Updates

NOAA Fisheries announces emergency action to temporarily extend the primary sablefish fishery season

Published in the Federal Register October 27, 2020: Emergency rule to temporarily extend the 2020 sablefish primary fishery from October 31, 2020 to December 31, 2020. This action is necessary to provide operational flexibility so that vessels in the sablefish primary fishery are able to fully harvest their tier limits despite high economic uncertainty in 2020. This action would also extend the incidental halibut retention allowance provision for the sablefish primary fishery from October 31, 2020 to November 15, 2020 and set the halibut retention limit during this time period at 250 pounds (113 kilograms) dressed weight of Pacific halibut for every 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) dressed weight of sablefish landed and up to 2 additional Pacific halibut in excess of the 250-pounds-per-1,000-pound limit per landing.

For further information, including how to comment on the emergency rule, please see the Federal Register October 27, 2020.

Request for comments: proposed rule for salmon bycatch minimization measures in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery

NOAA Fisheries announces a proposed rule to implement measures to minimize incidental take of Endangered Species Act-listed salmon by vessels in the Pacific coast groundfish fishery. The proposed rule will publish tomorrow, October 20, 2020 in the Federal Register. The pre-publication version of the proposed rule is available for public inspection. When the proposed rule publishes, it will be available at the same link.

Public comments on the proposed rule must be received by November 19, 2020.

The proposed rule would:

Establish additional management tools to minimize incidental Chinook and coho salmon bycatch to keep fishery sectors within guidelines;
Establish rules to allow industry to access the Chinook salmon bycatch reserve; and
Create Chinook salmon bycatch closure thresholds for the trawl fishery.

This proposed rule fulfills the terms and conditions of a 2017 NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion. This proposed rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, and other applicable laws, including the Endangered Species Act.

Please see the NOAA Fisheries webpage for additional details and other supporting information. For Information Contact: Brian Hooper (206) 526-6117 brian.hooper@noaa.gov

Budget Committee to hold online meeting November 4

This post was generated by and redirects to https://www.pcouncil.org/events/budget-committee-to-hold-online-meeting-november-4/.

Pacific Council News Fall 2020: Coastal Pelagic Species

Pacific sardine rebuilding plan approved

In September the Council approved a rebuilding plan for Pacific sardine, which was declared overfished in June 2019. The Council selected the status quo (Alternative 1) as the preferred management alternative to achieve stock rebuilding, which takes into account the needs of the fishery, the biology of the stock, and the interaction of sardines within the marine ecosystem.

Alternative 1 uses existing sardine harvest control rule and management measures, under which the annual catch limit (ACL) may not exceed the acceptable biological catch. The Council typically sets an annual catch target below the ACL to ensure that landings do not exceed the ACL.

The minimum time for rebuilding if no fishing was allowed (Tmin) was estimated to be 12 years, and the maximum allowable time for rebuilding (Tmax) is 24 years. The target time for rebuilding under the adopted rebuilding plan (Ttarget) is 14 years.

The rebuilding target is an age 1+ biomass (sardines over age one) of 150,000 mt, which is consistent with the harvest control rule cutoff value of 150,000 mt. If the biomass estimate falls below the cutoff value, the directed commercial fishery is closed, leaving only live bait, minor directed, and incidental fisheries as allowable harvest sectors.

The directed commercial fishery has been closed since 2015, leaving the live bait and minor directed fisheries still operating, plus incidental catch allowances in other coastal pelagic and non-coastal pelagic species fisheries. Landings have averaged about 2,200 mt the past five years, with less than 500 mt annually composed of the northern subpopulation (the portion of the stock that falls under the rebuilding plan). Landings of this portion have averaged less than one percent of the northern subpopulation biomass since the closure of the directed fishery.

Although the populations of small pelagic species can be impacted by harvest, they are largely driven by environmental conditions. Thus, there is a great amount of uncertainty in future stock status, with or without the relatively minor amount of harvest the northern subpopulation is currently experiencing.

Under this rebuilding plan, the Council will continue setting annual harvest specifications and management measures each April, based on the annual stock assessments. The Council will track the progress of the rebuilding plan and NMFS will review the process at least every two years.

Council staff will develop fishery management plan amendment language to reflect this decision and will transmit the changes to NMFS. Final Secretarial approval of the rebuilding plan is expected to be completed by July 2021.

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NOAA requesting comments on proposed rule for 2021-2022 biennial specifications and management measures

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published the proposed rule for the 2021-2022 biennial specifications and management measures, including Amendment 29 on October 2, 2020. The accompanying Environmental Assessment is provided here.

This rule, if approved, would establish the harvest specifications and management measures for the next two years. These specifications and management measures were adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council at their June 2020 meeting. Additionally, this rule would implement Amendment 29 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan which would designate shortbelly rockfish as an ecosystem component species and revise the trawl/non-trawl allocations for petrale sole, widow rockfish, lingcod south of 40°10” North latitude, and blackgill rockfish (within the southern slope complex south of 40°10” North latitude) from Amendment 21 amounts to biennial allocations.

Stakeholders have the opportunity to submit comments to NMFS regarding this rule until November 2, 2020 either written or via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Written comments may be submitted to Barry Thom, Regional Administrator, West Coast Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-0070.

The NMFS contact for this rule is Karen Palmagiano. She can be reached at 206-526-4491 or via email at mail: karen.palmigiano@noaa.gov.

Council staff is also able to discuss this rule. Please contact either Todd Phillips –503-820-2426; or John DeVore –503-820-2413

Request for Nominations for a Vacancy on the Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel Representing the Conservation Community

Nomination form

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking qualified candidates to consider for a vacant Conservation position on its Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel (CPSAS). 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 Time, Monday, October 19, 2020.

The CPSAS is charged with advising the Council on issues associated with its Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Their duties include offering advice to the Council on the assessments, specifications, and management measures pertaining to the FMP with particular regard to: a) the capacity and the extent to which the U.S. commercial and recreational fisheries will harvest the stocks managed under the FMPs, b) the effect of such management measures on local economies and social structures, c) potential conflicts among groups using a specific fishery resource, or d) enforcement problems peculiar to each fishery with emphasis on the expected need for enforcement resources.

The CPSAS consists of 10 subpanel members representing a coastwide geographic distribution of commercial, recreational, community, conservation, and public concerns and knowledge within the Council management area. The Council is currently seeking nominees representing the conservation community with knowledge and expertise regarding coastal pelagic fishery issues.

Consult Council Operating Procedure 2 for additional information regarding CPSAS composition and function.

Meeting frequency, travel expenses and stipends

Typically, the CPSAS meets three times per year, generally in three- or four-day meetings in conjunction with the Council’s April, June, and November meetings. Additional in-person meetings or webinars may be scheduled to discuss issues associated with the other two Council meetings, March, and September. CPSAS members may also be asked to participate in methodology or assessment review meetings, as needed.

Advisory body members who are not Federal employees are reimbursed for travel, meal, and lodging expenses incurred while attending official meetings at the request of the Council as per the Council’s Travel Rules. Subject to appropriations, limited stipends may also be available to advisory body members who are not employees of a Federal, state, or tribal marine fishery management agency.

Nomination procedures

To submit a nomination and supporting documents, please fill out the Council’s online Advisory Body Nomination Form. The completed form will provide contact information and a summary of the nominee’s qualifications. The form provides an opportunity to upload supporting documents such as a nomination letter, curriculum vitae, etc.

Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by other individuals or organizations. The vacant position is for the remainder of the three-year term that began on January 1, 2019 and will end December 31, 2021. The Council will review the nominations and may fill the position at the November 2020 Council meeting. To ensure consideration, nominations should be received at the Council office no later than 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday, October 19, 2020.

For additional information on the CPSAS or the nomination process, please contact Mr. Kerry Griffin or Mr. Mike Burner, Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, Oregon 97220-1384; telephone: 503-820-2280.