The fish stock is at a sustainable level there are concerns as to the future stock development if the recommended or average fishing pressure for next years is applied. A management plan is in place for long-term recovery, with measures based on scientific evidence.
A number of endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species, including the Steller sea lion, Chinook salmon and sharks, inhabit the same waters, and may interact with the Alaska pollock. Bycatch in this fishery is relatively low. Discard rates in the pollock fishery have decreased in recent years. The Alaska pollock plays an important role in the ecosystem, and continuung to fish for this species may cause negative ecosystem changes such as changes in the food web system. Available information indicates that the fishery mainly occurs on sand, gravel or mud as well as in sponge beds, making the impact on habitats moderate.
The fishery is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which has implemented measures covering major issues such as bycatch limits, prohibited species, and area closures resulting in large drops in bycatch rate. The management system is partly effective.