Category: News & events

Final rule published for 2020 salmon fisheries management measures

Through this final rule, National Marine Fisheries Service establishes fishery management measures for the 2020 ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California and the 2021 salmon seasons opening earlier than the effective date of the 2021 rule, which is expected to be no later than May 16, 2021, under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery…
Ad hoc Ecosystem Workgroup to hold online meeting May 27

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s ad hoc Ecosystem Workgroup (EWG) will convene an online meeting.
Notice: final rule for the 2020 Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan

NOAA Fisheries has issued the final rule that implements the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for the International Pacific Halibut Commission’s regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. This rule also announces that it may be necessary to further modify the opening dates or other fishing days for some subareas shortly after the publication…
Pacific Council News Spring 2020: Salmon and halibut

2020 Salmon seasons set In April the Council adopted ocean salmon season recommendations that provide recreational and commercial opportunities for most of the Pacific coast, and achieve conservation goals for the numerous individual salmon stocks on the West Coast. Due to the COVID-19 social distancing requirements, all meetings associated with the decision were held via…
Pacific Council News Spring 2020: Habitat, ecosystem, and related stories

NMFS presents California Current Ecosystem and Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Report The NOAA Fisheries Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) Team presented the annual California Current Integrated Ecosystem Assessment report to the Council in March. Highlights of 2019 ecosystem conditions include: The system experienced weak to neutral El Niño conditions, average to slightly positive Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and…
Pacific Council News Spring 2020: Other news

Nominations open for advisory body vacancies The Council is accepting nominations for a Washington position on the Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel and the Northern Charter Boat Operator position on the Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel. Nominations for both are due Monday, May 18. Advisory body appointments made in March In March the Council appointed Andrew Babich…
Pacific Council News Spring 2020: Groundfish

Council tackles large list of inseason adjustments, including shorebased carryover In April, the Council heard from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and members of the Groundfish Advisory Subpanel on the unfolding impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on fishing communities. A report from the Groundfish Management Team…
Pacific Council News Spring 2020: Coastal pelagic species

Pacific sardine assessment, harvest specifications, and management measures set In April the Council adopted the 2020 Pacific sardine assessment with the following harvest specifications and management measures: Biomass: 28,276 metric tons (mt) Overfishing limit: 5,525 mt P* (uncertainty) buffer: 0.40 Acceptable biological catch: (Tier 2): 4,288 mt Annual catch limit: 4,288 mt Annual catch target:…
Pacific Council News Spring 2020: Highly migratory species

NMFS publishes final rule on drift gillnet hard caps The National Marine Fisheries Service published a final rule on “hard caps” for certain protected species taken in the California/Oregon thresher shark/swordfish large mesh drift gillnet (DGN) fishery on February 7, 2020, which implemented a 2015 Council recommendation. Under the regulations, the DGN fishery would immediately close…
Climate and Communities Initiative “Scenario Deepening” webinar series; various dates May 20 through June 5

As part of its Climate and Communities Initiative (CCI) the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is sponsoring a series of webinars with its advisory bodies, which are open to the public. The webinars will be held on the following dates and times: Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel and Management Team: Wednesday, May 20, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Scientific…
Ad Hoc Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Policy Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee to meet May 26, 2020

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Ad Hoc Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Policy Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee (Committees) will hold an online meeting, which is open to the public. The meeting will be held Tuesday, May 26, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, or until business for the day is completed.
Groundfish Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee to hold online meeting May 12-14, 2020

The Groundfish Subcommittee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee and invited scientific experts will hold a meeting to review proposed length-based assessment methods followed by a workshop to explore data-limited assessment methods.
NMFS is requesting comments on the proposed rule for 2020 harvest specifications and management measures for Pacific whiting, cowcod, and shortbelly rockfish

The National Marine Fisheries Service is requesting comments on the proposed rule for 2020 harvest specifications and management measures for Pacific whiting, cowcod, and shortbelly rockfish. This rule proposes 2020 harvest specifications for Pacific whiting, including the coastwide and U.S. Total Allowable Catch (TAC), the 2020 tribal allocation for the Pacific whiting fishery, allocations for…
National Marine Fisheries Service publishes its final “List of Fisheries” for 2020

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published its final List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2020, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The final LOF for 2020 reflects new information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals. This final rule is effective May 18, 2020. Information regarding the LOF may be obtained from…
Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team to hold online meeting May 7, 2020

The Pacific Fishery Management Council will convene an online work session of its Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) to review the draft Range of Alternatives (ROA) relative to the Pacific sardine rebuilding plan.
Council letter and NMFS response: Notice of waiver of observer and catch monitor coverage requirements

On April 14, 2020 the Council sent a letter to NMFS requesting a temporary suspension of federally authorized at-sea observer coverage in all West Coast fisheries (including at-sea sectors) and trawl catch share program shoreside catch monitors. The letter came in response to comments from the Groundfish Advisory Subpanel, individual fishermen, and industry representatives who expressed strong concerns…
Notice of availability Preseason Report III: Council Adopted Management Measures and Environmental Assessment Part 3 for 2020 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations
Council sends letter on Columbia River Draft Environmental Impact Statement

On April 13 the Pacific Fishery Management Council sent a letter with comments on the Columbia River System Operations Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The letter was addressed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration, and Bureau of Reclamation. The purpose of the DEIS is to update the management of the Columbia…
2020 salmon season tables

The 2020 salmon season tables are available here: TABLE 1. 2020 Commercial troll management measures for non-Indian ocean salmon fisheries – Council adopted. Friday, April 10, 2020, 3:37 PM TABLE 2. 2020 Recreational management measures for non-Indian ocean salmon fisheries – Council adopted. Friday, April 10, 2020, 3:39 PM TABLE 3. 2020 Treaty Indian troll…
Press release: West Coast salmon season dates set for 2020

Portland, Or. – The Pacific Fishery Management Council has adopted ocean salmon season recommendations that provide recreational and commercial opportunities for most of the Pacific coast, and achieve conservation goals for the numerous individual salmon stocks on the West Coast. Due to the COVID-19 social distancing requirements, all meetings associated with the decision were held…
Habitat Committee and Salmon Technical Team to meet online on May 12, 2020

The Pacific Fishery Management Council will convene an online meeting of its Habitat Committee (HC) and Salmon Technical Team. The meeting is open to the public, and will be held Tuesday, May 12, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight time.
Groundfish and Coastal Pelagic Species Subcommittees of Scientific and Statistical Committee to hold online meeting April 21, 2020

The Pacific Fishery Management Council will convene an online meeting of its Groundfish and Coastal Pelagic Species Subcommittees of the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The meeting is open to the public, and will be held Tuesday, April 21, 2020 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.
Preliminary draft April 2020 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. They…
Notice of availability: 2020 Salmon Hearing Packet – Excerpts from Preseason Report II; proposed alternatives for the 2020 ocean salmon fishery regulations (prepared for the March 23 and March 24 salmon hearings via webinar only)

2020 Salmon Hearing Packet: Excerpts from Preseason Report II; proposed alternatives for the 2020 ocean salmon fishery regulations