 August 29, 2003
"This National Environmental Policy Act document summarizes our current scientific understanding of the Alaska groundfish fisheries, the status of marine resources, and the cumulative effects of commercial groundfish fishing on the North Pacific marine ecosystem" said Jim Balsiger, NOAA Fisheries Alaska regional administrator. "It also presents our preferred future management policy for these valuable fisheries while revealing projected environmental and social consequences." The document will be finalized after public comments are considered. The final PSEIS will provide the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, NOAA Fisheries, and the public with critical information on the fisheries' status and environmental impacts. The PSEIS also will serve as the primary environmental review document supporting fishery management plans in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea and Aleutians Islands. The 7,000 page document can be viewed online, or may be obtained from Steve Davis at (907) 271-3523. Comments should be submitted by October 15, 2003, online or to:
Faxed comments will not be accepted. NOAA Fisheries also is holding public meetings on the PSEIS, where comments will be accepted. The meeting schedule follows:
These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Steve Davis at 907-271-3523 at least seven working days prior to the meeting date. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement, and the conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine species and their habitat. To learn more about the National Marine Fisheries Service in Alaska, please visit our websites, Alaska Region and Alaska Fisheries Science Center.
Source of News Release:
|