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 →
Red King Crab Savings Area Expansion
At this meeting, the Council reviewed but took no further action on an analysis to expand the Red King Crab Savings Area boundary from 57° 00.0’ N to 57° 30.0’ N through an emergency rule. After reviewing the analysis, the Council did not recommend an emergency rule because the expansion of the Red King Crab… Read More →
Staff Tasking
The Council discussed the relative priority and scheduling of previously tasked projects, and identified new tasking. The revised 3 meeting outlook reflects this guidance. The Council directed staff to write a letter to NOAA providing input on ways NOAA can advance the goals and recommendations in the report on “Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful.” The Council’s… Read More →
Bristol Bay Red King Crab
The Council reviewed a discussion paper on groundfish bycatch management measures for the Bristol Bay red king crab stock. The paper summarized existing measures for BBRKC prohibited species catch (PSC) in groundfish fisheries as well as what data is available on PSC levels, accrual toward current PSC limits, observed data and current or planned research… Read More →
Bristol Bay Red King Crab Savings Area
The SSC and Council reviewed an application for an exempted fishing permit to allow for some flatfish trawling within the Bristol Bay red king crab savings area (RKCSA) closure in order to evaluate the relative differences in crab bycatch rates inside and outside of the closure area. The Bristol Bay red king crab savings area… Read More →