Unalaska, AK – The National Marine Fisheries service has extended its public comment period for the draft Steller Sea Lion biological opinion that it issued earlier this month.

Where NMFS had previously planned to close the comment period by Friday of this week, it's now taking input through September 3rd.

The draft BiOp would have significant impact on the groundfish fisheries of the Western Aleutians. NMFS is currently recommending a closure of the Atka Mackerel and Pacific Cod fisheries in the region in order to help boost the sea lion population -- an idea which has received much criticism from groups with stakes in the fishing industry such as the Marine Conservation Alliance. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council hosted a special meeting last week in Anchorage to discuss the BiOp, and one of the biggest concerns was that NMFS was moving too quickly with the draft.