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National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Regional Office

Chinook Salmon Bycatch Management

Chinook salmon, female

Chinook salmon are accidentally caught in the federally managed pollock fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI).

In the GOA, the Council recommended Amendment 93 to limit the amount of Chinook salmon caught in the pollock fishery. NMFS is in the process of reviewing this amendment and developing regulations. If approved, NMFS plans to implement Amendment 93 for the 2012 pollock fishery.

Amendment 91 is an innovative approach to managing Chinook salmon bycatch in the BSAI pollock fishery that combines a limit on the amount of Chinook salmon that may be caught incidentally with incentive plan agreements and performance standard. The program was designed to minimize bycatch to the extent practicable in all years, and prevent bycatch from reaching the limit in most years, while providing the pollock fleet with the flexibility to harvest the total allowable catch. NMFS implemented this program for the 2011 BSAI pollock fishery.


Gulf of alaska (GOA) Information


GOA Salmon Catch Reports


Amendment 93

  • 77 FR 42629, July 20, 2012. NMFS publishes regulations to implement Amendment 93 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The regulations apply exclusively to the directed pollock trawl fisheries in the Central and Western Reporting Areas of the Gulf of Alaska. Effective August 25, 2012, except for: 50 CFR 679.21(h)(2) will be effective January 1, 2013, and 50 CFR 679.21(h)(3) will be effective August 25, 2012, until November 1, 2012.
  • 76 FR 77757, December 14, 2011.Proposed rule to implement Amendment 93 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA. Comment period through January 30, 2012.
  • 76 FR 72384, November 23, 2011. Notice of availability of Amendment 93 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA. Amendment 93, if approved, would establish separate prohibited species catch limits in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the GOA for Chinook salmon. Comment period through January 23, 2012.
  • EA/RIR/IRFA for Amendment 93 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska - Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch in the Gulf of Alaska Pollock Fishery, February 2012

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Information


BSAI Salmon Catch Reports


Chinook Salmon Bycatch Electronic Monitoring


Forms and Applications


Incentive Plan Agreements

On October 1, 2010, NMFS received three proposed incentive plan agreements. On November 5, 2010, all three incentive plan agreements were approved.


BSAI Regulations


Amendment 91

  • 77 FR 5389, February 3, 2012. Final rule to implement the Chinook Salmon Economic Data Report Program, which will evaluate the effectiveness of Chinook salmon bycatch management measures for the Bering Sea pollock fishery. Effective March 5, 2012.
    • 77 FR 14304, March 9, 2012. Correction to an error in paragraph numbering in 77 FR 5389. Effective March 9, 2012 and applicable March 5, 2012.
  • 75 FR 58337, September 24, 2010. Corrections to 75 FR 53026, August 30, 2010 to amend content within tables to eliminate potential confusion by the public. Effective September 29, 2010.
  • 75 FR 53026, August 30, 2010. Final regulations to implement management measures for Chinook salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery - Amendment 91 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI. Effective September 29, 2010.
    • Approval letter to NPFMC, May 2010
    • 75 FR 14016, March 23, 2010. Proposed rule to implement Amendment 91 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) to manage Chinook salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery. Comments must be received by May 7, 2010.
    • 75 FR 7228, February 18, 2010. Notice of availability of Amendment 91 to the FMP for Groundfish of the BSAI Management Area to manage Chinook salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery. Comment period through April 19, 2010.
    • Amendment 91 (text)

BSAI Analysis

FINAL Bering Sea Chinook Salmon Bycatch Management EIS/RIR, December 2009


DRAFT Bering Sea Chinook Salmon Bycatch Management EIS/RIR/IRFA, December 2008


Related Information


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