The North Pacific Fishery Management Council wrapped up an 8-day meeting in Sitka on Monday. Below is a summary of selected Council action (and inaction). You can find all Council reports and motions here: https://meetings.npfmc.org/Meeting/Details/2934
Below are summaries of issues of particular interest to our members.
Observer Program
The Council approved the annual deployment plan (year two with no changes) and directed the observer program staff to complete analysis of potential cost saving measures that will allow increased observer coverage on high bycatch fisheries. The Council has prioritized this work for the past two years, but to date the agency has been unable or unwilling to dedicate adequate resources. If this analysis, called the EM integration analysis, does not identify cost savings, fixed gear industry group are poised to demand an observer program overhaul.
Salmon Bycatch
The salmon crisis in the Alaska Yukon, Kuskokwim, and Chignik River systems triggered the Council to review Chinook and chum bycatch management in the Bering Sea trawl fisheries. After a long list of presentations and heartrending public testimony describing the lack of food and loss of both community and culture, the Council did exactly nothing—at least nothing with regulatory teeth. Their lengthy motion called for more research, voluntary improvements in bycatch avoidance, and appointment of a bycatch workgroup. Once appointed, AYK workgroup members will no doubt again recommend that the Chinook PSC cap be reduced, and a bycatch cap be set for chums (the Bering Sea trawl fleet caught over 546,000 chum and 13,000 Chinook in 2021)—as they did at this meeting and the last Council meeting and the meeting before that. While climate change is no doubt driving the decline, the magnitude of bycatch is unacceptable with so many indigenous communities unable to catch even one salmon. Both ALFA and ATA testified in solidarity with the directed salmon fishermen, highlighting the environmental and social injustice of the current bycatch priority.
IFQ Amendments
After another push by fixed gear organizations, the Council called for analysis revisions and scheduled the small sablefish release amendment for a second initial review at their April 2023 meeting. The primary objection to allowing fixed gear boats to release sablefish seems to be the assessment/management uncertainty introduced by allowing fishermen to decide which sablefish to retain and which to release. The scientists suggested a minimum size limit, which was quickly shot down by the Council since measuring every small sablefish would increase handling and release mortality. Slow progress but at least progress!
The Council also initiated analysis of raising the vessel ownership caps in halibut Area 4 (A, B, C,D). Covid and consolidation of the processing sector has left Areas 4B-D with limited access to processing/markets and a small pool of larger vessels able to safely run the distance to non-local buyers. ALFA supported a limited duration increase in the cap and options that allowed each of the region 4 areas to be considered separately. Although the AP structured alternatives per ALFA’s request, the Council rolled all the areas back into one action, which ignores the far more accessible processing capacity in Area 4A. This issue will be back before the Council soon; please share your thoughts on vessel caps and any other action before the Council.
One final note: ALFA hosted a reception for the Council at Halibut Point Rec that was co-sponsored by local processors, businesses, and organizations (see list below) and catered by Beth Short-Rhoads of Fireweed Dinner Service. The food was OUTSTANDING—delicious and lovely—and the weather cooperated. Huge thanks to Liberty Siegle and Heather Bauscher for organizing a great event, to Beth for going above and beyond, to our cheerful volunteers, and to the co-sponsors who provided seafood, funding, and logistical support.