November 2003 Council Meeting
List of Decisions
as of November 10, 2003; 3:21 pm
A basic summary of decisions from the November 2-7, 2003 meeting in Del Mar, California is posted below.
Groundfish Management
Feasibility of Using Real-time Electronic Logbook Data in Groundfish Fishery Management
The Council deferred decision making on recommendations for electronic logbooks and other electronic data collection possibilities
Observer Data Flow for Fishery Years 2004-2006
The Council received a report from NMFS Northwest Center indicating that 2002-2003 observer-year data and related models will be available April 2004 for Council use in inseason management and pre-season modeling for the 2005-2006 fishery. The 2004-2005 observer-year data and related models will be made available by November 2005 for inseason management and pre-season modeling for the 2007-2008 fishery. The Council has appointed an ad hoc committee to address questions of how to handle new observer, and other data, that becomes available inseason.
Status of Groundfish Fisheries and Inseason Adjustments
Responding to current estimates of groundfish catches in California recreational fisheries during July and August that were considerably higher than anticipated, and which caused coastwide OYs to be exceeded for canary rockfish, lingcod and minor nearshore rockfish, the Council moved to close, as soon as feasible and for the rest of the year, coastwide recreational fisheries and most nearshore and shelf commercial fisheries, with the exception of the following fisheries that would remain open: (1) the California recreational and commercial hook and line fisheries for sanddab, (2) Oregon recreational fisheries inside 27 fathoms for species other than canary rockfish and lingcod, and (3) Washington recreational fisheries inside 3 miles for species other than canary rockfish and lingcod. Finally, the Council recommended removal of the differential trip limits for large and small footrope trawl fisheries and the extension of the non-trawl Rockfish Conservation Area boundary further seaward in period 6.
Cabezon and Lingcod Stock Assessments and Lingcod Rebuilding Analysis for 2005-2006
The Council accepted the SSC recommendation to delay further consideration of the stock assessments for lingcod and cabezon, pending further analysis by the stock assessment authors. Revised stock assessments will be considered by the Council at the March Council meeting.
Preseason Management Schedule and Process, Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Preliminary Optimum Yield (OY), and Management Measures for 2005-2006 Fisheries
The Council adopted a detailed schedule and process for the development of 2005-2006 groundfish specifications and management measures. This schedule (Exhibit D.8.b, Supplemental GMT Report 1, with the addition of an Allocation Committee meeting during the week of March 22, 2004) will be posted on the Council website in the near future. The Council also adopted a range of ABC and OY levels and initial management measures for future analysis. Additionally, the Council approved an analysis of management measure alternatives that include moving some Exempted Fishing Permits into regulations, alternative catch sharing scenarios, more regionalized management measures, effects of implementing trawl buyback, and retention of some overfished rockfish species in Oregon and Washington recreational fisheries.
Planning of “Off-year” Non-regulatory Science Activities
The Council recommended that the NMFS “Off-year” science activities emphasize matters that will improve stock assessments by scheduling workshops to review stock assessment data (including Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS), transition issues, stock assessment models, and recreational CPUE estimation methods. Should resources become available, the Council recommends workshops to investigate virgin biomass and maximum sustainable yield methodologies and estimates. The Council also tasked the SSC with developing standards and criteria for review of groundfish rebuilding plans.
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS): Transiting Requirements and Expansion of the Program
To maintain the integrity of rockfish conservation areas (RCA), the Council recommended requirements for transiting the non-trawl RCA be implemented for the limited entry fixed gear vessels. These requirements would be similar to those in place for the limited entry trawl fleet. The Council scheduled a status report on implementation for the June Council meeting and will consider expansion to the open access sector after the program matures and more is learned about the system's capabilities.
Groundfish Bycatch Program Environmental Impact Statement
The Council approved release of the draft groundfish bycatch programmatic EIS for public review, as soon as final elements of the analysis have been completed. The public review process will include a 45-day public comment period.
Development of Groundfish Trawl Individual Quotas (IQ) and Control Date
The Council adopted a control date of November 6, 2003 for groundfish trawl individual quotas. This control date will apply to any person potentially eligible for individual quota shares. The control date puts those persons on notice that the Council may decide to not count activities occurring after the control date toward determining a person's qualification for an initial allocation or determining the amount of initial allocation of quota shares. For groundfish trawl catch, the Council is considering both individual fishing quotas and individual processing quotas. The control date may be applicable to either of these individual quota systems, if such systems are eventually recommended by the Council and adopted by NMFS. The Council could decide to proceed with individual fishing quotas but not individual processing quotas. The Council also provided additional guidance to the ad hoc individual quota committee including the specification of an option to create freezer shares, the addition of capacity reduction to the list of goals, guidance on the list of objectives, and a request for a report from the Allocation Committee to be delivered next spring on how overfished species would be handled under the IQ program.
Final Approval of Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) for 2004
The Council recommended seven EFPs to NOAA Fisheries for 2004. These are Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife sponsored Arrowtooth Trawl, Pollock Trawl, Selective Flatfish Trawl, and Dogfish Longline; Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife sponsored DTS (Dover sole/thornyheads/sablefish) Trawl, and Shoreside Whiting (for all the coastal states); and California Department of Fish and Game sponsored Selective Flatfish Trawl.
Groundfish Fishery Management Plan Amendment 16-3: Rebuilding Plans for Bocaccio, Cowcod, and Widow and Yelloweye Rockfish
The Council reviewed rebuilding alternatives for bocaccio, cowcod, widow, and yelloweye rockfish and decided which alternatives would be analyzed in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under FMP Amendment 16-3. Bocaccio, widow, and yelloweye rockfish rebuilding alternatives with a 60% to 90% rebuilding probability, as well as cowcod alternatives with 55% and 60% rebuilding probabilities will be analyzed. The Council rejected a detailed analysis of a mixed stock exception alternative for any of the Amendment 16-3 species. The Council will review a preliminary draft EIS and decide preferred alternatives for rebuilding these four species in April 2004.
[Top]
Salmon Management
Inseason Consideration of Scheduled 2004 Commercial and Recreational Openings South of Cape Falcon
The Council elected to not change the scheduled opening date of March 15, 2004 for the commercial and recreational salmon fishery between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt., Oregon, and the commercial fisheries between Humbug Mt., and the Oregon/California border.
Preseason Planning for 2004 Management
The Council adopted the following Council-sponsored hearing locations and dates: Westport, Washington - March 29; Coos Bay, Oregon - March 29; and Fort Bragg, California - March 30. Other state-sponsored meetings will be considered at the March 2004 Council meeting. The Council also approved the schedule and process for developing 2004 ocean salmon management measures as described in Exhibit E.3, Attachment 1. Additionally, the Council asked a subgroup of Mr. Ralph Brown, Mr. Eric Larson, Mr. Neal Coenen, and the Council Executive Director to develop recommendations on potential effects of current legislation that could eliminate funding for the Klamath Fishery Management Council.
Salmon Methodology Review
The Council elected to delay implementation of the modified coho FRAM for use in analysis of Canadian stocks and fisheries pending approval of the Pacific Salmon Commission. The Council approved release of the FRAM overview document and recommended the MEW proceed with development of the detailed FRAM documentation and users manual.
[Top]
Pacific Halibut Management
Proposed Changes to the Catch Sharing Plan and Annual Regulations
The Council adopted the following changes to the Area 2A Pacific halibut catch sharing plan affecting Oregon and Washington sport fisheries.
-
Remove the requirement to “sponsor a public workshop shortly after the International Pacific Halibut Commission annual meeting” to develop the season structure for the Puget Sound recreational fishery.
-
Change the opening date of the Washington north coast subarea fishery from May 1 to the first Tuesday between May 9 and May 15.
-
Change the opening date of the Washington north coast area June fishery from the third Wednesday in June to “during the third week of June.”
-
Add a statement to the Washington north coast, Washington south coast, and Columbia River subareas that, subsequent to a closure prior to September 30, if there is insufficient quota remaining to reopen that given subarea for another fishing day, then any remaining quota may be transferred inseason to another Washington coastal subarea by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) via an update to the recreational halibut hotline. In the case of the Columbia River subarea, the transfer would be to another Washington and/or Oregon subarea based on preseason shares of the subarea allocation.
-
For the Washington south coast subarea, switch from a five-day/week fishery to a seven-day/week fishery beginning July 1.
-
Open the spring Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. all-depth recreational fishery Thursday through Saturday beginning the second Thursday in May. Allow any remaining quota to be used by opening every other Friday and Saturday, but allow some weeks to be closed to avoid adverse tidal conditions.
-
Open the all-depth recreational fishery between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. summer fishery on every other Friday and Saturday beginning with the first Friday in August, but allow some weeks to be closed to avoid adverse tidal conditions. Allow unused quota to be transferred to the nearshore fishery.
-
Change the depth restriction in the Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. nearshore recreational fishery from 30 fathoms to 40 fathoms during June through September 2004 for consistency with the 2004 recreational groundfish fishery regulations.
-
Prohibit possession of Pacific halibut taken in the Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. nearshore recreational fishery in other areas.
-
Extend the closing date for the South of Humbug Mt. recreational fishery to October 31.
[Top]
Highly Migratory Species Management
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) Amendment Update: High Seas Longline Limited Entry and Outer Issues
Based on advice of the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) advisors, the Council formally initiated development of an FMP amendment to address limited entry for the high seas pelagic long line fishery. As initial analytical criteria, the Council requested the HMS Management Team (HMSMT) focus on the several criteria contained in the HMSMT and HMS Advisory Subpanel reports received under this agendum.
[Top]
Coastal Pelagic Species Management
Pacific Sardine Stock Assessment and Harvest Guideline for 2004
The Council adopted a harvest guideline of 122,747 mt for the 2004 Pacific sardine fishery, within an incidental catch allowance of up to 45%. This harvest guideline is based on a biomass estimate of 1,090,587 mt. Per the revised allocation framework, on January 1, the harvest guideline will be allocated 33% to the northern subarea and 66% to the southern subarea, with a subarea dividing line at Point Arena, CA.
[Top]
Administrative Matters
Appointments to Advisory Bodies
Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Management Team
California Dept. of Fish and Game (CDFG) - Mr. Dale Sweetnam and Ms. Leeanne Laughlin
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) (2nd position) - Dr. Kevin Hill
Groundfish Management Team
CDFG (2nd position) - Ms. Deborah Aseltine-Neilson
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management Team
NMFS SWFSC (2nd position) - Dr. Suzanne Kohin
Scientific and Statistical Committee
CDFG - Mr. Tom Barnes
NMFS SWFSC (2nd position) - Dr. Kevin Hill
At-Large - Dr. Ramon Conser, Dr. Michael Dalton, Dr. Hans Radtke, Dr. André E. Punt, Dr. Stephen Ralston, and Mr. Steve Berkeley
CPS Advisory Subpanel
California Commercial Fisheries - Mr. Orlando Amoroso, Ms. Terry Hoinsky, and Mr. John Royal
Oregon Commercial Fisheries - Mr. Eugene Law
Washington Commercial Fisheries - Mr. Robert P. Zuanich
Processors - Mr. A. Pierre Marchand, Jr., Ms. Heather Munro Mann, and Ms. Diane Pleschner-Steele
California Charter/Sport Fisheries - Capt. Paul Strasser
Conservation Group - Ms. Karen Reyna
Groundfish Advisory Subpanel
Fixed Gear Fisheries - Mr. John Crowley, Mr. Tom Ghio, and Mr. Gerry Richter
Washington Trawl Fisheries (term of January-March 2004) - Mr. Marion J. Larkin
Oregon Trawl Fisheries (term of January-March 2004) - Mr. Kelly Smotherman
California Trawl Fisheries (term of January-March 2004) - Mr. Tommy Ancona
Open Access Fisheries North of Cape Mendocino - Mr. Kenyon Hensel
Open Access Fisheries South of Cape Mendocino - Ms. Kathy Fosmark
Processor At-Large - Mr. Barry Cohen and Mr. Rod Moore
At-Sea Processor - Mr. Dale Myer
Washington Charter Boat Operator - Mr. Rhett Weber
Oregon Charter Boat Operator - Mr. Wayne Butler
California North of Point Conception Charter Boat Operator - Mr. Bob Ingles
California South of Point Conception Charter Boat Operator - Mr. Daniel Strunk
Sport Fisheries At-Large - Mr. Randy Fry, Ms. Janice Green, and Mr. Jim Lone
Tribal Fisher - Mr. Gordon Smith
Conservation Group - Mr. Phil Kline
HMS Advisory Subpanel
Commercial Troll Fisheries - Mr. Wayne Heikkila
Commercial Purse Seine Fisheries - Mr. August Felando
Commercial Gillnet Fisheries - Vacant
Commercial At-Large - Mr. Pete Dupuy, Mr. Doug Fricke, and Mr. Bill Sutton
Processor North of Cape Mendocino - Vacant
Processor South of Cape Mendocino - Mr. Angelo Augello
Charter Boat Operator - Mr. Robert Fletcher
Private Sport Fisheries - Mr. Bob Osborne
Sport Fisheries At-Large - Dr. Russell Nelson
Conservation Group - Ms. Kate Wing
Public At-Large - Ms. Tana McHale
Salmon Advisory Subpanel
Washington Troll Fisheries - Mr. Jim Olson
Oregon Troll Fisheries - Mr. Don Stevens
California Troll Fisheries - Mr. Duncan MacLean
Gillnet Fisheries - Mr. Kent Martin
Processor - Mr. Gerry Reinholdt
Washington Charter Boat Operator - Mr. Butch Smith
Oregon Charter Boat Operator - Mr. Ron Lethin
California Charter Boat Operator - Mr. Craig Stone
Washington Sport Fisheries - Mr. Steve Watrous
Oregon Sport Fisheries - Mr. Jim Welter
Idaho Sport Fisheries - Mr. Tom Welsh
California Sport Fisheries - Mr. Bob Strickland
Washington Coast Tribal Fisher - Mr. Calvin Frank
California Tribal Representative - Mr. Mike Orcutt
Conservation Representative - Mr. Jim Tuggle
Habitat Committee
Commercial Fisheries - Mr. Paul Heikkila
Sport Fisheries - Ms. Liz Hamilton
California Tribal Representative - Mr. Dave Hillemeier
Washington Coast/Columbia River Tribal Representative - Mr. Stuart Ellis
Conservation Group - Mr. Michael Osmond
Public At-Large - Mr. Sean White
National Marine Sanctuary - Vacant (new position)
[Top]
[Top]
PFMC
11/10/03
3:21 pm
|
