November 2006 Council Meeting
List of Decisions

as of November 29, 2006; 1:35 pm

A basic summary of decisions from the November 12-17, 2006 Council meeting in Del Mar, California is posted below.

• Highly Migratory Species Management
• Groundfish Management
• Habitat
• Coastal Pelagic Species
• Pacific Halibut Management
• Marine Protected Areas
• Salmon Management
• Administrative Matters


• Download a PDF version of the November 2006 Decision Document
• Visit the Council Decisions Archives Page

Highly Migratory Species Management

Final Changes to Routine Management Measures

The Council adopted the following measures for implementation in the April 1, 2007-March 31, 2009 management cycle:

• An exemption to vessel marking requirements for recreational charter vessels;
• A daily bag limit of 25 albacore per angler per day in federal waters between the Oregon/California border and Point Conception and a bag limit of 10 albacore per angler per day in federal waters between Point Conception and the U.S./Mexican border;
• A bag limit of 10 bluefin tuna in federal waters off California;
• Possession limits would mirror state regulations.

The Council deferred final action on a change to the northern boundary of the Pacific leatherback turtle conservation area until the next management cycle (beginning in June 2008).

Exempted Fishing Permits

An exempted fishing permit (EFP) for the drift gillnet fishery recommended by the Council for issuance in 2006 has not been issued by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The Council moved to recommend this EFP for issuance in 2007 with the same terms and conditions as they originally recommended for 2006. The fishery will not occur in 2006 because the open season period has passed. These terms and conditions include single animal take caps for three additional marine mammals (fin, minke, and gray whales), in contrast to the much higher take levels NMFS notified the Council can be allowed. The Council also adopted alternatives for public review for consideration of an EFP in 2007 allowing one longline fishing vessel to target swordfish in the West Coast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ); final Council action is scheduled for the April 2007 Council meeting.

Fishery Management Amendment 1: Overfishing Response for Bigeye Tuna

The Council took final action to adopt a fishery management plan (FMP) amendment. Amendment language calls for a Pacific-wide response to overfishing of bigeye tuna with particular emphasis on reductions to the high seas international longline and purse seine fisheries. Specific amendment language will be posted on the Council website in the relatively near future.

Yellowfin Tuna Status

The Council moved to amend the highly migratory species FMP to address eastern Pacific Ocean overfishing of yellowfin tuna. The Council will send a response to the notification letter received from NMFS outlining the process for developing this amendment, which will be coordinated with regard to activities of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission.

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Groundfish Management

Groundfish Bycatch Work Plan

The Council adopted the bycatch work plan with recommendations for additional revisions to the document. The revised work plan will include a discussion of the process for periodically updating it as new information becomes available. The Council expressed its high priority on continuing to actively minimize bycatch as it takes action on the full spectrum of fishery management issues in upcoming years.

Groundfish Stock Assessments for 2007

The Council adopted the following groundfish stock assessments for 2007 that will affect management decision-making for the 2009 and 2010 fishing seasons:

Furthermore, the Council requested the review of updated assessments occur about the time of the June 2007 Council meeting at a time when the Groundfish Management Team and Groundfish Advisory Subpanel can attend.

Consideration of Inseason Adjustments

The Council adopted the following inseason adjustments for ongoing 2006 groundfish fisheries:

• Reduce the sablefish daily-trip-limit (DTL) limits south of 36° N latitude to 300 lbs per day, or one landing per week of up to 1,050 lbs not to exceed 3,000 lbs per month starting on December 1;
• Prohibit retention of cabezon in federal waters off Oregon to conform with previously-taken state action in reaction to attaining the state harvest guideline;
• Request that industry reduce petrale sole catches this year if catch rates appear too high.

The Council also adopted the following adjustments to upcoming 2007 groundfish fisheries:

• Reduce the open access sablefish DTL limits north of 36° N latitude to 300 lbs per day, or one landing per week of up to 700 lbs not to exceed 2,100 lbs per 2 months beginning January 1;
• Reduce the open access sablefish DTL limits south of 36° N latitude to 300 lbs per day, or one landing per week of up to 700 lbs beginning January 1 and revisit in March 2007;
• Reduce the periods 1 and 6 limited entry trawl trip limits for petrale sole from 80,000 lbs per 2 months to 50,000 lbs per 2 months.

Shore-Based Whiting Monitoring Program

The Council adopted for analysis and public review a set of shore-based whiting monitoring program alternatives. The Council also authorized an ad hoc workgroup to develop a “hybrid alternative” that combines elements of alternatives 3 and 4, to be prepared and analyzed in order to allow Council final action at the March 2007 meeting and in time for public review prior to the March Council meeting. Appointees to this work group are listed in the Appointments section of this Decision Document under Administrative Matters.

Intersector Allocation for Trawl Individual Quotas and Other Management Needs

The Council adopted the range of preliminary intersector allocation alternatives recommended by the Groundfish Allocation Committee (see page 19 in Agenda Item D.7.b, Attachment 1, November 2006) for initial analysis. Council staff will publish a scoping information document with the preliminary range of alternatives as well as relevant information and data in the near future to solicit public comments on the final range of alternatives and any other considerations for analysis in an environmental impact statement (EIS). The Council will decide a final range of alternatives for inclusion in a draft EIS analysis next year.

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Habitat

Current Habitat Issues

The Council approved a letter to be sent to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission with comments on the DEIS dealing with relicensing several Klamath River dams. The letter is consistent with the Council's April 24, 2006 letter recommending removal of the four lowermost dams on the Klamath River. The Council also approved the Habitat Committee proposed outline for the Klamath Overfishing Concern Report with some minor additions and scheduled receiving the report at the March 2007 meeting.

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Coastal Pelagic Species

Pacific Sardine Stock Assessment and Harvest Guideline

The Council adopted a harvest guideline (HG) of 152,654 metric ton (mt) for the 2007 Pacific sardine fishery. This harvest guideline is based on a biomass estimate of 1.32 million mt. Per the FMP allocation framework adopted under Amendment 11, the Pacific sardine HG is allocated seasonally with 35% of the HG to be allocated coast wide January 1, 40% of the HG plus any portion not harvested from the initial allocation reallocated coast wide July 1; and the remaining 25% of the HG, plus any portion not harvested from earlier allocations, to be reallocated coast wide September 15. The Council also recommended a 45% incidental catch rate be allowed for other coastal pelagic species (CPS) fisheries in the event that a seasonal allocation be taken before the end of an allocation period or the HG is taken before the end of the year.

Stock Assessment Review Panel Terms of Reference for 2007

The Council reviewed the draft Terms of Reference for the CPS stock assessment process scheduled for 2007 and directed Council staff to revise the document as recommended by the CPS Advisory Subpanel, the CPS Management Team, and the SSC and distribute it for public review. The Council is scheduled to approve a final document in March 2007 for use during the review of full assessments for Pacific mackerel and Pacific sardine in May and September, respectively.

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Pacific Halibut Management

Changes to Catch Sharing Plan and 2007 Annual Regulations

The Council adopted the following changes to the Area 2A Pacific halibut catch sharing plan affecting Washington and California sport fisheries.

1. Decrease the California possession limit on land from two daily limits to one daily limit statewide.
2. For the Washington South Coast subarea, set aside 5% of the quota for a northern nearshore fishery after the offshore fishery has closed, with openings on Fridays and Saturdays.
   1. Constrain the fishery to two specific nearshore areas on June 19 and 21:
      1. within WDFW marine catch area 4B; and
      2. shoreward of a modified line approximating 30 fms along the outer coast;
   2. Reopen the fishery in the entire north coast subarea on Saturday, June 23;
   3. If sufficient quota remains, then reopen the entire subarea on June 28;
   4. If there isn't sufficient quota remaining to reopen the offshore area, then reopen the two nearshore areas on June 28, up to four days per week (Thursday-Sunday), until the quota is projected to be taken.

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Marine Protected Areas

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Marine Protected Areas

The Council reviewed new and existing alternatives for developing fishing regulations to complete proposed marine protected areas within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. As a near term measure, the Council decided to move forward with pursuing marine research reserves under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and California state regulations. As a long term measure, the Council decided to initiate a new Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP). The new FEP is intended to be of an “umbrella” type structure, so as to allow the current four Council FMPs to continue while at the same time enable comprehensive and coordinated fishery regulation in all EEZ ecosystems.

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Salmon Management

Preseason Salmon Management Schedule for 2007

The Council approved the schedule and process for developing 2007 ocean salmon management measures as described in Agenda Item I.2.a, Attachment 1, November 2006. The Council also adopted the following Council-sponsored hearing locations and dates: Westport, Washington - March 26; Coos Bay, Oregon - March 26; Santa Rosa, California - March 27. Other state-sponsored meetings will be considered at the March 2007 Council meeting.

Salmon Methodology Review

The Council accepted the Fishery Regulation Assessment Model (FRAM) documentation and directed the Model Evaluation Workgroup and Council Staff to finalize the documentation for release to the public.

The Council also accepted the SSC recommendations for the Columbia River Technical Advisory Committee to continue evaluation of Columbia River fall chinook ocean abundance forecasts, but did not approve their use for 2007 Council fisheries.

The Council recommended development of a detailed study design for the proposed genetic stock identification pilot program for review at the March Council meeting. The Council may adopt 2007 EFPs to assist in data collection as part of this pilot program. NMFS will consider leading an interagency workgroup to discuss the potential use of data collected in the program in active fishery management decision making, but not for 2007.

Fishery Management Plan Amendment 15 (de minimis fisheries)

The Council reviewed the Environmental Assessment (EA) for alternatives allowing de minimis fishing impacts when the Klamath River fall chinook (KRFC) escapement objective of 35,000 natural spawners cannot be achieved with a normal fishery management response. After consideration of the analyses contained in the EA, as well as statements from its advisory bodies and public comments, the Council selected a modified version of the 10% Cap Alternative as its Preferred Alternative. The Preferred Alternative would allow up to a 10% ocean impact rate on age-4 KRFC that results in natural spawning escapements of between 35,000 and 22,000, including river recreational and tribal fisheries. At projected natural spawning escapement levels less than 22,000, the Council shall reduce the allowable age-4 ocean impact rate to reflect the status of the stock. The 10% age-4 ocean impact rate is a cap, and the Council will prescribe an appropriate age-4 ocean impact rate in any year a de minimis fishery is considered based on annual circumstances.

A list of considerations for decreasing the allowable age-4 ocean impact rate was adopted as part of the amendment, including:

• Critically low natural spawner abundance, including the risk of substocks dropping below crucial genetic thresholds;
• A series of low spawner abundance in recent years;
• The status of co-mingled stocks;
• El Niño or other adverse environmental conditions;
• Endangered Species Act considerations; and
• Other considerations as appropriate.

These considerations would be reviewed during the preseason planning process and are not limited to any particular natural spawning escapement level.

Selection of the Preferred Alternative at this time should allow approval and implementation (if necessary) of Amendment 15 by May 1, 2007 - the beginning of the 2007 salmon management season. While implementation of Amendment 15 would allow projected natural spawning escapements of less than 35,000 KRFC, the amendment does not affect the criteria for determining if the stock is overfished, nor the required action if the stock is found to be overfished.

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Administrative Matters

Updated Research and Data Needs

The Council approved a final 2006-2008 Research and Data Needs and directed Council staff to incorporate comments made by Council advisory bodies, and to distribute the document to various organizations which may be able to provide support in their achievement, such as the NMFS West Coast Regional Offices and Science Centers, West Coast states, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, and National and West Coast Sea Grant Institutions. The Council also tasked Council staff with providing the document to West Coast National Marine Sanctuaries, interacting with these sanctuaries on the development of their research priorities, and working collaboratively with these sanctuaries toward achieving research priorities of common interest. The final document will be posted on the Council website in the near future.

Appointment of Council Officers and Members of Advisory Bodies, Standing Committees, and Other Forums, Including the 2007-09 Advisory Body Term and any Necessary Changes to Council Operating Procedures

Council Officers
The Council appointed Mr. Donald Hansen and Mr. David Ortmann to serve as Council chairman and vice chairman, respectively, for the 2007 term.

Salmon Technical Team
Following the resignation of Dr. Gary Morishima, the Council appointed Mr. Keith Lutz, Fisheries Management Division Manager for the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, to the Tribal Government position on the Salmon Technical Team.

Groundfish Allocation Committee
To fill nonvoting vacancies on the Groundfish Allocation Committee (GAC), the Council appointed Mr. Tom Ghio to the Open Access Fishery position and Mr. Daniel Waldeck to the Pacific Whiting Fishery position. The Council chair also made an interim appointment of Mr. Steve Barrager to the Conservation position on the GAC. Council staff will solicit nominations to fill this position on a regular basis for Council consideration at the March 2007 meeting.

2007-2009 Term Advisory Bodies
The Council also selected advisory body members to fill positions for the 2007-2009 term on the Coastal Pelagic Species, Groundfish, Highly Migratory Species, and Salmon Advisory subpanels; for non-agency positions on the Habitat Committee; and for at-large positions on the Scientific and Statistical Committee. The positions and selected members are provided in the final pages of this document.

Ad Hoc Shoreside Whiting Alternative Group
The Council Chair announced the following appointments to the newly formed Ad Hoc Shoreside Whiting Alternative Group:

NMFS Northwest Region - Frank Lockhart, Yvonne de Reynier, and Becky Renko;
Council Member - Rod Moore, serving as chair;
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife - Brian Culver;
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife - Mark Saelens;
California Department of Fish and Game - Susan Ashcraft;
Industry - Heather Mann, David Jincks, and Rich Carrol;
Enforcement - Dayna Matthews and Mike Cenci.

Ad Hoc Groundfish Trawl Individual Quota Committee
The Council Chair appointed Craig Urness to replace Frank Dulcich.

Draft March 2007 Council Agenda

The proposed draft agenda for the March 2007 Council meeting will be available on the Council website in February 2007 at www.pcouncil.org.

Appointees to the 2007-2009 Advisory Body Term

The appointees list is available in the following formats for download:
	PDF version
	Microsoft Word version

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PFMC
11/29/06
1:35 pm