Biological Opinion for the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, Alaska

NMFS Consultation Number: AKRO-2025-01458

This opinion considers the effects of the groundfish fisheries that are carried out under the BSAI FMP, including acoustic disturbance from vessel noise, seafloor disturbance, pollutants and contaminants, competition for prey, bycatch, entanglement/gear interaction, and vessel strike in the action area.

The action may affect endangered blue whale, endangered fin whale, endangered sei whale, threatened Mexico DPS humpback whale, endangered Western North Pacific DPS humpback whale, endangered Western North Pacific DPS gray whale, endangered bowhead whale, endangered North Pacific right whale, endangered sperm whale, endangered Southern Resident DPS killer, endangered Western DPS Steller sea lion, threatened Beringia DPS bearded seal, threatened Arctic ringed seal, threatened Lower Columbia River evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) Chinook salmon, threatened Snake River spring/summer-run ESU Chinook salmon, threatened Upper Willamette River ESU Chinook salmon, threatened Hood Canal summer-run ESU chum salmon, threatened Columbia River ESU chum salmon, proposed threatened sunflower sea star, Mexico DPS humpback whale critical habitat, Western North Pacific DPS humpback whale critical habitat, North Pacific right whale critical habitat, Southern Resident DPS killer whale critical habitat, Steller sea lion critical habitat, Beringia DPS bearded seal critical habitat, Arctic ringed seal critical habitat, Lower Columbia River ESU Chinook salmon critical habitat, Snake River spring/summer-run ESU Chinook salmon critical habitat, Upper Willamette River ESU Chinook salmon critical habitat, Hood Canal summer-run ESU chum salmon critical habitat, and Columbia River ESU chum salmon critical habitat.

This biological opinion is based on information provided in the May 2025 BA (NMFS 2025b) and BSAI FMP (NPFMC 2024a). Other sources of information relied upon include documents incorporated by reference as described in the BA, consultation communications (emails, phone calls, and virtual meetings), and recent consultations completed in the same region. A complete record of this consultation is on file at our NMFS Alaska office.

Last updated by Alaska Regional Office on 10/27/2026

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