Note to Reader: The Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (FMP) includes all amendments that have been approved by the Secretary of Commerce through March 5, 2021. Some information contained in this FMP, however, needs to be updated since typical FMP amendments tend to change only those portions of the FMP that are relevant to a specific action. To bring all background information and formatting in this FMP up to date, staff are preparing a “housekeeping amendment”. Like all FMP amendments, the housekeeping amendment will be reviewed by the Council, which, if adopted, will be submitted to the Secretary for review and approval under the MSA. Following that review and approval process, a revised FMP will be posted to the Council's website. In the meantime, Council staff are available to answer any questions you may have about this or any other Council FMP. Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs March 2021 North Pacific Fishery Management Council 1007 West Third, Suite 400 Anchorage, Alaska 99501-2252 Phone: (907) 271-2809 Table of Contents Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 1 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 6 2 Procedures for FMP Implementation .............................................................................................................. 9 3 Finding of Consistency of Existing State Regulations with the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and Other Applicable Federal Law ................................................................................................................ 13 4 Definitions of Terms ....................................................................................................................................... 14 5 Description of Fishery Management Unit ..................................................................................................... 16 6 Status Determination Criteria and Annual Catch Limits ............................................................................. 18 6.1 Five-Tier System ............................................................................................................................................ 19 6.1.1 Tiers 1 through 3 ................................................................................................................................. 21 6.1.2 Tier 4 .................................................................................................................................................... 21 6.1.3 Tier 5 .................................................................................................................................................... 22 6.2 Rebuilding Overfished Fisheries .................................................................................................................... 24 6.2.1 Bering Sea Tanner (Chionoecetes bairdi) crab .................................................................................... 24 6.2.2 Bering Sea snow (Chionoecetes opilio) crab ........................................................................................ 26 6.2.3 St Matthew blue king (Paralithodes platypus) crab ............................................................................ 27 6.2.4 Pribilof Islands blue king crab (Paralithodes platypus)........................................................................ 28 6.2.5 St. Matthew blue king (Paralithodes platypus) crab ........................................................................... 29 7 Goal and Objectives ....................................................................................................................................... 30 7.1 Management Goal ......................................................................................................................................... 30 7.2 Management Objectives ................................................................................................................................ 30 7.2.1 Biological Conservation Objective: Ensure the long-term reproductive viability of king and Tanner crab populations. ................................................................................................................................... 30 7.2.2 Economic and Social Objective: Maximize economic and social benefits to the nation over time. ... 30 7.2.3 Gear Conflict Objective: Minimize gear conflict among fisheries. ...................................................... 31 7.2.4 Habitat Objective: To protect, conserve, and enhance adequate quantities of essential fish habitat (EFH) to support king and Tanner crab populations and maintain a healthy ecosystem. ..................... 31 7.2.5 Vessel Safety Objective: Provide public access to the regulatory process for vessel safety considerations. ....................................................................................................................................... 32 7.2.6 Due Process Objective: Ensure that access to the regulatory process and opportunity for redress are available to all interested parties. .......................................................................................................... 32 7.2.7 Research and Management Objective: Provide fisheries research, data collection, and analysis to ensure a sound information base for management decisions. .............................................................. 32 8 Management Measures .................................................................................................................................. 34 8.1 Category 1 Federal Management Measures Fixed By The FMP ................................................................... 34 8.1.1 Legal Gear ............................................................................................................................................ 34 8.1.2 Permit Requirements .......................................................................................................................... 35 8.1.3 Federal Observer Requirements ......................................................................................................... 35 8.1.4 Limited Access ..................................................................................................................................... 35 8.1.5 Superexclusive Registration in Norton Sound ..................................................................................... 38 8.1.6 Essential Fish Habitat and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern .......................................................... 38 8.1.7 American Fisheries Act (AFA) sideboard restrictions .......................................................................... 40 8.2 Category 2 Framework Management Measures ............................................................................................ 40 8.2.1 Minimum Size Limits ........................................................................................................................... 40 8.2.2 Total Allowable Catch and Guideline Harvest Level ............................................................................ 41 8.2.3 In-season Adjustments ........................................................................................................................ 42 8.2.4 District, Subdistrict, and Section Boundaries ...................................................................................... 44 BSAI Crab FMP i March 2021 8.2.5 Fishing Seasons .................................................................................................................................... 45 8.2.6 Sex Restrictions ................................................................................................................................... 46 8.2.7 Pot Limits ............................................................................................................................................. 46 8.2.8 Registration Areas ............................................................................................................................... 47 8.2.9 Closed Waters ..................................................................................................................................... 49 8.2.10 Harvest Limitations for AFA vessels .................................................................................................. 49 8.3 Category 3 Management Measures Deferred to State................................................................................... 49 8.3.1 Reporting Requirements ..................................................................................................................... 49 8.3.2 Gear Placement and Removal ............................................................................................................. 50 8.3.3 Gear Storage ........................................................................................................................................ 50 8.3.4 Vessel Tank Inspections ....................................................................................................................... 50 8.3.5 Gear Modifications .............................................................................................................................