Arctic Fisheries
NMFS is working with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) to develop a Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Arctic. With the apparent climate change trends, the environment for commercial fishery development in the Alaskan Arctic may be changing. Warming ocean temperatures and changes in seasonal sea ice conditions potentially favor the development of commercial fisheries. Commercial fishing in this region is likely to be restricted until more information is available to support sustainable fisheries management. In February 2009, the Council recommended adopting the Fishery Management Plan for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area. This plan is scheduled to be submitted to NMFS for Department of Commerce and public review in Spring 2009.
Several of the following are PDF files which require free Adobe Acrobat Reader software to view, navigate and print. Adobe also offers free tools for the visually disabled.
Arctic Fisheries Management
- Draft Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Fishery Resources of the Arctic
- EA/RIR/IRFA of the FMP for Fishery Resources of the Arctic
- Council Analyses and Activities
Arctic Research
- Habitat Assessment and Marine Chemistry: Arctic Nearshore Studies
- Polar Ecosystems Program: research and monitoring on pinnipeds in the Arctic, sub-Arctic, and Antarctic marine ecosystems
- Beaufort Sea Survey: AFSC's Fishery Interaction Team's August 2008 fish survey