100-fathom curve in the eastern Bering Sea. The 

 independent trawlers were active in this fishery for 

 periods of 1 to 9 months, and several of tiiem also 

 trawled in the Gulf of Alaska. A factory ship 

 accompanied by 1 1 trawlers arrived north of the Fox 

 Islands in early February. This fleet remained in that 

 area catching walleye pollock for production of minced 

 fish meat until the factory ship returned to Japan in 

 April. Another factory ship and the 1 1 trawlers moved 

 northwest of the Pribilof Islands to take shrimp. After 1 

 week, however, this fleet stopped shrimping because 

 catches were poor. The fleet then shifted to the western 

 and central Aleutian Islands, fished for Pacific ocean 

 perch until late September, and returned to Japan. In 

 late December, this same factory ship accompanied by 

 about eight trawlers returned to the pollock fishery 

 north of the Fox Islands and resumed production of 

 minced fish meat. 



were caught were to be returned to the sea, and (2) 

 tlshing was to be confined to an area north of lat. 50 N. 

 and between long. 145° W. and 170 W. Under the 

 auspices of the INPFC (International North Pacific 

 Fisheries Commission), arrangements were made to place 

 North American observers aboard Japanese trawlers in 

 the Gulf of Alaska to determine the number and 

 viabihty of halibut taken by the Japanese. 



The fishery in 1963 involved one factory trawler, two 

 side trawlers, and one factory ship with three catcher 

 vessels. They fished primarily on Albatross Bank and 

 also on Portlock Bank and along the 100-fathom curve 

 from Chirikof Island to Unimak Pass. Trawling began in 



GULF OF ALASKA TRAWL FISHERY 



The Japanese trawl fishery in the Gulf of Alaska (fig. 

 5) began in 1963 following brief exploratory fishing by 

 two trawlers in 1962. Each year the effort in this fishery 

 has been increased, and it has developed into a 

 year-round operation. 



In the United States, the Government and the fishing 

 industry expressed concern about the Japanese trawUng 

 in the Gulf of Alaska because of its possible detrimental 

 effects on the stocks of halibut and king crab. The 

 Fishery Agency, therefore, incorporated the following 

 restrictions in licenses issued to those vessels authorized 

 to fish in the Gulf: (1) halibut, salmon, or king crab that 





Japanese factory trawler fishing for ocean perch in the Gulf of 

 Alaska. Japanese factory trawlers are equipped with complete 

 facilities for processing and refrigerated storage, which enable 

 them to operate as independent units. 



Figure 5.— Japanese Gulf of Alaska trawl fishing areas. 

 7 



