Scoping Begins for Bottomfish Fisheries in the Hawaiian Archipelago

December 6, 2005

Release from:
NOAA

NOAA Fisheries Service, in coordination with the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, is preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish Fishery of the Western Pacific Region. This EIS will analyze a range of alternatives to end overfishing on the bottomfish species complex in the Hawaiian Archipelago.

Issues to be analyzed will include effects on targeted species, bycatch, federally listed threatened and endangered species, Hawaii state fishery management policies, fishing for bottomfish in State waters, incidental catch of bottomfish species in other fisheries, and essential fish habitat. Other issues include health and safety, water quality, environmental justice, cultural and socio-economic issues, and any other issues identified through scoping and public involvement. Alternatives that may be considered are described further in the scoping notice.

Public meetings will be held January 9-13, 2006 in Hilo, Kona, Kahului, Honolulu, and Lihue, HI. Additional information on these meetings is provided in the notice. Comments on the issues, range of alternatives, and impacts that should be analyzed in the supplemental EIS must be received by January 16, 2006. Comments may be sent to: PirBottomfishNOI@noaa.gov.

Visit http://www.wpcouncil.org for background information.