No significant methodological changes for salmon management for the 2001 season were proposed and none were adopted by the Council.

The Council passed a motion adopting the results of the Oregon Coastal Natural Coho Work Group as expert biological advice in considering how low the allowable fishery impact should be over the next two to three years, within the constraints of existing Amendment 13 to the Salmon FMP. The Council called for another comprehensive review in 2003. The Council also encouraged the Work Group to supply the documentation requested by the SSC and respond to concerns expressed by the STT.

The Council adopted dates for three sites to hold Council-sponsored Salmon Option Hearings for the 2001 season. These were: Westport, WA and North Bend, OR on March 26, 2001; Eureka, CA on March 27, 2001.

The Council approved a canary rockfish rebuilding plan with a limit on coast wide fishery impacts of 93 metric tons annually for the next two years, a 57 year rebuilding period, a mandatory review after two years, and for purposes of preparing management measures, a preseason allocation of 5 metric tons for research, 44 metric tons for sport fisheries and 44 metric tons for commercial fisheries. The Council also approved a cowcod rebuilding plan limiting fishery impacts to 1% per year (about 2.4 metric tons for 2001), as a 95-year rebuilding period, and the use of area closures south of Pt. Conception to reduce bycatch mortality.

The Council adopted a method to deduct each commercial fishing sector’s anticipated sablefish bycatch/discard from its individual allocation. The landed catch allocations to the various commercial fishing sectors will reflect this new method, which will replace the current non-incentive based system where bycatch was taken "off the top" for all sectors.

The Council adopted overall harvest amounts for the myriad of groundfish species and geographic areas for the 2001 season. Optimum yield (OY) levels will be reduced for nearly all species and species groups next year. The main exception is lingcod, which will increase from 378 metric tons to 611 metric tons. Widow rockfish and darkblotched rockfish will be classified as overfished, and the Council will prepare rebuilding plans for them over the next 12 months.

The Council adopted a final plan that allows "stacking" (aggregating) permits in the limited entry fixed gear sablefish fishery by vessels and permit owners. One important expected result of this allowance is to reduce the number of vessels operating in this fishery.

The Council recommended NMFS modify the current regulations that restrict the transfer of limited entry permits. The changes will simplify all transfers. A permit may be transferred to a different vessel one time per calendar year, as opposed to once per 12-month period.

The Council authorized the Chair to appoint a committee to evaluate the adequacy of the existing groundfish management process and schedule, and to develop recommendations to improve the process for the 2001/2002 cycle and beyond. The committee will report results to the Council at the March meeting. The committee will consist of the Council Executive Director, the Council Legal Counsel, one GMT co-chair, one representative from each coastal state fishery management agency and the National Marine Fisheries Service; and one representative each from the commercial fishery sector, the sport fishery sector, and the conservation group sector. Minor changes to the Stock Assessment Review (STAR) process were adopted for 2001 as a tentative intent pending the outcome of the aforementioned committee report.

The Council adopted management measures for 2001 that are similar but more restrictive than for 2000. Recreational and commercial rockfish limits will be reduced, especially those relating to canary rockfish. Use of large footrope trawl gear by commercial fishers will continue to be restricted. Commercial vessel limits for all flatfish are scheduled to go into effect for the first time on May 1, 2001 except in the area south of Cape Mendocino. For more detail on 2001 groundfish management measures, see the Council Newsletter, to be posted before the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Council endorsed continuation of the program to monitor bycatch in the shoreside whiting fishery. The program is conducted under an exempted fishing permit through the states of Washington, Oregon, and California.

There were no proposals for further inseason changes for the balance of 2000; no changes were adopted.

The Council approved changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for Area 2A, which modify the management objectives for the incidental halibut allocation to the salmon troll fishery and make minor modifications to the Washington South Coast sport fishery. The changes for the incidental halibut allocation to the salmon troll fishery provide a management objective of harvesting the entire incidental halibut allocation during the May/June salmon troll season. If the incidental allocation is not harvested by the end of June, it will not be transferred to the directed halibut fishery. Instead, incidental harvest may continue July 1until the allocation is taken or the overall non-Indian harvest allocation is taken. The changes to the Washington South Coast sport fishery remove the closure of the "hot spot" area and allocate the entire quota to one season opening in May. A near shore fishery could open after closure of the primary season if insufficient quota remained to reopen the offshore fishery, but at least 500 pounds remained available.

The Council directed the CPSMT to continue work on establishing a capacity goal for the limited entry finfish fishery and addressing other capacity related issues such as permit transferability. Alternative capacity goals should be constructed following the three options outlined in the CPSMT report distributed at the meeting. The analysis should include advice on the most preferred option; why it is most preferred; and how permit transferability would help achieve the goal.

The Council adopted a harvest guideline of 134,737 metric tons for the 2001 Pacific sardine fishery, effective 01/01/01. They directed the CPSMT to proceed with development of the assessment review process outlined in the CPSMT report modified such that the review schedule will commence in 2002 with formal review of the Pacific sardine and Pacific Mackerel assessments. This schedule decision noted that a major review of squid assessment methodology is scheduled for 2001.

The Council thanked the CPSMT for their analysis of northern area preemption concerns and historical sardine fishery patterns. The Oregon representative noted that the previous desire for consideration for a northern set-aside has diminished.

The Council made the following appointments to committees for the 2001-2003 term:

Scientific & Statistical Committee :

Dr. Ramon Conser, Dr. Stephen Ralston, Dr. Robert Francis, Dr. Brian Allee, Dr. Michael Dalton (Economist).

One additional appointment may be made at the March Council meeting to fill the 6 ^th at-large position.

The March Council meeting agenda will contain the development of salmon fishery options as the marquee feature, but will also include the first draft Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan, an update on Groundfish Strategic Plan implementation, several informational reports related to 2001 groundfish fishery management, and updates on coastal pelagic species and Pacific halibut matters. A detailed agenda will be posted on the Council website by mid-February.