Monday, November 25th, 2013

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene two conference calls of its Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC). The first conference call will be held Tuesday, January 21, 2014, from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.  The second conference call will be held Tuesday February 4, 2014, from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

The primary purpose of the conference calls is to discuss and finalize the Phase 2 Report, which summarizes the status of the essential fish habitat periodic review, describes the proposals that were received, and makes recommendations to the Council for further action.  The Phase 2 Report is scheduled to be considered by the Council at its March, 2014 meeting.

A listening station will be made available at the Council offices:

Pacific Fishery Management Council
7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101
Portland, Oregon 97220-1384
503-820-2280
Driving Directions

This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt at 503-820-2280 at least five days prior to the meeting date.

For further information about the EFHRC work session, please contact Mr. Kerry Griffin at 503-820-2280, ext. 409; toll free 1-866-806-7204.

Posted in Groundfish, Groundfish

Monday, November 25th, 2013

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces publication of the Compliance Guide for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program, Program Improvement and Enhancement Rule (PIE 2).

Hard copies of this compliance guide will be mailed to:

• All limited entry permit owners (including Mothership endorsed, Mothership/ Catcher Vessel endorsed, and Catcher/ Processor endorsed),
• All vessel owners with a vessel currently registered to a limited entry permit,
• All quota share permit owners,
• All vessel account owners, and
• All first receivers with a current first receiver site license.

Additionally, the compliance guide is now available online here:
http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/fishery_management/groundfish/public_notices/pie_2_compliance_guide.pdf

NMFS also announces a PIE 2 “goto meeting” workshop, which will be held December 11, 2013 from 1pm to 4pm PST. This workshop will be comprised of a conference call-in line and an online presentation. The presentation will consist of an online QS trading tutorial, and a presentation regarding the other regulatory changes implemented by PIE 2. This will be followed by a question and answer session. Attendance is limited, and will be managed on a “first come, first served” basis. If there is sufficient demand, additional workshops will be scheduled.

If you would like to attend the PIE 2 workshop, please RSVP to Ariel Jacobs, (206) 526-4491, ariel.jacobs@noaa.gov.

Posted in Groundfish, Groundfish

Wednesday, November 13th, 2013

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council’s) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Groundfish Subcommittee will hold an online webinar in preparation for the SSC’s March 2014 meeting.  The online SSC Groundfish Subcommittee webinar is open to the public.

The SSC Groundfish Subcommittee webinar will commence at 1 p.m. PST, Wednesday, December 11, 2013 and continue until 4 p.m. or as necessary to complete business for the day.

The purpose of the SSC Groundfish Subcommittee webinar is to review a final draft of the 2013 cowcod rebuilding analysis, data-poor overfishing limit estimates for kelp greenling and the Washington stock of cabezon, and other business in preparation for the SSC’s March 2014 meeting.  Any recommendations developed at the webinar will be submitted for consideration by the Council’s SSC at its March 2014 meeting in Sacramento, California.

To Attend the Webinar

This webinar is held on Wednesday, December 11, 2013, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Pacific Time, or when business for the day is complete.

1. Join the meeting by visiting this link:
   http://www.joinwebinar.com
2. Enter the Webinar ID: 661-616-231
3. Please enter your name and email address (required)

It is recommended that you use a computer headset as GoToMeeting allows you to listen to the meeting using your computer headset and speakers. If you do not have a headset and speakers, you may use your telephone for the audio portion of the meeting by dialing this TOLL number 1-646-307-1720 (not a toll free number); phone audio access code 754-659-346.

Technical Information and User Guide

System Requirements

• PC-based attendees: Required: Windows® 7, Vista, or XP
• Mac®-based attendees: Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer
• Mobile attendees: Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet (See the GoToMeeting Webinar Apps)

User Guide

• SSC Groundfish Subcommittee Meeting Webinar User Guide

You may also send an email to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt for technical assistance.

Additional information

Public comments during the webinar will be received from attendees at the discretion of the SSC Groundfish Subcommittee chair.

This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt at 503-820-2280 at least five days prior to the meeting date. If you have additional questions regarding the webinar, please contact Mr. John DeVore at 503-820-2280 ext. 413; toll free 1-866-806-7204.

Posted in Groundfish, Groundfish

Friday, November 8th, 2013

The Council considered sablefish projections for 2014 and adopted the following landing limits:

1. Establish sablefish trip limits for limited entry fixed-gear north of 36° N lat. in 2014 of “950 lb/week, not to exceed 2,850 lb/two months” for Periods 1 through 6.
2. Establish sablefish trip limits for open access fixed-gear north of 36° N lat. in 2014 of “300 lb/day, or one landing per week of up to 800 lb, not to exceed 1,600 lb/two months” for Periods 1 through 6.
3. Establish sablefish trip limits for limited entry fixed-gear south of 36° N lat. in 2014 of “2,000 lb/week” for Periods 1 through 6.
4. Establish sablefish trip limits for open access fixed-gear south of 36° N lat. in 2014 of “300 lb/day, or one landing per week of up to 1,600 lb, not to exceed 3,200 lb/two months” for Periods 1 through 6.

Posted in Groundfish, Groundfish