In a vote on Tanner crab bycatch on Kodiak’s east side, the council voted to close trawl fishing in parts of one of four areas being considered to protect crab populations. The council also voted to create restrictions on trawl and codfish pot fishing in the other three areas.
NPFMC was proposing the trawling closures and restrictions as a means to reduce the crab bycatch unintentionally caught by trawlers targeting groundfish. Duncan, one of NPFMC members, said that this has been one of the toughest issues have been involved in on the council.
Of the four areas, the council voted to close part of the Marmot Bay area to trawl fishing and require more observer coverage and gear modifications in the other three. The Marmot Bay closure extends an existing groundfish closure in Marmot Bay north to Marmot Island.
Fisherman fishing for codfish with pots in about half of the areas will also now be required to carry observers 30 percent of the time. The council also initiated a process that may require trawlers to install floats on their gear when fishing elsewhere around Kodiak in the Gulf of Alaska. This modification lifts the trawl ropes above the ocean floor.
