The Marine Conservation Alliance will document its work on halibut and salmon excluder devices for trawl nets, as well as its marine debris cleanup efforts, at the American Fisheries Society Meeting in Ottawa. The MCA Foundation's cleanup work removed over 175 metric tons of plastic debris from Alaska shorelines last year.
A cooperative fishery program for Kodiak rockfish reduced bycatch and improved retention rates, resulting in a boost to the local economy. The program also increased production of value-added fillets and helped achieve conservation goals, with almost 50% more pelagic gear catches.
The report outlines practical approaches toward ecosystem-based fishery management, citing the success of Alaska and North Pacific fisheries. The Marine Conservation Alliance recommends 13 best practices to ensure sustainable fishing practices while preserving ecosystem health.
A cooperative research program between fishermen, scientists, and industry has successfully reduced halibut bycatch in the Gulf of Alaska trawl fishery by 52%. The modified excluder device, designed to slow water flow through the net, shows promise in reducing losses of larger cod.
A new report highlights Alaska's successful ocean conservation efforts and calls for continued vigilance to address climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. The 'Alaska Model' has been cited as a leading example of science-based management, with catch limits set below recommended harvest levels.
A new study reveals that a sudden ocean climate change in the late 1970s may be responsible for Alaska's decline in Steller sea lion population. Climate change affected water temperatures and ocean currents determining the abundance of available fish for the sea lions to eat, leading to a decline.
The Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation (MCAF) presents its cooperative research programs at the AAAS conference, focusing on improving fishery sustainability. The initiatives include reducing seabird mortality by over 80% and developing excluder devices to minimize bycatch.