The Council reviewed reports from the BSAI and Joint Groundfish Plan Teams, and recommended 2020 and 2021 groundfish harvest and prohibited species catch (PSC) specifications for proposed rulemaking. The SSC was presented with the Joint Groundfish and Crab Teams report, the Joint Groundfish Teams report, and the BSAI Groundfish Plan Team report which summarized the… Read More →
GOA Groundfish Preliminary Harvest Specifications
The Council received a report from the GOA Groundfish Plan Team and adopted proposed harvest and prohibited species catch (PSC) specifications for 2020 and 2021. The GOA Groundfish Plan Team report summarized the issues discussed and actions taken by the Plan Team at its September meeting in Seattle, WA. Highlights of the GOA Plan Team report… Read More →
BSAI Pacific Cod Trawl and Pot CV LAPP Scoping Paper
At this meeting, the Council adopted a revised purpose and need statement and provided alternatives, elements, and options for a proposed BSAI Pacific cod trawl catcher vessel (CV) cooperative style-limited access privilege program (LAPP), which are summarized below. The Council did not move forward with development of a pot CV ≥ 60’ LAPP at this… Read More →
BSAI Pacific cod Parallel Fishery Limited Acces
At this meeting, the Council adopted a revised purpose and need statement, selected a preliminary preferred alternative for an analysis that considers prohibiting all Federal vessels from fishing for Pacific cod in waters from shore to 3 miles in the BSAI without the proper permits and licenses, and released the document for public review. The… Read More →
BSAI and GOA Unused Pacific Cod
After reviewing a discussion paper overviewing reasons for unused Pacific cod (sometimes referred to as stranded cod) and options for reducing unused Pacific cod in the BSAI and GOA, the Council postponed indefinitely any further action on this discussion paper. The Council noted that several of the issues included in the discussion paper will be… Read More →
BSAI Pacific cod Pot Catcher Processor Participation
The Council, after reviewing a discussion paper that evaluated participation and effort in the Bering Sea Pacific cod catcher processor fishery, adopted a purpose and need statement (provided below) and initiated an analysis to eliminate latent capacity in the fishery in order to increase stability for Pacific cod dependent CPs, maintain consistently low rates of… Read More →
Cook Inlet Salmon
The Council heard from the Cook Inlet Salmon Committee on progress with recommendations on the Salmon FMP amendment under development. The Cook Inlet Salmon Committee was created to involve salmon stakeholders in the development of an FMP amendment that will extend federal management authority to salmon fisheries in EEZ waters of Cook Inlet. Under Alternative… Read More →
Staff Tasking
In addition to discussing the relative priority and scheduling of previously tasked projects, the Council requested staff prepare a series of letters: to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), describing the importance of continued funding for trawl surveys, especially within the context of the watershed change in ecosystem conditions in the Bering Sea and Gulf of… Read More →
Community Engagement Committee
The Council received a progress report from the Community Engagement Committee (CEC). The CEC met on October 1 and reviewed the recent Council activities to implement earlier recommendations from the committee, NMFS’ Tribal Consultation procedures, and identify strategies to improve Council engagement with rural and Alaska Native communities. The CEC will continue to meet… Read More →
Upcoming meetings
Charter Halibut Management Committee, October 29th, Anchorage, AK Social Science Planning Team, November 6th, teleconference Groundfish Plan Teams, November 12-15, AFSC, Seattle, WA Community Engagement Committee, December 2, Anchorage, AK Enforcement Committee, December 3, Anchorage, AK Charter Halibut Management Committee, December 3, Anchorage, AK BSAI Crab Plan Team, January 13-17, 2020, Kodiak, AK Bering Sea… Read More →
