summary

In his article, “Bering Sea bottom trawling banned”, he discusses a decision to ban the bottom trawling in 180,000 square miles of the northern Bering Sea. The decision made by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, which direct the federal government on fisheries in federal waters off Alaska. All members in the council voted for the decision, which regulates fishing on the Bering Sea. Public greeted the decision; especially representatives of conservation groups and Alaska’s fishing industry because the decision has options they asked for. The writer goes on to mention opinions of some interested people, who greeted the decision. Now, in order to catch groundfish species, fisheries have to put their nets on about 150,000 square miles (less than a half) of the Bering Sea. In addition, fisheries have one year period to technically modify their vessels to reduce effects in the seafloor. Based on David Benton, who runs an organization that represents 80 percent of the fisheries and processors operating in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, one year period is an enough time. Moreover, the decision includes the formation of a research area in the northern Bering Sea, which would help to locate the exact areas to be protected from bottom trawling. A plan will be developed and reviewed by the council to be implemented within two years of final action. During this time, the area will be closed. Then, the writer goes on to talk about the importance of the Bering Sea, which is an important home for many animals and a spot to pass by the gray whales and endangered bowhead and humpback whales through their annual migration.