Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch in the Gulf of Alaska Non-Pollock Trawl Fisheries
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ITEM C-4 JUNE 2013 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT / REGULATORY IMPACT REVIEW / INITIAL REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANALYSIS For a proposed Amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch in the Gulf of Alaska Non-Pollock Trawl Fisheries May 15, 2013 North Pacific Fishery Management Council 605 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 306 Anchorage, Alaska 99501 Tel: (907) 271-2809 ITEM C-4 JUNE 2013 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ‘ feet Magnuson- Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation AAC Alaska Administrative Code Stevens Act and Management Act ABC acceptable biological catch MMPA Marine Mammal Protection Act ADF&G Alaska Department of Fish and Game MSST minimum stock size threshold AEQ adult equivalent mt metric ton AFA American Fisheries Act NAO NOAA Administrative Order AFSC Alaska Fisheries Science Center NEPA National Environmental Policy Act AGDB Alaska Groundfish Data Bank NMFS National Marine Fishery Service AKFIN Alaska Fisheries Information Network NOAA National Oceanographic and Atmospheric ANILCA Alaska National Interest Lands Administration Conservation Act NPAFC North Pacific Anadromous Fish BASIS Bering Sea-Aleutian Salmon International Commission Survey NPFMC North Pacific Fishery Management Council BEG biological escapement goal NPPSD North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database BOF Board of Fish Observer North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program Program BSAI Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands OEG optimal escapement goal CAS Catch Accounting System OMB Office of Management and Budget CEQ Council on Environmental Quality PBR potential biological removal CFR Code of Federal Regulations PSC prohibited species catch COAR Commercial Operators Annual Report PRA Paperwork Reduction Act Council North Pacific Fishery Management Council PSEIS Programmatic Supplemental Environmental CP catcher/processor Impact Statement CV catcher vessel PWS Prince William Sound CWT coded-wire tag RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act DPS distinct population segment RFFA reasonably foreseeable future action E East RIR Regulatory Impact Review E.O. Executive Order RPA reasonable and prudent alternative EA Environmental Assessment RSW refrigerated seawater EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone SAFE Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation EFH essential fish habitat SAR stock assessment report EIS Environmental Impact Statement SBA Small Business Act ESA Endangered Species Act Secretary Secretary of Commerce SEG sustainable escapement goal ESU endangered species unit SET sustainable escapement threshold FMA Fisheries Monitoring and Analysis SNP single nucleotide polymorphism FMP fishery management plan SPLASH Structure of Populations, Levels of FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact Abundance, and Status of Humpbacks FR Federal Register SRKW Southern Resident killer whales FRFA Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis SSFP Sustainable Salmon Fisheries Policy ft foot or feet SW southwest GHL guideline harvest level TAC total allowable catch GOA Gulf of Alaska U.S. United States ID Identification IRFA Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis USCG United States Coast Guard IPA Incentive Plan Agreement USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service IQF individually quick frozen VMS vessel monitoring system JAM jeopardy or adverse modification W West lb(s) pound(s) WED week-ending date LEI long-term effect index LLP license limitation program LOA length overall m meter or meters GOA Chinook PSC limits for non-pollock trawl fisheries, May 2013 i ITEM C-4 JUNE 2013 Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. xi 1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Action Area ................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Bycatch and Prohibited Species Catch Terminology .................................................................................... 2 1.4 History of this Action .................................................................................................................................... 2 1.5 Other Relevant Council Actions ................................................................................................................... 4 2 Description of Alternatives ................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Alternative 1: No Action ............................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Alternative 2: PSC limit(s) between 5,000 and 12,500 Chinook Salmon ...................................................... 6 2.3 Alternative 3: Full Retention ...................................................................................................................... 11 2.4 Management and Monitoring .................................................................................................................... 12 2.5 Alternatives Considered but not Advanced ............................................................................................... 12 3 Environmental Assessment ................................................................................................. 14 3.1 Methodology for Impacts Analysis ............................................................................................................. 14 3.2 Groundfish Species ..................................................................................................................................... 16 3.2.1 Effects of the Alternatives ..................................................................................................................... 16 3.3 Chinook Salmon ......................................................................................................................................... 19 3.3.1 Overview of Biology and Ecological Role ............................................................................................... 19 3.3.2 Prohibited Species Catch of Chinook Salmon in the GOA Non‐pollock Fisheries .................................. 21 3.3.3 River of Origin Information and Prohibited Species Catch Composition Sampling ............................... 25 3.3.4 Management and Assessment of Chinook Salmon Stocks .................................................................... 34 3.3.5 Chinook Salmon Stocks by area ............................................................................................................. 37 3.3.6 ESA‐listed Chinook Salmon Stocks in the Pacific Northwest ................................................................. 44 3.3.7 Hatchery Releases .................................................................................................................................. 48 3.3.8 Effects of Alternatives on Chinook Salmon ............................................................................................ 49 3.4 Marine Mammals ....................................................................................................................................... 53 3.4.1 Marine Mammals Status ........................................................................................................................ 55 3.4.2 Effects on Marine Mammals .................................................................................................................. 60 3.5 Seabirds ...................................................................................................................................................... 65 3.5.1 Seabird Species and Status .................................................................................................................... 65 3.5.2 Effects on Seabirds................................................................................................................................. 71 3.6 Habitat ........................................................................................................................................................ 76 3.6.1 Effects of the Alternatives ..................................................................................................................... 76 3.7 Ecosystem .................................................................................................................................................. 77 3.8 Cumulative Effects ..................................................................................................................................... 78 4 Regulatory Impact Review .................................................................................................. 81 4.1 Statutory Authority .................................................................................................................................... 82 4.2 Purpose and Need ...................................................................................................................................... 82 4.3 Description of the Alternatives .................................................................................................................. 83 4.4 Description of Gulf of Alaska Trawl Fisheries ............................................................................................