November 2024 Decision Summary Document

November 13-18, 2024  

Council Meeting Decision Summary Documents are highlights of significant decisions made at Council meetings. Fishery management decisions made by the Council are formally transmitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as recommendations and are not final until NMFS approval.  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. 

Cross Fishery Management Plan (FMP) 

Marine Planning  

The Council received updates on offshore wind energy planning and development on the U.S. West Coast, including a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) that will provide a framework for analyzing impacts related to the five offshore wind leases off Morro Bay and Humboldt Bay, California. BOEM will still need to complete individual EISs when the Construction and Operation Plan is submitted for each of the leases.

In addition, NOAA issued a draft PEIS for the Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in the Southern California Bight.  The Marine Planning Committee (MPC) is holding an online meeting December 5 to receive briefings on both PEISs and will work with the Habitat Committee on developing comment letters, under the Council’s Quick Response procedure.

The Council received a summary of the MPC’s cumulative impacts framework and directed the MPC to continue developing it and provide an update at the March 2025 meeting (see MPC Supplemental Report 2).

In addition, the Council received state and tribal updates, and a presentation on a NOAA report produced for BOEM, entitled Socioeconomic Characterization of West Coast Fisheries in Relation to Offshore Wind Energy Development. MPC Report 1 contains additional details on these topics.

Research and Data Needs

The Council adopted the following top science and management challenges (not in priority order), with descriptions as specified in Agenda Item D.3 Supplemental SSC Report 1, to guide the next steps in the research and data needs review cycle:

  • Data collection
  • Stock assessment methodologies
  • Life history and stock structure
  • Evaluating fishery impacts
  • Ecosystem dynamics
  • Harvest policy
  • Economic and social science
  • Habitat science and spatial management

Advisory bodies provided feedback on associated key topics for examples within these broad challenge categories.  The Council provided guidance that the framework for conducting this review cycle (Agenda Item, D.3 Attachment 2) should encourage engagement between the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and other advisory bodies when identifying and prioritizing research and data needs.  Additionally, the Council directed that active monitoring and updating of the status (e.g. active, completed, no action) of the research progress and the overall database is required and should be undertaken more frequently than the Council 5-year review cycle.

Habitat Issues 

Current Habitat Issues  

The Council received a briefing on Habitat Committee Report 1 and directed the Habitat Committee to work with the MPC on developing comment letters on the two DEISs described in the Marine Planning summary, above.  The Council also directed the Habitat Committee to provide a report on the invasive golden mussels at the March Council meeting.

Salmon Management 

Final Methodology Review Results and Proposed Council Operating Procedure (COP) 15 Updates 

Two topics that were reviewed by the Salmon Technical Team (STT) and Scientific and Statistical Committee Salmon Sub-Committee (SSC-SSC) at the 2024 Salmon Methodology Review were discussed.  Information supporting the Council decisions are found in Attachment 1 and Attachment 2 under this agenda item.

1.   Consider an updated FMSY and SMSY/SMP ratio for Sacramento River fall Chinook (SRFC).

The Council adopted the updated FMSY proxy value of 0.58 for SRFC for use beginning with the 2025 ocean salmon fisheries preseason planning process.  The current proxy value is 0.78 and was developed in 2011 and based on an average of FMSY estimates from 20 stocks distributed across the U.S. West Coast.  The updated proxy is the mean of estimates for Klamath River fall Chinook and Rogue River fall Chinook, which were determined to be the most representative of SRFC.  Due to the ongoing work to update the Klamath River fall Chinook reference points, the Council specified that a review of the newly adopted FMSY proxy should occur in 2028.

2. Consider a Cohort Reconstruction for SRFC Salmon and Comparison with the Sacramento Index (SI).

The Council approved the use of the cohort reconstruction, recognizing that full implementation will take time and coordination.  The Council specified the post-season exploitation rates derived from the cohort reconstruction, as available, should be used for stock status determinations beginning in 2025 and harvest information impacts on SRFC from North of Falcon fisheries should be included as soon as reasonably possible, but acknowledged this will likely be no earlier than 2026.  The Council stated that, as a matter of policy, beginning with the 2025 pre-season management process, the Council may apply the components of this new methodology all or in part, as appropriate and as they become available.

The Council also reviewed proposed changes to Council Operating Procedure (COP) 15 provided in Agenda Item F.2 Attachment 3 and supplementary reports from the STT (Agenda Item F.2 Supplemental STT Report 2) and SSC (Agenda Item F.2 Supplemental SSC Report 2).  COP 15 outlines the process for the annual Salmon Methodology Review, and the proposed changes were intended to clarify the annual process and contributions each group brings to this joint process.  The Council requested another review of the proposed modifications at their June 2025 meeting, taking into consideration the feedback in the STT’s November 2024 report and any additional report provided by the SSC in June 2025.

Queets Spring/Summer Chinook Rebuilding Plan – Final 

The Council adopted the Queets spring/summer Chinook Rebuilding Plan Analysis as presented in Agenda Item F.3 Attachment 1 as final, adopted Recommendation 1, that the stock will be considered rebuilt when the 3-year geometric mean of natural-area adult escapement meets or exceeds SMSY (the default rebuilt criterion in the Salmon Fishery Management Plan (FMP)), and adopted Recommendation 2, Alternative I/Status Quo as the preferred management strategy alternative for recommendation to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Modeled changes in harvest scenarios presented in the rebuilding plan showed little to no improvement in potential rebuilding time if all Council-managed fisheries are closed, suggesting that a reduction in fisheries would not improve the status of the stock in the foreseeable future.  This suggests that the poor environmental conditions played the largest role in the ‘overfished’ status. 

Final 2025 Preseason Management Schedule

The Council agreed to hold the Council-hosted 2025 salmon public hearings in person for Washington and California, and online for Oregon.  The hearings are tentatively scheduled for March 24, 2025 in Westport, Washington and online for Oregon and March 25, 2025 in Santa Rosa, California. 

The Council also discussed reporting errors that have been identified for reference point for Southern Oregon coastal Chinook and Grays Harbor fall Chinook (Agenda Item F.4.a, Supplemental STT Report 1).  Reference points for these stocks were updated in 2014 through a methodology review, but annual salmon documents have not consistently included these updates, and the Salmon Fishery Management Plan has not been amended to include all the updates.  There are no implications for the Southern Oregon coastal Chinook error, however had the Grays Harbor fall Chinook maximum fishing mortality rate been updated in the annual salmon management documents, there would have been four instances (2016, 2021, 2022, 2024) where this stock would have been identified by the STT as having met the criteria for being subject to overfishing.

Almost all fisheries impacting Greys Harbor fall Chinook are already closed, and preliminary information indicates that in 2025 the stock will not be subject to overfishing. The National Marine Fisheries Service has determined no management action is required by the Council in 2024, and the STT will conduct a thorough review of the Review and all preseason reports during the 2025 planning cycle to ensure that all reference points reflect the correct values.

Klamath River Fall Chinook Workgroup Progress Report and Recommendations

At this meeting, the Klamath River Fall Chinook Workgroup (KRWG) provided a report on potential alternative interim management frameworks for the Council to consider for use in 2025 and beyond as the stock responds to changing environmental conditions following removal of Klamath River dams.  The Council directed the KRWG to further develop a matrix-based approach and to consider including a mix of environmental variables as inputs.  The matrix-based approach would facilitate the determination of an exploitation rate buffer based on a score derived from an array of specified metrics.

The Council also directed the KRWG to explore approaches that would provide protection to fish returning to the upper Klamath river while not impacting Tribal harvest opportunities on the Trinity river and to develop a more detailed workplan for what developing a sub-basin management approach would look like.

The Council discussed that the current harvest control rule with a buffer, the approach used in 2024, is the only approach ready for use when planning the 2025 ocean salmon fisheries. The Council will specify what the buffer should be at the March 2025 meeting. The Council is next scheduled to hear from the KRWG in June 2025.

Sacramento River Fall Chinook Workgroup Progress Report and Recommendations

At this meeting, the Council heard an update from the Sacramento River Fall Chinook Workgroup (SRWG) and commended the SRWG on the progress to date on the work items specified in the TOR.  The Council provided guidance to the SRWG, specifically that the SRWG should:

  • use the FMSY value adopted under Agenda Item F.2 Salmon Methodology Review to derive an updated SMSY value per the formula described in Agenda Item F.2, Attachment 2,
  • develop options for an updated conservation objective based on total escapement (natural and hatchery areas combined) and based on an SMSY based on natural-area spawners, and
  • work towards modifying the current harvest control rule to account for potential updates to the SMSY and in terms of an updated conservation objective.

The Council is next scheduled to hear from the SRWG in June 2025.

Pacific Halibut Management  

2025 Catch Sharing Plan and Annual Regulations – Final

The Council adopted the 2025 Area 2A Pacific halibut fisheries season structures for the 2025 non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut (DC halibut) fishery and Washington, Oregon, and California sport fisheries.

For the DC halibut fishery, the Council adopted the following season structure for the commercial non-tribal directed halibut fishery in 2025:      

  • The 2025 season will consist of a series of three-day openings each beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday ending at 6 pm on the Thursday of that week.
  • The first opening would be on the fourth Tuesday in June, the second opening would be two weeks after the first opener and the third opening would aim to be two weeks but not later than three weeks after the second opener.
  • Subsequent openings would occur as soon as possible. Notice of the dates for the first three openers would be announced in the Federal Register prior to the start of the season.    

The Council-adopted changes to the Catch Sharing Plan for the 2025 sport season structures were consistent with those recommended by each state and are described in Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Report 1, Oregon Department of Wildlife Report 1, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife Supplemental Report 1 under this agenda item.

Washington Sport 

  1. Puget Sound Subarea (Marine Areas (MAs) 5-10)
    • Status Quo:
      • If the 2025 2A fishery constant exploitable yield (FCEY) is at least 1.3 million pounds, the season may be open up to seven days per week in April, May, and June. April 3 through June 30, seven days per week
      • If the 2025 2A FCEY is less than 1.3 million pounds, the season may be open up to five days per week in April, May, and June. April 3 five days per week through June 30, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday.
      • If quota remains, open up to seven days per week in August and September. 
  2. North Coast Subarea (Marine Areas 3 and 4)
    • Option 1:
      • If the 2025 2A FCEY is at least 1.3 million pounds, the season may be open up to three days per week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday), except Memorial Day weekend which may be open Friday and Sunday.
        • May 1 through May 17, three days per week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and
        • Friday, May 23, Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25 (Memorial Day weekend) and
        • May 29, 30, 31.
        • June 1 through June 29, four days per week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
      • If the 2025 2A FCEY is less than 1.3 million pounds, the season may be open two days per week in May (Thursday and Saturday) except Memorial Day weekend which may be open Friday and Sunday.
        • May 1 through May 17 two days per week, Thursday and Saturday, and Friday, May 23 and Sunday May 25 (Memorial Day weekend) and
        • May 29 and 31.
        • June 1 through June 29, three days per week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
      • If quota remains, open up to seven days per week in August and September. 
  3. South Coast Subarea (Marine Area 2)
    • Option 1:
      • During May the fishery may be open up to three days per week (Thursday, Sunday and Tuesday) and if sufficient quota remains, then open up to eight days in June.
        • May 1 through May 22, three days per week, Thursday, Sunday, and Tuesday, and
        • Sunday May 25, Tuesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 29, and
        • June 12 through 29 three days per week, Thursday, Sunday, and Tuesday (equals eight days).  
      • If quota remains, open up to seven days per week in August and September. 
  4. Columbia River Subarea (Marine Area 1)
    • Option 2:
      • If the 2025 2A FCEY is at least 1.3 million pounds, open:
        • May 1 through May 30, three days per week, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
        • June 1 – 29, three days per week, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday as fixed dates, with two days per week, Monday and Tuesday, as back-up dates to be opened if at least 55 percent of the subarea quota remains as of May 25, 2025.
        • The fishery would not open on Monday, June 23 or Tuesday, June 24 (as back-up dates) to reduce interaction with the DC halibut fishery.
      • If the 2025 2A FCEY is less than 1.3 million pounds, open
        • May 1 through May 30, three days per week, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday; and
        • June 1 – 29, three days per week, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.
      • If quota remains, open up to seven days per week in August and September.
      • The nearshore fishery will be open Monday through Wednesday following the opening of the all-depth fishery, until the nearshore allocation is taken or September 30, whichever is earlier. On days when the all-depth halibut fishery is closed, taking, retaining, possessing, or landing halibut on groundfish trips is only allowed in the nearshore area.
  1. Oregon Sport
    1. Central Oregon Coast Subarea 
      • Option 1: If Regulatory Area 2A FCEY is 1,200,000 lbs. or greater, allocate 10,000 pounds of sub-quota to the Central Oregon Coast nearshore fishery and shift the remaining sub-quota to the Central Oregon Coast subarea all-depth seasons.
      • Option 2: Remove language from the CSP limiting the Central Oregon Coast subarea all-depth seasons to a two or three-day opener per week.
      • Option 3: Start the Central Oregon Coast subarea summer all-depth fishery on August 1 instead of the first Thursday in August.
      • Option 4: If the entire Central Oregon Coast subarea quota is below 50,000 pounds prior to August 1, the summer all-depth season will be open every other week.
      • Option 5: If the entire Central Oregon Coast subarea quota is 30,000 pounds or greater following Labor Day Weekend, the summer all-depth season will be open every week.
    2. Columbia River Subarea
      • Replace Tuesdays and Fridays as the all-depth fishing days in this subarea. 
  1. California Sport 
    1. Add language to the CSP that would allow the transfer of any unused quota between the two California subareas, consistent with what is done in Washington and Oregon and modify language in the South of Point Arena subarea to more accurately reflect the intent of the subarea.  

Commercial Fishery Regulation Changes: Vessel Monitoring Systems, Seabird Avoidance, and Catch Reporting—Final

The Council selected their final preferred alternatives for three Actions that would modify management measures for the non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut (DC halibut) fishery and recording requirements for the commercial catch of Pacific halibut.

For waters north of 42° N. latitude (Oregon and Washington), the Council adopted the final preferred alternatives, in priority order for implementation:

  • Action 1:
    • Require all vessels participating in the DC halibut fishery to carry and operate a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) type-approved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS; Alternative 1), with the following components: 
      • Component 1A – Applicable waters:
        • Require VMS on applicable vessels when fishing in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ); 
      • Component 2A: VMS ping rate requirement :
        • Require a VMS ping rate of four times per hour (i.e. once every 15 minutes); and
      • Component 3B – VMS status requirement:
        • VMS must be turned on and transmitting location data when participating in the DC halibut fishery.
  • Action 2:
    • Require vessels participating in the DC halibut fishery and using bottom longline gear to use streamer lines (follow seabird avoidance measures) (Alternative 1), with the following component:
      • Component 1A – Applicable Waters: Streamer lines must be used when fishing in the EEZ.
      • Until implementation, the Council requests NMFS do outreach promoting voluntary usage of streamer lines by DC halibut fishery vessels.
  • Action 3:
    • Catch Reporting on Fish Tickets, No Action/Status Quo

For waters south of 42° N. latitude (California), the Council adopted the final preferred alternatives, in priority order for implementation:

  • Action 1: Require all vessels participating in the DC halibut fishery to carry and operate a NMFS type-approved VMS (Alternative 1), with the following components:
    • Component 1B – Require VMS on applicable vessels when fishing in convention waters of IPHC Area 2A (state and Federal waters);
    • Component 2A – VMS ping rate requirement.  Require a VMS ping rate of four times per hour (i.e. once every 15 minutes); and
    • Component 3B – VMS status requirement. VMS must be turned on and transmitting location data when fishing when participating in the DC halibut fishery.
  • Action 2: Require vessels participating in the DC halibut fishery and using bottom longline gear to use streamer lines (follow seabird avoidance measures) (Alternative 1), with the following component:
    • Component 1B – Applicable waters: Streamer lines must be used when fishing in convention waters of IPHC Area 2A (state and Federal waters).
    • Until implemented, requests NMFS do outreach promoting voluntary usage of streamer lines by DC halibut fishery vessels.

The Council identified action on Actions 1 and 2 is necessary to ensure the intended benefits of closed area regulations and essential fish habitat are fully realized and to reduce the likelihood of seabird bycatch.  It will also ease enforcement in Federal waters (the EEZ) by aligning regulations already in place for vessels participating in the DC halibut fishery and simultaneously fishing for groundfish.

The Council selected no action on Action 3 for waters North of 42° N.latitude since all the necessary information needed to manage and monitor catch of Pacific halibut in the DC halibut fishery and incidental catch in the salmon troll and primary sablefish fishery north of Point Chehalis is already collected for this area.



Highly Migratory Species Management

International Management Activities Including Bluefin Tuna Trip Limits

The Council recommended that NMFS implement the following domestic management measures to comply with the U.S. 2025-2026 biennial Pacific bluefin catch limit of 1,822 mt (with no more than 1,285 mt in any one year) agreed to by the IATTC:

For 2025:

  • From January through June:
    • The trip limit reduces to 40 mt once total catch is within 400 mt of the annual limit.
  • From July through September:
    • The trip limit reduces to 40 mt once catch is within 300 mt of the annual limit.
    • The trip limit reduces to 5 mt once total catch is within 175 mt of the annual limit.
  • From October through December:
    • The trip limit reduces to 40 mt once catch is within 200 mt of the annual limit.

For 2026:

  • The annual catch limit is 537 mt, plus any under-harvest from 2025, up to a maximum of 1,285 mt. The initial trip limit is 60 mt.
  • From January through June:
    • The trip limit reduces to 40 mt once total catch is within 400 mt of either the annual limit or the biennial limit.
    • The trip limit reduces to 5 mt once total catch is within 225 mt of either the annual limit or the biennial limit.
  • From July through September:
    • The trip limit reduces to 40 mt once catch is within 300 mt of either the annual limit or the biennial limit.
    • The trip limit reduces to 5 mt once total catch is within 175 mt of either the annual limit or the biennial limit.
  • From October through December:
    • The trip limit reduces to 40 mt once catch is within 200 mt of either the annual limit or the biennial limit.

In addition to these domestic measures, the Council made the following recommendations for U.S. positions at the 2024 WCPFC Regular Session:

The Council also endorsed funding support for Council and advisory body members to participate in the February 5-7, 2025 First Joint IATTC-NC Intersessional Working Group Meeting on PBF Management. The Chair, in consultation with the Executive Director, will determine who will receive this travel support.

Finally, the Council urged the State Department to schedule negotiations with Canada as soon as possible on a fishing regime for 2025 (and subsequent years if possible) pursuant to the U.S.-Canada Albacore Treaty. Timely agreement will help U.S. fishermen make business decisions such as contracting foreign crew and where to fish.

Biennial Harvest Specifications and Management Measures—Final

The Council adopted the reference points, status determination criteria, and status determinations for stocks managed under the HMS FMP that were put forward by NMFS. This includes those for shortfin mako shark, which the Council requested its SSC review prior to adoption.

The Council took no action on a proposal to increase the incidental HMS landing limit (specified at 50 CFR 660.711(a)(1)) for the small mesh drift gillnet fishery (which is not managed under the HMS FMP), because no data were found indicating the limit was resulting in regulatory discards. The Council may revisit this proposal at a future date if information supporting a change comes to light.

Highly Migratory Species Roadmap Workshop Report and Next Steps

The Council adopted the Report of the HMS Roadmap Workshop held June 6-7, 2024.

The Council agreed to form an ad hoc committee to further work on the HMS Roadmap. The Council took action to form this committee under Agenda Item C.5 including its composition and charge.

Groundfish Management 

Trawl Catch Share Program and Intersector Allocation Reviews: Hearing Officers and Locations

The Council will hold three in-person and two online hearings (one in the day, one in the evening) for the upcoming Trawl Catch Share program review.  The three in-person hearings will be held in Astoria and Newport, Oregon and the San Francisco area of California.  One in-person and one online meeting will try to be held in April, with the others occurring later in the spring and summary.  The hearings will not cover the intersector allocation review.

Hearing officers are as follows:
Astoria: Aja Szumylo
Newport: Christa Svenson
San Francisco area: Corey Ridings
Online hearings: Lynn Mattes

Council staff will notify the Council and the public of the dates and locations of the hearings in 2025. 

Methodology Review: Final Fishery Impact Model Review Topics and Stock Assessment Methodologies  

Methodology Review: Final Fishery Impact Model Review Topics
The Council did not adopt any final fishery impact model topics for groundfish methodology review in 2025.

Methodology Review: Stock Assessment Methodologies
The Council adopted the SSC recommendations on Fourier Transformed Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-NIRS) ageing method for 2025 and beyond, as described in Agenda Item I.3.a, Supplemental SSC Report 1.  These included the following key recommendations:

  • FT-NIRS age estimates should not be included in groundfish update assessments in 2025 because benchmark assessments provide more opportunity to evaluate the use of FT-NIRS ages.
  • The 2025 assessment of sablefish should include a relatively small number of FT-NIRS ages, with sensitivity of assessment results provided to assess the effects of inclusion of these data.
  • The 2025 assessment of rougheye/blackspotted rockfish should not include FT-NIRS ages owing to the low agreement between FT-NIRS and traditional age estimates.
  • FT-NIRS ages could be considered for inclusion in the 2025 assessment for chilipepper rockfish if appropriate FT-NIRS models can be developed.
  • The pre-assessment workshops should include a presentation or update of FT-NIRS model diagnostics and results for any stock for which FT-NIRS ages may be included in an assessment.
  • Fish length or weight should not be used as covariates in models used to develop FT-NIRS age estimates owing to the potential for “double use” of length and weight data in the assessments.

It was also noted that while use of FT-NIRS is likely to increase the number of age estimates available for assessments, information from traditional ages is still needed to calibrate the model and refine the FT-NIRS algorithms due to changes in environmental conditions.

Stock Definitions for Species Assessed in 2025 and 2027

The Council adopted a final preferred alternative (FPA) for groundfish stock definitions as noted in the table below for species to be assessed in 2025 or proposed to be assessed in 2027.  The selected FPA were those selected and analyzed as the preliminary preferred alternative as well.  The Council adopted the associated language revisions found in Agenda Item I.4, Attachment 2 to amend the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan according to the adopted FPA groundfish stock definitions.

Priority SpeciesFinal Preferred AlternativeStock Area Delineation
Chilipepper rockfish1Coastwide
English sole1Coastwide
Redbanded rockfish1Coastwide
Rougheye/Blackspotted rockfish1Coastwide
Widow rockfish1Coastwide
Yellowtail rockfish3North of 40° 10’ N. Latitude; South of 40° 10’ N. Latitude
Yelloweye rockfish1Coastwide

Cordell Bank Conservation Area Revisions

The Council adopted a purpose and need for this action as follows:
“The purpose of the action is to provide fishing access to previously closed areas surrounding Cordell Bank while protecting sensitive habitats.  The Cordell Bank Groundfish Conservation Area was initially implemented to reduce catch of several overfished groundfish stocks, which are all now rebuilt or rebuilding ahead of schedule.  This action is needed to remove unnecessary regulations and to reduce regulatory complexity.”

Outside of No Action, one other alternative was included in the range of alternatives and was adopted as the preliminary preferred alternative (PPA).  The PPA would remove the Cordell Bank Groundfish Conservation Area and implement a new Groundfish Exclusion Area prohibiting all groundfish fishing over the current Cordell Bank 50-fm Isobath Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Area which prohibits all bottom contact gear.  The Council is proposed to take final action in March 2025.

Inseason Adjustments and Technical Corrections for 2025-2026 – Final Action

The Council considered adopting inseason adjustments to groundfish fisheries for the remainder of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, off-the-top deductions for Pacific whiting in research and pink shrimp fisheries, and technical corrections to the 2025-26 harvest specifications. The Council adopted the recommendations in the GAP report (Agenda Item I.6.a, Supplemental GAP Report 1) and GMT report (Agenda Item I.6.a, Supplemental GMT Report 1), as described below.

Inseason Adjustments:
The Council did not recommend any inseason changes for the remainder of 2024, though recommended to increase the Open Access trip limit for shelf rockfish in the area between 40° 10′ N. lat. and 42° N to 1600 lbs/2months as detailed in Option 1, Table 4 of Agenda Item I.6.a, Supplemental GMT Report 1 to be implemented  as soon as possible in 2025.

Pacific Whiting Off-the-Top Deductions:
The Council adopted a 750 mt off the top deduction for Pacific whiting to account for mortality in research and pink shrimp fisheries for 2025.

Technical Corrections for 2025 –2026 Harvest Specifications:
No technical corrections were brought forward for the Council to consider.



Coastal Pelagic Species Management

Pacific Sardine Rebuilding Plan Fishery Management Plan Amendment (FMP) – Final

The Council adopted Alternative 6 as their final preferred alternative and a Ttarget of 17 years for the Pacific sardine rebuilding plan, as outlined in Agenda Item J.2, Attachment 1 Revised Draft Pacific Sardine Rebuilding Plan.

Alternative 6 sets the following annual catch limits (ACLs) to support rebuilding of the northern subpopulation of the Pacific sardine stock:

  • When stock age 1+ biomass ≤ 50,000 mt; ACL = 2,200 mt or the ABC, whichever is lower
  • When stock age 1+ biomass > 50,000 mt; ACL = 5 percent of the stock age 1+ biomass

The Council also supported the proposed changes to the FMP text as outlined in Agenda Item J.2, Supplemental REVISED Attachment 2, incorporating the final preferred alternative and Ttarget adopted by the Council.

Stock Assessment Prioritization

The Council adopted the following stock assessment and survey priorities for coastal pelagic species for 2026-2027:

2026: Review of the Integrated West Coast Pelagics Survey

2027: Pacific sardine benchmark assessment
Pacific mackerel update assessment. 

Administrative Matters 

Membership Appointments and Council Operating Procedures—Including Final 2025-27 Advisory Body Appointments

Council Advisory Body Appointments

Chair Pettinger appointed Mr. Butch Smith to the Council’s Legislative Committee. The Council also made the following appointments

  • Ms. Katlyn Lockhart to one of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife positions on the Groundfish Management Team.
  • Dr. Tim Copeland to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game position on the Scientific and Statistical Committee.
  • Dr. Will Satterthwaite to one of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center positions on the Scientific and Statistical Committee.
  • Ms. Stephanie Thurner to the Tribal position on the Salmon Technical Team.

Council Advisory Body Appointments for the 2025-27 Term

The Council appointed the following individuals to serve on Advisory Bodies starting January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027.

Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel

California Commercial Fisheries (3 Positions)
Mr. Matt Everingham
Mr. Neil Guglielmo
Mr. Nick Jurlin

Oregon Commercial Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. Ryan Kapp

Washington Commercial/Processor (1 Position)
Mr. Brian Blake

Processor (3 Positions, California, Washington, or Oregon)
Mr. Ryan Augello
Mr. Mark Fina
Mr. Mike Okoniewski

California Sport/Charter Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. Steve Crooke

Conservation Group (1 Position)
Dr. Brian Hoover

Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel

California (2 At-large Positions)
Mr.Richard (Dick) Ogg
Dr. Andrew Thurber

Oregon (2 At-large Positions)
Ms. Theresa Labriola

Washington (2 At-large Positions)
Mr. Scott Hough
Mr. Markus Min

At-Large (3)
Ms. Deb Wilson-Vandenberg
Ms. Michele Conrad

The Council will re-advertise for 1 Oregon At-Large position and 1 At-Large position.

Groundfish Advisory Subpanel

Fixed Gear Fisheries (3 At-large)
Mr. Robert D. Alverson
Mr. Georgon (Poggy) Lapham
Mr. Gerry Richter

Bottom Trawl Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. Travis Hunter

Mid-Water Trawl Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. Jeff Lackey

At-Large Trawl Fisheries (2 Positions)
Mr. Kevin Dunn

Open Access Fisheries North of Cape Mendocino (1 Position)
Mr. Harrison Ibach

Open Access Fisheries South of Cape Mendocino (1 Position)
Mr. Daniel Platt

Processors (2 At-large Positions)
Mr. Steve Becic
Ms. Susan Chambers

At-Sea Processor (1 Position)
Ms. Sarah Nayani

Washington Charter Boat Operator (1 Position)
Mr. Paul A Mirante

California North of Point Conception Charter Boat Operator (1 Position)
Mr. Tim Klassen

California South of Point Conception Charter Boat Operator (1 Position)
Mr. Merit McCrea

Washington Sport Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. Phil Anderson

Oregon Sport Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. Stephen Godin

California Sport Fisheries (2 Positions)
Mr. David Kasheta
Mr. Louis Zimm

Conservation Group (1 Position)
Mr. Shems Jud

The Council will re-advertise for 1 At-Large Trawl position, 1 Oregon Charter position, and 1 Tribal position.

Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel

Commercial Troll Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. Clayton T. Wraith, Esq

Commercial Purse Seine Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. Mike Conroy

Commercial Gillnet Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. Gary Burke

Commercial Deep-Set Buoy Gear (1 position)
Mr. Markus Medak

Commercial Fisheries North of Point Conception (1 At-large Position)
Mr. Erik A. Johnson

Processor North of Cape Mendocino (1 Position)
Mr. Lyf Gildersleeve

Processor South of Cape Mendocino (1 Position)
Mr. David Rudie

Southern Charter Boat Operator (1 Position)
Mr. Mike Thompson

Private Sport Fisheries North of Point Conception (1 Position)
Mr. Tom Mattusch

Private Sport Fisheries South of Point Conception (1 Position)
Mr. Todd Mansur

Conservation Group (1 Position)
Mr. Josh Madeira

Public At-large (1 Position)
Ms. Pamela Tom

The Council will re-advertise for 1 Commercial Fisheries South of Point Conception position and 1 Northern Charter Boat Operator position.

Salmon Advisory Subpanel

Washington Troll Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. Ryan Johnson

Oregon Troll Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. John Alto

California Troll Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. George Bradshaw

Gillnet Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. Bryce Divine

Processor (2 Positions)
Mr. Gerald Reinholdt
Mr. Jeremy Streig

Washington Charter Boat Operator (1 Position)
Mr. Steven Sohlstrom

Oregon Charter Boat Operator (1 Position)
Mr. Michael Sorensen

California Charter Boat Operator (1 Position)
Mr. John Atkinson

Washington Sport Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. Dave Johnson

Oregon Sport Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. John Allen Christie

Idaho Sport Fisheries (1 Position)
Mr. Donald Vernon

California Sport Fisheries (2 Positions)
Mr. Kevin Godes
Mr. James Yarnall

Tribal Fisheries – Washington Coast (1 Position)
Mr. Brian W. Svec

Tribal Representative – California (1 Position)
Mr. Keith Parker

Conservation Group (1 Position)
Ms. Megan Waters

Scientific and Statistical Committee

Scientists (9 At-large Positions)
Dr. Christopher Free
Dr. Michael Hinton
Dr. Dan Holland
Dr. Tommy Moore
Dr. André E. Punt
Dr. Matthew Reimer
Dr. Jason Schaffler

The Council will re-advertise for 2 At-large positions, highlighting the Council’s interest in candidates with stock assessment and social science expertise.

Habitat Committee

Northwest or Columbia River Tribal Representative (1 Position)
Ms. Kate Valdez

Klamath Tribal Representative (1 Position)
Mr. Justin Alvarez

Commercial Fishing Industry (1 Position)
Ms. Sarah Bates

Sport Fishing Industry (1 Position)
Mr. Gary Maganaris

Conservation Group (1 Position)
Dr. W. Waldo Wakefield

At-Large (2 Positions)
Dr. Caren Barcelo
Dr. Scott Heppell

Ad Hoc Committees

The Council approved the formation of a new Ad Hoc Committee in anticipation of the issuance of a proposed rule on modifications to National Standard Guidelines which ensure fair and equitable allocation of fishery resources (National Standard 4), consider the economic impact of management decisions on fishing communities (National Standard 8), and minimize bycatch and bycatch mortality (National Standard 9). The new committee will be responsible for reviewing the proposed modifications and developing a draft comment letter for Council consideration. The committee will be composed of the following seats, and the Council Chair will appoint individual members:

Advisory BodyNumber
CPSAS2
EAS2
GAP4
HMSAS2
SAS1
SSC3
Conservation3
Tribal3
IDFG1
CDFW1
ODFW1
WDFW1

The Council approved formation of the HMS Roadmap – Fisheries Innovation Workgroup Ad Hoc committee charged with developing and refining Council procedures which help facilitate the more rapid creation of new HMS gears and achieve the goals of the HMS Roadmap, which is under development. The committee’s work will include modification of Council Operating Procedure 20 – HMS Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) process, improvement of HMS EFP guidance, development of HMS EFP performance goals (including acceptable bycatch and metrics to evaluate EFP performance), consideration of the National Seafood Strategy as it pertains to HMS fisheries, review of the draft HMS Roadmap, as appropriate, and discussion of relevant innovative fishery tools or measures needed to support a robust HMS fishery.

The new committee will be comprised of two HMS Management Team members, three HMS Advisory Subpanel members, a NMFS West Coast Region representative, two Council members, and up to two other members at the discretion of the Council Chair.