Assessment of the Effects of Fishing on Essential Fish Habitat in Alaska
April 01, 2017
Discussion paper evaluating whether the current impacts of fishing on essential fish habitat presented the potential for impacts that were more than minimal or not temporary.
In December 2016, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (the Council) approved a three-tiered method to assess the impacts of fishing on EFH, using the Fishing Effects model that the Council also approved in December 2016. The results of the Fishing Effects model were delivered to stock assessment authors for each species in the GOA and BSAI FMPs. The authors were asked to evaluate whether the current impacts of fishing on EFH presented the potential for impacts that were more than minimal or not temporary. This discussion paper presents the results of their analysis.