Council members adopted harvest specifications for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine on April 13, setting an age‑1+ biomass estimate of 30,158 metric tons, an overfishing limit (OFL) of 4,645 metric tons and an acceptable biological catch (ABC) consistent with the council’s chosen buffer. The resulting annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2025–26 fishing year was set at 2,200 metric tons, which keeps the directed commercial sardine fishery closed while allowing limited incidental and research catches.

The council’s fisheries advisors and the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) reviewed an update assessment prepared by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). The SSC endorsed the assessment as the best scientific information available for management, reported that the assessment should be designated category 2d given uncertainties (including the presence of Japanese sardine in samples), and recommended an OFL of 4,645 metric tons based on the assessment’s harvest control rule and a temperature‑dependent EMSY parameter. The council adopted ABC and ACL values consistent with council motions and advisory‑body recommendations.

Why it matters: the adopted ACL—2,200 metric tons—reflects the council’s November 2024 rebuilding plan decision that when age‑1+ biomass is below 50,000 metric tons the ACL should be set at 2,200 mt or the ABC, whichever is less. The 30,158 mt biomass is below the rebuilding plan’s 50,000‑mt threshold and well below the 150,000‑mt cutoff that would allow full directed fishing.

Key details adopted and next steps
- Biomass (age‑1+ on 07/01/2025): 30,158 metric tons (assessment estimate endorsed by the SSC).
- OFL: 4,645 metric tons (SSC endorsed calculation).
- P* used in the adopted motion: 0.50 (motion text adopted by the council).
- ABC (tier 2 table, corresponding to chosen P*): 3,957 metric tons (as adopted).
- ACL: 2,200 metric tons (adopted; consistent with the council’s November 2024 rebuilding plan alternative for biomass below 50,000 mt).
- ACT (annual catch target): 2,100 metric tons (adopted to trigger accountability measures before the ACL is reached).
- Incidental landing allowance: up to 20% for sardine landed in other CPS fisheries while northern biomass is below 50,000 mt; the council also included specific per‑trip/landing limits (see text below).

Accountability measures: the council adopted an ACT of 2,100 mt to create a near‑term trigger for accountability measures. If the ACT is reached, the council will implement per‑trip or per‑landing limits (the adopted motion established a 1‑metric‑ton per‑trip limit in CPS fisheries and a 2‑metric‑ton incidental per‑landing allowance in non‑CPS fisheries) and could prohibit further retention if the ACL is reached.

What the SSC and advisory bodies said: the SSC recommended designation 2d for the update assessment, noting uncertainty associated with the presence of Japanese sardine in samples and with modeling of weighted age. The Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) and the Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel (CPSAS) recommended an ACL of 2,200 mt and supported interim accountability measures. The CPSMT recommended a P* of 0.45; the adopted motion used P* = 0.50, a choice discussed extensively at the meeting.

Context and debate: public commenters and some advisory members urged more precaution given weak recent recruitment and court direction about the CALCOFI temperature–productivity relationship; others—including industry and the advisory subpanel—argued the adopted measures keep flexibility for limited uses such as live bait and research and reflect the council’s rebuilding plan rules. One council member abstained from the final vote citing the revised rebuilding plan not yet being approved by NMFS.

Evidence and provenance: the council’s action and the assessment results were discussed extensively during agenda item G3. Key transcript excerpts documenting the assessment results and the council’s motion appear in the meeting record (see provenance below).

Ending: The adopted specifications keep the directed sardine fishery closed for 2025–26 while permitting limited incidental, live‑bait and research take and establishing an ACT and accountability measures to prevent exceeding the ACL. The council also left open the door to reconsideration next year if new information (surveys or assessment updates) becomes available.

Speakers quoted or cited
- Dr. Annie Yao, Director, Fisheries Resources Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center (presented survey/assessment background and research updates).
- Josh Lindsey, NMFS West Coast Region (NMFS report and procedural notes about the rebuilding plan timing).
- Will Satterwhite, Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC chair; summarized SSC endorsement and category designation).
- Greg Krzykowski, CPS Management Team (management team recommendation summary).
- Mark Fina, CPS Advisory Subpanel (advisory subpanel summary).
- Jeff Chester, Oceana (public comment urging greater precaution and reevaluation of EMSY methods).

Speakers (attribution whitelist)
[{"name":"Annie Yao","role_title":"Director, Fisheries Resources Division","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center","first_reference":{"timecode":"704.845","transcript_line_range":[1,1]}},{"name":"Josh Lindsey","role_title":"NMFS West Coast Region","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"National Marine Fisheries Service","first_reference":{"timecode":"608.95","transcript_line_range":[1,1]}},{"name":"Will Satterwhite","role_title":"SSC representative","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Scientific and Statistical Committee","first_reference":{"timecode":"5773.185","transcript_line_range":[1,1]}},{"name":"Greg Krzykowski","role_title":"CPS Management Team member","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team","first_reference":{"timecode":"7273.46","transcript_line_range":[1,1]}},{"name":"Mark Fina","role_title":"CPS Advisory Subpanel chair","affiliation_type":"citizen","affiliation_name":"Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel","first_reference":{"timecode":"3316.3901","transcript_line_range":[1,1]}},{"name":"Jeff Chester","role_title":"Spokesperson","affiliation_type":"nonprofit","affiliation_name":"Oceana","first_reference":{"timecode":"3396.72","transcript_line_range":[1,1]}}]

Authorities
[{"type":"policy","name":"Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan (CPS FMP)","citation":"CPS FMP","referenced_by":["g3-2025-sardine-specs"]},{"type":"statute","name":"Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act","citation":"Magnuson-Stevens Act","referenced_by":["g3-2025-sardine-specs"]}]

Actions
[{"kind":"other","identifiers":{},"motion":"Adopt biomass, OFL, P*, ABC, ACL and ACT for 2025–26 Pacific sardine as proposed (biomass 30,158 mt; OFL 4,645 mt; P* 0.50; ABC 3,957 mt; ACL 2,200 mt; ACT 2,100 mt).","mover":"Rebecca Lent","second":"Sharon Keever","vote_record":[{"member":"Council - majority","seat":"N/A","vote":"yes"},{"member":"Brianna Brady","seat":"N/A","vote":"abstain"}],"tally":{"yes":null,"no":null,"abstain":1},"legal_threshold":{"met":null,"notes":"Council recorded a motion and a single abstention; formal quorum present."},"outcome":"approved","notes":"Motion passed; one abstention noted (Brianna Brady)."}]

Discussion_decision
{"discussion_points":["SSC endorsed the update assessment but flagged uncertainty related to Japanese sardine samples and modeling issues","CPSMT recommended conservative ACL of 2,200 mt consistent with the revised rebuilding plan","Advisory panel supported measures that retain limited access for live bait and research"],"directions":["Monitor daily landings and apply accountability measures if ACT triggers reached","Revisit specifications in 2026 if new survey or assessment information emerges"],"decisions":["Adopted the biomass, OFL, P*, ABC, ACL and ACT values noted above","Adopted incidental landing limits and per‑trip/landing accountability measures as specified in the motion"]}

Clarifying_details
[{"category":"stock status","detail":"Age-1+ biomass estimate used for harvest control calculation","value":"30158","units":"metric tons","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Will Satterwhite"},{"category":"OFL","detail":"Overfishing limit as calculated by SSC using assessment harvest control rule","value":"4645","units":"metric tons","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Will Satterwhite"},{"category":"ACL","detail":"Annual catch limit set under rebuilding plan when biomass < 50,000 mt","value":"2200","units":"metric tons","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Greg Krzykowski"}]

Proper_names
[{"name":"Pacific Fishery Management Council","type":"agency"},{"name":"Southwest Fisheries Science Center","type":"agency"},{"name":"National Marine Fisheries Service","type":"agency"},{"name":"Oceana","type":"organization"},{"name":"Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team","type":"agency"},{"name":"Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel","type":"organization"}]

Community_relevance
{"geographies":["US West Coast","California"],"funding_sources":[],"impact_groups":["commercial fishers","live bait providers","recreational anglers","coastal communities"]}

Meeting_context
{"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":15,"duration_minutes":120,"items_count":1},"implementation_risk":"medium","history":[{"date":"2024-11-13","note":"Council adopted revised sardine rebuilding plan (alternative 6)"}]}

Searchable_tags":["sardine","CPS","harvest_specifications","ACL","OFL","rebuilding_plan","P*"]

Provenance
{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block_5563.75","local_start":0,"local_end":240,"evidence_excerpt":"At this meeting, the council will adopt harvest specification and management measures for the 20 25 to 20 26 Pacific sardine fishing season...the council adopted alternative 6 as their final preferred alternative...","tc_start":"5563.75","tc_end":"5674.67","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_5992.9297","local_start":0,"local_end":240,"evidence_excerpt":"The SSC endorses the model estimate for h1 plus biomass on 07/01/2025 of 30,158 tons...the SSC endorses the corresponding overfishing limit of 4,645 metric tons.","tc_start":"5992.9297","tc_end":"6030.01","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}