Latest News Archive

April 2013

Notice of Availability - Download The Line, Volume 2, No. 2, a publication of the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The Line is a summary of West Coast fisheries news, for fishermen, published five times per year. This issue reports on the decisions made at the April 2013 Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting.

04/30/13

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a meeting of its Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) and the Scientific and Statistical Committee’s (SSC) CPS Subcommittee May 21-23, 2013. In addition, one representative of the Council’s Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel will participate. Please see the CPS Meeting Notice on the Council's website for complete details.

04/29/13

Preseason Report III, Analysis of Council Adopted Management Measures and Environmental Assessment Part 3 for 2013 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations, Regulation Identifier Number 0648-XC438, published April 2013, is available on the Council's 2013 Preseason Report III webpage.

04/23/13

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces publication of a rule proposing enhanced document requirements to support use of the dolphin-safe label on tuna products. Please see the proposed rule for more details. NMFS will accept public comment on this proposed rule through 11:59 pm Eastern time on May 6, 2013. Information on how to submit comments is available in the proposed rule.

04/05/13

NOAA Reminds Public to Keep a Safe Distance from Sick Sea Lions - Rescue Facilities have Reached Capacity - Scientists at NOAA Fisheries are advising the public to stay away from all marine mammals in the wild, especially sick sea lions coming ashore on Southern California beaches. Please click here for more information.

04/03/13

Notice of Public Work Sessions - Five Groundfish Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panels will hold work sessions which are open to the public. The first STAR Panel will review new data-moderate assessments for brown rockfish, China rockfish, copper rockfish, English sole, rex sole, sharpchin rockfish, stripetail rockfish, vermilion rockfish, and yellowtail rockfish. The second STAR Panel will review new benchmark assessments for petrale sole and darkblotched rockfish. The third STAR Panel will review new benchmark assessments for rougheye and aurora rockfish. The fourth STAR Panel will review new benchmark assessments for shortspine and longspine thornyheads. The fifth STAR Panel will review new benchmark assessments for cowcod and Pacific sanddabs.

Please see the STAR Panel Notice for work session dates, times, and locations (available from the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website).

04/03/13

NMFS is providing information to address some frequently asked questions regarding the limited entry fixed gear sablefish primary fishery, for which the season opens at noon, local time, on April 1. See the Public Notice for additional information, or visit our website at www.nwr.noaa.gov.

04/01/13

March 2013

Whale Entanglements off California Fact Sheet is now available on the Protected Resources Division website. The fact sheet includes a range of global to local information on large whale entanglements, gear types associated with entanglements, and information on how you can help if you see an entangled whale. The fact sheet also highlights conservation efforts to reduce entanglements by a commercial gillnet fishery.

03/28/13

After further consideration of more recent information and the record as a whole, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the existing initial allocations for Pacific whiting of quota share in the shorebased individual fishing quota (IFQ) fishery and of mothership catcher vessel catch history assignments in the at-sea mothership (MS) fishery will remain in place. NMFS' decision and related regulatory changes are effective April 1, 2013, and published as a final rule in the Federal Register on March 28, 2013 (78 FR 18879). The public notice further describes NMFS' decision, the regulatory changes, and expectations for the start of the 2013 whiting season.

03/28/13

April 2013 Briefing Book Available on Council's Website - The Briefing Book for the April 2013 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the “Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

03/27/13

Request for Nominations to a California at-large position on the Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is requesting nominations of qualified candidates to its Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel (EAS) for the 2013-2015 advisory body term. The reopening is due to a vacancy in one of the three California at-large positions. The successful nominee will be notified following the Council’s June 2013 meeting. To ensure consideration, nominations should be received at the Council office no later than Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Please visit the Council's “Current Advisory Body Vacancies” webpage to get the full vacancy announcement and instructions on how to submit nominations.

03/22/13

Notice of Availability Reminder Notice for Public Hearings - The document Preseason Report II: Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2013 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations; Regulation Identifier Number 0648-XC438 has been posted to the Council's website. Please visit the 2013 Preseason Report II webpage to view and download the document.

The Council solicits public comments on the proposed management Alternatives in preparation for adopting final management recommendations at its April meeting. Oral and written comments on the proposed management Alternatives may be presented at public hearings (see "Salmon Public Hearings" for locations and dates). Additional comment will be accepted during the April Council meeting. Written comments received at the Council office by March 31, 2013 will be copied and distributed to all Council members (Council staff cannot assure distribution of comments received after March 31).

03/20/13

Notice of Availability - Download The Line, Volume 2, No. 1, a publication of the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The Line is a summary of West Coast fisheries news, for fishermen, published five times per year. This issue reports on the decisions made at the March 2013 Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting.

03/19/13

March 2013 Council Meeting Decision Summary Document Available Online - The Pacific Fishery Management Council met March 7-11, 2013 in Tacoma, Washington. The March 2013 Council Meeting Decision Summary Document summarizes the decisions made during that meeting.

Download the March 2013 Council Meeting Decision Summary Document
For previous decisions, visit the “Council Meeting Decision Summary Documents Archives”

03/18/13

Council to Adopt Final 2013 Ocean Salmon Fisheries Regulations - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies will meet April 5-11, 2013 in Portland, Oregon to address issues related to salmon, Pacific halibut, groundfish, coastal pelagic species, ecosystem based management, and essential fish habitat matters.

Please visit the "Current Council Meeting" webpage for the meeting notice and agenda details.

03/18/13

Notice of Availability - The document Preseason Report I: Stock Abundance Analysis and Environmental Assessment Part 1 for 2013 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations has been posted to the Council's website. Please visit the 2013 Preseason Report I webpage to view and download the document.

This is the second report in an annual series of four reports prepared by the Salmon Technical Team of the Pacific Fishery Management Council to document and help guide salmon fishery management off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. The report focuses on Chinook, coho, and pink salmon stocks that have been important in determining Council fisheries in recent years, and on stocks listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with established National Marine Fisheries Service ESA consultation standards. This report will be formally reviewed at the Council's March meeting.

03/01/13

February 2013

March 2013 Briefing Book Available on Council's Website - The Briefing Book for the March 2013 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

02/20/13

Notice of Availability - The Council has made available for public review, the Draft Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) and the Public Review Draft FEP Ecosystem Initiatives Appendix. Both documents are together provided for public review, in compliance with the Council direction from November 2012. In addition, the Chair of the Ecosystem Plan Development Team has prepared a short video guide (recorded webinar) that applies to the Draft FEP. Both draft documents and the recorded webinar are available on the Council's Fishery Ecosystem Plan webpage.

The Council is scheduled to consider adopting a final FEP at its April 6-11, 2013 meeting in Portland, Oregon.

02/19/13

Groundfish Public Notice - NOAA Fisheries Northwest Region has remade its public website, opening a colorful new online window into our work across the Pacific Northwest. It is easier to navigate and packed with dynamic information for all our stakeholders, from partners recovering protected species to teachers educating students about marine mammals and salmon. The site is organized by programs, with sections providing overviews of habitat restoration, marine mammal protection, salmon recovery, fisheries, hydropower, and more. The site also includes easy links to other parts of the agency and NOAA’s other online information channels, including Facebook, Twitter and Flicker. We encourage you to sign up and follow us using social media. Note that while our main external address remains the same, other URLs have changed, so you will need to update any bookmarks. For example, the new address for the groundfish catch share program is: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/fisheries/groundfish_trawl_catch_share/groundfish_trawl_catch_share_program.html We have worked hard to make this site as functional and useful as we could. We’ll keep fine-tuning as we go.

02/19/13

Review of 2012 Ocean Salmon Fisheries Available on Pacific Fishery Management Council's Website - 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 2012 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.

Visit the Council's website to get the Review of 2012 Ocean Salmon Fisheries (Published February 2013).

02/15/13

Visit the Council's website to get the Review of 2012 Ocean Salmon Fisheries (Published February 2013).

02/14/13

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces publication of a rule proposing cost recovery for the Pacific coast groundfish trawl rationalization program. In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the cost recovery program would collect mandatory fees of up to 3% of the ex-vessel value of groundfish by sector in the trawl rationalization program. Please see the attached proposed rule for details on the cost recovery program. NMFS will accept public comment on this proposed rule through 11:59pm eastern time on March 18, 2013. Information on how to submit comments is available in the public notice and proposed rule.

02/01/13

January 2013

The Winter 2012-13 issue of Pacific Council News is now available on the Council's website. You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter by visiting the Council's Newsletter Archives webpage.

01/22/13

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the publication of an extension to the temporary, emergency rule, called the Reconsideration of Allocation of Whiting, Delay of Relevant Regulations (“RAW 1”), in the Federal Register (78 FR 3848, January 17, 2013).

Additionally, as of January 15, 2013, non-renewed vessel accounts will no longer be able to receive quota pound (QP) transfers unless the account is in deficit. In the case of a deficit, a non-renewed vessel account will only be eligible to accept QP transfers in for the species in deficit and only up to the amount of the deficit.
A "2013 IFQ Important Dates Calendar" is included in this public notice for your
convenience.

01/1/7/13

The bilateral Pacific Whiting Joint Technical Committee will meet next Wednesday and Thursday, January 23-24 at the Watertown Hotel in Seattle, Washington.

The hotel address is 4242 Roosevelt Way N.E., and phone number is 206-826-4242. The meeting will begin at 10:00 am on Wednesday, January 23. Attached is an agenda for the two day meeting.

01/17/13

Workshop Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a workshop to examine possiblities to improve management strategy concepts and elements currently in use for the Pacific sardine fishery. Please see the notice "Workshop on Pacific Sardine Management Strategy and Harvest Control Parameters" available on the Council's website for complete details.

01/14/13

NMFS has made available an updated PDF document that includes all of the Federal Pacific coast groundfish regulations, updated with changes through January 1, 2013, including new harvest specifications and management measures. The regulations are attached to this e-mail, and this file is also available on the NMFS NWR website at www.nwr.noaa.gov. Click on "Groundfish and Halibut", select "Groundfish Fishery Management" and then select "Regulations". http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Regulations/upload/pink-pgs.pdf Please note that the utmost care has been taken to ensure the contents of this file match the Code of Federal Regulations; however, any discrepancies will be resolved in favor of the Code of Federal Regulations.

01/11/13

Notice of Availability and Document Order Form - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is announcing the dates of availability for its annual preseason planning documents for ocean salmon fisheries. The reports will be posted electronically on the Council’s website, or you may request hard copies or CD-ROM copies of the reports by filling out and submitting the Salmon Management Documents Order Form.

The scheduled availability for the salmon preseason management documents are as follows:

Review of 2012 Ocean Salmon Fisheries
Available February 15

Preseason Report I - Stock Abundance Analysis and Environmental Assessment Part 1 for 2013 Ocean Salmon Fisheries
Available March 1

Preseason Report II - Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2013 Ocean Salmon Fisheries
Available March 20

Preseason Report III - Council-Adopted Management Measures and Environmental Assessment Part 3 for 2013 Ocean Salmon Fisheries
Available April 22

Separate E-Mail notifications will be sent to you announcing when the documents are available on our website.

01/08/13

Notice of a Conference Call - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a conference call of its Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team and Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel on Tuesday, January 29, from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Please see the CPS Conference Call Notice available on the Council's website for listening station and meeting details.

01/07/13

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces the release of additional whiting quota pounds to quota share permits/accounts in the Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota Program. Please see the public notice for further information.

01/04/13

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the publication of a proposed rule in the Federal Register that proposes revisions to several portions of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Trawl Rationalization Program regulations and requests comments on NMFS' preliminary conclusion that the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council's) selection of the no action alternative regarding the reconsideration of initial allocation of Pacific whiting is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other applicable law.

01/02/13

December 2012

NMFS announces the 2013-2014 changes to harvest specifications and commercial and recreational fishery management measures, effective on January 1, 2013. The PDF contains a description of the changes to Federal fishery management measures, including trip limit tables and brief summaries of any changes to recreational groundfish fishing regulations.

12/31/12

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the publication of a Federal Register notice establishing the 2013-2014 groundfish harvest specifications and management measures. A final rule, RIN 0648-BC35 has been filed with the Office of the Federal Register at 11:15 a.m. on December 28, 2012 and will publish on January 3, 2013. This final rule is effective on January 1, 2013 and can be found at: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2012-31134_PI.pdf The filed version that is linked above will only be available until the Federal Register notice publishes on January 3, 2013. The final Federal Register notice will be available on the NMFS Northwest Region website on January 3, 2013.

12/28/12

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces year end information and upcoming 2013 information for the Pacific coast groundfish fishery's trawl rationalization program. See the public notice for more details.

12/14/12

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) will hold a work session January 23-25, 2013, which is open to the public. See the HMSMT Meeting Notice posted on the Council's website for all the information.

12/12/12

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold a work session January 14-18, 2013, which is open to the public. The GMT will also meet with a subgroup of the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee. Please see the GMT Meeting Notice for details.

12/11/12

Public Notices Regarding the 2013 Ocean Salmon Fishery Management Process

Salmon Technical Team Work Sessions
The Salmon Technical Team (STT) will hold two work sessions to draft documents relating to the 2013 ocean salmon fishery management process. View the STT work sessions announcement.
2013 Public Hearings on Salmon Management
The sites and dates of public hearings to review the Council's proposed ocean salmon fishery management alternatives have been set. Please view the 2013 Hearings Notice for more details.
2013 Process and Schedule Details
Visit the Council's preseason management schedule webpage to see the detailed process for developing 2013 ocean salmon fishery management measures. This schedule was adopted by the Council at their November 2012 meeting.

12/05/12

On November 28, 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (Services) issued incidental take permits (ITPs) to Fruit Growers Supply Company (FGS, a timber company based in Siskiyou County, Calif. The issuance of these permits inaugurates a 50-year conservation partnership that will provide habitat for numerous wildlife and fish species protected under federal law. Under the terms of the permit, FGS will operate in compliance with the ESA as long as the company implements the mandated conservation and mitigation measures developed in the multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The permits are authorized under the ESA and will allow the company to proceed with their operations that could result in the prohibited “take” (i.e., harm) of a listed species.

Read the Press Release.

12/04/12

November 2012

The National Marine Fisheries Service reminds participants in the Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program about the deadline for QP transfers. The deadline for transferring reapportioned whiting quota pounds (QP) from quota share (QS) accounts to vessel accounts and the deadline for transferring all QP or individual bycatch quota (IBQ) between vessel accounts is 11:59 pm on December 14, 2012. From 12:00 am on December 15 through December 31, 2012, QP or IBQ pounds will not be transferrable. Any pending transfers that have not been accepted by the receiving vessel account as of December 15 (12:00 am) will be retracted and credited to the originating vessel account. Any reapportioned whiting QP remaining in QS accounts as of December 15 (12:00 am) will expire.

Also, please note that the landing date determines in which year the catch from a trip is debited. If you are planning to fish during the last days of December and wait to offload until the first days of 2013, the discards and landings will be debited from your 2013 vessel account, even if the discards and target species harvests actually occurred in 2012. The offload date as reported on the electronic fish ticket determines the year in which the vessel account is debited.

See the public notice for more details.

11/27/12

Notice of Availability - Download The Line, Volume 1, No. 4, a publication of the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The Line is a summary of West Coast fisheries news, for fishermen, published five times per year. This issue reports on the decisions made at the November 2012 PFMC meeting.

11/21/12

Notice of a Public Work Session - The Pacific Fishery Management Council's South of Humbug Policy Workgroup (Workgroup) for Pacific halibut will hold a work session which is open to the public. The Workgroup meeting will be held Thursday, December 13, 2012 from 10 a.m. until business for the day is completed. View the Workgroup meeting notice for complete details.

11/19/12

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces the Initiation of the 5-Year Review for the Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American green sturgeon. Comments on the Northern Distinct Population Segment are also requested. The public comment period closes December 24, 2012. Read the Federal Register Notice announcing the review.

11/16/12

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Mendocino Redwood Company Incidental Take Authorization and Habitat Conservation Plan Implementation

NMFS is extending the public comment for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mendocino Redwood Company Incidental Take Authorization and Habitat Conservation Plan to 5 p.m. Pacific Time on April 22, 2013.

11/16/12

The Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Authorization for Incidental Take and Implementation of Stanford University Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and associated documents are available for public review. The 30-day public review period will end at 5 p.m. Pacific Time on December 24, 2012.

11/16/12

NMFS announces availability of the proposed 2013-2014 harvest specifications and management measures for Pacific coast groundfish off WA, OR and CA. The public comment period for this proposed rule closes on December 5, 2012. See Public Notice for additional information.

11/14/12

November 2012 Council Meeting Decision Summary Document Available Online - The Pacific Fishery Management Council met November 3-7, 2012 in Costa Mesa, California. The November 2012 Council Meeting Decision Summary Document summarizes the decisions made during that meeting.

Download the November 2012 Council Meeting Decision Summary Document
For previous decisions, visit the Council Meeting Decision Summary Documents Archives

11/13/12

October 2012

November 2012 Briefing Book Available on Council's Website - The Briefing Book for the November 2012 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

10/18/12

Changes to management measures are being implemented in an October 17, 2012 Federal Register (77 FR 63758) notice that will become effective on November 1, 2012. The Council recommended increased trip limits for commercial Open Access fixed gear sablefish fisheries south of 36° N. lat., and the Council also recommended California Southern Management Area (SMA) Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) adjustments south of 34°27’ N. latitude. The Federal Register and public notice (NMFS-SEA-12-16) includes update commercial trip limit tables for the remainder of 2012.

10/17/12

The document Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Proposed Harvest Specifications and Management Measures for the 2013-2014 Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery and Amendment 21-2 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, dated September 2012 has been posted to the Northwest Region web page.

10/12/12

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces issuance of surplus carryover of sablefish in the Shorebased IFQ Program. Eligible vessel accounts will be credited quota pounds for sablefish by October 12, 2012.

NMFS also announces a revised vessel limits table resulting from reapportionment of whiting from the tribal to the non-tribal commercial fisheries. The additional whiting quota pounds for the IFQ fishery will be credited to quota share accounts by October 19, 2012.

Please see the public notice for further details.

10/11/12

Reapportionment of Pacific whiting from the tribal fishery to the non-tribal fishery.

10/05/12

Notice of Availability - The Line, Volume 1, No. 3, September 2012, a publication of the Pacific Fishery Management Council has been posted on the Council's website. The Line is a summary of West Coast fisheries news, for fishermen, published five times per year. This issue reports on the decisions made at the September 2012 PFMC meeting.

10/01/12

Work Session Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of the Salmon Advisory Subpanel (SAS) by telephone conference that is open to the public. See the SAS Work Session Notice for details.

10/01/12

September 2012

90-Day Finding on Petitions To List the Northeastern Pacific Ocean Distinct Population Segment of Great White Shark as Threatened or Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act

09/28/12

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council's Salmon Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee will hold a joint work session with the Salmon Technical Team and Model Evaluation Workgroup, which will be open to the public. The work session will be held October 10-11, 2012. Please see the Meeting Notice for details.

09/10/12

News Release - Military Vets to Help Rebuild Northern California Fisheries - NOAA partners with California to offer training and employment in habitat restoration; space still available for veterans to apply.

09/06/12

News Release - NOAA Provides Blueprint for Rebuilding Coho Salmon Along California’s Central Coast

09/05/12

August 2012

September 2012 Briefing Book Available on Council's Website - The Briefing Book for the September 2012 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

08/30/12

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Salmon Model Evaluation Workgroup (MEW) will hold a work session September 17, 2012 which is open to the public. Please see the MEW work session notice for details.

08/29/12

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council will convene a stock assessment update review meeting Tuesday, October 2 through Wednesday, October 3, 2012 in La Jolla, California, which is open to the public. Please see the stock assessment update meeting notice for further details.

08/16/12

Pacific Council News, Summer 2012 - The Summer 2012 issue of Pacific Council News is now available on the Council's website. You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter by visiting the Council's Newsletter Archives webpage.

08/15/12

Pacific Council to Reconsider Initial Catch Share Allocations of Pacific Whiting among Other Fishery Matters - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies will meet September 13-18, 2012 in Boise, Idaho to address issues related to management of groundfish, Pacific halibut, highly migratory species, salmon, and habitat matters.

Please visit the “Current Council Meeting” webpage for the meeting notice and agenda details.

08/14/12

Ad Hoc Amendment 24 Workgroup to Hold Teleconference August 31, 2012 - The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Ad Hoc Amendment 24 Workgroup will hold a teleconference, which is open to the public through a listening station. Please see the Amendment 24 Workgroup Notice for all the details.

08/07/12

Trawl Gear Workshop to Be Held August 29-30, 2012 - The Pacific Fishery Management Council will hold a trawl catch share program gear workshop, which is open to the public. View the Workshop Notice for all the details.

08/06/12

NMFS announces publication of a final, temporary rule in response to decisions issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in the case Pacific Dawn v. Bryson, No. C10–4829 TEH (2012). This action delays some and revises other portions of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Trawl Rationalization Program (program) regulations. These changes are necessary to enable NMFS to implement new regulations for the program to comply with the court order requiring NMFS to reconsider the initial allocation of Pacific whiting (whiting) to the shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fishery and the at-sea mothership fishery.

08/01/12

July 2012

Conference Call Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) ad hoc South of Humbug Pacific Halibut Workgroup (SHPHW) will hold a conference call on August 15, 2012 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Please see the SHPHW Conference Call notice for purpose and details.

07/27/12

Conference Call Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EF/30HRC) will hold a meeting by conference call August 17, 2012 from 9 a.m. to noon. Please see the EFHRC Conference Call notice for purpose and details.

07/27/12

The National Marine Fisheries Service recently briefed Congress on and released a report documenting the results from the first year of the West Coast groundfish trawl catch share program. Read the report at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Trawl-Program/upload/yr1-rpt.pdf.

07/26/12

June 2012

2011/2012 Pacific Mackerel Final Rule: NMFS issues this final rule to implement the annual catch limit (ACL), harvest guideline (HG), annual catch target (ACT) and associated annual reference points for Pacific mackerel in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the Pacific coast

06/18/12

May 2012

NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announce the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the applications from the Fruit Growers Supply Company (FGS) for Incidental Take Permits (ITPs) and a multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for take of endangered and threatened species.

05/17/12

Notice to U.S. Vessels Transiting Back and Forth to Alaska: While a fishing regime under the U.S.-Canada Albacore Treaty does not currently exist, U.S. fishing vessels can still freely transit Canadian fisheries waters in the course of a voyage to and from Alaska and Washington without first obtaining a license under Canada's Coastal Fisheries Protection Regulations (http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._413/page-2.html#h-4), subject to the notification requirements in subsection 12.1(1) and the requirement to stow fishing gear and to submit to an inspection of the vessel at the request of a protection officer in paragraphs 12.1(2)(a) and (b) of the Regulations. If a vessel plans to enter any of the Canadian waters specified in paragraph 5(1)(b) (Canada's internal waters), a license under the Coastal Fisheries Protection Regulations is required.

05/16/12

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces adjustments to quota share accounts for Pacific whiting in the Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program; adjustments to vessel accounts for surplus carryover in the Shorebased IFQ Program; and allocation of Pacific whiting for the Mothership and Catcher/Processor Coop Programs. See the public notice for details.

05/14/12

The National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center announces that the 2011 Economic Data Collection (EDC) forms are now available on the web at www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/edc, and are currently being mailed to participants in the trawl rationalization program. The forms are due on September 1, 2012. See the public notice for details.

05/10/12

April 2012

Groundfish Public Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) recommended changes to management measures at their April 1-6, 2012 meeting in Seattle, WA. These changes are described in this public notice and Federal Register Notice.

The Council recommended and NMFS is implementing the following reduced trip limits for 2012, beginning May 1: Limited Entry Fixed Gear, North of 36° N. lat., from “1,300 lb (590 kg) per week, not to exceed 5,000 lb (2,268) per 2 months” to “1,000 lb (454 kg) per week, not to exceed 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) per 2 months” beginning in period 3, May 1, 2012 through the end of the year. Additionally, this action allows for an 2012 incidental catch limit of halibut allowed only North of Pt. Chehalis, WA (46°53.30’ N. lat.) in the limited entry fixed gear sablefish primary season (i.e. tier limit fishery).

04/25/12

Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for 10(a)(1)(A), Enhancement of the Species Permit Application for the collection and transport of Spring-Run Chinook for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program

Appendix II
Dear Reviewer Letter

04/17/12

Notice of Availability - The following document: Preseason Report III Council Adopted Management Measures and Environmental Assessment Part 3 for 2012 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations, published April 2012, is available on the Council's website. Visit the Preseason Report III webpage.

04/17/12

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - Changes to commercial Fishery Management Measures. NMFS is implementing a shift in the shoreward line of the trawl Rockfish Conservation Area in Washington State, south of Cape Alava and in northern California, north of Cape Mendocino.

04/16/12

April 2012 Council Meeting Decision Summary Document Available - The Pacific Fishery Management Council met April 1-6, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. The April 2012 Council Meeting Decision Summary Document summarizes the decisions made during that meeting.

Download the April 2012 Council Meeting Decision Summary Document
For previous decisions, visit the Council Meeting Decision Summary Documents Archives

04/09/12

On April 2, NMFS published a final rule extending the southern boundary of the Central California Coast coho salmon ESU to include Soquel and Aptos creeks

FR Notice
Status Review Update for CCC Coho Salmon - Spence and Williams 2011
Press Release

04/02/12

On April 2, NMFS announced a negative 12-month finding on a petition to list Chinook salmon in the Upper Klamath/Trinity River basin

04/02/12

March 2012

Notice of a Public Work Session - The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) will hold a work session Monday, April 30 - Wednesday, May 2, 2012; which is open to the public. Please see the HMSMT meeting notice for details.

03/26/12

April 2012 Briefing Book Available on Council's Website - The Briefing Book for the April 2012 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

03/21/12

Preseason Report II: Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2012 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations Available - The document Preseason Report II: Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2012 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations; Regulation Identifier Number 0648-XA921 has been posted to the Council's website. Please visit the 2012 Preseason Report II webpage to view and download the document.

The Council solicits public comments on the proposed management Alternatives in preparation for adopting final management recommendations at its April meeting. Oral and written comments on the proposed management Alternatives may be presented at public hearings (see "Salmon Public Hearings" for locations and dates). Additional comment will be accepted during the April Council meeting. Written comments received at the Council office by March 26, 2012 will be copied and distributed to all Council members (Council staff cannot assure distribution of comments received after March 26).

03/20/12

Detailed April 2012 Council Meeting Agenda has been posted to the "Current Council Meeting" webpage.

For convenience, you may also download a copy of the detailed April 2012 Council Meeting Agenda here.

03/20/12

Updated swordfish retention limits for the U.S. West Coast-based deep-set longline fishery.

03/17/12

Notice of a Public Meeting - The Pacific Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of the Ecosystem Plan Development Team (EPDT) April 12, 2012 that is open to the public. Read the EPDT April meeting notice.

03/16/12

March 2012 Council Meeting Decision Summary Document Available - The Pacific Fishery Management Council met March 2-7, 2012 in Sacramento, California. The March 2012 Council Meeting Decision Summary Document summarizes the decisions made during that meeting.

Download the March 2012 Council Meeting Decision Summary Document

03/13/12

Encouraged by predictions of plentiful salmon returns along the West Coast, the Pacific Fishery Management Council released three alternatives for managing salmon fisheries. After hearing public comment on the alternatives, the Council will make a final recommendation at their next meeting in Seattle on April 1 - 6.

Please visit the Council's Salmon blog to view the three alternatives for public review. You may also visit the Council's Current Salmon Season Management for further information regarding the salmon management process.

03/08/12

Notice of Availability; NMFS Guidance Letter Additional Information - The National Marine Fisheries Service has transmitted their letter to the Pacific Fishery Management Council regarding NOAA Fisheries' consultation standards as well as preliminary guidance regarding the potential effects of the 2012 ocean salmon fishery season on listed salmonid species. The guidance letter is available on the Council's March 2012 Briefing Book website; please see Agenda Item G.4.c, Supplemental NMFS Report.

A White Paper providing additional detail on the Sacramento Winter Chinook ESA consultation standard is now available; please see Agenda Item G.4.c, Supplemental NMFS Report 2.

03/01/12

Public Notice: Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - Changes to recreational fishery management measures - #NMFS-SEA-12-03 - 03/01/2012.

Please see the Public Notice and the Federal Register Notice for further information.

03/01/12

Biological Opinion for the operation and maintenance of Englebright and Daguerre Point dams and Englebright Reservoir on the Yuba River.

03/01/12

February 2012

Notice of Availability; Guidance Letter - The National Marine Fisheries Service has transmitted their letter to the Pacific Fishery Management Council regarding NOAA Fisheries' consultation standards as well as preliminary guidance regarding the potential effects of the 2012 ocean salmon fishery season on listed salmonid species. The guidance letter is available on the Council's March 2012 Briefing Book website; please see Agenda Item G.4.c, Supplemental NMFS Report.

02/27/12

Notice of Availability - The document Preseason Report I: Stock Abundance Analysis and Environmental Assessment Part 1 for 2012 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations has been posted to the Council's website. Please visit the 2012 Preseason Report I webpage to view and download the document.

This is the second report in an annual series of four reports prepared by the Salmon Technical Team of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) to document and help guide salmon fishery management off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. The report focuses on Chinook, coho, and pink salmon stocks that have been important in determining Council fisheries in recent years, and on stocks listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with established National Marine Fisheries Service ESA consultation standards. This report will be formally reviewed at the Council's March meeting.

02/27/12

On January 5, 2012, NMFS announced the release of the Draft Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Recovery Plan (Draft Plan) for public review and comment. The Draft Plan addresses the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU). NMFS is soliciting review and comment from the public and all interested parties on the Draft Plan. As part of that proposal, we provided a 60-day comment period, ending on March 5, 2012. We have received requests for an extension of the public comment period. In response to these requests, we are extending the comment period for the proposed action an additional 60 days. Read the Federal Register notice here.

02/24/12

NOAA Seeks Public Input on Draft Recovery Plan for Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Salmon.

02/24/12

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking a qualified candidate to serve on its Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel (CPSAS) as one of three California commercial fisheries representatives. The CPSAS consists of 10 members representing various commercial, recreational, and conservation stakeholders in the coastal pelagic fisheries along the west coast coast.

Please visit the Council's “Current Advisory Body Vacancies” webpage to get the full vacancy announcement. To ensure consideration, nominations should be received at the Council office no later than Monday, March 12, 2012.

02/22/12

Tribal Whiting proposed rule for 2012. Comment period is thirty days (closes March 23). See Federal Register document.

02/22/12

Review of 2011 Ocean Salmon Fisheries Available on Pacific Fishery Management Council's Website - 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 2011 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.

Get the Review of 2011 Ocean Salmon Fisheries (Published February 2012).

02/09/12

NMFS: NWR (DOC: NOAA) announces new Pacific Whiting Treaty WebPage and Scientific Review Group Meeting Notice. Please see Public Notice NMFS-SEA-12-2 for full document.

02/07/12

Council to Adopt Range of Options for 2012 Ocean Salmon Fisheries and 2012-2013 Pacific Whiting Fishery Management Measures

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies will meet February 29-March 7, 2012 in Sacramento, California to address issues related to salmon, Pacific halibut, groundfish, coastal pelagic species, highly migratory species, and habitat matters.

Please visit the "Current Council Meeting" webpage for the meeting notice and agenda details.

02/07/12

Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel and Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team to Hold Conference Call - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a conference call of its Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel (CPSAS) and Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT). The conference call will be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Please visit the Council's website to view the CPSAS and CPSMT Conference Call notice.

02/02/12

Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee to Hold Conference Call - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a conference call of its Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC).The conference call will be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time. Please visit the Council's website to view the EFHRC Conference Call meeting notice.

02/02/12

January 2012

Notice of Availability and Document Order Form - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is announcing the dates of availability for its annual preseason planning documents for ocean salmon fisheries. The reports will be posted electronically on the Council’s website, or you may request hard copies or CD-ROM copies of the reports by filling out and submitting the following form: http://www.pcouncil.org/salmon/order-form-salmon-management-documents/

The scheduled availability for the salmon preseason management documents are as follows:

Review of 2011 Ocean Salmon Fisheries
Available February 10
Preseason Report I - Stock Abundance Analysis and Environmental Assessment Part 1 for 2012 Ocean Salmon Fisheries
Available March 1
Preseason Report II - Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2012 Ocean Salmon Fisheries
Available March 20
Preseason Report III - Analysis of Council-Adopted Management Measures for 2012 Ocean Salmon Fisheries
Available April 17

Separate E-Mail notifications will be sent to you announcing when the documents are available on our website.

01/12/12

Request for Nominations for an At-Large Position on the Scientific and Statistical Committee - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking qualified candidates to consider for an at-large position on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The successful candidate will serve out the remainder of the 2010-2012 Council advisory body term. Please see the Council’s Advisory Body Vacancies webpage for all the specifics. The deadline to submit nominations is February 8, 2012.

01/12/12

Reminder: Request for Nominations - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking a qualified candidate to serve on its Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel (CPSAS) to represent the conservation community. The CPSAS consists of 10 members representing various commercial, recreational, and conservation stakeholders in the coastal pelagic fisheries along the west coast. The Council’s Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan includes management of anchovy, Pacific sardines, Pacific mackerel, jack mackerel, market squid, krill, Pacific herring, and jacksmelt. Please see the Council’s Advisory Body Vacancies webpage for all the specifics. The deadline to submit nominations is February 6, 2012.

01/11/12

The public draft of the SONCC coho salmon recovery plan is now available for review. Comments will be accepted through March 5, 2012. Public meetings are planned and the dates and locations will be posted here.

01/05/12

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December 2011

NMFS announces inseason adjustments to groundfish fishery management measures in the commercial and recreational fisheries, beginning on January 1, 2012. These changes are described in more detail in the Public Notice.

You can also access this Public Notice on our website at:www.nwr.noaa.gov.

12/19/11

NMFS announces publication of a Secretarial Amendment affecting the Pacific coast groundfish fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California. For additional details concerning lingcod area management in the IFQ fishery and for 2012 primary sablefish tier limits, see the Public Notice.

12/19/11

Reapportionment of Nonwhiting from Mothership to Catcher/Processors

12/14/11

The Winter 2011 issue of Pacific Council News is now available on the Council's website. You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter by visiting the Council's Newsletter Archives webpage.

12/08/11

On Dec 7, 2011, NMFS published a Federal Register notice announcing the availability of 5-year reviews (hyperlink to the reports) for 4 Distinct Population Segments of ESA-listed steelhead in California.

12/07/11

December 6, 2011 - NOAA Releases Regional Saltwater Recreational Fishing Plans: NOAA today released the first regional saltwater recreational fishing action plans designed to help improve fishing opportunities and address recreational fishing priorities in each of the nation’s six coastal regions and for the angling community that fishes for tunas and other highly migratory species.

12/06/11

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces year-end information for the Trawl Rationalization Program

12/01/11

November 2011

NMFS is issuing regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended, to implement decisions of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). At its 82nd Meeting in July 2011, the IATTC adopted a number of resolutions, some of which require rulemaking to implement domestically in the United States. This rule implements three of these decisions: the Resolution on Tuna Conservation 2011-2013 (C-11-01); the Resolution Prohibiting Fishing on Data Buoys (C-11-03); and the Resolution Prohibiting the Retention of Oceanic Whitetip Sharks (C-11-10). This action is necessary for the United States to satisfy its obligations as a member of the IATTC.

11/04/11

Statement by Eric Schwaab at the Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting, Nov. 3, 2011; Costa Mesa, California

11/03/11

October 2011

11/04/11

Statement by Eric Schwaab at the Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting, Nov. 3, 2011; Costa Mesa, California

11/03/11

Black Abalone Critical Habitat Rule - The rule designates critical habitat for black abalone within five segments of the California coast between the Del Mar Landing Ecological Reserve to the Palos Verdes Peninsula, as well as on the Farallon Islands, Año Nuevo Island, San Miguel Island, Santa Rosa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Anacapa Island, Santa Barbara Island, and Santa Catalina Island. This designation includes rocky intertidal and subtidal habitats from the mean higher high water (MHHW) line to a depth of -6 meters (relative to the mean lower low water (MLLW) line), as well as the coastal marine waters above the rocky bottom in these areas. The rule takes effect on November 28, 2011.

10/28/11

Final Rule to Designate Critical Habitat for Black Abalone, issued October 27, 2011

10/28/11

NMFS announces inseason adjustments to groundfish fishery management measures in the limited entry fixed gear and open access fisheries, beginning on November 1, 2011. These changes are escribed in more detail in the Public Notice.

10/28/11

Pacific Council News, Fall 2011 - The Fall 2011 issue of Pacific Council News is now available on the Council's website.

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter by visiting the Council's Newsletter Archives webpage.

10/25/11

Southwest – NOAA Fisheries Proposes to Modify Retention Limits for Swordfish in the West Coast-Based Deep-Set Tuna Longline Fishery; Seeks Public Comment through Nov. 21 - NOAA Fisheries is proposing to modify retention limits for swordfish, Xiphias gladius, harvested in the U.S. West Coast-based deep-set tuna longline fishery. The proposed rule would implement the Pacific Fishery Management Council's recommendation to modify Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species regulations governing the possession and landing limits of swordfish captured in this fishery, contingent on hook type and fisheries observer presence. If a vessel without an observer onboard uses any J-hooks (tuna hooks), the trip limit would be 10 swordfish. If a vessel without an observer onboard uses only circle hooks, the trip limit would be 25 swordfish. If the vessel carries a NOAA Fisheries-approved observer during the entire fishing trip, there would be no limit on swordfish retained. Regulations prohibiting the use of shallow-set longline gear to target swordfish would remain in place. Comments must be received by November 21, 2011. Read more or submit a comment.

10/24/11

November 2011 Briefing Book Available Online - The Briefing Book for the November 2011 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

10//19/11

The National Marine Fisheries Service published a Federal Register notice announcing the 90-day finding on three petitions to delist coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) under the Endangered Species Act.

10/07/11

September 2011

Request for Nominations - Two Washington At-Large Positions on the Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is reopening a request for nominations to its Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel. The reopening is due to a limited response to the previous request issued in June and considered at the September Council meeting, and to an additional recent vacancy. Visit the Council's Advisory Body Vacancies webpage for further information. The deadline to submit nominations is October 12, 2011.

09/21/11

September 2011 Council Meeting Decisions Document Available - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) met September 14-19, 2011 in San Mateo, California. The September 2011 Council Meeting Decision Document summarizes the decisions made during that meeting.

Download the September 2011 Council Decision Document (PDF)
For previous decisions, visit the Council Meeting Decisions Archives Webpage

09/21/11

September 2011 Briefing Book Available Online - The Briefing Book for the September 2011 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

09/06/11

Meeting Notice - The Council’s Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold a work session October 3 - 7, 2011 which is open to the public. View the GMT Meeting Notice.

09//02/11

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Groundfish Subcommittee will hold a work session September 26 - 30, 2011 which is open to the public. View the SSC Groundfish Subcommittee Meeting Notice.

09//02/11

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces the publication of several Federal Register notices related to the trawl catch share program: (1) a notice of availability of Amendment 21-1 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP); (2) a proposed program improvement and enhancement (PIE) rule; and (3) a final rule correcting inadvertent non-substantive errors that resulted with implementation of the regulations for Amendments 20 and 21.

Public comments on the Amendment 21-1 and on the proposed PIE rule must be received no later than October 14, 2011.

See the public notice for more details on these notices and on how to provide public comment.

09/02/11

August 2011

Meeting Notice (Conference Call) - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a meeting via conference call September 21 & 22, 2011 of the Ecosystem Plan Development Team (EPDT) that is open to the public. Visit the Council's website to view the EPDT Conference Call Meeting Notice.

08/29/11

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Salmon Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee will hold a joint work session with the Salmon Technical Team and Model Evaluation Workgroup October 4 & 5, 2011, which will be open to the public. View the Joint Work Session Meeting Notice.

08/26/11

The Pacific Fishery Management Council will convene a public meeting of the Pacific Sardine Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panel October 4 - 7, 2011. Visit the Council's website to get the Pacific Sardine STAR Panel meeting notice.

08/23/11

Council to Consider Amendments to Fishery Management Plans for West Coast Groundfish Fisheries - The Pacific Fishery Management Council and its advisory bodies will meet September 12 - 19, 2011 in San Mateo, California to address issues related to groundfish, highly migratory species, salmon, Pacific halibut, and habitat matters. Please visit the "Current Council Meeting" webpage for the meeting notice and agenda details.

08/02/11

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s ad hoc Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC) will hold a conference call with a listening station available to the public September 9, 2011 from 9 - 11 a.m. Visit the Council's website to view the EFHRC meeting notice and read further details.

08/18/11

On August 15, 2011, the National Marine Fisheries Service published a Federal Register notice announcing the 5-year review reports for 6 species of ESA listed salmon and steelhead in California.

08/14/11

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published the FY2012 Species Recovery Grants to Tribes Announcement, requesting proposals for the conservation of species listed under the Endangered Species Act, as well as proposed, candidate, and recently delisted species. All Federally recognized tribes are eligible. The deadline for proposals is September 30, 2011.

08/02/11

July 2011

Meeting Notice: Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee - The Council’s ad hoc groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC) will hold a public work session October 6, 2011 to review progress and interim products for the groundfish EFH periodic 5-year review. View the EFHRC meeting notice.

07/19/11

The proposed 2012 List of Fisheries published June 28, 2011. Public comment closes on July 28, 2011.

07/11/11

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Council will convene a meeting of the Cost Recovery Committee (CRC) July 29, 2011 that is open to the public. Please visit the Council's website to view the CRC meeting notice.

07/07/11

Announcement - The Pacific Council announces the establishment and membership of a Cost Recovery Committee designed to provide advice on the process and elements by which the groundfish trawl fishery sectors will pay for certain costs associated with the new West Coast Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program. Please see Chairman Cedergreen's announcement to view the committee purpose and roster.

07/07/11

June 2011

NMFS announces July 1, 2011 inseason changes to commercial sablefish trip limits in the limited entry fixed gear and open access fisheries, as well as changes to other commercial fishery trip limits and changes to the trawl RCA boundaries. See the Public Notice for further details.

06/29/11

Request for Nominations - Currently, the Pacific Fishery Management Council is seeking qualified candidates to fill vacancies on its Groundfish Allocation Committee (non-voting) and Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel. Please visit the Council's "Current Advisory Body Vacancies" webpage to download the announcement and view all the details. To ensure consideration, nominations should be received at the Council office no later than Wednesday, August 10, 2011.

06/17/11

On June 11, 2011, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced increases to the primary sablefish tier limits. This public notice address questions regarding that increase and moving between the limited fixed gear daily trip limit fishery, the primary sablefish fishery and the open access fishery.

06/17/11

Notice of Stock Assessment Review Panel Work Sessions - Stock Assessment Review Panels (STAR Panels) will hold work sessions to review stock assessments for widow rockfish and spiny dogfish; sablefish and dover sole; and greenspotted rockfish and blackgill rockfish. These work sessions are open to the public. Please visit the Council's website to view the STAR panel notices:

Widow Rockfish and Spiny Dogfish (July 11-15)
Sablefish and Dover Sole (July 25-29)
Greenspotted Rockfish and Blackgill Rockfish (August 8-12)

06/16/11

Notice of a Public Work Session - The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Salmon Model Evaluation Workgroup (MEW) will hold a work session, which is open to the public. Visit the Council's website to view the MEW Work Session Notice.

06/16/11

Notice of a Public Meeting - The Pacific Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of the Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC), which is open to the public. Please visit the Council's website to view the EFHRC Meeting Notice.

06/16/11

June 2011 Council Meeting Decisions Document Available - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies met June 6-13, 2011 in Spokane, Washington. The June 2011 Council Meeting Decision Document summarizes the decisions made during that meeting.

Download the June 2011 Council Decision Document (PDF)
For previous decisions, visit the Council Meeting Decisions Archives Webpage

06/14/11

NMFS announces an increase to the limited entry fixed gear primary sablefish fishery tier limits, effective at 13:15 pm, PST, on June 10, 2011. See the Public Notice for additional information.

06/13/11

The National Marine Fisheries Service published a notice on May 31, 2011 (76 FR 31305) soliciting nominations for the Advisory Panel (AP) and the Joint Management Committee (JMC) on Pacific Whiting called for in the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada on Pacific Hake/Whiting. Nominations are being sought for at least 6, but not more than 12 individuals on the AP, and 1 individual on the JMC to serve as United States representatives. Read the Press Release.

06/01/11

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Tule Chinook Workgroup (TCW) will hold a meeting July 14, 2011 to review work products and develop an abundance-based harvest management approach for Columbia River natural tule Chinook. This meeting of the TCW is open to the public. Visit the Council's website to view the TCW meeting notice.

06/01/11

U.S. West Coast Swordfish Workshop Presentations - Presentations given at the Swordfish Workshop that was held May 10-11, 2011 are now available on the workshop webpage - 06/01/11

06/01/11

Public Meeting on July 19, 2011, 10 a.m. to Noon, Swedish Cultural Center. Meeting on National Standard 10, promoting the safety of human life at sea, potential revisions to National Standard 10 guidelines. Read More.

May 2011

05/31/11

June 2011 Briefing Book Available Online - The Briefing Book for the June 2011 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the "Current Briefing Book" webpage. The Briefing Book contains "situation summaries" (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

05/25/11

Work Session Notice - A stock assessment review (STAR) panel for the 2011 petrale sole and Pacific ocean perch stock assessments will hold a work session June 20 - 24, 2011, which is open to the public. Visit the Council's website to view the STAR Panel work session notice (all the details).

05/19/11

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Biennial Specifications and Management Measures. Final Rule; Pacific Whiting harvest specifications and tribal allocation.

05/19/11

Newsletter Available Online - The Spring edition of Pacific Council News is now available on our website.

Download Spring 2011 Pacific Council News
Visit the Pacific Council News Archives webpage for past newsletter issues

05/13/11

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the publication of a final rule for the commercial and recreational management measures for May 2011 through December 2012. The management measures apply in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California, and are effective at 0001 hours (local time) on May 11, 2011, until modified, superseded or rescinded.

05/09/11

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces that economic data collection forms will be mailed out over the next few weeks. These forms are mandatory for participants in the trawl fisheries (Shorebased IFQ, Mothership Coop, and Catcher/Processor Coop Programs) and must be completed and returned to NMFS by September 1, 2011. The forms are for the baseline period of 2009 and 2010, and the information will be used as a benchmark for comparison to future years. Forms are required for catcher vessels, motherships, catcher/processors, and first receivers/shorebased processors. For more details, please see the public notice and the websites below.

Economic Data Collection (EDC) Program website (including forms, frequently asked questions, and other useful information):
http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/fram/economic_data.cfm

NMFS Trawl Program website:
http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Trawl-Program/index.cfm

05/04/11

Incidental Take Permit and Habitat Conservation Plan for PacifiCorp Klamath Hydroelectric Project Interim Operations - This notice announces that PacifiCorp Energy (PacifiCorp or applicant) has submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) an application for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), for a 10-year period. As required by the ESA, PacifiCorp has also prepared a Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan) as part of the application. >Read More

05/03/11

April 2011

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on National Standard 10: "Conservation and Management Measures shall, to the extent practicable, promote the safety of human life at sea." NMFS provides background information and requests public comment on potential adjustments to National Standard 10 guidelines. Written comments due by July 20, 2011.

Federal Register Notice
Background Information

04/25/11

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a conference call of the Groundfish Management Team (GMT) May 10, 2011, which is open to the public. Conference call details are available on the Council's website by visiting the following link: "GMT Conference Call Meeting Notice".

04/19/11

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Ad Hoc Salmon Amendment Committee (SAC) will hold a meeting May 16 & 17, 2011 to finalize alternatives and analyses for an amendment to the Salmon Fishery Management Plan to address the Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements for annual catch limits and accountability measures. This meeting of the SAC is open to the public. Please visit the Council's website to view the SAC Meeting Notice.

04/19/11

April 2011 Council Meeting Decisions Document Available - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies met April 9-13, 2011 in San Mateo, California. The April 2011 Council Meeting Decision Document summarizes the decisions made during that meeting.

Download the April 2011 Council Decision Document (PDF)
For previous decisions, visit the Council Meeting Decisions Archives Webpage

04/18/11

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a meeting of its Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) that is open to the public. View the CPSMT Meeting Notice by visiting the Council's website.

04/12/11

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council will convene a Pacific mackerel Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panel meeting May 2 - 5, 2011 that is open to the public. View the STAR Panel Meeting Notice for details.

04/11/11

Petition to List Upper Klamath Chinook Salmon as a Threatened or Endangered Species (PDF)

04/07/11

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces a mandatory reporting requirement for first receivers in the Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program. Effective immediately, the ex-vessel value of the landing by species is a mandatory field that must be completed on the electronic fish ticket by the IFQ first receiver.

NMFS Trawl Program website:
http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Trawl-Program/index.cfm

04/06/11

Proposed rule for 2011 Pacific whiting tribal fishery; request for comments. - Comments on this proposed rule must be received no later than 5 p.m., local time on April 19, 2011

04/05/11

Proposed rule to revise vessel identification requirements for U.S. vessels based out of the U.S. West Coast that fish for highly migratory species. The intent of the proposed action is to bring the existing vessel identification requirements into conformity with the binding vessel identification requirements adopted by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). The proposed rule is open for public comment period until May 5, 2011.

04/05/11

March 2011

The Pacific Council’s Highly Migratory Species Management Team submitted a NOAA Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) proposal in 2009 to explore the development of an adaptive sampling design to provide an independent estimate of recreational catch of thresher sharks. The design would allow comparison of California Recreational Fisheries Survey random sampling design data for the same time period.

The project consultant, Dr. Vince Gallucci of the University of Washington School of Fisheries and Oceanography, and his graduate student Aneesh Hariharan, have submitted the final report An Adaptive Sampling Design for the Estimation of Thresher Shark Catch and Angler Effort in a Recreational Fishery in California. A second MRIP proposal has been submitted to field test the sampling design in parallel with the CRFS sampling design. The funding decision for the second proposal will be made sometime in April 2011.

03/31/11

NEW! SWFSC scientists and SWR SFD biologists create a fact sheet on common thresher sharks - SWFSC scientists, in cooperation with biologists from the SWR Sustainable Fisheries Division, have prepared a fact sheet on thresher sharks and their fisheries. The common thresher shark is the most important commercial shark species in the U.S. west coast highly migratory species fisheries. Threshers are caught primarily in the California-based drift gillnet (DGN) fishery that was first established west coast-wide to target thresher sharks in the late 1970s. By the mid 1980s the fishery had shifted its focus to more lucrative swordfish. The shift was the result of both economics and regulations to protect pupping female thresher sharks (PFMC 2003). Since that time, threshers have only occasionally been targeted secondarily or caught incidentally in the DGN fishery.

Click here for more information about the common thresher shark

03/31/11

April 2011 Briefing Book Available Online - The Briefing Book for the April 2011 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

03/30/11

Meeting Notice - A panel tasked with reviewing assessment methods for data-poor groundfish species will hold a work session April 25 - 29, 2011 that is open to the public. Please visit the Council's website to view the Review of Assessment Methods Meeting Notice.

03/29/11

Request for Nominations - Currently, the Pacific Fishery Management Council is seeking qualified candidates to fill three vacancies on its Groundfish Advisory Subpanel (GAP). These positions represent the following fishing industry sectors of the west coast groundfish fishery:

Processor (this is an at-large position)
Open Access Fishery North of Cape Mendocino
Washington Charter Boat Operator

Please visit the Council's "Current Advisory Body Vacancies" Webpage for all the details.

To ensure consideration, nominations should be received at the Council office no later than May 18, 2011.

03/29/11

Workshop Notice - The NOAA Fisheries will hold a Workshop in Newport, Oregon April 5 and 6, 2011 to discuss the data and models that will be used in the 2011 stock assessments for sablefish, petrale sole, and Dover sole. Please visit the Council's website for further details on the Pre-assessment Workshop for sablefish, Dover sole and petrale sole.

03/25/11

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Tule Chinook Workgroup (TCW) will hold a meeting April 27, 2011 to review initial work products and revise future work plans relative to developing an abundance-based harvest management approach for Columbia River natural tule Chinook. This meeting of the TCW is open to the public. Please visit the Council's website to view the TCW meeting notice.

03/24/11

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene meetings of the Ecosystem-Based Management Subcommittee (Subcommittee) of the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and the Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel (EAS) April 19 - 21, 2011 that are open to the public. Please visit the Council's website to view the Ecosystem Meeting Notice.

03/23/11

Reducing Vessel Strikes of Large Whales in California - Report from a Workshop held in Long Beach, California, May 19 - 20, 2010 (PDF)

03/23/11

Preseason Report II: Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2011 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations Available on Pacific Fishery Management Council's Website

The document Preseason Report II: Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2011 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations; Regulation Identifier Number 0648-XA184 has been posted to the Council's website. Please visit the 2011 Preseason Report II webpage to view and download the document.

This document has been prepared by the staff of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Salmon Technical Team (STT) to describe the Council's proposed ocean salmon management Alternatives for 2011 and characterize their expected impacts on ocean salmon fisheries and the stocks which support them. The Council solicits public comments on the proposed management Alternatives in preparation for adopting final management recommendations at its April meeting. Oral and written comments may be presented at the public hearings. Additional comment will be accepted during the April Council meeting.

03/22/11

Council to Adopt 2011 Ocean Salmon Fisheries and Process and Schedule for Completing 2013-2014 Groundfish Management Measures

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies will meet April 7-13, 2011 in San Mateo, California to address issues related to salmon, Pacific halibut, groundfish, coastal pelagic species, highly migratory species, and habitat matters. Please visit the "Current Council Meeting" webpage to view the meeting notice and agenda.

03/21/11

The March 2011 Council Meeting Decision Document is now available. The Council Decision Document is a basic summary of decisions made at Council meetings.

Download the March 2011 Council Decisions Document (PDF)
For previous decisions, visit the Council Meeting Decisions Archives Webpage

03/14/11

NMFS is calling on all interested parties to provide new and updated information related to essential fish habitat (EFH) for Pacific coast groundfish. This data call is part of the process required by NMFS and the Pacific Fishery Management Council to periodically review EFH components of their fishery management plans and to revise these provisions as necessary based on available information.

03/02/11

Notice of Availability - The document Preseason Report I: Stock Abundance Analysis and Environmental Assessment Part 1 for 2011 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations has been posted to the Council's website. Please visit the 2011 Preseason Report I webpage to view and download the document.

This is the second report in an annual series of four reports prepared by the Salmon Technical Team of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) to document and help guide salmon fishery management off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. The report focuses on Chinook, coho, and pink salmon stocks that have been important in determining Council fisheries in recent years, and on stocks listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with established National Marine Fisheries Service ESA consultation standards. This report will be formally reviewed at the Council's March meeting.

03/01/11

February 2011

NMFS announces March 1, 2011 inseason changes to commercial sablefish trip limits in the limited entry fixed gear and open access fisheries, the 2011 sablefish primary season tier limits, and changes to Washington recreational fishery management measures. See Public Notice for further details.

02/28/11

Your chance to visit with NOAA Scientists in Southern California – NOAA will have exhibits at the Fred Hall Fishing and Boat Show in Del Mar (March 24-27). Nautical charts, marine forecast information, fisheries research, management, FishWatch, and marine conservation are just a few of the subjects our scientists will be prepared to discuss.

02/22/11

March 2011 Briefing Book Available Online - The Briefing Book for the March 2011 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

02/16/11

Council to Adopt Range of Options for 2011 Ocean Salmon Fisheries and 2011 Pacific Whiting Fishery Management Measures

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies will meet March 4-10, 2011 in Vancouver, Washington, to address issues related to salmon, Pacific halibut, groundfish, coastal pelagic species, marine protected areas, and habitat matters.

Visit the Current Council Meeting webpage for meeting and agenda details.

02/08/11

Review of 2010 Ocean Salmon Fisheries Available on Pacific Fishery Management Council's Website - The Salmon Technical Team (STT) and staff of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) have prepared this postseason review of the 2010 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.

Get the Review of 2010 Ocean Salmon Fisheries (February 2011).

02/08/11

12-month Finding on Petition to delist Coho salmon south of San Francisco/Proposed Range Extension for CCC Coho salmon

Press Release (PDF)
FR Notice (PDF)
Biological Review Team Report (PDF)
References Cited
Updated Status Information for CCC Coho Salmon ESU (PDF)
Original Petition (PDF)
Petition Supplement (PDF)

02/03/11

ATTENTION ANGLERS: Green Sturgeon Must Be Released due to Threatened Status (PDF)

02/03/11

NOAA Proposes to Extend Southern Range of Central California Coast Coho Salmon as a Result of Updated Scientific Information (PDF)

02/03/11

January 2011

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC) will hold a work session February 25 by conference call. Please visit the Council's website to view the EFHRC meeting notice.

01/31/11

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) emphasizes the importance of the vessel account number, and announces errata to correct the Compliance Guide for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program - Covering Program Details, published on December 17, 2010, and the public notice, published on December 31, 2010. The errata correct the table on p.44 of the compliance guide and on p.3 of the public notice, which provided guidance on moving between the Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and other fisheries. The purpose of this public notice is to clarify the actions required by fishermen deciding to switch between different fisheries within the same fishing year and the incidental catch within those fisheries.

Any updates will be posted on the NMFS Trawl Program website at:
http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Trawl-Program/index.cfm

01/19/11

FY 2011 Species of Concern External Grant Program Announcement - The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published the Species of Concern External Grant Program Announcement, requesting proposals focused on the conservation of NMFS Species of Concern. State, territorial, tribal, and local governments are eligible to apply. The deadline for proposals is Friday, February 18, 2011. For more information, please see the Species of Concern web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/concern/grant.htm.

01/11/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published the FY2011 Species Recovery Grants to Tribes Announcement, requesting proposals for the conservation of species listed under the Endangered Species Act, as well as proposed, candidate, and recently delisted species. All Federally recognized tribes are eligible. The deadline for proposals is March 7, 2011.

01/11/10

Final Rule – Vessel Capacity Limit in the Purse Seine Fishery in the Eastern Pacific Ocean - **Effective February 3, 2011**

NMFS is issuing regulations under authority of the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended, for the U.S. purse seine fishery operating in the eastern Pacific Ocean to make U.S. regulations more consistent with the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Resolution on the Capacity of the Tuna Fleet Operating in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (IATTC Resolution C-02-03). These revisions will ensure that the United States satisfies its obligations under the Tuna Conventions Act and as a member of the IATTC while allowing controlled operational flexibility for the U.S. industry consistent with the IATTC management framework. For details on IATTC Resolution C-02-03 and other decisions of the IATTC, please go to the following IATTC website: http://www.iattc.org/ResolutionsActiveENG.htm.

01/11/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces fishing will begin under the Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program on January 11, 2011, as soon as you log on to your vessel account through the QS account and vessel account link on NMFS Trawl Program website, which we anticipate to be available at noon (Pacific time). The public notice contains more details on the start of the Shorebased IFQ Program. In addition, NMFS has mailed the following:

Initial administrative determination (IAD) letters on applications for quota share (QS) permits, mothership catcher vessel (MS/CV) endorsements, mothership (MS) permits, and catcher/processor (C/P) endorsements.
User IDs and passwords (mailed separately), along with a user guide, for QS accounts and vessel accounts in the Shorebased IFQ Program.
Interim first receiver site licenses to applicants.

Any updates will be posted on the NMFS Trawl Program website at:
http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Trawl-Program/index.cfm

01/07/10

The National Marine fisheries Service (NMFS) announces that fishing may begin under the Shorebased IFQ Program beginning January 11, 2011. In addition, the public notice is intended to clarify the public notice released December 27, 2010 (NMFS-SEA-10-22), which announced, in part, that fishing in the limited entry trawl fishery will be prohibited beginning January 1, 2011.

Any updates, including interim 2011 allocations for the trawl Shorebased IFQ Program, will be posted on the NMFS Trawl Program website at: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Trawl-Program/index.cfm

01/03/10

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December 2010

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces fishing in the limited entry trawl fishery will be prohibited beginning January 1, 2011, until NMFS completes all final steps necessary to implement the trawl rationalization program. NMFS also announces an emergency interim action due to the delay in 2011-2012 harvest specifications and management measures, and in preparation for implementation of the trawl rationalization program. This action is necessary to prevent over-issuing QP in the rationalized trawl fishery and to keep harvest early in 2011 low enough that, once the final 2011 harvest specifications and management measures are implemented later in 2011, drastic restrictions to management measures will not be necessary. In addition, NMFS also announces the trip limits tables for all commercial fisheries effective January 1, 2011.

For further information, please see the attached public notice. The emergency rule, along with other useful information including fact sheets, frequently asked questions, first receiver site license applications, and a template for vessel account requests, are posted on NMFS Trawl Program website at: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Trawl-Program/index.cfm.

12/27/10

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) will hold a work session January 19 - 20, 2010 which is open to the public. Visit the Council's website to get the HMSMT meeting notice.

12/27/10

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold a work session January 10 - 14, 2011 which is open to the public. Visit the Council's website to view the GMT Meeting Notice.

12/27/10

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Salmon Technical Team will hold two work sessions (January 18-21 and February 22-25, 2011) to draft documents pertinent to the 2011 salmon management preseason process. Please visit the Council's website for STT work session details.

In addition, the Council will hold public hearings to review the Council's proposed regulatory options (when available). This is an advance notice to alert the public of when the hearings will take place. Please visit the Council's website for public hearing dates and locations.

12/21/10

Notice of Availability - The Pacific Fishery Management Council is announcing the availability of its annual preseason planning documents for ocean salmon fisheries. The reports will be available electronically on the Council’s website, or you may request hard copies or CD-ROM copies of the reports by filling out and submitting the Preseason Salmon Management Documents Order Form.

12/21/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the publication of a final rule implementing additional program details for the trawl rationalization program (program), including gear switching, observer programs, retention requirements, equipment requirements, catch monitors, catch weighing requirements, coop permits, coop agreement requirements, first receiver site licenses, quota share accounts, vessel accounts, further tracking and monitoring components, and economic data collection requirements. A compliance guide (attached) provides a plain language guide to the additional details of the program and responses to frequently asked questions.

For further information, please see the public notice and compliance guide. The final rule, along with other useful information including fact sheets, frequently asked questions, first receiver site license applications, and a template for vessel account requests, are posted on NMFS Trawl Program website at: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Trawl-Program/index.cfm.

12/17/10

In preparation for implementation of the trawl rationalization program on January 1, 2011 or shortly thereafter, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is accepting requests for vessel accounts and announces the availability of first receiver site license applications. Additional components of the trawl rationalization program will be published in a final rule that is currently at the Federal Register.

12/16/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces an extension to the comment period on the proposed rule for the 2011-2012 Groundfish Biennial Specifications and Management Measures until January 4, 2010. The original proposed rule published in the Federal Register on November 3, 2010 (75 FR 67810).

12/02/10

November 2010

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces inseason adjustments to commercial groundfish fishery management measures. These changes include CLOSURE of the open access sablefish daily trip limit fishery south of 36 degrees north latitude (Conception Area); and CLOSURE of the minor slope rockfish and darkblotched rockfish limits in the limited entry bottom trawl fishery and expansion of the trawl RCA, north of 40 degrees 10 minutes north latitude. These changes also include increases to trip limits for some species in the commercial sablefish daily trip limit fishery north of 36 degrees north latitude and decreases to sablefish trip limits in the limited entry fishery south of 36 degrees north latitude (Conception Area).

The changes are described in the public notice

11/30//10

NOAA Fisheries and the Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research Team Up to Publish a Catch and Release Survivorship Study for Southern California Recreational Fisheries Targeting the Common Thresher Shark (Alopias Vulpinus) (PDF)

11/23/10

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) met November 4 - 9, 2010 in Costa Mesa, California. Below is the November 2010 Council Meeting Decision Document which summarizes the decisions made during that meeting.

Download the November 2010 Council Decision Document (PDF)
For previous decisions, visit the Council Meeting Decisions Archives Webpage

11/10/10

In an effort to prepare for the anticipated trawl rationalization program, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces a tool to assist potential first receivers in the Shorebased IFQ Program. NMFS has drafted guidelines for first receivers on how to prepare a catch monitoring plan which would be a required part of the upcoming interim first receiver site license application expected to be available in December. Be advised that these are guidelines based on proposed regulations and are not yet final. Any changes would be reflected in the final rule which, if approved, is expected to publish in late November/early December.

These guidelines, as well as a draft template, are available on NMFS' Trawl Rationalization Program website at:
http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Trawl-Program/Info-Docs.cfm

11/09/10

October 2010

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) ad hoc groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC) will hold a work session December 20, 2010 to develop recommendations for the process and scope of the groundfish EFH periodic 5-year review, and for the role of the EFHRC in that review. Please refer to the EFHRC meeting notice posted on the Council's website.

10/28/10

Tule Chinook Workgroup To Hold Work Session December 9, 2010 - The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Tule Chinook Workgroup (TCW) will hold a meeting to review initial work products and revise future work plans relative to developing an abundance-based harvest management approach for Columbia River natural tule Chinook. This meeting of the TCW is open to the public. Please visit the Council's website for further work session details.

10/25/10

November 2010 Council Meeting Briefing Book Materials Available Online - The Briefing Book for the November 2010 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

10/21/10

Pacific Council News, Fall 2010 - The Fall 2010 issue of the Pacific Council News is now available on the Council's website. It covers the decisions made at the September Council meeting in Boise, plus other fisheries news and information.

10/20/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service's Office of Law Enforcement will be holding outreach workshops on the trawl rationalization program in several ports along the west coast in the coming weeks. These workshops will focus on compliance with the new trawl rationalization program regulations and provide an opportunity for questions and answers. Please see the notice for more information. (PDF)

10/13/10

Pacific Council to Consider a Variety of Management Issues Affecting West Coast Fisheries - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies will meet November 3-9, 2010 in Costa Mesa, California, to address issues related to salmon, Pacific halibut, groundfish, coastal pelagic species, highly migratory species, habitat matters, enforcement, and ecosystem based management. Please visit the Current Council Meeting webpage to get the meeting notice and agenda.

10/13/10

The Status of the U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species Through 2009 (HMS SAFE document), published September 2010, is now available on the Council's website. Please visit the HMS SAFE document webpage to download the document.

10/08/10

On October 1, 2010 the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced availability of Amendments 16-5 and 23 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This notice provides additional information on how to locate related documents to these FMP Amendments on the internet, including the location of the draft FMP Amendment language.

Comments on Amendments 16-5 and 23 must be received on or before November 30, 2010. See notice for additional information. (PDF)

10/07/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the publication of a final rule implementing the process for initial issuance of new permits and endorsements for the trawl rationalization program. NMFS also announces that the application period for quota share permits, mothership catcher vessel endorsements, mothership permits, and catcher/processor endorsements is open until November 1, 2010. A compliance guide provides a general overview of the program, a plain language guide to the application process for new permits and endorsements, and responses to frequently asked questions.

10/07/10

NMFS to host Public Workshops for the Central Valley Salmon and Steelhead Draft Recovery Plan - 10/06/10 (PDF)

10/06/10

Scoping on Trailing Actions for the Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program and Notice of Public Hearings on the Creation of Community Fishing Association Provisions - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public hearings on development of community fishing association (CFA) provisions for its groundfish trawl catch share plan. Visit the Council's website to get the scoping information on trailing actions and public hearing details.

10/04/10

Request for Nominations, Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking a qualified candidate to fill a vacancy on its Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS) to represent the conservation community. Please visit the Council's Advisory Body Vacancies webpage for further information. The deadline to submit nominations is October 13, 2010.

10/01/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces availability of amendments to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 16–5 would implement a rebuilding plan for petrale sole, revise existing overfished species rebuilding plans, and modify reference points for flatfish species, including petrale sole. Amendment 23 introduces a new framework for establishing Annual Catch Limits as required by the recent amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Comments on Amendments 16-5 and 23 must be received on or before November 30, 2010. See the Federal Register Notice for complete instructions on submitting public comments and for a more detailed description of the purpose and function of these amendments.

10/01/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces inseason adjustments to commercial groundfish fishery management measures. These changes include increases to trip limits for some species in the limited entry trawl fishery and decreases to sablefish trip limits in the limited entry and open access fisheries south of 36 degrees north latitude (Conception Area).

The changes described in the public notice went into effect on October 1, 2010.

10/01/10

September 2010

Proposed Rulemaking To Designate Critical Habitat for Black Abalone - (PDF)

Press Release (PDF)

Draft Black Abalone Biological Report (PDF)
Draft Economic Report (PDF)
Draft ESA Section 4(b) (2) Report (PDF)

09/28/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces that a new workshop has been added to the port outreach workshops on the trawl rationalization program. NMFS is holding workshops in several ports along the west coast starting this week. A new workshop has been added on October 11 in Coos Bay, OR. These workshops will focus on the application process, observer program, catch monitor program, and economic data collection program. Click here for more information.

09/23/10

The September 2010 Council Meeting Decision Document is now available. The Council Decision Document is a basic summary of decisions made at Council meetings.

Download the September 2010 Council Decisions Document (PDF)
For previous decisions, visit the Council Meeting Decisions Archives Webpage

09/21/10

A reminder that the National Marine Fisheries Service will be holding outreach workshops on the trawl rationalization program in several ports along the west coast starting next week. These workshops will focus on the application process, observer program, catch monitor program, and economic data collection program. View the notice here. (PDF)

09/17/10

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a public meeting of the Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team and the Scientific and Statistical Committee’s subcommittee on coastal pelagic species October 5 - 7, 2010. Visit the Council's website to view the Meeting Notice.

09/10/10

The Briefing Book for the September 2010 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

09/01/10

August 2010

The National Marine Fisheries Service clarifies the prohibition on the transfer of ownership for a trawl-endorsed limited entry permit during the application process for the trawl rationalization program in the attached public notice. (PDF)

08/24/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces inseason adjustments to commercial groundfish fishery management measures. These changes include increases to trip limits for chilipepper rockfish and sablefish. The changes described in the attached public notice went into effect on August 18, 2010. (PDF)

08/20/10

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Salmon Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold a joint work session October 19 - 20, 2010 with the Salmon Technical Team (STT) and Model Evaluation Workgroup (MEW), which will be open to the public.

Visit the Council's website to view the joint work session meeting notice.

08/19/10

Notice of Availability - The document Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Proposed Harvest Specifications and Management Measures for the 2011-2012 Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery and Amendment 16-5 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Plan to Adopt a Rebuilding Plan for Petrale Sole, dated August 2010 has been posted to the Council's groundfish upcoming harvest specifications webpage.

Written comments should be submitted through mail, facsimile (fax), or e-mail to the Responsible Program Official identified below. Written comments submitted during the agency's 45-day public comment period must be received by October 12, 2010. When submitting fax or email comments, include the following document identifier in the comment subject line: Amendment 16-5, 2011-2012 Groundfish Harvest Specifications and Management Measures.

Responsible Program Official

William W. Stelle, Jr.
Regional Administrator
NMFS Northwest Region
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
7600 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Telephone: (206) 526-6150
Fax: (206) 526-6426
E-Mail: GroundfishSpex2011_12@noaa.gov

08/19/10

Draft Environmental Assessment - To Revise the Vessel Capacity Limit in the Purse Seine Fishery in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in Accordance with Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Resolution C-02-03; RIN 0648-AY75 (PDF)

08/17/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces public meetings and workshops on the West Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Catch Share Program. Please see the Northwest Region Web page at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Trawl-Program/Workshops.cfm for the schedule.

The workshop schedule is available as a PDF file on the informational documents Web page at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Trawl-Program/Info-Docs.cfm. Fact sheets on the trawl catch share program and the regulations are also available on this page.

08/11/10

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) and Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel (CPSAS) will hold a joint meeting by telephone conference to review and develop statements on draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for potential new CPS survey methodologies and for the upcoming Stock Assessment Review Panel process. Visit the Council's website to get additional details.

08/11/10

July 2010

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces a correction to July 1, 2010 inseason adjustments.This correction affects fishers in the limited entry trawl fishery North of 40º10' N. lat. using selective flatfish bottom trawl gear or multiple bottom trawl gears to land petrale sole. This correction, which lowers petrale sole trip limits for vessels using these gears is effective at 0001 local time on July 16, 2010. A public notice with additional information and trip limit tables can be read here. (PDF)

These inseason adjustments will publish in the Federal Register on July 16, 2010.

7/15/10

Subcommittees of the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Salmon Technical Team (STT) and Habitat Committee (HC) will hold a joint work session August 31, 2010 to develop an overfishing assessment for Sacramento River fall Chinook. This meeting is open to the public. Visit the Council's website to get the meeting details. (PDF)

07/13/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces changes to yelloweye rockfish harvest specifications and to commercial trawl fishery management measures, effective July 1, 2010 that published in a Federal Register Notice on July 1, 2010 (75 FR 38030). See the Public Notice for further details. (PDF)

07/06/10

June 2010

The National Marine Fisheries Service’s Northwest Region has established a new Web page with information about the West Coast trawl rationalization catch share program. You can see rulemaking activities, background documents, workshop schedules, and other helpful materials at:
http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Trawl-Program/index.cfm.

A new fact sheet provides an overview of the program, including key dates and actions: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Groundfish-Halibut/Groundfish-Fishery-Management/Trawl-Program/upload/catch-shares-regs-FS.pdf.

This new Web page is under construction and will change as we move through the trawl rationalization catch share implementation process. Please check it often for updates.

06/25/10

Commerce Announces 2010 Regional Fishery Council Appointments (PDF)

06/24/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces a change in the date by which potential participants in the trawl rationalization program must review their NORPAC data and make any necessary corrections. The deadline is extended to August 1, 2010, for NORPAC data reviews only. The deadline for PacFIN data reviews remains at July 1, 2010. Read the announcement (PDF)

06/23/10

June 2010 Council Meeting Decisions - A basic summary of decisions from the June 2010 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Foster City, California, has been posted on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/2010/06/10103/june-2010-council-meeting-decisions

06/22/10

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Ad Hoc Regulatory Deeming Workgroup (Workgroup) June 30 - July 1, 2010. The meeting is open to the public. Meeting details are available on the Council's website.

06/21/10

Draft Report of the San Francisco Bay Subtidal Habitat Goals Project is available for public review. There will be a 45-day voluntary public comment period, June 16 through July 28, to allow for input from a broad group of stakeholders prior to release of the Final Report and website planned for November 2010.

All documents are posted at http://www.bcdc.ca.gov/planning/shg/subtidal_habitat.shtml

06/16/10

Groundfish Management Team to Meet June 28 – July 1, 2010 - The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold a work session which is open to the public. Visit the Council's website to view the GMT meeting notice.

06/04/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces the publication of a proposed rule to begin implementation of Amendments 20 (trawl rationalization) and Amendment 21 (intersector allocation) to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan. The public comment period for this rulemaking is open and ends July 12, 2010. (PDF)

06/04/10

Green Sturgeon 4d Final Environmental Assessment - (PDF)

Green Sturgeon 4d Rule Regulatory Impact Review (PDF)
Green Sturgeon Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (PDF)
References for Green Sturgeon 4d Rule (PDF)

06/02/10

June 10-17, 2010 Council Meeting Briefing Book Materials Available Online - The Briefing Book for the June 2010 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the Current Briefing Book webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.

06/02/10

Final Rule to Establish Take Prohibitions for the Threatened Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American Green Sturgeon (PDF)

Press Release (PDF)

06/02/10

May 2010

Council to Adopt Groundfish Management Measures for 2011-2012 - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies will meet June 12-17, 2010 in Foster City, California to address issues related to salmon, groundfish, coastal pelagic species, highly migratory species, and habitat matters. Visit the Current Council Meeting webpage to get the Meeting Notice and Agenda. Please note, some advisory bodies will begin meeting on June 10. 05/14/10

Salmon Advisory Subpanel to Hold Conference Call Monday, June 7, 2010 - The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Salmon Advisory Subpanel (SAS) will hold a work session by conference call. Visit the Council's website for conference call details. 05/14/10

Pacific Council News, Spring 2010 is available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/Spring_2010_Newsletter.pdf - 05/13/10 (PDF)

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter by visiting the following link: http://www.pcouncil.org/resources/archives/newsletters/

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces amendments 20 and 21 to the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery management plan. NMFS also announces the extended deadline for potential participants in the trawl rationalization program to review their data and make any necessary corrections before July 1, 2010. 05/12/10 (PDF)

Public Comment Period for Central California Cost Recovery Plan Extended - 05/11/10 (PDF)

Central California Coast Coho Recovery Plan - 03/18/10
- News Release

April 2010

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces the 2010 Pacific whiting harvest specifications and management measures. A public notice describing these regulations can be found here. 04/30/10 (PDF)

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces inseason adjustments to the commercial fishery management measures, effective May 1, 2010. A public notice with inseason adjustments and trip limit tables can be found here. These inseason adjustments were published in the Federal Register on May 4, 2010. 04/30/10 (PDF)

Sacramento River Winter Chinook Ocean Salmon Fishery Biological Opinion - 4/30/10 (PDF)

Cover Letter

Ad Hoc Regulatory Deeming Workgroup to Meet to Review Draft Trawl Rationalization Regulations - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a public meeting May 20-21, 2010 of its Ad Hoc Regulatory Deeming Workgroup. Visit the Council's website to view the Ad Hoc Regulatory Deeming Workgroup meeting notice. 04/29/10

Preaseason Report III Analysis of Council Adopted Management Measures for 2010 Ocean Salmon Fisheries, published April 2010, is available on the Council's website. To download the report, please visit the Preseason Report III webpage. 04/27/10

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Authorization for Incidental Take and Implementation of Stanford University Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and associated documents are available for public review - 04/13/10

Salmon Amendment Committee To Hold Work Session May 6-7, 2010 - The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Ad Hoc Salmon Amendment Committee (SAC) will hold a meeting to develop draft alternatives and plan analyses for an amendment to the Salmon Fishery Management Plan to address the Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements for annual catch limits and accountability measures. This meeting of the SAC is open to the public. Visit the the Council's website for further work session details. 04/08/10

Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel to Review a Draft Report on the Development of an Ecosystem Fishery Management Plan - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a meeting of the Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel (EAS) May 4, 2010 which is open to the public.

Get the Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel meeting notice. 04/07/10

90–Day Finding on a Petition to Delist Coho Salmon South of San Francisco Bay - 04/02/10 (PDF)

Initial Petition - Nov 2003 (PDF)
Petition Addendum - Feb 2004 (PDF)

March 2010

NMFS announces the 2010 tier limits for vessels authorized to participate in the Limited Entry fixed gear sablefish primary season - 03/31/10 (PDF)

The Briefing Book for the April 9-15, 2010 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment. 03/31/10

NOAA to Hold Public Listening Sessions to Guide Drafting of New Aquaculture Policy

NOAA will hold six listening sessions in April and May to hear recommendations from the public that will help the agency develop a new national policy for sustainable marine aquaculture. Dates for the listening sessions are available on our website at: http://aquaculture.noaa.gov. 03/30/10

The document Preseason Report II: Analysis of Proposed Regulatory Options 2010 Ocean Salmon Fisheries has been posted to the Council’s website. Visit the 2010 Preseason Report II webpage.

This report has been prepared by the staff of the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the Salmon Technical Team to describe the Council's proposed ocean salmon management options for 2010 and characterize their expected impacts on ocean salmon fisheries and the stocks which support them - 03/19/10

Central California Coast Coho Recovery Plan - 03/18/10 (PDF)

News Release

5-Year Review of Endangered Species Act-Listed Salmon & Steelhead - 03/18/10 (PDF)

Questions & Answers (PDF)
Northwest Region Site

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies will meet April 9-15, 2010 in Portland, Oregon to address issues related to salmon, Pacific halibut, groundfish, coastal pelagic species, highly migratory species, and habitat matters.

Visit the Following Link for More Details: http://www.pcouncil.org/council-operations/council-meetings/current-meeting/ - 03/17/10

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team and Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel will hold a joint work session by telephone conference to develop recommendations for the April 2010 Council meeting.

Meeting details are available on the Council's website at:

http://www.pcouncil.org/2010/03/7982/coastal-pelagic-species-advisory-groups-joint-telephone-conference/ - 03/16/10

A basic summary of decisions from the March 2010 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Sacramento, California, has been posted on the Council's website at:
http://www.pcouncil.org/2010/03/7934/march-2010-council-meeting-decisions/ - 03/15/10

Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook Salmon Fail to Meet Minimum Returns for Third Year - 03/10/10 (PDF)

THE USE OF TREATED WOOD PRODUCTS IN AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS: Guidelines to West Coast NOAA Fisheries Staff for Endangered Species Act and Essential Fish Habitat Consultations in the Alaska, Northwest and Southwest Regions (10/12/09) - 03/10/10 (PDF)

February 2010

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces changes to commercial and recreational management measures for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California, effective at 0001 hours (local time) February 26, 2010 - 02/24/10 (PDF)

The document Preseason Report I: Stock Abundance Analysis for 2010 Ocean Salmon Fisheries has been posted to the Council’s website. Visit the 2010 Preseason Report I webpage. This report provides 2010 salmon stock abundance forecasts, and an analysis of the impacts of 2009 regulations, or regulatory procedures, on the projected 2010 abundance. 02/24/10

The Briefing Book for the March 2010 Council meeting has been posted to the Council's website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment. 02/24/10

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces a final rule regarding data to support implementation of a potential future trawl rationalization program for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery (75 FR 4684, January 29, 2010) (attached). NMFS will collect ownership information from all potential participants in the trawl rationalization program by May 1, 2010. Potential participants should review their data and make any necessary corrections before late May 2010. (PDF)

The attached compliance guide provides further information on the ways that potential participants in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery trawl rationalization program should prepare for implementation. 02/22/10 (PDF)

Review of 2009 Ocean Salmon Fisheries (Published February 2010) is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/salmon/salsafe09/salsafe09.html - 02/12/10

January 2010

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Ad Hoc Salmon Amendment Committee (SAC) will hold a meeting January 26 to develop draft alternatives and plan analyses for an amendment to the Salmon Fishery Management Plan to address the Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements for annual catch limits and accountability measures. This meeting of the SAC is open to the public.

View the meeting notice on the Council's website by clicking on the following link: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2010/sac_01_10.html - 01/04/10

The Joint Canada-U.S. Review Panel (Panel) will hold a work session February 8 - 10 that is open to the public. Full meeting details are available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website by clicking on the following link: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2010/canushake_02_10.html - 01/12/10

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) will hold a work session February 23 - 25 which is open to the public. Get the meeting details by clicking on the following link: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2010/hmsmt_02_10.html - 01/13/10

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a joint meeting of subcommittees from a number of its advisory bodies February 4 - 5 as follows: Enforcement Consultants, Groundfish Advisory Subpanel, Groundfish Management Team, and the Ad Hoc Trawl Individual Quota Committee. View meeting details by clicking on the following link: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2010/sub_trat_regs_02_10.html - 01/13/10

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a joint meeting of the Ecosystem Plan Development Team (EPDT) and Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel (EAS) February 10 - 11 which is open to the public. The purpose of this initial meeting of these advisory bodies is to review Council guidance and make recommendations on implementing an ecosystem-based management plan that is envisioned to complement, but not replace the Council's four existing Fishery Management Plans.

Click on the following link for meeting details: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2010/epdt_eas_02_10.html - 01/21/10

Biological Opinion for the St. George Reef Lighthouse - 01/26/10 (PDF)

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces the availability of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) titled Allocation of Harvest Opportunity between the Sectors of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - 01/29/10 (PDF)

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December 2009

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces: 1) the availability of the draft environmental impact statement on the trawl rationalization program for public comment, 2) Pacific Fishery Management Council modifications to the initial allocation formula for canary rockfish quota share, and 3) updated quota share estimates - 12/07/09

Pacific Council News, Winter 2009 is available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2009/Winter_2009_newsletter.pdf - 12/08/09 (PDF)

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/archivenews.html

NOAA announces the availability of the draft NOAA Catch Share Policy and is requesting public comments through April 10, 2010 - 12/09/09 (PDF)

NOAA has released a draft national policy that encourages the use of catch shares as a scientifically proven method to help ensure the sustainability of our oceans and put struggling fisheries on the path to profitability - 12/10/09

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's salmon 2010 preseason process, Salmon Technical Team work sessions, and Public Hearings dates are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2010/salproc2010.html - 12/10/09

This notice includes the Salmon Technical Team work sessions and Salmon Management Preseason Public Hearing dates and locations.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold a work session which is open to the public January 11 - 15, 2010. Get the GMT meeting notice here: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2010/gmt_01_10.html - 12/16/09

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a meeting of the Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) which is open to the public January 12 - 14, 2010. Meeting details are available on the Council's website: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2010/cps_01_10.html - 12/21/09

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces a decrease in the 2010 petrale sole OY and changes to commercial trawl management measures for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California, effective at 0001 hours (local time) January 1, 2010 - 12/28/09 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT), and Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold a working meeting, which is open to the public, January 26 - 28. View the meeting details on the Council's website by clicking on the following link: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2010/cps_gmt_ssc_01_10.html - 12/29/09

November 2009

A basic summary of decisions from the November 2009 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Costa Mesa, California, has been posted on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/currentdec.html - 11/10/09

Workshop Notice - For the past few years, the Washington and Oregon Departments of Fish and Wildlife have provided funds to the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) to extend their annual Pacific halibut longline survey to areas where yelloweye rockfish occur. Catch per unit effort data collected in the extended yelloweye rockfish survey is intended to inform an index of abundance of yelloweye rockfish for use in assessment. The IPHC survey index was used for the first time in the 2009 yelloweye rockfish assessment. Critical evaluation of that survey during the stock assessment review panel meeting for the 2009 yelloweye rockfish assessment led to a recommendation to redesign the survey to better index yelloweye abundance. A yelloweye rockfish survey design workshop is therefore scheduled for December 1, 2009 to improve this survey.

View the Workshop notice on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/yrsdw_12_09.html - 11/12/09

NMFS Announces Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement and proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Fruitgrowers Supply Company, Siskiyou County, California - 11/13/09

Amendment 20 Draft EIS Released: November 2009; 45-Day Public Comment Period Ends January 18, 2010 - 11/24/09

Final Rule - Fishing Restrictions in the Longline and Purse Seine Fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in 2009 – 2011 - 11/30/09

October 2009

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Enforcement Consultant Committee will hold a working meeting October 26, which is open to the public. Teleconference details are available on the Council's website: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/ec_10_09.html - 10/01/09

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Salmon Advisory Subpanel will hold a work session October 22 by conference call; details are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/sas_1009.html - 10/01/90

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will meet October 30 - November 5, 2009, in Costa Mesa, California to address issues related to groundfish, Pacific halibut, highly migratory species, coastal pelagic species, salmon, habitat issues, and ecosystem management.

Get the meeting notice and full details from our website by visiting: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/1109_pfmc_mtg.html - 10/07/09

The briefing book for the Pacific Fishery Management Council's October 31-November 5, 2009 meeting is available on our website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/bb/2009/bb1109.html - 10/21/09

NMFS Public Draft Central Valley Recovery Plan Press Release and Federal Register Notice - 10/07/09

Press Release - 10/07/09
Federal Register Notice - October 7, 2009 (Volume 74 , Number 193) PDF
Federal Register Notice - October 7, 2009 (Volume 74 , Number 193) Text

Final Rule to Designate Critical Habitat for the Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American Green Sturgeon - 10/13/09

Draft Environmental Assessment to Implement a Program for the Conservation of Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in 2009-2011 as Agreed Upon by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission - 10/13/09 (PDF)

Proposed Rule

Pacific Council News, Fall 2009 is available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2009/Fall_2009_newsletter.pdf - 10/20/09

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/archivenews.html

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces changes to commercial management measures for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California, effective at 0001 hours (local time) October 28, 2009 - 10/27/09 (PDF)

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces changes to commercial trawl management measures for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California, effective at 0001 hours (local time) November 1, 2009 - 10/30/09 (PDF)

September 2009

The briefing book for the Pacific Fishery Management Council's September 11-17, 2009 meeting is available on our website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/bb/2009/bb0909.html - 09/02/09

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Salmon Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee will hold a joint work session October 5 - 6 with the Salmon Technical Team and Model Evaluation Workgroup. This session is open to the public; visit the Council's website to view the meeting notice. http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/saljoint_1009.html - 09/12/09

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Groundfish Subcommittee will hold a public meeting September 30 - October 1 to review new rebuilding analyses for eight groundfish species. This session is open to the public; visit the Council's website to view the meeting notice. http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/star_mopup_09.html - 09/12/09

A basic summary of decisions from the September 2009 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Foster City, California, has been posted on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/currentdec.html - 09/22/09

Archived Council Decision Documents are also available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/archivedecisions.html

August 2009

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Vessel Monitoring System Committee (VMSC) will hold a working meeting, which is open to the public, on October 6, 2009. Visit the Council's website for meeting details: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/vms_10_09.html - 08/26/09

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and the National Marine Fisheries Service will hold a Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panel meeting September 21 - 25, 2009 to review stock assessment methods and survey results for Pacific sardine.

Please visit the Council's website to get the meeting notice: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/cpsstar_09_09.html - 08/24/09

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will meet September 11 - 17, 2009, in Foster City, California to address issues related to groundfish, Pacific halibut, highly migratory species, coastal pelagic species, and essential fish habitat. Visit the Council's website to get the meeting notice and the agenda: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/0909_pfmc_mtg.html - 08/20/09

Two meetings will be held August 31 - September 2, 2009 to review a new assessment for petrale sole and develop control rules for specifying scientific uncertainty buffers in acceptable biological catch (ABC) specifications for groundfish and coastal pelagic species (CPS). The first meeting will be attended by the Groundfish Subcommittee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) to review a new assessment for petrale sole. Further, the SSC Groundfish Subcommittee will consider the scientific basis for considering estimated or alternative proxy target biomass levels or fishing mortality rates for petrale sole and other west coast flatfish stocks. The second meeting will be attended by the Groundfish and CPS Subcommittees of the SSC to develop new control rules for deciding scientific uncertainty buffers for groundfish and CPS species compliant with new National Standard 1 guidelines. Both meetings are work sessions which are open to the public.

Get the meeting notice from the Council's website: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/ssc_sub_0809.html - 08/05/09

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's salmon Model Evaluation Workgroup (MEW) will hold a work session August 27, 2009, which is open to the public. Meeting details are available on the Council's website: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/mew0809.html - 08/04/09

July 2009

NMFS issues a final rule to initiate collection of a permit fee for vessel owners participating in commercial and charter recreational fishing for highly migratory species (HMS) in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the West Coast of California, Oregon, and Washington - 07/28/09 (PDF)

NOAA Seeks Public Comment on Draft Plan to Recover Endangered Steelhead Trout in Southern California - 07/23/09 (PDF)

Pacific Council News, Summer 2009 is available on the Council website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2009/Summer_2009_newsletter.pdf - 07/15/09 (PDF)

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/archivenews.html

NOAA Bans Commercial Harvesting of Krill - 07/13/09 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) website has been updated to provide a progress tracking table on the status of the submission of the Council's trawl rationalization recommendations to NMFS and the NMFS decision process. This table also indicates when public comment periods will be open for the draft environmental impact statement, the trawl rationalization fishery management plan amendment, and proposed implementing regulations.

For current status, please visit the Council's Trawl Rationalization Progress Tracking Table Webpage- 07/07/09

June 2009

The SWR Protected Resources Division's Arcata Area Office, in collaboration with Sustainable Fisheries, Habitat Conservation, and the NOAA Restoration Center, have prepared the first annual Klamath River Basin Report to Congress. NMFS prepared this report under the 2006 amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006. - 06/26/09 (PDF)

A basic summary of decisions from the June 2009 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Spokane, Washington, has been posted on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/currentdec.html - 06/22/09

Archived Council Decision Documents are also available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/archivedecisions.html

NOAA Biological Opinion Finds California Water Projects Jeopardize Listed Species; Recommends Alternatives - 06/04/09

The briefing book for the Pacific Fishery Management Council's June 11-18, 2009 meeting is available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/bb/2009/bb0609.html - 06/3/09

May 2009

The Interagency Fish Rescue Strategy is available. It was developed to guide fish rescue approaches used by NOAA Fisheries, Department of Fish and Game, and Fish and Wildlife Service when ESA-listed fish strandings are expected. This document is effective for two years: 2009 and 2010, and it has a state-wide focus. - 05/25/09 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will meet June 11-18, 2009, in Spokane, Washington to address issues related to groundfish, Pacific halibut, highly migratory species, coastal pelagic species, and essential fish habitat. Visit the Council's website for the meeting notice and agenda: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/0609_pfmc_mtg.html - 05/22/09

Proposed Rule to Apply Endangered Species Act Take Prohibitions to the Southern Distinct Population Segment of the North American Green Sturgeon - 05/21/09

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Habitat Committee will meet Friday, June 5, 2009, from 8:30 a.m. until business for the day is completed. Meeting details are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/hc_06_09.html - 05/18/09

Pacific Council News, Spring 2009 is available on the Council website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2009/Spring_2009_newsletter.pdf - 05/15/09

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/archivenews.html

News Release - NOAA Researchers: Blue Whales Re-Establishing Former Migration Patterns - 05/11/09 (PDF)

April 2009

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Extends 2008 Disaster Declaration Due to Poor Salmon Returns - 04/30/09 (PDF)

NMFS inseason revisions to Pacific Coast groundfish management measures in the commercial non-trawl fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California, effective May 1, 2009 - 04/30/09 (PDF)

A basic summary of decisions from the April 2009 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Millbrae, California, has been posted on the Council's website at:
http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/currentdec.html - 04/13/09

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Allocation Committee (GAC) will hold a working meeting, which is open to the public. Meeting details are available on the Council's website: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/gac05_09.html - 04/02/09

March 2009

NMFS announces the 2009 tier limits for vessels authorized to participate in the Limited Entry fixed gear sablefish primary season - 03/31/09 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) ad hoc groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC) will hold a work session to evaluate proposals for modifications to EFH, habitat areas of particular concern, and areas closed to bottom contact gear. Proposals are scheduled to be presented to the Council for consideration at the June, 2009 Council meeting in Spokane, Washington. Work Session details are available on the Council's website by visiting: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/efhrc_05_09.html - 03/30/09

For background documents, including requests for proposals, terms of reference, and EFHRC statement of intent, please visit the Council's new webpage regarding the Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Modification Process: http://www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/gfefh.html.

The briefing book for the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) April 2-9, 2009 meeting is available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/bb/2009/bb0409.html - 3/25/09

A basic summary of decisions from the March 2009 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Seattle, Washington, has been posted on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/currentdec.html - 03/18/09

The following document is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website:

Preliminary DRAFT Amendment 2 to the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species: Authorize a Shallow-Set Longline Fishery Seaward of the EEZ, Preliminary Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.

This document will be included with the Briefing Book materials for the Council's April 3-9 meeting in Millbrae, California, but is available now for advance reading by visiting the following link:
http://www.pcouncil.org/bb/2009/0409/D2a_ATT1_0409.pdf - 03/23/09 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will meet April 2-9, 2009, in Millbrae, California to address issues related to salmon, Pacific halibut, groundfish, highly migratory species, marine protected areas, and essential fish habitat.

Visit the Council's website for the meeting notice and agenda: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/0409_pfmc_mtg.html

Report on Sacramento River Fall Chinook Stock Collapse - 03/18/09 (PDF - 5.8 mb)

Appendix (PDF - 3.1 mb)

February 2009

The National Marine Fisheries Service Announces the 2009-2010 Groundfish Specifications and Management Measures, Effective March 1, 2009. These Management Measures Will Publish in the Federal Register on March 6, 2009 - 02/27/09 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council today adopted three public review options for the 2009 salmon season off the West Coast of the United States. The Council will select a final option at their next meeting in Millbrae, California on April 5-9.

Get the full press release by visiting: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsreleases/newsreleases.html

The briefing book for the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) March 7-13, 2009 meeting is available on the Council's website at:
http://www.pcouncil.org/bb/2009/bb0309.html - 02/25/09

Preseason Report I, Stock Abundance Analysis for 2009 Ocean Salmon Fisheries (Published February 2009) is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/salmon/salpreI09/salpreI09.html - 02/25/09

Notice of Pacific Sardine Directed Fishing Closure - 02/20/09

Review of 2008 Ocean Salmon Fisheries (Published February 2009) is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/salmon/salsafe08/salsafe08.html - 02/17/09

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will meet March 7-13, 2009, in Seattle, Washington to address issues related to salmon, Pacific halibut, groundfish, coastal pelagic species, and essential fish habitat.

Visit the Council's website for the meeting notice and agenda: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2009/0309_pfmc_mtg.html - 02/12/09

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking a qualified candidate to serve on its Groundfish Advisory Subpanel (GAP) to represent the Conservation Community for West Coast Fisheries.

The vacancy announcement with full details on the nomination process are available on the Council's website:
http://www.pcouncil.org/operations/advisory.html#vacancies

Please submit all nominations to the Council Office by *February 13, 2009*. Nominations may be sent by mail, FAX, or email. The Council will select individuals from the list of nominees at the March 7-13, 2009 Council meeting in Seattle, Washington. - 02/03/09

January 2009

Black Abalone Final Rule - 01/13/09 (PDF)

Final rule to revise regulations governing vessels authorized by the United States to fish for tuna and tuna-like species in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and to revise requirements for the submission of Fisheries Certificates of Origin, effective February 12, 2009 - 01/13/09 (PDF)

The Department of State and NOAA Fisheries are soliciting nominations for members for the General Advisory Committee (GAC) and the Scientific Advisory Subcommittee (SAC) to the United States Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. Each appointed member is appointed for a term of 3 years and may be reappointed. This Federal Register Notice lays out the details of the application process. Nominations must be submitted on or before March 31, 2009. - 01/07/09 (PDF)

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December 2008

NMFS inseason revisions to Pacific Coast groundfish management measures in the commercial fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California, effective January 1, 2009 - 12/31/08 (PDF)

National Marine Fisheries Service issues a proposed rule to initiate collection of permit fee for vessel owners participating in commercial and charter recreational fishing for highly migratory species (HMS) in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the West coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. Comments must be received by January 20, 2009 - 12/19/08 (PDF)

Public Review Draft - The Use of Pesticide-treated Wood in Aquatic Environments: Guidelines to NOAA Fisheries Staff for the Endangered Species Act and Essential Fish Habitat Consultations - 12/05/08 (PDF)

Pacific Council News, Winter 2008 is available on the Council website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2008/Winter_2008_newsletter.pdf

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/archivenews.html - 12/04/08

NMFS inseason revisions to Pacific Coast groundfish management measures in the commercial trawl fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California, effective December 1, 2008 - 12/01/08 (PDF)

November 2008

The Pacific Fishery Management Council Adopts Sweeping Changes to West Coast Commercial Groundfish Trawl Fisheries. The news release is available for download from the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsreleases/pr_trawl_rationalization.pdf - 11/10/08 (PDF)

A basic summary of decisions from the November 2008 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in San Diego, California, has been posted on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/1108decisions.html - 11/10/08

Transcript from Green Sturgeon Critical Habitat Public Workshop: October 16, 2008, Sacramento, CA - 11/06/08 (PDF)

Proposed Green Sturgeon Critical Habitat Rule: Extension of Public Comment Period to December 22, 2008 - 11/03/08 (PDF)

October 2008

The briefing book for the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) November 1-7, 2008 meeting is available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/bb/2008/bb1108.html - 10/21/08

White Abalone Recovery Plan - Final - 10/20/08 (PDF)

Press Release (PDF)
Federal Register (PDF)

Proposed Green Sturgeon Critical Habitat: Public Workshop on October 16, 2008, and Technical Correction - 10/10/08

Press Release (PDF)
Federal Register Notice (PDF)
Public Workshop Announcement Flyer (PDF)

Pacific Council News, Fall 2008 is available on the Council website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2008/Fall_2008_newsletter.pdf

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/archivenews.html - 10/09/08

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's ad hoc groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC) will hold a work session December 9-10, 2008 which is open to the public. Get the work session details: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/efhrc_1208.html - 10/08/08

Corrections to commercial Pacific Coast Groundfish Management Measures, pertaining to multiple trawl gear trip limits in the limited entry non-whiting trawl fishery North of 40°10' N. lat., effective October 7, 2008 - 10/07/08

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has been deliberating on the development of a rationalization program for the west coast groundfish trawl fishery (Amendment 20 to the Groundfish Fishery Management Plan) since November 2003. At its June 2008 meeting the Council selected a preliminary preferred alternative and announced that it would schedule a series of public hearings for late October, just prior to its final action scheduled for November 2008.

Public hearings will be held October 27-29, 2008 to receive comments on draft Amendment 20. For a complete listing of the hearing dates, times, and locations, please visit the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/trat_hrgs_1008.html - 10/03/08

The following document: Rationalization of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Limited Entry Trawl Fishery, Decision Document for the November 2008 Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting, Organized as a Preliminary Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Trawl Rationalization Decision Document) is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website: http://www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/gffmp/gfa20/gfa20decdoc.html - 10/03/08 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will meet November 1-7, 2008, in San Diego, California to address issues related to groundfish, coastal pelagic species, highly migratory species, Pacific halibut, and salmon.

The meeting notice and agenda are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/pfmc1108.html - 10/02/08

Russian River Biological Opinion - 10/01/08 (PDF)

Cover Letter (PDF)

September 2008

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking qualified candidates to consider for an at-large position on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The successful candidate will serve out the remainder of the 2007-2009 Council advisory body term. Please submit all nominations to the Council Office by October 14, 2008.

Full details are available at: http://www.pcouncil.org/operations/advisory.html#vacancies - 09/23/08

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking a qualified candidate to serve in a nonvoting position on its Groundfish Allocation Committee (GAC) to represent the conservation community. Please submit all nominations to the Council Office by October 14, 2008.

Full details are available at: http://www.pcouncil.org/operations/advisory.html#vacancies - 09/23/08

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Salmon Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold a joint work session with the Salmon Technical Team (STT) and Model Evaluation Workgroup (MEW) on October 15, 2008, which will be open to the public.

Work session details are available on the Council's website: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/sal_groups_1008.html - 09/23/08

A basic summary of decisions from the September 7-12, 2008 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Boise, Idaho, has been posted on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/0908decisions.html - 09/16/08

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Allocation Committee (GAC) will hold a working meeting, which is open to the public. The GAC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday-Thursday, October 8-9, 2008, starting at 8 a.m. each day and continuing until business for each day is completed.

Full meeting details are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/gac10_08.html - 09/15/08

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene meetings of the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee, the Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team, and the Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel which are open to the public.

Meeting details are available on the Council's website: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/cps_10_08.html - 09/15/08

Proposed Critical Habitat Designation for the Southern Distinct Population Segment of the North American Green Sturgeon - 09/08/08

Characterization of the West Coast Deep-set Longline Fishery Operating Outside of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone; Draft Environmental Assessment - 09/08 (PDF)

Status of the U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species Through 2007, Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (HMS SAFE) is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website at http://www.pcouncil.org/hms/hmssafe/0908safe.html - 09/05/08

August 2008

New Procedures for Obtaining Marine Mammal Authorization Permits - 08/28/08 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting Proposed Agendas, Situation Summaries, and Attachments available at the time of briefing book mailing, for the September 7-12, 2008 Meeting, are available on the Council's website at:
http://www.pcouncil.org/bb/2008/bb0908.html - 08/26/08

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will meet September 7-12, 2008, in Boise, Idaho to address issues related to groundfish, highly migratory species, Pacific halibut, salmon, and essential fish habitat. The meeting notice and agenda are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/pfmc0908.html - 08/12/08 (PDF)

July 2008

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces inseason adjustments to the 2007-2008 commercial fishery management measures, effective August 1, 2008 - 07/31/08 (PDF)

Pacific Council News, Summer 2008, is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2008/Summer_2008_newsletter.pdf - 7/15/08 (PDF)

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/archivenews.html

The Pacific Fishery Management Council announces a meeting of Area 2A Pacific halibut managers and industry representatives to discuss implications of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) proposed catch apportionment methodology and to develop consensus on issues affecting Area 2A halibut fisheries prior to the IPHC workshop on catch apportionment. Meeting announcement available: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/hmw0808.html - 7/15/08

NMFS Proposes to Revise Regulations Governing Vessels Authorized by the United States to Fish for Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) - 7/11/08 (PDF)

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (NMFS) has granted a request for an Affirmative Finding for the Republic of El Salvador under the Marine Mammal Protection Act - 07/10/08 (PDF)

June 2008

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) will a hold work session, which is open to the public. View the meeting details: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/hmsmt_0708.html - 06/24/08

Klamath Project Operations Final Draft Opinion - 6/20/08 (PDF)

Transmittal Letter - 6/20/08 (PDF)

A basic summary of decisions from the June 6-13, 2008 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Foster City, California, has been posted on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/0608decisions.html - 06/17/08

May 2008

The Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting Proposed Agendas, Situation Summaries, and Attachments available at the time of briefing book mailing, for the June 6-13, 2008 Meeting, are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/bb/2008/bb0608.html - 05/28/08

New Study Finds Most North Pacific Humpback Whale Populations Rebounding. Some humpback populations still slow to recover. - 05/21/08 (PDF)

NOAA Proposes Rule to Prevent Commercial Harvesting of Krill - Public Comment Requested - 05/21/08 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will meet June 6-13, 2008, in Foster City, California to address issues related to groundfish, salmon, coastal pelagic species, highly migratory species, marine protected areas, and essential fish habitat. The meeting notice and agenda are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/pfmc0608.html - 05/19/08

This Public Notice corrects language describing the May 1 inseason changes to the Open Access Sablefish Daily Trip Limit (DTL) fishery that were published in the April 29, 2008 Public Notice. The Trip Limit Tables (Table 5 North and 5 South) in the April 29, 2008 public notice were correct and are unchanged via this correction. This error was isolated only to the April 29, 2008 Public Notice. Federal regulations for the Open Access fishery did not contain this error. - 05/16/08 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking qualified candidates to fill vacancies on its newly formed Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC) for groundfish essential fish habitat. The full vacancy announcement is available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/operations/advisory.html#vacancies - 05/09/08

The deadline to receive nominations is Monday, May 19, 2008.

The Economic and Groundfish Subcommittees of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold a working meeting. The meeting notice is available by visiting:
http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/ssc_ecgfsub_0508.html - 05/08/08

Pacific Council News, Spring 2008 is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2008/Spring_2008_newsletter.pdf - 05/07/08 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) and Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS) will hold work sessions, which are open to the public. The notice is on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/hmsmt_as_0608.html - 05/05/08

April 2008

NMFS inseason revisions to commercial and recreational Pacific Coast Groundfish Management Measures, effective May 1, 2008 - 04/29/08 (PDF)

The Federal Register Notice below provides background information and instructions for submitting public comment on a West Coast Shallow-set Longline Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application submitted to NMFS by Peter Dupuy. The public comment period will remain open through May 28, 2008. The EFP application with recommended Terms and Conditions was approved by the Pacific Fishery Manangement Council at its regularly scheduled April 2008 meeting and has been transmitted to NMFS for initiation of procedural review and approval if warranted. - 04/25/08

Federal Register Notice (PDF)
EFP Application (PDF)
Recommended Terms and Conditions (PDF)

Preseason Report III Analysis of Council Adopted Management Measures for 2008 Ocean Salmon Fisheries is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/salmon/salpreIII08/salpreIII08.html - 04/17/08

A basic summary of decisions from the April 6-12, 2008 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Seattle, Washington, has been posted on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/0408decisions.html - 04/16/08

March 2008

Advance notice of proposed rulemaking, establishing a control date for the Western and Central Pacific Ocean purse seine fishery - 03/28/08 (PDF)

New Albacore and Bluefin Tune Daily Bag Limits Now Effective off California - 03/26/08 (PDF)

FEDERAL REGISTER INFORMATION SOLICITATION NOTICE

Under the Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act (MSRA), the United States is required to take action to combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing and reduce bycatch of protected living marine resources (PLMRs). Among the actions that must be taken, the Secretary of Commerce is required to produce a biennial report to Congress that identifies nations whose vessels are engaged in IUU fishing and/or bycatch of PLMRs. In preparation for the first biennial report, which is due to Congress in January 2009, NOAA Fisheries is soliciting information that could be used in the identification of nations.

On Friday, March 21st, NOAA Fisheries published a notice in the Federal Register (56 CFR 15136) soliciting information from the public regarding nations whose vessels are engaged in IUU fishing and bycatch of PLMRs. In order to process and verify all information in a timely manner, NOAA Fisheries is requesting that information be submitted by April 21, 2008. - 03/21/08 (PDF)

Preseason Report II Analysis of Proposed Regulatory Options for 2008 Ocean Salmon Fisheries is available on the Council's website: http://www.pcouncil.org/salmon/salpreII08/salpreII08.html - (03/24/08)

Thresher Shark Fishing Seminar (Open to the Public) - 03/21/08 (PDF)

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces tier limits and information for the 2008 primary sablefish fishery (April-October). This announcement affects commercial limited entry fixed gear fishermen with sablefish-endorsed permits. - 03/20/08 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council and its advisory entities will meet April 6-12, 2008 in Seattle, Washington, to address issues related to salmon, Pacific halibut, groundfish, highly migratory species, essential fish habitat, and marine protected areas. The meeting notice and agenda are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/pfmc0408.html - 03/20/08

News Release: Pacific Fishery Management Council to Choose Final Option for 2008 Salmon Season is available on the Council's website at:
http://www.pcouncil.org/newsreleases/March_20_2008_release.pdf - 03/20/08 (PDF)

A basic summary of decisions from the March 8-14, 2008 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Sacramento, California has been posted on the Council's website at:http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/0308decisions.html - 03/17/07

Press Release: Fishing Options Dire for 2008 Salmon Season: Council Responds to Collapse of Sacramento Fall Run Chinook Salmon Stock is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsreleases/031708_CDFG_NMFS_Council_release.pdf - 03/27/08 (PDF)

Unfavorable Ocean Conditions Likely Cause of Low 2007 Salmon Returns Along West Coast - 3/3/08 (PDF)

February 2008

Public Scoping Meeting to be Held for Fruit Growers Supply Company's Habitat Convservation Plan - 02/29/08 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will meet March 8-14, 2008 in Sacramento, California, to address issues related to salmon, Pacific halibut, groundfish, highly migratory species, and essential fish habitat. The meeting notice and agenda are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/pfmc0308.html - 02/15/08

January 2008

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking a qualified candidate to fill a vacancy on its Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS) to represent the charter vessel sector for the highly migratory species fisheries off southern California. Nominations may be sent by mail, FAX, or email, but must include a brief summary of the nominee's qualifications to represent the needs and views of charter vessel operators fishing for tuna, pelagic sharks, dorado, and billfishes off southern California.

Download the Announcement from the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/operations/advisory.html#vacancies - 01/23/08

12-month Finding on a Petition to List Black Abalone Under the ESA - 01/11/08

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December 2007

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Highly Migratory Species Management Team will a hold work session. Meeting details are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2008/hmsmt_0108.html - 12/18/07

NMFS inseason revisions to commercial Pacific Coast groundfish management measures, effective January 1, 2008 - 12/14/07 (PDF)

On December 7th, 2007, NMFS issued a final rule (72 FR 69162) to require all vessels fishing in the Open Access groundfish fishery to provide declaration reports and to activate and use a vessel monitoring system (VMS) transceiver while fishing off Washington, Oregon, and California, beginning February 4, 2008. See the Small Entity Compliance Guide for additional information. - 12/07/07 (PDF)

Pacific Council News, Winter 2007 is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2007/Winter_2007_newsletter.pdf - 12/05/07

Publication Announcement - Commercial Fisheries of the Santa Barbara Channel and Associated Infrstructure Needs - 12/07

NMFS Inseason Revisions to Commercial Pacific Coast Groundfish Management Measures, Effective December 4, 2007 - 12/04/07 (PDF)

November 2007

A basic summary of decisions from the November 4-9, 2007 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in San Diego, California has been posted on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/1107decisions.html - 11/14/07

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Trawl Rationalization Tracking and Monitoring Committee (TRTMC) will hold a working meeting, which is open to the public. Meeting details are available on the Council's website: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2007/trtmc1107.html - 11/14/07

Fish Passage Restoration Project Completed in Marin County - 11/13/07 (PDF)

October 2007

Taking of Threatened or Endangered Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Issuance of Permit - 10/30/07 (PDF)

Final Negligible Impact Determination - 9/12/07 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting Proposed Agendas, Situation Summaries, and Attachments available at the time of briefing book mailing, for the November 4-9, 2007 Meeting, are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/bb/2007/bb1107.html - 10/24/07

NMFS solicits nominations for the Advisory Panel on Pacific Whiting called for in the Agreement between the Government of the United States and Canada on Pacific Hake/Whiting - 10/24/07 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will meet November 4-9, 2007, in San Diego, California, to address issues related to coastal pelagic species, groundfish, Pacific halibut, and salmon. The meeting notice and agenda are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2007/pfmc1107.html - 10/16/07

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking a qualified candidate to fill a vacancy on its Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS) to represent the processing sector for the highly migratory species fisheries north of Cape Mendocino, California. Nominations must include a brief summary of the nominee’s qualifications to represent the needs and views of processors of tuna, pelagic sharks, and billfishes north of Cape Mendocino. The term of this position is for the remainder of a three-year term ending December 31, 2009. Download the vacancy notice by visiting the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/operations/advisory.html#vacancies - 10/11/07

Please submit all nominations to the Council Office by October 30, 2007. Nominations may be sent by mail, FAX, or email. The appointment to this position will be considered at the November 5-9, 2007 Council meeting in San Diego, California.

Pacific Council News, Fall 2007 is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2007/Fall_2007_newsletter.pdf - 10/10/07

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/archivenews.html

Inseason revisions to Pacific Coast Groundfish Management Measures, Effective October 1, 2007- (PDF) 10/01/07

September 2007

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking qualified candidates to consider for an at-large position on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The successful candidate will serve out the remainder of the 2007-2009 Council advisory body term. Download the vacancy notice by visiting the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/operations/advisory.html#vacancies - 09/25/07

U.S. Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Quota in the IATTC Convention Area - 09/10/07

A basic summary of decisions from the September 9-14, 2007 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Portland, Oregon has been posted on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/0907decisions.html - 09/18/07

Archived decision documents are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/decisions/archivedecisions.html

The "Status of the U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species Through 2006", (HMS SAFE Document), published September 2007, is now available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/hms/hmssafe/0907safe.html - 09/18/07

August 2007

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will meet September 9-14, 2007, in Portland, Oregon to address issues related to groundfish, highly migratory species, Pacific halibut, salmon, and essential fish habitat. The meeting notice and agenda are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2007/pfmc0907.html - 08/20/07

July 2007

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces a correction to the limited entry trawl trip limit tables, effective August 1, 2007 - 07/27/07 (PDF)

The National Marine Fisheries Service annnounces inseason adjustments to the 2007-2008 groundfish specifications and management measures, effective August 1, 2007 - 07/18/07 (PDF)

Pacific Council 2007 Summer News is available on the Council website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2007/Summer_2007_newsletter.pdf

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/archivenews.html

FY08 Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program Funding

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Highly Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) and Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS) will hold work sessions. Work session details are available on the Council's website: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2007/hmsmt_ap0807.htm

NMFS Releases Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act Klamath River Coho Salmon Recovery Plan - 07/10/07 (PDF)

Klamath River Coho Salmon Recovery Plan Completed and Available to the Public - 07/10/07 (PDF)

June 2007

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking qualified candidates to serve on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The Council is especially interested in filling one of the vacancies with a scientist who has expertise in the biology and population dynamics of anadromous salmonids. Download the vacancy notice by visiting the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/operations/advisory.html#vacancies

NMFS issues a final rule to amend text in the regulations governing closures of the drift gillnet fishery in the Pacific Loggerhead Conservation Area during El Nino events under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS FMP) - 06/08/07 (PDF)

Notice to the Fleets; IATTC Fishery Management Actions for 2007 - 06/04/07 (PDF)

NMFS publishes this final rule to implement the 2007 management measures to reduce overfishing of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) tuna stocks in 2007 - 06/04/07 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting proposed agendas, agenda item overviews, and attachments available at the time of briefing book mailing, for the June 2007 Meeting are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/bb/2007/bb0607.html

May 2007

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will meet June 9-15, 2007, in Foster City, California to address issues related to coastal pelagic species, groundfish, and essential fish habitat.. The meeting notice and agenda are available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/events/2007/pfmc0607.html

April 2007

The National Marine Fisheries Service Announces Inseason Adjustments to the 2007-2008 Groundfish Specifications and Management Measures, Effective May 1, 2007 - 04/25/07 (PDF)

California Steelheard Recovery Plan - Threats Assessment Worksheets - 04/13/07

NMFS finds that petitioned action to list black abalone under the ESA may be warranted - 04/13/07 (PDF)

90-day Finding
References

March 2007

NMFS Announces the Meeting of the General Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the IATTC on May 30, 2007 - 03/02/07 (PDF)

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces the commercial limited entry fixed gear primary sablefish fishery's tier limits for the 2007 Pacific Coast groundfish fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California - 03/01/07 (PDF)

February 2007

NMFS proposes management measures to reduce overfishing of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) tuna stocks in 2007, consistent with recommendations by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) that have been approved by the Department of State (DOS) under the Tuna Conventions Act - 02/26/07 (PDF)

Pacific Albacore Tuna Fisheries; Vessel List to Establish Eligibility to Fish for Albacore Tuna in Canadian Waters Under the U.S.-Canada Albacore Tuna Treaty - 02/07/07 (PDF)

The National Marine Fisheries Service Estimates that 2007 Petrale Sole Catch is Proceeding at a Higher than Anticipated Rate in the Trawl Fishery. This is a Public Notice Requesting Industry Cooperation in Reducing Petrale Sole Catch. - 02/09/07 (PDF)

January 2007

Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Observer Health and Safety - Proposed rule; request for comments - 01/30/07 (PDF)

Proposed Rule on Drift Gillnet Summer Closure to Protect Loggerhead Turtles during El Niño Events - 01/30/07 (PDF)

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December 2006

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces the 2007-2008 groundfish specifications and management measures, effective January 1, 2007 - 12/28/06 (PDF)

NMFS Proposes to Revise the Method for Renewing and Replacing Permits Issued under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species - 12/07/06 (PDF)

NMFS Proposes a Regulation to Implement New Reporting and Conservation Measures under the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan - 12/07/06 (PDF)

The Pacific Fishery Management Council is Seeking a Qualified Candidate to Serve in a Non-Voting Position on its Groundfish Allocation Committee (GAC) to Represent the Conservation Community - 12/05/06

November 2006

NMFS Announces Inseason Adjustments to the 2005 - 2006 Groundfish Specifications and Management Measures, Effective December 1, 2006 - 11/29/06 (PDF)

General Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission; Meeting Annoucement - 11/28/06 (PDF)

Green Diamond - Final Environmental Impact Statement for Authorization for Incidental Take and Implementation of a Multiple Species Aquatic Habitat Conservation Plan and Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances - 11/27/06

Green Diamond - Aquatic Habitat Conservation Plan and Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances - 11/27/06

Draft White Abalone Recovery Plan Available for Public Comment Through 12/18/2006

Press Release - 11/2/06 (PDF)

October 2006

Closure of the U.S. Purse Seine Fishery November 20 through December 31, 2006 - 10/30/06 (PDF)

Availability of Supplemental CCA Analysis - 10/1/06

September 2006

NMFS Announces Inseason Adjustments to the 2005 - 2006 Groudfish Specifications and Management Measures, Effective October 1, 2006 - 9/28/06 (PDF)

West Coast Students to Name Newest NOAA Ship in Contest - 09/18/06 (PDF)

August 2006

July 2006

Section 101(a)(5)(E) - Negligible Impact Determination for CA/OR/WA Fin Whale; Eastern North Pacific Humpback Whale; CA/OR/WA Sperm Whale (Draft) - 07/06 (PDF)

Transcripts from Green Sturgeon ESA 4(d) Rule Scoping Workshops: May 31-June 1, 2006, Sacramento, CA

Transcript One (PDF)
Transcript Two (PDF)

Draft Recovery Plan for the Fin Whale - 6/06 (PDF)

Federal Register Notice - 7/6/06 (PDF)
Press Release - 7/6/06 (PDF)

June 2006

The National Marine Fisheries Service Announces Inseason Adjustments to the 2005-2006 Groundfish Specifications and Management Measures, Effective July 1, 2006 - 6/30/06 (PDF)

Closure of the Bigeye Tuna Longline Fishery in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on July 6, 2006 - 6/30/06

Closure of the Longline Bigeye Tuna Fishery in the Eastern Pacific Ocean July 6, 2006 through December 31, 2006 - 6/30/06 (PDF)

Commerce Announces 2006 Ocean Fishery Council Appointments - 6/29/06 (PDF)

Instructions for U.S. Albacore Vessels Wanting to Fish in Canadian Waters (PDF)

NOAA Reports Significant Increase in 2006 Gray Whale Calf Numbers - 6/23/06 (PDF)

High Resolution Photo

NOAA's National MarineFisheries Service to Host Workshops on Recovery Planning for Central Valley Salmon and Steelhead - 6/22/06 (PDF)

May 2006

NMFS Public Statement in Response to Peer Reviews Conducted on NMFS Central Valley Project and State Water Project Operations Biological Opinion

NMFS Science Center Evaluation of Peer Reviews of the Long-Term Central Velley Project and State Water Project Operations Section 7 Consultation - 5/25/06 (PDF)

April 2006

National Marine Fisheries Service Accepts Pacific Council's Salmon Recommendations - 4/28/06 (PDF)

The National Marine Fisheries Service Announces Inseason Adjustments to 2005-2006 Groundfish Specifications and Management Measures, Effective May 1, 2006 - 4/26/06 (PDF)

General Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC); Meeting Announcement for June 1, 2006 - 4/21/06 (PDF)

2005 Economic Summary for California & Oregon Salmon Fishery (PDF)

NMFS has Renewed the Affirmative Finding for the Republic of Ecuador under the Marine Mamal Protection Act - 4/14/06 (PDF)

NMFS has Renewed the Affirmative Finding for the Goverments of Mexico and Spain under the Marine Mammal Protection Act - 4/7/06 (PDF)

Final Rule to List the Southern Distinct Population Segment of orth American Green Sturgeon as Threatened Under the ESA (The effective date of this ruling should be July 6, 2006 not June 6, 2006. The error is currently being corrected.) - 4/7/06 (PDF)

Scoping Workshops May 31 - June 1
- NMFS Presentation
Correction of Effective Date
ESA 4(d) Rule Scoping Workshops Announcement
Reference List
General Questions
ESA Questions

March 2006

NMFS Announces the Availability of a Compliance Guide for the Limited Entry Fixed Gear Sablefish Fleet - 3/31/06 (PDF)

Endangered and Threatened Species: 90-day Finding on Petition to Redefine the Southern Extent of the Central California Coho Salmon ESU - 3/23/06 (PDF)

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - Commercial Limited Entry Fixed Gear Primary Sablefish Season Tier Limits - 3/22/06 (PDF)

February 2006

The National Marine Fisheries Service Announces Adjustments to the 2005-2006 Groundfish Specifications and Management Measures, Effective March 1, 2006 - 2/17/06 (PDF)

January 2006

Center for Independent Experts Report 1 - McMahon (CIE Review of NOAA-Fisheries Biological Opinion on Effects of Proposed Central Valley Project Changes on Listed Fish Species) (PDF)

Center for Independent Experts Report 2 - Maguire (Report on the 2004 National Marine Fisheries Service's Biological Opinion on the long-term Central Valley Project and State Water Project Operations, Criteria and Plan) (PDF)

2005 U.S. Fisheries Bycatch Reduction Standards and Measures Relevant to Section 202(h) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (offsite link)

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December 2005

The National Fisheries Service is Providing Commercial Trip Limit Tables, Effective January 1, 2006, Announcing a Proposed Rule for 2006 Management Measures, and Announcing that the Lingcod Stock Has Been Rebuilt - 12/27/05 (PDF)

NOAA Published Final Listing of West Coast Steelhead (offsite link)

NOAA to Prepare Recovery Plan for Central California Coast Coho Salmon; Public Input Requested - 12/16/05 (PDF)

November 2005

U.S. Establishes Sustainable Seafood Awards (offsite link)

Summary of the 2004 U.S. North and South Pacific Albacore Troll Fisheries (offsite link)

Commerce Committee Approves the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Act of 2005 (offsite link)

The National Marine Fisheries Service Announces Inseason Adjustments to the 2005-2006 Groundfish Specifications and Management Measures, Effective December 1, 2005 - 11/30/05 (PDF)

New Report Released on Fisheries of the United States - 11/05

Dolphin Conservation Agreement Wins Award at United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization - 11/22/05 (PDF)

NMFS Publishes a Final Rule to Implement the 2005 and 2006 Management Measures to Prevent Overfishing of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) Tuna Stocks - 11/20/05 (PDF)

Notice to the Fleets, U.S. Purse Seine Tuna Fleet and U.S. Bigeye Tuna Longline Fleet, Regarding Tuna Conservation Measures in the Pacific Ocean for 2005 - 11/18/05 (PDF)

PFMC HMS Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation Report for 2004 (offsite link)

Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries; Sea Turtle Mitigation Measures - 11/15/05 (PDF)

Pelagic Fisheries Research Program's Newsletter (Vol. 10, No. 4) contains an article on Deploying Satellite Tags on Swordfish using the California Harpoon Fleet (PDF)

Seafood Consumption Reaches Record Levels in 2004 - 11/9/05 (PDF)

Vessel Identification and Marking Final Rule. This rule is part of the HMS FMP reporting and records keeping regulations - 11/7/05 (PDF)

Sport Anglers Are Reminded To Follow Federal and State Fishing Regulations When Catching and Releasing In-Stream Wild Salmon and Steelhead Trout - 11/7/05 (PDF)

October 2005

The International Pacific Halibut Commission, along with the National Marine Fisheries Service, Announces a Prohibition on the Retention of Halibut in the Primary Sablefish Fishery North of Point Chehalis on Sunday, October 23 - 10/20/05 (PDF)

The National Marine Fisheries Service Announces a Proposed Rule to Implement Further Provisions of the Limited Entry Fixed Gear Sablefish Permit Stacking Program for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California - 10/20/05 (PDF)

Notice of Public Meetings Related to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean - 10/19/05 (PDF)

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces a correction to the limited entry trawl trip limit table (Table 3 (South)), effective October 1, 2005 - 10/18/05 (PDF)

Meeting notice announcing the November 1, 2005, meeting of the General Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission - 10/17/05 (PDF)

September 2005

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces inseason adjustments to the 2005-2006 groundfish specifications and management measures, effective October 1, 2005 - 9/30/05 (PDF)

NOAA Seeks Comments on Proposed Incidental Marine Mammal Harrassment - 9/8/05 (PDF)

Designation of Critical Habitat for Seven Evolutionarily Significant Units of Pacific Salmon and Steelhead in California - 9/2/05 (PDF)

International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Restrictions for 2005 Longline Fisheries in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean - 9/2/05 (PDF)

August 2005

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is notifying participants in the Pacific whiting fishery that an emergency rule establishing a salmon conservation zone for the primary whiting fishery became effective August 26, 2005 - 8/26/05 (PDF)

Proposed Rule to implement Tuna Conservation Measures in the eastern Pacific Ocean for 2005-2006. This proposed rule is open for comments until 14 September 2005. - 8/15/05 (PDF)

July 2005

June 2005

The National Marine Fisheries Service would like to alert participants in the Pacific Coast groundfish trawl fishing and processing sectors that the catch of petrale sole and canary rockfish is higher than expected in the bottom trawl fishery - 6/27/05 (PDF)

San Francisco Bay Native Oyster Restoration Community Event, July 25, 2005

Media Advisory (PDF)
Directions (PDF)
Agenda (PDF)
Synopsis
NOAA Native Oyster Habitat Restoration Program (PDF)

Policy on the Consideration of Hatchery Origin Fish in Endangered Species Act Listing Determinations for Pacific Salmon and Steelhead - 6/28/05 (PDF)

Endangered and Threatened Species: 6-Month Extension of the Final Listing Determinations for 16 ESUs of West Coast Salmon, and Final 4(d) Protective Regulations for Threatened Salmonid ESUs - 6/28/05 (PDF)

Endangered and Threatened Species: 6-Month Extension of the Final Listing Determination for the Oregon Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit of Coho Salmon - 6/28/05 (PDF)

Endangered and Threatened Species: 6-Month Extension of the Final Listing Determinations for Ten Evolutionarily Significant Units of West Coast Oncorhynchus mykiss - 6/28/05 (PDF)

Notice for Vessel Owner/Operators of California Purse Seine Fisheries - 6/22/05 (PDF)

NMFS Renews the Affirmative Finding for the Government of Mexico under the Marine Mammal Protection Act - 6/17/05 (PDF)

NOAA Fisheries Service announces ESA hatchery policy, salmon listing determinations - 6/16/05 (PDF)

NMFS Issues an Affirmative Finding for the Government of Spain under the Marine Mammal Protection Act - 6/6/05 (PDF)

May 2005

Notice to Industry Regarding Tuna Conservation Measures for 2005 - 5/26/05 (PDF)

NMFS Renews the Affirmative Finding for the Republic of Ecuador under the Marine Mammal Protection Act - 5/13/05 (PDF)

NMFS Renews the Affirmative Finding for the Republic of El Salvador under the Marine Mammal Protection Act - 5/13/05 (PDF)

On May 2, 2005, NMFS filed an emergency rule in the Federal Register to set bycatch limits for canary and yelloweye rockfish for the directed open access fishery - 5/5/05 (PDF)

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces inseason changes to the 2005-2006 groundfish specifications and management measures, effective May 1, 2005 - 5/3/05 (PDF)

April 2005

NMFS Announces the Meeting of the General Advisory Committee on the U.S. Section to the IATTC on May 12, 2005 - 4/26/05 (PDF)

Final Rule to Implement Tuna Tracking Modifications and Management Measures for the U.S. Tuna Purse Seine Fishery in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean - 4/12/05 (PDF)

Notification of EA (PDF)
Environmental Assessment (PDF)
Finding of No Significant Impact (PDF)

The Montrose Settlements Restoration Program Draft Restoration Plan and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) . A 45-day comment period will extend from Friday, April 8, 2005 until Monday, May 23, 2005 - April 2005 (PDF)

Executive Summary (PDF)

Fishermen's Informational Port Meetings for Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Large-mesh Drift Gillnet (DGN) Skipper Workshops - 4/6/05

The National Marine Fisheries Service Announces Inseason Changes to the 2005-2006 Groundfish Specifications and Management Measures, Effective April 1, 2005 - 4/5/05 (PDF)

NOAA Fisheries Proposes Listing of Southern Population of North American Green Sturgeon as Threatened Under the Endangered Species Act - 4/5/05 (PDF)

Proposed Rule for Green Sturgeon - 4/5/05 (PDF)
General Questions about North American Green Sturgeon (PDF)
North American Green Sturgeon Listing under the ESA: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

March 2005

The National Marine Fisheries Service announces inseason changes to the 2005-2006 groundfish specifications and management measures, effective April 1, 2005 - 3/29/05 (PDF)

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Announces Regulations for International Trade of Swordfish and Tuna 3/9/05 (PDF)

Final version of updated Green Sturgeon Status Review - 3/1/05 (PDF)

Co-manager draft of the Updated Green Sturgeon Status Review is available upon request

February 2005

Highly Migratory Species Data Collection Requirements for U.S. Commercial and Recreational Charter Vessels - 02/10/05 (PDF)

January 2005

Comment Period for Proposed Critical Habitat Designations for Salmon and Steelhead Extended Until March 14, 2005 - 01/28/05 (PDF)

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December 2004

Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Western Pacific Pelagic Fisheries; Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Overfishing Determination for Bigeye Tuna - 12/30/04 (PDF)

Notice of Public Hearings: Proposed Critical Habitat Designations for Salmon and Steelhead in California - 12/29/04 (PDF)

Final Rule Implementing a Pilot Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Program for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - 12/21/04

The National Marine Fisheries Service Announces Management Measures for January through December of 2005 and 2006 in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery off Washington, Oregon, and California - 12/17/04 (PDF)

Restrictions for 2004 Purse Seine and Longline Fisheries in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean - 12/10/04 (PDF)

November 2004

NOAA Fisheries Proposes to Designate Critical Habitat for 20 Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of Salmon and Steelhead in the Northwest and California (11/30/04)

NMFS proposes a rule to implement the 2005 – 2006 fishery specifications and management measures for groundfish taken in the U.S. EEZ off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California (11/30/04)

October 2004

Proposed Regulation to Implement Vessel Assessment Resolutions of the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program and Capacity Resolutions of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission; Request for comments - 10/29/04 (PDF)

Draft Environmental Assessment for Proposed Regulations - 10/04 (PDF)

Proposed Changes to NOAA's Civil Procedure Regulations (10/14/04)

Pacific Coast Groundfish - Inseason Adjustments to Commercial and Recreational Fisheries - 10/1/04 (PDF)

IATTC Fishery Management Actions for 2004 - 10/1/04 (PDF)

September 2004

Request for Nominations to Fill a Vacancy on the Salmon Advisory Subpanel (9/27/04)

Request for Nominations to Fill a Vacancy on the Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel (9/27/04)

NOAA Fisheries Announces Public Hearings in California (PDF) (9/15/04)

Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Tuna Purse Seine Vessels in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP); Final Rule (PDF) (9/13/04)

Update on the Alsea Valley Alliance v. Evans U.S. District Court Ruling, September 9, 2004 (9/9/04)

Endangered and Threatened Species: Notice of Public Hearings on Proposed Listing Determinations for Salmonids in California (PDF) (9/9/04)

Endangered and Threatened Species: Notice of Public Hearings on Proposed Hatchery Listing Policy (9/9/04)

August 2004

Endangered and Threatened Species: Notice of Public Hearings on Proposed Listing Determinations for West Coast Salmonids (PDF) (8/31/04)

Endangered and Threatened Species: Extension of Public Comment Period and Notice of Public Hearings on Proposed Hatchery Listing Policy and Proposed Listing Determinations for West Coast Salmonids (PDF) (8/31/04)

Update on the Alsea Valley Alliance v. Evans U.S. District Court Ruling (Alsea decision) (8/25/04)

NOAA Fisheries' Response to the Alsea Valley Alliance v. Evans U.S. District Court Ruling (Alsea decision) (8/24/04)

July 2004

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - Inseason adjustments to limited entry fisheries (PDF) (7/1/04)

June 2004

Guide for Complying with the Vessel Fishing Requirements of the U.S. - Canada Albacore Treaty - June 2004 (6/04)

International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Restrictions for 2004 Purse Seine and Longline Fisheries in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean (PDF) (6/25/04)

Update on Proposed Hatchery Listing Policy and Listing Revisions for Pacific Salmon and Steelhead (PDF) (6/22/04)

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Updated Status Review of the North American Green Sturgeon (PDF) (6/18/04)

May 2004

NOAA Fisheries' Response to the Alsea Valley Alliance v. Evans U.S. District Court Ruling (Alsea decision) (5/28/04)

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - Inseason Adjustments to the Limited Entry Trawl Fishery (PDF) (5/12/04)

April 2004

International Fisheries Regulations; Pacific Tuna Fisheries (PDF) (4/30/04)

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - Inseason Adjustments to Commercial and Recreational Management Measures (PDF) (4/30/04)

Final Rule for HMS Fishery Management Plan (PDF) (4/7/04)

March 2004

Proposed Regulations for Trade of Swordfish and Tuna (3/29/04)

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Public Comment on a Proposed International Trade Permit for Tuna and Swordfish (PDF) (3/29/04)

International Fisheries; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (PDF) (3/29/04)

Taking of Threatened or Endangered Species Incidental to Commercial (PDF) (3/11/04)

February 2004

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) (PDF) (2/04)

Final Rule to Implement the Prohibition of Shallow Longline Sets East of the 150 West Longitude (PDF) (2/27/04)

January 2004

Corrections: Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery during January and February Commercial Trip Limit Tables and Trawl Rockfish Conservation Area (PDF) (1/28/04)

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Announces Clarification to the Boundaries for the Trawl Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) in the Area off California between 38°00.00' N. lat. and the U.S. Border with Mexico (1/8/04)

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - Commercial and Recreational Management Measures for March through December 2004 (PDF) (1/8/04)

NMFS Grants Affirmative Finding for the Republic of El Salvador Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (PDF) (1/6/04)

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December 2003

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - Commercial and Recreational Trip Limits for January and February 2004 (PDF) (12/31/03)

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Declaration Requirements for Limited Entry, Open Access and Tribal Fishers (PDF) (12/23/03)

Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; Request for Nominations for the Scientific Advisory Subcommittee of the General Advisory Committee to the United States Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (PDF) (12//17/03)

NOAA Fisheries Issues Regulation to Protect Loggerhead Sea Turtles (PDF) (12/16/03)

Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Highly Migratory (PDF) (12/10/03)

November 2003

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - Changes to Areas Closed to Commercial and Recreational Fisheries; Changes to Limited Entry Trawl DTS Trip Limits (PDF) (11/21/03)

Annual Quarantine Ends Tonight for Sport-Harvested Mussels (PDF) (11/21/03)

October 2003

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - Changes to Commercial Trip Limits and Area Closures (PDF) (10/23/03)

September 2003

Final Rule Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan Allocation of Pacific Sardine (9/5/03)

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery off Southern California - Changes to Area Closures for Commercial Non-Trawl and Recreational Fisheries off Southern California; Corrections to Trawl and Non-trawl RCA Boundaries (PDF) (9/2/03)

August 2003

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery off Southern California - Not yet Effective: New 30 fm Boundary Line affecting Commercial Non-Trawl and Recreational Fisheries off Southern California (PDF) (8/29/03)

July 2003

Corrections to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Commercial Management Measures and Rockfish Conservation Area (PDF) (7/22/03)

Shore-based Whiting Public Notice (7/14/03)

June 2003

Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery; Regulatory (PDF) (6/26/03)

Proposed Rule - Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan - Allocation of Pacific Sardine (6/23/03)

White Shark Research Organization Charged in Illegal Finning Activities (PDF)( 6/20/03)

May 2003

Limited Entry Trawl Permit Buyback Program (5/28/03)

Nation’s Federal Marine Fisheries Managers to Host Fisheries Conference in November (PDF) (5/20/03)

Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; 2003 Management Measures; Correction (PDF) (5/19/03)

Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; 2003 Management Measures (PDF) (5/6/03)

April 2003

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - Changes to Commercial and Recreational Trip Limits and to Commercial Area Closures (PDF) (4/30/03)

NOAA Fisheries Established new Pacific Islands Region in Honolulu (4/21/03)

Correction - To Pacific Coast Groundfish Rockfish Conservation Area Boundary Coordinates (PDF) (4/15/03)

March 2003

International Fisheries Regulations; Pacific Tuna Fisheries (PDF) (3/30/01)

Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery; Amendment 9 (PDF) (3/30/01)

Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Closure of Fishery for Pacific Mackerel (PDF) (3/30/01)

Closure of Pacific Mackerel Fishery (3/26/01)

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - Limited Entry Fixed Gear Sablefish Primary Season Begins April 1, 2003 (PDF) (3/12/03)

February 2003

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery - Recreational Management Measures for March through December 2003 (PDF) (2/28/03)

Rockfish Conservation Area Boundary Coordinates for January and February 2003 (PDF) (2/3/03)

January 2003

NOAA Fisheries Determines North American Green Sturgeon Does Not Warrant Listing Under the Endangered Species Act (1/29/03)

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding on a Petition to List North American Green Sturgeon as a Threatened or Endangered Species (PDF) (1/29/03)

Correction to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Rockfish Conservation Area Boundary Coordinates (PDF) (1/27/03)

Correction to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Measures for January and February 2003 (PDF) (1/27/03)

Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Annual Specifications and Management Measures; Corrections (PDF) (2/19/02)

Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals; Decision Regarding the Impact of Purse Seine Fishing on Depleted Dolphin Stocks (PDF) (1/15/03)

Salmon Technical Team Work Sessions The Salmon Technical Team (STT) will hold two work sessions to draft documents relating to the 2013 ocean salmon fishery management process. View the STT work sessions announcement.

2013 Public Hearings on Salmon Management The sites and dates of public hearings to review the Council's proposed ocean salmon fishery management alternatives have been set. Please view the 2013 Hearings Notice for more details.

2013 Process and Schedule Details Visit the Council's preseason management schedule webpage to see the detailed process for developing 2013 ocean salmon fishery management measures. This schedule was adopted by the Council at their November 2012 meeting.

03/13/12

03/01/12

Pacific Council News, Fall 2011 - The Fall 2011 issue of Pacific Council News is now available on the Council's website. You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter by visiting the Council's Newsletter Archives webpage.

September 2011 Council Meeting Decisions Document Available - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) met September 14-19, 2011 in San Mateo, California. The September 2011 Council Meeting Decision Document summarizes the decisions made during that meeting.

Notice of a Public Work Session - The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Salmon Model Evaluation Workgroup (MEW) will hold a work session, which is open to the public. Visit the Council's website to view the MEW Work Session Notice.

Notice of a Public Meeting - The Pacific Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of the Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Review Committee (EFHRC), which is open to the public. Please visit the Council's website to view the EFHRC Meeting Notice.

June 2011 Council Meeting Decisions Document Available - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies met June 6-13, 2011 in Spokane, Washington. The June 2011 Council Meeting Decision Document summarizes the decisions made during that meeting.

Newsletter Available Online - The Spring edition of Pacific Council News is now available on our website.

April 2011 Council Meeting Decisions Document Available - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies met April 9-13, 2011 in San Mateo, California. The April 2011 Council Meeting Decision Document summarizes the decisions made during that meeting.

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a meeting of its Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) that is open to the public. View the CPSMT Meeting Notice by visiting the Council's website.

Meeting Notice - The Pacific Fishery Management Council will convene a Pacific mackerel Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panel meeting May 2 - 5, 2011 that is open to the public. View the STAR Panel Meeting Notice for details.

Request for Nominations - Currently, the Pacific Fishery Management Council is seeking qualified candidates to fill three vacancies on its Groundfish Advisory Subpanel (GAP). These positions represent the following fishing industry sectors of the west coast groundfish fishery:

Preseason Report II: Proposed Alternatives and Environmental Assessment Part 2 for 2011 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations Available on Pacific Fishery Management Council's Website

Council to Adopt 2011 Ocean Salmon Fisheries and Process and Schedule for Completing 2013-2014 Groundfish Management Measures

Notice of Availability - The document Preseason Report I: Stock Abundance Analysis and Environmental Assessment Part 1 for 2011 Ocean Salmon Fishery Regulations has been posted to the Council's website. Please visit the 2011 Preseason Report I webpage to view and download the document.

Council to Adopt Range of Options for 2011 Ocean Salmon Fisheries and 2011 Pacific Whiting Fishery Management Measures

Pacific Council News, Fall 2010 - The Fall 2010 issue of the Pacific Council News is now available on the Council's website. It covers the decisions made at the September Council meeting in Boise, plus other fisheries news and information.

Responsible Program Official

Pacific Council News, Winter 2009 is available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2009/Winter_2009_newsletter.pdf - 12/08/09 (PDF) You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/archivenews.html

Pacific Council News, Winter 2008 is available on the Council website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2008/Winter_2008_newsletter.pdf You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/archivenews.html - 12/04/08

Salmon Technical Team Work Sessions
The Salmon Technical Team (STT) will hold two work sessions to draft documents relating to the 2013 ocean salmon fishery management process. View the STT work sessions announcement.

2013 Public Hearings on Salmon Management
The sites and dates of public hearings to review the Council's proposed ocean salmon fishery management alternatives have been set. Please view the 2013 Hearings Notice for more details.

2013 Process and Schedule Details
Visit the Council's preseason management schedule webpage to see the detailed process for developing 2013 ocean salmon fishery management measures. This schedule was adopted by the Council at their November 2012 meeting.

Pacific Council News, Fall 2011 - The Fall 2011 issue of Pacific Council News is now available on the Council's website.

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter by visiting the Council's Newsletter Archives webpage.

Pacific Council News, Winter 2009 is available on the Council's website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2009/Winter_2009_newsletter.pdf - 12/08/09 (PDF)

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/archivenews.html

Pacific Council News, Winter 2008 is available on the Council website at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2008/Winter_2008_newsletter.pdf

You may view past issues of the Council's newsletter at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/archivenews.html - 12/04/08