NOAA Fisheries News Releases
NEWS RELEASE
December 18, 2007
Sheela McLean
(907) 586-7032
NOAA Fisheries Refines Seabird Regulations
NOAA Fisheries has announced revisions to seabird avoidance measures for the Alaska hook-and-line groundfish and halibut fisheries. The science-based refinements drop unnecessary regulations and reduce costs to fishermen in some areas, while strengthening seabird protections in the remaining areas.
“Research has allowed us to refine our regulations in a way that makes life easier for some fishermen while still protecting the seabirds,” said Jim Balsiger, Administrator for the Alaska Region of NOAA Fisheries. “We’re finding that the endangered short-tailed albatross and other pelagic seabirds are rarely observed in the nearshore inside waters of southcentral and southeastern Alaska, so we are relaxing regulations in those general areas.”
“At the same time,” Balsiger added, “in areas pelagic seabirds commonly visit, we are strengthening standards in the way smaller vessels deploy seabird avoidance gear.”
The new regulations will no longer require seabird avoidance measures such as streamerlines or buoy bags in all of Prince William Sound, all State waters of Cook Inlet and in most waters of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska Regulatory Area Southeast Inside District. However, pelagic seabirds have been observed more frequently in lower Chatham Strait, Dixon Entrance, and parts of Cross Sound. Hook-and-line fishing vessels must continue to meet seabird avoidance gear requirements and standards in those parts of the nearshore areas.
Ed Melvin of the Washington Sea Grant program and other researchers provided the scientific background that led to this adjustment to the regulations. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council studied the data and proposed the regulatory changes which go into effect January 17.
Hook-and-line vessels greater than 26 feet long and less than 55 feet long were earlier exempted from certain seabird avoidance gear deployment requirements for applying streamer line standards. Research with fishermen on the smaller hook-and-line vessels has shown that they can effectively adhere to the stricter requirements. When the winds exceed 30 knots, the new standards are relaxed for smaller vessels, for safety reasons. In addition to these changes, fishermen are no longer required to have a completed Seabird Avoidance Plan onboard their vessel.
NOAA Fisheries is continuing a program started by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide free streamerlines, including light-weight lines designed for smaller vessels.
Fishermen are strongly advised to read the rule in full detail. It can be found at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/frules/72fr71601.pdf along with maps of the affected areas.
Other websites:
- Seabird Bycatch Information for Fishermen: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seabirds/guide.htm
- Information About Free Streamer Lines: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seabirds/streamers.htm
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service) is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement, and the conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine species and their habitat. To learn more about NOAA Fisheries in Alaska, please visit our websites at: alaskafisheries.noaa.gov or at: www.afsc.noaa.gov.