Updates

Ad Hoc Sablefish Management and Trawl Allocation Attainment Committee October 11-12, 2018 meeting

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s ad hoc Sablefish Management and Trawl Allocation Attainment Committee (SaMTAAC) met,October 11-12, 2018.

Meeting documents

Based on its proceedings at this and the June 2018 meeting, the SaMTAAC provided a progress report to the Council (Supplemental Information Report 6, November 2018 briefing book)

  1. October 11-12, 2018 SaMTAAC meeting agenda
  2. SaMTAAC Agenda Item B, Attachment 1: Report from Melissa Haltuch
  3. SaMTAAC Agenda Item B, Attachment 2: Powerpoint from Melissa Haltuch
  4. SaMTAAC Agenda Item C, Attachment 1: Other Analysis
  5. SaMTAAC Agenda Item D, Attachment 1: Where Do We Want to Go?
  6. SaMTAAC Agenda Item F, Attachment 1 (Ver: Oct 9): SaMTAAC Responses to Top-Five Exercise
  7. SaMTAAC Agenda Item G, Attachment 1: Implementation Challenges
  8. SaMTAAC Agenda Item H, Attachment 1 (Ver: Oct 12): Summary Table of Alternatives
  9. SaMTAAC Agenda Item H, Attachment 2: Proposal Descriptions
  10. SaMTAAC Agenda Item H, Supplemental Attachment 3: Day 2 – Morning: Proposal Modifications Provided by SaMTAAC Members
  11. SaMTAAC Agenda Item H, Supplemental Attachment 4: Draft – Narrowed Proposal Descriptions (As of Noon: Oct 12, 2018)
  12. SaMTAAC Agenda Item I, Attachment 1: Design Elements for Limited Access Alternatives
  13. SaMTAAC Agenda Item I, Supplemental Attachment 2: Draft – Narrowed Proposal Descriptions (As of End of Day: Oct 12, 2018)
  14. SaMTAAC Public Comment 1: Pacific Seafood
  15. SaMTAAC Public Comment 2: West Coast Seafood Processors Association
  16. SaMTAAC October 2018 Meeting Summary (Draft)

Ad Hoc Sablefish Management and Trawl Allocation Attainment Committee June 29, 2018 meeting

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s ad hoc Sablefish Management and Trawl Allocation Attainment Committee (SaMTAAC) met June 29, 2018.

Meeting documents

  1. June 29, 2018 SaMTAAC Meeting Agenda
  2. SaMTAAC Agenda Item B, Attachment 1: Review Committee Charge and Calendar
  3. SaMTAAC Agenda Item C, Attachment 1: Review of Alternatives
  4. SaMTAAC Agenda Item C, Attachment 2: Appendices to the November 2018 CAB Report
  5. SaMTAAC Agenda Item C, Attachment 3: Groundfish Advisory Subpanel Report on Trawl Catch Share Review, Preliminary Range of Follow-On Actions, And Intersector Allocation (September 2017)
  6. SaMTAAC Agenda Item D, Attachment 1: Review of Existing Analysis – Extracts
  7. SaMTAAC Agenda Item D, Attachment 2: Orientation: Existing Analysis – Extracts
  8. SaMTAAC Agenda Item D, Attachment 3: Five-Year Catch Share Review, Index on Gear Switching
  9. SaMTAAC Agenda Item E, Attachment 1: Agenda Item E.  Discussion of Biological Implications of Combining Northern and Southern Sablefish Management Areas for Trawl
  10. SaMTAAC Agenda Item F, Supplemental Attachment 1: New Proposals – As Presented to SaMTAAC
  11. SaMTAAC Agenda Item F, Supplemental Attachment 2: Where Do We Want to Go? (Objectives)
  12. SaMTAAC Powerpoint
  13. June 2018 SaMTAAC Meeting Summary Draft

2018: Review of draft procedural directive, extension of EFP

In June the Council reviewed the draft procedural directive on cost allocation in electronic monitoring programs and drafted a letter providing comments and requesting additional time for advisory body review and comment on the policy. In September the Council submitted the comments to NMFS.

In November the Council recommended an extension of the electronic monitoring EFPsf or whiting trawl, fixed gear, non-whiting midwater trawl, and bottom trawl through 2019. No-out-of-cycle EFPs were submitted for Council review

2017 Climate and Communities Initiative activities

In March 2017 the Council initially scoped a potential Fishery Ecosystem Plan initiative to take up in the coming years and requested the Ad Hoc Ecosystem Workgroup (EWG) to report back in September 2017 with more information to choose between a combined initiative on the socio-economic effects of fisheries management practices on fishing communities (A.2.7) and on human recruitment to the fisheries (A.2.6), and an initiative on the effects of near-term climate shift and long-term climate change on our fish, fisheries, and fishing communities (A.2.8).  The EWG presented a report in September that identified specific objectives of the initiatives, inventoried available information, and proposed a timeline for completing either or both initiatives.  Based on this scoping the Council decided to begin work on the Climate Shift Initiative with an emphasis on the wellbeing of dependent fishing communities.

2017: Final preferred alternative for non-whiting midwater trawl and bottom trawl fisheries

The Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Policy Advisory Committee (GEMPAC) and Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Technical Advisory Committee (GEMTAC) met via webinar twice in early 2017 to discuss final recommendations for an electronic monitoring program for the non-whiting midwater trawl fishery for rockfish, as well as the bottom trawl fishery. The GEMPAC revised its preferred alternatives it selected in September 2014, and reported to the Council at its April meeting.

In April 2017, the Council received an exempted fishing permit update and reviewed draft regulations and reports from California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and Council advisory bodies. At the meeting, the Council selected its preferred alternative and provided recommendations to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on implementing an electronic monitoring program for the non-whiting midwater trawl and bottom trawl fisheries.

In April the Council also asked NMFS to examine the feasibility of using Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) as a sole provider for the industry to conduct the video reviews and to develop new discard mortality rates for halibut when vessels use electronic monitoring. In September, NMFS determined that NMFS could not designate any service provider as a sole provider; however, PSMFC could compete for contracts as a third-party video provider for the industry or act on behalf of NMFS to audit or track compliance of third-party video review providers, but not both at the same time.

In November 2017, the Council adopted Pacific halibut discard mortality rates (DMRs) for the bottom trawl and non-whiting midwater trawl fisheries using electronic monitoring. The modeled mortality rates as described below were to be applied in 2018. All vessels were required to use best handling practices when discarding for the modeled rate to be applied, otherwise a default rate of 90 percent would be applied.

For the bottom trawl fishery:

  • If an observer is not present to assess the viability of all halibut, implement a DMR rate for each halibut discarded under electronic monitoring using time on deck as described in the Groundfish Management Team model under Agenda Item F.11.a, GMT Report 1.

For the non-whiting midwater trawl fishery, the following will be applied:

  • When a vessel declares optimized retention, a default rate of 90 percent will be applied to all halibut that are discarded.
  • When a vessel declares maximized retention, the halibut must be landed and a DMR of 100 percent will be applied.

The Council also recommended that a species be added or removed from the allowable discard species list under an inseason action during one Council meeting and vessel monitoring plans be updated to reflect the change. A proposed rule to implement the electronic monitoring program elements for the bottom trawl and non-whiting midwater trawl fisheries was planned for summer, 2018.

Finally, the Council asked the Executive Director to explore opportunities to create a designated funding mechanism for electronic monitoring to help offset the cost of electronic monitoring, similar to that used by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council as authorized in Section 314 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Cod or halibut with zucchini salsa verde

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces zucchini (about 2 medium), trimmed, chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro plus leaves for garnish
  • 1/3 cup chopped white onion
  • 5 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons chopped seeded jalapeño chiles
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons finely grated lime peel
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons coarse kosher salt, divided
  • Nonstick vegetable oil spray
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 6 6-ounce skinless cod or halibut fillets

Directions

Combine zucchini, chopped cilantro, and next four ingredients in blender. Add 1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt. Puree until salsa is smooth. Can be made two hours ahead. Transfer to small bowl. Cover; chill.

Preheat broiler. Line broiler pan with foil; coat foil with nonstick spray. Combine 1 1/4 teaspoons pepper, coriander, and remaining one teaspoon coarse salt in small bowl; stir to blend. Pat fish dry. Sprinkle fish on all sides with seasoning mixture.

Arrange fish on prepared pan. Broil until just opaque in center, three to four minutes per side, depending on thickness.

Transfer fish to plates. Spoon some salsa over. Garnish with cilantro leaves. Serve with remaining salsa.

Serves six. From Epicurious.com

Dover sole stuffed with crab and asparagus

Ingredients

  • 4 dover sole fillets
  • 8 fresh asparagus spears
  • 1 cup Dungeness crab meat
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp fresh tarragon, finely chopped
  • 1 shallot, chopped
  • 1 tsp grated lemon peel
  • salt and pepper

Directions

Trim stalk end of asparagus. Wash and drain well.

In a sauce pot, combine heavy cream, shallot and fresh tarragon. Bring to a boil and then lower heat. Simmer until sole fillets are ready and stuffed.

Season fillets lightly with salt and freshly-ground pepper. Place two asparagus and 1/4 cup of crab meat on one end of sole. Roll into a log to wrap the fillet over filling.

Arrange prepared sole on a baking dish with seam side down. Sprinkle grated lemon peel on top of sole. Pour cream and tarragon mixture over fish to coat entirely.

Bake uncovered in a 350º oven until just cooked through, around 10 to 15 minutes. Serve hot.

Baked fish and potatoes with rosemary and garlic

This recipe can be made with lingcod, Pacific cod, halibut, or any other firm white fish. An easy weeknight dish for four.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound new potatoes, peeled (if desired), washed, and cut into wedges
  • An oven-to-table baking dish that can accommodate both the fish and the potatoes in one layer
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 or 5 fresh (not dried) rosemary sprigs
  • 4 whole garlic cloves, peeled
  • Fine sea salt
  • Black pepper ground fresh from the mill
  • A two-pound fillet (or fillets adding up to two pounds) from a firm-fleshed fish, such as Pacific cod, lingcod, or rockfish
  • 2 tablespoons fine, dry, unflavored bread crumbs

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Place the potato wedges in the baking dish, pour 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over them, add 2 sprigs of rosemary, all the garlic cloves, and salt, and pepper (may also mince garlic, if desired). Toss thoroughly. Put the dish in the preheated oven.

After 15 minutes, remove the dish to turn the potatoes over, then put it back in the oven. Cook until the potatoes feel tender when tested with a fork, another 10 minutes or so.

Remove the dish from the oven. Push the potatoes to the sides, making room in the center for the fish fillet to lie flat.

Wash the fish fillet, pat it dry with paper towels, and lay it flat in the dish, skin side down. Strip the leaves from the remaining rosemary sprigs, scatter them over the fish, add salt and pepper, and sprinkle the bread crumbs and the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over the fillet. Return the dish to the oven and bake for 14 minutes. Let the dish settle out of the oven for 3 to 4 minutes before bringing it to the table.