November 2020 Decision Summary Document

Habitat Issues | Pacific Halibut | Salmon Management | Groundfish Management | Coastal Pelagic Species Management | Highly Migratory Species Management | Administrative Matters November 13, 16-20, 2020 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 […]

Climate and Communities Initiative climate change scenarios

The Council developed four scenarios to explore the implications of climate change to 2040 in the California Current Ecosystem. These scenarios were used in a series of four regionally-focused workshops conducted between mid-December 2020 to early February 2021.  First, you should view this 10-minute video that will give you a high-level view of the scenario […]

PRELIMINARY DRAFT NOVEMBER 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. […]

COVID-19 fisheries assistance

NOTE: The Council does not administer fisheries assistance for COVID-19. Please see the links below for resources, or contact the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. Recent news California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife posts a CARES Act page for fisheries participants and communities (June 23) How CARES Act funds are allocated (May 14) The Midwater […]

Call for data and information – Essential Fish Habitat Review for Coastal Pelagic Species

The Pacific Fishery Management Council, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center have initiated a review of essential fish habitat (EFH) provisions in the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP).  This call for data and information is intended to support the review.  Information and data sources can include […]

NOAA Fisheries announces emergency action to temporarily extend the primary sablefish fishery season

Published in the Federal Register October 27, 2020: Emergency rule to temporarily extend the 2020 sablefish primary fishery from October 31, 2020 to December 31, 2020. This action is necessary to provide operational flexibility so that vessels in the sablefish primary fishery are able to fully harvest their tier limits despite high economic uncertainty in […]

Request for comments: proposed rule for salmon bycatch minimization measures in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery

NOAA Fisheries announces a proposed rule to implement measures to minimize incidental take of Endangered Species Act-listed salmon by vessels in the Pacific coast groundfish fishery. The proposed rule will publish tomorrow, October 20, 2020 in the Federal Register. The pre-publication version of the proposed rule is available for public inspection. When the proposed rule publishes, it will […]

Budget Committee to hold online meeting November 4

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Budget Committee will hold a meeting to consider budget issues as outlined in the Budget Committee agenda for the November 2020 Council Meeting.

Pacific Council News Fall 2020: Coastal Pelagic Species

Pacific sardine rebuilding plan approved In September the Council approved a rebuilding plan for Pacific sardine, which was declared overfished in June 2019.  The Council selected the status quo (Alternative 1) as the preferred management alternative to achieve stock rebuilding, which takes into account the needs of the fishery, the biology of the stock, and […]

NOAA requesting comments on proposed rule for 2021-2022 biennial specifications and management measures

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published the proposed rule for the 2021-2022 biennial specifications and management measures, including Amendment 29 on October 2, 2020. The accompanying Environmental Assessment is provided here. This rule, if approved, would establish the harvest specifications and management measures for the next two years. These specifications and management measures were […]