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A. Call to Order | B. Open Comment Period | C. Habitat | D. Ecosystem-based Management | E. Coastal Pelagic Species Management | F. Groundfish Management | G. Administrative Matters | H. Salmon Management | I. Pacific Halibut Management | J. Highly Migratory Species Management | Ancillaries, Info Reports, Gen Info
In March, the Council received an update on individual fishing quota fixed-gear and bottom trawl exempted fishing permit (EFP) activity.
The Council extended the expiration date of the electronic monitoring EFPs for the bottom trawl, non-whiting mid-water trawl, whiting mid-water trawl, and fixed gear catch share fisheries through 2018. The EFPs were to end when fleetwide regulations were put in place. This was expected for whiting midwater trawl fisheries and fixed gear fisheries in the spring of 2018.
In April, the Council modified their final preferred alternative for electronic monitoring for the fixed-gear fishery:
The Council also recommended the following changes based on Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Advisory Committee (GEMPAC) recommendations:
The Council recommended maintaining the proposed three-year record retention requirement but specified that it be reviewed before transitioning to third-party video reviewers, in order to reduce the time required for electronic monitoring providers to retain records.
Finally, the Council deemed the draft regulations as meeting the intent of the whiting final preferred alternative (see November 2015 Decision Summary for whiting electronic monitoring final preferred alternatives) and for the fixed gear fishery, with the expectation that NMFS would incorporate the final preferred alternatives and other Council recommendations. NMFS’s proposed rule for whiting and fixed gear fisheries was available on Oct 6, 2016.
The Council meeting proposed agendas, agenda item situation summaries, and attachments, for the September 2015 Council Meeting are found below. Committee and advisory body memos and agendas are also posted to this webpage.
PFMC