Cape Sarichef fishing restrictions ended

摘要

NOAA Fisheries has re-opened an area that was closed for part of the year to directed trawl, pot, and hook-and-line fishing near Cape Sarichef on Unimak Island. The special closure, enacted for implementation of a multi-year research project, was originally scheduled to close groundfish fishing in the area from March 15-31, 2006. Alaska Fisheries Science Center researchers have been studying whether intensive trawl fishing resulted in a localized depletion of Pacific cod that could affect food availability for Steller sea lions. The project, now concluded, is part of a larger evaluation of the potential impacts of commercial fishing on Steller sea lion prey.