The Council is convening a workshop on Thursday and Friday June 6-7, 2024, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Diego – Mission Valley, Shutters West Room.
The purpose of the workshop is to identify approaches to increase landings of highly migratory species (HMS) fisheries on the West Coast through the use of exempted fishing permits (EFPs). The Council seeks to engage fishery participants, the HMS Advisory Subpanel, and the HMS Management Team in a collaborative and solutions-oriented workshop resulting in recommendations for the Council.
Workshop objectives are to:
- Identify aspects of EFPs that may be limiting participation and ways to increase the number of EFPs and EFP applicants
- Consider approaches to streamline the timing and process for EFPs for applicants, the Council and National Marine Fisheries Service
- Identify fishing practices and gear configurations that could be economically viable while minimizing bycatch
- Identify criteria to be used to define successful EFPs (e.g., economic performance, gear conflicts, acceptable levels of bycatch)
Focal questions to frame workshop brainstorming and discussions include:
- What characteristics of fishing for HMS are necessary to make it economically viable?
- What types of gear configurations and fishing practices are consistent with Roadmap goals?
- What metrics or indicators and management strategies are available to support the bycatch minimization goal?
- What actions can the Council take in partnership with National Marine Fisheries Service to ensure an effective and efficient process for the review and issuance of exempted fishing permits?
- What other mechanisms are there, such as research funding or grants, that could complement exempted fishing permits and support Roadmap goals?
Through structured discussion and constructive brainstorming around a set of guiding questions we expect the workshop will generate recommendations the Council could use when considering exempted fishing permit applications to explore new gear types that will replace lost HMS catch and increase West Coast HMS production. This will help define the structure and operation of successful EFPs in terms of economic performance, marketability of catch, social constraints, and avoiding gear conflicts.
Meeting Materials
Meeting Protocols and Ground Rules
Draft HMS Roadmap Terms List and Roadmap Goals
HMS Roadmap Registered Participant List
(Registration closed May 24, but you do not have to be registered to attend.)
Day parking will be offered at a validated rate of $5. Ticket validation will be available onsite (cash only).