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Amendment 17 to the Groundfish Fishery Management Plan is available.
Amendment 17 establishes a new, biennial process for setting harvest levels and management measures for the groundfish fishery. This process will take place every two years and the harvest levels and management measures set by the process will be in effect for two years. From 1990 to 2004, specifications and management measures have been implemented annually; 2005-2006 comprises the first biennial cycle.
This biennial process provides more time for the Council and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to work on other critical groundfish issues, such as strategic plan implementation. It also provides enough time for NMFS to complete the regulatory process, including public comment, before the new fishing season begins. The development of specifications and management measures now occurs over three to four Council meetings (November-March/April-June). The harvest level, or optimum yield (OY), for each managed stock or stock complex is established for each fishing year during the two-year management period. That is, two one-year OYs are specified for each managed species or complex.
Under Amendment 17, checkpoints will be implemented to help managers decide if fishing levels need to be changed during the two-year management period based on new scientific information The Council has directed the GMT (in consultation with the SSC and GAP) to develop these thresholds.
NMFS approved Amendment 17 on August 20, 2003 and the final rule implementing regulations was published Sepeptember 4, 2003 (68FR52519), with an effective date of October 6, 2003.
To request a printed copy of the amendment EA or obtain more information, contact John DeVore or Mike Burner at (503) 820-2280 or toll free 1-866-806-7204.
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