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< Ecosystem Status Report

Eastern Bering Sea - Fishing and Human Dimension Trends

Executive Summary

Full Report - Last Update 2018

  • Chinook salmon caught as bycatch in the Bering Sea originate from Oregon to the Yukon River. From 2011 to 2016, the proportion of Chinook bycatch from the coastal western Alaska stock has decreased while the proportions of British Columbia and west coast U.S. fish have slightly increased (p. 152).
  • Chum salmon is primarily caught as bycatch in the pollock B-season trawl fishery. Between 2011– 2016, the northeast Asia and Gulf of Alaska/Pacific northwest stocks have accounted for the greatest proportions of bycatch (p. 154).
  • Discard biomass in the northern Bering Sea fixed gear sector has trended upward since 2016, but remains small relative to discard biomass in the southern Bering Sea. In 2018, discards in the fixed gear sector trended lower in the southern Bering Sea and higher in the northern Bering Sea (due to freezer longline vessels targeting Pacific cod) relative to the previous 5-year period (p. 156).
  • The catch of jellyfish peaked in 2014, declined in 2015 and 2016, and increased again in 2017. Catch of structural epifauna (predominantly benthic urochordate) has been steady 2011–2017. Seastars increased between 2011–2015, but have decreased in 2016 and 2017 (p. 159).
  • The number of seabirds caught incidentally in EBS fisheries in 2017 was very similar to the 2007–2016 average. Northern fulmars, shearwaters, and gulls were the most common species group caught in 2017 (p. 162). ˆ With the Arctic FMP closure included, almost 65% of the U.S. EEZ of Alaska is closed to bottom trawling (p. 169).
  • As of June 30, 2018, no BSAI groundfish stock or stock complex is subjected to overfishing, is considered to be overfished, or to be approaching an overfished condition. Only the Pribilof Islands blue king crab stock is considered overfished and subject to overfishing; the stock is in year 4 of a rebuilding plan (p. 172).
  • Surplus production was high in 2014–15 and 2015–16, then dropped substantially due to a decrease in a number of species from 2016 to 2017 (p. 177).
  • Landings in the EBS are predominantly from the pelagic foragers (i.e., pollock); trends in the apex predator group are driven by TAC of Pacific cod; crab stocks (motile epifauna) have trended upwards since 2003, but declined significantly in 2017, especially for tanner crab (p. 184). 17
  • Subsistence salmon harvests in the southeastern Bering Sea reflect a downward trend; in the northern Bering Sea, household permits have increased but harvests have decreased. Subsistence halibut harvest increased in 2014–2016 in both the southeastern and northern Bering Sea (p. 180).
  • Trends in ex-vessel value are closely connected to landings (see p. 184). Flatfish revenues have declined recently due to decreased prices; crab value has increased with increased landings; salmon value has increased due to stable landings and strong prices (p. 186).
  • First-wholesale value varies by landings and/or prices. Pollock prices have decreased since 2013, but this has been largely offset by increased landings; Pacific cod prices dropped in 2009, but rebounded and have been stable; flatfish value decreased between 2012–2015 with decreased prices and significant supply; salmon value decreased in 2012, but rebounded in 2013 and has remained stable at 2010 levels; crab value increased with increasing prices through 2012, but has decreased slightly with reduced landings (p. 186).
  • A low level of saltwater sport fishing occurs in the EBS; the number of anglers fishing has declined since the mid-1990s and is currently below 2,000 anglers (p. 190).
  • Alaska is well-known for its sport fishing opportunities and draws anglers from within and from outside Alaska. In the EBS, however, saltwater recreational fishing effort is currently low and likely represents a trivial source of extraction for all functional groups (p. 192).
  • The unemployment rate in EBS communities decreased to 3.1% in 2017 while the northern Bering Sea was 12.4% (p. 196).
  • The 2017 population estimate of all EBS communities combined was 10,243 and the population of small communities (< 1,500) was 7,908. The EBS population has remained relatively stable overall, yet 41% of communities experienced population decline between 1990 and 2017 (p. 200).
  • The 2017 population estimate of all northern Bering Sea communities was 33,620 and the population of small communities (< 1,500) was 23,778. The northern Bering Sea population has remained relatively stable with only 18% of communities experiencing population declines between 1990 and 2017 (p. 200).
  • There has been a downward trend in school enrollment in the EBS (except the Lower Kuskokwim School district) with several community schools closing in rural areas, including St. George in 2018. Graduation rates for Lower Kuskokwim district consistently fall in the lower 1/3 of school districts, while the Lake and Peninsula and Pribilof school districts are consistently in the upper 1/3 (p. 205).
  • Northern Bering Sea school district enrollment levels are relatively stable with very few school closures and only five schools with enrollment below 30 students out of 64 schools. However, the northern Bering Sea region has the highest dropout rates compared to other regions, with an overall average of 10% for multiple years (p. 205).