Pacific Council News Winter 2020: Features, Legislation, Habitat and Appointments

An Interview with Don Hansen: The whale watching business

A humpback whale calf poking its head out of the water
A humpack whale calf. Photo: Jorge Vasconez/Unsplash

This is the third and last part of our interview with Don Hansen, who has been involved in the Council process since it started in 1976.

A smiling man in a Hawaiian shirt

I started whale watching on the West Coast. Phil Grignon down at San Clemente high school here, had his biology class looking at whales. We had the boats, and he had the kids, so we started whale watching in the early ’50s. We just took school kids in 1950, and then we built up from that where we have a festival of whales every year. [It’s] all up and down the West Coast now, everybody’s whale watching. But we were the first. NOAA’s got rules and regulations on it, but the whales don’t read the rules and regulations. If you shut the boat down, they’ll come up to you if they’re inquisitive at all – and they are very inquisitive. They’ll just come right up to the boat. We’ve had them blow on the kids and everything else.

Once I was following a mother and a calf, at a safe distance, but I got between the calf and the mother. Not intentionally, it just happened. And she turned on me, and flipped her tail and hit the boat. Splashed the people and told me “stay away from my baby.” That was scary. I’d never had that happen. I didn’t intend to separate the two of them, it just happened. The baby came this way and the mother decided she didn’t like it, so she told me to get away. Yes, ma’am. I did. 

You know, going back into whaling. One of the original Council members was [a whaler.] His grandson is on an advisory panel now. Hunter. Gibb Hunter. He was one of the original Council members, and he was a whaler. One of the last whaling boats out of Eureka. 

The schoolkids here in Southern California, San Clemente High School, were part of getting the whale listed as endangered—the gray whale—and then, when they recovered, they were a part of the program to de-list it. When you go on the endangered species list it’s almost impossible to get off the list. But they were part of the listing and part of the delisting. It was quite a program they put together.

There’s a lot more whales, different whales now.  We’re seeing with the ocean conditions changing like they are, we’re seeing lots of blue whales, which are the biggest mammal in the world. We’ve seen those more now than we’ve ever seen them, and there’s more and more humpbacks on the coast here than there used to be. And you’ve got minke whales, and then you have the normal gray whales going up and down the coast. And lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of dolphins. Tons and tons of dolphins. Both common and white-sided. 

And then you get the killer whales down here too, the orcas down here. One of the things they love to eat is sea lions. I’ve been trying to tell them, for years, to come down here. They could feed for months, years—a lifetime down here. Learn how to eat the sea lions.

But the main thing is, we’ve accomplished a lot in these last 50 years. We’ve rebuilt stocks, we’ve brought people together, we’ve done a lot of important things. I really want to thank everyone I’ve worked with over the years, from Bill Fox and Charlie Fullerton years ago to Chris Oliver now at NOAA. And the executive directors all the way back to the beginning, and of course the great Council staff, and everyone else who has contributed through those years. We’ve done some great things. I’m really proud to have been part of this process.

An overview of fishery bills in the 116th Congress

A graph showing how  many bills passed in the 116th Congress.
Status of bills tracked for Council in the 116th Congress (December 10, 2020).

As of December 10, the Council has tracked 105 bills in the 116th Congress relating to West Coast fisheries, habitat, and management. Of these, 48 bills were introduced but went nowhere; 24 were reported by committee but never progressed; 14 passed the House but not the Senate; and five passed the Senate but not the House. 

Fourteen bills were signed into law, or have passed both the House and Senate and are due to be signed in the near future. These include S. 47, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act, which included the WILD Act, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Act, and the Frank and Jeanne Moore Wild Steelhead Special Management Area Designation Act; the Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Sites Improvement Act; the Maritime Security and Fisheries Enforcement Act (as part of the National Defense Authorization Act); the Great American Outdoors Act; America’s Conservation Enhancement Act, which included the National Fish Conservation Through Partnerships Act; a bill to amend the Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act; the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act; the Digital Coast Act; and the National Sea Grant College Amendments Act. On December 10, the Drift Gillnet Modernization Act (S. 906) passed the House, signaling that it will be signed in the near future (see related story below). 

Topics that did not pick up traction in the 116th Congress included Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization, Coronavirus relief for fishing communities, climate change and ocean acidification, coral protection, prohibiting oil drilling off the West Coast, transfering management of anadromous species to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, changing the management of forage fish, addressing fishery disaster declarations, promoting marine energy research, reforming maritime liens, labeling or prohibiting genetically modified salmon, and preventing international trade in shark fins.

Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act sent to President for signature

On December 10, the House passed Senator Diane Feinstein and Representative Ted Lieu’s (both D-CA) Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act, sending it to the President to be signed into law. The bill, which passed the Senate on July 22, extends current California state regulations regarding driftnets to all Federal waters within five years. Meanwhile, the Department of Commerce will be required to conduct a transition program to phase out large-scale driftnet fishing and to promote the adoption of alternative fishing practices.

The Council commented on the bill in September 2019.

Legislative Committee discusses Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act

In November, the Council directed staff to track the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act and any related executive orders issued by the Biden Administration, in preparation for responding to any forthcoming requests for Council comment.

The Ocean Climate Solutions Act was introduced on October 20, 2020. The bill will continue to be shaped in the next Congressional session. The bill incorporates many separate (and often bipartisan) bills that were introduced during the 116th Congress. The sponsors of these bills are familiar to the Council – Roger Wicker, Jared Huffman, Lisa Murkowski, Suzanne Bonamici, Don Young, Marco Rubio, and more. 

The primary issue of interest to the Council is the proposed policy “to prohibit any commercial extractive or destructive human activity and minimize the impact from human activity on 30 percent of the ocean” under U.S. jurisdiction by 2030.

Other sections of the bill focus on Blue Carbon (coastal habitats including mangroves, tidal marshes, kelp forests, and other tidal or saltwater wetlands that have the capacity to sequester atmospheric carbon), offshore energy, climate-ready fisheries, extending the Coastal Barriers Resources Act to the West Coast, amending the Coastal Zone Management Act, strengthening marine mammal conservation, tribal resilience, ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, national ocean policy, data sharing, wetlands restoration, greenhouse gas emissions from shipping, whale strikes, and other topics.

Habitat Report: Offshore wind, aquaculture, salmon and beavers

Aquaculture opportunity areas 

NOAA is soliciting comments on Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) as part of the Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth. The Order directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish ten AOAs nationwide by 2025. The first proposed areas are in the Southern California Bight and the Gulf of Mexico. NOAA plans to identify three to five sub-areas within each AOA for future aquaculture siting. 

After the first two AOAs are identified, two additional AOAs must be identified in each of the following four years until there are a total of ten AOAs. 

The Council is developing a comment letter identifying issues and concerns regarding  siting of the proposed AOA in Southern California. Considerations include valuable fishing grounds, habitat areas of particular concern, Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Areas, and areas prone to hypoxia and harmful algal blooms. 

The public comment deadline is December 22 (see notice in 85 Federal Register 67519 (Oct. 23, 2020)). 

Salmon Rebuilding Plans 

The Habitat Committee (HC) has been examining habitat issues that contributed to the overfishing status for Sacramento fall Chinook and Klamath River fall Chinook. They presented a list of life-stage-specific habitat indicators for Sacramento River fall Chinook, that includes 28 indicators and six life stages. For Sacramento River fall Chinook, data are available from the 1980s to the present. 

Next, the HC will finalize these indicators and develop similar indicators for Klamath River fall Chinook. 

A cute little animal that is definitely not a beaver. (This is a quokka from Australia).
A quokka from Australia. We’re just checking to see if you’re paying attention. Photo: Tobias Fischer/Unsplash

Beaver management 

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recently consulted with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildlife Services on the control of semiaquatic mammals in Washington and Oregon. The consultations were the result of a lawsuit, and include beaver and other aquatic mammals. 

NMFS worked with the USDA to improve understanding of the importance of beavers in maintaining salmon habitat and to document and minimize the scope of lethal beaver removals. 

Under the new program resulting from the consultations, lethal removal of beaver in Washington State is declining. Beaver removals in Oregon are currently paused pending a National Environmental Policy Act analysis. A new NMFS brochure promotes nonlethal beaver management techniques for landowners and resource managers.

Offshore Wind Energy 

Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) recently conducted a webinar on offshore wind, focusing on the state of the science on wind-ocean ecosystem impacts. Since the webinar mainly focused on East Coast issues, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations has asked RODA to do a similar West Coast-focused webinar in the near future. 

Advisory Body appointments 

Oregon Council member Christa Svensson has been appointed as an alternate Commissioner to the Western and Central Pacific Commission (WCPFC), replacing Dorothy Lowman, who will continue to represent the United States as the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) co-chair of the IATTC-WCPFC Northern Committee Joint Working Group on bluefin tuna.

Anna Weinstein was appointed to the conservation position on the Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel formerly held by Gillian Lyons; Gretchen Hanshew and Daniel Studt were appointed to the two National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) West Coast Region positions on the Groundfish Management Team (GMT) formerly held by Abigail Harley and Karen Palmigiano; Katherine Pierson was appointed to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife position formerly held by Patrick Mirick on the GMT;  and Dr. Chantel Wetzel was appointed to the vacant NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center position.

On the Groundfish Endangered Species Workgroup, Scott Benson was appointed to the Sea Turtle Taxa position formerly held by Dr. Tomo Eguchi; and Lynn Mattes was appointed to the vacant Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife position.

On the Ad Hoc Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Committees, Andrew Torres will replace Brian Corrigan as the NMFS Office of Law Enforcement representative on the Technical Advisory Committee, and Mike Orcutt will replace Howard McElderry on the Policy Advisory Committee.

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Ecosystem Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee to hold online meeting January 12, 2021

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Washington submits draft plan to distribute Federal relief funding

Washington State announced on December 8 that it has submitted a draft plan for how to distribute $50 million in Federal relief funding to members of Washington’s commercial seafood, shellfish and charter industries to NOAA Fisheries for review and approval.

Under Section 12005 of the CARES Act, Congress provided $300 million to states to distribute to fisheries participants with Washington and Alaska receiving the highest allocation of $50 million each.

“The pandemic had early and dramatic impacts to shellfish and commercial fishing businesses. These activities play an outsized role in our state, especially in our tribal and natural resources dependent economies,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “I am pleased that we will soon have more assistance available to help these hurting businesses recover.”

“Submitting this plan for federal review brings us one step closer to getting this funding into the hands of commercial fishing and shellfish industry members who need it most,” said Ron Warren, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fish policy director. “We applaud Washington’s congressional delegation for securing this relief for members of Washington’s commercial seafood, shellfish and charter industries.” 

This step follows a three-month effort, led by the Governor’s Office, to develop the plan with assistance from the Washington departments of Fish and Wildlife, Agricultural, Commerce, and the Washington Office of Financial Management. State officials met virtually with commercial fishers, shellfish growers and seafood processors to better understand the consequences of COVID-19 on the industries, coordinating with fisheries managers in neighboring West Coast states as well. The Governor also convened discussions with the 24 treaty tribes to learn about their COVID-19 impacts to subsistence, cultural and ceremonial fisheries.

Under the draft plan, industry members who experienced a gross revenue loss from January through July 2020 greater than 35 percent of their 2015-2019 average would be eligible to apply for Federal relief funding. (Exceptions are available for industry members without a full five-year history). Applicants can choose smaller window periods within the timeframe so long as the period is at least 28 days. Washington-based commercial fishers who fish in Alaska are also eligible.

Money earned from freshwater species and retail sales are excluded. Eligible commercial fishery participants must include all their revenues regardless of whether they landed the fish.

More information and full eligibility details are available here.

Once NOAA Fisheries reviews and approves the plan, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) will send application materials to potentially eligible businesses, which will have 45 days to apply for relief. Following the plan’s approval, information, application materials and instructions will be available on the PSMFC website

WDFW is the primary state agency tasked with preserving, protecting, and perpetuating fish, wildlife, and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing and hunting opportunities.

Ad Hoc Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Policy Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee to meet February 25, 2021

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Ad Hoc Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Policy Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee to meet January 20-21, 2021

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Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Workgroup to host online meeting January 5, 2021

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November 2020 Decision Summary Document

November 13, 16-20, 2020

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.

Habitat Issues

Current Habitat Issues

The Council directed staff to develop a comment letter to the Department of Commerce on its proposal for Aquaculture Opportunity Areas and seek Council approval through the Quick Response procedure.

Pacific Halibut Management

2021 Catch Sharing Plan and Annual Regulations – Final Action

The Council adopted final changes to the 2021 Catch Sharing Plan and annual fishing regulations consistent with the recommendations on recreational fisheries provided by California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, including the recommendation for use of longleader gear on the same trip during all-depth halibut fishing in Oregon.

Transition of Area 2A Fishery Management – Final Action

The Council adopted the following final preferred alternatives, as described in the Updated Range of Alternatives, to transfer management of the Area 2A directed halibut fishery from the International Pacific Halibut Commission to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Council:

4.1.2 Alternative 2: Consider the directed fishery framework during the Catch Sharing Plan process in September and November; include any guidance for vessel limits and inseason changes for NMFS implementation.

4.2.1 Alternative 2: Issue permits for all Area 2A halibut fisheries: commercial-directed, incidental salmon troll, incidental sablefish, and recreational charter halibut fisheries.

4.2.2 Alternative 2: Allow NMFS to determine the appropriate application deadlines for all commercial halibut applications, set to accommodate Council meetings and NMFS processing time.

4.2.5 Alternative 1: Status quo (revised). Require proof of permit to be onboard fishing 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.

Non-Indian Commercial-Directed Fishery Regulations for 2021

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 AM on Tuesday June 22 and ending at 6 PM on Thursday, June 24.  If the halibut limit has not been attained in the first period, an additional 58-hour fishing period will be announced beginning Tuesday, July 6 and ending at 6 PM July 8, two weeks after the first period. Fishing period openings will continue in this manner until the halibut limit for the Area 2A non-treaty directed commercial fishery is taken or November 15, whichever comes first. This recommendation will be forwarded to the International Pacific Halibut Commission for consideration.

 Salmon Management 

2021 Preseason Management Schedule

The Council approved the 2021 salmon management schedule including the tentative dates and locations for public hearings.  However, it is anticipated that all of the meetings and hearings will be conducted by webinar.

Southern Resident Killer Whale Endangered Species Act Consultation – Final Action 

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 the arithmetic mean of the seven lowest years of pre-fishing Chinook salmon abundance in the area North of Cape Falcon (1994-1996, 1998-2000, and 2007, currently estimated at 966,000) as a management threshold.   

When a year’s preseason abundance projection falls below the established threshold, the following management actions will be implemented through annual regulations:

  • Reduce quotas for non-treaty fisheries North of Falcon to not exceed the value generated by a regression analysis of historic time-step 1 Chinook abundance and non-treaty Chinook quotas.
  • No more than 50 percent of the non-treaty commercial troll Chinook salmon quota will be assigned to the spring (May-June) period.
  • Close the expanded area of the Columbia River control zone as described to salmon retention from the start of non-treaty ocean salmon fisheries until June 15.
  • Close the Grays Harbor control zone to salmon retention from the start of non-treaty ocean salmon fisheries until June 15.
  • Delay the start of the commercial troll fishery between Cape Falcon and the Oregon/California border until April 1.
  • Close the Oregon and California waters of the Klamath Management Zone to commercial and recreational salmon fisheries from October 1 through March 31 of the following year.
  • Increase the duration of the Klamath Control Zone area expansion beginning September 1 through March 31 of the following year.
  • Close commercial and recreational salmon fisheries in the Monterey management area from October 1 through March 31 of the following year.

The Council also scheduled future consideration of recommendations to re-evaluate conservation objectives for  Sacramento River fall Chinook and Klamath River fall Chinook and to develop an age-structured stock assessment for Sacramento River fall Chinook, when feasible.

Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Endangered Species Act (ESA) Consultation 

The Council reviewed an update on progress towards developing a new harvest control rule for Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho stocks listed under the ESA, including a summary of available data, a description of the proposed risk assessment methods, and a review of a preliminary range of harvest control rules.  The Council commended the efforts to date and requested that future work consider environmental variables as harvest control rules are further developed.  The Council will receive an update at its April 2021 meeting and is scheduled to adopt a range of alternatives at its June 2021 meeting.

Groundfish Management 

Gear Switching for Sablefish in the Trawl Catch Share Fishery

The Council decided to defer selection of a range of action alternatives to limit gear switching in the shorebased trawl IFQ program and instead,  asked for analysis to help identify a maximum level of gear switching that would be allowed.  That analysis will evaluate gear switching levels of zero (no gear switching), 12 percent, 20 percent, 33 percent, and the continuation of unrestricted gear switching.  The Council is tentatively scheduled to identify a maximum gear switching level at its April 2021 meeting before evaluating action alternatives that would limit the fishery to that maximum and select a range of alternatives at the June 2021 Council meeting.  

NMFS Report on Groundfish (Cost Recovery Related Issues)

The Council received a report from NMFS that included a statement of its intent to proceed with a modification to cost recovery regulations to specify that cost recovery from the at-sea fleet would be based on whiting catch, rather than all species delivered.  The Council will make a final recommendation on this change under the cost recovery agenda item at its April 2021 meetings.  Also related to cost recovery, at its March 2021 meeting the Council will consider prioritizing its Cost Recovery Committee to work with NMFS in evaluating the implementation of the cost recovery program.

Inseason Adjustments for 2020 and 2021 Including Pacific Whiting Set-Asides for 2021 – Final Action

The Council considered inseason adjustments to the 2020 and 2021 groundfish management measures. The Council did not recommend any changes for the remainder of 2020, but adopted the following inseason adjustments for 2021:

  • Sablefish north of 36° North latitude (N. lat.) daily trip limit
    • Limited Entry Fixed Gear (LEFG): No adjustment
    • Open Access (OA): 600 lbs / day, or 1 landing per week of up to 2,000 lbs, not to exceed 4,000 lbs /2 months
  • Sablefish south of 36° N. lat. daily trip limit
    • LEFG: 2,500 lbs per week
    • OA: 2,000 lbs. per week, not to exceed 6,000 lbs / 2 months
  • Lingcod south of 40° 10′ N. lat. trip limits in 2021:
    • LEFG at 1,600 lbs / 2 months
    • OA at 700 lbs / month
  • Shortspine and longspine thornyhead south of 34° 27′ N. lat. in 2021:
    • OA daily trip limit of 100 lbs / day and not more than 1,000 lbs / 2 months

Additionally, the Council recommended reducing the 2021 Pacific whiting set-aside for research activities and the pink shrimp fishery from 1,500 mt to 750 mt.

Sablefish Management Strategy Evaluation Update 

The Council received a briefing on an international initiative to develop a spatially explicit management strategy evaluation (MSE) of sablefish across its range in the Northeast Pacific.  The Council recommended a workshop in the spring of 2021 engaging west coast stakeholders to determine alternative management strategies and management performance metrics to be analyzed in the MSE.  The Council recommended a future workshop be planned 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 informed by regional assessments affect the stock throughout its range. 

Assessment Methodology Review – Final Action 

The Council adopted the length-based assessment methods and language in the Terms of Reference for Groundfish and Coastal Pelagic Species Stock Assessment Review Process for 2021-2022 pertaining to length-based assessments 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.

Coastal Pelagic Species Management

Preliminary Review of New Exempted Fishing Permits for 2021 

The Council approved three exempted fishing permit (EFP) proposals for public review: two that addressed biological sampling of ongoing EFPs, and one that addressed aerial survey point sets. The Council is scheduled to make its final EFP recommendations at the April 2021 meeting. 

Methodology Review Topic Selection 

The Council directed Council staff to review Council Operating Procedure 26 on CPS methodology reviews, to discuss targeted process improvements with other relevant advisory bodies, and to provide suggested revisions for consideration at the April 2021 Council meeting.

Comments on Court Ordered Rulemaking on Harvest Specifications for the Central Subpopulation of Northern Anchovy 

The Council was briefed on the proposed rule for harvest levels on the central subpopulation of northern anchovy. The publication date of the proposed rule did not allow for adequate review by the Council and its Advisory Bodies; therefore, the Council declined to submit comments to NMFS during the public comment period. 

Highly Migratory Species Management

NMFS Report

The Council was briefed by NMFS on several aspects of its final preferred alternative (FPA) for the deep-set buoy gear limited entry program that require clarification. The Council tasked the Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT), in consultation with the HMS Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS), with investigating these issues and identifying options to revise these elements for implementation. The Council would consider modifications to its FPA at its March 2021 meeting.

Recommend International Management Activities

The Council recommended a trip limit regime for Pacific bluefin tuna (PBF) fisheries premised on the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission adopting a resolution setting a 425 mt PBF catch limit for the U.S. in 2021. The current pre-trip notification requirement would be eliminated while the current requirement that electronic fish tickets be submitted within 24-hours of the landing would be maintained. Trip limits would be as follows:

Set an Initial trip limit of 20 mt 

  • During the first quarter (January 1 – March 31) – The catch limit is reduced to 15 mt when annual landings reach 250 mt. The trip limit is then reduced to 2 mt when annual landings reach 325 mt.
  • During the second quarter (April 1 – June 30) – The catch limit is reduced to 15 mt when annual landings reach 275 mt. The trip limit is then reduced to 2 mt when annual landings reach 350 mt.
  • During the third quarter (July 1 – September 30) – The catch limit is reduced to 15 mt when annual landings reach 300 mt. The trip limit is then reduced to 2 mt when annual landings reach 375 mt.
  • During the fourth quarter (October 1 – December 31) – The catch limit is reduced to 15 mt when annual landings reach 325 mt. The trip limit is then reduced to 2 mt when annual landings reach 375 mt.

Biennial Harvest Specifications and Management Measures

The Council directed its SSC to work with NMFS, and in consultation with IATTC scientific staff, to review stock status determination criteria (SDC) proxies for Eastern Pacific Ocean yellowfin and bigeye tunas and make recommendations for the Council to consider in March 2021. Over the long term the SSC could recommend standardized methods for identifying SDC for stock assessments that use a probabilistic framework, as is the case with the two aforementioned stocks. 

Drift Gillnet Fishery Hard Caps Update

The Council received a report from NMFS on implementation of hard cap regulations for the California large mesh drift gillnet fishery. It tasked the HMSMT and HMSAS with developing potential options for clarifying the Purpose and Need for this action and to develop alternative hard cap approaches that address NMFS’ concerns regarding potential negative economic impacts. Any such alternatives must still meet the Council’s goal to incentivize fishing behavior that minimizes bycatch.  The Council will consider these issues at its June 2021 meeting.

Administrative Matters

Legislative Matters

The Council directed staff to track the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act and any related executive orders issued by the Biden Administration, in preparation for responding to any forthcoming requests for Council comment.

Fiscal Matters 

The Council approved a 2021 Provisional Budget of $5,006,455 for use beginning January 1, and recommended tentatively scheduling a Budget Committee meeting in April 2021. 

Membership Appointments and Council Operating Procedures

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) appointed Mr. Lyle Enriquez as a Council designee for the agency.

The Council directed Council staff to send a letter to the Secretary of State to request the Presidential appointment of Ms. Christa Svensson as the Council’s Appointed Commissioner to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) replacing Ms. Dorothy Lowman who plans to resign her appointment following the WCPFC annual meeting in December.  

The Council appointed Ms. Heather Hall as an alternate representative to the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC).

The Council made the following appointments to advisory bodies.

Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel

  • Ms. Anna Weinstein was appointed to the conservation position on the Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel formerly held by Ms. Gillian Lyons.

Groundfish Management Team

  • Ms. Gretchen Hanshew and Mr. Daniel Studt were appointed to the two NMFS West Coast Region positions formerly held by Ms. Abigail Harley and Ms. Karen Palmigiano,
  • Ms. Katherine Pierson was appointed to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife position formerly held by Mr. Patrick Mirick, and
  • Dr. Chantel Wetzel was appointed to the vacant Northwest Fisheries Science Center position.

Groundfish Endangered Species Workgroup

  • Mr. Scott Benson was appointed to the Sea Turtle Taxa position formerly held by Dr. Tomo Eguchi, and
  • Ms. Lynn Mattes was appointed to the vacant Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife position in addition to her continuing service on the GMT.

Ad Hoc Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Committees

  • In consultation with the Council, Chair Gorelnik appointed Mr. Andrew Torres to replace Mr. Brian Corrigan as the NMFS Office of Law Enforcement representative on the Technical Advisory Committee and appointed Mr. Mike Orcutt of Archipelago to replace Mr. Howard McElderry on the Policy Advisory Committee.

Additionally, the Council tasked Council staff with reviewing the Council Operating Procedures pertaining to exempted fishing permit and methodology reviews and to evaluate a proposal for a new advisory body focused on marine planning and offshore development issues.