Juneau Office

2 Marine Way, Suite 227 Juneau, AK 99801 (907) 523-0731 phone (206) 260-3639 fax
Adak Community Development Corporation Alaska Crab Coalition Alaska Longline Co. Alaska Whitefish Trawlers Association Alaska Groundfish Data Bank Alaska Pacific Seafoods Alaska Scallop Association Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association
Akutan, Atka, False Pass, Nelson Lagoon, Nikolski, St. George

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts:

July 12, 2011

Seattle Office

4005 20th Avenue W, Suite 115 Seattle, WA 98199

John Gruver: (206) 282-2599 Merrick Burden: (541) 730-2184

Arctic Storm Management Group Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation

Aleknagik, Clarks Point, Dillingham, Egegik, Ekuk, Ekwok, King Salmon, Levelock, Manokotak, Naknek, Pilot Point, Port Heiden, Portage Creek, South Naknek, Togiak, Twin Hills, Ugashik

ALASKA POLLOCK COOPERATIVES AGREE TO 5,000 SQUARE MILE SALMON BYCATCH AVOIDANCE AREA IN BERING SEA Catch Share Program Makes Cooperative Response Possible Today, the Bering Sea pollock industry took action to reduce chum salmon bycatch. Through the use of the Inter-cooperative Salmon Agreement, the pollock fishery has agreed to allow SeaState to close an additional 1,000 square nautical miles of fishing grounds to reduce encounters with chum salmon, bringing the total area allowed for closure to 5,000 square nautical miles. This is an area larger than the state of Connecticut, and twenty times larger than the Prudhoe Bay oil fields. Chum salmon are proving to be more abundant so far this year. This is reflected on the pollock grounds and in river escapements. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADFG) recently increased Yukon River run size projections to 2.0 million fish, up from 1.3 to 1.6 million chum salmon. Under the cooperative program, SeaState, an independent organization, reviews federal observer data collected while vessels are actively fishing and has the authority to close specific fishing grounds whenever a salmon hot spot is identified. The fishery also uses spatial measures for other species, such as squid, where bycatch was successfully reduced several years ago through area closures. We as the Inter-cooperative can take the bull by the horns and address this problem, explains John Gruver of the United Catcher Boats. I think we are doing the right thing. Several years ago, the Alaska pollock fishery became one of the nations first catch share fisheries, effectively ending the race for fish and replacing it with a cooperative-based fishing culture.

Central Bering Sea Fishermen's Association

St. Paul

City of Unalaska Coastal Villages Region Fund

Chefornak, Chevak, Eek, Goodnews Bay, Hooper Bay, Kipnuk, Kongiganak, Kwigillingok, Mekoryuk, Napakiak, Napaskiak, Newtok, Nightmute, Oscarville, Platinum, Quinhagak, Scammon Bay, Toksook Bay, Tuntutuliak, Tununak

Glacier Fish Company Groundfish Forum High Seas Catchers Cooperative Icicle Seafoods Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation
Brevig Mission, Diomede, Elim, Gambell, Golovin, Koyuk, Nome, Saint Michael, Savoonga, Shaktoolik, Stebbins, Teller, Unalakleet, Wales, White Mountain

United Catcher Boats

Akutan Catcher Vessel Association Mothership Fleet Cooperative Northern Victor Fleet Peter Pan Fleet Cooperative Unalaska Co-op Unisea Fleet Cooperative F/V Arctic Wind, F/V Caitlin Ann, F/V Dona Martita, F/V Pacific Prince

U.S. Seafoods Waterfront Associates Western Alaska Fisheries, Inc. Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association
Alakanuk, Emmonak, Grayling, Kotlik, Mountain Village, Nunam Iqua

For more information about the hot-spot program and its effectiveness as a salmon avoidance tool, go to: http://www.youtube.com/seaalliance#p/u/0/JjZpxonAnNc

**** The Marine Conservation Alliance (MCA) is an association of fishermen, processors and communities involved in the groundfish and crab fisheries in the Federal waters off of the coast of Alaska.

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