An Alaska taskforce has made key recommendations to improve fish harvesting practices and to conduct more research on the effects of climate change on freshwater spawning ground ecosystems.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, the man who established the task force one year ago, published the final report of the group late Thursday.
Dunleavy stated in a statement that he looks forward to working with Task Force members and stakeholders to ensure more fish return to Alaska’s waters.
The Alaska Bycatch Task Force was formed in response to the collapse of salmon runs essential to western Alaska. Its work was extended to include bycatch of various species of crab and halibut.
Crab stocks have also fallen like salmon. Two important harvests were closed this year due to population crashes: the Bering Sea red king crab fishery , and the Bristol Bay snow crab fishery .
The task force stated that bycatch can be avoided to a certain extent.
Bycatch is a common problem in all fisheries. Our work revealed a need for continued efforts to reduce and avoid bycatch. John Jensen (the task force chairman) stated in an introduction to the final report that there was a need for long-term strategies to reduce unavoidable bycatch.
The report recommends that the state establish a scientific-based firm cap on chum salmon bycatch in Bering Sea pollock fishing.
This cap was established long ago for Chinook salmon. It is also the subject of a U.S. Canada treaty. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is the federal panel that regulates commercial fishing in federal waterways. However, it has not yet set any limit on any bycatch of any other salmon species.
A second recommendation is to increase the number of people who observe the trawl fleet in the Gulf of Alaska. The report stated that all bottom trawling vessels in the Gulf of Alaska should have certified fishermen onboard to better track the bycatch. Trawling refers to fishing with a wide, heavy net that a vessel drags. This is often used to catch groundfish close the sea bottom.
These observers are required for all pollock trawlers in the Bering Sea. However, only partial observer coverage will be required for vessels harvesting in the Gulf of Alaska.
At its meeting in Anchorage, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council will review the findings of task force. This council will meet through the middle of next week to discuss and decide on 2023 groundfish harvest levels.
Friday’s council rejection of a proposal for an emergency rule would have prohibited fishing for six months in an area that measures approximately 3,900 sq. miles and is considered essential habitat for red-king crab.
Bering Sea crab harvesters requested the rule. They claim that the ban would protect crabs from being hurt or killed by trawl equipment that scrapes the seafloor.
Jamie Goen, executive Director of the Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers organisation, stated in a email to council that emergency action is justifiable. She stated that “time is critical for the protection of this stock.”
Representatives from the trawling harvesters question the effectiveness of the emergency rule. Leaders of the At Sea Processors Association, and United Catcher Boats wrote to the council to question the effectiveness of the emergency rule. They also stated that there is an extremely low red king catch by the trawl fleet and that pushing vessels out of the red king crab protected zone would increase the chance of bycatch of salmon or other species.
The council members ultimately ruled that the crab harvesters’ rule was unsupportable.
“I am most certain that this is an emergency. Before voting with the rest to reject the rule, Andy Mezirow stated that it doesn’t meet the criteria for emergency action.
The Alaska Beacon originally published this story. It is republished with permission.
