The Council received input from stakeholders on suggested modifications to the current suite of alternatives being considered for halibut Abundance-based management (ABM) of PSC limits in the Bering Sea. After extensive consideration of proposed changes and simplifications to the alternative set the Council made several recommended changes. The action will now focus exclusively on the… Read More →
SSC Workshop: Research Priorities
The SSC held a workshop to discuss how it could improve the process of identifying and updating research priorities for the Council, concluding that it would be more effective to evaluate research needs within the context of a larger strategic plan. The SSC noted that the current research priority process is cumbersome and does not… Read More →
Upcoming Meetings
Council Committees, Plan Teams, Taskforces February Scallop Plan Team, February 19, Kodiak, AK Cook Inlet Salmon Committee, February 25-26, Anchorage, AK Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan Climate Change Action Module Taskforce, Feb 26-28, Anchorage, AK/Seattle, WA March Bering Sea FEP Team, March 3-5, Seattle, WA IFQ Committee, March 30, Anchorage, AK Ecosystem Committee, March 31,… Read More →
Staff Tasking
The Council discussed the relative priority and scheduling of previously tasked projects, as well as the following tasking issues. See revised 3 meeting outlook for changes to scheduling, including for the BSAI Pacific cod trawl CV analysis, halibut ABM discussion paper and analysis, and other agenda items addressed by the Council at the meeting. The… Read More →
Multi-Regional Social Accounting Matrix
The SSC heard a presentation from Dr. Chang Seung (NMFS AFSC) on the Multi-Regional Social Accounting Matrix (MRSAM), a tool for estimating economic impacts of fishery management actions, and requested further review as development continues. There are currently two versions of the MRSAM: a three-region model that analyzes impacts for Alaska, the West Coast and… Read More →
Economic SAFE Review
At this meeting, the SSC reviewed the Groundfish and Crab Economic SAFE reports as presented by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Economic and Social Science Research Division, and provided feedback for future iterations. The Groundfish and Crab Economic SAFE reports contain detailed information about economic aspects of the groundfish and crab fisheries. The SSC appreciated… Read More →
Social Science Planning Team
The Council received a report on the interim meeting for the Social Science Planning Team (SSPT), which occurred by teleconference November 6, 2019. The Council had extensive discussion about the charge of the SSPT, the current work on strategizing revisions to the Economic Data Reporting (EDR) programs, and the SSPT’s Data Gap Analysis. The Council… Read More →
Crab E-Logbooks
After the delivery of a report examining the costs for Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) to develop and implement BSAI crab electronic logbooks (eLogbooks), the Council chose to suspend agency consideration of developing a Crab Rationalization eLogbook while industry investigates more cost-effective options. NMFS requires daily fishing logbooks for vessels 60 ft length overall… Read More →
Local and Traditional Knowledge and Subsistence Taskforce
At this meeting, the Council received a report from the Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan (BS FEP) LK, TK, and Subsistence Taskforce. The Taskforce was formed at the October 2019 meeting to work on the FEP Action Module to develop protocols for using Local Knowledge (LK), Traditional Knowledge (TK), and Subsistence information in the Council… Read More →
FEP Climate Change Taskforce
The Council received a progress report on the Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Climate Change Action Module Taskforce. The Council nominated members at the October 2019 meeting and the taskforce held an organizational meeting via webex in January. The January meeting was abbreviated due to weather and much of the scoping for the action… Read More →
