Chinook Salmon Bycatch Management
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
- 2012 Prohibited Species Catch Reports: annual, seasonal
- BSAI Chinook Salmon Mortality Estimates, 1991 - present
- BSAI Non-Chinook Salmon Mortality Estimates, 1991 - present
Chinook Salmon Bycatch Electronic Monitoring
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Electronic Monitoring System Inspection Request
Forms and Applications
- Amendment 91 Chinook Salmon Online Services: Check account balances, view ledger reports, and make inter-group transfers
- Application for Approval as an Entity to Receive Transferable Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Allocation
- Initial application and contract must be received by October 1.
- Additions or deletions to the vessel owner's party to the contract or the list of vessels represented by the entity must be received by December 1.
- Application for an Incentive Plan Agreement (IPA) and List of IPA participants
- Application and IPA must be received by October 1
- To change the list of IPA participants, application must be received by December 1.
- Application for Transfer of Bering Sea Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Allocations
- Groundfish/Halibut CDQ and Prohibited Species Quota (PSQ) Transfer Request
- Chinook Salmon Economic Data Reports for the AFA Pollock Fishery
- The following forms are posted for information purposes only - do not use for submitting completed EDR reports. The first submission deadline for A91 EDR forms is June 1, 2013, reporting data for the 2012 calendar year. The process for electronic EDR submission required under the final rule is under development and electronic forms will be made available here in advance of the 2013 deadline. The documents posted below identify all data fields for which data submission will be required under the final rule and are made available to facilitate IPA participants' record keeping during CY 2012 in advance of the EDR submission. Address questions regarding the A91 EDR implementation to Brian Garber-Yonts, (206) 526-6301, email: brian.garber-yonts@noaa.gov.
- Vessel Master Survey
- Vessel Fuel Survey
- Chinook PSC Allocation In-Season Compensated Transfer Report
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.
- Chinook Salmon Bycatch Reduction Incentive Plan and Agreement
- Approval Letter, November 2010
- Mothership Salmon Savings Incentive Plan Agreement
- Approval Letter, November 2010
- Application for IPA Agreement Amendment: 2012, 2011
- Amendment Approval Letter: 2012, 2011
- Inshore Chinook Salmon Savings Incentive Plan Agreement
- Approval Letter, November 2010
- Application for IPA Agreement Amendment: 2011
- Amendment Approval Letter: 2011
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
- Record of Decision, May 2010
- Public comments on the FEIS
- Final EIS - Volume I (One 9 MB PDF. Also available by chapter in separate PDFs below.)
- Dear Reviewer
- Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- 1: Introduction
- 2: Description of Alternatives
- 3: Methodology for Impact Alternatives
- 4: Walleye Pollock
- 5: Chinook Salmon
- 6: Chum Salmon
- 7: Other Groundfish, Other Prohibited Species and Forage Fish
- 8: Other Marine Resources
- 9: Comment Analysis Report
- 10: Preparers and Persons Consulted
- 11: References
- 12: Distribution List
- 13: Index
- Final Regulatory Impact Review - Volume II (One 3 MB PDF.)
- 74 FR 67206, December 18, 2009. Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact Statement on Bering Sea Chinook Salmon Bycatch Management. Wait Period Ends: February 16, 2010.
DRAFT Bering Sea Chinook Salmon Bycatch Management EIS/RIR/IRFA, December 2008
- Dear Reviewer Letter
- Draft EIS/RIR/IRFA
- Public Comment Period
- 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 Management
- Tribal Consultations
- American Fisheries Act (AFA) Pollock Fisheries Management
- U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Announces "Fishery Failure" Determination for Alaska Chinook Salmon, January 2010
- Supplemental Biological Opinion Reinitiating Consultation on the January 11, 2007 Biological Opinion regarding Authorization of Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Groundfish Fisheries, December 2009
- 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
- North Pacific Fishery Management Council - Salmon Bycatch Information