Saving Seafood

Public notices regarding the 2022 Ocean Salmon Fishery Management process

December 10, 2021 — The following was released by Pacific Fishery Management Council:

Salmon Technical Team work sessions

The Salmon Technical Team (STT) will hold two work sessions to draft documents relating to the 2022 ocean salmon fishery management process.

•STT January 2022 work session

•STT February 2022 work session

2022 public hearings on salmon management

The 2022 public hearings on salmon management are scheduled to occur in person, however, the status of the COVID-19 pandemic may require the hearings to be held online due to public health and safety concerns.  Actual hearing venues or instructions for joining online hearings will be posted in advance of the hearing dates.

•March 22, 2022:  Washington

•March 22, 2022:  California

•March 23, 2022:  Oregon

2022 process and schedule details

See the Council’s preseason management schedule to read the detailed process for developing 2022 ocean salmon fishery management measures. This schedule was adopted by the Council at their November 2021 meeting.  Health and safety concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic may require changes to the 2022 schedule.

For further information:

•Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff Robin Ehlke at 503-820-2410.

 

PFMC Notice: Final draft revised Fishery Ecosystem Plan available for public review

December 9, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

In September 2021, the Council adopted a revised draft of the Pacific Coast Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) for public review. You may access the draft document on the Council website’s Fishery Ecosystem Plan page.

The Council is scheduled to adopt this final updated Fishery Ecosystem Plan in March 2022, which will conclude the Council’s 5-year review of the FEP. We encourage Council advisory bodies and the public to submit comments on this final draft for consideration at the Council’s March 2022 meeting. Check the Council website for information about the March 2022 Council meeting as it becomes available.

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: Area 2A Pacific Halibut Managers online meeting will be held January 4, 2022

December 1, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will host an online meeting of the Area 2A Pacific halibut governmental management entities that is open to the public. The online meeting will be held Tuesday, January 4, 2022, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Pacific Time, or until business for the day has been completed.

Please see the Area 2A Pacific Halibut Manager’s online meeting notice on the Council’s website for participation details.

For further information:

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

 

PFMC: Notice of a public online meeting

November 30, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

Ad hoc Ecosystem Workgroup to hold online meeting December 17, 2021

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Ecosystem Workgroup (EWG) is holding an online meeting, which is open to the public. The online meeting will be held Friday, December 17, 2021, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, or until business for the day is completed.

Please see the EWG meeting notice on the Council’s website for additional details.

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
11/30/2021

 

PFMC Reminder: Notice of public meeting (online)

November 29, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

Central Subpopulation of Northern Anchovy Stock Assessment Review Panel to be held online December 7-10, 2021

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) will convene a Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panel meeting to review the 2021 central subpopulation of northern anchovy (CSNA) stock assessment. The online meeting will be held Tuesday, December 7 through Friday, December 10, 2021, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, or until business for the day has been completed each day, and will be co-hosted by the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center.

Please see the STAR Panel December 7-10, 2021 meeting notice on the Council’s website for full details, including online participation instructions.

For further information:

•Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Kerry Griffin at 503-820-2409; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

PFMC
11/17/2021

Central Subpopulation of Northern Anchovy Stock Assessment Review Panel to be held online December 7-10, 2021

November 18, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) will convene a Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panel meeting to review the 2021 central subpopulation of northern anchovy (CSNA) stock assessment. The online meeting will be held Tuesday, December 7 through Friday, December 10, 2021, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, or until business for the day has been completed each day, and will be co-hosted by the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center. 

Please see the STAR Panel December 7-10, 2021 meeting notice on the Council’s website for full details, including online participation instructions.

For further information:

  • Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Kerry Griffin at 503-820-2409; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

Boom, Boom, BOEM: Agency Announces Wind Energy Area off Morro Bay

November 16, 2021 — The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management dropped a figurative bomb on the fishing industry Friday, when it announced an offshore wind energy site off California.

The announcement of a Morro Bay Wind Energy Area, smaller than the “399 Call Area,” on Friday came as a surprise to the seafood industry. Two days earlier, BOEM representatives met with the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Marine Planning Committee and gave no hint an announcement was imminent.

The WEA is located approximately 20 miles offshore the central California coastline and contains approximately 240,898 acres, or 376 square miles, BOEM said in the announcement.

BOEM will now prepare an Environmental Assessment, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act, to consider potential impacts from site characterization activities (e.g., biological, archeological, geological, and geophysical surveys) and site assessment activities (e.g., installation of meteorological buoys) within the WEA. BOEM’s preparation of the EA will initiate a public comment period along with two virtual public meetings, BOEM said.

Read the full story at Seafood News

 

Pacific Council Request for Advisory Body Nominations for the 2022-2024 Term (Supplemental Request)

November 3, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

At the time of the advance Briefing book, the Council had not received an adequate number of nominations to fill all the Advisory Body vacancies for the 2022-2024.  Therefore, the Council is soliciting supplemental nominations for Advisory Body vacancies the Council would not otherwise be able to fill in November.  See the list of vacancies below.  Supplemental nominations will be accepted via the Council’s Online Nomination Form and must be submitted no later than 5 p.m., Friday, November 5, 2021.

A list of existing nominations has been posted in the November Council Meeting Briefing Book.  If you wish to express your support for a nominee, please use the Council’s E-Portal to submit your comments under Agenda Item C.9 – Membership Appointments and Council Operating Procedures by November 11, 2021.  Remember, you are limited to one public comment. If you wish to express support for multiple nominees, consider combining your recommendations into one written comment. The E-Portal is not intended for submitting nominations, use the Council’s Online Nomination Form.

List of Vacancies:

CPSAS – California Commercial Fisheries

CPSAS – Washington Commercial Fisheries

GAP – Open Access Fisheries North of Cape Mendocino

GAP – Oregon Charter Boat Operator

GAP – Sport Fisheries (at-large)

GAP – Tribal Fisheries

HC – Tribal Representative (California)

HC – Conservation Group

SAS – Idaho Sport Fisheries

SAS – Tribal Fisheries (Washington Coast)

SAS – Tribal Representative (California)

SSC – At Large

The Council is committed to the principle of diversity and is 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. For further information on the advisory bodies or the nomination process, please contact Mike Burner, Deputy Director (503-820-2414 or toll free 866-806-7204).

 

November 2021 Briefing Book available online (November 2021 PFMC meeting)

November 1, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Briefing Book for the November 15-19 and 21-22, 2021 Council meeting has been posted to the Council’s website on the “November 2021 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:

•Visit the November 2021 briefing book webpage

•Please contact Council staff

•See the November 2021 Council Meeting information webpage

Nation’s Fishery Management Councils Find Consensus on MSA Changes, Advocate for Efforts to Address Environmental Justice Issues

October 26, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

Leaders of the nation’s eight Regional Fishery Management Councils concluded their second biannual meeting in 2021 last week by videoconference. The Council Coordination Committee meeting provides the Councils and heads of the National Marine Fisheries Service an opportunity to discuss issues relevant to all of the Councils. The three-day meeting was open to the public and hosted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.  Among the issues discussed were proposed changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the need to more fully address environmental justice for underserved fishing communities.

Please view the full press release and a comprehensive summary of the meeting by visiting the U.S. Regional Fishery Management Councils website at: http://www.fisherycouncils.org/ccc-meetings/october-2021.