Seabird Bycatch Estimates for Alaska Groundfish Fisheries From 2016 Through 2017
November 28, 2018
This annual report details seabird bycatch estimates by gear type for the years 2007 through 2017 and supplements the “Seabird Bycatch and Mitigation Efforts in Alaska Fisheries Summary Report: 2007 through 2015”.
NOAA Fisheries annually updates estimates of seabirds caught as bycatch in commercial groundfish fisheries operating in Federal waters off Alaska. This annual report details seabird bycatch estimates by gear type for the years 2007 through 2017 and supplements the “Seabird Bycatch and Mitigation Efforts in Alaska Fisheries Summary Report: 2007 through 2015” (Eich et al. 2016). The focus of this report is to add and describe seabird bycatch data for 2016 and 2017. This report presents bycatch estimates from the following gear types: demersal longline, pelagic trawl, non-pelagic trawl, and pot. These estimates do not apply to gillnet, seine, troll, or jig gear.