Bering Sea Chinook Salmon Bycatch
Bering Sea Chinook Salmon Bycatch Environmental Impact Statement
A Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (EIS/RIR/IRFA) was prepared to provide decision-makers and the public with an evaluation of the environmental, social, and economic effects of alternative measures to minimize Chinook salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery. The alternatives analyzed in this EIS/RIR/IRFA generally involve limits or “caps” on the number of Chinook salmon that may be caught in the Bering Sea pollock fishery and closure of all or a part of the Bering Sea to pollock fishing once the cap is reached. These closures would occur when a Chinook salmon bycatch cap is reached, even if the entire pollock total allowable catch has not yet been harvested. This document addresses the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, Executive Order 12866, and the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Public Workshop- 74 FR 31700, July 2, 2009. Notice of a workshop to solicit comments from the Bering Sea Pollock fishing industry and other interested persons/parties on draft reporting forms for a proposed Chinook salmon bycatch data collection program. The workshop will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2009, at the Nordby Conference Room at Fishermen’s Terminal, Seattle, WA.
Draft EIS
- Bering Sea Chinook Salmon Bycatch Management Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, December 2008
- Dear Reviewer Letter
- Public Comments
- Preliminary Comment Analysis Report, March 2009 (appendices updated 3/27/09)
- Supporting Documents
- Pollock catch and Chinook salmon bycatch by season and sector
- Comment period extended to February 23, 2009, January 2009
- Public Meeting on January 20, 2009
- Notice of Availability and comment period, December 2008
- News Release
- Scoping Report, March 2008
- 72 FR 72994, December 26, 2007. Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on salmon bycatch reduction measures in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. Comment period through February 15, 2008.
Related Information
- Salmon Fishery Mangement
- Report to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council on the Bering Sea Pollock Intercooperative Salmon Avoidance Agreement, Karl Haflinger, Sea State Inc. - Intercoop Monitor, John Gruver, AFA Catcher Vessel Intercooperative Manager, February 2008
- EA/RIR/FRFA for Modifying existing Chinook and chum salmon savings areas Final Rule Implementing Amendment 84 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (PDF), October 2007
- BSAI Chinook Salmon Mortality Estimates, 1991-2008
- BSAI Non-Chinook Salmon Mortality Estimates, 1991-2008
- North Pacific Fishery Management Council - Salmon Bycatch Information