News & Events: Coastal Pelagic Species

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team will hold an online meeting, which is open to the public.

Transcription: Jennifer:  Hi everyone, and welcome to the first edition of Thirty Thousand Feet, the new Pacific Fishery Management Council podcast. I’m Jennifer Gilden, your host today, and today on our inaugural episode we are talking to Kerry Griffin, the staff officer for coastal pelagic species for the Council, about how CPS species are managed. Kerry, can […]

NOAA Fisheries has published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register (86 FR 14401, March 16, 2021) announcing Amendment 18 to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan. Amendment 18 would implement a rebuilding plan for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine. Comments on the proposed amendment must be received by May 17, 2021.  In order to […]

The fish Coastal pelagic species (CPS) are schooling fish that range from the shore to the open ocean. They are found near the surface or as deep as 1,000 meters. They are generally small, even as adults, ranging from about four inches (anchovies) to 24 inches (Pacific mackerel). CPS are sold for human consumption, bait […]

Exempted fishing permits (EFPs) allow for fishing activities that are exempt from the usual fishing regulations. They are a way for people and organizations involved in the fishery to experiment with new gears or techniques. The Council recommends EFPs to National Marine Fisheries Service, which is responsible for granting them. Examples of past projects supported […]

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will hold an online work session of its Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) to develop reports and products for upcoming Pacific Council meetings.  This work session is open to the public and will be held Tuesday, February 2 through Thursday, February 4, 2021, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day (Pacific Standard Time) or until business for the day has been completed.

Washington State announced on December 8 that it has submitted a draft plan for how to distribute $50 million in Federal relief funding to members of Washington’s commercial seafood, shellfish and charter industries to NOAA Fisheries for review and approval. Under Section 12005 of the CARES Act, Congress provided $300 million to states to distribute […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]