National Marine Fisheries Service
Alaska Region
NEWS RELEASE

NORTH PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL TAKES FINAL ACTION ON REVISIONS TO SEABIRD AVOIDANCE MEASURES IN GROUNDFISH AND HALIBUT HOOK-AND-LINE FISHERIES OFF ALASKA

At its December 2001 meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) recommended changes to the existing regulations for seabird avoidance measures required in the groundfish and halibut hook-and-line fisheries off Alaska, announced Dr. James W. Balsiger, Administrator, Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries).

The proposed changes were based on results from a unique cooperative research effort that included fishery scientists from the Washington Sea Grant Program and the University of Washington, longline fishers, NOAA Fisheries, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Council. Scientists worked on commercial fishing vessels and this collaborative process allowed for buy-in from the industry earlier on in the process and helped create a sense of ownership in the project, and most importantly, in the results. This research represents the best scientific information available.

The Council recommended that the proposed requirements would be based on area fished, vessel length, vessel type, and gear type. This would address the varying characteristics found in the fishing operations of the very diverse demersal hook-and-line fleet for groundfish and Pacific halibut off Alaska.

The Council's recommendations include the following:

• Vessels over 55 ft length overall (LOA) in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) would be required to use paired streamer lines of specified performance and materials standards.
• Vessels over 26 ft LOA to 55 ft LOA would be required to use less stringent measures such as a buoy bag line or single streamer line—each with its own specified performance and materials standards. The requirement would depend upon fishing location (‘Inside' or EEZ, where ‘Inside' is Prince William Sound, Southeast Inside District, and state waters of Cook Inlet), vessel type (if masts, poles, or rigging on vessel), and gear type (if snap gear used).
• The performance and material standards for measures required on smaller vessels would be guidelines for an interim one-year period, at which time they would become required.
• Directed discharge (through chutes, pipes, or other similar devices suited for purpose of offal discharge) of residual bait or offal from the stern of the vessel while setting gear would be prohibited.
• A Seabird Avoidance Plan would be required onboard the vessel.
• Vessels less than or equal to 32 ft LOA fishing for halibut in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Area 4E within 0 to 3 miles of shore would be exempt from measures
.
• Vessels less than or equal to 26 ft LOA would continue to be exempt from seabird measures.

A. Pacific halibut in the IFQ and CDQ management programs (0 to 200 nm),

B. IFQ sablefish in EEZ waters (3 to 200 nm) and waters of the State of Alaska (0 to 3 nm), except waters of Prince William Sound and areas in which sablefish fishing is managed under a State of Alaska limited entry program (Clarence Strait, Chatham Strait), and

C. Groundfish (except IFQ sablefish) with hook-and-line gear in the U.S. EEZ waters off Alaska (3-200 nm).

• NOAA Fisheries will now proceed with proposed and final rulemaking based on the Council's recommendation on revisions to seabird avoidance measures.
• NOAA Fisheries anticipates that a final rule would be effective mid-year 2002.
• Although small vessels (>26 ft and <55 ft LOA) would be required to use revised seabird avoidance measures effective 2002, the performance and material standards for these required measures would be guidelines for a 1-year period. At that time they would become required in regulation.
• The performance and material standards for paired streamer lines (proposed for use on most vessels larger than 55 ft LOA) would be required in 2002.