Unalaska, AK – Today, the National Marine Fisheries Service released its final biological opinion on the western stock of Steller sea lions. The BiOp looks at the effect that the commercial groundfish fisheries have endangered sea lion's diet and concludes that their current management could jeapordize their existence.

NOAA has issued a final interim rule that would close the Atka mackerel and Pacific cod fisheries in the Western Aleutian Islands starting January 1, 2011.

Right now, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council is meeting in Anchorage, and reviewing the final BiOp.