The Council and its Advisory Panel reviewed a discussion paper on the existing protections afforded to Central Gulf of Alaska Tanner crab. Tanner crab in the CGOA are under State management, and the distribution of Tanner crab overlaps, in part, with the Federally-managed CGOA groundfish fisheries. The discussion paper provided a review of the direct and indirect protections for Tanner crab in the CGOA , along with information on the status of the Tanner crab stock and Tanner crab fishery management by the State of Alaska.
The Council requested a discussion paper to review fishing effort for the flatfish trawl fisheries and the pot cod fishery in two statistical areas and Chiniak gully, east of Kodiak. Additionally, the discussion paper will evaluate observer coverage rates for the different sectors and programs that operate in those areas. Staff contact is Jim Armstrong.