| Northern
shrimp, Pandalus borealis, provide a unique fishery management
story, with its unusual life history characteristics and management
planning process. In recent years, scientists and industry representatives
have worked together to make recommendations to the decision makers.
This arrangement has led to increasing biomass estimates since 2001
and a series high of 75 million pounds in 2007. Currently, the stock
is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. High abundance
of northern shrimp in recent years has not been matched with high
landings. Today’s market limits the amount of shrimp harvested
and processed.
Northern shrimp
is a relatively short-lived species whose population status can
fluctuate dramatically year-to-year. Therefore, an assessment
of population status is conducted each year. The Commission uses
a combination of closed seasons and gear restrictions to manage
the species. Amendment 1, approved in June 2004, provides managers
and fishermen with additional tools to manage this valuable resource
in a sustainable way.<species
profile> <stock
status> <habitat
fact sheet>
|
