The Council took final action on a housekeeping amendment package that would revise the American Fisheries Act (AFA) Program and the Crab Rationalization (CR) Program ownership attribution regulations and the Crab Fisheries Management Plan to provide for the different requirements for the CDQ groups, as distinguished from other program participants, which is mandated by the… Read More →
Electronic Monitoring
The Council reviewed the Electronic Monitoring (EM) Workgroup report from their March 2017 meeting. In addition to discussing how the 2017 program is working, a workplan for giving public input on the statement of work for an EM contract, and planning for the transition of the current EM pre-implementation program to an integrated Observer Program,… Read More →
Observer Issues
Lead Level 2 Observers The Council selected a preliminary preferred alternative in an analysis to address the potential for a shortage of fixed-gear lead level 2 (LL2) observers for deployment on freezer longline vessels. The majority of freezer longline vessels operate under monitoring requirements that require them to have at-sea scales and carry a single… Read More →
Crab Binding Arbitration Formula
The Council considered a discussion paper on the non-binding price formula that is part of the Arbitration System in the Bering Sea/ Aleutian Islands crab rationalization program. The discussion paper reviewed the current criteria used by the non-binding price formula arbitrator to aid the Council in determining whether operational cost changes to the participants in… Read More →
BSAI Tanner Crab Processing Cap
At this meeting, the Council reviewed a discussion paper that evaluated additional solutions to the C. bairdi crab IPQ use cap issue. The Council recommended no further action on this agenda item at this time. The discussion paper provided a brief analysis of three options: 1) raise the C. bairdi crab IPQ use cap to… Read More →
BS Fishery Ecosystem Plan
The Council received a report from staff about progress with developing the Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP). The report addressed how the Council’s preliminary outline for the FEP, adopted in December 2015 is consistent with more recent national guidance from NMFS, in the form of an Ecosystem-based Fishery Management (EBFM) Roadmap, and Lenfest, which… Read More →
Programmatic Groundfish Management Policy
The Council conducted its annual review of the Programmatic Groundfish Management Policy, as required under the GOA and BSAI Groundfish FMPs. The management policy was added to the FMPs through the 2004 Programmatic SEIS and reflects the Council’s vision for management of these fisheries from an ecosystem based management perspective. The Council’s anticipation that management… Read More →
Staff Tasking
In addition to discussing the relative priority of previously tasked projects, the Council initiated new actions and clarified direction and tasking for its various committees. The Council also took the following actions: Tasked staff to prepare a discussion paper that provides a synthesis of population and vital rate information for northern fur seals, to better… Read More →
Upcoming Meetings
BS FEP Team: April 24-26 , Homer, Alaska Crab Plan Team: May 2-5 Juneau, Alaska, Federal Building Observer Advisory Committee: May 23-24, AFSC, Seattle, WA
