19 Establish Prohibited Species Catch Limits for Non-Trawl Fisheries, Revise Trawl Fishery Categories for Prohibited Species Catch Accounting, Delay Fisheries Start Date, Expand Vessel Incentive Program
Purpose and Need
Amendment 19 was initiated to further address bycatch issues that were raised under Amendments 16 to the BSAI FMP and 21 to the GOA FMP. The purpose of this amendment was to control and reduce halibut bycatch mortality in the Alaska groundfish fisheries in response to the international, social, and economic conflicts between U.S. and Canadian halibut fishermen and U.S. groundfish fishermen that take halibut as bycatch.
Analysis
A 111-page EA/RIR/IRFA (final draft dated April 10, 1992) was prepared for this amendment. The analysis was broken down into different management actions, and alternatives for each were evaluated separately. The number of alternatives (including the status quo) considered varied for each management measure.
Regulation Summary
Amendments 19/24 established three FMP amendment management measures. These are as follows: 1) For 1992, reduce the Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit established for BSAI trawl gear from 5,333 metric tons (mt) to 5,033 mt, but retain the primary halibut PSC limit at 4,400 mt; 2) For 1992, establish a 750 mt Pacific halibut bycatch mortality limit for BSAI fixed gear; and 3) Establish FMP authority to develop and implement regulatory amendments that allow for time/area closures to reduce prohibited species bycatch rates (revised “hotspot authority”). In addition to the above FMP amendments, the following amendments to current regulations were adopted:
(1) Revise BSAI fishery definitions for purposes of monitoring fishery specific bycatch allowances and assigning vessels to fisheries for purposes of the vessel incentive program;
(2) Revise the management of BSAI trawl fishery categories for PSC accounting;
(3) Expand the vessel incentive program to address halibut bycatch rates in all trawl fisheries;
(4) Delay the season opening date of the BSAI and GOA groundfish trawl fisheries to January 20 of each fishing year to reduce salmon and halibut bycatch rates;
(5) Further delay the season opening date of the GOA trawl rockfish fishery to the Monday closest to July 1 to reduce halibut and chinook salmon bycatch rates; and
(6) Change directed fishing standards to further limit halibut bycatch associated with bottom trawl fisheries.
- Correction (57 FR 49750, 11/03/1992)
- Correction (57 FR 49653, 11/03/1992)
- Final Rule (57 FR 43926, 09/23/1992)
- Proposed Rule (57 FR 22695, 05/29/1992)
- Notice of Availability (57 FR 17879, 04/28/1992)
Results
Since the amendment was approved, bycatch of crab and halibut has been controlled to stay within the PSC limits. PSC catch limits have been apportioned among different trawl fisheries in the BSAI, and fisheries have been closed when their respective apportionments/seasonal allowances were reached. Catch of groundfish (particularly flatfish) has been foregone due to these restrictions. Few vessels have been cited for violations of the vessel incentive program. PSC management was again revisited in following amendments, such as BSAI Amendment 25.