Ecosystem Workgroup Unmanaged Forage Fish Protection Initiative

Ecosystem WorkgroupUnmanaged Forage Fish Protection Initiative

Workgroup Presentation for I.1.EWG Reports at I.1.a. and I.1.b.

April 10, 2014

Agenda Item I.1.bSupplemental EWG PowerPoint

April 2014

round and thread herring, mesopelagic fishes, Pacific sandlance, Pacific saury, Silversides, Osmerid smelts, and Pelagic squids(with the exception of Humboldt squid)

• Draft Alternatives for Amending FMPs

• Describe Existing Commercial Fisheries

• Describe Incidental Take Levels

• Recommend FMPs for Amendment

Chapter 2 Section 3.3.1 Section 3.3.2 Chapter 4

recognize the importance of forage fish to the marine ecosystem off the U.S. West Coast. This action is needed to provide protection for unmanaged, unfished forage fish of the U.S. West Coast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by

The purpose of this action is to

prohibiting new directed fishing on those species until the Council has had an adequate opportunity to assess the scientific information relating to any proposed fishery and to consider potential impacts to existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the greater marine ecosystem.

The purpose of this action is to prohibit new directed commercial fishing in federal waters on unmanaged, unfished forage fish species until the Council has had an adequate opportunity to both assess the scientific information relating to any proposed directed fishery and consider potential impacts to existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the greater marine ecosystem. This action is needed to proactively protect unmanaged, unfished forage fish of the U.S. West Coast EEZ in recognition of the importance of these forage fish to the species managed under the Council’s FMPs and to the larger CCE.

1.0

• Notice of Availability of FMP Amendments

• Proposed Rule to Implement FMP Amendments

• Final Rule to Implement FMP Amendments

• Meeting 1: September 2013

• Meeting 2: April 2014 – NOW

• Meeting 3: September 2014?

• Meeting 4: March or April 2015?

• Meeting 5: Possibly not needed

1.3

CPS at 1.2 & 1.4

Groundfish at 3.1

HMS at 3.1 & 3.3

Salmon at 1.1 & 1.2

Proposed Rule to Implement SAFMC’s Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 2 (CE-BA2), which includes:

Amendment 7 to Coral FMP,Amendment 25 to Snapper-Grouper FMP, andAmendment 21 to Coastal Migratory Pelagic FMP

No Action Alternative: the Federal List of Authorized Fisheries and Gear

Council recommended updating the List at its September 2013 meeting

2.0

Alternative 2, three pathways:

1. Forage species role in ecosystem

2. Forage species as bycatch

3. Forage species connected to FMP predators

Alternative 2, three pathways:

1. Forage species role in ecosystem

2. Forage species as bycatch

3. Forage species connected to FMP predators

Alternative 2, three pathways:

1. Forage species role in ecosystem

2. Forage species as bycatch

3. Forage species connected to FMP predators

Alternative 2, three pathways:

Fishing moratorium until better science available

Alternative 1:No Action

Alternative 1:No Action

Now Next Meeting

Alternative 2:

Fishing moratorium until better science available

2.3

• Long-lived• Slow maturing• Low fecundity3.0

Round and thread herrings

Mesopelagics:

MyctophidaeBathylagidaeParalepididaeGonostomatidae

Pacific sand lance

Pacific saury

Silversides

Osmerid smelts

Pelagic squids

GonatidaeOmmastrephidaeOnychoteuthidaeThysanoteuthidae

• Consistent annual landings

• Priority for catch accounting

• Worth lots of $$3.3

3.4

2.2.1: Ecosystem Trophic Role Pathway

2.2.2: Bycatch and Gear Pathway

2.2.3: Predator-Prey Pathway

Alternative 2, three pathways:

Fishing moratorium until better science available

Alternative 1:No Action

Alternative 1:No Action

Now Next Meeting

Alternative 2:

Fishing moratorium until better science available

The purpose of this action is to prohibit new directed commercial fishing in federal waters on unmanaged, unfished forage fish species until the Council has had an adequate opportunity to both assess the scientific information relating to any proposed directed fishery and consider potential impacts to existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the greater marine ecosystem. This action is needed to proactively protect unmanaged, unfished forage fish of the U.S. West Coast EEZ in recognition of the importance of these forage fish to the species managed under the Council’s FMPs and to the larger CCE.

CPS at 1.2 & 1.4

Groundfish at 3.1

HMS at 3.1 & 3.3

Salmon at 1.1 & 1.2

For those images where sources are not shown directly on image, all are courtesy of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, except:

Slide 2: Boise, Idaho, City of Boise; Pacific saury, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (repeated at several subsequent slides); thread herring, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (repeated at several subsequent slides).Slide 4: Northeast Pacific Ocean; NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. Slide 15: Puffin with sand lance, U.S. Geological SurveySlide 17: Topsmelt, U.S. Deparment of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation; grunion, California Coastal Commission.Slide 20: Portrait of Ecosystem Workgroup member, Richard Scully with dog and Chinook, Richard Scully. Smelt fishing on Gold Bluff Beach, National Archives and Records Administration. Smelt fishing near Yachats, Oregon, Oregon State University.