North Pacific Fisheries Experience (Pre-2018)
Mike Downs’ experience in conducting North Pacific fisheries social impact assessments and fishing community analyses dates back to 1990. The following is a summary of his experience in this area before the founding of Wislow Research Associates in 2018.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Social Impact Assessment: Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program Review and Rockfish Allocation Review. Principal (PI)/lead author on a comprehensive social impact study (SIA) component of the Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) catch share program review covering three time periods: 2003-2006 (the pre-Rockfish Pilot Program baseline years), 2007-2011 (the Rockfish Pilot Program years), and 2012-2016 (the Rockfish Program years). While the analysis focused primarily on the community of Kodiak, distributional impact information was provided for other communities where relevant. Project completed October 2017.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. American Fisheries Act Program Review. Contributing author with primary responsibility for the fishing community(ies) component of this work. The effort built directly upon the earlier (2002) Report to Congress and traced changes in community impacts from the program over the intervening years. Project completed July 2017.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. GOA Trawl Bycatch Management Analysis. PI/lead author on the comprehensive SIA component of this analysis. The SIA detailed existing conditions and potential community impacts related to a new management structure that better allows participants in the GOA trawl fisheries to achieve reduced prohibited-species catch (PSC) while harvesting at optimum yield levels. Communities specifically analyzed included Anchorage, Homer, King Cove, Kodiak, Petersburg, and Sand Point. The analysis included an examination of historic groundfish harvests as well as potential changes to halibut and chinook salmon commercial, sport, and subsistence/personal use fisheries. Overall analysis was ultimately tabled by the Council, however, the Preliminary SIA was completed and posted December 2016.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization 10-Year Program Review. PI/lead author on a comprehensive SIA component of the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) crab rationalization catch share program review. This built upon the similar analyses conducted for the three-year and five-year program reviews. The analysis described the effects of the program after 10 years and detailed the impacts in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, King Cove, Akutan, Kodiak, Sand Point, Adak, St. Paul, and St. George, Alaska; and Seattle, Washington. Project completed August 2016.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Fishing Communities of Alaska Engaged in Federally Managed Fisheries. Contributing author to collection of community profiles providing a summary of historical background, demographic information, and fisheries participation information for a range of Alaska communities. Published by the Council in booklet form for public distribution as a companion to its fishing fleet profiles and groundfish species profiles. Project completed May 2016.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. BSAI Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limit Revisions. PI/lead author on the comprehensive community analysis component of this work. The proposed action included changes to various groundfish fisheries meant to reduce halibut bycatch. The work included the assessment of confidential fishery catch and landings data for both the relevant groundfish and halibut fisheries as well as the description of existing commercial, charter, and subsistence halibut fishing activity in the region. Project completed July 2015.
National Marine Fisheries Service. Implementation of a Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Trawl Fishery Social Survey. Project director for the implementation of an Alaska Fisheries Science Center social survey focused on collecting the demographics, fisheries participation, connections, perspectives on rationalization, and labor activities of harvesting, processing, and support service personnel active in the GOA groundfish fishery. Results are to be used as part of a pre-implementation baseline to inform analysis of a new, yet to be defined, rationalization program for the fishery. The survey included development of a web-based survey, phone surveying, and a robust fieldwork effort that included in-person surveys in four Alaskan communities. Project completed in October 2014.
National Marine Fisheries Service. Steller Sea Lion Protection Measures for Groundfish Fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area Environmental Impact Statement. Lead author of the community impacts chapter of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluating alternative management measures to govern groundfish fisheries so the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) could authorize fisheries that do not jeopardize the western distinct population segment of the Steller sea lion, or adversely modify its critical habitat. The analyses compared the impacts of the various alternatives on specified geographic, minority, and low-income communities. Analysis also discussed the impacts to federally recognized Alaska Native tribes potentially affected. Project completed May 2014.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. GOA Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limit Revisions. PI/lead author on the comprehensive community analysis component of this work. The proposed action included changes to various groundfish fisheries meant to reduce halibut bycatch. The work included the assessment of confidential fishery catch and landings data for both the relevant groundfish and halibut fisheries as well as the description of existing commercial, charter, and subsistence halibut fishing activity in the region. Project completed August 2012.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. BSAI Crab Rationalization 5-Year Program Review. PI/lead author on a comprehensive SIA component of the crab rationalization catch share program review. The analysis described the effects of the program after five years and detailed the impacts in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, King Cove, Akutan, Kodiak, Sand Point, Adak, St. Paul, St. George, Alaska; and Seattle, Washington. Project completed December 2010.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. BSAI Crab Rationalization 3-Year Program Review. PI/lead author on a comprehensive SIA component of the crab rationalization catch share program review. The analysis focused on the socioeconomic impacts associated with establishment of a rationalization program for six BSAI crab fisheries. The analysis described the effects of the program and detailed the impacts across multiple communities, with a primary focus on the Alaska communities of Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, King Cove, Akutan, Kodiak, Sand Point, Adak, St. Paul, and St. George, Alaska; and Seattle, Washington, although other communities were included as relevant. Project completed November 2008.
North Pacific Fisheries Management Council and North Pacific Research Board. Comprehensive Commercial Fishing Community Profiles - Volume 2, Sand Point Adak, St. George, and St. Paul, Alaska. PI/lead author on this project to develop comprehensive baseline commercial fishing community engagement and dependency profiles for the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Western GOA regions. The goal of this project was to expand the template constructed during the Volume 1 stage of the project and construct additional profiles to broaden the range of types of communities and patterns of engagement/dependency represented. Project completed June 2008.
National Marine Fisheries Service, Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research Permit Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. Project director for the community impacts section of EIS. Project analyzed socioeconomic impacts on local communities experiencing economic and non-economic effects of researchers’ interactions with northern fur seal and Steller sea lion. Analyzed how research methodology alternatives affect subsistence harvesting and promoted educational opportunities for local community members. Analysis also included an environmental justice assessment. Project completed February 2007.
National Marine Fisheries Service. Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final Environmental Impact Statement. Lead author for environmental justice component of the EIS. The study provided decision makers and the public with an evaluation of the environmental, social, and economic effects of alternative harvest strategies for the federally managed groundfish fisheries in the GOA and the BSAI regions. The harvest strategies were applied to the best available scientific information to derive the total allowable catch estimates for the groundfish fisheries. Project completed January 2007.
National Marine Fisheries Service. Final Environmental Impact Statement, Essential Fish Habitat Identification and Conservation in Alaska. Lead author for the social and community assessment component for the essential fish habitat existing conditions documentation and alternatives analysis. Work involved analysis of Alaska and Pacific Northwest communities engaged in the fisheries, and analysis of potential differential distribution of impacts under the various alternatives to meet the requirements of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Standard 8 under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and the Executive Order on Environmental Justice. Project completed April 2005.
North Pacific Fisheries Management Council and North Pacific Research Board. Comprehensive Commercial Fishing Community Profiles - Volume 1, Unalaska, Akutan, King Cove, and Kodiak, Alaska. PI/lead author on this project to develop comprehensive baseline commercial fishing community engagement and dependency profiles for the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Western GOA regions. Volume 1 represented a pilot project to design a template and compile baseline profiles of a range of key communities variously engaged in/dependent upon federally managed fisheries to increase the overall efficiency of subsequent socioeconomic analyses required under NEPA and the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Project completed March 2005.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Fisheries Rationalization: Community, Regional, and Social Impact Assessment. PI and project manager for the community, regional, and social impact components of a GOA groundfish EIS/Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) effort. Fieldwork was conducted in Seward, Homer, Sand Point, and the Chigniks in 2004-2005. The NPFMC tabled consideration of the rationalization effort before analytic work was produced. Project suspended mid-2005.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council/National Marine Fisheries Service. Bering Sea Aleutian Islands Crab Fisheries Final Environmental Impact Statement. PI/lead author of the SIA component of the Final EIS. This was the pre-implementation assessment of what developed into the BSAI crab rationalization program. Work involved research in Alaska and Pacific Northwest communities (Washington and Oregon) engaged in the fisheries, and analysis of potential differential distribution of impacts under the various rationalization alternatives to meet the requirements of NEPA, National Standard 8 under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and the Executive Order on Environmental Justice. Project completed August 2004.
National Marine Fisheries Service. North Pacific Groundfish Fisheries Final Programmatic Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Task leader for the social assessment component of the socioeconomic assessment of the North Pacific (Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska) groundfish fishery management plan. In addition to research management responsibility, task involved fieldwork working with communities in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, industry sectors, and Alaska Native entities, and encompassed subsistence analysis as well. This project involved perhaps the most comprehensive social impact assessment/socioeconomic/environmental justice analysis undertaken for a NMFS EIS. Project completed June 2004.
National Marine Fisheries Service. Socioeconomic and Environmental Justice Existing Conditions: Alaska Groundfish Fisheries and BSAI Crab Fisheries. PI/lead author for SIA component of analysis of proposed changes in groundfish and crab regulatory schemes for the GOA and BSAI fisheries, including individual fishing quotas or license limitation management approaches. Research required the analysis of existing secondary data combined with the gathering and analysis of primary data on fisheries’ participation and dependency by various harvest and processing industry sectors in both Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Conducted field research in coastal communities. Separate existing conditions report on file at Alaska Regional Office. Project completed May 2003.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Impacts of the American Fisheries Act: Report to the US Congress and the Secretary of Commerce. Lead author on fishing communities impacts section of the report which documents the social impacts of the implementation of the American Fisheries Act at the regional and community level. Regional analyses included four regions in Alaska and two in the Pacific Northwest. Community level analyses focused on Unalaska, Akutan, Sand Point, King Cove, and Kodiak Alaska along with Seattle Washington. Project completed February 2002.
National Marine Fisheries Service. Steller Sea Lion Protection Measures Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Task leader for the comprehensive SIA component of proposed fishery management measures designed to protect endangered Steller sea lion populations in the North Pacific Ocean. This work involved the characterization of regional and community socioeconomic contexts in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The commercial fishery in these communities was described in relation to the overall community structure, and the role of the relevant species fisheries within the overall fishery was characterized, along with potential impacts of the proposed alternatives. Project completed November 2001.
National Marine Fisheries Service and North Pacific Fishery Management Council. [Updated] Sector and Regional Profiles of the North Pacific Groundfish Fisheries. Project director/lead author for regional and community profiles component of comprehensive analysis of existing conditions in the North Pacific Groundfish Fishery in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. Work involved profiling data for six regions spanning coastal Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Project originated as a task under the Groundfish Programmatic EIS and was later picked up by the NPFMC as a separate task and subsequently published on their web site. Project completed November 2001.
National Marine Fisheries Service. North Pacific Groundfish Fishery Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Provided technical oversight on regional/social impact component of socioeconomic analysis for the original Supplemental EIS. Work involved fieldwork and analysis of Alaska and Pacific Northwest regions in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. Project completed December 2000.
National Marine Fisheries Service and North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Sector and Regional Profiles of the North Pacific Groundfish Fisheries. Project director/lead author for regional and community profiles component of comprehensive analysis of existing conditions in the North Pacific Groundfish Fishery in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. Work involved profiling data for six regions spanning coastal Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Project originated as a task under the original Groundfish Programmatic EIS (2000). Project completed September 2000.
Lake and Peninsula Borough, 1997-1998 Bristol Bay Salmon Fishery Disaster - Northern Economics, Economic, and Social Impact Assessment, Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska. Responsible for analysis of social impacts to communities in the Lake and Peninsula and Bristol Bay Borough regions. Conducted interviews with fishers, governmental officials, and private business owners in seven communities. Project completed June 1999.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Inshore/Offshore-3 Analysis. PI/lead author on a comprehensive SIA component of the Inshore/Offshore-3 analysis of potential changes to BSAI pollock allocations. The SIA included detailed analysis of potentially impacted sector links across communities in multiple regions in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, as well as detailed community profiles for the relevant communities. The alternative adopted by the Council proved in retrospect to be the impetus for the subsequent passage of the American Fisheries Act. Project completed July 1998.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. License Limitation Options for North Pacific Groundfish and Crab Fisheries. PI/lead author for a Supplemental SIA component of the analysis of proposed changes in groundfish and crab regulatory schemes for the GOA and BSAI fisheries. The Supplemental SIA focused on several narrowly defined license limitation management approach configurations. The research built upon the earlier, more general research on broad options. The analysis looked at the distribution of impacts across industry sectors and regions and included Alaska Native communities spanning several regions. Project completed March 1995.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. License Limitation Options for North Pacific Groundfish and Crab Fisheries. PI/lead author for the comprehensive SIA component of the analysis of proposed changes in groundfish and crab regulatory schemes for the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands fisheries, including individual fishing quotas or license limitation management approaches. Research required the analysis of existing secondary data combined with the gathering and analysis of primary data on fisheries’ participation and dependency by various harvest and processing industry sectors in both Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Conducted field research in coastal communities. Project completed October 1994.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Inshore/Offshore Allocation Amendment Proposal. Lead author on the SIA component of the original Inshore/Offshore analysis. Conducted project field research in Sand Point and Unalaska/Dutch Harbor and was responsible for overall study coordination and management. Conducted ethnographic research, key-person interviews, and the differential distribution analysis of secondary data. Project completed March 1991.
Professional Experience
Education
Current Affiliations
Wislow Research Fisheries Experience (2018-present)
Fisheries Experience in Other Regions (Pre-2018)
Other Alaska Research Experience (Pre-2018)
