September 2026 briefing book

September 2026 Council Meeting

A. Call to Order

B. Open Comment Period

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

C. Cross Fishery Management Plan

C.1 Situation Summary: Office of Law Enforcement, United States Coast Guard, and Tri-State Enforcement Biennial Report
- C.1 Supplemental USCG Presentation 1
- C.1.a Tri State Report 1
- C.1.a OLE Report 1: FY25 Annual Enforcement Report to PFMC
- C.1.a USCG Report 1: U.S. Coast Guard 2024-2025 Report
  - C.1.a USCG Video 1
  - C.1.a USCG Video 2
- C.1.a Supplemental Attachment 2: NOAA OLE- WCD FY25 Annual Enforcement Report to the PFMC
- C.1.a Supplemental Tri-State Report 1
- C.1.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)
C.2 Situation Summary: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) Report
- C.2.a Supplemental ONMS Report 1: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Coordination Report
- C.2.a Supplemental ONMS Presentation
- C.2.b Supplemental HC Report 1: Habitat Committee Report on Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) Report
- C.2.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)
C.3 Situation Summary: Special Projects: Project Planning, Updates, and Clarifications
- C.3 Supplemental Staff Presentation: Council Special Projects
- C.3 Attachment 1: PFMC Staff Report on Special Projects: Project Planning, Updates, and Clarifications – Special Project 1, Adaptive Management and Flexibility
- C.3 Attachment 2: PFMC Staff Report on Special Projects: Project Planning, Updates, and Clarifications – Special Project 2, Decision Making for Stronger Fishing Communities
- C.3 Attachment 3: PFMC Staff Report on Special Projects: Project Planning, Updates, and Clarifications – Special Project 3, New Fishing Opportunities within Bycatch Allowances
- C.3 Attachment 4: Special Projects: Project Planning Updates and Clarifications – Consolidated Timeline
- C.3 Supplemental Attachment 5: PFMC Staff Report on Special Projects: Project Planning, Updates, and Clarifications – Additional Recommendations on Project Prioritization
- C.3.a Supplemental GAP Report 1: GAP Report on Special Projects: Project Planning, Updates and Clarifications
- C.3.a Supplemental EWG Report 1: Ecosystem Workgroup Report on Special Projects: Project Planning, Updates, and Clarifications
- C.3.a Supplemental EAS Report 1: Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel Report on Special Reports: Project Planning, Updates and Clarifications
- C.3.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)
C.4 Situation Summary: Council Efficiencies
- C.4 Attachment 1: Summary of Council Recommendations, Timeline, Status, and Next Steps
- C.4 Attachment 2: Council Efficiencies: Progress, Outcomes, and Next Steps
- C.4 Attachment 3: Proposed Council Meeting Schedule by FMP and Advisory Body Meeting Format for 2027 and Beyond
- C.4 Attachment 4: Governance and Process Improvements Regarding Decision Making and Workload
- C.4 Attachment 5: Proposed Changes to Council Operating Procedures
- C.4.a Supplemental GAP Report 1: GAP Report on Council Efficiencies
- C.4.a Supplemental HMSAS Report 1: HMSAS Report on Council Efficiencies
- C.4.a Supplemental HMSMT Report 1: HMSMT Report on Council Efficiencies
- C.4.a Supplemental SSC Report 1: Scientific and Statistical Committee Report on Council Efficiencies
- C.4.a Supplemental EWG Report 1: Ecosystem Workgroup Supplemental Report on Council Efficiencies
- C.4.a Supplemental EAS Report 1: Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel Report on Council Efficiencies
- C.4.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)
C.5 Situation Summary: Special Project 1: Nationwide Review of If, Then Statements and Council Meeting Requirements
- C.5 Supplemental Staff Presentation
- C.5 Attachment 1: PFMC Staff Report on Special Project 1: Adaptive Management and Flexibility – Nationwide Review of IF-Then Statements and Inseason Management Actions
- C.5 Attachment 2: PFMC Staff Report on Special Project 1: Adaptive Management and Flexibility – Council Meeting Requirements
- C.5.a Supplemental EWG Report 1: Report on Special Project 1: Adaptive Management – Nationwide If, Then Review, & Council Meeting Requirements
- C.5.a Supplemental EAS Report 1: Nationwide Review of If, Then Statements and Council Meeting Requirements
- C.5.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

D. Administrative Matters

D.1 Situation Summary: Council Member Recusals
- D.1 Attachment 1: Procedures for Review
- D.1 Attachment 2: Recusal Rule 50 CFR 600.235
- D.1 Supplemental Attachment 3: Briefing on Magnuson-Stevens Act Financial Disclosure and Recusal Requirements
- D.1.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)
D.2 Situation Summary: Fiscal matters
- D.2 Supplemental Attachment 1: Executive Directors Report on the Budget Committee
- D.2.a Supplemental BC Report 1: Budget Committee Report on Fiscal Matters
- D.2.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)
D.3 Situation Summary: Approve Council Meeting Record
- D.3 Attachment 1: DRAFT Council Meeting Record June 2026
D.4 REVISED Situation Summary: Membership Appointments and Council Operating Procedures (COPS)
- D.4 Attachment 1: NMFS Letter – Palmigiano
- D.4 Attachment 2: USCG Letter – Campbell
- D.4 Supplemental Attachment 3: WDFW Letter – Roberts
- D.4.a Supplemental Council Member Report 1: Council Member Report on Membership Appointments and Council Operating Procedures (Szumylo)
- D.4.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)
D.5 Situation Summary: Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
- D.5 REVISED Attachment 1: September 2026 Year-At-A-Glance (YAG)
- D.5 Attachment 2: November 2026 Quick Reference (QR)
- D.5 Attachment 3: March 2027 Quick Reference (QR)
- D.5 Supplemental Attachment 4: Year-at-a-Glance (YAG)
- D.5 Supplemental Attachment 5: November 2026 Quick Reference (QR)
- D.5 Supplemental Attachment 6: March 2027 Quick Reference (QR)
- D.5.a Supplemental GMT Report 1: GMT Report on Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
- D.5.a Supplemental HMSAS Report 1: Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel Report on Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
- D.5.a Supplemental EWG Report 1: Ecosystem Workgroup Report on Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
- D.5.a Supplemental EAS Report 1: EAS Report on Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
- D.5.a Supplemental SSC Report 1: SSC Report on Future Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
- D.5.a Supplemental CPSMT Report 1: Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team Report on Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
- D.5.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

E. Habitat Issues

E.1 Situation Summary: Current Habitat Issues
- E.1.a Supplemental HC Report 1: Habitat Committee Report on Current Habitat Issues
- E.1.a Supplemental HC Report 2: Habitat Committee Report on Current Habitat Issues
- E.1.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

F. Pacific Halibut Management

F.1 Situation Summary: 2027 Commercial and Recreational Catch Sharing Plan and Annual Regulations – Preliminary
- F.1 Attachment 1: Area 2A 2026 Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan
- F.1 Attachment 2: 2026 2A Fishery Allocation Calculations
- F.1.a NMFS Report 1: NMFS Report 2026 Area 2A Pacific Halibut Fisheries and Inseason Update
- F.1.a WDFW Report 1: WDFW Report on Proposed Changes for the Pacific Halibut Fishery
- F.1.a Supplemental ODFW Report 1: ODFW Report on Proposed Changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for the 2027 Fishery
- F.1.a Supplemental SAS Report 1: SAS Report on 2027 Commercial and Recreational Catch Sharing Plan and Annual Regulations – Preliminary
- F.1.a Supplemental GAP Report 1: GAP Report on 2027 Commercial and Recreational Catch Sharing Plan and Annual Regulations – Preliminary
- F.1.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

G. Salmon Management

G.1 Situation Summary: Methodology Review – Final Topic Selection
- G.1.a Supplemental STT Report 1: STT Report on Salmon Methodology Review – Final Topic Selection
- G.1.a Supplemental SSC Report 1: Methodology Review – Final Topic Selection
- G.1.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)
G.2 Situation Summary: Klamath River Dam Removal and Basin Update
- G.2.a Supplemental NMFS Presentation 1: Klamath River Restoration Update
- G.2.b Supplemental CDFW Report 1: Hoopa Valley Tribe and CDFW Announce Historic Fishery Restoration Partnership
- G.2.c Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)
G.3 Situation Summary: Risk Management Framework – Risk Tables and Other Approaches, Informational
- G.3 Attachment 1: PFMC Staff Report on Salmon Risk Tables Exploration and Progress to Date
- G.3 Attachment 2: Methods for Assessing and Responding to Bias and Uncertainty in U.S. West Coast Salmon Abundance Forecasts
- G.3.b Supplemental PowerPoint 1: Salmon Risk Management Framework
- G.3.c Supplemental SSC Report 1: SSC Report on Risk Management Framework – Risk Tables, and Other Approaches
- G.3.c Supplemental STT Report 1: STT Report on Risk Management Framework – Risk Tables and Other Approaches, Informational
- G.3.c Supplemental SAS Report 1: SAS Report on Risk Management Framework – Risk Tables and Other Approaches, Informational
- G.3.c Supplemental EWG Report 1: EWG Report on Risk Management Framework – Rist Tables, and Other Approaches
- G.3.c Supplemental EAS Report 1: Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel Report on Risk Management Framework- Risk Tables and other Approaches
- G.3.d Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

H. Groundfish Management

H.1 Situation Summary: Protocol for Reviewing Ecosystem Component Species Catch and Identifying Stocks in Need of Conservation and Management
- H.1 Supplemental Staff Presentation 1: Proposed Protocol for Reviewing Ecosystem Component Species and Identifying Stocks in Need of Conservation and Management
- H.1 Attachment 1: Proposed Protocol for Reviewing Ecosystem Component Species and Identifying Stocks in Need of Conservation and Management
- H.1.a Supplemental GAP Report 1: GAP Report on Protocol for Reviewing Ecosystem Component Species Catch and Identifying Stocks in Need of Conservation and Management
- H.1.a Supplemental GMT Report 1: GMT Report on Protocol for Reviewing Ecosystem Component Species Catch and Identifying Stocks in Need of Conservation and Management
- H.1.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)
H.2 Situation Summary: Moving Trawl Gear Exempted Fishing Permits Into Regulations; Updating Declaration Requirements; Removing Duplicative Recreational Regulations – Final Action
- H.2 REVISED Attachment 1: DRAFT Impacts Analysis Trawl Gear EFP
- H.2 Attachment 2: DRAFT FMP Revisions for EFPs
- H.2 Supplemental Presentation 1: Trawl Gear EFP Into Regulations; Updating Declaration Requirements; and Removing Duplicative Recreational Regulations
- H.2.a Supplemental NMFS Report 1: NMFS Report on Status of Action 3: Commercial Sale of Recreational Fish Waste
- H.2.a Supplemental NMFS Report 2: Projecting Impacts on Chinook Salmon Bycatch: Potential Transfer of Exemptions to Regulation, in Two West Coast Groundfish Trawl Fishery Sectors. Revised Version of March 2026 Analysis
- H.2.a Supplemental GAP Report 1: GAP Report on Moving Trawl Gear Exempted Fishing Permit Into Regulations, Updating Declaration Requirements, Removing Duplicative Recreational Regulations – Final Action
- H.2.a Supplemental GMT Report 1: GMT Report on Moving Trawl Gear EFP Into Regulations: Updating Declaration Requirements; Removing Duplicative Recreational Regulations
- H.2.a Supplemental WDFW Report 1: WDFW Report on the Third-Party Sale of Recreational Fish Waste
- H.2.a Supplemental EC Report 1: EC Report on Moving Trawl Gear EFP Into Regulations; Updating Declaration Requirements; Removing Duplicative Recreational Regulations
- H.2.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)
H.3 Situation Summary: Inseason Adjustments for 2026 and Technical Corrections for 2027-28 – Final Action
- H.3 Attachment 1: Corrections to the OR/WA Stock of Vermillion Rockfish Harvest Specifications, Including Corresponding Corrections to the Shelf Rockfish Complex North of 40*10’N Lat
- H.3.a Supplemental CDFW Report 1: CDFW Report on 2026 Groundfish Harvest in California
- H.3.a Supplemental GAP Report 1: GAP Report on Inseason Adjustments for 2026 and Technical Corrections for 2027-28 – Final Action
- H.3.a Supplemental GMT Report 1: GMT Report on Inseason Adjustments for 2026 and Technical Corrections for 2027-28 – Final Action
- H.3.a Supplemental SSC Report 1: SSC Report on Inseason Adjustments for 2026 and Technical Corrections for 2027-28 – Final Action
- H.3.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

I. Highly Migratory Species Management

I.1 Situation Summary: Special Project 1: If, Then Management Measures for Bluefin Tuna Trip Limits
- I.1 Attachment 1: Highly Migratory Species Trip Limits Flexibility and Modified If/Then Scenarios
- I.1.a Supplemental Staff Presentation 1: Special Project 1: If, Then Management Measures for Bluefin Tuna Trip Limits
- I.1.a Supplemental HMSAS Report 1: HMSAS Report on Special Project 1: If, Then Management Measures for Bluefin Tuna Trip Limits
- I.1.a Supplemental HMSMT Report 1: HMSMT Report on If/Then Management Measures for Bluefin Tuna Trip Limits
- I.1.a Supplemental CDFW Report 1: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Report on Highly Migratory Species Trip Limit Flexibility and Modified If/Then Scenarios
- I.1.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

J. Coastal Pelagic Species Management

J.1 Situation Summary: Fishery Management Plan Amendment: Management Provisions for the Revised Sardine Stock
- J.1 Supplemental Staff Presentation
- J.1 Attachment 1: Review of Management Provisions for Pacific Sardine
- J.1 Attachment 2: Joint Report: Meeting to Review Management Provisions for Pacific Sardine
- J.1 Attachment 3: Proposed Amendment to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan to Revise the Pacific Sardine Stock Definition
- J.1 Attachment 4: Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan – Sardine Excerpts
- J.1 Attachment 5: Timeline of Stock Revision Action in Relation to Annual CPS Management Activities
- J.1.a NMFS Report 1: Pacific Sardine Assessments: Timeline Updates
- J.1.a Supplemental SSC Report 1: SSC Report on Fishery Management Plan Provisions for the Revised Sardine Stock
- J.1.a Supplemental CPSAS Report 1: CPSAS Report on Fishery Management Plan Amendment: Management Provisions for the Revised Sardine Stock
- J.1.a Supplemental CPSMT Report 1: CPSMT Report on Fishery Management Plan Amendment: Management Provisions for the Revised Sardine Stock
- J.1.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)
J.2 Situation Summary: Stock Asessment Terms of Reference
- J.2 Attachment 1: DRAFT Terms of Reference for the CPS Stock Assessment Review Process (redline)
- J.2 Attachment 2: DRAFT Terms of Reference for the CPS Stock Assessment Review Process
- J.2 Attachment 3: Accepted Practices Guidelines for Coastal Pelagic Species Stock Assessments
- J.2.a Supplemental SSC Report 1: Stock Assessment Terms of Reference – Preliminary Preferred Alternative
- J.2.a Supplemental CPSMT Report 1: Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team Report on Stock Assessment Terms of Reference
- J.2.b Public Comment – (If received, Electronic Only)

Advisory body and committee memos

Advisory body and committee agendas

Scientific and Statistical Committee Materials

Informational reports

Informational Report 1: West Coast Take Reduction Team Information Updates September 2026
Informational Report 2a: Estimated Discard and Catch of Groundfish Species in the 2025 U.S. West Coast Fisheries
Informational Report 2b: GEMM Data (Excel File)
Informational Report 3: NMFS Report on Recently Published Groundfish Rulemaking & Workload
Informational Report 4: Seafood Executive Order Correspondence to PFMC
Informational Report 5: Permit Applications and Consultation Requests – Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Mining
Supplemental Informational Report 6: Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness
Supplemental Informational Report 7: Mini Ecosystem Status Report Infographic

September 2026 Council Meeting

A. Call to Order

B. Open Comment Period

C. Cross Fishery Management Plan

D. Administrative Matters

E. Habitat Issues

F. Pacific Halibut Management

G. Salmon Management

H. Groundfish Management

I. Highly Migratory Species Management

J. Coastal Pelagic Species Management

Advisory body and committee memos

Advisory body and committee agendas

Scientific and Statistical Committee Materials

Informational reports

General Information and Membership Roster

Recent reports