Document Actions
Progress! Measures Adopted to Protect Kodiak Tanner Crab
October 2010
Through a long and persistent journey involving meeting after meeting, data gathering and in-depth analysis, federal fishery managers finally achieved progress toward safeguarding the Tanner crab population, their seafloor habitat and the Kodiak Island small-boat crab fishery from adverse impacts of bottom trawling. Beginning in 2004, AMCC worked hand-in-hand with Kodiak Island fishermen to catalyze meaningful action that would protect the sensitive Tanner crab population. Until now there were no specific conservation measures in federal waters of the Gulf of Alaska to address Tanner crab bycatch and the effects of bottom trawl gear on crab habitat.
The impacts of bottom trawling have long been recognized through scientific research and fishermen’s local knowledge. Federal and state fishery managers in Alaska have closed areas to bottom trawling. For example, Bristol Bay and some adjacent waters were closed to all trawling since 1996 to protect red king crab stocks and habitat. Areas around the Pribilof Islands and St. Matthew Island are closed to protect blue king crab. And around Kodiak Island itself, bottom trawl closures were implemented in 1986 to protect red king crab and later state waters around the east side of Kodiak were closed year round to protect nearshore habitat. Although not intended specifically for crab, the entire southeast Alaska region is closed to all trawling since 1995 to protect habitat and prevent conflict with local fisheries. More recently, federal fishery managers closed “coral gardens” identified by scientists in the Aleutian Islands and prevented encroachment of bottom trawling into un-fished waters of the Aleutians and northern Bering Sea.
Years ago, Kodiak crab fishermen began raising concerns about the effects of groundfish trawl fisheries operating in federal waters around Kodiak Island. Crab fishermen felt that existing protection in state waters was not sufficient for Tanner crab. They were also concerned that the existing level of monitoring by on-board observers was too limited and the data was probably not an accurate picture of crab bycatch. Given documented podding behavior of Tanner crab, one trawl tow can result in an extreme bycatch event. We don’t know how often this occurs but photographs in 2009 (see above) from the trawl grounds indicate a problem.
Looking for Solutions
AMCC collaborated with crab fishermen to help find a solution. In 2004, 21 crab fishermen divided into small groups and huddled in living rooms and community halls pouring over nautical charts and marking areas important for Tanner crab. The result was a local knowledge map and a proposal for primary areas warranting protection.
The next step was getting on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (NPFMC) busy agenda. Management alternatives to mitigate impacts on Tanner crab were originally part of a proposed comprehensive Gulf of Alaska catch share program. The basic design of the big program involved tying individual groundfish fishermen to specific seafood processors as a condition of receiving quota to fish. Due to the controversial nature of that approach, the program was tabled in 2006, along with the potential Tanner crab protections attached to it. After that the NPFMC made some management decisions to create greater efficiency for the trawl fleet that predictably resulted in increased bottom trawling in primary Tanner crab habitat off the east side of Kodiak Island. These benefits to the trawl sector were not matched with appropriate conservation for Tanner crab and the situation reinforced a call to action by crab fishermen.
Stock assessment surveys around Kodiak Island indicate the Tanner crab population is rebuilding from a steep decline in the 1990s. It appears environmental conditions must conspire to allow crab rebuilding, which scientists do not entirely understand. But it makes sense that when rebuilding appears to be possible, which is happening in the east side areas of Kodiak, then fishery managers should take appropriate steps to improve the likelihood of rebuilding. Minimizing bycatch and habitat disturbance by groundfish fisheries in the places the crab population has high potential to rebuild could improve the likelihood of rebuilding success.
Bottom Trawl Closure and Increased Monitoring
Recently on October 10th, the NPFMC heard heated debate and passionate testimony from all sides on Tanner crab protections. They reached a decision to implement one area closure and strong measures to enhance the accuracy of information on Tanner crab bycatch in groundfish fisheries. While the decision was a compromise, the end result is a big step in the right direction.
The NPFMC adopted the Marmot Bay closure on the north end of Kodiak Island near the communities of Port Lions and Ouzinkie year round to bottom trawling. Closures of other primary Tanner crab areas were not adopted this time around. Most of the shallow water flatfish are harvested from one area that happens to also be the heart of where Tanner crabs have the highest potential to rebuild. Because of the trawl fleet’s use of the area, the cost for closing it was quantified as very high. The cost of inaction for the crab population and crab fleet was more illusive to quantify. Even with a proposal by crab fishermen to greatly reduce the closure, the NPFMC could not find its way to an accommodation for Tanner crab. However, the NPFMC did vote to require that bottom trawl vessels operating inside the areas of high Tanner crab abundance in the Chiniak Gully and a large area adjacent to Old Harbor, following the state water 3 mile closure line, be required to carry observers 100% of the time.
While much less than bottom trawling, there is also crab bycatch in vessels fishing cod with pots and a similar lack of data describing the amount of bycatch. To address their contribution to overall bycatch, fishermen are developing mechanisms in pot gear design to allow crab to escape before the gear is hauled to the surface. The NPFMC decision requires vessels fishing for cod using pot gear in these two areas as well as Marmot Bay to carry observers 30% of the time.
The improved observer coverage in areas known to be important to Tanner crab will greatly enhance accuracy of bycatch data and allow for more effective measures to address concerns in the future.
The NPFMC further recommended the development of a trailing amendment to require modified bottom trawl gear that reduces crab mortality. The objective is to replicate measures in the Bering Sea in which trawl sweeps (long lines extending from the trawl doors to the footrope) are raised off the seafloor by 2 to 3 inches. Video research demonstrates that this reduces mortality of crab and damage to some habitat features. It is expected that NMFS will initiate a process to test and specify sweep modifications for application in the central Gulf of Alaska in a manner that reduces the gear’s footprint.
The action still has to clear another hurdle before becoming finalized. NPFMC decisions are subject to approval by Secretary of Commerce and the federal rule making process. . Implementation is expected in 2012. AMCC will continue to watch dog the process and track the improved data that will come from increased monitoring. For now, it’s a step in the right direction for Tanner crab and the fishermen that rely on them.
More information: