Category: News & events

  • Press release: Pacific Fishery Management Council sets 2021 West Coast ocean salmon season dates

    Portland, Or. – The Pacific Fishery Management Council has adopted ocean salmon season recommendations for 2021. The seasons provide recreational and commercial opportunities for most of the Pacific coast and achieve conservation goals for the numerous salmon stocks on the West Coast. The recommendations will be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for…

  • 2021 Council-adopted salmon season tables

    The Council-adopted salmon management tables are available by visiting our salmon preseason process and management webpage.

  • PRELIMINARY DRAFT APRIL 2021 MOTIONS IN WRITING

    Cautionary Note — These preliminary motions do not represent the final official administrative record. The motions and amendments contained in this blog are as projected on the screen at the Council meeting at the time of the Council vote and often use expedited language and references without the benefit of any final editing or proofing.…

  • Sablefish management strategy evaluation workshop to be held online April 27-28, 2021

    The Pacific Sablefish Transboundary Assessment Team (PSTAT), in collaboration with the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), and North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC), is holding a public workshop to solicit feedback on…

  • Ad Hoc Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Workgroup to hold online meeting May 12, 2021

    The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Ad Hoc Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) Coho Workgroup (Workgroup) will host an online meeting that is open to the public.

  • Notice of availability for Amendment 18 to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan

    NOAA Fisheries has published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register (86 FR 14401, March 16, 2021) announcing Amendment 18 to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan. Amendment 18 would implement a rebuilding plan for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine. Comments on the proposed amendment must be received by May 17, 2021.  In order to…

  • Washington extends application deadline for federal relief funding to commercial fishing industries

    Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission now accepting applications through April 9 Eligible commercial fishing, shellfish, charter and seafood sector industry members who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic now have through April 9 to apply with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) for assistance. The 15-day extension includes additional time for industry…

  • Three Groundfish Stock Assessment Review Panels Scheduled to be Held Online

    The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene three Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panels this year to review new stock assessments for Dover sole, spiny dogfish, lingcod, and vermilion and sunset rockfishes.  These STAR Panel meetings are open to the public, and will be held online. Dates and times of the STAR Panel meetings…

  • Preseason Report II: Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2021 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations available online

  • March 2021 Decision Summary Document

    Salmon Management | Pacific Halibut Management | Groundfish Management | Highly Migratory Species Management | Ecosystem Management | Administrative Matters March 4-5, 8-11, 2021 Council Meeting Decision Summary Documents are highlights of significant decisions made at Council meetings.  Results of agenda items that do not reach a level of highlight significance are typically not described…

  • Press release: Pacific Fishery Management Council releases alternatives for 2021 West Coast ocean salmon fisheries

    Portland, Oregon—The Pacific Fishery Management Council has adopted three alternatives for 2021 ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California for public review. The Council will make a final decision on salmon seasons at its meeting on April 6-9 and 12-15. Detailed information about season starting dates, areas open, and catch limits for the three…

  • Joining a meeting hosted by RingCentral

    The Pacific Fishery Management Council uses RingCentral to host its virtual meetings. Here’s what you need to know to successfully attend and participate in one of our meetings. Joining the Council Webinar: To participate in the Council Webinar you must install the RingCentral app. Please note: RingCentral recently retired their RingCentral Meeting (Powered by Zoom)…

  • PRELIMINARY DRAFT MARCH 2021 MOTIONS IN WRITING

    Cautionary Note — These preliminary motions do not represent the final official administrative record. The motions and amendments contained in this blog are as projected on the screen at the Council meeting at the time of the Council vote and often use expedited language and references without the benefit of any final editing or proofing.…

  • Ad Hoc Southern Oregon Northern California Coast Coho Workgroup to hold online meeting March 25, 2021

    The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) Coho Workgroup (Workgroup) will host an online meeting that is open to the public.

  • Current Federal legislation

    A list of legislation the Council is tracking is provided below. This list is updated monthly. Use the search field to find sponsors, topics, specific bill numbers, etc. For more information, search Govtrack.us or Congress.gov.

  • NOAA seeking advisory committee nominations for the NOAA HSRP Federal Advisory Committee for 2022

    The NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP), is a Federal Advisory Committee that advises the NOAA Administrator.   The next HSRP public (virtual) meeting is March 3-4, 2021, and information is available at:  https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/hsrp/hsrp.html The NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP) announces the 2022 Call for Nominations and notes the information is published in a Federal Register Notice: –  Federal Register Notice for HSRP…

  • Request for Proposal – Sablefish Management Strategy Evaluation Facilitator

    Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is soliciting proposals from a qualified person or group to facilitate a three-day webinar-based workshop scheduled for April 27-29, 2021 to solicit stakeholder recommendations for fishery objectives, performance metrics for assessing the attainment of fishery objectives, and alternative management strategies to be evaluated via a management strategy evaluation (MSE) of…

  • Pre-Assessment Workshop for Lingcod and Vermilion/Sunset Rockfishes to be held online March 29, 2021

    The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) and the National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers will hold an online workshop to review data and analyses proposed to inform new assessments for lingcod and vermilion/sunset rockfishes scheduled to be conducted this year.  The workshop is open to the public.

  • Groundfish Management Team to hold online meeting March 26, 2021

    The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a webinar meeting of its Groundfish Management Team (GMT) to discuss items on the Pacific Council’s April 2021 meeting agenda. This meeting is open to the public. The online meeting will be held Friday, March 26, 2021 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

  • IPHC now accepting applications for Area 2A Halibut licenses (2021)

    The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) is now accepting applications for Area 2A Halibut licenses (2021). Please see the IPHC website for further information. You may contact the IPHC Secretariat at: secretariat@iphc.int, should you have any questions or require assistance.

  • Fact Sheet: Advisory bodies

    The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s advisory bodies (including technical and management teams, advisory subpanels, committees, and work groups) prepare and review information and provide input to help the Council make decisions. All advisory body meetings are open to the public, but the advisory subpanels offer the best opportunity for public involvement in the process. Scientific…

  • Acronyms

  • Fact Sheet: PowerPoint Tips

    PowerPoint and similar presentations are a common way to present information to the Council and its advisory bodies. Here are a few tips to make sure your presentation goes smoothly. Presentations at Council meetings The Council needs to receive written materials, including presentations, in a timely way to allow well‐informed decision making. Therefore, it’s best…

  • Council news: Rigorous management practices have led to successful rebuilding of several West Coast groundfish stocks

    Portland, Oregon—A new paper published in Nature Sustainability, “Identifying Management Actions that Promote Sustainable Fisheries,” demonstrates that rigorous management practices have helped rebuild depleted fish stocks worldwide and underscores the fact that greater investment in fisheries management generally leads to better outcomes for fish populations and the fisheries they support. The Pacific Fishery Management Council,…