Saving Seafood

PFMC: Reminder! Groundfish Management Team to hold webinar February 25, 2020

February 18, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s  Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will convene a webinar meeting to discuss items on the Pacific Council’s March 2020 meeting agenda.  The webinar will be held Tuesday, February 25, 2020 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.  The webinar end time is an estimate, the meeting will adjourn when business for the day is completed.  This meeting is open to the public.

Please see the Groundfish Management Team webinar notice on the Council’s website for participation details.

For further information:

  • Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Todd Phillips  at 503-820-2426; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

PFMC: March 2020 Briefing Book online (March 3-9, 2020 PFMC mtg)

February 18, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Briefing Book for the March 3-9, 2020 Council meeting has been posted to the Council’s website on the “March 2020 Briefing Book” webpage.

The Briefing Book contains the meeting agenda, “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and public comment submitted to our e-portal. Advisory body and committee agendas and memos are also available.

For further information:

PFMC: Notice of availability: Review of 2019 Ocean Salmon Fisheries

February 18, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Salmon Technical Team and staff of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) have prepared this stock assessment and fishery evaluation document as a postseason review of the 2019 ocean salmon fisheries off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California to help assess Council salmon fishery management performance, the status of Council area salmon stocks, and the socioeconomic impacts of salmon fisheries. The Council will formally review this report at its March 2020 meeting prior to the development of management alternatives for the approaching fishing season.

Please visit the Council’s website to get the Review of 2019 Ocean Salmon Fisheries (Published February 2020).

For further information:

PFMC: The Council’s new website launches this week!

February 11, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

This is a reminder that the Council’s new website is scheduled to go live on February 13, 2020. The website will feature a fresh, new look, clearer navigation, and is designed for optimized viewing on a tablet, laptop, or smartphone. It replaces our current site, which is 15 years old. The new site will also comply with Federal accessibility requirements for the visually impaired.

Full briefing books dating back to 2000 will be available upon launch, along with current stock assessments and fishery evaluation documents, fishery management plans, rosters, travel information, and much more.

Although some older materials will not be immediately available, Council staff will continue to post many of these materials after launch. There will also be an easy way to request items that are not currently posted. However, if there are some documents that you use on a regular basis, we recommend that you download them now.

We will provide additional reminders and updates leading up to the website launch. We hope you enjoy the new site!

Read the full release here

PFMC: Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel and Management Team to hold webinar February 26, 2020

February 10, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS) and HMS Management Team (HMSMT) will hold a webinar, which is open to the public.  The webinar will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2020  from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, or when business for the day is completed. .

Please see the HMSAS/MT webinar notice on the Council’s website for participation details and the purpose of the webinar.

For further information:

  • Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Dr. Kit Dahl  at 503-820-2422; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

PFMC: STT and the SSC’s Salmon Subcommittee to Hold Methodology Review Webinar February 26, 2020

February 10, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Salmon Technical Team (STT) and Scientific and Statistical Committee’s Salmon Subcommittee (SSCSC) will hold a joint meeting via webinar on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, which is open to the public.  The webinar will begin at 12 p.m. and will continue until 4 p.m., or when business for the day has been completed.

Please see the STT and SSC’s Salmon Subcommittee February 26, 2020 webinar notice on the Council’s website for participation details.

For further information:

  • Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Robin Ehlke  at 503-820-2410; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

PFMC: March 3-9, 2020 PFMC Meeting Notice and Agenda Now Available

January 31, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC or Council) and its advisory bodies will meet March 3-9, 2020 in Rohnert Park, California, to address issues related to groundfish, salmon, Pacific halibut, highly migratory species, ecosystem, habitat, and administrative matters. The meeting of the Council and its advisory entities will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Sonoma Wine Country, One Doubletree Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 94928: telephone, 707-584-5466.

Please see the March 3-9, 2020 Council meeting notice on the Council’s website for meeting detail, schedule of advisory body meetings, our new E-Portal for submitting public comments, and public comment deadlines.

Key agenda items for the meeting include Council considerations to:

  • Adopt Public Review Alternatives for 2020 Ocean Salmon Fisheries
  • Adopt Final Forecasting Methods for Willapa Bay Coho Salmon
  • Consider Range of Alternatives for Transitioning Management of Non-Indian Directed Commercial Halibut Fishery from
  • International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) to PFMC/National Marine Fisheries Service
  • Adopt Public Review Options for Pacific Halibut Retention in 2020Salmon Troll Fishery
  • Adopt Final Pacific Halibut Retention Limits for 2020 Fixed Gear Sablefish Fishery
  • Annual Report on California Current Ecosystem
  • Adopt Final Updates to Fishery Ecosystem Plan Chapters 1 and 2, Including a Vision Statement, and a Revised Set of Goals and Objectives; Review Proposed Changes to Remaining Chapters
  • Update on 2021-2022 Groundfish Harvest Specifications and Management Measures
  • Consider Exempted Fishing Permits for 2021-2022 Groundfish Fisheries, Including Electronic Monitoring
  • Adopt Final Groundfish Inseason Adjustments for 2020, Including Shorebased Carryover
  • Review the Final Rule, Revisit Previous Council Recommendations, and Provide Guidance on Future Council Considerations for Drift Gillnet Swordfish Fishery Hardcaps

For further information:
Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff at 503-820-2280; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

PFMC: Ad Hoc Ecosystem Workgroup to hold webinar on February 25, 2020

January 28, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Ecosystem Workgroup (EWG) will hold a meeting via webinar, which is open to the public.   The webinar will be held Tuesday, February 25, 2020 from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.  Pacific Standard Time.  The webinar end time is an estimate, the meeting will adjourn when business for the day is completed.  This meeting is open to the public.

Please see the EWG webinar notice on the Council’s website for participation details and the purpose of the webinar.

For further information:

  • Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Dr. Kit Dahl  at 503-820-2422; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

Reminder! Request for nominations for several advisory body vacancies

January 28, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking qualified candidates to consider for several advisory body vacancies at its March 2020 meeting. Successful candidates will serve out the remainder of the 2019-2021 Council advisory body term. To ensure consideration, nominations should be received at the Council office no later than 5 p.m. Monday, February 10, 2020.

Please see the Council’s Advisory Body Vacancy webpage for full details on the available positions, including the vacancy announcements and how to apply.

The Council is committed to the principle of diversity and is particularly interested in receiving nominations from a broad spectrum of people. Eligibility or selection for these positions will not be based on race, color, national origin, handicap, age, religion, or sexual orientation.

If you have further questions, please contact Mr. Mike Burner at 503-820-2280; toll free 1-866-806-7204.

PFMC: Groundfish Management Team to hold webinar February 25, 2020

January 27, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will convene a webinar meeting to discuss items on the Pacific Council’s March 2020 meeting agenda.  The webinar will be held Tuesday, February 25, 2020 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.  The webinar end time is an estimate, the meeting will adjourn when business for the day is completed.  This meeting is open to the public.

Please see the Groundfish Management Team Webinar Notice on the Council’s website for participation details.

For further information:

  • Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Todd Phillips  at 503-820-2426; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.