Northern Bering Sea Research Area - Scientific Research Plan

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), at the request of the Council, is developing a scientific research plan for the Northern Bering Sea Research Area (NBSRA) to study the effects of bottom trawling on benthic species and habitat. The NBSRA was established by the Council and became effective in 2008, and is currently closed to bottom trawl fishing. The primary goals of the plan are to investigate the effects of bottom trawling on bottom habitat, and provide information to help with developing future protection measures in the NBSRA for crab, marine mammals, endangered species, and the subsistence needs of western Alaska communities. 

The proposed research plan will:

• Establish guidelines for an adaptive management plan for bottom trawl fishing that includes closing control areas to fishing to allow research on the effects of bottom trawling on habitat
• Require all vessels conducting experimental fishing in the NBSRA, under the research plan, to work in conjunction with the Alaska Fisheries Science Center
• Identify information needed to protect crab, marine mammals, and endangered species within the NBSRA from adverse impacts of bottom trawling
• Identify information needed to protect subsistence needs of western Alaska communities from adverse impacts of bottom trawling in areas of the NBSRA

Research plan documents
Draft schedule for developing the research plan	June 2009 version
Draft outline of research plan	June 2009 version

 Past and future meeting materials and opportunities for public input

There will be many opportunities for the public to provide feedback to the AFSC and the Council about what the research plan should look like or include. If you are unable to attend in person, you may send a letter, by mail or fax, to the Council office.

Project lead for the AFSC:	Cynthia Yeung (Cynthia.Yeung@noaa.gov)
Staff contacts at the Council:	Diana Evans (Diana.Evans@noaa.gov)
	Nicole Kimball (Nicole.Kimball@noaa.gov)

Council meeting	June 2007	The Council identified a preferred alternative for Bering Sea Habitat Conservation Amendment 89, which included creating the NBSRA, and requesting a research plan	Excerpt from Council motion
Public meeting	April 2009	Pat Livingston, Director of the REFM Division of the AFSC, gave a short presentation on the approach the AFSC is planning for developing the research plan, and a tentative schedule for Council action.	Meeting summary Presentation
Council meeting	June 2009	The SSC received an overview of the outline from Cynthia Yeung. The Council extended the schedule for developing the research plan, and asked NMFS to prioritize expanding the NMFS bottom trawl survey into the NBSRA.	SSC Presentation Research plan outline (May 2009 version)
Council meeting	February 2010	Purpose: update on progress
Community and Subsistence Workshop	late February 2010	Purpose: solicitation of ecological and subsistence information from the public for research planning