HR 8 - Fisheries Bycatch Regulations Summary

• Encourages the Department of Fish and Game to develop a comprehensive state bycatch policy using principles of resource conservation and sustained yield to protect Alaska's fisheries resources.

• Directs the commissioner to use Alaska's majority seats on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to ensure public input on bycatch issues and fund research on limiting bycatch in Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska waters.

• Requires the department to engage state residents, local governments, Alaska Native tribes, commercial fishers, and the fishing industry when developing the bycatch policy and establishing research priorities.

• Mandates regulations for genetic reporting on Western Alaska salmon taken as bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery to reduce salmon bycatch and facilitate department cooperation with commercial fishers to track and reduce bycatch mortality.

• Establishes a framework for making bycatch information and resources publicly available in an accessible manner while implementing management priorities to avoid or reduce bycatch across all fisheries.