AMCC submitted comments to the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) regarding the 5-year review of Essential Fish Habitat in October 2022. In this letter, we agree that fishing activities do have long-term effects on habitat and disagree with the conclusion that those effects are not detrimental to fish populations or their habitats. Read our full letter here.
Our concerns about habitat disturbance are relevant throughout the North Pacific, but are particularly timely considering ongoing fishing efforts within the Red King Crab Savings Area.
"It’s necessary and appropriate to focus on habitat impacts from trawling because trawling accounts for 97.4% of all the fisheries’ contact-adjusted footprint (i.e. hook-and-line and pots, even after expanded for unobserved fishing, are estimated 2.6% of the footprint)."
Read our letter on considerations for rebuilding the Bristol Bay Red King Crab stock here.