The June 15, 2025, meeting of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) focused on critical discussions surrounding groundfish management and the challenges faced by fishing communities. The meeting began with a review of stock assessments that indicated significant reductions in harvest specifications for groundfish species, leading to instability and limited access for fishermen.

Sarah Niani presented the Groundfish Advisory Panel (GAP) report, highlighting the adverse impacts of recent stock assessments on fishing operations. Key issues included increased travel distances to fishing grounds, longer trips, and economic strain due to reduced catch limits. The GAP emphasized the need for a multi-faceted approach to mitigate these challenges, proposing several policy and management recommendations.

The panel identified five priority items for the council to consider:
1. **ABC Carryover**: Allowing unutilized annual catch limits (ACLs) to carry over into the next year to increase available catch.
2. **Phase-in ABC Control Rule**: Implementing gradual changes to acceptable biological catch (ABC) limits to provide stability.
3. **Mid-Biennium Harvest Specification Changes**: Enabling adjustments to catch limits within the biennium based on new stock assessments.
4. **Off-the-Top Accounting Changes**: Modifying how incidental catches are accounted for to increase available ACLs.
5. **Annual Specifications**: Transitioning from biennial to annual specifications to allow for more frequent adjustments.

The GAP underscored the importance of these measures in providing immediate relief to fishing communities, particularly in light of the ongoing challenges posed by stock assessments. The council was urged to prioritize these recommendations to enhance flexibility and stability in groundfish fisheries.

During the public comment period, stakeholders expressed support for the GAP's recommendations. Jamie Dimon, a charter vessel operator, highlighted the need for the council to adopt these tools to alleviate the hardships faced by the charter industry. Jeff Lackey echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the constraints imposed by incidental catches and the necessity for mechanisms that allow for increases in overall catch limits.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore these recommendations and their potential impacts on the fishing industry, with the council aiming to address these issues in upcoming sessions. The discussions underscored the urgent need for adaptive management strategies to support the sustainability of groundfish fisheries and the communities that depend on them.