The Council is considering additional management measures to minimize chum salmon bycatch (also referred to as “prohibited species catch” or “PSC”) in the Bering Sea pollock fishery, particularly the bycatch of chum salmon originating from Western Alaska rivers. Five different management alternatives are being considered which represent either maintaining the existing regulations (Alternative 1) or different ways to modify the current chum salmon bycatch regulations in the Bering Sea (Alternatives 2–5).
On September 12, 2025, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) prepared for the Bering Sea chum salmon bycatch action. The published document was revised by analytical staff based on the input and recommendations from the Council’s February 2025 meeting. In February 2026, the Council will review the DEIS and make a final decision on whether to recommend a preferred alternative to the Secretary, and the substance of that preferred alternative based on one or more of the options described and analyzed in the DEIS. Most
alternatives can be selected in combination with one another.
There are two opportunities to provide public comment on the proposed alternatives prior to the Council taking final action in February 2026.
- Written public comments can be provided to NMFS on the DEIS and proposed alternatives.
- Both written and oral public comments can be provided to the Council at its February 2026 meeting.
These comment opportunities have different timeframes, which are discussed below, and your comments can be the same for both submissions.
Input to NMFS
NMFS has published the Notice of Availability for the DEIS, and is currently accepting written comments on the DEIS (https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2023-0089/document). The public comment period will close on January 5, 2026. NMFS is required to prepare written responses to the public comments it receives, and agency staff will provide a comment summary report for the Council at its February 2026 meeting.
Input to the Council
Prior to the February 2026 Council meeting, the public will have another opportunity to provide written comments to the Council on this issue. Comment letters may be submitted directly to the Council on the eAgenda page when it is available in December 2025. This comment period will be open until January 30, 2026. Oral public comment can be provided to the Council during the February meeting by calling in or in-person. The 2026 meeting will be held from February 2–11 at the Egan Center in Anchorage, AK.