Trawl rationalization trailing actions: chafing gear : environmental assessment

Details

• Personal Author:
  Boydstun, L. B. ; Lockhart, Frank ; Seger, Jim ; Dahl, Kit ; Merydith, Kim
• Corporate Authors:
  Pacific Fishery Management Council (U.S.) ; United States, National Marine Fisheries Service., West Coast Region., Sustainable Fisheries Division, ; United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration., Office of Program Planning and Integration,
• NOAA Program & Office:
  NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) ; NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service)
• Description:
  "The action modifies chafing gear regulations that apply to all midwater trawl gear used in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. Chafing gear is webbing or other material attached to the codend to minimize damage from rubbing against the stern ramp and from contact with the ocean floor. The proposed action is neither expected to compromise the sustainability of any target or non-target species, nor is it expected to result in significant social or economic impacts interrelated with significant natural or physical environmental effects. Increased chafing gear coverage may result in fewer small fish escaping from the codend by reducing the effective mesh size or creating the effect of a double-walled codend. Small fish include juvenile Pacific whiting and non-groundfish species such as coastal pelagic species, eulachon, and small forage fish. Eulachon is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Because vessels targeting Pacific whiting have less market opportunity for small fish, they are expected to take measures to reduce the catch of small unmarketable Pacific whiting. The catch of small non-target species, including eulachon is not expected to increase substantially. Eulachon will continue to be monitored and managed to stay within thresholds identified in the current Endangered Species Act Section 7 biological opinion for the groundfish fishery. Increased chafing gear coverage may result in midwater trawl gear being used to fish in a manner that results in more contact with ocean floor than is currently occurring. Historical data indicate that the midwater trawl gear used to target Pacific whiting does occasionally make contact with the ocean floor (approximately 8 percent of the hauls). The vulnerability of the net to damage from bottom contact means that increases in chafing gear are not likely to result in substantial increases in bottom contact. The expected impact to EFH and bottom habitat is minor"--Cover letter summary.
• Format:
  pdf
• Document Type:
  Environmental Assessment
• Place as Subject:
  United States ; Pacific Coast (U.S.) ; Pacific Ocean
• Rights Information:
  Public Domain
• Compliance:
  Submitted
• Download URL:
  https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/10754/noaa_10754_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.56 MB]
• Collection(s):
  National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:150041d09381d6a1bc8ca38b90f30704dedaf27a771be501ae783cc7acbd2fff71b5a9c7a5aaae12e79da1b3ce96c7d5fa0bfc6d9149089326c464d5083b70a7