USA: Fishery council votes to study tighter limit on Bering Sea pollock fleet’s chum salmon bycatch

Published 2024년 4월 11일

Tridge summary

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is considering implementing stricter regulations on chum salmon bycatch by Bering Sea pollock trawlers, in response to concerns from Western Alaskans about the declining salmon populations. A notable proposal could limit the pollock fleet's summer harvest if bycatch exceeds 100,000 chum salmon, a threshold that has been frequently surpassed in recent years, though still above the 22,000 limit advocated by tribes and an advisory panel. Amidst emotional testimonies highlighting the cultural and subsistence importance of chinook and chum salmon in regions facing high grocery costs, the council is exploring measures such as a lower chum salmon cap and the creation of a Bering Sea chum corridor with a separate cap. These efforts, coupled with technological advancements aimed at reducing bycatch, reflect a broader initiative to balance economic interests with conservation and cultural respect, particularly in light of the challenges posed by climate change and maritime heat waves.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

After a marathon of testimony dominated by Western Alaskans’ anguish over declining salmon runs, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council voted this week to consider tighter restrictions on chum salmon accidentally taken by Bering Sea pollock trawlers. Under one council alternative, the pollock fleet’s summer harvest season could be shut down if as few as 100,000 chum were brought up in nets. That is an annual chum bycatch tally that the pollock fleet has most often exceeded in recent years. But it’s still well above the 22,000 chum limit that a council advisory panel — with support from tribes — sought to include as a possible cap. “It’s a tough call, and hence the balance,” said Rachel Baker, a state Department of Fish and Game official who serves on the federal council and crafted the motion. “It’s so clear, with this rule, you are directly affecting people’s lives. And that’s a huge responsibility.” The motion approved by the council Monday revises an earlier range of ...

Source: Adn