NOAA Fisheries, in consultation with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on salmon bycatch reduction measures in the Bering Sea, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The proposed action is to manage salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery in compliance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The proposed action would replace the current Chinook and Chum Salmon Savings Areas in the Bering Sea with new regulatory closures, salmon bycatch limits, or a combination of both. These management measures could incorporate current or new bycatch reduction methods. The scope of the EIS will be to determine the impacts to the human environment resulting from these salmon bycatch reduction measures.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

• Scoping Report, March 2008


• News Release: January 17, 2008 Salmon Bycatch EIS Under Way


• 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.


• Printed EIS Request Form

RELATED DOCUMENTS

• 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, October 2007


• BSAI Chinook Salmon Mortality Estimates, 1991-2007


• BSAI Non-Chinook Salmon Mortality Estimates, 1991-2007


• North Pacific Fishery Management Council - Salmon Bycatch Information