NOAA Fisheries News Releases
NEWS RELEASE
November 22, 2004
Sheela McLean
(907) 586-7032
Gretchen Harrington
(907) 586-7445
NOAA Fisheries Releases Crab Record of Decision
Officials of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) have released the Record of Decision for the Bering Sea Aleutian Islands Crab Fisheries Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
NOAA Fisheries also published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to implement the program and is requesting public comment on the rule until Decemeber 13, 2004.
"This decision marks another step in our efforts to get a new crab management plan-crab rationalization--in place for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands," said Dr. James Balsiger, Administrator of NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region. "The North Pacific Fishery Management Council voted on crab rationalization in June 2002 and Congress voted to authorize it in January. We want to see it on the water next fall."
Officials chose the EIS's Alternative 2 in their Record of Decision. Alternative 2 is a comprehensive program which manages and balances the interests of several groups that depend on Alaska crab fisheries. Harvesters, communities and captains all receive harvest shares under the program. Processors are allocated processing shares.
Alternative 2 allocates crab landings and processing activities regionally in order to preserve historic community interests in the fisheries. Harvesters can form cooperatives. The alternative also includes an arbitration system for the resolution of price disputes; economic data collection; monitoring; enforcement; and a program review to assess the impacts of crab rationalization .
For more information on the preferred alternative or to receive a copy of the Bering Sea Aleutian Islands Crab Fisheries Environmental Impact Statement, contact Gretchen Harrington, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region; (907) 586-7228. The document can be viewed at www.fakr.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/crab/eis/default.htm
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. For more about NOAA Fisheries, please visit: www.nmfs.noaa.gov.