The North Pacific Fisheries Management
Council (NPFMC) recently announced 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 (NMFS).
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.
For more information about Alaska���s responsible fisheries management, visit
www.alaskaseafood.org.
