Prohibited Species Donation Program

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Regional Office, requests extension of this currently approved information collection for the Alaska PSD Program. The PSD Program was initiated in 1994 to reduce the amount of edible protein discarded under prohibited species catch regulatory requirements (50 CFR 679.21). Unless you are a PSD permit holder, all prohibited species catch must be avoided by vessels. Salmon and Pacific halibut are considered prohibited species for vessels fishing in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries. If a person is a participant in the PSD Program under 50 CFR 679.26, the incidentally caught salmon and Pacific halibut may be donated to the PSD Program. This Program allows permitted seafood processors to retain salmon and halibut bycatch for distribution to economically disadvantaged individuals through tax exempt hunger relief organizations. One participant, SeaShare, located at Bainbridge Island, Washington, (https://www.seashare.org/) has applied for and retained a PSD permit since the Program’s inception. SeaShare is a non-profit organization and to date has been the only company licensed to participate in the PSD Program. Current participants in the PSD Program administered by SeaShare include 12 shoreside processors and 136 catcher vessels delivering to these shoreside processors, 34 catcher/processors, and 3 motherships. One change was made to this collection. In response to comment received, the respondent’s hourly wage rate was increased.

The latest form for Prohibited Species Donation Program expires 2027-08-31 and can be found here.