WestCoastRegion
September 12-14, 2015
Salmon Consultation on the
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery:
Update
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 2
In June, NMFS requested input on:• Expected salmon bycatch• Expected distribution of salmon bycatch among
groundfish sectors, particularly Chinook• Measures that minimize salmon bycatch
• Necessary to define the proposed action, provide robust consultation, allow flexibility in fishery
SALMON BYCATCH WORKSHOP
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 3
SALMON BYCATCH WORKSHOP
• 45 attendees• No salmon stakeholder representatives• Set of questions on management framework,
bycatch thresholds and actions• Addressed ESA and MSA requirements• Brainstorming, no decisions made
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 4
New ideas for Bycatch Frameworks?
+=
Sector 2
Sector 1
ReserveSum of Sectors
Fleetwide bycatch
threshold
Sector 3
Not NowNot Now
Not NowNot Now
Inseason data
important!
Salmon Abundance
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 5
Actions affecting bycatch?
Future IFQ fishery changes could significantly affect salmon bycatch but uncertain how
cooperation among vessels
under IFQ program
COOP agreements working but need the details
Not much change to at-sea sector salmon bycatch
Re-evaluate processing south of 42⁰ and OSCZ actions
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 6
What?
Who?
How?
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 7
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 8
• Current framework, webinar+, GMT, GAP input• Focus is on management framework• Elements to be defined• NMFS not advocating specific proposals at this
time, but criteria are important
Input ProposalsLasting, verifiable, and adaptable consultation that allows fishery management to respond to changing conditions and opportunities.
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 9
SB IFQ whiting Bottom trawl IFQ Gear
Switching
Pacific whiting fishery • overall annual 11,000 Chinook bycatch threshold • sector specific annual
bycatch rates = 0.05 Chinook/mt whiting
Bottom trawl annual 9,000 Chinook
bycatch threshold
Tribal whiting
MS & CP whiting
SB IFQ Non-whiting
Midwater trawl, N of 40° 10
N.lat.
Remaininggears &
target species
SB IFQ Non-whiting
Midwater trawl, S of 40° 10
N.lat.
Proposal 1: Current Framework (evolving)
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 10
Trends in Chinook Bycatch in Groundfish Fishery
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 a/
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
Whiting Bottom Trawl Total
Num
ber o
f Chi
nook
Whiting ITS amount
Bottom trawl ITS amount
Whiting:• 0.002 listed Chinook/mt whiting• 0.07 listed Chinook/Chinook caught
Bottom trawl: few recoveries
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 11
Fleetwide bycatch
threshold
+= ReserveSum of bycatch guidelines from
all sectors
Bycatch Guideline/rates – SB IFQ Program
Midwater non-whiting trawl
Shorebased whiting
Bycatch Guideline – LE/OA Fixed gears,
& recreational
Bottom trawl/Gear switching
Bycatch Guideline/rates –
MS & C/P
Proposal 2: Workshop feedback
10,00020,000
Sum of bycatch guidelines from
all sectors10,000
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 12
Bycatch Guideline - MS & C/P
• Number of Chinook (coastwide or regional) bycatch rate per mt whiting
• Salmon bycatch measures in annual coop permit application; performance assessed in annual report
• If bycatch guideline is reached, OSCZ goes into effect
• Other measures would stay in place.
Proposal 2: Details
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 13
Bycatch Guideline – Shorebased IFQ Program
• Overall IFQ guideline for # of Chinook with sub-guidelines for SB whiting, non-whiting midwater trawl, and bottom trawl/gear switching.
• SB whiting = bycatch rate per mt whiting.
• If SB whiting guideline is reached, OSCZ goes into effect
• Midwater trawl closures: Columbia & Klamath rivers, inside 100 fm in Eureka area.
• Clear criteria for whiting and non-whiting bycatch in subguidelines
Proposal 2: Details
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 14
Bycatch Guideline – LE & OA Fixed gears, & recreational
• Number of Chinook for these sectors combined• Historical catch very low = post season
monitoring• Consideration for Reserve in case of overage
Proposal 2: Details
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 15
Reserve
• Establish rules and performance measures for distribution if sector exceeds guideline
• Automatic action via pre-established rules least disruptive
• Set aside a portion of reserve for uncertainty in fisheries not monitored inseason
Proposal 2: Details
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 16
A robust, flexible approach considers
• Inseason management capability (resources & budget)
• Thresholds based on supporting data and rationale
• Differences in fleet operations that affect Chinook bycatch
• Hotspots for non-target species
• Stock composition relative to fleet distribution
• Allocation objectives achieved without increases to bycatch?
• Changes in the fishery ≈ change in action or analysis ≈ reinitiation
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 17
Thresholds must be supported by best available information
2002 North of Cape FalconCape Blanco to 40°10’ N. Lat.
Cape Falcon to Cape BlancoSouth of 40°10’ N. Lat
2004 North of Cape FalconCape Blanco to 40°10’ N. Lat.
Cape Falcon to Cape BlancoSouth of 40°10’ N. Lat
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00
Chinook/trawl hour
0‐125 125‐250 >250
2011 North of Cape FalconCape Blanco to 40°10’ N. Lat.
Cape Falcon to Cape BlancoSouth of 40°10’ N. Lat.
2013 North of Cape FalconCape Blanco to 40°10’ N. Lat.
Cape Falcon to Cape BlancoSouth of 40°10’ N. Lat.
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00
0‐100 >100‐150 >150‐200 >200
Bottom trawl bycatch - further south, more compressed, greater depths than in early 2000s.
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 19
Composition of ESA listed Chinook bycatch varies by sector
42%
4%
34%
3%16%
2%
At-sea
6%
77%
15%
1%
Shorebased
Puget Sound Chinook Upper Willamette River Chinook Lower Columbia River Chinook Snake River spring/summer run Snake River Fall run Central Valley Spring run
2009-2013
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 20
CAOR
CR
PS
1983
CaliforniaOregonColumbia RiverWA North CoastPuget SoundCanadaNon-FRAM stocks
2009
2010
2008
1983
2011
2012
2013
Source: Dr. P. Moran, NMFS, 2015, NMFS Report 1, D.3.a, June 2015
Composition of Chinook bycatch varies by latitude
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 21
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 22
TimelineSept 2015
Nov
March
April
June
Finalize Proposed Action
Consultation Begins
Additional information and analysis
Complete draft Biological Opinion
Council input on draft Biological Opinion
Finalize Biological Opinion
Coordination with 2017-2018 specifications
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 23
Please discuss:• Preferred proposal• Overall bycatch threshold and sector guidelines• Rules for distribution from Reserve• Measures to minimize salmon bycatch now and
over time• Work: who and how?
Chinook bycatch varies by location, depth and month
North of Cape Falcon 2011
2013Cape Falcon to Cape Blanco
20112013
Cape Blanco to Cape 40°10’ N. Lat. 2011
2013
South of 40°10’ N. Lat. 2011
2013
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000At-Sea
Apr May Jun Jul August Sept Oct Nov Dec
North of Cape Falcon 2011
2013Cape Falcon to Cape Blanco
20112013
Cape Blanco to Cape 40°10’ N. Lat. 2011
2013
South of 40°10’ N. Lat. 2011
2013
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000Shorebased
0-100 fm 2011201220132014
101-150 fm 2011201220132014
151-200 fm 2011201220132014
>200 fm 2011201220132014
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000
Apr May Jun Jul August Sept Oct Nov Dec
0-100 fm 2011201220132014
101-150 fm 2011201220132014
151-200 fm 2011201220132014
>200 fm 2011201220132014
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
# Chinook # Chinook