The National Marine Fisheries Service today released its long-awaited draft biological opinion on the effects of commercial fishing on the endangered western population of Steller sea lions, concluding the fisheries are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the animals and "adversely modify" their critical habitat.
OK, so what does that mean?
The agency is proposing a "reasonable and prudent alternative," or slate of changes in the harvest of groundfish such as Pacific cod and Atka mackerel.
The idea behind the RPA is to minimize "local competition" between fishing boats and the sea lions for food fish.
The proposed fishing changes appear to be confined to waters in the central and western Aleutian Islands, where the sea lion population decline is most problematic.
Here is the RPA, taken directly from the massive biological opinion:
This RPA requires changes in groundfish fishery management in Management Sub-areas 543, 542, and 541 in the Aleutian Islands Management Area.
RPA for Area 543
Pacific cod fishery
1. Close the directed fishery and prohibit retention of P. Cod in Area 543.
Atka mackerel fishery
1. Close the directed fishery and prohibit retention of Atka mackerel in Area 543.
RPA for Area 542
Groundfish fishery
1. Close waters from 0-3 nm around Kanaga Island/Ship Rock to directed fishing for groundfish by federally permitted vessels.
Pacific cod fishery
1. Close the 0-10 nm zone of critical habitat to directed P. cod fishing by federally permitted vessels using fixed gear year round. Close the 10-20 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing for P. cod by federally permitted vessels using fixed gear January 1 through June 10.
2. Close the 0-20 nm zone of critical habitat year-round to directed fishing for P. cod by federally permitted vessels using trawl gear.
3. Prohibit P. cod fishing November 1 through December 31 in Area 542.
Atka mackerel fishery
1. Close the 0-20 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing for Atka mackerel by federally permitted vessels year round.
2. Set Atka mackerel TAC for Area 542 to no more than 47% of ABC.
3. Eliminate the HLA platoon system for Atka mackerel harvest.
4. Change the Atka mackerel seasons to January 20 through June 10 for the A season and June 10-November 1 for the B season.
RPA for Area 541
Pacific cod fishery
1. Close the 0-10 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing for P. cod by federally permitted vessels year-round.
2. Close the 10-20 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing for P. cod using fixed gear by federally permitted vessels January 1 through June 10.
3. Close the 10-20 nm zone of critical habitat to directed fishing by for P. cod using trawl gear by federally permitted vessels June 10 through November 1.
4. Prohibit P. cod fishing November 1 through December 31 in Area 541.
Atka mackerel fishery
1. The available data do not indicate a need to further modify fishery management measures to conserve Atka mackerel forage availability within this fishery management area. However, the elimination of the platoon management system provides an opportunity to further disperse the Atka mackerel seasons to January 20 through June 10 for the A season and June 10 through November 1 for the B season.
I had Atka mackerel recently here in Illinois, purchased at a large Asian food store. It was cooked & given out as samples. Very tasty! Hope this does not make too much of a negative impact for the Atka fishermen.
ReplyDeleteLinduh, no actual Atkan's fish for Atka mackerel, believe it or not. It's an industrial fishery, larger boats using trawls. There may be some Atkan working on a boat (likely ported in Seattle) but that would be it as far a resident of Atka fishing for Atka mackerel. The negative impact is on someone that lives in Seattle. Also, the loss of CDQ income, most of which, sadly does not end up in Atkan's hands.
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