Saving Seafood

PFMC: Reminder: Ad Hoc Southern Resident Killer Whale Workgroup to hold meeting October 8-9, 2019

September 23, 2019 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) Workgroup (Workgroup) will hold a two-day meeting that is open to the public.  The meeting will begin Tuesday, October 8, 2019, at 10 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time and recess at 5:00 p.m.  It will continue at 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 9, and will end at 2 p.m. The meeting times are an estimate; the meetings will adjourn when business for the day is complete.

Please see the SRKW Workgroup October 8-9, 2019 in-person meeting notice on the Council’s website for participation details.

For further information:

PFMC: Reminder – Groundfish Management Team to hold work session in Portland, OR October 7-11, 2019

September 23, 2019 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold a week-long work session that is open to the public.   The GMT meeting will be held Monday, October 7, 2019 from 1 p.m. until business for the day is completed.  The GMT meeting will reconvene Tuesday, October 8 through Friday, October 11 from 8:30 a.m. until business for each day has been completed.

Please see the GMT October 7-11, 2019 meeting notice on the Council’s website for full details.

For further information:

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

Regulators approve new swordfish gear that’s safer for whales, turtles

September 19, 2019 — A new type of fishing gear designed to catch swordfish while reducing harm to other animals received approval from fishery regulators Monday.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council authorized initial use of deep-set buoy gear, which minimizes catch of non-target species, including marine mammals and sea turtles. At its September meeting in Boise, Idaho, the council voted to issue 50 permits for the new gear, and to add up to 25 additional permits per year after that, up to a maximum of 300 total permits.

Most swordfish off the California coast are currently caught at night, using mile-long, large-mesh drift gillnets, which are set overnight, and often ensnare other fish species, sharks, sea lions, dolphins and whales.

The new, deep-set buoy method using lines allows fishermen to drop hooks into deeper waters where swordfish forage during the day, catching the prized fish without ensnaring other animals. Because the swordfish are retrieved more quickly, the catch is fresher and commands higher prices at market, proponents say.

Read the full story at The San Diego Union-Tribune

Cowcod Stock South of 40°10’ N lat. Successfully Rebuilt

September 18, 2019 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

An important West Coast groundfish stock that was formerly overfished has now been rebuilt ahead of schedule, the Pacific Fishery Management Council announced today. The cowcod (Sebastes levis) stock south of 40°10’ N. latitude has been managed under a strict rebuilding plan that has severely constrained West Coast fisheries in California for two decades. Rebuilding cowcod was achieved through large area closures, non-retention rules, and very low allowance for incidental bycatch. “This is a remarkable accomplishment,” said Council Chair Phil Anderson. “The Council’s perseverance, adherence to scientific advice, and partnering with the commercial and recreational stakeholders resulted in the rebuilding of this important groundfish species.”

Cowcod, prized by both California recreational and commercial fishermen, were declared overfished and placed under rebuilding measures in 2000. They are a long‐ lived, slow‐growing species, prone to protracted rebuilding progress. Under the original rebuilding plan, the stock was expected to rebuild by 2090. Improved science and understanding of this stock’s population dynamics allowed the Council’s management measures to rebuild much quicker than originally anticipated.

Read the full release here

PFMC: Ad Hoc Southern Resident Killer Whale Workgroup to hold meeting October 8-9, 2019

August 28, 2019 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) Workgroup (Workgroup) will hold a two-day meeting that is open to the public.  The meeting will begin Tuesday, October 8, 2019, at 10 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time and recess at 5:00 p.m.  It will continue at 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 9, and will end at 2 p.m. The meeting times are an estimate; the meetings will adjourn when business for the day is complete.

Please see the SRKW Workgroup October 8-9, 2019 in-person meeting notice on the Council’s website for participation details.

For further information:

PFMC: September 11-18, 2019 PFMC Meeting Fast Facts

August 27, 2019 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The September 11-18, 2019 Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting “Fast Facts” are available. Fast Facts are answers to FAQs that can help you get oriented for the upcoming meeting (transportation options, internet code, hotel map).

If you have additional questions regarding the September 11-18, 2019 Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting:

Southern Resident Killer Whale Workgroup to Hold Webinar September 24, 2019

August 26, 2019 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council)  Ad Hoc Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) Workgroup (Workgroup) will meet via webinar which is open to the public.  The webinar meeting will be held Tuesday, September 24, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. PDT, or until business for the day has been completed.  These are public meetings and not public hearings.  Public comments will be taken at the discretion of the Workgroup co-chairs as time allows.

Please see the SRKW Workgroup September 24, 2019 webinar notice on the Council’s website for participation details.

A public listening station will be provided at the Council office in Portland, Oregon.

For further information:

PFMC: September 2019 Briefing Book online

August 26, 2019 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Briefing Book for the September 11-18, 2019 Council meeting has been posted to the Council’s website on the “September 2019 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: Groundfish Management Team to Hold Work Session in Portland, OR October 7-11, 2019

August 15, 2019 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold a week-long work session that is open to the public. The GMT meeting will be held Monday, October 7, 2019 from 1 p.m. until business for the day is completed.  The GMT meeting will reconvene Tuesday, October 8 through Friday, October 11 from 8:30 a.m. until business for each day has been completed.

Please see the GMT October 7-11, 2019 meeting notice on the Council’s website for full 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: Groundfish Management Team to Hold Webinar September 26, 2019 (updated)

August 12, 2019 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will convene a webinar meeting to discuss items harvest specifications and other items related to the GMT’s in-person meeting scheduled for October 7-11, 2019.  The webinar will be held Thursday, September 26, 2019 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.  The webinar end time is an estimate, the meeting will adjourn when business for the day is completed.

Please see the GMT September 26, 2019 webinar notice on the Council’s website for participation details.

A public listening station will be provided at the Council office in Portland, Oregon.

For further information:

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