June 2008 Council Meeting
List of Decisions

as of June 16, 2008; 5:30 PM

A basic summary of decisions from the June 6-13, 2008 Council meeting in Foster City, California is posted below.

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


• Download a PDF version of the June 2008 Decision Document
• Visit the Council Decisions Archives Page

Coastal Pelagic Species Management

Pacific Mackerel

The Council adopted the updated Pacific mackerel assessment and the following management measures for the July 2008-June 2009 Pacific mackerel fishery:

• Establish a harvest guideline for the directed fishery at 40,000 metric ton (mt), providing an 11,772 mt set-aside for incidental landings in other fisheries.
• Close the directed fishery and revert to an incidental-catch-only fishery with a 45 percent incidental landing allowance when Pacific mackerel are landed with other coastal pelagic species (CPS), except that up to 1 mt of Pacific mackerel could be landed without landing any other CPS. If needed, conduct an in-season review of the 2008-2009 Pacific mackerel fishery at the nearest feasible Council meeting, with the possibility of either releasing a portion of the incidental set-aside to the directed fishery or further constraining incidental landings to ensure total harvest remains below the acceptable biological catch.

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Highly Migratory Species Management

Changes to Routine Management Measures for 2009-2010 Seasons

The Council directed the Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) to begin developing management proposals to address recreational catch of thresher sharks in central and southern California. Proposals will be evaluated at the September Council meeting for release for public review. Final action is now scheduled to be taken at the March 2009 Council meeting.

Council Recommendations to Regional Fishery Management Organizations

The Council directed staff to forward the recommendations contained in the supplemental HMSMT and HMS Advisory Subpanel report on needed international management actions to U.S. delegations to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission of the Northern Committee of Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, as appropriate.

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Salmon Management

Klamath River Fall Chinook Overfishing Concern

The Council adopted criteria and rebuilding measures necessary to end the Overfishing Concern (OC) for Klamath River fall Chinook (KRFC), which was triggered by failing to achieve 35,000 adult natural area spawners in 2004-2006. The criteria to end the OC is achievement of natural area adult spawning escapements of at least 35,000 in three of four consecutive years or of at least 40,700 in two consecutive years, beginning with 2007 spawning years.

The rebuilding plan adopted to achieve the criteria included a number of actions, including changing fishery management objectives, altering hatchery practices, intensifying research, and habitat improvements. The measure most affecting ocean fishery management is managing for a minimum expected spawning escapement of 40,700 until the OC is ended. The 2008 regulation setting process was consistent with that recommendation.

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Groundfish Management

Stock Assessment Planning for 2011-2012 Groundfish Fishery Decision Making

The Council adopted the following full and updated stock assessments to be done next year to inform management decisions for the 2011 and 2012 seasons:

Bronzespotted and greenspotted rockfish are both candidates for the final full assessment that the infrastructure can accommodate. The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) was charged to review the data informing both potential assessments and recommend at the September 2008 Council meeting a maximum of one of them go forward as a full assessment in the next management cycle.

The Council also adopted a new terms of reference for groundfish rebuilding analysis, but deferred decision on a final terms of reference for stock assessments and stock assessment reviews until the September Council meeting. Expected revisions include at least (1) definition, process and utility in fishery management decision-making of assessments that fall short of the data requirements for a full assessment, and (2) resolution of the number of reviewers at stock assessment review panels next year. The Council is also scheduled to approve a schedule of 2009 stock assessment review panel meetings in September.

Preliminary Review of Exempted Fishing Permits for 2009

The Council adopted five exempted fishing permit (EFP) applications (Attachments 1-4 and  6 to this Agenda Item (Agenda Item F.3) in the June briefing book) for public review. Many of the EFP applications will need revision according to Council guidance, which will be forwarded to EFP applicants before their applications are submitted to the Council in September, when a final decision on 2009 EFPs will be made.

Inseason Adjustments to 2008 Fisheries

The Council adopted the following inseason adjustments:

Limited Entry Multi-Species Trawl Fishery

• Increase Sablefish coastwide to limits specified in the attached table
• Increase Dover sole and Other Flatfish for vessels using selective flatfish gear in areas north of 40° 10’ N lat as specified in the attached table
• Decrease petrale sole limits in areas north of 40° 10’ N lat as specified in the attached table.

Open Access Sablefish South of 36° N lat

• Implement a 1,000 lb per month limit for the month of August
• Implement a 2,100 lb per 2 month limit in periods 5 and 6

Limited Entry Daily Trip Limit Sablefish Fishery North of 36° N lat

• Increase the daily trip limit to 500 lbs in period 4 through the remainder of the year

California Recreational Fishery

• That NMFS review and consider conforming action to regulations implemented by the state of California between the June and September Council meetings if necessary

Amendment 20: Trawl Rationalization Alternatives

The Council adopted a preliminary preferred alternative on trawl rationalization, putting the Council on track for taking final action during its November 2008 meeting. The alternative was developed through 16 separate motions. Details will be summarized and available on the Council website the week of June 16. The draft environmental impact statement is scheduled to be released in September 2008. Public hearings will be scheduled for late October 2008.

2009-2010 Groundfish Harvest Specifications, Management Measures, and Rebuilding Plan Revisions

The Council adopted final 2009-2010 groundfish harvest specifications, (acceptable biological catches and optimum yields) and revised rebuilding plans for cowcod, canary rockfish, darkblotched rockfish, and yelloweye rockfish at their June meeting. Final management measures for 2009-2010 groundfish fisheries were also decided at the June Council meeting. Please see the Council’s soon to be published summer newsletter for more details on these decisions.

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Habitat

Current Habitat Issues

The Council approved the Habitat Committee’s proposed letter to the Minerals Management Service on wave energy development, with revisions.

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Marine Protected Areas

Review of Rationale for Marine Protected Areas in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

The Council adopted the recommendations of the SSC and the HC regarding further review of marine protected areas (MPA) in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). These recommendations will be conveyed in a letter from the Council Executive Director to the MBNMS that will include advice on the analysis of existing closed areas and their ability to meet Sanctuary goals and objectives as well as the development of criteria for evaluating MPA proposals. Council staff will coordinate with the MBNMS on the next steps in the process including a report to the Council in 2009.

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Administrative Matters

Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization Implementation

The Council heard presentations from NMFS and Council staff regarding proposed regulations implementing new environmental review procedures and new provisions to end overfishing such as annual catch limits and accountability measures. Regarding revised environmental review procedures, the Council members will provide additional comments to Council staff by July 1, 2009 to facilitate a response letter to NMFS by August 12. Council staff will also coordinate as appropriate in the development of a potential joint comment letter signed by all eight Regional Fishery Management Councils on this matter.

Proposed regulations implementing annual catch limits were published in the Federal Register on the same day the Council discussed this issue precluding a detailed review of the materials by the Council or its advisory bodies. The 90-day public comment period is currently scheduled to end on September 8, the first day of the September Council meeting. The Council Executive Director has requested an extension of the comment period to allow the Council to fully deliberate the matter in September and respond in writing shortly thereafter. If an extension is not granted, Council members will forward specific comments on the proposed rule to the Council staff by August 15 to be included in a Council response.

Update and Communications of Research and Data Needs

The Council approved a public review draft which incorporates the comments of the SSC, the Highly Migratory Species Management Team and Advisory Subpanel, the Salmon Advisory Subpanel, and the Habitat Committee. A revised document will be posted to the Council web site reasonably soon after the June Council meeting. The Council is scheduled to adopt a final document at the September 2008 Council meeting in Boise, Idaho.

Membership Appointments and Council Operating Procedures

Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team

The Council appointed Ms. Cyreis Schmitt to the Oregon position, replacing Mr. Brett Wiedhoff.

Highly Migratory Species Management Team

The Council confirmed the reappointment of Mr. Brian Hallman to the Inter- American Tropical Tuna Commission position and Mr. Ricardo Belmontes as his alternate.

Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC)

The Council reviewed the nominations for the initial groundfish EFHRC and the following recommendations emerged for consideration by the Council Chair:

1. Comply with the NMFS Northwest Region recommendation to add a second NMFS Northwest Region position;
2. Remove the designation of “scientist” from the “scientist affiliated with a conservation organization” positions and refer to them simply as a “conservation organization representative” position;
3. Include an Enforcement Consultant (EC) position in the membership; and
4. Do not create an additional position for fishing ports, on the basis of the committee’s charge to screen and review proposals for changes to the EFH for their technical sufficiency and biological significance.

In view of those comments, the Council chair announced the following appointments as members, and where specified, as designated alternates:

• NMFS Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers—2 Positions
  • Dr. Waldo Wakefield, Northwest Fisheries Science Center
  • Ms. Mary Yoklavich, Southwest Fisheries Science Center
• NMFS Northwest Region—2 positions
  • Mr. Steve Copps, Senior Policy Analyst
  • Mr. John Stadler, Habitat Conservation Division Regional EFH Coordinator
• Office of National Marine Sanctuaries—1 position
  • Mr. Ed Bowlby, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (Member)
  • Ms. Karen Reyna, Gulf of Farrallones National Marine Sanctuary (Alternate)
• Scientists At-large—2 positions
  • Dr. H. Gary Greene, Professor Emeritus at Moss Landing Marine Labs
  • Dr. Chris Goldfinger, Associate Professor of Marine Geology at the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University.
• Fishing Industry—2 positions, bottom trawl and non-trawl bottom gear
  Bottom Trawl:
  • Mr. Brad Pettinger, Brookings, OR (Member)
  • Mr. Scott McMullen, Astoria, OR (Alternate)
• Non-Trawl Bottom Gear:
  • Mr. Robert Eder, Newport, OR (Member)
  • Mr. Bernie Bjork, Astoria, OR (Alternate)
• Enforcement Consultant—1 position
  • Mr. Dayna Mathews
• Conservation Organization—2 positions
  • Mr. Santi Roberts, Oceana, Monterey, CA
  • Ms. Megan Mackey, Pacific Marine Conservation Council, Portland, OR

The newly formed EFHRC will meet to provide recommendations to the Council at its September 2008 meeting regarding EFHRC officers, operating procedures, charge, and review criteria and scheduling.

Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning

The Council made several significant adjustments to draft September 2008, November 2008, and March 2009 Council meeting agendas to allow for most of the November 2008 Council meeting time to be allocated to final decision making on the groundfish trawl rationalization program, including:

1. Postponing review of sardine allocation under Amendment 11 from the November 2008 Council meeting to the June 2009 meeting;
2. Moving groundfish EFP approval and final stock assessment planning to the September 2008 Council meeting;
3. Postponing final action on highly migratory species management measures (thresher shark restrictions) and a NMFS report on future albacore management options to March 2009;
4. Postponing the next step of the Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorized Act implementation of measures to end overfishing to the March 2009 Council meeting; and
5. Postponing the November 2008 Habitat Committee report until the March 2009 Council meeting.

A revised draft agenda for the September 2008 Council meeting in Boise, Idaho will be posted on the Council website www.pcouncil.org in the near future.

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PFMC
06/16/08
5:30 PM