North Pacific Fishery Management Council April Meeting Update

Posted on April 23, 2025

The latest meeting of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council was held from March 31 to April 7, 2025. AMCC kept a close eye on several key agenda items (listed below), with Tanner crab protections front and center.

D2: The Gulf of Alaska Tanner crab protections discussion was moved forward for initial review. It will consider year-round and seasonal closures for federally managed groundfish fisheries in core concentrations of Tanner crab abundance.
C1: Create a new vessel limitation specific to IFQ Regulatory Area 4. Existing vessel caps would remain in place for other IFQ areas.
C2: Allow Release of Sablefish in the IFQ/CDQ Fisheries
C3: The MRA Adjustments Initial Review analysis moves forward for final action.
D1: Requests that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) further evaluate options for the cost recovery changes proposed in the discussion paper.
D3: Central GOA Rockfish Program Review was postponed to June.
D4: Review AFSC modernization report on trawl and longline surveys; recommendations as needed b. Review AFSC FY25 planned survey and longer-term spatial and temporal report; recommendations as needed.

Click here to read the NPFMC's April Newsletter for more details on these important topics.

Did you attend the April Meeting? We’d love to hear about your experience and any insights on how preparation for future meetings could be improved. Feel free to reach out.

Tanner Crab Discussion Highlights

We’re proud to celebrate our Tanner crab community, thank you for lending your voices to this vital discussion. In response to the significance of this issue, we've expanded our analysis on this topic to ensure deeper engagement and understanding.

During the meeting, the Council reviewed a comprehensive paper focused on protecting Tanner crab populations near Kodiak Island. This paper explored current fishing closures, crab biology, vulnerabilities at various life stages, and the interplay between Tanner crab and groundfish fisheries, particularly in statistical areas 525630 and 525702. The review was rooted in ongoing Council interest, following discussions from February 2024, and included extensive public input from stakeholders who depend on these critical zones.

The Council’s new motion outlines a clear purpose and various options for consideration. Proposed strategies include potential seasonal or year-round fishing closures east of Kodiak and reassessing existing crab protection zones. Key areas under consideration are statistical area 525702 and a smaller region north of 56°54.6′ N and 152°16′ W, known for consistently high Tanner crab populations. The goal is to reduce interactions between groundfish fishing gear and crabs, especially during vulnerable molting and mating periods. Plans to monitor the effectiveness of these closures over time are also underway.

Furthermore, the Council will evaluate the effectiveness of existing closure zones, such as the Marmot Bay Protection Area, as some regions have seen declines in Tanner and Red King Crab populations.