Featured Press Release
SalmonState: Disappointment with Council’s decision to punt, again, and allow trawlers to continue to drag bottom in protected areas supposedly closed to bottom trawling for at least three more years
“Once again, the Council has failed to take a common-sense step to close a trawl-sized loophole in the fishery it manages,” said Tim Bristol.
NMFS Closes Gulf of Alaska Trawl Season Early Due to Alarming Chinook Bycatch
ANCHORAGE, AK— The National Marine Fisheries Service was forced to close most of the Gulf of Alaska to pollock trawling last week after two “midwater” trawlers accidentally netted 2,000 Chinook salmon in one day bringing the estimated season total of Chinook bycatch to near or over their allowable number. While pelagic or midwater gear is supposed to be off the seafloor, recent studies found that trawl nets contact the bottom on average 40% to 80% of the time, with rates up to 100% on factory ships, also called catcher/processors. Last week's closure halts fishing for 20 boats ahead of their scheduled Nov. 1 closure. The North Pacific Council will meet this week in Anchorage to discuss whether or not to clarify if midwater nets should be allowed to drag the bottom.
“Deep disappointment” from Alaskans at Biden Administration's trawl appointee
JUNEAU—The Biden Administration’s rejection today of Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s top appointees for a seat on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council is a source of deep disappointment for a broad cross-section of Alaskans.