Pacific Council News Fall 2020: Groundfish

A commercial fisherman fishing for sablefish.
Fishing for sablefish. Shutterstock/Photomatz

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 the Alaska sablefish fishery, where the COVID-19 pandemic affected observer coverage, required crew quarantines, and caused delays to the sablefish fishery. As a result, fishery participants were unable to return to the West Coast in time to fish in the same timeframe as they had in the past. This meant it was unlikely that they would attain their sablefish tier limits and could incur unsustainable economic losses. 

This issue met NMFS’ criteria for an emergency rule. Thus, based on comment from the GAP and stakeholder support, the Council recommended extending the sablefish tier fishery to provide the opportunity for tier vessels to attain their limits. 

The emergency action allows incidental Pacific halibut landings through noon local time on November 15 at a ratio of 250 lbs Pacific halibut to 1,000 lbs sablefish, with up to two additional Pacific halibut in excess of the ratio. This halibut landing period depends on it not interfering with inseason adjustments.

Council develops gear switching alternatives

The Council plans to consider modifying regulations on the use of fixed gear in the trawl individual fishing quota fishery (also known as gear switching). The alternatives being considered would limit gear switching for sablefish north of 36o N. lat.  In September, the Council adopted a purpose and need statement for this process.

There has been long-standing concern by some members of industry about the possible impact of gear switching on trawl allocation attainment (the ability of trawlers to harvest their full quota). Sablefish co-occur with most other fish that are harvested by trawlers, so the limit on sablefish also limits trawlers’ ability to catch other stocks. In particular, the Council is exploring whether the use of sablefish quota pounds by gear switchers is reducing the availability of sablefish quota pounds for trawlers who need sablefish for trips that harvest other species with which sablefish co-occur.  The Sablefish Area Management and Trawl Allocation Attainment Committee (SaMTAAC) was appointed in 2018 to advise the Council on the issue. 

The SaMTAAC provided a final report in June that included a “no action” alternative along with three action alternatives that would limit catch of northern sablefish while gear switching.

Of the action alternatives, one is based on issuing gear-specific northern sablefish quota pounds (trawl-only and unrestricted). A second action alternative is based on providing all trawl permitted vessels with an opportunity to do at least a small amount of gear switching and providing larger opportunities for permits with a to-be-determined amount of gear switching history.  Those permits would be issued gear switching endorsements.  The third alternative would allow all vessels actively using trawl gear to land up to 1 percent of the quota pounds using a nontrawl gear and a permit-based exemption to that requirement for vessels with a certain level of past gear switching.   

The total amount of gear switching expected under each alternative would vary depending on several factors in each alternative, such as qualifying requirements and gear switching limits. 

Groundfish management priorities set

In September the Council reviewed a list of proposed groundfish management measures

After hearing from the Groundfish Management Team and the Groundfish Advisory Subpanel, the Council revised the list of proposals it had prioritized last June (including mothership utilization, trawl/non-trawl Amendment 21 allocations, non-trawl rockfish conservation area modifications, and moving the Emley/Platt exempted fishing permit into regulation). The Council removed trawl/non-trawl Amendment 21 allocations from this list, noting that these allocations may be addressed in the next biennial management process. Gear switching and the limited entry fixed-gear permit stacking program review were added to the high priority list. 

On mothership utilization, the Council adopted a purpose and need statement for public review, and will continue to scope the GAP’s first four issues, related to the whiting season start date (which could affect all whiting sectors), processor obligation deadline, mothership processor cap, and mothership/catcher-processor permit transfers, for the area north of 42° N. latitude. 

The Council delayed consideration of at-sea processing south of 42° due to its potential impact on salmonids and other managed species. Instead, this issue may be explored through an exempted fishing permit as part of the 2023-2024 biennial management process.

Visual survey methods for nearshore groundfish adopted

The California and Oregon Departments of Fish and Wildlife proposed, and the Council adopted, visual survey methods for nearshore groundfish stocks using remotely operated vehicles. The methods were endorsed by the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), and recommendations from the SSC and the Methodology Review Panel include a future workshop on standardizing survey techniques and analyses coastwide.  The SSC did not endorse the proposed length-based assessment methods pending further analysis and review.  The subsequent review of these methods by the SSC’s Groundfish Subcommittee is scheduled to occur on October 23 in time for consideration by the SSC and the Council at the Council’s virtual November meeting.

Inseason adjustments

The Council adopted inseason adjustments to increase sablefish daily trip limits for limited entry fixed gear (LEFG) and open access fisheries north of 36° N. lat., and to increase incidental Pacific halibut in the primary tier sablefish fishery north of Pt. Chehalis as follows:

  • increase the sablefish daily trip limit for the LEFG fishery north of 36° N. lat to 2,500 lbs./week, not to exceed 7,500 lbs./2 months 
  • increase the sablefish daily trip limit for the open access fishery north of 36° N. lat to 600 lbs./day, or one landing per week up to 2,000 lbs., not to exceed 4,000 lbs/ 2 months
  • increase retention amounts of incidental Pacific halibut in the primary tier sablefish fishery north of Point Chehalis, WA  from 200 to 250 lbs. of Pacific halibut per 1,000 lbs. of sablefish, and maintain the limit of up to two additional Pacific halibut in excess of the ratio.

The Council was briefed on errors pertaining to sablefish found by staff during their review of the draft 2021 and 2022 groundfish regulations. The sablefish annual catch limits and apportionment percentage for sablefish south of 36 N. lat. were entered into a set of tables incorrectly. It is important to note that these errors were typographical and did not affect management measure decisions, as analysts completed their work using the correct ACLs. After reviewing the errors, the Council adopted correct sablefish annual catch limits and have forwarded the corrections to NMFS, along with the inseason adjustment recommendations.

Council reviews draft conservation measures for humpback whales

At its September meeting the Council reviewed the draft conservation measures NMFS is considering as they complete work on the biological opinion (BiOp) on the effects of the groundfish fishery on humpback whales. 

The Council offered guidance to NMFS regarding these measures, asking NMFS to identify the degree to which they apply to the sablefish fishery. The Council also asked that NMFS return to the Council when the BiOp is completed and provide an update on its findings and recommendations.

NMFS originally prepared a BiOp on the take of humpback whales in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery in 2012. That BiOp concluded the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery was likely to adversely affect, but not jeopardize the continued existence of, humpback whales.  However, in 2018 NMFS reinitiated Endangered Species Act consultation due to a change in the species listing, and because the groundfish fishery had exceeded its incidental take amount.

Previously, scientists believed that humpback whales were part of one global population. However, after much research, they determined the species is actually composed of fourteen distinct population groups. Three of these segments occur on the West Coast:  Mexico, Central America, and Hawaii – and of these three, one is considered threatened (Mexico) and one endangered (Central America). 

In addition to the new population status, there have been two documented takes of humpback whales in the groundfish fishery since 2012. One occurred in the limited entry fixed gear sablefish pot sector in 2014, and one in the open access fixed gear sablefish pot fishery in 2016. The take amounts are specifically listed in BiOps, and if exceeded, can trigger Agency action. In this case, NMFS determined the groundfish fishery exceeded the take amounts for this species and responded by reinitiating consultation.  NMFS is considering a suite of new conservation measures in addition to the current measures. These measures include fishing gear marking, a fixed gear logbook, and testing modifications to fishing gear.  NMFS will update the Council on its final recommendations when the new BiOp is completed.  At that time, the Council will discuss what actions may be needed to comply with the new BiOp.

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Pacific Council News Fall 2020

About 20 men and one woman sit around a table in the 1970s
The Pacific Fishery Management Council in 1976

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 guy with the loudest point, or the squeakiest wheel, got the attention. We had Charlie Fullerton for chairman. He was a California Fish and Game and he went to NMFS – he was the head of the SW Region for NMFS – and then he retired. 

I wound up with MAFAC (Marine Area Fisheries Advisory Committee). I did 9 years on MAFAC, seven years as chairman. I got to travel all over the United States. And then I got the IATTC (Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission) job, as a commissioner, and got to travel around the world on the tuna issues. So I’ve been doing this for a long time. 

I was on the GAP for many years until I got on the Council. All that time on the GAP, when I was chairman, the idea of the MSA [Magnuson-Stevens Act] was so fishermen and industry had a voice. 

The MSA was truly a deal to get industry involved – people couldn’t go to D.C. like they do now. In the very beginning they didn’t, couldn’t. So that’s when the Council process was set up to do. 

I spent, I don’t know how many months in Portland, Oregon every week [when] we were working on the first groundfish stuff. We worked out of a hotel there in downtown Portland for – oh, God, forever, trying to get that done. Pete Leipzig and myself and four or five other guys and the attorney. Nobody had cell phones then, that was way before any of that stuff. Doug Ancona was the attorney for us. At the end of the day he’d come back and say “you can’t do any of that!” So we’d have to start all over again.

When MSA started we were basically doing salmon 98% percent of the time and a little bit of groundfish. And that was it. Now we have habitat, we have HMS, we have CPS,  you name it. We only had salmon for a long, long time. Now we’ve got so dang many things going on I don’t know how you guys keep track of what’s going on. 

There were a lot of characters in those days. And I had some characters in the GAP all the years I ran that – industry is all that’s in there, and you get some characters in there. One of the roughest guys we had in there was in one of the first joint venture fisheries.  He fished joint venture with the Russians. He got paid off in rubles… He was quite a character. I think any fishery that started up, he was involved. He would come to the GAP meetings, and he was on oxygen at the time. He had the tubes up his nose, and he’d reach down and pull out a cigarette. And I said, “Hey, you’re gonna blow the whole room up in here.” And he said “I’ll do whatever I want to do,” and he showed me his gun at the same time. He packed a gun. He was wild, wild west. 

[People used to compromise more.] We don’t see that any more. People get a position, they hold it, and they don’t get off it. Nothing gets done on a lot of things. Everybody used to compromise. You can get things done if you all work together. You can’t get things done if the other guy won’t move an inch.

I got stuck on the Klamath Fishery Management Council when I was chair of the Council. That was a learning curve I never wanted to learn. They did NOT move there. We sat there for days at a time, just trying to get half a percent out of somebody, and nobody’s gonna give. But that’s no different than being on the tuna commission. ’Cause you have to reach a consensus. It’s all consensus. And whatever we come up with, nobody else wants anyway. I was in Guatemala for a week for an IATTC meeting up in the mountains – beautiful place, but China would not sit at the table with Chinese Taipei there. They don’t recognize Chinese Taipei as a country. So we sat there a whole week, trying to figure out how it was gonna get – nothing got done. We just came home. 

My years as chairman of MAFAC, that was interesting, working with Rollie Schmitten. Rollie sent me to the Gulf Council, the North Pacific Council, Hawaii. I got to see how all the Councils operate. And it was really, really eye opening. I think this is the best-run council in the whole bunch, the Pacific Council. It was interesting getting to go around and see how they all operate. And then go back and tell the people back east how it works.

Four circular floating nets used for aquaculture in the ocean
An industrial ocean net pen operation

Council makes recommendations on Executive Order 13921: Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth

On May 7, the President signed Executive Order 13921, Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth.  The Order focuses on the importance of seafood; combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; removing regulatory burdens; and streamlining aquaculture permitting. It implements the Port State Measures agreement and other measures to combat IUU fishing, and makes NOAA the lead on certain aquaculture projects. 

The Order requests that each Council submit a prioritized list of actions by November 2 to reduce burdens on domestic fishing and to increase production within sustainable fisheries. The Pacific Council’s list, determined in September, includes modifying the non-trawl rockfish conservation areas by reducing the areas, adjusting troll incidental landing limits, and allowing use of midwater jig gear; and increasing utilization in the whiting mothership sector. The Council will also request that the Secretary of Commerce work with the Department of Interior to modify U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rules to reclassify sea urchins and squid as shellfish.

Additionally, the Council identified several crucial funding needs: ongoing survey work needed for groundfish and coastal pelagic species stock assessments, increased funding for creel surveys and biological sampling of ocean salmon fisheries, and funding for electronic monitoring. 

The Order calls for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (working with other agencies) to propose nationwide permits for finfish aquaculture, seaweed aquaculture, and combined aquaculture (finfish and seaweed) projects; and calls for Federal agencies including Councils to identify at least two “Aquaculture Opportunity Areas” (AOAs) that are suitable for commercial aquaculture every year for five years. A programmatic environmental impact statement will then identify suitable species, gear, and reporting requirements for those locations. Public input will be solicited at several points during the process.

Diane Windham of NOAA’s Aquaculture Program briefed the Habitat Committee on the selection of two AOAs in Federal waters. These areas are described as areas having high potential for commercial aquaculture. NOAA selected Southern California and the Gulf of Mexico for further evaluation based on existing spatial information and industry interests. Specific locations and spatial configurations will be determined through public processes involving stakeholders and government bodies. 

The Council will request NMFS conduct an essential fish habitat consultation on the AOAs early in the process, as part of the programmatic environmental impact statement, and will emphasize the importance of communication and coordination between Federal and state processes in regard to AOAs. Part of the consideration AOAs should include is a review of fishing regulations and fishery patterns with respect to siting aquaculture projects. Any public comment periods on AOA, specific proposed sites, or environmental review documents should include dates that overlap a scheduled meeting of the Pacific Council.

Crab trap thieves await trial

(From ODFW)

NEWPORT, Ore.—Two men caught setting stolen crab traps in Cape Falcon Marine Reserve of the North Oregon coast await trial following a joint effort of citizen reporting and solid detective work.

Bob Browning has fished Oregon waters all his life. He started fishing off the Garibaldi dock with his family when he was five years old. When he saw a strange object bobbing on the ocean surface, he pointed it out to his client, Dr. Sarah Henkel. Henkel, a researcher with the Oregon State University Marine Program, was collecting data for her latest project: The feeding ecology of Dungeness crab in a reef area. She had hired Browning and The Lady Lee on April 3, 2019 to take her out to the Cape Falcon Marine Reserve for the research project.

Henkel squinted to get a better look. It wasn’t a bird. Even through binoculars, neither the researcher nor the boat captain could identify the small black thing bobbing on the water’s surface.  It definitely didn’t look like the bright orange and white surface buoys that marked her research beacons. Browning steered The Lady Lee in for a closer look.

Browning reached down and pulled at the object. It was a black bait bag, about the size of his fist. Inside were two pieces of foam to keep it afloat. But when he tried to pick it up, there was resistance. And a long cord. Browning threaded the rope through his hydraulic lift and started the motor. When a crab pot broke the surface of the water, they knew there was trouble. The line continued. Another crab pot rose from the depths. They reached for their phones to report it.

The investigation

Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Sergeant Todd Thompson was on shift that day and took the call. He instructed them to pull the string of crab pots and bring them to the dock. The nearly invisible float marked a string of 19 pots, all with crabs in them. Even in areas where crabbing is legal, each pot must have a surface marker. But these were secretly placed in the center of the 12-square mile marine reserve, where commercial fishing is strictly prohibited.

Trooper Jim O’Connor was surprised when he saw the string of crab pots on the dock that afternoon. And for good reason. Commercial crabbers generally paint all their pots the same color. These pots were a variety of colors.

“It looked like a rainbow of crab pots sitting on the dock,” he said, “They were all different colors.”

Not only were the pots different colors, but they were set with a variety of bait styles—another deviation from commercial crabbers, who set all their traps the same way. Trooper O’Connor concluded that the pots were stolen property and began investigating recent reports of stolen crab pots. One by one commercial crabbers stopped by the OSP office to identify and claim their gear.

“All in all we had seven different commercial crabbers between Astoria and Newport whose stolen pots showed up in this string,” he said. “We found eight pots that had been stolen from the same person.”

Everyone thought that would be the end of it. The poacher and thief would surely never claim the pots, and likely not set gear in that area again. Still, Trooper O’Connor started tracking boats traveling in and near the marine reserve. He took notes and paid attention. Then he began an official investigation.

Marine reserves protect habitat from human influence and create a place for marine life to grow and mature, according to ODFW Marine Reserves Program Leader Cristen Don. With little fishing pressure, ecosystems have an opportunity to regenerate.

“Greater populations mean greater opportunities to encounter fish and other marine life on Oregon waters,” she said.

A break in the case

In May of 2019, Browning received a call from a buddy on another boat.

“You won’t believe what just happened,” he said to Browning, “I’m going through the marine reserve, and I ran over a line attached to two strings of crab pots!” Browning asked for the location. It matched where he and Dr. Henkel had been the month before.

Browning reacted quickly. “Don’t say another word,” he told his friend. “I’ll be right there. Don’t go anywhere and don’t tell anyone.”

Browning immediately called the Turn In Poachers (TIP) Line. He reported what his friend found, then started his boat and headed out to the reserve. Senior Trooper Dave Herman, Trooper O’Connor and a member of the Coast Guard were close behind him aboard an OSP small boat.

When they arrived, O’Connor pulled up several crab pots. He removed a few legal-sized crabs from each, discreetly marked them, then placed them back in the pots. They lowered the traps back into the water, then headed back to shore. The trooper knew he was going to have a long night at the fish processing plant, waiting for the marked crabs to show up. If they showed up.

Several hours later, his patience paid off. The marked crabs came through the processing line, and they knew which boat had dropped them off. It was one of several O’Connor had been tracking around the marine reserve area.

Troopers served several search warrants on the suspect over the following months, which solidified the case. Eventually they tracked him back to the marine reserve.

In August 2020, a Clatsop County Grand Jury indicted Scott Edward Giles, 39, and Travis Richard Westerlund, 34, both of Astoria. Giles, captain of the fishing vessel The Baranof, faces 14 criminal charges including theft, criminal mischief, unlawful take, fishing prohibited methods and fishing prohibited area. The amount of stolen gear in his possession elevates his crimes to a level constituting felony theft. Westerlund, deckhand on The Baranof, faces 12 similar criminal charges.

ODFW Director Curt Melcher describes the operation as a success in preserving fish and marine habitat.

“We and our partners at OSP rely on information from non-enforcement personnel and this incident shows the important role that citizens play in our efforts to protect the resource,” he said. “Moreover, illegal fishing activity negatively impacts participants who are following the rules.”

O’Connor credits the OSU researcher and boat captain with solving this crime.

“We would never have found those crab pots. This is a perfect example of the public working with law enforcement to identify and report a crime,” he said.

Browning is quick to credit the state trooper.

“O’Connor is good at his job,” he said, “I wouldn’t want to be the guy he’s after!”

Appointments

In September, Dr. Phil Levin was appointed to the vacant Washington position on the Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel formerly held by Paul Dye; Glen Spain was appointed to the vacant Commercial Fishery position on the Habitat Committee formerly held by Noah Oppenheim; Amber Rhodes was appointed to the National Marine Fisheries Service West Coast Region position on the Highly Migratory Species Management Team formerly held by Lyle Enriquez; Michael Sawin was appointed to the Washington Charter Boat Operator position on the Salmon Advisory Subpanel formerly held by Butch Smith; and Dr. Fabio Caltabellotta was appointed to the vacant Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife position on the Scientific and Statistical Committee formerly held by Dr. David Sampson. Council Chair Marc Gorelnik replaced Phil Anderson on the Budget Committee, and appointed Corey Niles to the WDFW position on the Budget Committee and Phil Anderson to the Legislative Committee.

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Pacific Council News Fall 2020: Habitat, ecosystem, and related stories

A scientist reaches out to a large array of sensors hanging off a boat.
CTD sensors check the conductivity, temperature, and density of saltwater. (Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife)

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 a broad array of stakeholders, the CCCT developed four scenarios, describing oceanographic, social, and ecological conditions in the California Current Ecosystem 20 years into the future. 

The Council endorsed the Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel recommendation that the document include a stand-alone preface describing the background and intent of the scenario planning exercise.  

The next stage of the exercise will involve a series of workshops exploring the implications and actions that could follow from the scenarios. The scenario descriptions will be the primary source material for these workshops. The Council recommended  conducting these workshops online over the coming months, while recognizing the limitations of online meetings. A final report on workshop outcomes is planned for March 2021.

Habitat Report

Habitat factors in salmon rebuilding plans 

The Habitat Committee (HC) has been reviewing habitat-related factors that contributed to the overfishing status of Sacramento River fall Chinook and Klamath fall Chinook. Working with the Science Centers and Salmon Technical Team (STT), the HC identified 27 indicators that help explain impacts to each salmon life stage between 2012 and 2020 for Sacramento River fall Chinook. Each indicator will be ranked using a stoplight approach (poor, average, good) for its level of contribution to the life stage impact. The HC will continue this work, and plans to develop a similar approach for Klamath River fall Chinook. 

Finfish aquaculture in California 

The HC continues to track aquaculture permitting off San Diego. In September, NOAA issued a Notice of Intent to prepare a draft environmental impact statement for finfish aquaculture in Federal waters off the coast of San Diego by Pacific Ocean Aquafarms (formerly Rose Canyon Fisheries). A site off of Long Beach is also under consideration for the project. Public hearings are scheduled for October 14 and 16, and the comment period closes October 26. Learn about how to participate here.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife proposes changing critical habitat regulations

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is proposing to amend their regulations related to designating critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA makes it clear that biological considerations drive the initial step of identifying critical habitat, but it also allows the Secretary of the Interior to exclude any area from a critical habitat designation if the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion, so long as excluding it will not result in the extinction of a species. 

This proposed rule provides a framework for how the USFWS would consider the economic, national security, and other relevant impacts when designating critical habitat. 

Previously, Federal lands were not typically excluded from critical habitat designations; this proposal reverses that position, and identifies avoiding administrative costs as a benefit of exclusion. It also establishes a policy that when the benefits of exclusion outweigh benefits of inclusion, those areas shall be excluded (rather than may be excluded, which is the default position).

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requirement shakes up Klamath dam removal process

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is requiring PacifiCorp (the owner/licensee of the four lower Klamath Dams) to remain a “co-licensee” of the dams as they are removed. In response, PacifiCorp has indicated that removing the dams will require more negotiations beyond the Klamath Hydropower Settlement Agreement. 

Discussions between the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, PacifiCorp, and others around liability and indemnification are underway. 

Feds propose cuts to Central Valley Project Improvement Act Restoration Fund 

The Bureau of Reclamation is proposing sweeping changes to the Central Valley Project Improvement Act Restoration Fund. In particular, Reclamation proposes at least a $10 million/year reduction in the fund, which would have far-reaching impacts to Central Valley fish habitat and Council-managed stocks, and could reduce Reclamation’s ability to achieve its restoration goals. 

Reclamation is currently evaluating its options. There may be an opportunity for Council comment in the future.  

California proposes revised Delta Tunnel plan

The State of California is proposing a revised Delta tunnel project with intakes below Sacramento. California is looking at various configuration options, including a new pumping facility or conveyance of water to existing pumps. 

The project would move between 3000 and 7500 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water. For comparison, the April flushing flows for the Klamath River this year were 6000 cfs. The project is likely to significantly reduce water quality above the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which is important migratory and rearing habitat for Sacramento River salmon. The Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a National Environmental Policy Act analysis for the proposed project. Comments are due October 20; see this page for information on how to comment. The Council will be sending a comment letter that will be posted on the Council website by the end of October.

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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.

For further information, please contact the following NMFS Staff member:

  • Jaclyn Taylor, Office of Protected Resources, 301–427–8402
  • Allison Rosner, Greater Atlantic Region, 978–281–9328
  • Jessica Powell, Southeast Region, 727–824– 5312
  • Dan Lawson, West Coast Region, 562–980–3209
  • Suzie Teerlink, Alaska Region, 907– 586–7240
  • Diana Kramer, Pacific Islands Region, 808–725–5167
  • Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the hearing impaired may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays

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. 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.

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 webpage.

Ad Hoc Southern Oregon Northern California Coast Coho Workgroup to hold online meeting October 6-7, 2020

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-october-6-7-2020/.