Juneau, Alaska. December 15, 2008 – The North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC) announced December 13 the 2009 Alaska pollock total allowable catch (TAC) of 815,000 metric tons, an 18.5% reduction from 2008. The decision follows the recommendations of scientists to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the stock due to the cyclically lower abundance of Alaska pollock.

 “We manage Alaska’s fisheries with a steadfast commitment to science. That’s affirmed by the Council’s recent action regarding the Alaska pollock harvest,” said Doug Mecum, Director of the Alaska Region of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Alaska pollock, the popular whitefish used in everything from fish sandwiches to surimi, is the largest commercial food fishery in the world. Like all biological populations, Alaska pollock undergo cyclic variations in their abundance.  Scientists with NMFS, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), predicted this year’s decline in biomass due to low numbers of pollock reaching maturity between 2000 and 2005.  However, a strong class of young pollock from 2006 is expected to again increase the biomass in 2009.

For over thirty years, the Council has upheld the sustainable harvest level recommended by scientists.  In fact, the harvest limit for Alaska pollock is always set substantially below the level scientists say will biologically protect the stocks, never above. This precautionary approach means the long-term health of both the fish and the ecosystem are the top priority, and is one reason why Alaska’s fisheries are considered a model of sustainability for the world.

Fishing for Alaska pollock is prohibited in certain areas, to protect the vulnerable concentrations of spawning pollock. Further, Alaska’s marine protected areas (MPAs) protect critical habitats, marine mammals, and other species and maintain a healthy ecosystem with fishing restrictions over thousands of square miles. No species of Alaska seafood has ever been listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Details about the sustainable management of Alaska fisheries are available at the website of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute www.alaskaseafood.org. The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is a partnership of the State of Alaska and Alaska seafood industry, promoting Alaska seafood in the U.S. and key overseas markets, and offering seafood industry education. ASMI’s international marketing efforts receive support from the U.S.D.A. Foreign Agricultural Service through the Market Access Program.

# # #

For more information please contact Laura Fleming, (907) 465-5563, lfleming@alaskaseafood.org