SALMON BYCATCH
CONTACT INFORMATION
Chum Salmon Bycatch
The Bering Sea pollock trawl fishery is the largest fishery in the United States. The pollock trawl uses nets pulled by trawlers to catch pollock, a kind of cod fish. On average each year, 252,000 chum salmon are caught as bycatch in the Bering Sea commercial pollock trawl. Many of those Chum were bound for rivers in the Norton Sound and YK area rivers. Currently, Bering Sea pollock trawlers have no maximum number of Chum Salmon that can be caught as bycatch.
Right now, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council is taking public comments on this issue – and you can share your thoughts and concerns with the Council by either providing written comments or sharing oral testimony on the phone or in person during the meeting.
Reach out to the Kawerak Social Science Program with further questions: socsci@kawerak.org.
Key Dates
(Note: this will be updated as events may be changed or added, please check back)
How to Participate
In-Person Testimony & Travel Scholarship
Anyone can voice their opinions in person at the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) meeting in Anchorage February 2-11. Kawerak is providing an opportunity for Tribal Members to travel on a travel scholarship so they can express their concerns at the Council meeting.
There is a limited number of travel scholarships for interested Tribal members to attend the NPFMC meeting to give testimony in-person in Anchorage. Scholarships will cover flights, lodging, and per diem in Anchorage. The deadline to apply is January 9. If you are interested in applying, contact Lisa Ellanna, lellanna@kawerak.org, or 907-304-1195 for more information.
Requirements:
- Must be a Tribal member of a Bering Strait Region Tribe living in the Bering Strait Region
- Must attend the Zoom workshop on learning how to testify (see more information below)
Submit Written Comments
Submit Oral Comments
You don’t have to be in person to share your comments – You can share your comments with the Council over the phone, or on zoom. Please see the Council website https://www.npfmc.org/ for more information on how to submit oral comments, or contact Lisa Ellanna at lellanna@kawerak.org
Virtual Workshop
Kawerak is hosting a public workshop regarding how people can get involved and share their thoughts about Chum Salmon bycatch with the Council. The day-long workshop will be held on zoom. The dates are still not set, but the workshop will happen in January.
The workshop will provide:
- Background information about the issue
- Information about the NPFMC and federal fishery management process
- Information about how to provide comment to the NPFMC
- Space for conversation amongst workshop participants about the issue
Please check back here for more information, as workshop materials and other details are currently being set up. You can also reach out to Kawerak Social Science Program Manager Lisa Ellanna for more information (lellanna@kawerak.org).
Tribal Consultation
There will be a Tribal Consultation between NMFS and federally-recognized Tribes in January 2026. This meeting is still being planned and a firm date has not yet been set. Contact Lisa Ellanna (lellanna@kawerak.org) for more information.
Learn More About Chum Bycatch
North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC)
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has created helpful flyers that provide information about the Council, how it works, and how people can get involved: https://www.npfmc.org/how-we-work/navigating-the-council-process/
Other ways to learn about NPFMC and the Bycatch Issue
- Visit the NPFMC website: www.npfmc.org
- View the NPFMC February eAgenda. Although the E-Agenda is not up yet, it is described in 3-meeting outlook here: https://www.npfmc.org/three-meeting-outlook/
- Visit the NPFMC Salmon Bycatch website: https://www.npfmc.org/fisheries-issues/bycatch/salmon-bycatch/
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) NOAA Fisheries
- Visit the NMFS Chum Salmon Bycatch website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/bycatch/bering-sea-non-chinook-salmon-bycatch
- Learn about the NMFS numbers regarding historical chum salmon bycatch: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/akro/chum_salmon_mortality2025.html
Kawerak Recorded Webinar
Kawerak Letters and Testimony
Kawerak President Melanie Bahnke testifies at the NPFMC alongside AVCP and TCC leaders:
Chum Salmon Bycatch
The Bering Sea pollock trawl fishery is the largest fishery in the United States. The pollock trawl uses nets pulled by trawlers to catch pollock, a kind of cod fish. On average each year, 252,000 chum salmon are caught as bycatch in the Bering Sea commercial pollock trawl. Many of those Chum were bound for rivers in the Norton Sound and YK area rivers. Currently, Bering Sea pollock trawlers have no maximum number of Chum Salmon that can be caught as bycatch.
Right now, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council is taking public comments on this issue – and you can share your thoughts and concerns with the Council by either providing written comments or sharing oral testimony on the phone or in person during the meeting.
Reach out to the Kawerak Social Science Program with further questions: socsci@kawerak.org.
Key Dates
(Note: this will be updated as events may be changed or added, please check back)
How to Participate
In-Person Testimony & Travel Scholarship
Anyone can voice their opinions in person at the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) meeting in Anchorage February 2-11. Kawerak is providing an opportunity for Tribal Members to travel on a travel scholarship so they can express their concerns at the Council meeting.
There is a limited number of travel scholarships for interested Tribal members to attend the NPFMC meeting to give testimony in-person in Anchorage. Scholarships will cover flights, lodging, and per diem in Anchorage. The deadline to apply is January 9. If you are interested in applying, contact Lisa Ellanna, lellanna@kawerak.org, or 907-304-1195 for more information.
Requirements:
- Must be a Tribal member of a Bering Strait Region Tribe living in the Bering Strait Region
- Must attend the Zoom workshop on learning how to testify (see more information below)
Submit Written Comments
Submit Oral Comments
You don’t have to be in person to share your comments – You can share your comments with the Council over the phone, or on zoom. Please see the Council website https://www.npfmc.org/ for more information on how to submit oral comments, or contact Lisa Ellanna at lellanna@kawerak.org
Virtual Workshop
Kawerak is hosting a public workshop regarding how people can get involved and share their thoughts about Chum Salmon bycatch with the Council. The day-long workshop will be held on zoom. The dates are still not set, but the workshop will happen in January.
The workshop will provide:
- Background information about the issue
- Information about the NPFMC and federal fishery management process
- Information about how to provide comment to the NPFMC
- Space for conversation amongst workshop participants about the issue
Please check back here for more information, as workshop materials and other details are currently being set up. You can also reach out to Kawerak Social Science Program Manager Lisa Ellanna for more information (lellanna@kawerak.org).
Tribal Consultation
There will be a Tribal Consultation between NMFS and federally-recognized Tribes in January 2026. This meeting is still being planned and a firm date has not yet been set. Contact Lisa Ellanna (lellanna@kawerak.org) for more information.
Learn More About Chum Bycatch
North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC)
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has created helpful flyers that provide information about the Council, how it works, and how people can get involved: https://www.npfmc.org/how-we-work/navigating-the-council-process/
Other ways to learn about NPFMC and the Bycatch Issue
- Visit the NPFMC website: www.npfmc.org
- View the NPFMC February eAgenda. Although the E-Agenda is not up yet, it is described in 3-meeting outlook here: https://www.npfmc.org/three-meeting-outlook/
- Visit the NPFMC Salmon Bycatch website: https://www.npfmc.org/fisheries-issues/bycatch/salmon-bycatch/
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) NOAA Fisheries
- Visit the NMFS Chum salmon Bycatch website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/bycatch/bering-sea-non-chinook-salmon-bycatch
- Learn about the NMFS numbers regarding historical chum salmon bycatch: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/akro/chum_salmon_mortality2025.html
Kawerak Recorded Webinar
Kawerak Letters and Testimony
Kawerak President Melanie Bahnke testifies at the NPFMC alongside AVCP and TCC leaders: