[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6291748,"mediaKeyId","2529449-343b2b050ba5ef16d1b58e2401ff4345","parentId",2529449,"title","Council reviews SSC's groundfish assessment guidance; fishermen press for independent Petrale sole review and more local data","audioSeconds",2061,"startMs",624000,"endMs",2685000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2529449-343b2b050ba5ef16d1b58e2401ff4345&start=624&end=2685","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2529449-343b2b050ba5ef16d1b58e2401ff4345/thumbnail_624000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6291748/Washington/Council-reviews-SSCs-groundfish-assessment-guidance-fishermen-press-for-independent-Petrale-sole-review-and-more-local-data","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291748-50684cf3ecf38c9945021d7f50da14de/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201018&Signature=Nn~CYBNngW3cbHedbhY1R8VFNTKOw85EUMRoo96Uh10PZ2N178lyMbcuVo2oCrjfBGxXtyk28Abpmv4HRnmIQyXYEBAQR6Awfbi3aYtqjzBgvl9lY-0gB9Ak0SjKR1z-M9g-lx2-sqNjmbBFLpitNaFYiYMbVUfszKvXTym~MQ8~CxQ44iBS3Y3yUqbCnMgnwkqDA5o7vxmDUNLxx4NGkYOwOP1DqZMTUbSkLoUhctcGPxFXHfq-WC9y-pQEpPoWByJi1FcqmMr--Qblmy2LrX4ZEZmePg8W2S0XqFRwQWbVMPwPGmtdsWVaOdQ298DFXmSFPM7O1WDlKHWpVi~ZtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fishery Management Council, Pacific","date","2025-03-09T00:50:53Z","article","The Pacific Fishery Management Council on Saturday reviewed and agreed to move forward with the Scientific and Statistical Committee's accepted practices guidelines for 2025'26 groundfish stock assessments, while public commenters urged independent review of the petrale (petrale) sole assessment and better incorporation of local sampling and recreational tagging data.

The council's accepted-practices briefing, presented by Marlene Bellman, described the document as a supplement to the council's terms of reference for groundfish stock assessment review. Bellman said the guidelines provide default approaches assessment teams should consider and that teams may diverge from the guidelines if they document reasons before review panels. \"This document is intended to supplement the council's terms of reference for the groundfish stock assessment review process and provide groundfish stock assessment teams with default approaches to consider when dealing with certain stock assessment data and modeling issues,\" Bellman said.

The SSC's report, summarized by Dr. John Field, said the groundfish subcommittee considered spatial closures, use of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) survey indices, and other revisions. The SSC endorsed the guidelines with only minor edits and noted that ROV-based absolute abundance estimates remain analytically challenging and would require additional development and review. \"No explicit guidance on the use of ROV abundance indices was added,\" Field said, adding that any ROV estimates would likely be species-specific and subject to additional uncertainties.

Why it matters: the guidelines aim to standardize and speed stock assessment development while allowing assessment teams flexibility; ROV methods and incorporation of recreational and citizen-science data could change how abundance is estimated for some rockfish and flatfish stocks.

Public commenters told the council they do not trust recent reductions and want more local sampling and independent review. Trawl fisherman Jerry Nozitskaya, speaking through his son Giuseppe, said petrale sole appeared abundant to him and that dock sampling has been insufficient. \"If there is supposed to be a sampling done for the catches on our docks to assure accurate models of the population...sampling on my catches have hardly ever been done in the past 4 years for petrale sole,\" Jerry said. He asked the council to \"call for an independent review of the petrale sole stock assessment and possibly an overview of the entire stock assessment process.\"

Del Norte County Supervisor Chris Howard and Crescent City fisherman Steve Huber pressed for better use of charter-boat and recreational data to reflect local quillback rockfish abundance. Howard urged the council to \"find some way to allow the data that's being collected by our charter boat captains...to be placed into these models.\" Huber described limited dock sampling effort in the north coast and proposed increased tagging and targeted data collection, including collaboration with CCFRP (the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program).

Council discussion acknowledged the public concerns while describing the guideline as nonbinding. Executive Director Eric Burton said the guidance is \"intended to be helpful\" and that assessment teams can depart from it with documented rationale. Several council members and advisory groups stressed continued work to incorporate ROV indices and recreational/citizen data where scientifically appropriate; Council members also noted a separate, contemplated project to review the overall stock assessment process.

No formal motion was required for the item; the council provided guidance to the SSC to move forward with the accepted practices guidelines and indicated support for continuing work on ROV and local data integration.

Looking ahead: the SSC and groundfish subcommittee will continue technical development of ROV indices and related methodology, and stock assessment teams will determine species-by-species inclusion of new indices prior to review panels.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 2025 PFMC Council Meeting Day 3 Part 2: 03/08/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Pacific Fishery Management Council on Saturday reviewed and agreed to move forward with the Scientific and Statistical Committee's accepted practices guidelines for 2025'26 groundfish stock assessments, while public commenters urged independent review of the petrale sole assessment and better incorporation of local and recreational data.","taxTitle","Fishery Management Council, Pacific, Governor's Office - Boards & Commissions, Executive, Washington","taxId",24240,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6291738,"Council reviews STT salmon alternatives, defers guidance to tomorrow; Colville Tribes urge shifting ocean fishing timing to boost Upper Columbia summer Chinook",2281,11027000,13308000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2529449-343b2b050ba5ef16d1b58e2401ff4345&start=11027&end=13308","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2529449-343b2b050ba5ef16d1b58e2401ff4345/thumbnail_11027000.jpg","/articles/6291738/Washington/Council-reviews-STT-salmon-alternatives-defers-guidance-to-tomorrow-Colville-Tribes-urge-shifting-ocean-fishing-timing-to-boost-Upper-Columbia-summer-Chinook","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291738-055a3d290f8dd0b3907f8bc54f22b017/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201018&Signature=HITB6iO8TJZ3JUOq91R21iEWzNrnZqKVIJQlqvSpKnhaB4-Gkm~eP0wy2X~z-JHfmFZI1kuEdzyMigvDtprUloKvrk~G4lsb8hFyeGTnx9inmFGrEMWDCZsPo0p2LDOaSuMpUnaXRlHpPJHYgJxDB-2fGgx8dzNoKvF6Bu43FfqTCM8qGCM5XHshicIV7iNvcRbXag3SkKOQc~vHDf2YH3vAG-Q1Z3msoNKWtiAfnSSyJwxshdGTPNOL-w2t-5V54EBlySUHXchmo7imY7wmYC7K4YYzSFqOQlTWDgJ8NTbe8UzU8rkjwq6P49SLVAlEBEyo9ZiIwAjYTC-IXAQfOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pacific Fishery Management Council on Saturday considered a supplemental Scientific and Technical Team (STT) report analyzing proposed 2025 salmon management alternatives and took no final guidance, instead pausing until further modeling inputs can be incorporated and reconvening for guidance the following morning.

Angela Forstall introduced the agenda item and said the STT report, recently released, summarizes analysis of management alternatives the Salmon Advisory Subpanel recommended. STT lead Dr. Michael O'Farrell said the packet contains preseason approximations for many fisheries and noted some values are preliminary because not all inputs are available for final modeling.

Tribal and public testimony highlighted concerns about very low returns of Upper Columbia summer Chinook and asked the council to shift ocean harvest timing rather than reduce total quota. Cindy Marchand of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation said 2024 escapement fell below forecasts and that a 2020 flood impaired the tribe's Chief Joseph Hatchery brood collection, reducing natural-origin brood stock. \"Any effort to allow escapement of natural origin, upper Columbia summer Chinook will have tremendous benefits to our efforts to fully and appropriately supply brood to the Chief Joe Hatchery program,\" Marchand said, and she recommended that non-treaty ocean fishing reduce spring impacts by shifting effort later in the year.

Public commenter Joel Kawahara, a salmon troller from Quilcene, Washington, likewise urged timing shifts instead of quota cuts. \"I'd rather see fish moved instead of cut,\" Kawahara said. He also noted apparent inconsistencies between the STT's tables and prior briefings and asked the STT to check calculations before final modeling.

STT and council staff briefed the council that some model inputs (notably northern aggregate allocations tied to Pacific Salmon Commission calibration) are expected in the coming days and that the PSC-related model runs should be completed and available prior to the April council meeting. John Carey confirmed aggregate abundance model runs are expected next week and that final catch limits will be available prior to the April meeting.

Council members identified specific modeling issues and asked clarifying questions; some members recommended retaining one alternative that uses a historical default river-share allocation for Sacramento River fall Chinook to preserve transparency in the public process. George Bradshaw and the California SAS expressed a preference to include a \"status-quo\" alternative that retains the model default river-share (historical average around 14.5%) rather than fixing the in-river share at 15% as directed in a separate motion, so the public can see both approaches.

The council did not adopt any final guidance on management measures during the session and agreed to reconvene the salmon agenda item at 08:00 the following morning to provide guidance after additional STT runs and review.

Next steps: the STT will update analyses when PSC and other inputs are available, and the council will take up guidance and potential alternative revisions at the next scheduled salmon agenda session.","The council reviewed a preliminary STT analysis of 2025 salmon management alternatives, heard a tribal request to shift ocean harvest timing to increase escapement for Upper Columbia summer Chinook, and deferred final guidance to the next meeting day while awaiting additional modeling inputs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6291743,"Council adopts Cordell Bank revisions to reduce regulatory complexity, retains 100-fathom restriction to limit large-footrope trawl",1336,2851000,4187000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2529449-343b2b050ba5ef16d1b58e2401ff4345&start=2851&end=4187","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2529449-343b2b050ba5ef16d1b58e2401ff4345/thumbnail_2851000.jpg","/articles/6291743/Washington/Council-adopts-Cordell-Bank-revisions-to-reduce-regulatory-complexity-retains-100-fathom-restriction-to-limit-large-footrope-trawl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291743-2823d30d3049b126ee9e53b98e762e90/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201018&Signature=T2~teEFYXe9CNHH-OQhWrozuWBgPEU-7-7dtRxsQ4wdZa6pN3tt~~U7Th~78Iem-dJdFnTrR8dPxHHOCnVdmvXnkgElR89F2w3Pu3lPcPi6-hn92vHJH9n3ro1ojWsmbIS89f2sCJtV5CIN-AWmtRlqoBRFrFWObehNXPrSSGsvbjQemWwNWEKrclr1gFKjRSzOYCNNG-PPR~IQnE65TEb3Y5tQtMifnUrAKmZ2x2~LmlPHJ-uUF9OUhBo2DW57LQ4C8EG7jKudM2zIvRrE0x7sxagrRqLKXhTT1mBBFmysJGgK5nOMqF0f6RMNAykk4ej-uPbVTGsub1S7yc3SkaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted on Saturday to adopt a final preferred alternative to revise management of the Cordell Bank area that reduces overlapping regulations, reconfigures boundaries to simplify compliance, and preserves a 100-fathom coordinate ring to prevent large-footrope trawl gear.

Council staff described the action as deregulatory and narrowly sized: the preferred alternative would remove the Cordell Bank Groundfish Conservation Area (GCA), implement a groundfish exclusion area (GEA) overlapping the existing bottom-contact essential fish habitat conservation area (EFHCA), and reopen small amounts of seafloor to bottom trawling and nontrawl fishing under revised, simplified rules. Staff said the change would open roughly 10.2 square miles to bottom trawling and 40.1 square miles to nontrawl gears but would account for only 0.014% of the U.S. exclusive economic zone.

The motion adopted by the council directed staff to make the preliminary preferred alternative (Alternative 1 in the briefing materials) the final preferred alternative and to \"include the coordinates defining the 100-fathom depth contour around the bank in the regulations at 50 CFR 660.73,\" following a NIMS (National Marine Fisheries Service) recommendation intended to retain the large-footrope prohibition. Caroline McKnight, who moved the motion, said the changes address regulatory confusion and provide limited additional access while strengthening habitat protection around the high-relief core of Cordell Bank.

Advisory bodies largely supported the preferred alternative. The Groundfish Advisory Subpanel (GAP), Groundfish Management Team (GMT), Habitat Committee and Enforcement Consultant each recommended adopting the preliminary preferred alternative with the NIMS administrative modification to move the 100-fathom coordinates into regulation. James Phillips of the GMT said the team did \"not anticipate concerning increases in mortality of yelloweye rockfish and California quillback rockfish\" from the action and called it deregulatory, reducing stakeholder confusion.

Public commenters who favored more access praised the change. Longtime charter fisherman Richard Powers said the revision would be \"a breath of fresh air\" for anglers and thanked the council for the proposal. Council members and advisory chairs noted the change reflects years of rebuilding for some stocks and is intended to reduce regulatory overlap that has confused fishers and enforcement.

The motion passed by voice vote after the mover and a seconder (Mark Guralnick) presented the motion; council members answered in the affirmative when the chair called for aye. The council directed staff to incorporate the Habitat Committee's recommended updates to the habitat-effects text in the final analytical document and to make the administrative regulatory changes specified by NIMS.

The council also asked staff to monitor enforcement and outreach needs, consistent with the Enforcement Consultant's recommendation that polygon definitions be clear and that the minimum number of waypoints be used for enforceability.

What happens next: staff will incorporate the regulatory coordinate language into 50 CFR 660.73 and finalize the environmental analysis; the council and NIMS staff noted this is intended to reduce complexity and preserve sensitive habitat protections while providing modest additional access.","The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to adopt a deregulatory alternative for the Cordell Bank area that removes the groundfish conservation area, establishes a groundfish exclusion area overlapping sensitive habitat, and keeps a 100-fathom buffer in regulation to prohibit large-footrope trawl gear.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council reviews SSC's groundfish assessment guidance; fishermen press for independent Petrale sole review and more local data

Council reviews STT salmon alternatives, defers guidance to tomorrow; Colville Tribes urge shifting ocean fishing timing to boost Upper Columbia summer Chinook

Council adopts Cordell Bank revisions to reduce regulatory complexity, retains 100-fathom restriction to limit large-footrope trawl