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Pacific Council News Fall 2020: Groundfish
Primary fixed-gear sablefish fishery extended under emergency rule Under an emergency action, NMFS is extending the primary (tier) limited entry fixed-gear sablefish fishery from October 31 to December 31, 2020 in response to requests from the Groundfish Advisory Subpanel, fishing industry, and members of the public. A portion of this sablefish sector also participates in…
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Pacific Council News Fall 2020
An interview with Don Hansen, Part 2: Memories of management Getting into fishery management was interesting. From the second meeting on, I was there, until now. So I’ve been with fishery management for a long, long time. [Those first Council meetings] were different! Believe me, they were different. You sat around a table and the…
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Pacific Council News Fall 2020: Habitat, ecosystem, and related stories
Climate and Communities scenario presented; workshops to follow The Council endorsed the Climate and Communities Core Team’s) final climate scenario document in September. The Council has been conducting a climate change scenario planning exercise for over a year as part of the Fishery Ecosystem Plan Climate and Communities Initiative. At a January workshop that included…
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National Marine Fisheries Service publishes proposed “List of Fisheries” for 2021; requests comments
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) publishes its proposed List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2021, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Comments are due no later than October 21, 2020. Information regarding the LOF may be obtained from the NMFS LOF website. You may also download the Proposed Rule published September 21, 2020.…
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PRELIMINARY DRAFT SEPTEMBER 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.…
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Climate and Communities Core Team to hold online meeting September 29, 2020
The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Climate and Communities Core Team (CCCT) will hold an online meeting, which is open to the public.
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Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team to hold online meeting September 29, 2020
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold an online meeting of its Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) to discuss coastal pelagic species (CPS) stock assessment priorities and other CPS-related topics. This meeting is open to the public. The online meeting will be held Tuesday, September 29, 2020, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific…
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Pre-Meeting Video Briefing for Agenda Item F.2., Fishery Ecosystem Plan Update (September 2020 Council meeting)
Ms. Yvonne deReynier, National Marine Fisheries Service West Coast Region, has provided a pre-recorded video briefing. This video is intended for viewing prior to Agenda Item F.2., Fishery Ecosystem Plan Update. Please watch the video briefing on the Council’s YouTube Channel. Briefing materials for Agenda Item F.2 can be found on the Council’s September 2020…
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Ad Hoc Southern Oregon Northern California Coast Coho Workgroup to hold online meeting October 6-7, 2020
The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Southern Oregon Northern California Coast Coho Workgroup (Workgroup) will hold a two-day online meeting, which is open to the public.
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Proposed rule to delay implementation of the Electronic Monitoring Program for the West Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program
On August 28, 2020 NMFS published a proposed rule that would revise regulations to delay implementation of the Electronic Monitoring (EM) Program for the West Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program. This action would delay implementation of the EM Program to January 1, 2022. NMFS is proposing this change to provide additional time for industry and…
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Ad Hoc Southern Resident Killer Whale Workgroup to hold online meeting September 29-30, 2020
The SRKW concluded their business on 9/29 and will not meet on 9/30 as originally planned.
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September 2020 briefing book supplemental public comment deadline extended to September 2, 2020 at 5 pm Pacific time
The September 2020 briefing book supplemental public comment deadline has been extended to September 2, 2020 at 5 pm Pacific time.
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Funds applied to reduce Pacific Coast groundfish buyback loan
NOAA Fisheries will be applying $5.9 million (allocated by the Office of Management and Budget) to reduce the outstanding principal to the Pacific Coast trawl groundfish buyback loan as of January 14, 2020. This action comes after tireless effort on the part of West Coast groundfish fishery representatives, particularly Heather Mann of the Midwater Trawlers…
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NMFS announces notice of intent to prepare an EIS for HMS exempted fishing permit to fish with longline gear in the West Coast exclusive economic zone; public comment to be accepted by webinar
On August 10, 2020, NMFS announced its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, to analyze the potential short- and long-term impacts of the proposed action to issue an Exempted Fishing Permit, on the human (biological, physical, social, and economic) environment. This notice of intent to…
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SSC Groundfish Subcommittee to hold online meeting September 2, 2020
The Groundfish Subcommittee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold an online meeting to plan a later methodology review of elasmobranch harvest control rules and management reference points.
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Ecosystem Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee to hold online meeting September 4 & 8, 2020
The Ecosystem Subcommittee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council’s) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold an online meeting to review items from the California Current Ecosystem Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Team that may potentially inform future annual reports to the Pacific Council on the state of the California Current Ecosystem. The meeting is…
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Ecosystem Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee to hold online meeting September 4 & 8, 2020
The Ecosystem Subcommittee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council’s) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold an online meeting to review items from the California Current Ecosystem Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Team that may potentially inform future annual reports to the Pacific Council on the state of the California Current Ecosystem. The meeting is…
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Request for nominations for a commercial fishery vacancy on the Habitat Committee
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is requesting nominations of qualified candidates to fill one commercial fishery position on its Habitat Committee (HC). The successful candidate will serve out the remainder of the 2019-2021 Council advisory body term. To ensure consideration, nominations should be received at the Council office no later than 5 p.m. Pacific…
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National Archives and Records Administration notice of availability of proposed records schedules and request for comments (electronic monitoring)
NOAA Fisheries is working with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to establish a new retention schedule for the raw imagery and other data collected by Electronic Monitoring systems. This NOAA Fisheries website provides background information, the proposed rule, the link to the NARA website, and the instructions on how to comment. Public comments are due…
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Ad Hoc Ecosystem Workgroup to hold online meeting August 28, 2020
The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Ad Hoc Ecosystem Workgroup (EWG) will convene an online meeting. This online meeting is open to the public, and will be held Friday, August 28, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time, or until business for the day has been completed. Purpose of the meeting The primary…
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Groundfish Management Team to hold online meeting August 25, 2020
The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold an online meeting to discuss items on the Pacific Council’s September 2020 meeting agenda. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting will be held Tuesday, August 25, 2020, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, or until business…
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Request for nominations for a vacancy on the Salmon Advisory Subpanel representing Washington Charter Operations
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking qualified candidates to consider for a vacant Washington Charter Boat Operator position on its Salmon Advisory Subpanel (SAS). The successful candidate will serve out the remainder of the 2019-2021 Council advisory body term. To ensure consideration, nominations should be received at the Council office no later than…
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West Coast Region Electronic Monitoring (EM) Webinar
PUBLIC NOTICE For Information Contact: NMFS-SEA-20-21 Justin Kavanaugh: Justin.Kavanaugh@noaa.gov (206) 526-4140 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 13, 2020 The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces a webinar on EM program implementation for west coast groundfish. The purpose of this webinar is to review guidance materials for EM service providers, including EM Service Plan Guidelines and the…