104 Development of Skate Habitat Areas of Particular Concern
Purpose and Need
In April 2010, the Council set skate nurseries as a habitat priority type in conjunction with the results of the 5-year EFH review process. In October 2010 the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) proposal for potential skate HPAC locations was accepted by the Council that identified six areas of relatively high concentrations of skate eggs (more than 1,000 egg cases per square kilometer in research bottom trawls) for several skate species in the Bering Sea. The Council decided that the areas designated skate HAPCs in the Bering Sea were rare and provided an important ecological function. These HAPCs emphasized the importance of essential fish habitat by making the areas subject for consultation on fishing and non-fishing activities such as drilling, dredging and filling, and laying cables.
Analysis
A 100-page EA was prepared for Amendment 104 that analyzed three alternatives for the identification of skate egg concentration HAPCs and two options for gear-type prohibitions. The option to upgrade skate egg locations as a Council research priority was also analyzed. Alternative 2, which intended to identify the six areas of skate egg concentrations as HAPCs, was accepted. The alternative that would have restricted fishing in the HAPC with fixed gear was eliminated by the council after it was decided that these gear types have minimal to no impacts on the proposed HAPCs. The analysis found there would be no significant impacts on the human environment from any proposed alternative or option with minor economic impacts.
Regulation Summary
Amendment 104 designated six areas (with a total area of roughly 82 nm2 ) of the Bering Sea with high concentrations of skate eggs as HAPCs, and defined the boundaries of each area. There are no fishing restrictions in the Bering Sea skate HAPCs. While there may be as-yet-unknown concentrations of skate eggs in Alaskan waters, the Council only considered the six locations identified in the August 2010 proposal by AFSC. No additional sites would be grandfathered-in.
Results
Skate populations continue to be assessed and are considered healthy.