, which is 1.284 million pounds (582 t). The federal specification of scallop OFL and ABC applies to all waters off… Read More →
CGOA Rockfish Adjustment
The Council released for final action an analysis to adjust CGOA Rockfish Program measures. The Council identified a preliminary preferred alternative, and requested staff consider and address comments from the SSC to the extent practicable. The preliminary preferred alternative includes the following Alternative 2 options: Change the season start date from May 1 to April… Read More →
Bristol Bay Red King Crab
The Council reviewed a discussion paper on four topics related to Bristol Bay Red King Crab (BBRKC), tasked staff with additional evaluation, and requested information from Bering Sea fishery sectors with crab mortality. The purpose of the paper was to aid the Council, other responsible agencies, and the public in considering actions related to an… Read More →
Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan Team and Taskforce reports
The Council received several progress reports on the ongoing BS FEP-related work and supported their ongoing work. The Ecosystem Committee and the SSC both provided feedback as well. A discussion of the reports is provided below. BS FEP Team report The BS FEP Team reported on their annual meeting, and development of a strategic ecosystem… Read More →
Ecosystem Committee
The Ecosystem Committee met in March to discuss a variety of issues, including the Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan reports (see separate newsletter article) as well as other agenda items. The Council made the following response on specific issues: Area-based management: The Council requested that NPFMC representatives provide specific recommendations at the Council Coordination Committee… Read More →
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Dr. Kirstin Holsman provided the SSC an overview of the Sixth Assessment Report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This report assesses the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, biodiversity, and human communities at global and regional levels as well as the vulnerabilities and the capacity and limits of the natural… Read More →
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 47
- Next Page »
