Updates - Pacific Fishery Management Council

PRELIMINARY DRAFT APRIL 2021 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. They may use short-hand language or abbreviations that may not be clear without the context of verbal comments and clarifications made during their development at the meeting, or may contain inadvertent transposition errors. They have not been approved by the Council to represent the final official record of Council action. The final official record will be posted on the Council website after the Council approves the full meeting record at a future Council meeting.

Offshore Wind News

This is a resource page that summarizes and updates readers about what’s happening in offshore wind off the West Coast.

BOEM = Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
NOAA = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Council activities

April Council meeting: Offshore wind issues were discussed under agenda item H2 (Update on Executive Order 13921), and during the Legislative Committee meeting. The Council is discussing two draft letters on offshore wind planning under Legislative Matters.
March Council meeting: Offshore wind and aquaculture were discussed during the Marine Planning Update (3/21).
The Council Coordinating Committee sent a letter to Department of Interior on Executive Order 14008 (Tackling Climate Change at Home and Abroad). Although EO 14008 does promote offshore wind, the letter focuses on the EO’s directive to conserve 30% of U.S. land and waters by 2030. (3/12)
Process: The Council will be coordinating with BOEM before each meeting to learn about offshore wind and other offshore energy activities. Any announcements will be put in the next Council’s briefing book and covered in the Executive Director’s report at the beginning of each Council meeting. If needed, the Council will hold a webinar to allow advisory body discussions. (3/11/21)
Habitat Committee meeting Feb. 24. NOAA presented information related to the identification of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas, and BOEM discussed the process of identifying potential offshore wind energy sites. A recording of this meeting is available at the link.

Recent news

Interior Joins Government-Wide Effort to Advance Offshore Wind
Biden administration launches major push to expand offshore wind power. (“The White House announced Monday an ambitious plan to expand wind farms along the East Coast and jumpstart the country’s nascent offshore wind industry, saying it hoped to trigger a massive clean energy effort in the fight against climate change. The plan would generate 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by the end of the decade – enough to power more than 10 million American homes and cut 78 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. To accomplish that, the Biden administration said it would speed permitting for projects off the East Coast, invest in research and development, provide low-interest loans to industry and fund changes to U.S. ports.”) (3/29/21) See associated roundtable below.
White House Offshore Wind Roundtable (YouTube video) (3/29/21)
Offshore Wind Project off Martha’s Vineyard Nears Approval (3/8/2021)
March 2021: Two floating wind energy projects have been proposed off California: Cierco Projects’ Floating Wind Demonstration and Ideol USA’s Vandenberg Air Force Base Pilot. The two adjacent projects would be located in state waters offshore of Vandenberg Air Force Base and Point Arguello in Santa Barbara County, California. Both facilities would have four floating wind turbines ranging in size from 10-15 megawatts (MW). The entire development will be capable of producing up to 100 MW of renewable electricity. (From Habitat Committee report 3/3/21).

State legislation

California AB 525. This bill would require the Energy Commission, in coordination with specified agencies, to develop a strategic plan to achieve a goal of at least 10,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy developments installed off the California coast by 2040, with an interim target of 3,000 megawatts installed by 2030.
California SB 413. This bill would require the Energy Commission, in consultation with the Offshore Wind Project Certification, Fisheries, Community, and Indigenous Peoples Advisory Committee, which the bill would create, to establish a process for the certification of offshore wind generation facilities that is analogous to the existing requirements for certification of thermal powerplants, but applicable to offshore wind generation facilities, and would make the Energy Commission the exclusive authority for the certification of offshore wind generation facilities.
Oregon HB 3375. Establishes goal of planning for development of three gigawatts of commercial scale floating offshore wind energy projects within federal waters off Oregon Coast by 2030.

Federal legislation and information

Biden administration Fact sheet on jump starting wind energy (3/29/21)

Useful links

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management activities by state

Is there something else we need to add? Email us.

Sablefish management strategy evaluation workshop to be held online April 27-28, 2021

This post was generated by and redirects to https://www.pcouncil.org/events/sablefish-management-strategy-evaluation-workshop-to-be-held-online-april-27-28-2021/.

Ad Hoc Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Workgroup to hold online meeting May 12, 2021

This post was generated by and redirects to https://www.pcouncil.org/events/ad-hoc-southern-oregon-northern-california-coast-coho-workgroup-to-hold-online-meeting-may-12-2021/.

April 2021 Briefing Book

April 2021 Council Meeting

A. Call to Order

A.3 Situation Summary: Executive Director’s Report
- A.3, Supplemental Attachment 1: BOEM-PFMC Coordination E-Mail Correspendence
- A.3. Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

A.4 Situation Summary: Supplemental Detailed April 2021 Agenda

B. Open Comment Period

B.1 Situation Summary: Comments on Non-Agenda Items
- B.1.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

C. Habitat Issues

C.1 Situation Summary: Current Habitat Issues
- C.1.a, Supplemental HC Report 1
- C.1.c, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

D. Salmon Management

D.1 Situation Summary: Tentative Adoption of 2021 Management Measures for Analysis
- Preseason Report II: Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment – Part 2 for 2021 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations (Electronic Only)
- D.1, Attachment 1: Emergency Changes to the Salmon FMP
- D.1, Attachment 2: FR 97-22094: Policy Guidelines for the Use of Emergency Rules
- D.1.a, Supplemental STT Report 1
- D.1.b, Supplemental Public Hearing Report 1 (WA)
- D.1.b, Supplemental Public Hearing Report 2 (OR)
- D.1.b, Supplemental Public Hearing Report 3 (CA)
- D.1.c, Supplemental PSC Report 1
- D.1.e, Supplemental Tribal Report 1: Testimony of the Quinault Indian Nation
- D.1.e, Supplemental Tribal Report 2: Testimony of the Columbia River Treaty Tribes
- D.1.e, Supplemental SAS Report 1: Proposed 2021 Ocean Salmon Management Measures For Tentative Adoption
- D.1.f, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

D.2 Situation Summary: Methodology Review Preliminary Topic Selection
- D.2.a, Supplemental MEW Report 1
- D.2.a, Supplemental STT Report 1
- D.2.a, Supplemental SSC Report 1
- D.2.a, Supplemental Tribal Report 1: Joint Testimony from the Western Washington Treaty Tribes
- D.2.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

D.3 Situation Summary: Clarify Council Direction on 2021 Management Measures
- D.3.a, Supplemental STT Report 1: Preliminary Analysis of Tentative 2021 Ocean Salmon Fishery Management Measures
- D.3.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

D.4 Situation Summary: Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Endangered Species Act Consultation
- D.4.a, Supplemental SONCC Coho Workgroup Report 1
- D.4.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

D.5 Situation Summary: Further Direction for 2021 Management Alternatives
- D.5.a, Supplemental STT Report 1: Preliminary Analysis of Tentative 2021 Ocean Salmon Fishery Management Measures
- D.5.a, Supplemental STT Report 2: Preliminary Analysis of Tentative 2021 Ocean Salmon Fishery Management Measures (04/14/21)
- D.5.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

D.6 Situation Summary: 2021 Management Measures – Final Action
- D.6.a, Supplemental STT Report 1: STT Analysis of Tentative 2021 Ocean Salmon Fishery Management Measures
- D.6.a, Supplemental Tribal Report 1 (The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation)
- D.6.a, Supplemental Tribal Report 2 (Testimony of the Columbia River Treaty Tribes)
- D.6.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

E. Coastal Pelagic Species Management

E.1 Situation Summary: National Marine Fisheries Service Report
- E.1.a, Supplemental NMFS Report 1
- E.1.b, Supplemental NMFS Presentation 1: Coastal Pelagic Species Research Updates
- E.1.d, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

E.2 Situation Summary: Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) for 2021-2022 – Final Action
- E.2 Attachment 1: West Coast Pelagic Conservation Group Proposal
- E.2 Attachment 2: California Wetfish Producers Association Point Sets Proposal
- E.2 Attachment 3: California Wetfish Producers Association Biological Sampling Proposal
- E.2.a, Supplemental SSC Report 1
- E.2.a, Supplemental CPSMT Report 1
- E.2.a, Supplemental CPSAS Report 1
- E.2.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

E.3 Situation Summary: Review of Essential Fish Habitat
- E.3.a, CPSMT Report 1
- E.3.a, Supplemental CPSMT Presentation 1
- E.3.a, Supplemental CPSAS Report 1
- E.3.a, Supplemental HC Report 1
- E.3.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

E.4 Situation Summary: Pacific Sardine Assessment, Harvest Specifications, and Management Measures – Final Action
- E.4, Attachment 1: Catch-Only Projection Estimate
- E.4, Supplemental Attachment 2: Addendum to Catch-Only Projection of the Pacific Sardine Resource in 2021 for U.S. Management in 2021-2022
- E.4.a, Supplemental CDFW Report 1
- E.4.a, Supplemental CDFW Report 2
- E.4.a, Supplemental CDFW Report 3
- E.4.a, Supplemental SSC Report 1
- E.4.a, Supplemental CPSMT Report 1
- E.4.a, Supplemental CPSAS Report 1
- E.4.b, Supplemental Public Presentation 1 (California Wetfish Producers Association)
- E.4.b, Supplemental Public Presentation 2 (Oceana)
- E.4.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

F. Groundfish Management

F.1 Situation Summary: National Marine Fisheries Service Report
- F.1.a, NMFS Report 1: Recently Published Rulemakings and Workload
- F.1.b, Supplemental NMFS Presentation 1: Groundfish Science Report
- F.1.d, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

F.2 Situation Summary: Humpback Whale Endangered Species Act Consultation
- F.2, Attachment 1: Groundfish ESA Workgroup Report: Excerpted Humpback Whale Section
- F.2, Attachment 2: Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) Biological and Conference Opinion – Continuing Operation of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
- F.2, Supplemental Attachment 3: Pacific Coast Groundfish and Endangered Species Work Group Terms of Reference
- F.2.a, NMFS REVISED Presentation 1: Overview of Humpback Whale ESA Consultation and Next Steps
- F.2.a, Supplemental CDFW Report 1
- F.2.a, Supplemental ODFW Report 1
- F.2.a, Supplemental WDFW Report 1
- F.2.a, Supplemental GMT Report 1
- F.2.a, Supplemental GAP Report 1
- F.2.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

F.3 Situation Summary: Scoping of Prioritized Non-trawl Sector Area Management Measures
- F.3, Supplemental Staff Presentation 1: Scoping of Non-Trawl Sector Area Management Measures (Todd Phillips)
- F.3, Attachment 1: Informational Report 4: Non-Trawl Scoping Section Excerpt (June 2020)
- F.3, Attachment 2: Non-Trawl Sector Groundfish Area Management Modifications: Scoping Discussion Document
- F.3.a, Supplemental HC Report 1
- F.3.a, Supplemental GMT Report 1
- F.3.a, Supplemental GAP Report 1
- F.3.a, Supplemental SAS Report 1
- F.3.a, Supplemental EC Report 1
- F.3.b, Supplemental Public Presentation 1 (Enticknap, Oceana)
- F.3.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

F.4 Situation Summary: Sablefish Gear Switching – Identify the Gear Switching Level to Use in Developing Alternatives
- F.4 Supplemental Staff Presentation 1 (Doerpinghaus)
- F.4, Attachment 1: Analysis of Gear Switching Levels
- F.4.a, Supplemental CDFW Report 1
- F.4.a, Supplemental REVISED GMT Report 1
- F.4.a, Supplemental GAP Report 1
- F.4.b, Supplemental Public Presentation 1 (Pacific Seafood, Gonzalez)
- F.4.b, Supplemental Public Presentation 2 (Oceanbeat Consulting, Robinson)
- F.4.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

F.5 Situation Summary: Cost Recovery Report and Final Regulations
- F.5.a, NMFS Report 1: Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program Cost Recovery Annual Report Fee Calculation for 2021 and Fishing Year 2020 Payments
- F.5.a, NMFS Report 2: National Marine Fisheries Service Report on Cost Recovery Calculations for the Mothership and Catcher-Processor Sectors
- F.5.a, Supplemental NMFS Presentation 1: Cost Recovery Annual Report (Fee Calculation for 2021 and Fishing Year 2020 Payments)
- F.5.b, Supplemental GAP Report 1
- F.5.c, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

F.6 Situation Summary: Inseason Adjustments for 2021 – Final Action
- F.6.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

F.7 Situation Summary: Implementation of the 2021 Pacific Whiting Fishery Under the U.S./Canada Agreement
- F.7.b, Supplemental DFO Report 1
- F.7.b, Supplemental GAP Report 1
- F.7.c, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

G. Pacific Halibut Management

G.1 Situation Summary: Incidental Catch Limits for 2021 Salmon Troll Fishery – Final Action
- G.1, Attachment 1: Summary of Pacific Halibut Incidental Catch Management
- G.1.a, Supplemental SAS Report 1
- G.1.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

H. Administrative Matters

H.1 Situation Summary: Research and Data Needs Update
- H.1.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

H.2 Situation Summary: Update on Executive Order 13921
- H.2, Attachment 1: E.O. Federal Register Notice; Executive Order 13921 of May 7, 2020: Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth
- H.2, Attachment 2: Letter to Chris Oliver with Council’s response to EO 13921
- H.2b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

H.3 Situation Summary: Legislative Matters
- H.3, Attachment 1: Staff Summary of Federal Legislation
- H.3, Attachment 2: Oregon House Bill 3375
- H.3, Supplemental Attachment 3: Draft letter to the Department of Interior and Department of Commerce on EO 14008
- H.3, Supplemental Attachment 4: Draft letter to Dr. Paul Doremus on EO 14008
- H.3, Supplemental Attachment 5: Proposed Amendments to HB 3375
- H.3, Supplemental Attachment 6: California Assembly Bill 525
- H.3, Supplemental Attachment 7: REVISED Draft Letter to the Secretary of Commerce re: Executive Order Section 216(a)
- H.3, Supplemental Attachment 8: Revised Draft letter to Dr. Paul Doremus on EO 14008
- H.3.a, Supplemental Legislative Committee Report 1
- H.3.b, Supplemental WDFW Report 1: Letter from WDFW to Paul Doremus re: Federal Executive Order 14008
- H.3.b, Supplemental HMSAS Report 1
- H.3.b, Supplemental GAP Report 1
- H.3.b, Supplemental EAS Report 1
- H.3.c, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

H.4 Situation Summary: Membership Appointments and Council Operating Procedures
- H.4.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

H.5 Situation Summary: Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning
- H.5, Attachment 1: Pacific Council Workload Planning: Preliminary Year-at-a-Glance Summary
- H.5, Attachment 2: Draft Proposed Council Meeting Agenda, June 2021
- H.5, Supplemental Attachment 3: Pacific Council Workload Planning: Preliminary Year-at-a-Glance Summary (v. 04/14/2021; 16:42)
- H.5, Supplemental Attachment 4: Draft Proposed Council Meeting Agenda, June 2021 (v. 4/14/2021 4:39 PM)
- H.5.a, Supplemental State Report 1 (CDFW, ODFW, WDFW and IDFG)
- H.5.a, Supplemental SSC Report 1
- H.5.a, Supplemental STT Report 1
- H.5.a, Supplemental GMT Report 1
- H.5.a, Supplemental GAP Report 1
- H.5.a, Supplemental CPSMT Report 1
- H.5.b, Public Comments (If received, Electronic Only)

Advisory Body and Committee Agendas AND Committee Memos

Advisory Body and Committee Agendas

Committee agendas for the April 2021 briefing book (bookmarked in alphabetical order for easy navigation)

Advisory Body and Committee Memos

Committee memos for the April 2021 briefing book (bookmarked in alphabetical order for easy navigation)

Informational Reports, General Information, and Membership Roster

Informational Reports

Informational Report 1: U.S. Coast Guard 2020 Report to the PFMC
Informational Report 2: U.S. Coast Guard Report – Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Strategic Outlook
Informational Report 3: NOAA Fisheries 2020 West Coast Whale Entanglement Summary
Supplemental Informational Report 4: Whiting Mothership Cooperative; An Amendment 20 Mothership Catcher Vessel Cooperative Final Report on the 2020 Pacific Whiting Fishery
Supplemental Informational Report 5: Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative; Amendment 20 Catcher/Processor Cooperative Annual Report 2020
Supplemental Informational Report 6: Secretary of Commerce Announces Allocation of an Additional $255 Million in CARES Act Funding to States and Territories
Supplemental Informational Report 7: FACT SHEET: Biden Administrative Jumpstarts Offshore Wind Energy Projects to Create Jobs
Supplemental Informational Report 8: Withdrawal of Klamath Project-Related Memoranda, Letters, and Analyses
Supplemental Informational Report 9: Secretary of the Interior – Secretary’s Duties under Subsection 8(p)(4) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act When Authorizing Activities on the Outer Continental Shelf

General Information and Membership Roster

Membership Roster (dated March 23, 2021 for the April 2021 briefing book)
“Seating Chart“
Council Meeting Schedule (as of 03/23/2021)

Recent reports

Notice of availability for Amendment 18 to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan

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 comment on the draft Amendment 18 language, submit all public comments electronically via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2021-0008 in the Search box. Click the “Comment” icon and complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.

To view the associated Environmental Assessment, visit the West Coast Region National Environmental Policy Act Documents website. Comments on the draft Environmental Assessment must be received by April 15, 2021.

Questions? Contact Lynn Massey, Fishery Management Specialist, NOAA Fisheries, at lynn.massey@noaa.gov

Washington extends application deadline for federal relief funding to commercial fishing industries

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission now accepting applications through April 9

Eligible commercial fishing, shellfish, charter and seafood sector industry members who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic now have through April 9 to apply with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) for assistance.

The 15-day extension includes additional time for industry members who fish or land their fish in Alaska but live in Washington to apply. Washington-based commercial fishers who fish in Alaska should apply to the Washington spend plan for assistance.

More information and eligibility details and application materials and instructions are available on the PSFMC’s website at: psmfc.org/cares-act-the-coronavirus-aid-relief-and-economic-security-act. Previously open through March 25, applications remain open through April 9.

Three Groundfish Stock Assessment Review Panels Scheduled to be Held Online

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene three Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panels this year to review new stock assessments for Dover sole, spiny dogfish, lingcod, and vermilion and sunset rockfishes. These STAR Panel meetings are open to the public, and will be held online.

Dates and times of the STAR Panel meetings

The STAR Panel meeting (STAR Panel 1) to review new assessments for Dover sole and spiny dogfish will be held Monday, May 3, 2021 through Friday, May 7, 2021 beginning at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) and ending at 5:30 p.m. each day, or when business for the day has been completed.

The STAR Panel meeting (STAR Panel 2) to review new assessments for lingcod will be held Monday, July 12, 2021 through Friday, July 16, 2021 beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. each day, or when business for the day has been completed.

The STAR Panel meeting (STAR Panel 3) to review a new assessment for vermilion and sunset rockfishes will be held Monday, July 26, 2021 through Friday, July 30, 2021 beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. each day, or when business for the day has been completed.

Purpose of the meetings

The purpose of the STAR Panels is to review draft 2021 stock assessment documents and any other pertinent information for new benchmark stock assessments for Dover sole, spiny dogfish, lingcod (it is anticipated there will be 2 assessments of West Coast lingcod subpopulations delineated at 40°10’ N. lat.), and vermilion and sunset rockfishes (it is anticipated this will be a single assessment of vermilion rockfish and sunset rockfish in combination); work with the Stock Assessment Teams to make necessary revisions; and produce STAR Panel reports for use by the Pacific Council family and other interested persons for developing management recommendations for fisheries in 2021 and beyond. No management actions will be decided by the STAR Panels. The STAR Panel participants’ role will be development of recommendations and reports for consideration by the Pacific Council at its virtual June meeting (for Dover sole and spiny dogfish) and its September meeting (for lingcod and vermilion and sunset rockfishes) tentatively scheduled in Spokane, Washington.

To attend the online meetings

Meeting details will be posted to each STAR Panel’s webpage as they become available.

Technical information

Technical details will be posted to each STAR Panel’s webpage as they become available.

For technical assistance, you may send an email to Kris Kleinschmidt or call/text 503-820-2412; or email Sandra Krause or call/text 503-820-2419.

Additional information

Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kris Kleinschmidt at 503-280-2412 at least ten business days prior to the meeting date.

If you have additional questions regarding the online meetings, please contact Dr. Andi Stephens, NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center, or John DeVore at 503-820-2413; toll free 1-866-806-7204, extension 413.

Preseason Report II: Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2021 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations available online

March 2021 Decision Summary Document

March 4-5, 8-11, 2021

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 are typically not described in the Decision Summary Document. For a more detailed account of Council meeting discussions, see the Council meeting record and transcripts or the Council newsletter.

Salmon Management

Reintroduction of Salmon Above Grand Coulee Dam

The Council agreed to send a letter of general support to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation for investigating the concept of reintroducing salmon to the upper Columbia Basin through a feasibility study that uses a science-based phased approach.

Review of 2020 Fisheries and Summary of 2021 Stock Forecasts

The Council adopted the stock abundances, overfishing limits, acceptable biological catches, and annual catch limits as presented in the 2021 Preseason Report I, for use in 2021 salmon management.

Adopt 2021 Management Alternatives for Public Review

The Council adopted for public review three management measure alternatives for the 2021 ocean commercial and recreational salmon fisheries beginning May 16. The Council also adopted six alternatives proposed by the Tribes for 2021 treaty Indian ocean salmon Fisheries. The Council is scheduled to adopt final 2021 ocean salmon regulations at its April 6-9 & 12-15 meeting held via webinar. The Oregon and California alternatives included inseason actions that were taken during the Council meeting to modify fisheries occurring prior to May 16, 2021.

The Council also scheduled one public hearing for each coastal state to discuss the salmon alternatives. The hearings will occur online and are scheduled for evenings of Tuesday, March 23 (Washington and California), and Wednesday March 24 (Oregon).

Pacific Halibut Management

Incidental Catch Recommendations: Options for Salmon Troll and Final Action on Recommendations for Fixed Gear Sablefish Fisheries

The Council adopted three alternatives for incidental halibut retention in the 2021 and early 2022 Salmon troll fishery, consistent with the Salmon Advisory Subpanel report. Each alternative included a landing and possession limit of one halibut for every two Chinook, plus one additional halibut in excess of the possession/landing ratio. The possession/landing limit per trip ranged from 25 to 35 halibut among the three options. The Council is scheduled to adopt a final alternative at its April meeting.

The Council’s final recommendation for the 2021 incidental halibut catch restrictions in the fixed gear fishery north of Point Chehalis from April 1 through October 31 was to set the limit at 225 pounds of dressed weight halibut for every 1,000 pounds dressed weight of sablefish, plus 2 additional halibut in excess of the ratio, which was consistent with the Groundfish Advisory Subpanel report.

Groundfish Management

Workload and New Management Measure Priorities

The Council added three new items to the list of unprioritized groundfish management measures as shown in Table B of GMT Report 1. The new items are:

Prohibition on directed fishing for shortbelly rockfish
Lingcod trip limit adjustments N of 40° 10’ N. latitude in the salmon troll fishery
Cowcod Conservation Area (CCA) Modification

A public proposal for a prohibition on directed fishing for shortbelly rockfish will be considered for inclusion in the 2023-2024 groundfish harvest specifications and management measure process. The lingcod trip limit measure proposed by the Salmon Advisory Subpanel and as described in Supplemental GMT Report 2, will be scoped in April by the Groundfish Management Team (GMT) to determine if the proposal can be completed through routine inseason action. The CCA area modification proposes to repeal the CCAs and decouples the CCA area modification issue from the non-trawl rockfish conservation area modification scoping process scheduled for April 2021. The Council considered, but did not add to Table B, reactivation of an Ad Hoc Cost Recovery Committee. The Council also directed staff and the GMT to make corrections to the list of unprioritized actions to better clarify the measures in that table.

The Council maintained mothership utilization and non-trawl rockfish conservation area/Emley-Platt exempted fishing permit regulation items as priorities.

The Council also added an item to the March agenda and prioritized its development at this meeting: Emergency Rule to Consider Changing Seasonal Processing Limitations in the At-Sea Whiting Fishery (see G.6 below).

Pacific Whiting Utilization in the Mothership Sector

The Council adopted a final purpose and need statement proposed by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as the following range of alternatives for analysis and public review:

1. Whiting Season Start Date (for all whiting sectors)

Status Quo: May 15
Alternative 1: May 1, annual cooperative applications and Salmon Mitigation Plans due 45 days prior to the season start date.

2. Mothership Processor Obligation

Status Quo: Mothership processor obligation made by November 30 through mothership catcher vessel endorsed limited entry permit renewal.
Alternative 1: Remove mothership processor obligation from regulation.

3. Mothership Processor Cap

Status Quo: 45%
Alternative 1: 65%
Alternative 2: 85%
Alternative 3: Remove mothership processor cap from regulation.

4. Mothership Processor & Catcher-Processor Permit Transfer

Status Quo: A vessel cannot be registered to a mothership permit and a catcher-processor permit in the same calendar year
Alternative 1: A vessel can be registered to a mothership permit and a catcher-processor permit in the same calendar year.

i. Sub-option A: A vessel can switch between the mothership sector and catcher-processor sector up to two times during the calendar year through permit transfer.

ii. Sub-option B: A vessel can switch between the mothership sector and catcher-processor sector up to four times during the calendar year through permit transfer.

iii. Sub-option C: Unlimited transfers.

Inseason Adjustments – Final Action

The Council reviewed the status and projections for 2021 fisheries but did not recommend inseason adjustments.

Electronic Monitoring Program Update

The Council recommended no modifications to the draft electronic monitoring program guidelines and provider manual. The Council has tentatively scheduled an update on electronic monitoring implementation for its June 2021 meeting.

Emergency Rule to Consider Changing Seasonal Processing Limitations in the At-Sea Whiting Fishery

The Council modified the March agenda to allow consideration of an emergency action to allow an at-sea Pacific whiting processing platform to operate as both a mothership and a catcher-processor in the same calendar year during the 2021 Pacific whiting fishery. This action was taken at the request of industry representatives and the Groundfish Advisory Subpanel to prevent fishery disruption if a mothership processor decides to abandon that sector this year to mitigate their risk associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic. Such a disruption would otherwise leave catcher vessels in the mothership sector without a processing platform, potentially stranding their whiting quota, which would result in significant economic impacts. Allowing a catcher-processor vessel to temporarily operate as an at-sea processor in the mothership sector mitigates the impacts associated with the current processing limitations in these two sectors.

Highly Migratory Species Management

Review of Essential Fish Habitat – Phase 2

The Council adopted the Phase 2 Action Plan for developing potential revisions to highly migratory species (HMS) essential fish habitat provisions as part of a Fishery Management Plan amendment process. The Council directed the HMS Management Team (HMSMT), Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) West Coast Region, and Council staff to consider the recommendations of the HMSMT, in further development of the amendment process.

Deep-Set Buoy Gear Permit Clarifications

Based on questions and proposed interpretations in NMFS Reports 1 and 2, the Council adopted the following clarifications to its proposed measures for authorizing deep-set buoy gear (DSBG) adopted in September 2019:

Confirmed that a DSBG limited entry permit may be held by a person as defined 50 CFR 660.702, which includes corporations, partnerships, or other entities, but in all cases permit transfers are prohibited except for a one-time transfer to a family member upon the death of an individual permit holder. In cases where an entity holds a permit, transfers by means of changes in the ownership of the entity will be prohibited.
Clarified that for the purpose of limited entry DSBG permit qualification, “EFP holder” means vessel operators on board when DSBG was used or individuals identified as having managed the exempted fishing permit (EFP) including owners of vessels to which the EFP was assigned.
Supported the NMFS recommendation for a single qualification period but included Tier 8 (see description below). Ranking within tiers would be based on total swordfish landings for Tiers 1-5 and on a first come, first served basis for the remaining tiers.

The Council modified the DSBG limited entry permit qualification tiers so that they read as follows:

EFP holders, with at least 10 documented calendar days of DSBG fishing effort by December 31, 2018. Documentation shall consist of a West Coast Observer Program record indicating either:
1. the EFP holder as vessel captain for that fishing day; or
2. fishing effort for that day conducted on a vessel owned by or under the EFP managed by that individual.
California Drift Gillnet (DGN) Shark and Swordfish permit holders who made at least one large mesh DGN swordfish landing between the 2013-2014 and 2017-2018 fishing seasons and surrender their state or federal DGN permit as part of a DGN permit trade-in or buy-back program.
EFP holders approved by the Council prior to April 1, 2021 who conducted at least 10 calendar days of DSBG fishing effort or with 10 days of DSBG effort on their vessel or by vessels they manage under the EFP by the effective date of the Final Rule authorizing DSBG. Documentation shall consist of a NMFS West Coast Observer Program record or a properly submitted NMFS DSBG logbook indicating either:
1. the EFP holder as vessel captain for that fishing day; or
2. fishing effort for that day was conducted on a vessel owned by or under the EFP managed by that individual.
California General Swordfish permit holders who possessed a permit during the 2018-2019 fishing season and made at least one swordfish landing using harpoon gear between the 2013-2014 and 2017-2018 fishing seasons.
California DGN Shark and Swordfish permit holders who have made at least one large-mesh DGN swordfish landing between the 2013-2014 and 2017-2018 fishing seasons and who did not surrender their state or federal DGN permit as part of a trade-in or buy- back program.
California DGN Shark and Swordfish permit holders who have not made a swordfish landing with large-mesh DGN gear since March 31, 2013 and who surrender their state or federal DGN permit as part of a permit trade-in or buy-back program.
State or Federal DGN Limited Entry (LE) permit holders who have not made a swordfish landing with DGN gear since March 31, 2013 and did not surrender their DGN LE permit as part of a state or Federal DGN permit trade-in or buy-back program.
Any individual with documented commercial swordfish fishing experience between January 1, 1986 and the effective date of the final rule on a first come first served basis. The basis for documenting commercial swordfish fishing experience attributable to the applicant will be possession of a valid commercial fishing license on that date and either:
1. A valid California Department of Fish and Wildlife fish landing receipt identifying the individual as the fisherman of record; or
2. A valid state or federal logbook where swordfish were taken and identifying the individual as captain or crew on that day; or
3. A signed affidavit from a vessel owner or captain identifying the individual as vessel captain or crew on the day that swordfish were taken.
Any individual on a first come first served basis.

Biennial Harvest Specifications and Management Measures

The Council approved the maximum fishing mortality threshold proxy and the second proxy proposed for minimum stock size threshold in Option 3 of NMFS Report 1 as applicable to status determinations for Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) yellowfin and bigeye tuna stocks based on the probabilistic framework in the 2020 benchmark assessments for those stocks as prepared by Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission scientific staff. Resulting status determination criteria indicate EPO yellowfin are likely not overfished or subject to overfishing, and EPO bigeye are likely not overfished or subject to overfishing.

Ecosystem Management

California Current Ecosystem and Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) Report and Science Review Topics

The Council endorsed Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) review of two ecosystem research topics: Threshold relationships between environmental drivers and performance of salmon preseason abundance forecasts and year-class strength and distribution of post-settled groundfish. The SSC Ecosystem Subcommittee will meet in conjunction with the September 2021 Council meeting to review the research, and the SSC will report to the Council on its recommendations in March 2022.

Climate and Communities Initiative Workshop Report

The Council adopted the Report on Regional Workshops focusing on the Implications of Climate Change for West Coast Fisheries and Fishing Communities and directed the Ad Hoc Climate and Communities Core Team to prepare a brief summary and synthesis report to the Council for its September 2021 meeting. The summary report should include consideration of the priority actions in the Report on Regional Workshops and recommendations on future related activities, which may be in the form of Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Initiatives. The Core Team will also conduct a workshop to brief Council advisory bodies on its synthesis report before the September 2021 Council meeting.

The Council also directed staff to draft a letter responding to NMFS’ call for information on climate-resilient fisheries per Section 206(c) in Executive Order 14008 Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (see Legislative Matters below).

Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Five-Year Review

The Council directed the Ad Hoc Ecosystem Workgroup (EWG) to prepare a final draft of the revised FEP for review by the Council at its September 2021 meeting. The EWG should also provide a complete draft of the stand-alone document, Guidance Document on Offshore Non-Fishing Activities. In doing so, the EWG should consider recommendations made by the Council and contained in advisory body reports for this agenda item and, as appropriate, note how those recommendations were addressed.

The Council directed the EWG to develop concepts for an “ecosystem-level performance report,” which would be a periodic reporting mechanism to track progress towards the goals and objectives listed in Chapter 1 of the revised FEP. These concepts could then form the basis for a candidate initiative that the Council would undertake at a future date.

Administrative Matters

Marine Planning Update

Representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) presented information on Aquaculture Opportunity Areas, and representatives from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) presented information on planning for offshore wind development. The Council expressed concerns about how data is being used, about ensuring accurate fisheries-related information, and discussed ways to engage with agency partners and address marine planning issues. The Council Executive Director and staff will continue regular communication with relevant agencies and other organizations and will ensure that Council advisory bodies are provided updated information regarding marine planning issues.

Legislative Matters

The Council approved the letter from the Council Coordinating Committee (CCC) on Executive Order (EO) 14008 section 216(a) detailing how the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and its implementation by the Regional Fishery Management Councils conserves and protects fishery and other living marine resources. The Council directed staff to draft a letter to the Secretary of the Interior for the April Briefing Book with additional examples from the Pacific Council. The Council also directed staff to draft a letter to NMFS focusing on Section 216(c) of the EO and describing Pacific Council actions that can help fisheries and protected resources be more resilient to climate change. Finally, the Council directed the Legislative Committee to meet at the April 2021 Council meeting.

Membership Appointments and Council Operating Procedures

The National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) has informed the Council that Sean Stanley, the Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the West Coast Division will be replacing Mr. Killary as OLE’s alternate Enforcement Consultant. West Coast Division Assistant Director Greg Busch will remain as OLE’s primary Enforcement Consultant.

Dr. Michele Zwartjes was appointed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife position on the Groundfish Endangered Species Workgroup formerly held by Ms. Robin Bown.