November 2007 Council Meeting
List of Decisions

as of November 16, 2007; 10:40 am

A basic summary of decisions from the November 4-9, 2007 Council meeting in San Diego, California is posted below.

• Pacific Halibut Management
• Salmon Management
• Groundfish Management
• Coastal Pelagic Species Management
• Administrative Matters


• Download a PDF version of the November 2007 Decision Document
• Visit the Council Decisions Archives Page

Pacific Halibut Management

Changes to Catch Sharing Plan and 2008 Annual Regulations

The Council adopted the following changes to the Area 2A Pacific halibut catch sharing plan (CSP) affecting Washington sport fisheries.

1. For the Washington North Coast Sport Fishery in June, implement the following changes: a) revise the opening date to the first Tuesday following June 16; b) specify that the Saturday offshore opener is contingent upon available quota; and c) provide flexibility in the date that the late June fishery reopens.
2. For the Washington South Coast Sport Fishery primary season, implement the following changes: a) in 2008 retain the opening date of May 1 but beginning in 2009, open the fishery on May 1 if it is a Sunday, otherwise open on the first Sunday following May 1; and b) specify that the fishery will be open two days per week-Sunday and Tuesday.
3. For the Washington South Coast Sport nearshore fishery, implement the following changes: a) revise the set aside to 10 percent of the South Coast quota, which would be used to provide a northern nearshore fishery after the offshore fishery has closed; and b) specify that the nearshore fishery would be open on Fridays and Saturdays in addition to the days the primary season is open, rather than seven days per week.
4. Delete paragraph (b)(2) referring to the 25,000 lb tribal allocation resulting from the U.S. v. Washington case.
5. In section (f) and in paragraph (f)(1), the number of sport sub-areas is revised from seven to six.
6. In section (f)(5)(ii)(E) of the CSP and in 50 CFR 300.63 (c)(2)(v) of the regulations (Flexible Inseason Management for Sport Fisheries), the phrase “north of Cape Falcon, OR” is removed from the phrase so that it reads, “modification of subarea quotas.”

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Salmon Management

Preseason Salmon Management Schedule for 2008

The Council adopted the following Council-sponsored hearing locations and dates: Westport, Washington - March 31; Coos Bay, Oregon - March 31; Eureka, California - April 1. Other state-sponsored meetings will be considered at the March 2008 Council meeting. The Council also approved the schedule and process for developing 2008 ocean salmon management measures as described in Agenda Item F.1.a, Attachment 1, November 2007.

Salmon Methodology Review

The Council accepted the proposed change of base period years in the Coho Fishery Regulation Assessment Model (FRAM) from 1986-1991 (without 1986 upper Fraser River) to 1986-1992 (without 1986 upper Fraser River), as long as the adopted base period years are consistent with Pacific Salmon Commission usage.

The Council also accepted recommended changes to the Chinook FRAM, including addition of Central Valley, Willapa Bay, and Washington North Coast stocks, and changing of coded-wire-tag (CWT) representations for lower Columbia River natural tule Chinook and Hoko Chinook.

The Council approved the proposed genetic stock identification study design to collect information for potential use in fishery management decisions for areas between Cape Falcon and Point Sur. The Council also approved the experimental fishing proposal design for use in developing the March 2008 management options in the same areas.

Regarding recovery exploitation rates (RER) for lower Columbia River natural tule Chinook, the Council will forward advisory body statements and Council discussion points to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) with the recommendation they be incorporated into further analyses to be used to develop guidance for 2008 ocean salmon fisheries. The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will continue review of RER analyses at the March 2008 Council meeting.

The Council also recommended proposed that modifications to Council Operating Procedure 15 clarifying the process and advisory body roles in the Salmon Methodology Review process be released for public review, with final action scheduled for March 2008.

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Groundfish Management

Exempted Fishing Permits for 2008

The Council adopted the following exempted fishing permits (EFP) and bycatch caps for 2008:

The Council also recommended approval by NMFS contingent to improvements in the data analysis and reporting requirements detailed in these EFP. The recommended revision in the EFP sponsored by The Nature Conservancy and Environmental Defense to seasonally release only 20 mt of the sablefish catch limit before July 1 and 30 mt after July 1 was to reduce the risk of pre-empting fishing opportunities for other Conception area fishermen next year. These three EFP will be recommended to NMFS.

Stock Assessments and Rebuilding Analyses for 2009-2010 Groundfish Fisheries

The Council adopted full assessments for blue rockfish in waters off California and black rockfish in waters off Oregon and California. The Council also adopted new rebuilding analyses for bocaccio, canary rockfish, cowcod, darkblotched rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, widow rockfish, and yelloweye rockfish. These assessments and rebuilding analyses will be used to decide harvest specifications and management measures for 2009-2010 groundfish fisheries.

Amendment 21: Intersector Allocation

The Council adopted three alternatives for final analysis of trawl sector allocations of groundfish species and complexes. Allocation options will be analyzed for all groundfish species and complexes except: (1) species with existing allocations (sablefish north of 36° N latitude and Pacific whiting), (2) four overfished species (bocaccio, canary rockfish, cowcod, and yelloweye rockfish), (3) nearshore species, (4) species in the minor shelf rockfish complexes, and (5) species in the “Other Fish” complex.

Additionally, the Council adopted two alternatives for trawl allocations of Pacific halibut for purposes of capping mortality in Area 2A trawl fisheries: the 2005 and 2006 trawl sector percentages of the constant exploitation yield of Pacific halibut.

More details will be available in the Council's winter newsletter. Final action is scheduled for the April 2008 Council meeting in Seattle, Washington.

Consideration of Inseason Adjustments for 2007 and 2008 Fisheries, Including Pacific Whiting Season Dates

The Council adopted the following inseason adjustments for 2007 and 2008 groundfish fisheries:

2007 Season

1. Increase sablefish limits for large and small footrope trawl gear north of 40°10' N. latitude to 30,000 lbs per 2 months for the remainder of 2007 on or as close as possible to December 1.
2. Increase limited entry (LE) trawl sablefish limits south of 40°10' N. latitude to 30,000 lbs per 2 months for the remainder of 2007 on or as close as possible to December 1.
3. Increase the open access (OA) sablefish daily trip limits (DTL) limits between 36° and 40°10' N. latitude to 300 lbs per day, 1,000 lbs per week, 3,000 lbs per 2 months for the remainder of 2007 on or as close as possible to December 1.

2008 Season

1. Increase OA sablefish DTL limits north of the Conception area (north of 36° N. latitude) to 300 lbs per day, 800 lbs per week, 2,400 lbs per 2 months for all of 2008.
2. Specify open access Conception area (south of 36° N. latitude) sablefish limits of 300 lbs per day or 1 landing per week of up to 700 pounds for all of 2008.
3. Increase the LE fixed gear shortspine limit south of 34°27 N. latitude to 3,000 lbs per 2 months for all of 2008.
4. For the 2008 non-whiting LE trawl fishery, extensively adjust RCA boundaries and trip limits as per Alternative 2 presented under Agenda Item D.6.b, Supplemental GMT Report 2, except that period 1 limits for Petrale sole south of 38°N. latitude be set at 50,000 lbs.
5. Increase chilipepper rockfish limits with small footrope trawl gear south of 40°10' N. latitude to 2,000 lbs per 2 months.
6. Recombine chilipepper rockfish with minor shelf rockfish, shortbelly, widow, and bocaccio between 34°27' N. latitude and 40° 10' N. latitude. The recommended 2008 trip limits are 2,500 lbs per 2 month of which no more than 500 lbs per 2 months can be any species other than chilipepper rockfish.

Amendment 20: Trawl Rationalization Alternatives (TIQ and Cooperatives)

The Council voted to move ahead with the draft environmental impact statement analyzing the individual fishing quotas (IFQ) alternative for all groundfish species and the separate co-op alternative for the three whiting sectors. In moving the alternatives forward, the Council made several modifications, including such items as (1) adding an option to the IFQ alternative that would issue quota shares (QS) for a fixed period of 15 years with 20 percent of the QS reallocated every two years through an auction, (2) substantially revising the co-op provisions, and (3) greatly narrowing the qualifying period criteria. Full details will be available on the Council website in the reasonably near future.

Management Recommendations for 2009-2010 Groundfish Fisheries

The Council adopted the acceptable biological catches (ABC) and a range of optimum yield (OY) alternatives recommended by the Groundfish Management Team (GMT) for 2009-2010 groundfish fisheries. The Council also provided guidance on catch sharing of canary and yelloweye rockfish between sectors and states and adopted (1) the list of management measures and issues recommended by the GMT for analysis, (2) elements and management measures recommended by California Department of Fish and Game, and (3) an option to manage future whiting fisheries using sector-specific bycatch caps.

The full list of final harvest specification and management measure alternatives will be available in the Council's winter newsletter. Analysis of the impacts of alternatives for 2009-2010 groundfish fisheries will be presented next year when the Council makes final decisions on harvest specifications in April and management measures in June.

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Coastal Pelagic Species Management

Pacific Sardine and Pacific Mackerel Management

The Council adopted an ABC or total harvest guideline (HG) of 89,093 mt for the 2008 Pacific sardine fishery. This ABC is based on a biomass estimate of 832,706 mt and the harvest control rule in the coastal pelagic species (CPS) fishery management plan. The Council recommends 80,083 mt of the HG for the directed fishery to be allocated seasonally per the Amendment 11 framework. To allow for incidental landings of Pacific sardines in other CPS fisheries and to ensure the fishery does not exceed the ABC, the Council recommends a set aside of 8,910 mt allocated across seasonal periods as follows:

If a seasonal allocation is projected to be taken, the directed fishery will close and any incidental landings of Pacific sardine will be counted against that period's set aside. To minimize targeting of Pacific sardine and to maximize landings of other harvestable stocks, the Council recommends a Pacific sardine incidental landing allowance of 20 percent by weight be allowed in other fisheries. If an incidental set aside is fully attained, it is anticipated that NMFS will close all fisheries to the retention of Pacific sardine. If the set aside is not fully attained or is exceeded in a given seasonal period, the Council recommends that NMFS automatically adjust the directed harvest allocation in the following seasonal period to account for the discrepancy.

Regarding Pacific mackerel, the Council recommended no changes to Pacific mackerel assessment methodology for the 2008 assessment update and recommends the next CPS stock assessment review panel be convened in 2009 rather than 2010 to fully review the status of Pacific sardine and Pacific mackerel.

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Administrative Matters

West Coast Governors' Agreement on Ocean Health

The Council reviewed the West Coast Governors' Agreement (WCGA) draft Action Plan and tasked Council staff with preparing a letter communicating Council comments by December 1, 2007. Council comments were generally supportive of the Governors' effort, noted Council past and ongoing activities that relate to the stated priorities and proposed actions, and encouraged continued coordination and active inclusion of the Council process as the Governors' progress with their Action Plan.

Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization Implementation

The Council approved revisions to two Council Operating Procedures (COP) response to new provisions in the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act. COP 4, governing the SSC, was updated to clarify SSC responsibilities, include new financial disclosure requirements, and to add one additional at-large seat. COP 12, regarding research and data needs, was revised to address requirements for identifying needs for a five-year period and to reflect current practices regarding economic, social, and ecosystem research and data needs.

Membership Appointments and Council Operating Procedures

Council Officers

In considering appointment of its officers, the Council added a second vice chair position and set a new chair and vice chair term of August 11 through August 10, effective immediately. The change of term is in preparation of a permanent change to a one-year term that is consistent with Council member appointment terms (August 11 to August 10 of the following year). To meet the new permanent change in term in 2009 and beyond, the appointments will be made each year at the June Council meeting. Establishing a second vice chair position will allow the Council to be better represented and involved in the breadth and depth of meetings and actions which current fisheries management issues entail.

The Council suspended the two-year limitation on officer terms and appointed the following officers to serve through August 10, 2009:

Council Chair - Mr. Don Hansen
Council Vice Chair - Mr. Mark Cedergreen
Council Vice Chair - Mr. David Ortmann

Team and Advisory Subpanel Appointments

The Council made the following appointments to its teams and advisory subpanels:

• Ms. Carol Henry to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) position on the Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (replacing Mr. Brian Culver).
• Ms. Gretchen Arentzen to one of two NMFS Northwest Region positions on the GMT (replacing Ms. Becky Renko).
• Mr. Corey Niles to one of two WDFW positions on the GMT (replacing Mr. Brian Culver).
• Mr. Pierre Marchand to the Processor North of Cape Mendocino position on the Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (replacing Ms. Gayle Parker).

SSC Appointments

The Council added another at-large position to its SSC to help meet the breath and depth of the current workload. To fill the existing and new at-large vacancy, the Council made the following appointments:

• Dr. Vidar Wespestad
• Dr. Selina Heppell

Ad Hoc Committees

The Council approved the formation of an Ad Hoc Trawl Rationalization Tracking and Monitoring Committee to help develop options and provide advice to NMFS on the tracking and monitoring requirements necessary under the trawl rationalization program. The Council chair named the following members to the committee: Mr. Steve Freese, Mr. Dave Colpo, Mr. Johnathon Cusik, Ms. Becky Renko, Mr. Todd Lee, Mr. Dayna Mathews, and additional state representatives to be determined in the near future.

Changes to Council Operating Procedures (COP)

The Council modified COP 1, which governs Council operations, by changing the starting and ending dates of the one-year term for Council officers to be consistent with Council member appointment terms, and by allowing the election of more than one vice chair.

For other changes to the COP, refer to the summaries of action under the Salmon Methodology Review and the Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization Implementation.

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PFMC
11/16/07
10:40 am