| MMS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM: ONGOING STUDIES | ||||||
| MMS OCS Region: | Alaska (Social Sciences & Economics) | |||||
| Title: | Mitigation of Industry Operations on Drift Net Fishing | |||||
| Total Cost: |
$175,000 |
Period of Performance: | FY 2003-2004 | |||
| Conducting Organization: |
Impact Assessment Inc. |
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| MMS Contact: | ||||||
| Description: | ||||||
| Background Drift net fishermen have expressed a concern about their nets getting caught on oil rigs or the loss of harvest resulting premature release when the drift is toward a permanent facility. A previous study partially addressed this issue: "Mapping Cook Inlet Rip Tides Using Local Knowledge and Remote Sensing" (OCS Study MMS 2000-025). That study mapped rip tides, provided statistics on consistency of rip tide locations, and provided an information base on fishermen's use of rip tides. According to MMS 2000-025 "avoiding fixed objects while drifting with a long net up to 270-m long is difficult given the distance a boat may float while hauling up a net. For example, fishermen reported taking 15 minutes to pull in an empty net, if nothing goes wrong. During this time, a boat and gear might travel 1 nm, given a conservative current of 4 knots. Consequently, avoiding stationary objects in Cook Inlet is difficult during an active fishing operation." Given the dynamic interaction of fishing regulations, weather, tides, and fishing technology, specific methods to mitigate concerns and/or future conflicts remain and could pose potential delay to MMS leasing goals. |
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| Objectives Identify methods to mitigate potential for drift nets entangling on oil rigs in Cook Inlet or the loss of harvest resulting in premature release when the drift is toward a permanent facility. |
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| Methods 1. Synthesize information from OCS Study MMS 2000-025 and other sources. 2. Do literature search to find mitigation of such conflict in other places in the world. 3. Consult with fishermen and oil and gas industry personnel to define mitigation methods. 4. Analyze economic tradeoffs of alternative potential mitigation measures. 5. Analyze structure of changes of the commercial fishing industry and account for these with respect to potential mitigation measures. 6. Examine whether existing service bases would be used or addition infrastructure would be built. If alternative sites need to be developed, examine the potential of creating social impacts. |
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| Importance to MMS MMS is responsible for identifying and mitigating potential environmental effects of OCS development to fish resources. Formulating effective mitigation measures will help resolve an important stakeholder concern. Mitigation measures from this study should mitigate potential effects from of OCS activity in Cook Inlet. They will contribute to NEPA documentation for potential exploration, development, and production associated with the proposed Cook Inlet Lease Sales in 2004 and 2006 and existing leases from Sale 149. |
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| Current Status: Fieldwork complete |
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| Final Report Due: | May 19, 2004 | |||||
| Publications: | ||||||
| Affiliated WWW Sites: | ||||||
| Revised date: |
April 2004 |
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| ESPIS |
ESPIS - All completed
ESP Studies: |
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