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September 2024 Decision Summary Document

September 19-23, 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 considered MPC Report 1, which summarized the August 12 MPC meeting, including updates on offshore wind energy activities by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; a briefing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; and updates on state, NMFS, and tribal activities.  The Council directed staff to submit a comment letter in response to the U.S. Department of Energy Request for Information on offshore wind energy transmission planning for the U.S. West Coast, and to continue monitoring offshore wind and aquaculture activities on the West Coast.   

Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ) Gap Analysis Framework and Regional Implementation Plan  

The Council received a presentation from the NMFS West Coast Region on the West Coast Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ) Implementation Plan (Agenda Item C.2, Attachment 1).  The Council also reviewed and adopted a draft Council EEJ Gap Analysis Framework Workplan (Agenda Item C.2, Attachment 2).  The initial request for a Gap Analysis came from the ad-hoc Equity and Environmental Justice Committee (EEJC) in September 2023 (Agenda Item H.5.b, Supplemental EEJC Report 1).  This analysis will review Council process and products and identify modifications that could more effectively incorporate EEJ considerations.  The Gap Analysis is scheduled to be presented to the Council in June 2025. 

Inflation Reduction Act Projects – Check In  

The Council received a staff presentation regarding the Council’s three Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)-funded projects and related draft project work plans and draft timelines. The Council then provided guidance on next steps in the development and implementation of the IRA projects, which included discussion of kick-off workshops for each project to further identify and describe outcomes, tasks, work products, information needs, and roles and responsibilities. The Council also discussed the value of leveraging the IRA projects to improve existing core work, such as data collection and fishery management decision processes, and to advance previous work around climate resilience where overlap exists, such as some of the priorities that emerged from the Climate and Communities Initiative. Finally, the Council considered the role and composition of the Ecosystem Workgroup (EWG) and Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel. For the EWG in particular, the Council expressed support for an IRA-focused charge over the next three years. This matter was further taken up under Agenda Item K.3 where a revised charge for the EWG was adopted.  

Habitat Issues 

Current Habitat Issues  

The Council considered Habitat Committee (HC) Report 1 that describes several current issues of interest, and HC Report 2 that summarizes current activities in California related to water operations, water quality, habitat restoration, and other salmon habitat issues.  The Council directed the HC and Council staff to draft three letters:  1) A letter to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) in response to BOR’s issuance of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for California Central Valley (CV) Water Operations; 2) a letter to the U.S. Corps of Engineers in response to the issuance of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Columbia River Dredge Materials Management Plan; and 3) a letter to BOR and the California State Water Resources Control Board, describing Council concerns that have been conveyed in previous correspondence.  All three letters will emphasize the agencies’ obligation to respond in detail to recommendations provided by the Council, as described in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and essential fish habitat regulations.   

Salmon Management 

Methodology Review – Final Topic Selection  

The Council identified two topics for the 2024 Salmon Methodology Review online meeting scheduled for October 4, 2024 of the three topics proposed by the Sacramento River Fall Chinook Workgroup (SRWG) (Agenda Item E.2.a, SRWG Report 1).  The topics selected are: 

1. Derivation of proxy SMSY/SMSP ratio and FMSY value suitable for use for Sacramento River fall Chinook (SRFC).  Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and maximum sustainable productions (MSP) are terms used in salmon management that help measure the number of spawning (S) salmon needed to perpetuate the stock, or the number needed to sustain the amount of hatchery production.  Because the SRFC stock consists of both natural and hatchery origin fish, a proxy-based ratio may help better inform data-based estimates for SMSY.  The current SMSY value is linked to the conservation objective and is under review by a workgroup formed to evaluate the management aspects for this stock and see if they can be improved.  The FMSY proxy value has been in place for many years and cursory work indicates updated improved data is available from more representative stocks under current conditions.  This methodology review will help inform the workgroup of potential paths forward.   

2. SRFC cohort reconstruction and comparison to the Sacramento Index.  Developing a cohort, or age-based, run reconstruction for this stock will likely improve the understanding of the age-structure for this stock and potentially improve the forecasts over time as more years of data are obtained. 

The Council did not move the third proposed topic (uncertainty metrics and buffering approaches for SRFC forecasts) forward for review in 2024, but noted this topic may be suitable for Methodology Review in a future year. 

Queets Spring/Summer Chinook Rebuilding – Range of Alternatives and Preliminary Preferred Alternative  

Queets River natural spring/summer Chinook were declared overfished in November 2023.  The Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan requires a rebuilding plan be proposed by the Salmon Technical Team (STT) for Council consideration within one year of an overfishing declaration and be implemented by NMFS within two years.  

The STT has worked collaboratively with tribal, state, and Federal entities to develop a draft rebuilding plan.  The Council reviewed the draft rebuilding plan and discussed the environmental factors that have led to the recent abundance levels and status of the stock.  The overfished status was based on the number of salmon returning to spawn during 2019-2021. Poor ocean and freshwater conditions prevailed during most of the years between 2014-2019, which likely negatively impacted the stock.  Since this is a natural stock with no hatchery influence, surrogate stocks from nearby coastal streams were used to estimate ocean harvest. Freshwater fisheries have essentially been closed for over twenty years.  Ocean harvest data is very limited on this stock, but a cursory review using surrogate stocks indicated that harvest impacts appear to occur at lower levels in Council-area fisheries.  Ocean impacts occur in British Columbia, Canada and Southeast Alaska ocean salmon fisheries, although the amount is small, but unknown, and the Council does not have jurisdiction over these fisheries.  Modeled changes in harvest scenarios showed no improvement in potential rebuilding time, 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. 

The draft Rebuilding plan also included recommendations for habitat improvement, potential hatchery supplementation programs, and an investigation of the possibility of improving the data for this stock.  

Because fishing activity does not appear to impact this stock, the Council adopted the draft rebuilding plan, and identified Alternative 1, Status Quo as their preliminary preferred alternative for public review.  The Council is slated to adopt a final rebuilding plan for recommendation to NMFS at their November 2024 Council meeting.  

Pacific Halibut Management  

2025 Catch Sharing Plan and Annual Regulations – Preliminary   

The Council adopted for public review the preliminary 2025 Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan (CSP) and a number of options, in addition to status quo, for the structure of the non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery. 

Directed Commercial Pacific Halibut Fishery 

In response to requests from the Groundfish Advisory Subpanel and the Salmon Advisory Subpanel (SAS), the Council directed NMFS to explore options, in addition to status quo, for the directed commercial halibut fishery for public review that would improve flexibility during the non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery.  These options are: 

  • Increasing the landing limits for the first two or three periods of the directed commercial halibut fishery. 
  • Announce the potential first three fishing periods prior to the start of the directed halibut fishery. 
  • Structure the first three fishing periods preferably with two weeks in between each opener. 
  • Move the permit deadlines later in the year per the recommendation in the SAS report. 
  • Consideration for a longer fishing period adding up to 24 hours. 

Sport Fishery 

The adopted proposals for the sport fishery are consistent with those found in the reports from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.   

  1. Washington Subareas (Supplemental WDFW Report 1) 
    1. Puget Sound Subarea (Marine Areas (MAs) 5-10)
      • Status Quo:
        •  If the 2025 2A fishery catch 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. Open 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
      • Status Quo:
        • If the 2025 2A FCEY is at least 1.3 million pounds, the season may be open up to three days per week (Thursday through Saturday), except Memorial Day weekend which may be open Friday and Sunday. Open May 1 through May 17, three days per week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Friday, May 23 and Sunday, May 25 (Memorial Day weekend).  
        • 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 Open May 1 through May 17 two days per week, Thursday and Saturday, and Friday, May 23 and Sunday May 25 (Memorial Day weekend). The season in June may be open up to four days per week (regardless of the 2A FCEY). May 29 through June 29, four days per week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.  
        • If quota remains, open up to seven days per week in August and September. 
      • Option 1:
        • Status Quo, except add Saturday, May 24 if the 2A FCEY is at least 1.3 million pounds and if the 2A FCEY is less than 1.3 million pounds open three days per week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) in June. 
    3. South Coast
      • Status Quo:
        • 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. Open May 1 through May 22, three days per week, Thursday, Sunday, and Tuesday, and 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
      • Status Quo:
        • During May and June, the fishery may be open up to three days per week (Thursday, Sunday and Tuesday). Open May 1 through June 29, three days per week, Thursday, Sunday and Tuesday.  
        • 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. 
      • Option 1:
        • If the 2025 2A FCEY is at least 1.3 million pounds, open: May 1 through May 29, three days per week, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday and 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 a predetermined amount of the sub-area quota remains after a date that is also predetermined.  
        • If the 2025 2A FCEY is less than 1.3 million pounds, open May 1 through May 29, 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. 
      • Option 2:
        • Same as Option 1, except the recreational fishery would not open on Monday, June 23 or Tuesday, June 24 (Back-up dates) to reduce interaction with the commercial directed halibut fishery which typically opens the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday the last week of June. Under this option, both fisheries would be open on Thursday. 
  1. Oregon Subareas (F.1.a, ODFW Report 1) 
    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. 
        • Language clean-up: Under section 6.11.1.c., the intent is to take the entire Central Oregon Coast Subarea allocation by October 31, not September 30. The Central Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon subareas are open until October 31. 
  1. California subareas (F.1.a, Supp CDFW Report 1) 
    1. Subarea Changes
      • Proposed adding 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.  
      • Request for more information on the Area 2A Commercial Discard Mortality Estimate Calculation in 2023, and 2024 calculations may have differed from past years.   

Commercial Fishery Regulation Changes: Vessel Monitoring Systems, Seabird Avoidance, and Catch Reporting – Range of Alternatives, Preliminary Preferred Alternative  

The Council selected a range of alternatives (ROA) for three actions that would modify management measures for the non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut (DC halibut) fishery and provided clarifications to the problem statement.  These actions were initially recommended by the Enforcement Consultants (EC) to improve monitoring and enforcement of regulations during the DC halibut fishery.  The updated problem statement notes these actions would address monitoring of closed areas intended to rebuild  overfished species, keep groundfish catch within annual catch limits, protect groundfish essential fish habitat, reduce the potential for gear interactions with seabirds, and provide additional information to fisheries managers on the catch of Pacific halibut in the DC halibut, salmon troll, and primary sablefish fishery which could improve accounting and management of Catch Sharing Plan. 

The Council reviewed the staff analysis and reports from the EC, Salmon Advisory Subpanel, Groundfish Advisory Subpanel, and public comments.  A preliminary preferred alternative (PPA) was only selected for Action 2.  The Council is scheduled to make a final decision on all three actions at their meeting in November 2024. 

  • ACTION 1. Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) 
    • No Action: Status Quo
    • Alternative 1: Require VMS on vessels participating in the DC halibut fishery  
      • Component 1. Applicable waters 
        1. Exclusive Economic Zone
        2. Convention waters of International Pacific Halibut Commission Area 2A (0nm – 200nm) 
      • Component 2: VMS ping rate requirement 
        1. Four times per hour (i.e. once every 15 minutes) 
        2. Once per hour
      • Component 3: VMS status requirement (when VMS unit must be turned on and transmitting location) 
        1. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year 
        2. When participating in the DC halibut fishery and fishing during an open period 
  • ACTION 2. Seabird Avoidance Measures
    • No Action: Status Quo
    • Alternative 1 (PPA): Require vessels participating in the DC halibut fishery using bottom longline gear to deploy streamer lines when setting gear. 
      • Component 1. Applicable waters
        1. PPA – Exclusive Economic Zone
        2. Convention waters of International Pacific Halibut Commission Area 2A (0nm – 200nm) 
  • ACTION 3. Catch Reporting on Fish Tickets
    • No Action: Status Quo
    • Alternative 1: Require that fish receiving tickets for landings of Pacific halibut from vessels participating in the DC halibut fishery and only landing Pacific halibut include both weight (pounds) and number (count). 
    • Alternative 2:  Require fish receiving tickets for landings of Pacific halibut from any vessels landing Pacific halibut to include both weight (pounds) and number (count) of Pacific halibut landed.  

Coastal Pelagic Species Management

National Marine Fisheries Service Report  

The National Marine Fisheries Service provided an update on the recent U.S. District Court Order affecting the Pacific sardine rebuilding plan and 2024-2025 harvest specifications.  To meet the timeline of the Court Order, the Council will be considering changes to the Pacific sardine rebuilding plan in November 2024. Any changes made to the rebuilding plan will be done through a final Council action at that time. 

Ecosystem Matters  

Fishery Ecosystem Plan Initiative 4: Groundfish and Salmon Risk Tables—Progress Review  

The Council agreed to explore the use of the risk table methodology described in the CCIEA Report during the 2027-2028 groundfish harvest specifications setting process. This exploration will not result in use of the methodology for harvest specifications setting and instead will be done in a parallel effort intended to evaluate the performance of the risk table methodology. The current approach would continue to be used to set 2027-2028 acceptable biological catch/ annual catch limits. The Council encouraged applying the risk table methodology to all stocks assessed in 2025, but if that is not feasible, then sablefish, longer-lived species, and Category 2 stocks should be prioritized for this trial. The Council also directed relevant advisory bodies to explore how the risk table methodology could be used to adjust harvest specifications in the time period between stock assessments. After the conclusion of the 2027-2028 harvest specifications decision process, the Council will evaluate the use of risk tables and decide next steps. 

The Council directed the EWG to meet with appropriate salmon advisory bodies over winter to discuss comparable methodologies that could potentially be used for selected salmon stocks and asked it to report back in March 2025 on these discussions and provide any updates on ongoing work to apply risk tables to groundfish. The Council also asked the EWG to provide a report on the process, results, and anticipated next steps to-date under Initiative 4. 

Groundfish Management 

Methodology Review: Preliminary Fishery Impact Model Topics   

The Council considered fishery impact models used in groundfish management under this agenda item. The Council decided to adopt recommendations by the Groundfish Management Team (Agenda Item I.2.a, Supplemental GMT Report 2) and the Scientific and Statistical Committee (Agenda Item I.2.a, Supplemental SSC Report 1).  These actions will result in: 

  • discontinuing the use of the groundfish nearshore projection tool. This tool will be revisited once the Council has completed appropriate steps under the Phase 2 stock definition process for nearshore species, 
  • continuing to use the non-nearshore sablefish catch projection tool with the low, average, and high attainment scenarios utilized in the 2025-26 harvest specifications cycle, rather than assuming full attainment; see Agenda Item I.2.a Supplemental GMT Report 1 for more details on how this better characterizes the uncertainty in the projected incidental catch from this tool,  
  • developing a model to project discard mortality from non-sablefish, non-nearshore fishing activity in preparation for the 2027-28 harvest specifications cycle,  
  • an exploration of included depth-dependent discard mortality rates for use within fishery impact models.   

The Council is scheduled to revisit this agenda item for final action in November.  

Final Trawl Cost Project Report 

The Council received a presentation on Phase 2 of the Trawl Cost Project Report and adopted the final report.  A final version of the report will be made available on the Council website in the future. 

2025 and 2027 Stock Assessment Plan and Schedule   

The Council amended the list of groundfish species to be assessed in 2025 to remove redbanded rockfish from the list previously adopted in June 2024.  In addition, they added redbanded rockfish and yellowtail rockfish south of 40° 10’ N. latitude to the preliminary list of species to be assessed in 2027.  Redbanded rockfish was moved to the preliminary 2027 list due to ageing capacity constraints during the 2025 stock assessment cycle. Yellowtail rockfish was requested for the preliminary 2027 list due to anticipated increases in landings with implementation of non-bottom contact gears and reopening of rockfish conservation areas. 

Species for 2025 Assessments  Assessment Type  Anticipated Assessment Area 
Chilipepper rockfish  Benchmark  Coastwide  
Quillback rockfish off California  Benchmark  South of 42° N. lat.  
Rougheye/ Blackspotted rockfish  Benchmark  Coastwide  
Sablefish  Benchmark  Coastwide  
Yellowtail rockfish  Benchmark  North of 40° 10’ N. lat.  
Widow rockfish 1/  Update  Coastwide  
Yelloweye rockfish 1/  Update  Coastwide  
Black rockfish  Catch-only projection  Oregon  
Bocaccio  Catch-only projection  Coastwide 
Canary rockfish  Catch-only projection  Coastwide  
Darkblotched rockfish  Catch-only projection  Coastwide  
Petrale sole  Catch-only projection  Coastwide  
Shortspine Thornyhead  Catch-only projection  Coastwide  
1/ If there is only capacity to do one update assessment, widow rockfish is the priority over yelloweye rockfish. Yelloweye rockfish would then be a priority for a benchmark assessment in 2027.  
Preliminary Species for 2027 Assessment Type  Anticipated Assessment Area(s) 
Cowcod  Benchmark  Coastwide  
English sole  Benchmark  Coastwide  
Lingcod  Benchmark  North and South of 40° 10’ N. lat.   
Pacific spiny dogfish shark  Benchmark  Coastwide  
Petrale sole Benchmark  Coastwide  
Redbanded rockfish  Benchmark  Coastwide  
Slope rockfish species (TBD)  TBD  Coastwide 
Vermilion/sunset rockfish  TBD  Multiple Areas  
Yelloweye rockfish        (if not done in 2025)  Benchmark  Coastwide  
Yellowtail rockfish Benchmark South of 40° 10’ N. lat. 

Stock Definitions for Species Assessed in 2025 and 2027—Preliminary Preferred Alternative   

The Council adopted the following preliminary preferred alternative stock definitions for species to be assessed in 2025 and several species preliminarily planned for assessment in 2027.  Final action on these stock definitions is scheduled for November and will result in an additional Amendment to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, similar to the previous Amendment 31.  This action is to ensure stocks are defined per the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act and its National Standards and provides the framework for 2025 assessment work.  See Item I.8 for additional groundfish stock definition planning and guidance by the Council.  

Priority Species Preliminary Preferred Alternative Stock Area Delineation 
Chilipepper rockfish 1 Coastwide 
English sole 1 Coastwide 
Redbanded rockfish 1 Coastwide 
Rougheye/Blackspotted rockfish 1 Coastwide 
Widow rockfish 1 Coastwide 
Yelloweye rockfish 1 Coastwide 
Yellowtail rockfish 3 N. of 40° 10′ N. lat. stock 
S. of 40° 10′ N. lat. stock 

Inseason Adjustments for 2024 and Technical Corrections for 2025-26—Final Action  

The Council adopted the inseason adjustments for 2024 and the technical corrections for the 2025-26 biennium as specified in Agenda Item I.6.a, Supplemental GMT Report 1 as follows: 

  • Correct the trip limit for the “Other fish” complex from 0 lbs. per 2 months to unlimited for the limited entry fixed gear (LEFG) fishery south of 40° 10′ N. lat. (for the remainder of 2024). 
  • Correct the open access (OA) sablefish between 40° 10′ N. lat. and 36° N. lat. trip limit to 3,250 lbs. per week not to exceed 6,500 lbs. per 2 months. (For implementation in the final rule for the 2025-26 harvest specifications and management measures action.) 
  • Correct the 2025-26 harvest guidelines and annual catch targets for yelloweye rockfish as shown in Table 2. 

Reestablish LEFG and OA trip limits for cabezon, shallow and deeper nearshore rockfish between 37° 07′ N latitude and 36° N latitude for both 2024 and the 2025-26 biennial specifications final rule, as follows: 

LEFG and OA Minor Nearshore Rockfish south of 40° 10′ N. lat. 

  • Between 40° 10′ N. lat. – 37° 07′ N. lat. Shallow Nearshore: 0 lbs. / 2 months 
  • South of 37° 07′ N. lat. Shallow Nearshore: 2,000 lbs. / 2 months 
  • Between 40° 10′ N. lat. – 37° 07′ N. lat. Deeper Nearshore: 0 lbs. / 2 months 
  • South of 37° 07′ N. lat. Deeper Nearshore: 2,000 lbs. / 2 months, of which no more than 75 lbs. of which may be copper rockfish 

LEFG and OA Cabezon in California 

  • Between 40° 10′ N. lat. – 37° 07′ N. lat.: 0 lbs. / 2 months 
  • South of 37° 07′ N. lat.: Unlimited 

The Council adopted the GAP recommendation (Agenda I.6.a, Supplemental GAP Report 1) to increase in the incidental halibut limit in the sablefish fishery north of Pt. Chehalis for the remainder of 2024 from 130 pounds to 150 pounds of halibut per 1,000 pounds of dressed sablefish plus two halibut for the rest of 2024 (2 + 150 lbs. per 1,000 lbs.). 

The Council also adopted technical corrections to revise the overfishing limit (OFL), acceptable biological catch, and annual catch limit contribution values for greenspotted rockfish (a contributor to the Shelf Rockfish Complexes north and south of 40° 10’ N. latitude) in the 2025-26 biennial specifications, as well as the shelf complex specifications and allocations, as described in Agenda Item I.6, Supplemental Revised Attachment 1.  

Trawl Catch Share Program and Intersector Allocation Reviews—Scoping   

The Council provided guidance relative to the scope and focus of the trawl catch share and intersector allocation reviews.  For the trawl catch share review, the review document will look at the program performance of the trawl catch share program and provide a diagnosis of why the program does not appear to be meeting its economic goals and objectives. This would include factors related to program design and those outside of the Council process and would have a high priority focus on the non-whiting bottom trawl sector. 

For the intersector allocation review, the Council broadened the scope from formal allocations to include those stocks allocated on a biennial basis through the harvest specifications process. 

The Council also gave guidance to expand the potential hearing locations to two in each state as well as two virtual meetings.  Those locations are Seattle and Westport, Washington; Astoria and Newport, Oregon; and Eureka and San Luis Obispo/Morro Bay, California.  The Council will formalize the hearing locations and hearing officers in November 2024. 

Phase 2 Stock Definitions—Scoping 

The Council adopted the draft Purpose and Needs Statement for Step 1 as described in Section 1.3 of the Phase 2 Scoping Document (Agenda Item I.8, Attachment 1, September 2024). The Council also adopted the preliminary scope for Phase 2 as recommended by the Groundfish Management Team. In brief, the scope of Step 1 is to identify and define stocks of the remaining groundfish species in need of conservation and management per the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act and its National Standards that have not previously been defined in other actions. The Council adopted the proposed Phase 2 process workplan shown in I.8, Revised Attachment 2, September 2024 with the understanding the identified timelines will require adjustment to align with Council schedules and workload. Additionally, the Scientific and Statistical Committee reviewed and endorsed the literature review (I.8, Attachment 3, September 2024) as the best scientific information available to inform stock definitions for use in management. They offered several recommendations to improve the document (Agenda I.8, Supplemental SSC Report 1, September 2024). The SSC also reviewed the methods developed by NMFS (Reports 1, Report 2, and Supplemental Report 3) to establish predominance of groundfish catch in Federal waters and offered multiple suggestions for consideration in future iterations of these models.  

Highly Migratory Species Management

International Management Activities

At its September 2-6 meeting the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission adopted a resolution setting the 2025-2026 Pacific bluefin tuna commercial fishery catch limits for the U.S. and Mexico. In consultation with the Council, NMFS will set trip limits to ensure the U.S. catch limit is fully utilized but not exceeded during the biennial period. The Council requested NMFS use the range of options found in Agenda Item J.2.a, Supplemental CDFW Report 1, Table 1, to develop regulatory alternatives to help the Council make a final recommendation on management measures at its November meeting. 

2025-26 Harvest Specifications and Management Measures—Preliminary  

The Council had no comments on the reference points, resulting status determination criteria, and proposed status determinations presented in Agenda Item J.3.a, NMFS Report 1. However, it directed its SSC to review reference points for shortfin mako shark, because they are new to the latest assessment. It agreed with the recommendations from the Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS) and HMS Management Team (HMSMT) to consider an increase in the incidental HMS landing limit (excluding swordfish) for the small mesh drift gillnet fishery, which is not managed under the HMS Fishery Management Plan. Based on an analysis prepared by the HMSMT, the Council may take final action on this regulatory change at is November meeting. 

Administrative Matters 

Fiscal Matters  

The Council approved the No-Cost Extension Draft Proposal and Budget for submission, approved the 2023 Audit Result, and recommended the administrative updates to Council Operating Procedures 9, Schedule 7.  

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

The following updates were made to the Council’s roster: 

  • Mr. Hugh Morrison is the new the Pacific Region Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, replacing Ms. Robyn Thorson who has retired.  
  • LT Skye-Marie Williamsz was named a designee for Rear Admiral Charles Fosse, United States Coast Guard, replacing LT Devon Zych.  
  • Chair Pettinger appointed Ms. Aja Szumylo, Ms. Sharon Keifer, and Dr. Lent to the Council’s Legislative Committee, replacing Mr. Bob Dooley, Mr. Phil Anderson, and Mr. Virgil Moore. 
  • Chair Pettinger appointed Ms. Aja Szumylo to the Council’s Ad hoc Equity and Environmental Justice Committee, replacing Ms. Heather Hall.  

The Council adopted a revised charge for the Ad hoc Ecosystem Workgroup (EWG) as follows: 

“The EWG will provide technical and policy advice in support of the Council’s three Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)-funded projects. IRA projects are focused on increasing the climate resilience of Council-managed resources and are anticipated to be completed by late 2027. The EWG may provide technical and policy advice to the Council on other Ecosystem issues and items as needed and/or requested by the Council.” 

The Council tasked staff to send a nomination letter to the NMFS Office of Protected Resources, recommending Dr. Rebecca Lent as the primary Council representative and Chair Pettinger as the alternate to the Take Reduction Team. The Take Reduction Team will address 3 strategic marine mammal stocks (i.e., Central America/Southern Mexico humpback whales, Mainland Mexico humpback whales, and Eastern North Pacific blue whales) and 5 commercial fisheries, including Federal sablefish pot, CA Dungeness crab pot, OR Dungeness crab pot, WA Dungeness crab pot, and CA spot prawn pot. Additional fisheries and/or marine mammal stocks may be included in the notice formally establishing the team in 2025. The team is expected to meet in person for several meetings over a six-month period to develop consensus recommendations that achieve the Marine Mammal Protection Act goals.  

Council Advisory Body Appointments  

The Council made the following Advisory Body appointments 

  • Dr. Nicholas (Nick) Wegner to replace Dr. James Hilger in one of the NMFS positions on the Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team. 
  • Mr. Owyn Snodgrass to replace Dr. Matthew Craig in one of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center positions on the Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT).  
  • Mr. Karter Harmon to replace Ms. Celia Barroso in one of the West Coast Region positions on the HMSMT.  
  • Dr. Brian Langseth to replace Dr. Chantel Wetzel in one of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center positions on the Groundfish Management Team. 
  • Mr. Eric Morgan to be assigned as the NMFS Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) OLE’s alternate designee on the Council’s Enforcement Consultants (EC), replacing Mr. Sean Stanley.  Mr. Greg Busch will continue to serve on the EC as OLE’s primary representative. 

Council Advisory Body Appointments for the 2025-2027 Term 

The Council’s current three-year Advisory Body term-limited positions end December 31, 2024.  The Council reviewed the current Advisory Body compositions and adopted the following changes for implementation in the 2025-27 term. The Council is currently soliciting nominations for the 2025-27 team with applications due by 5 PM November 7, 2024. For more information, please see the Advisory Body Vacancies website. The Council will make appointments their November 13-18, 2024 meeting in Costa Mesa, California. 

  • Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Advisory Subpanel: Revise the description of the Washington commercial seat on the CPS advisory subpanel to be either Washington commercial or Washington processor (Washington commercial/processor).  
  • Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel: Revise three of the state-specific seats to be At-large. 
  • Groundfish Advisory Subpanel: Revise the current 3 Sport Fisheries At-large positions to be one Washington, one Oregon, and two California Sport Fishery positions. 

Council Operating Procedures (COP) 

The Council adopted the following changes to their Operating Procedures 

  • COP 1 General Council Operations: The public comment period will be five minutes for both individuals and groups starting at the November 2024 Council meeting. 
  • COP 9, Schedule 7 Fiscal Management Cycle and Activities:  An administrative change that corrects the time frame covered under the PFMC administrative grant, consistent with the Department of Commerce grants process.  
  • COP 27 Process for Initiating Allocation Reviews: An administrative change that corrects the list of groundfish species with formal and biennial allocations to align with recent management actions.