Pacific Fishery Management Council

No Jeopardy Finding for Hawaii Shallow-set Longline Fishery for Swordfish

kdahl — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:30:42 +0000

On January 30, 2012, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office released a Biological Opinion for the continued operation of the Hawaii-based shallow-set longline fishery under the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (Pelagics FEP), as managed under the 2010 regulations implementing Amendment 18. The Biological Opinion concludes that ”it is NMFS’ biological opinion that the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of these five species, and is not likely to destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat.” NMFS anticipates the following incidental takes may occur within any 2-year period as a result of the continued operation of the Hawaii shallow-set longline fishery with a projected expansion of up to 5,500 sets per year:

Humpback whale: 2 interactions (0.40 killed)
N. Pacific loggerhead turtles: 68 interactions (14 killed)
Leatherback turtles: 52 interactions (12 killed)
Olive ridley turtles: 4 interactions (2 killed)
Green turtles 6 interactions (2 killed)

Exceeding these interaction rates could result in the re-initiation of consultation pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.

Public review draft of the Southern Oregon/Northern California coast coho salmon recovery plan available

Sandra — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:14:54 +0000

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the availability for public review the Draft Recovery Plan (Draft Plan) for the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) evolutionarily significant unit. NMFS is soliciting review and comment from the public and all interested parties on the Draft Plan, and will consider all substantive comments received during the review period before submitting the Draft Plan for final approval. Comments are due no later than March 5, 2012.

Electronic copies of the DRAFT Plan, as well as the public hearing flyers, are available on the following NMFS website:
http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/recovery/

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Julie Weeder, NMFS, at 707-825-5168 or Julie.Weeder@noaa.gov.

NOAA rule designates add’l critical habitat for leatherbacks on U.S. west coast

kdahl — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:12:48 +0000

NOAA announced today the designation of additional critical habitat to provide protection for endangered leatherback sea turtles along the U.S. West Coast. NOAA is designating 41,914 square miles of marine habitat in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington. This regulation is currently on file with the Federal Register and is available at the link below. The regulation will formally publish on January 26th, and will become effective on February 25, 2012.

http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/01/26/2012-00995/critical-habitat-designation-for-the-endangered-leatherback-sea-turtle-endangered-and-threatened

January 10-12, 2012 HMSMT Meeting Agenda

kdahl — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:36:44 +0000

The proposed agenda for the January 10-12, 2012, HMSMT meeting in La Jolla, California is available here.

Final Rule for 2012 Groundfish Harvest Specifications Published

Sandra — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:07:35 +0000

The final rule establishing the 2012 harvest specifications and management measures for certain groundfish species taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP) was published in the Federal Register on December 13, 2011. This action includes regulations to implement Secretarial Amendment 1 to the PCGFMP.

Download the December 13, 2011 Federal Register notice to view the details.

Winter Newsletter Now Available

Sandra — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:23:54 +0000

The Winter issue of the Pacific Council News is now available. Please visit the Council’s Newsletters webpage for details.

Northwest and Southwest Stakeholder Conference Call on NOAA’s Draft Enforcement Priorities

Sandra — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:25:07 +0000

Special Agents in Charge Vicki Nomura and Don Masters of NOAA Office of Law Enforcement’s Northwest and Southwest Divisions, respectively, would like to invite you to participate in a conference call on Monday, December 12, 2011 to outline NOAA’s Draft Enforcement Priorities, which are open for public comment through January 9, 2012. The draft priorities document identifies the national priorities for Fiscal Year 2012 and gives examples of regional priorities that support those national priorities.

Conference Call Date and Time:

Monday, December 12, 2011
11 a.m. Pacific Standard Time
Dial-in: 888-469-2087
Verbal passcode: ENFORCEMENT WEST COAST

The document — as well as guidelines for commenting by the deadline via email, fax and mail — can be found on the NOAA OLE Enforcement Priorities website.

NOAA’s Draft Enforcement Priorities reflect extensive input and guidance from those of you who submitted comments last year as we began the process of identifying our national priorities. Regional priorities vary with the specific resources, activities, and threats across the country. What may be a high priority in one region may not be a priority in another. Equally, fish stocks, fishing gear, and management programs are not identical across the country. Thus, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement must tailor our priorities appropriately.

NOAA OLE looks forward to your participation in this conference call specifically for the Northwest and Southwest Divisions.

For further information, please contact:

Lesli Bales-Sherrod, Communications specialist
Lesli.Bales-Sherrod@noaa.gov
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
8484 Georgia Ave., Suite 415
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301-427-2300 ext. 103

**This information has been posted as a courtesy to the Pacific Fishery Management Council family and constituents.**

Council’s Trawl Rationalization & Intersector Allocation Trailing Actions Webpage Updated!

Sandra — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:44:39 +0000

The Council’s Trawl Rationalization (Amendment 20) and Intersector Allocation (Amendment 21) Trailing Actions webpage has been updated with new information.

NMFS Announces Year-End Information for the Trawl Rationalization Program

Sandra — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:43:13 +0000

NMFS announces year-end information for the Trawl Rationalization Program; the December 1, 2011 Public Notice includes information about:

Moratorium on Quota Pound (QP) Transfers
Pause in Observer Discard Data Uploads
IFQ Website Temporary Unavailability
2012 Quota Share (QS) and Vessel Accounts Information
2012 QS Permit and Vessel Account Renewals
Change in Ownership of Vessels Participating in the IFQ Fishery
2012 Shorebased IFQ Program Allocation
2012 Lingcod will not be Split
2011 Surplus Carryover Information
Public View of IFQ Account Balances
OLE Declarations Reminder
Further changes for 2012 to be announced soon

For Further Information:

Call the NMFS Groundfish Branch (206) 526-6140
Call NMFS Fisheries Permit Office (206) 526-4353
Download the December 1, 2011 Public Notice

NOAA Seeks Input on Enforcement Priorities

Sandra — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:20:37 +0000

On November 8, 2011, NOAA released a draft of its enforcement priorities and invited the public to submit comments through January 9, 2012 (midnight, Eastern Standard Time). To view the priorities, and how to comment, please see the following NOAA Office of Law Enforcement webpage.