Saving Seafood

Public review draft of Fishery Ecosystem Plan Chapters 1 & 2 revisions now available

October 4, 2019 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

Pacific Coast Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the U.S. Portion of the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem – Proposed revisions to Chapters 1 and 2 as part of the five-year review are now available.

As part of the five-year review of its Fishery Ecosystem Plan, in September 2019 the Council adopted for public review a revision of Chapters 1 and 2 including the vision statement and purpose, goals, and objectives.  The Council will take final action to adopt these changes at its March 2020 meeting. The deadline to submit written public comment for that meeting will be in early February 2020.

Salmon Methodology Review meeting via Webinar October 22, 2019

September 30, 2019 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Salmon Technical Team and Scientific and Statistical Salmon Subcommittee will hold a joint methodology review meeting.  This meeting will be held via webinar and is open to the public.

The webinar will be held Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 9 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, and will end at 4 p.m. or when business for the day has been completed.

Please see the Salmon Methodology Review 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 Ms. Robin Ehlke  at 503-820-2410; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

Ad Hoc Sablefish Management and Trawl Allocation Attainment Committee to Meet October 9-10, 2019 in Portland, OR

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

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s ad hoc Sablefish Management and Trawl Allocation Attainment Committee (SaMTAAC) will hold a two-day meeting that is open to the public.  The meeting will begin Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at 8 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time and recess when business for the day is completed.  It will continue at 8 a.m. Thursday, October 10, adjourning when business for the day is completed.

Please see the SaMTAAC October 9-10, 2019 Meeting Notice on the Council’s website for full details.

For further information:

  • Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Jim Seger at 503-820-2416; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

PFMC: Request for Nominations for Two At-Large Vacancies on SSC

September 24, 2019 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking qualified candidates to consider for two At-Large positions on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The successful candidates will serve out the remainder of the 2019-2021 Council advisory body term.

The Council relies on its SSC for independent, objective advice and analysis about verifiable scientific evidence and theoretical methodologies regarding west coast fishery management approaches and practices.  The successful candidate should have knowledge of west coast fisheries and strong scientific expertise in statistics, biology, ecosystem dynamics, economics, fisheries management, population dynamics, fishery-related social science, or other related fields. At this time the Council is particularly, but not exclusively, interested in candidates experienced in the assessment of stocks in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan and candidates with expertise with stocks and fisheries under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species.

To ensure consideration, nominations should be received at the Council office no later than 5 pm, Pacific Time, Thursday, October 17, 2019.

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: September 2019 Council Decision Summary Document

September 24, 2019 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council met September 13-18, 2019 in Boise, Idaho. The September 2019 Council Meeting Decision Summary Document contains the highlights of significant decisions made at that meeting. Results of agenda items that do not reach a level of highlight significance are typically not described in the Decision Summary Document.

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: