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Updates
Highly Migratory Species Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee to hold online meeting February 4-5, 2021
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Salmon Technical Team work session February 16-19, 2021
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Salmon Technical Team work session January 19-22, 2021
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Highly Migratory Species Management Team and Advisory Subpanel to hold online meetings January 15, 2021
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Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team to hold online work session February 2-4, 2021
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Pacific Council News Winter 2020: Halibut
Council adopts final changes to 2021 catch sharing plan, annual regulations
In November, the Council adopted final changes to the 2021 Halibut Catch Sharing Plan and annual fishing regulations consistent with the recommendations provided by California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, including the recommendation allowing use of longleader gear for groundfish on the same trip during all-depth halibut fishing in Oregon.
The season end date for the California recreational halibut fishery was extended by two weeks and will now be November 15 or until the quota is reached. The dates for the Washington recreational halibut fishery were set as following for Marine Areas 1 through 6:
Marine Areas 6 – 10:
- April 22 through May 22, three days per week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
- Memorial Day weekend, open Friday through Sunday, May 28, 29, and 30
- June 3 through June 26, three days per week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Marine Area 5:
- May 6 through May 22, two days per week, Thursday, and Saturday
- Memorial Day weekend, open Friday through Sunday, May 28, 29, and 30
- June 3 through June 26, three days per week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Marine Areas 3 and 4:
- May 6 through May 22, two days per week, Thursday and Saturday
- Memorial Day weekend, open Friday and Sunday, May 28 and 30
- June 3 through June 26, two days per week, Thursday and Saturday
Marine Area 2:
- May 6 through May 23, two days per week, Thursday and Sunday
- Memorial Day weekend, open Thursday, May 27
- If sufficient quota remains, open June 17, 20, 24, 27
Marine Area 1:
- May 6 through May 23, two days per week, Thursday and Sunday
- Memorial Day weekend, open Thursday, May 27
- June 3 through June 27, open two days per week, Thursday and Sunday
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) removed the Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Areas (YRCA) and the Westport Offshore YRCA for the South Coast Subareas, consistent with the groundfish regulation. WDFW will also allow the retention of yellowtail rockfish, widow rockfish, canary rockfish, redstriped rockfish, greenstriped rockfish, silvergray rockfish, chilipepper, bocaccio, and blue/deacon rockfish, Pacific cod, flatfish species, and lingcod north of the Washington-Oregon border on all-depth halibut days for the Columbia River Subarea, consistent with regulations to the north.
Transition of Area 2A halibut management continues
Since November 2019, the Council has worked to transfer permitting and management of the non-Indian commercial directed halibut fishery from the International Pacific Halibut Commission to the Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). This November, the Council adopted final alternatives from an updated range of alternatives.
The alternatives focus on when the Council will consider changes to the fishery (i.e., setting vessel limits and season dates) and to whom and how NMFS will issue permits. Supporting analysis for this action will continue to be developed over the next year. The Council’s intent is to implement the directed fishery management framework in 2022 or 2023.
The final alternatives are:
- Consider the directed fishery framework during the Catch Sharing Plan process in September and November; including any guidance for vessel limits and inseason changes for NMFS implementation. (4.1.2 Alternative 2)
- Issue permits for all Area 2A halibut fisheries: commercial directed, incidental salmon troll, incidental sablefish, and recreational charter halibut fisheries. (4.2.1 Alternative 2)
- Allow NMFS to determine the appropriate application deadlines for all commercial halibut applications, set to coincide with Council meetings and NMFS processing time. (4.2.2 Alternative 2)
- Require proof of permit to be onboard fishing the vessel and made readily available upon request, regardless of the type of permit (e.g., paper or electronic). NMFS to provide access to permit in a printable format or send paper copy directly to the participant. (4.2.5 Alternative 1, revised status quo).
Council recommends seasons for 2021 commercial halibut
In November, the Council recommended a season structure for the 2021 Area 2A non-tribal directed halibut fishery that includes a 58-hour fishing period beginning at 8 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday in June, and ending at 6 p.m. on the subsequent Thursday. This structure is similar to that used for the first time in 2020.
If sufficient quota remains, a second 58-hour period would be announced beginning on the Tuesday two weeks after the first period, and, if necessary, a third period of up to three fishing days would be allowed starting on the Tuesday four weeks after the first period.
Openings will continue in this manner until November 15 or when the limit for the Area 2A non-treaty directed commercial fishery is taken, whichever comes first. This recommendation will be forwarded to the International Pacific Halibut Commission for consideration at its January 25-29 annual meeting.
Pacific Council News Winter 2020: Highly Migratory Species
Highly migratory species advisory bodies to review options on deep-set buoy gear limited entry program
NMFS briefed the Council on elements of its final preferred alternative for the deep-set buoy gear limited entry program that require clarification, including the qualification criteria for a limited entry permit. The highly migratory species advisory bodies will review options to revise these elements, and the Council will next consider these changes in March 2021.
Council weighs in on Pacific bluefin tuna management
At its November 30-December 4 meeting, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) adopted a new measure that sets a 425 metric ton Pacific bluefin tuna catch limit for the U.S. in 2021. This is a one-year rollover of the current two-year measure. Because the IATTC meeting was conducted online, a more extensive revision of Pacific bluefin catch limits was deferred until 2021 with the hope it can be conducted in person.
In a related action, the Council recommended modifications to the domestic trip limit system for Pacific bluefin tuna fisheries for 2021. The current pre-trip notification requirement would be eliminated, while the requirement that electronic fish tickets be submitted within 24-hours of the landing would be retained.
The Council recommended an initial trip limit of 20 mt. During the first quarter (January 1 – March 31), the catch limit would be reduced to 15 mt when annual landings reached 250 mt. The trip limit would then be reduced to 2 mt when annual landings reached 325 mt.
During the second quarter (April 1 – June 30), the catch limit would be reduced to 15 mt when annual landings reached 275 mt. The trip limit would then be reduced to 2 mt when annual landings reached 350 mt.
During the third quarter (July 1 – September 30), the catch limit would be reduced to 15 mt when annual landings reached 300 mt. The trip limit would then be reduced to 2 mt when annual landings reached 375 mt.
During the fourth quarter (October 1 – December 31), the catch limit would be reduced to 15 mt when annual landings reached 325 mt. The trip limit would then be reduced to 2 mt when annual landings reached 375 mt.
NMFS will now begin the process to publish regulations implementing these trip limits.
Council briefed on status determination criteria for highly migratory stocks
Every two years, the Council reviews the benchmarks (“status determination criteria”) that NMFS uses to determine whether HMS stocks are subject to overfishing or are overfished.
This year, the IATTC scientific staff used a new approach in their latest stock assessments for eastern Pacific Ocean yellowfin and bigeye tuna, which presented challenges for NMFS. The assessments use a probability-based framework, which show stock status in terms of the likelihood that the stock is subject to overfishing or overfished. NMFS must translate these results into discrete status determination criteria benchmarks. As a result, the Scientific and Statistical Committee will work with NMFS and IATTC staff on this task. The results will be reported to the Council in March 2021. Over the longer term, the SSC may recommend standardized methods for identifying stock determination criteria for international stock assessments that use a probabilistic framework.
NMFS reports on hard caps for large-mesh drift gillnet fishery
In November, NMFS reported on hard cap regulations for the California large-mesh drift gillnet fishery. NMFS explained its process for reviewing the Council’s original proposal, described how the Council could modify these regulations to lessen their economic impact, and summarized public comment NMFS received on the regulations before they were issued.
The Council tasked the HMS advisory bodies with developing options for clarifying the purpose and need statement for the Council’s hard caps action, and developing alternative approaches to address NMFS’ concerns about negative economic impacts. Any alternatives must still meet the Council’s goal of encouraging fishing behavior that minimizes bycatch. This topic is set for Council discussion in June 2021.
Pacific Council News Winter 2020: Groundfish
Council directs analysis to focus on gear switching impacts
The Council wants to better understand the impacts of limiting gear switching (the use of fixed gear in the trawl individual fishing quota fishery) in order to help identify the maximum level of gear switching that should be allowed. In November, the Council directed analysts to report on this issue.
Some members of industry have long-standing concerns about the impacts of gear switching on trawlers’ ability to harvest the full trawl quota. Specifically, there is concern that if gear switchers use sablefish quota pounds, those quota pounds would not be available to trawlers, who need them to catch other stocks that are intermixed with sablefish.
The Council is tentatively scheduled to discuss gear switching maximum levels in April 2021 before selecting a range of alternatives in June 2021.
NMFS to modify cost recovery regulations
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) intends to modify cost recovery regulations to specify that cost recovery from the at-sea fleet is based on whiting catch only, rather than on all species delivered. The Council will make a final recommendation on this change in April 2021.
On a related note, next March the Council will consider whether to prioritize reconstituting its Cost Recovery Committee. The Committee would work with NMFS to evaluate how the trawl catch share cost recovery program was conducted.
NMFS reports on seabird bycatch
NMFS reported on seabird bycatch in November, summarizing interactions between U.S. West Coast fisheries and seabirds and presenting estimates of fleet-wide bycatch for seabirds for the years 2002-2018.
The report covers lethal and non-lethal interactions, as well as sightings, for six fisheries using hook-and-line gear, eight fisheries using trawl gear, and five fisheries using pot gear.
The Pacific halibut fishery had relatively high black-footed albatross bycatch, and the California ridgeback prawn fishery had relatively high bycatch of Brandt’s cormorant compared to other fisheries. No birds were observed as bycatch in the California sea cucumber fishery.
A total of 47 bird species interacted with, or were sighted in, these fisheries over the 2002- 2018 period, up from 41 in the last report in 2018. Thirteen of these species are considered endangered, threatened, vulnerable, or near threatened.
All three north Pacific albatross species interact with these fisheries: black-footed, Laysan, and the Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed short-tailed albatross. To date, only one short-tailed albatross has been observed taken by these fisheries, and the estimated mortality is generally less than 1 individual per year. However, black-footed albatross are caught annually in a number of fisheries, primarily hook-and-line. Laysan albatross have occasionally been taken by fisheries reported here, but the mortalities are few and infrequent.
The report did not cover recreational and tribal fisheries.
Council considers inseason adjustments, whiting set-asides
At its November meeting, the Council considered inseason adjustments for 2020 and 2021 groundfish fisheries and 2021 Pacific whiting set-asides for research and pink shrimp fisheries. The Council did not recommend inseason changes for the remainder of 2020, but did adopt the following adjustments for 2021 (as detailed in the Groundfish Management Team (GMT) report):
- Sablefish north of 36° North latitude (N. lat.) daily-trip-limit (DTL): no changes to the limited entry fixed gear fishery. For open access, limits were changed to 600 lbs. per day, or 1 landing per week of up to 2,000 lbs., not to exceed 4,000 lbs per 2 months.
- Sablefish south of 36° N. lat. DTL: the limited entry fixed gear limit was changed to 2,500 lbs per week. The open access limit was changed to 2,000 lbs. per week, not to exceed 6,000 lbs. per 2 months.
- Lingcod south of 40° 10′ N. lat. trip limits in 2021: limited entry fixed gear was changed to 1,600 lbs. per 2 months. Open access was changed to 700 lbs. per month.
- Shortspine and longspine thornyhead south of 34° 27′ N. lat. in 2021: the open access DTL was changed to 100 lbs. per day and not more than 1,000 lbs. per 2 months.
Each November, the Council reviews incidental catch of Pacific whiting in research activities and in the pink shrimp fishery. This information is used to set the following year’s set-aside. The Groundfish Advisory Subpanel and the GMT both said the set-aside for 2021 could be reduced due to the low incidental catch in these fisheries over the last five years. The Council subsequently recommended reducing the 2021 Pacific whiting set-aside from 1,500 mt to 750 mt.
The GMT reported on the catch to date of yelloweye and shortbelly rockfish. As of November, the incidental catch of yelloweye and shortbelly rockfish were both well below their limits. See further details on the recent groundfish catch here.
Assessment team looks at climate impacts on sablefish
The Pacific Sablefish Transboundary Assessment Team, which includes scientists from the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, is developing a management strategy evaluation (MSE) framework for Northeast Pacific sablefish. The project focuses on modeling climate-driven recruitment given future climate impacts and how harvest control rules driven by regional assessments may affect long-term stock status.
In November, Dr. Melissa Haltuch (NWFSC, Scientific and Statistical Committee) and Maia Kaptur (University of Washington) briefed the Council on the project. The Council recommended a workshop in the spring of 2021 to engage West Coast stakeholders to explore alternative management strategies and performance metrics to be analyzed in the MSE. The Council recommended an additional workshop to engage stakeholders from all the jurisdictions that manage sablefish from Alaska, British Columbia, and the West Coast to better understand how regional management strategies affect the stock throughout its range.
Length-based assessment methods endorsed
The Council adopted the length-based assessment methods endorsed by the Scientific and Statistical Committee. These methods are anticipated to be used to assess spiny dogfish, copper rockfish, quillback rockfish, and squarespot rockfish in 2021.
Pacific Council News Winter 2020: Salmon
2021 preseason salmon management schedule set
The Council approved the 2021 salmon management schedule in November. All meetings and hearings are expected to be conducted online. A summary of the schedule is provided below.
Jan. 19-22, 2021: The Salmon Technical Team (STT) meets to draft Review of 2020 Ocean Salmon Fisheries. (Available mid-February)
Feb. 16-19: STT meets to complete Preseason Report I: Stock Abundance Analysis and Environmental Assessment Part 1 for 2021 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations. (Available early March)
Feb. 20 – Mar. 4: State and tribal agencies hold constituent meetings to review preseason abundance projections and range of probable fishery options.
Mar. 2-5 & 8-11: The Council adopts 2021 regulatory management measure alternatives for public review and addresses inseason action for fisheries opening before May 16.
Mar. 11-20: The STT completes Preseason Report II: Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2021 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations (available late March).
Mar. 11-31: Management agencies, tribes, and the public develop their final recommendations for the regulatory alternatives. North of Cape Falcon Forum meetings are held between the March and April Council meetings.
Mar. 22: Preseason Report II is posted on the Council website.
Mar. 23-24: Tentative dates of public hearings to review the Council’s proposed regulatory options are: Washington (Tuesday, March 23); California (Tuesday, March 23); and Oregon (Wednesday, March 24). Meetings will be held online. Comments on the alternatives will also be taken during the April 6-15 Council meeting.
Apr. 6-15: The Council adopts final 2021 regulatory management measures.
Apr. 15-21: The STT completes Preseason Report III: Council Adopted Management Measures and Environmental Assessment Part 3 for 2021 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations (published by April 22).
May 16: NMFS implements Federal ocean salmon fishing regulations.
Council adopts preferred alternative to address salmon fishery’s effect on Southern Resident killer whales
In November, the Council adopted a final preferred alternative to address the effect of Council-area ocean salmon fisheries on the Chinook salmon prey base of Southern Resident Killer Whales.
The Council adopted a threshold of 966,000 Chinook, which would trigger action in the preseason process. This number is the mean of the seven lowest years of Chinook salmon abundance (before fishing) in the area North of Cape Falcon. When a year’s preseason abundance projection falls below this threshold, the following management actions will be taken:
- Quotas for non-treaty fisheries north of Cape Falcon will be reduced on a sliding scale based on Chinook abundance.
- No more than 50 percent of the non-treaty commercial troll Chinook salmon quota north of Cape Falcon will be assigned to the spring (May-June) period.
- An expanded area of the Columbia River control zone will be closed to salmon retention from the start of non-treaty ocean salmon fisheries until June 15.
- The Grays Harbor control zone will be closed to salmon retention from the start of non-treaty ocean salmon fisheries until June 15.
- The start of the commercial troll fishery between Cape Falcon and the Oregon/California border will be delayed until April 1.
- The Oregon and California waters of the Klamath Management Zone (KMZ) will be closed to commercial and recreational salmon fisheries from October 1 through March 31 of the following year.
- An expanded KMZ area will be closed to salmon retention from September 1 through March 31 of the following year. (Typically the Klamath Control Zone, an area near the mouth of Klamath River, is closed to fishing during the month of August).
- Commercial and recreational salmon fisheries in the Monterey management area will be closed from October 1 through March 31 of the following year.
The Council was in favor of reevaluating conservation objectives for Sacramento River fall Chinook and Klamath River fall Chinook and developing an age-structured stock assessment for Sacramento River fall Chinook, when sufficient data becomes available.
The Council’s preferred alternatives will be forwarded to NMFS for review and approval with the goal of implementing this new management approach in 2021.
NMFS continues to work toward control rule for coho stocks
The Council’s Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho ad hoc workgroup is making progress on a new harvest control rule for SONCC coho stocks, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. In November, the Council reviewed a summary of available data, a description of proposed risk assessment methods, and a review of a preliminary range of harvest control rules. The Council commended these efforts and asked that future work consider environmental variables as harvest control rules are further developed. The Council is scheduled to adopt a range of alternatives at its April 2021 meeting.