March 2025 briefing book

March 2025 Council Meeting

A. Call to Order

• A.3 REVISED Agenda March 2025 Detailed Agenda & QR (UPDATED 3/10)
• A.4 Executive Directors Report

B. Open Comment Period

• B.1 Situation Summary: Comments on Non Agenda Items
  • B.1.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

C. Pacific Halibut Management

• .C.1 Situation Summary: Annual Report of the International Pacific Halibut Commission
  • C.1 Attachment 1: Area 2A Pacific Halibut Fishery Catch Exploitable Yield (FCEY)
  • C.1 Attachment 2: USA Report 1
  • C.1 Attachment 3: Pacific Halibut Area 2A Annual Enforcement Report
  • C.1.a IPHC Report 1: Report of the 101st Session of the IPHC Annual Meeting
  • C.1.a Supplemental IPHC Presentation 1: Outcomes of the 101st Session of the IPHC Annual Meeting
  • C.1.c Supplemental GAP Report 1: Groundfish Advisory Subpanel Report on Annual Report of the International Pacific Halibut Commission
  • C.1.d Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• C.2 Situation Summary: Incidental Catch Recommendations
  • C.2 Attachment 1: Summary of Pacific Halibut Incidental Catch Management
  • C.2.a Supplemental SAS Report 1: Salmon Advisory Subpanel Report on Incidental Catch Recommendations: Options for Salmon Troll and Final Recommendations for Fixed Gear Sablefish Fisheries
  • C.2.a Supplemental GMT Report 1: Groundfish Management Team Report on Incidental Catch Recommendations: Options for Fixed Gear Sablefish Fisheries
  • C.2.a Supplemental GAP Report 1: Groundfish Advisory Subpanel Report on Incidental Catch Recommendations in Salmon Troll and Fixed Gear Sablefish Fisheries
  • C.2.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

D. Cross Fishery Management Plan

• D.1 USCG Annual Report CANCELLED
  • D.1.b Reports and Comments of Management Entities and Advisory Bodies
  • D.1.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• D.2 Situation Summary: Marine Planning
  • D.2.a MPC Report 1: Marine Planning Committee Report on Marine Planning Issues
  • D.2.a Supplemental MPC Presentation 1: Marine Planning
  • D.2.b Supplemental HC Report 1: Habitat Committee Report on Marine Planning
  • D.2.b Supplemental SAS Report 1: SAS Report on Marine Planning
  • D.2.b Supplemental GAP Report 1: GAP Report on Marine Planning
  • D.1.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

E. Salmon Management

• E.1 Situation Summary: NMFS Service Report
  • E.1.a Supplemental NMFS Report 1: NMFS Report on Regulatory Activities
  • E.1.a Supplemental NMFS Report 2: Review of Progress for the West Coast Salmon Rebuilding Plan for Klamath River Fall-run Chinook Salmon
  • E.1.b Supplemental NMFS Report 1: The Fisheries Science Center Activities – Salmon-Related Publications, 2024-current
  • E.1.c Supplemental Tribal Support 1: Quinault Indian Nation Statement on Grays Harbor Fall Chinook Overfishing and Maximum Fishing Mortality Threshold
  • E.1.d Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• E.2 Situation Summary: Review of 2024 Fisheries and Summary of 2025 Stock Forecasts
  • E.2 Attachment 1: Excerpts from Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan Updated Through Amendment 24
  • E.2 Supplemental Attachment 2: Review of 2024 Ocean Salmon Fisheries
  • E.2 Supplemental Attachment 3: Preseason Report 1 Stock Abundance Analysis and Environmental Assessment Part 1
  • E.2.a Supplemental WDFW & ODFW Report 1: WDFW & ODFW Joint Statement on the 2025 OPI-H Forecast Methodology
  • E.2.a Supplemental SAS Report 1: Salmon Advisory Subpanel Report on Review of 2024 Fisheries and Summary of 2025 Stock Forecast
  • E.2.a Supplemental STT Report 1: Excerpts from the Review of 2024 Ocean Salmon Fisheries and 2025 Preseason 1 Report
  • E.2.a Supplemental SSC Report 1: Scientific and Statistical Committee Report on Review of 2024 Fisheries and Summary of 2025 Stock Forecasts
  • E.2.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• E.3 Situation Summary: Identify Management Objectives and Preliminary Definitions of 2025 Management Alternatives
  • E.3 Attachment 1: Guidance for Alternative Development and Assessment
  • E.3 Attachment 2: Emergency Changes to the Salmon FMP Criteria for Requesting Emergency Changes to the Salmon FMP
  • E.3 Attachment 3: Federal Register Notice
  • E.3 Attachment 4: List of 2025 Salmon Fisheries Scheduled to Occur Prior to May 16, 2025*
  • E.3.a Supplemental PSC Presentation 1: Pacific Salmon Commission Report
  • E.3.b Supplemental NMFS Report 1: ESA Guidance
  • E.3.d Supplemental WDFW/Tribal Support 1: Tribal and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 2025 Mangement Objectives for Puget Sound Chinook and Coho Salmon
  • E.3.d Supplemental CDFW Report 1: CDFW Recommendations for 2025 Ocean Salmon Season Alternatives
  • E.3.e Supplemental Tribal Report 1: Letter to Chair Pettinger
  • E.3.e Supplemental Tribal Report 2: Statement by the Columbia River Treaty Tribes to the Pacific Fishery Managment Council
  • E.3.e Supplemental SAS Report 1: Salmon Advisory Subpanel Report on Proposed Initial Salmon Management Alternatives for 2025 Non-Indian Ocean Fisheries
  • E.3.f Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• E.4 Situation Summary: Recommendations for 2025 Management Measure Alternative Analysis
  • E.4.a Supplemental Tribal Report 1: CTCR Letter
  • E.4.a Supplemental STT Report 1: STT Report Collation of Preliminary Salmon Management Alternatives for 2025 Ocean Fisheries
  • E.4.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• E.5 Situation Summary: Further Direction for 2025 Management Alternatives
  • E.5.a Supplemental EC Report 1: EC Report on Further Direction for 2025 Management Alternatives
  • E.5.a Supplemental STT Report 1: Salmon Technical Team Report Collation of Preliminary Salmon Management Alternatives for 2025 Ocean Fisheries
  • E.5.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• E.6 Situation Summary: Further Direction for 2025 Management Alternatives
  • E.6.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• E.7 Situation Summary: Adopt 2025 Management Alternatives for Public Review
  • E.7.a Supplemental SAS Report 1: Salmon Advisory Subpanel Report on Predation of Columbia River Salmons
  • E.7.a Supplemental STT Report 1: Salmon Technical Team Report Collation of Preliminary Salmon Management Alternatives for 2025 Ocean Fisheries
  • E.7.a Supplemental Tribal Report 1: The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Letter
  • E.7.a Supplemental Tribal Report 2: Statement by the Columbia River Treaty Tribes to the Pacific Fishery Management Council
  • E.7.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• E.8 Situation Summary: Appoint Salmon Hearing Officers
  • E.8 Attachment 1: Schedule of Salmon Fishery Management Alternative Hearings
  • E.8.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

F. Ecosystem Management

• F.1 Situation Summary: 2024-25 California Current Ecosystem Status Report and 2025 Science Review Topics
  • F.1.a CCIEA Report 1: 2024-2025 California Current Ecosystem Status Report
  • F.1.a Supplemental CCIEA Team Report 2: CCIEA Technical Documentation
  • F.1.a Supplemental CCIEA Team Report 3: Appendix D – Climate Forecasts
  • F.1.a Supplemental CCIEA Team Report 4: ESR Topics for SSC Review
  • F.1.a Supplemental CCIEA Team Presentation 1: 2024-2025 California Current Ecosystem Status Report
  • F.1.b Supplemental HC Report 1: Habitat Committee Report on 2024-25 California Current Ecosystem Status Report and 2025 Science Review Topics
  • F.1.b Supplemental SSC Report 1: Scientific and Statistical Committee Report on 2024-25 California Current Ecosystem Status Report and 2025 Science Review Topics
  • F.1.b Supplemental EAS Report 1: Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel Report on the Annual California Current Ecosystem Status Report
  • F.1.b Supplemental EWG Report 1: Ecosystem Workgroup Supplemental Report on the California Current Ecosystem Status Report and Science Review Topics
  • F.1.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

G. Habitat Issues

• G.1 Situation Summary: Current Habitat Issues
  • G.1.a Supplemental HC Report 1: Habitat Committee Report on Current Habitat Issues
  • G.1.a Supplemental HC Report 2: Habitat Report on the Status of New Invasive Mussels on the West Coast
  • G.1.b Supplemental USFWS Report 1: NFHAP Announcement
  • G.1.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

H. Groundfish Management

• H.1 Situation Summary: National Marine Fisheries Service Report
  • H.1.a Supplemental NMFS Report 1: NMFS Report on Recently Published Groundfish Rulemaking & Workload
  • H.1.b Supplemental NMFS Science Center Report
  • H.1.c Supplemental GAP Report 1: GAP report on NMFS Report
  • H.1.d Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• H.2 Situation Summary: Humpback Whale and Leatherback Sea Turtle Biological Opinion
  • H.2 Attachment 1: Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) Biological Opinion
  • H.2.a Supplemental NMFS Presentation 1: ESA Section 7 Biological Opinion on the Continuation of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
  • H.2.b Supplemental GAP Report 1: GAP Report on Humpback Whale and Leatherback Sea Turtle Biological Opinion
  • H.2.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• H.3 Situation Summary: Implementation of the 2025 Pacific Whiting Fishery Under the U.S./Canada Agreement and 2025 Fishery
  • H.3 Attachment 1: At-Sea Whiting Set-Aside Management
  • H.3 Supplemental Attachment 2: Status of the Pacific Hake (whiting) stock in U.S. and Canadian waters in 2025
  • H.3.a Supplemental Attachment 3: Joint Canada-USA Scientific Review Group Report for 2025
  • H.3.a Supplemental GAP Report 1: GAP Report on Implementation of the 2025 Pacific Whiting Fishery Under the U.S./Canada Agreement and 2025 Fishery
  • H.3.a Supplemental EWG Report 1: EWG Report on Implementation of the 2025 Pacific Whiting Fishery Under the U.S./Canada Agreement and 2025 Fishery
  • H.3.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• H.4 Situation Summary: Final Assessment Methodologies
  • H.4.a SSC Groundfish Subcommittee Report 1: Accepted Practices Guidelines for Groundfish Stock Assessments in 2025 and 2026
  • H.4.a SSC Groundfish Subcommittee Report 2: SSC GFSC Meeting Report (Dec 2-3, 2024)
  • H.4.a Supplemental CDFW Report 1: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Report on Accepted Practices Guidelines for Groundfish Stock Assessments Meeting
  • H.4.a Supplemental SSC Report 1: SSC Report on Final Assessment Methodologies
  • H.4.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• H.5 Situation Summary: Cordell Bank Conservation Area Revisions – Final
  • H.5 Attachment 1: Preliminary Draft EA/RIR/RFA/MSA Analysis for Cordell Bank Fishery Regulation Changes
  • H.5 Supplemental Staff Presentation: Cordell Bank Conservation Area Revisions
  • H.5.a NMFS Report 1: NMFS Report on Cordell Bank Conservation Area Revisions
  • H.5.a Supplemental HC Report 1: Habitat Committee Report on Cordell Bank Conservation Area Revisions – Final
  • H.5.a Supplemental GAP Report 1: GAP Report on Cordell Bank Conservation Area Revisions – Final
  • H.5.a Supplemental GMT Report 1: GMT Report on Cordell Bank Conservation Area Revisions – Final Preferred Alternative
  • H.5.a Supplemental EC Report 1: EC Report on Cordell Bank Conservation Area Revisions – Final
  • H.5.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• H.6 Situation Summary: Phase 2 Stock Definitions
  • H.6 Supplemental REVISED Attachment 1: Phase 2 ROA
  • H.6 Attachment 2: 605c Text, Stocks that require Conservation and Management
  • H.6 Attachment 3: Stock Structure Literature Review
  • H.6 Supplemental Presentation 1: Phase 2 Stock Definitions
  • H.6.a Supplemental SSC Report 1: SSC Report on Phase 2 Stock Definitions
  • H.6.a Supplemental GMT Report 1: Groundfish Management Team Report on a Proposed Framework in Support of Phase 2 Stock Definitions
  • H.6.a Supplemental GAP Report 1: Groundfish Advisory Subpanel Report on Phase 2 Stock Definitions
  • H.6.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• H.7 Situation Summary: Limited Entry Fixed Gear Actions: Gear Endorsements, Cost Recovery and Other Administrative Changes
  • H.7 Attachment 1: Preliminary Draft EA/RIR/MSA Analysis for Limited Entry Fixed Gear Actions
  • H.7 Supplemental Staff Presentation: Limited Entry Fixed Gear Actions: Gear Endorsements, Cost Recovery, and Other Administrative Actions
  • H.7.a NMFS Report 1: NMFS Report on Owner-on-Board Exemptions in the Primary Sablefish Fishery
  • H.7.a Supplemental HC Report 1: Habitat Committee Report on Limited Entry Fixed Gear Actions
  • H.7.a Supplemental GAP Report 1: GAP Report on Limited Entry Fixed Gear Actions: Gear Endorsements, Cost Recovery, and other Administrative Changes
  • H.7.a Supplemental EC Report 1: Enforcement Consultants Report on Limited Entry Fixed Gear Actions: Gear Endorsements, Cost Recovery, and Other Administrative Changes
  • H.7.a Supplemental GMT Report 1: Groundfish Management Team Report on Limited Time Entry Fixed Gear Actions: Gear Endorsements, Cost Recovery, and Other Administrative Changes
  • H.7.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• H.8 Situation Summary: Workload and New Management Measures Priorities
  • H.8 Attachment 1: Prohibition on a Directed Fishery for Shortbelly Rockfish
  • H.8 Attachment 2: Draft Best Practices and Guidelines for the Groundfish New Management Measure and Workload Prioritization Process
  • H.8 Supplemental Staff Presentation 1: Workload and New Management Measure Process Review
  • H.8.a GMT Report 1: GMT Report on Workload and New Management Measures Priorities
  • H.8.a GMT Report 2: List of the Prioritized and the Proposed Groundfish Management Measures Lists
  • H.8.a Supplemental GMT Report 3: Groundfish Management Report on Workload and New Management Measures Priorities
  • H.8.a NMFS Report 1: NMFS Report on Groundfish Workload and New Management Measures
  • H.8.a Supplemental SAS Report 1: Salmon Advisory Subpanel Report on Workload and New Management Measures Priorities
  • H.8.a Supplemental GAP Report 1: Groundfish Advisory Subpanel Report on Workload and New Management Measures Priorities
  • H.8.a Supplemental EC Report 1: Enforcement Consultants Report on Workload and New Management Measures Priorities
  • H.8.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• H.9 Situation Summary: Inseason Adjustments – Final
  • H.9.a Supplemental ODFW Report 1: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Report on Inseason Adjustments
  • H.9.a Supplemental CDFW Report 1: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Report on 2024 Groundfish Harvest in California
  • H.9.a Supplemental GMT Report 1: GMT Report on Inseason Adjustments – Final
  • H.9.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

I. Highly Migratory Species Management

• I.1 Situation Summary: National Marine Fisheries Service Report
  • I.1.a NMFS Report 1: NMFS Report on Highly Migratory Species Activities
  • I.1.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• I.2 Situation Summary: International Management Activities
  • I.2 Attachment 1: WCPFC 21 Provisional Outcomes
  • I.2 Attachment 2: Joint IATTC and WCPFC-NC Intersessional Working Group Meeting Summary
  • I.2.a NMFS Report 1: NMFS Report on International Highly Migratory Species Activities
  • I.2.a Supplemental HMSAS Report 1: Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS) Report on International Management Activities
  • I.2.a Supplemental Slide 1: Bula Vinaka from WCPFC21
  • I.2.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• I.3 Situation Summary: Highly Migratory Species Roadmap
  • I.3.a Supplemental HMSMT Report 1: HMSMT Report on the HMS Roadmap
  • I.3.a Supplemental HMSAS Report 1: Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS) Report on the HMS Roadmap
  • I.3.a Supplemental FIW Report 1: FIW Report on HMS Roadmap
  • I.3.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

J. Administrative Matters

• J.1 Situation Summary: Legislative Matters
  • J.1.a Supplemental LC Report 1: Legislative Committee Report on Legislative Matters
  • J.1.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• J.2 Situation Summary: Approval of Council Meeting Record
  • J.2 Attachment 1: Draft Council Meeting Record – November 2024

• J.3 Situation Summary: Membership Appointments and Council Operating Procedures
  • J.3 Attachment 1: PFMC Ad Hoc Committee Charges
  • J.3 Supplemental Attachment 2: Letter from the NWFSC
  • J.3 Supplemental Attachment 3: Letter from NWFSC
  • J.3 Supplemental Staff Report: DRAFT Executive Committee Charge
  • J.3.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

• J.4 Situation Summary: Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
  • J.4 Attachment 1: Year at a Glance (YAG)
  • J.4 Attachment 2: April 2025 QR
  • J.4 Attachment 3: June 2025 QR (Revised)
  • J.4 Supplemental Attachment 4: Request for Proposals – Evaluation of the Pacific Fishery Management Council Stock Assessment Review Process
  • J.4 Supplemental Attachment 5: Year at a Glance (YAG)
  • J.4 Supplemental Attachment 6: April 2025 QR
  • J.4 Supplemental Attachment 7: June 2025 QR
  • J.4.a Supplemental HMSAS Report 1: HMSAS Report on Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
  • J.4.a Supplemental Tribal Report 1: NWIFC Statement on April PFMC Meetings
  • J.4.a Supplemental SSC Report 1: Scientific and Statistical Committee Report on Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
  • J.4.a Supplemental GMT Report 1: Groundfish Management Team Report on Future Council Meeting Agenda & Workload Planning
  • J.4.a Supplemental GAP Report 1: Groundfish Advisory Subpanel Report on Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
  • J.4.a Supplemental STT Report 1: Salmon Technical Team Report on Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
  • J.4.a Supplemental EAS Report 1: Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel Report on Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
  • J.4.a Supplemental EWG Report 1: EWG Report on Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
  • J.4.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

Advisory body and committee agendas

• Enforcement Consultants (EC) Agenda
• Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel (EAS) Agenda
• Ad Hoc Ecosystem Workgroup (EWG) Agenda
• Groundfish Advisory Subpanel (GAP) Agenda
• Groundfish Management Team (GMT) Agenda
• Legislative Committee (LC) Agenda
• Salmon Advisory Subpanel (SAS) Agenda
• Salmon Technical Team (STT) Agenda
• Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Agenda

Scientific and Statistical Committee Materials

• SSC Ecosystem-Based Management Subcommittee Report (Nov 5, 2024)
• SSC Draft November 2024 Meeting Minutes

Advisory body and committee memos

• Enforcement Consultants Memo
• Ecosystem Memo
• Groundfish Memo
• Salmon Memo
• Scientific and Statistical Committee Memo

Informational reports

• Informational Report 1: Report to Congress Marine Recreational Information Program: Report on State Partnerships
• Informational Report 2: Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program 2025 Cost Recovery Annual Report
• Supplemental Informational Report 3: Whiting Mothership Cooperative
• Supplemental Informational Report 4: Shorebased Whiting Cooperative Salmon Mitigation Plan Postseason Report on the 2024 Pacific Whiting Fishery
• Supplemental Informational Report 5: Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative Amendment 20 Catcher/Processor Cooperative Annual Report 2024

General Information and Membership Roster

• Reception Flyer
• Council Meeting Schedule
• Hotel Map
• Council Seating Diagram
• Illness Protocols
• Roster (as of February 6, 2025)