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The Pacific Fishery Management Council has established a two phase process (see Council Operating Procedure 22) to consider proposals to modify groundfish essential fish habitat (EFH). The first phase is a biennial process designed to align with the biennial management specification process, and is intended to primarily address urgent issues that can be addressed by changes to areas closed to bottom contact gear. The second phase is a periodic review of groundfish EFH coastwide scheduled for five years after final approval of the previous periodic EFH review process. This phase would include broader issues such as EFH and HAPC designations, and additional treatment of issues from the biennial process. Overlap of the two phases may occur as necessary to meet Council objectives.
The biennial process begins in March 2009 with a request for proposals for modification of Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat. Proposal contents and evaluation criteria are documented in the terms of reference. The Councils ad hoc Groundfish EFH Review Committee met May 12-13 to evaluate proposals and develop recommendations for advancing proposals in the Council process. The proposals were due to the Council office May 1, 2009.
The Council considered initial action on proposals at its June 2009 meeting. At that time the Council determined that neither proposal should move ahead in the interim review process, but should be considered during the periodic review process. The next periodic review process is scheduled to start in 2011. Details of the periodic review process are not fully developed, but a general schedule is available in Council Operating Procedure 22.
For more information
Please direct EFHRC inquiries to Mr. Chuck Tracy at 503-820-2280 ext. 415, or toll free 1-866-806-7204.
PFMC
07/14/09
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