pacific fishery management council 1 ecosystem-based fishery management at the pacific fishery...

Pacific Fishery Management Council

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Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management at the


Perspectives from the Front Line

Donald O. McIsaac, Ph.D.Pacific Fishery Management Council

Executive DirectorMay 1, 2009


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Fishery Regulatory Process

Public Input

Council ProcessAdvisory Body Expertise

Fishery Management Policy

Scientific Review

Fishery Regulations

Research/Science

EnforcementU.S. Department of Commerce

Approves and Codifies Federal Fishery Regulations

Council Recommendations to NOAA

U SCoast Guard


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Pacific Council is Poised to Start EBFM: Why?

1. Improve Fishery Management Performance of 1. Improve Fishery Management Performance of Existing Fishery Management Plans, via a More Existing Fishery Management Plans, via a More

Comprehensive Scientific ApproachComprehensive Scientific Approach

Coastal Pelagic SpeciesCoastal Pelagic Species SalmonSalmon

GroundfishGroundfish Highly Migratory SpeciesHighly Migratory Species


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Channel Islands National Marine SanctuaryMarine Protected Areas In Federal Waters

Pacific Council is Poised to Start EBFM: Why?

2. Expand Fishery Management Capabilities to 2. Expand Fishery Management Capabilities to Species and Habitats Not Currently in Council FMPsSpecies and Habitats Not Currently in Council FMPs


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Limited EBFM Concepts in Current Practice at the Pacific Fishery Management Council

•Harvest Ban on All Species of EuphausiidsHarvest Ban on All Species of Euphausiids•Harvest Control Rules for Coastal PelagicsHarvest Control Rules for Coastal Pelagics•Marine Protected AreasMarine Protected Areas•Oregon Coastal Coho Harvest Control Oregon Coastal Coho Harvest Control RuleRule


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Existing EBFM Concepts

• Recognizes Importance of Krill in Marine Food WebRecognizes Importance of Krill in Marine Food Web• Helpful to Overfished Rockfish and Salmon Species Listed Helpful to Overfished Rockfish and Salmon Species Listed

under the ESA.under the ESA.• Implementation Challenges May Have Been Avoided Under Implementation Challenges May Have Been Avoided Under

and Ecosystem Fishery Management Planand Ecosystem Fishery Management Plan

Harvest Ban on All Species of Krill (Harvest Ban on All Species of Krill (Euphausiids)Euphausiids)


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HGyear+1 = (Biomassyear – Cutoff) * Fraction(5%-15%) * Distribution

Harvest Control Rules for Coastal PelagicsHarvest Control Rules for Coastal Pelagics

•Pacific Sardine-150,000mt•Minimizes Potential for Overfishing •Precautionary Forage Species Policy

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

16.0 16.5 17.0 17.5 18.0 18.5 19.0Sea Surface Temperature (°C)

3-Year Moving Average

Expl

oita

tion

Frac

tion

2001 2000 1999 1998

Environmental Component


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Marine Protected AreasMarine Protected Areas

Rockfish Conservation Areas Essential Fish Habitat Closures


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Coho Salmon Coho Salmon HarvestHarvest Control Rule Control Rule

Oregon Coastal Natural Coho Harvest MatrixMARINE SURVIVAL INDEX

(based on return of jacks per hatchery smolt)

Low Medium High

PARENT SPAWNER STATUS Allowable Total Fishery Impact Rate

High: 15% 30% 35%

Medium: 15% 20% 25%

Low:15%

15% 15%10-13%

Uses Smolt to Jack Survival as an Indicator of Uses Smolt to Jack Survival as an Indicator of Marine Ecological ConditionsMarine Ecological Conditions


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Existing EBFM Concepts Multi-Species Management

Pacific Council Does Not Strictly Manage with a Single Species Pacific Council Does Not Strictly Manage with a Single Species FocusFocus

•Krill Harvest Ban – Multiple Species BenefitsKrill Harvest Ban – Multiple Species Benefits

•Salmon Bycatch Management in Pacific Whiting FisherySalmon Bycatch Management in Pacific Whiting Fishery

•Incidental Groundfish Take in Salmon FisheryIncidental Groundfish Take in Salmon Fishery

•Protected Species InteractionsProtected Species Interactions


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Current Status

The Pacific Council is Poised to Start The Pacific Council is Poised to Start Sophisticated EBFMSophisticated EBFM

Fall 2006Fall 2006 Initial Process and Exploration of EBFM Initial Process and Exploration of EBFM ConceptsConcepts

Spring 2007Spring 2007 Developing an Ecosystem FMP Proposed, Plan Developing an Ecosystem FMP Proposed, Plan Development Team Goals/Membership Development Team Goals/Membership IdentifiedIdentified

Summer Summer 20072007

Funding Not ApprovedFunding Not Approved

20082008 Funding Not ApprovedFunding Not Approved

20092009 Funding Currently Being ConsideredFunding Currently Being Considered


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E-FMP Development in 2007“Evolutionary, not revolutionary”

Build on Existing Concepts:•Ecosystem Principles Advisory Panel Report (1999)

•John Field and Robert Francis, Considering ecosystem-based fisheries management in the California Current (2006)

•PSMFC sponsored panel and report Strengthening Scientific Input and Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management for the Pacific and North Pacific Fishery Management

•Council White Paper Development of an Ecosystem Fishery Management Plan


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Annual “State of

the Ecosystem” Report

MarineReserves EA or EIS

ForageSpecies

EA or EIS?

Other EAs/EISs

Umbrella FMP• Discusses regulatory role

• Defines geographic scope• Specifies management unit species•FMP Interrelated, species interactions•Ecosystem Information

“tiered actions”


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Barriers to Implementation

•Funding Funding

•Potential Legal Questions on EBFM Potential Legal Questions on EBFM ImplementationImplementation


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Barriers to ImplementationFunding Funding

•$400K Requested for Initiation of E-FMP, Yet to Be $400K Requested for Initiation of E-FMP, Yet to Be GrantedGranted

•10’s of Millions Spent within NOAA on EBFM10’s of Millions Spent within NOAA on EBFM•On Development, Research, Monitoring, and Modeling, but little On Development, Research, Monitoring, and Modeling, but little on Implementationon Implementation

•The Pacific Council Process is the Proper Regional Forum The Pacific Council Process is the Proper Regional Forum for EBFM Implementation on the West Coastfor EBFM Implementation on the West Coast

• Formal Policy AdoptionFormal Policy Adoption

• Actual Fishing RegulationsActual Fishing Regulations


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Barriers to Implementation

Potential Legal Questions on EBFM Potential Legal Questions on EBFM ImplementationImplementation•Do E-FMPs Need to meet MSA Section 303 Do E-FMPs Need to meet MSA Section 303

Requirements?Requirements?•Benchmarks such as MSY and OY for all componentsBenchmarks such as MSY and OY for all components•OFL and ACLsOFL and ACLs•Management Authority over Ecosystem ComponentsManagement Authority over Ecosystem Components

•Can E-FMPs Include Fishery Management Can E-FMPs Include Fishery Management Authority?Authority?

•MSA Reauthorization Provided Little Specific MSA Reauthorization Provided Little Specific GuidanceGuidance


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What Next?Contingent Upon Funding Contingent Upon Funding

•Form a Plan Development Team - 10 members:Form a Plan Development Team - 10 members:•1 from each coastal state; 1 tribal; 1 each from 1 from each coastal state; 1 tribal; 1 each from the NMFS NWR, SWR, NWFSC, and SWFSC; and 2 the NMFS NWR, SWR, NWFSC, and SWFSC; and 2 from NOS;from NOS;

•From An Advisory Subpanel- 10 members:From An Advisory Subpanel- 10 members:•2 fishery reps. for each of the 4 FMPs, a 2 fishery reps. for each of the 4 FMPs, a conservation representative, and a representative conservation representative, and a representative of coastal communities;of coastal communities;

•Initial Charge: Develop (1) description of the Initial Charge: Develop (1) description of the purpose and need, and (2) a list of goals and purpose and need, and (2) a list of goals and objectives of an Ecosystem FMPobjectives of an Ecosystem FMP


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What Next?Contingent Upon Funding Contingent Upon Funding

•Two-Year Process to Develop an E-Two-Year Process to Develop an E-FMPFMP•Scientific Review – SSC and Peer Scientific Review – SSC and Peer ReviewReview•Full Council ProcessFull Council Process

•Public InputPublic Input•Government Agency and Tribal Government Agency and Tribal InputInput•Transparent Decision MakingTransparent Decision Making


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•True EBFM Implementation and Application on the True EBFM Implementation and Application on the West Coast Must include the Council ProcessWest Coast Must include the Council Process

• A systematic approach for a full regulatory A systematic approach for a full regulatory process via a formal FMP is poised for process via a formal FMP is poised for developmentdevelopment

•Funding and Potential Legal Questions are Current Funding and Potential Legal Questions are Current BarriersBarriers

In Closing

Who is in charge?

pacific fishery management council 1 ecosystem-based fishery management at the pacific fishery...

Documents

council fmps slide

federal waters pacific

salmon species

migratory species

single species

limited ebfm concepts

existing ebfm concepts

marine food web helpful