2004 Offshore Bottom Fishing Outlook Grim

[Born to be Wild]

Talked to Don Bodenmiller yesterday on the phone and he told me some bad news that he had just learned from some meetings he just attended.

We will definitely be loosing some ground on our offshore bottom fishing next year and it is not looking good. This is primarily due to the over fishing of canary rockfish. However yelloweye rockfish might become a concern and factor also.

Some of the scenario’s he told me could be a closure on all fishing for rockfish in 30 fathoms on out or maybe 40 or 50 fathoms and deeper. It could end up in a 6 month closure, or possibly closed all year. It’s highly unlikely we will be allowed any retention of canaries period.

We skated this year after the big scare but the reason for next years disaster is because apparently California is going to fish more next year.

There was 44 metric tons allotted the west coast this year (California, Oregon and Washington). Out of that Oregon was allotted 10 metric tons (This includes bi-catch). But next year California is going to become a factor.

Don is pretty disturbed by this and suggested I give the ifisher’s a heads up.

It will be really important to attend the public meetings this year to discuss options.

Don did say that tuna and salmon should be open. Halibut probably will be open at the “ranch” but possibly closed at the rock pile.

The decision will be made in September.

Sorry about the disappointing news. If you like to fish places like the “pile” or the “tug” for big lings or canaries, you better get it done this year.

Dan

[ 06-26-2003, 11:31 PM: Message edited by: DepoeBayDan ]

[Sea Jypzee]

Hmmm, this doesn't sound too encouraging at all. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] Thanks for the heads up, Dan.

If you or others 'in the know' could post times/dates and locations of the public meetings so we could attend, that would be great.

[Mark Mc]

Nancy, just keep an eye on the PFMC website

PFMC Web

"meetings and events", and under "current events", which has "GMT Meeting" July 14 - 18 which is the Groundfish Management Team. In fact, Janice might be on that one. Are you out there, Janice?

GMT Announcement


Groundfish Management Team to Meet
July 14-18, 2003
The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold a work session, which is open to the public.

The GMT will meet Monday, July 14, 2003 at 1 p.m. This meeting may go into the evening until business for the day is completed. The GMT meeting will reconvene from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 15 through Friday, July 18 until business for the day is completed.

The primary purpose of the GMT meeting is to prepare final recommendations regarding groundfish harvest levels and management for 2004. The GMT will also prepare reports, recommendations, and analyses in support of various Council decisions through the remainder of the year.

The following specific items comprise the draft agenda:

prepare final acceptable biological catch (ABC) and optimum yield (OY) recommendations for 2004,
calculate limited entry, open access, and other allocations,
evaluate management options and the Environmental Assessment of Proposed Groundfish Management Measures and Specifications for 2004,
complete and/or review economic/social analysis of proposed harvest levels and management measures for 2004,
resolve any outstanding recreational data issues
evaluate the need for inseason management adjustments,
evaluate new observer data and changes to the trawl bycatch model,
recommend a new Council Operating Procedure of standards and criteria for approving Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs),
consider recommending any EFPs,
evaluate the Programmatic Groundfish Fishery Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement, and
other miscellaneous Council groundfish issues.
The meeting will be held at the following location:

Pacific Fishery Management Council
West Conference Room
7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 200
Portland, OR 97220-1384
(503) 820-2280
Get Driving Directions
In an effort to streamline our meeting notification process, we are building an email notification list. If you have received this notice by mail, but would like to be notified of future meetings via email, please contact Ms. Kerry Aden at (503) 820-2409 or Kerry.Aden@noaa.gov to provide your email address.

The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Ms. Carolyn Porter at (503) 820-2280 at least five days prior to the meeting date.

For more information on the July 14-18, 2003 Groundfish Management Team Meeting, please contact Mr. John DeVore at (503) 820-2280 or toll free 1-866-806-7204.

PFMC
06/24/03