Incidental Takes and Interactions of Marine Mammals and Birds in Districts 6, 7 and 8 of the Southeast Alaska Salmon Drift Gillnet Fishery, 2012 and 2013
April 04, 2015
Marine Mammal Observer Program observations of the Southeast Alaska salmon drift gillnet fishery.
NOAA Fisheries' Alaska Marine Mammal Observer Program (AMMOP) monitors marine mammal interactions with state-managed commercial fisheries. Information collected by the AMMOP is included in the annual Stock Assessment Reports published by NOAA Fisheries for all marine mammal stocks in U.S. waters. A "stock" is a group of marine mammals of the same species or subspecies in a common area that interbreed when mature.
The AMMOP was set up in 1990 to gather information about serious injuries and mortalities of marine mammals from takes during commercial fishing operations in Alaska. The gathering of data on serious injuries and mortalities from takes of marine birds is an important secondary benefit from the program. The observing in 2012 and 2013 was intended to obtain information on marine mammal and bird takes from drift gillnet fishing in districts 6, 7 and 8 in Southeast Alaska. There are plans to observe drift gillnet fishing in other districts in Southeast Alaska in later years.