be expanded to identify and describe the management measures that 

 will be in effect for king and tanner crab fishermen with respect 

 to incidental taking of marine mammals. 



Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area Groundfish Fishery 



Recent information suggests that yellowfin sole trawl 

 fishing near Round Island in the northeast Bering Sea may be 

 affecting walrus. The island is one of the principal summer 

 hauling areas for walrus in the United States. In 1960, the 

 State of Alaska designated it and other islands comprising the 

 Walrus Islands as a State Game Sanctuary to protect habitat 

 important to walrus and other wildlife. In 1986, at least 12,500 

 walrus were hauled out on Round Island. Over the past two years, 

 however, the number has declined by more than 50 percent. The 

 decline coincided with the onset of yellowfin sole trawl fishing 

 near the island, suggesting that noise and disturbance from the 

 trawlers may be the cause. 



During 1989, the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council 

 considered amendments to the fishery management plan for 

 groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands area. In doing 

 so, it identified proposed and alternative measures to mitigate 

 the possible impacts of trawl fishing on walrus at Round Island. 

 The Council forwarded its proposals to the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service and, by letter of 9 August 1989, the Service 

 asked the Commission for comments on an Environmental Assessment 

 and Regulatory Impact Review for Amendment 13 to the Fishery 

 Management Plan for Groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 

 Islands and Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan for 

 Groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska. 



With respect to Round Island, the document proposed an 

 experimental four-year seasonal fishing closure in waters between 

 three and 12 miles around the Walrus Islands and Cape Pierce to 

 prevent groundfish fishing vessels from disturbing walrus. (A 

 proposal to restrict vessel access to state waters within three 

 miles of Round Island was being considered at the same time by 

 the State of Alaska.) After four years, the effectiveness of the 

 closure would be reviewed and, based on the results, the measure 

 would be extended, terminated, or modified. 



Among the alternative actions identified was a larger 

 seasonal closure encompassing the entire embayment beyond three 

 miles from shore between Cape Pierce and Cape Constantine in 

 which the Walrus Islands are located. The document also proposed 

 amendments for a new recordkeeping and reporting system to 

 monitor fishing operations and marine mammal interactions, and 

 for a framework observer program to place observers aboard 

 domestic fishing vessels. 



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