The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is reviewing an application from the North Pacific Fisheries Research Foundation for an exempted fishing permit (EFP). If approved, the permit will allow the testing of new salmon excluder devices during summer pollock fishing in the Bering Sea, particularly aimed at reducing the bycatch of chum salmon. The experiment will involve exemptions from certain regulations to facilitate this testing. Public comments on the application are invited until April 11, 2025, and the application will be considered during a virtual meeting of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council in late March and early April 2025.
Simple Explanation
The government is thinking about letting people try out a special tool that helps salmon escape when they're catching fish in the ocean, so they don't catch too many salmon on accident. People can say what they think about this idea until April 11, 2025.