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At the November 2004 meeting, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), initiated development of a formal prohibition on directed fisheries for krill and directed staff to begin development of management measures to regulate directed fisheries for krill within Council-managed waters. These measures were recommended to be incorporated into an amendment to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan. This proposed action is in recognition of the importance of krill as a fundamental food source for much of the marine life along the West Coast. Moreover, state laws prohibit krill landings by state-licensed fishing vessels into California, Oregon, and Washington, respectively. Thus, the action could provide for consistent federal and state management. There are currently no directed krill fisheries in Council-managed waters.
The Southwest Regional Office (SWR) of NMFS has taken the lead on this proposed krill amendment and briefed the Council and advisory bodies on progress throughout 2005 and presented the Council with an analysis of alternative management strategies for krill at the November 2005 meeting. At the November Council meeting the Council recommended that all species of krill be included in the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan as prohibited species. In light of this prohibited species designation, the Council narrowed the range of potential fishery management measures to; 1) status quo, 2) a prohibition on krill fishing in all Council-managed waters, and 3) an initial prohibition combined with the establishment of a process for considering future krill fishing opportunities. Of these alternatives, the Council adopted the second, a complete ban on krill fishing as a preliminary preferred alternative.
The proposed krill management measures are anticipated to be implemented as Amendment 12 to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan. The SWR has completed an analysis of alternative management measures in a draft Environmental Assessment that can be downloaded at the links below. The Council is anticipated to take final action on a preferred alternative to manage fisheries for krill at the March 2006 Council meeting in Seattle, Washington.
Download by Section:
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Main Amendment 12 Draft Document (346 KB)
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Figures (849 KB)
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Appendix A - Summary of a Meeting on California Current Krill off the U.S. West Coast, June 6, 2005 (61 KB)
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Appendix B - Information on ESA Listed Species Which May Be Affected By Potential Krill Fisheries in the U.S. West Coast EEZ (74 KB)
Additional Material:
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