2020: Video review discussions continue

NMFS and the Council’s Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Policy and Technical Advisory Committees are developing draft business rules to implement third-party video review. This includes examining the level of video review necessary to audit logbooks and to audit video review providers. Agency staff and advisory bodies are discussing ways to reduce video review to the minimum […]

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 […]

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: 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: 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 […]