After hearing oral testimony from over 40 people and receiving 146 written comments at the North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting earlier this week, the Council unanimously passed a motion to modify chum salmon bycatch management measures in the Bering Sea Pollock fishery. The motion reads ‘The Council directs the Salmon Bycatch Committee to develop recommendations for potential regulatory and non-regulatory chum salmon bycatch management measures, including a cap. The committee should develop alternative management measures with focus on avoidance of Western Alaska chum salmon.’
This decision is an important step towards the protection of our salmon and way of life. The Council’s decision was heavily influenced by strong testimonies and tribal presence at the meeting. TCC would like to thank everyone who provided written comments, oral testimony via Zoom/phone and showed up in-person to emphasize how the decline of salmon has impacted our tribal communities. It is important that we continue to show up to these meetings to raise awareness and to demand action to protect these resources that impact our physical, cultural, spiritual and economic well-being.