US: Alaska tribal groups push for caps on salmon bycatch, while the pollock industry seeks genetic, data-driven solutions

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) is actively considering a series of alternatives to mitigate the bycatch of chum salmon in the Bering Sea pollock fishery, notably including the potential implementation of a 'hard cap' on the incidental catch. This initiative is primarily aimed at reducing the unintended capture of chum salmon originating from western Alaska, addressing growing concerns over the impact of bycatch on non-targeted species during commercial fishing operations.