G33 Kodiak Pelagic Trawl Closures (Withdrawn)
Purpose and Need
Under Amendment 26, time/area closures and crab protection zones around Kodiak became permanent. These restrictions afforded protection to king crab in some areas during their molting or soft-shell period while in other areas it protected crabs from trawls year-round. The closures applied to bottom trawling operations only. In January 1993, the NOAA Office of Enforcement expressed concern about the effectiveness of the amendment as adopted by the Council. Most trawl vessels that operate around Kodiak do not have full-time observer coverage, and the only way NOAA can enforce closures is by aerial surveillance. Air surveillance can rarely distinguish between a pelagic and bottom trawl operation. The Council asked staff to analyze a closure to all trawling in light of the enforcement difficulties. The purpose of this amendment was to fully meet the Council’s intent to protect crab habitat under Amendment 26.
Analysis
A 25-page EA/RIR/IRFA (final draft dated April 1993) was prepared for this amendment. Two alternatives were considered:
1) Status quo
2) Closing the time/area crab protection zones around Kodiak Island as specified under Amendment 26 to all trawling, including pelagic trawling. The analysis indicated that the proposed alternative would make enforcement of crab closures by aerial surveillance more effective and less costly, as all vessels observed fishing with trawls in the closed areas would be in violation. The analysis also noted that bycatch rates of pelagic trawls in the Gulf of Alaska are very low.
Regulation Summary
The amendment was withdrawn.
Results
The Council noted that the analysis indicated that closing these areas to pelagic trawling could reduce some important nearshore pollock fishing grounds, and that the existing closures have been closely monitored by the Kodiak fishing industry for several years. On the basis of effective self-enforcement, the Council moved not to send the analysis out for public review and the amendment was effectively withdrawn from further consideration.