Pacific salmon are caught incidentally in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish fisheries, where they are considered prohibited species catch (PSC). Although five species of salmon are caught in the fisheries, the Council’s greatest concern has been Chinook salmon PSC. Chinook salmon PSC primarily occurs in trawl fisheries, in the central and western regulatory areas of the GOA. Between 2003 and 2010, the pollock target fishery accounted for an average of three-quarters of intercepted Chinook salmon, while other, primarily nonpelagic, trawl fisheries for flatfish, rockfish, and Pacific cod accounted for the remainder.
In 2012, the NMFS implemented Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) limits for the GOA pollock trawl fisheries in the Central and Western GOA regulatory areas. Once these annual limits are reached, the pollock trawl fishery in the respective regulatory area will be closed. In 2015, NMFS implemented similar Chinook salmon PSC limits for the catcher/processor and catcher vessel trawl fisheries for non-pollock groundfish species. The Council is in the process of developing comprehensive management measures to address the trawl fleet’s ability to fish within the established PSC limits; through that action, the Council will consider further reductions to GOA Chinook salmon PSC limits. More information on comprehensive GOA measures can be found on the page for GOA Trawl Bycatch Management. Staff contact is Sam Cunningham 907-271-1283.
Documents and Council Motions
2017
- Increase Chinook salmon PSC limit for non-pollock catcher vessels, Motion 4/17
2015
- Chinook salmon PSC Reapportionment Final Action; Motion 12/15
GOA Trawl Bycatch Management Motion 10/15 - Chinook salmon PSC Reapportionment Preliminary Review, motion 10/15
2014
- GOA Trawl Bycatch Management Motion 10/14
- 2012 GOA Chinook Salmon Bycatch Genetics Report 10/14
2013
- GOA Trawl Bycatch Management motion 10/13
- Chinook PSC in GOA Non-Pollock Trawl 10/13
- Discussion paper on GOA Trawl Bycatch Management 10/13
- GOA Trawl Data Collection discussion paper 10/13
- GOA tendering motion 6/13
- GOA Chinook bycatch in non-pollock trawl motion 6/13
- Rockfish Program CV rollover – Staff Tasking motion 6/13
- GOA trawl bycatch management/roadmap motion 6/13
- Preliminary GOA trawl bycatch management proposals 6/13
- AFEA
- AMCC/GOAC3/AEB/others
- AGDB/AWTA/PSPA
- Groundfish Forum (updated October 2013)
- Pacific Seafoods (updated October 2013)
- PFC
- Plesha/Riley
- UCB
- GOA Trawl Data Collection, GOA Tendering Report,6/13
- GOA Trawl Bycatch Management Discussion Paper, Errata (5/24/13)
- Chinook Salmon PSC in GOA non-pollock trawl fisheries EA/RIR/IRFA 6/13
- GOA trawl bycatch management program motion; Economic Data Collection motion 2/13
- Discussion paper on data collection for CGOA trawl catch share program 2/13
- Discussion paper on CGOA trawl catch share program 2/13
2012
- GOA non-pollock chinook bycatch motion 12/12
- GOA trawl PSC tools motion 10/12
- GOA Comprehensive Bycatch motion 6/12
- GOA Chinook Bycatch in all Trawl Fisheries 2/12; GOA Chinook non-pollock PSC Limits Motion 2/12
2011
- Discussion paper on GOA Chinook salmon bycatch in all fisheries 12/11
- GOA Chinook bycatch Final Motion – 6/11; Non-Chinook PSC motion 6/11
- GOA Chinook bycatch Public Review draft – 6/11
- GOA Chinook bycatch motion – 4/11
- GOA Chinook bycatch motion – 2/11
- GOA Chinook bycatch workplan, cooperative discussion paper – 2/11
2010
- GOA Chinook bycatch motion – 12/10
- GOA Chinook bycatch discussion paper; ESA letter – 12/10
- Genetic Stock Composition Papers: Chinook 07 and 09; Chinook 08
- GOA Chinook bycatch discussion paper – 4/10
2009
- Chinook and Bairdi bycatch in GOA fisheries discussion paper – 10/09
- GOA Salmon and Crab bycatch discussion paper – 4/09
2008
- Salmon and Crab bycatch in the GOA fisheries discussion paper – 12/08
- GOA salmon/crab bycatch discussion paper – 6/08
2005
- Salmon and Crab bycatch paper, maps – 12/05
- Crab/Salmon Bycatch discussion paper – 10/05
