Upload
others
View
4
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1
Pacific Sardine (Sardinops sagax)
Certification Units Covered Under this Species
• Purseseine
Summary
PacificsardineiscurrentlyoneofthemostabundantforagefishspeciesalongthewestcoastofNorthAmerica,extendingfromthetipofBajaCaliforniatoBritishColumbia.Populationsundergonaturalfluctuationsoverperiodsofapproximately60years;thesefluctuationsarelikelyrelatedtooceanicconditions.SardineisfederallymanagedunderthePacificFisheryManagementCouncil’sCoastalPelagicSpeciesFisheryManagementPlan,whichincludesannualstockassessments,harvestguidelines,andlimitedentrypermits.
Strengths:
• Wellmanagedfisherywithannualstockassessments,harvestguidelines,andlimited entrypermits
• Longhistoryofmonitoringdata;fisheryindependentanddependentdatacollected
• Bycatchisminimal;mostincidentalcatchisretainedandconsistsofothercoastalpelagic species
Weaknesses:
• Thereareextremenaturalpopulationfluctuations
• Moreinformationisneededtodetermineifcurrentharvestlevelsimpacttheecosystem asawhole
2
History of the Fishery in California
Biology of the Species
Pacificsardinearesmall,pelagic,schoolingfishfromthefamilyClupeidae,whichincludeothercoastalpelagicssuchasherringandmenhaden.Sardinefeedonplanktonandhelpformthebaseofthemarinefoodwebasimportantforageformarinemammals,birds,andfishofhighertrophiclevels.Sardinesexhibitcounter-shading;theyhavesilverbelliesandblue-greencoloringontheirdorsalsurfacewithdistinctivedarkspotsontheirside,abovethelateralline.Typicallysardinesarefoundinlargeschoolsduringtheday(oftenwithjackmackerel,Pacificmackerel,andnorthernanchovy)anddisperseatnight(Love2011).Maximumsizeofsardinesisabout41cminlengthand0.32kg,althoughmostarecapturedbelow30cminlength(Hilletal.2012).Sardinesaregenerallymatureatabout18cminlengthorbetween2-3yearsofage,howeverthiscanbedependentonbiomass,latitude,andtemperature(Butler1987;Hill1999).Atrelativelylowbiomasslevels,sardineappeartobefullymatureatageone,whereasatveryhighbiomasslevelsonlysomeofthetwo-year-oldsaremature(MacCall1979).Pacificsardinecanlive13-25years,althoughmostcapturedinCaliforniaarebelow5yearsofage(Hilletal.2012).
Sardinepopulationsexhibitextremenaturalvariationinabundance.Forexample,inthe1930’sPacificsardinesupportedthelargestfisheryintheEasternPacificocean;howeverbythe1950sthefisherycollapsedandcausedeconomicruintocanneriesalongtheU.S.Westcoast.Afterseveraldecadesofecologicalabsence,thewestcoastsardinepopulationrapidlystartedtorebuildagaininthe1980s.Asaresultofthesardinecollapse,in1949theCaliforniaCooperativeOceanicFisheriesInvestigations(CalCOFI)wasformedtostudytheecologicalreasonsbehindthecollapse.CalCOFIresearchhasledtothedevelopmentofquantitativefisheriesmodelsandinsightintoclimate/fisheriesinteractions.Someofthisresearchhasshownthatsardinepopulationsundergocyclicalfluctuationsoveraperiodofabout60years(Baumgartneretal.1992).ThereasonforthefluctuatingnatureofPacificsardinepopulationsisstillunknown,butishypothesizedtobeassociatedwithchangesinseasurfacetemperatureandupwelling(Chavezetal.2003;Emmettetal.2005;Herricketal.2007;Lluch-Beldaetal.1991;NortonandMason2005).Overthelast100years,sardinepopulationshaveincreasedduringperiodsofwarmerthanaverageoceantemperaturesanddecreasedduringperiodsofcolderthanaverageoceantemperatures.Duringpopulationincreasesassociatedwithwarmerwater,sardinescanbefoundfromthetipofBajaCaliforniatoBritishColumbia,Canada;however,duringpopulationdeclinesassociatedwithcolderwater,sardinesarerarelyfoundnorthofPointConception.
ThelargestspawningbiomassofPacificsardinesinCaliforniaoccursoffshorebetweenMontereyandEnsenada,MexicointhetransitionzonebetweeninshoreupwelledwatersandtheoffshoreCaliforniaCurrent.RecentspawninghasbeenconcentratedintheregionoffshoreandnorthofPointConception(Loetal.2005&2010&2013).Sardinesarebatchspawners,releasingabout9,000–100,000eggsatatimeandspawnbetweenFebruaryandAugustofftheCaliforniacoast.PeakspawningtemperaturesoffCaliforniaarebetween13°C–15°C(Hilletal.2012).Asjuvenilesandsubadults,sardineresideprimarilynearshore,butastheygrowolderandlargertheymovefurtheroffshore,ultimatelyinitiatingseasonalmigratorybehaviornorthinsummermonthstofeed.Despitelarge-scalemovements,adultsardinereturntopreviouslymentionedoffshorespawningareasinthefallforspawninginspringmonths.Pacificsardinehavebeenobservedfromthesurfzoneoutto350milesoffshore.
3
AlongtheWestcoastofNorthAmerica,thereisagenerallyacceptedhypothesisthatsardinesbelongtothreeseparatestocks(Vrooman1964;Felix-Uragaetal.2004;Felix-Uragaetal.2005;Garcia-Rodriguezetal.2011):asouthern,“warm”stockfoundintheGulfofCaliforniaandSouthernBajaCalifornia;acentral“temperate”stockfoundoffofCentralBajaCalifornia;andanorthern“cold”stockfoundnorthofNorthernBajaCalifornia.AlllandingsfromCaliforniaareassumedtocomefromthenorthern,“cold”stock.
Commercial Fishery
[FromHilletal.2012]:ThesardinefisherywasfirstdevelopedinresponsetodemandforfoodduringWorldWarI.Landingsincreasedfrom1916to1936,peakingatover700,000metrictons(mt).Pacificsardinessupportedthelargestfisheryinthewesternhemisphereduringthe1930sand1940s,withlandingsinBritishColumbia,Washington,Oregon,California,andMéxico.Thepopulationandfisherydeclinedinthelate1940s,withsomeshort-termreversals,toextremelylowlevelsinthe1970s.Duringthistimea2-yearmoratoriumontargetingsardineswasenactedin1967,followedbyapartialliftingofthemoratoriumin1969(allowed250tonsofsardinestobetargetedannuallyasbait),followedbyafinalmoratoriumin1974wherenotargetedsardinefishingcouldoccuruntilthesardinespawningbiomassreached20,000tons(Wolf1992).Intheearly1980s,sardinesstartedshowingupasincidentalcatchwithPacificandjackmackerelinthesouthernCaliforniamackerelfishery.Assardinescontinuedtoincreaseinabundance,adirectedfisherywasreestablishedandtheincidentalfisheryended(in1991).BesidesSanPedroandMonterey,California,substantialPacificsardinelandingsarenowmadeinthePacificNorthwestandinBajaCalifornia,Mexico.
InCalifornia,theprincipalportareasforlandingsardineareMontereyandLosAngeles.Landingsincreasedinthemid1990s,butdeclinedfrom2008-2011becauseofdecreasedquotasasresultofestimatedstockdeclines(Figure1).Landingsandex-vesselrevenuefortheentireWestcoastfrom1981-2012areshowninFigure1.In2010,over85%oftheannualsardinecatchwasexportedoverseas;theprimaryexportcountrieswereJapan,Thailand,China,MalaysiaandSouthKorea(PFMC2011).Domestically,sardinesaremainlyusedasbait.ThereisanactivecommerciallivebaitfisherythatoperatesprimarilyinsouthernCalifornia(PFMC2011).Thecommerciallivebaitfisheryforsardineprovidesanimportantsourceofbaittobothcommercialpassengerfishingvesselsandprivateboats.Landingsdatafromthisfisheryarecurrentlyavailablethroughavoluntarylogbookprogram.
Pacificsardineareprimarilycapturedbypurseseine,althoughsincethe1990s,purseseinersbeganconvertingtodrumseineswhichareeasiertodeployandretrieve.Thereisalsosomeincidentalcatchbymid-watertrawlfisheries.
4
Figure 1.Totallandingsandex-vesselrevenueofPacificsardinealongtheU.S.Westcoast1981-2012(datafromPFMC2011,PacFIN2013).
Recreational Fishery
Thereisarecreationalfisheryforsardinebyanglerswhocapturethemprimarilyforconsumption.Themajorityoffishlandedarefromman-madestructures,suchaspiersandjetties,wherenosportsfishinglicenseisrequired.Iffishingfromanythingotherthanaman-madestructure,asportfishinglicenseisneeded.TherearenolimitsontherecreationaltakeofPacificsardine.
The2012CArecreationalPacificsardinecatchestimateassampledfromtheCaliforniaRecreationalFisheriesSurvey(CRFS)was62.1metrictons,or853,791fish.Thiswasanincreasefrom2011of183%inmetrictons,and82%innumbersoffish(http://www.recfin.org/data/estimates/tabulate-recent-estimates-2004-current;catchtypesA+B1,allmodes/areas,querydate7-5-13).
MSC Principle 1: Resource Sustainability
*Sustainability of Target Stock
[FromPFMC2011]:Sardinepopulationsstartedtorebuildinthe1980sandbythe1990s,stockbiomasswasrapidlyincreasing.Sardinebiomasspeakedat1.33mmtin1999and1.37mmtin2006(Figure2).AsofJuly2012,stockbiomasswasestimatedat659,539mt(Hilletal.2012).Recruitmentishighlyvariableanditappearsbothdensity-dependentandenvironmentalfactorsplayanimportantrole.Recruitmentpeakedin1997,2003,2007and2009.Bothrecruitmentandbiomasshavebeendecliningsince2009and2006,respectively.Despitethisrecentdecline,populationsareconsideredhealthyandmanagementmeasuresareinplacetorespondtochangingpopulationlevels(seeHarvestStrategy).Sincethetimefederalharvestguidelinesweresetin2000,sardinecatchhasbeenbeloworveryclosetotheharvestguideline(Figure3).TheU.S.exploitationrate(annualcatchdividedbybiomass)hasbeendecliningsince2002,althoughthetotal(Mexico,U.S.,Canada)exploitationratehasincreasedinrecentyears(Figure4).
*ForCalifornia’sSustainableSeafoodProgram,thiscategorymustscorean80orhigherduringanMSCassessment.
5
Figure 2. StockbiomassofPacificsardinefrom1993–2012(figurefromHilletal.2012).
Figure 3. U.S.harvestguidelinevaluesandcatchessincetheonsetoffederalmanagement(figurefromHilletal.2012).
6
Figure 4. Exploitationrate(annualcatchdividedbybiomass)ofPacificsardinefrom1993–2011(figurefromHilletal.2012).
Evaluation against MSC Component 1.1: Sustainability of Target StockPerformance Indicators Rating Justification 1.1.1 Stock Status Stock is well above the LRP* and has been
consistently above the TRP* since 2000; annual stock assessments are available
1.1.2 Reference Points Explicit reference points are used and evaluated during annual stock assessments
1.1.3 Stock rebuilding Not triggered; stock is considered healthy *MSCevaluationsdefineaLimitingReferencePoint(LRP)andaTargetReferencePoint(TRP).InthecaseofPacificsardine,thecutoffpointof150,000qualifiesastheLRPandthefractionofsardineallowedtobeharvestedabovethecutoffpoint(cappedat15%)qualifiesastheTRP.
Harvest Strategy (Management)
ThePacificsardinepopulationoverlapsthreecountries:Canada,theU.S.andMexico.NoformalfisherymanagementagreementexistsamongCanadian,U.S.andMexicangoverningagencies;however,representativesfromgovernment,academiaandindustryfromeachcountrymeeteachyearattheTrinationalSardineForumtocollaborateonimprovingthecoast-widestockassessment.TheU.S.andMexicoharvestthemajorityofPacificsardine(Figure5).
7
Figure 5.Sardinelandingsbyfishingregionandcalendaryear(fromHilletal.2011,Fig.1).Legend:BC=BritishColumbia;WA=Washingtonstate;OR=Oregonstate;CCA=centralCalifornia;SCA_DirandSCA_Inc=southernCaliforniadirectedandincidentalfishing,respectively;ENS=Ensenada(BajaMexico).
Priorto2000,Pacificsardineweremanagedbyindividualstates,butinJanuary2000,managementauthoritywastransferredtothePacificFisheryManagementCouncil(PFMC).PacificsardinearenowmanagedunderthefederalCoastalPelagicSpecies-FisheryManagementPlan(CPS-FMP;PFMC1998).TheCPS-FMPincludesalimited-entryfleetandanannualcoast-widestockassessmentthatsetsannualoverfishing(OFL)andharvestguideline(HG)levelsforsardine(PFMC2011).TheHGisbasedonaharvestcontrolrulethataccountsforscientificandmanagementuncertaintyandincludesabiomassestimateinformedbyfisheryandsurveydatafromMexico,theU.S.andCanada.ThereareseveralcomponentsthatgointotheHGcalculation,including(Hilletal.2012):
• TheestimatedaveragepercentageofsardinebiomassthatoccursinU.S.waters;thisis setat87%1.
• Acutoffpointof150,000mtofsardinebiomass;belowthispointnoharvestingof sardines,exceptaslivebait,isallowed.
• AmaximumHGof200,000mt,regardlessofhowhighthesardinebiomassgoes.
• Atemperature-dependent2fractionofsardinebiomass,abovethecutoffpoint,thatcanbe harvested.Inrecentyearsthishasbeen15%,butthefractioncanvarybetween5%and 15%.
Since2006,theannualcoastwidePacificsardineHGhasbeendividedintothreeallocationperiods.Inaddition,aportionoftheHGistypicallysetasideforincidentaltakeinotherfisheriesandforexemptedfishingpermits(touseforindustry-sponsoredresearch).
1Thisdistributiontermisbasedonhistoricalspotterpilotdatafrom1963-1992(PFMC1998).Therehavebeenrecentdiscussionsaboutupdatingthisterm,asthesardinestockhasshiftedwithchangingenvironmentalconditions,butmorerecentdatahavenotyetbeensynthesizedtoarriveatarefinedestimate(PFMC2013).2Inrecentyearsthebasisforthetemperaturedatahasbeencalledintoquestion,andsubsequentanalyseshavesupportedusinganoffshoretemperaturetimeseries(fromCalCOFIcruises)overthepreviousstaticpiertemperatureindex(fromScrippspier)(McClatchieetal2010,PFMC2013).
8
Stockassessmentsforsardineareinformedbybothfishery-dependentdataandfisheryindependentdata.Fisherydependentdataincludes1)landingsfromEnsenada,MexicotoBritishColumbia,Canadaand2)biologicaldatafromportsamplingprograms.AllthreeU.S.states(CA,OR,WA)monitorthecommercialsardinecatchutilizingportsamplingprogramswhichprovidedatasuchasage(usingotoliths),length,sex,maturity,speciescompositionoftheCPScatch,andby-catchandincidentalcatch.Fishery-independentdataincludes1)DailyEggProductionMethod(DEPM)andTotalEggProduction(totalspawningbiomass)datacollectedontheannualCalCOFIcruise(1994–2012),2)aerialphotogrammaticsurveysofsardinebiomass(2009-2012)and3)acoustictrawlmethod(ATM)surveysofsardinebiomass(2006–2012).
InCanada,thesardinefisheryismanagedbytheDepartmentofFisheriesandOceans,whichsetsanannualquotaforPacificsardine.[FromDFO2012]:TheFisheryManagementFrameworkharvestcontrolrulesforsettingtheannualmaximumavailablecommercialharvestarebasedontheproductofthreefactors:1)thecurrentpopulationbiomassestimateintheNEPacificocean(fromEnsenada,MXtoB.C.)resultingfromtheannualU.S.assessment;2)thethree-yearrunningaverageseasonalmigrationrate,determinedastheratioofsardinebiomassinB.C.waters(basedprimarilyonobservationsfromthewestcoastofVancouverIsland)tothepopulationbiomassestimatefromthestockassessment,and3)anannualharvestrate(rangingfrom5-15%)approximatingwhatisappliedintheU.S.(15%since2002).Theestimatedthree-yearaveragesardinemigrationrateintoB.C.waters(for2012)is18.4%.
InMexico,thesardinefisheryismanagedbytheMinistryofAgriculture,Livestock,RuralDevelopment,FisheriesandFood(SAGARPA).HarvestofPacificsardineisnotregulatedbyaquotasystem,butthereisaminimumlegalsizerequirementof150mmstandardlengthandmeasurestocontrolthesizeofthefishingfleet.
Evaluation against MSC Component 1.2: Harvest StrategyPerformance Indicators Rating Justification 1.2.1 Harvest Strategy A precautionary harvest strategy is in place which
includes an annual harvest guideline and harvest control rules
1.2.2 Harvest Control Rules and Tools
Precautionary harvest control rules are in place and evaluated annually; Catch has been close to or below the HG.
1.2.3 Information/Monitoring Fishery dependent and independent data are collected to support the harvest strategy; control mechanisms are in place to respond to changes in the fishery
1.2.4 Assessment of Stock Status Annual stock assessments are conducted using reliable methods
MSC Principle 2: Environment
Retained Species
Purse Seine
[FromPFMC2011]:Mostincidentalcatchinthesardinefisheryisretained.Inthepurseseinefishery,fisharepumpedfromtheseadirectlyintofishholdsaboardthevessel.Fishermen
9
donotsortcatchatseaorwhatpassesthroughthepump.Unloadingoffishatthedockalsooccurswithpumps.Thefisharepumpedintoicebinsandtruckedtoprocessingfacilitiesinanotherlocationortoaconveyorbeltinaprocessingfacility,wherefisharesorted,boxed,andfrozen.CDFWportsamplesindicateminimalincidentalcatchintheCaliforniasardinefisheryandthecatchthatisobservedisprimarilyothercoastalpelagicfishspeciesmanagedundertheCPSFMP.Informationonretainedcatchisavailablefromportsamplingdata,observerdata,andlogbookdata.
RetainedcatchinCaliforniafrom2006-2010primarily*consistedof:northernanchovy,jackmackerel,batray,jellyfish,andmarketsquid.IncidentalcatchhasnotbeenquantifiedinCalifornia.InOregon,incidentalcatchwasprimarily*Pacificmackerel,jackmackerel,Pacificherring,northernanchovy,marketsquidandjellyfish;incidentalcatchmadeup0.2%oftotalsardinelandingsinOregonin2010.InWashington,incidentalcatchwasprimarily*mackerelandPacificherring.Pacificmackerel,jackmackerelandNorthernanchovyareallmanagedundertheCPSFMP(althoughjackmackerelandnorthernanchovyareonlymonitoredbytheCPSFMP).MarketsquidismanagedunderthestatemarketsquidFMP.Pacificherringismanagedbytheindividualstates.
Evaluation against MSC Component 2.1: Retained CatchPerformance Indicators Rating Justification 2.1.1 Outcome Retained species catch is low and primarily consists
of other coastal pelagic species 2.1.2 Management Coastal pelagic species are managed under the
PFMC’s CPS FMP 2.1.3 Information Port sampling data, observer data, logbooks;
Retained species catch is not quantified in CA, only frequency of appearance is recorded.
Bycatch Species
Purse Seine
[FromPFMC2011]:Bycatchisdefinedasincidentalcatchthatisnotretained.Bycatchislowinthesardinefisherybecausemostspeciesareretained;fisharepumpeddirectlyintoholdingtanksandnotsorteduntiltheyreachtheprocessingfacility.Bycatchprimarilyconsistsofprotectedspecies(seenextsection).Informationonbycatchiscollectedfromlogbooksandobservercoverage.
Evaluation against MSC Component 2.2: BycatchPerformance Indicators Rating Justification 2.2.1 Outcome SAFE reports state that bycatch is very low 2.2.2 Management Low bycatch 2.2.3 Information Observer data, logbooks
*Observedatafrequencyof>5.0%inanyoneyearfrom2006-2010inCalifornia,orat>2mtinanyoneyearfrom2000-2010inOregonandWashington(PFMC2011).*ForCalifornia’sSustainableSeafoodProgram,thiscategorymustscorean80orhigherduringanMSCassessment.
*Endangered, Threatened, & Protected Species
Purse Seine
[FromPFMC2011]:InOregon,WashingtonandCalifornia,nineevolutionarilysignificantunits(ESU)ofChinooksalmonarelistedaseitherthreatenedorendangeredandfourESUsofCoho
10
salmonarelistedaseitherthreatenedorendangered.AsvesselsmovenorthofMonterey,CA,thepotentialfortakingChinookandCohosalmonasbycatchincreases,althoughsalmonbycatchprimarilyoccursinOregonandWashington.InOregon,salmonbycatch(asreportedinlogbooks)rangedbetween186–519individualsperyearfrom2006to2010;between53%to67%ofthesefishwerereleasedalive.InWashington,salmonbycatchrangedbetween267–1,774individualsperyearfrom2000through2010.From2000to2004between22%and73%ofthefishwerereleasedalive(observerdata),butafter2004,between18.4%and18.7%werereleasedalive(logbookdata).
In2010,NMFSSWRProtectedResourcesDivisioncompletedaformalSection7BiologicalOpinion(BO)anddeterminedthatfishingactivitiesconductedundertheCPSFMPanditsimplementingregulationsarenotlikelytojeopardizethecontinuedexistenceofanyendangeredorthreatenedspeciesunderthejurisdictionofNMFSorresultinthedestructionoradversemodificationofcriticalhabitatofanysuchspecies.Specifically,thecurrentstatusoftheLowerColumbiaRiverChinook,SnakeRiverFallChinook,UpperWillametteChinook,PugetSoundChinook,LowerColumbiaRiverCohoandOregoncoastCoho,weredeemednotlikelytobejeopardizedbythePacificsardinefishery.
Evaluation against MSC Component 2.3: Endangered, Threatened & Protected Species
Performance Indicators Rating Justification 2.3.1 Outcome Bycatch of salmon was determined unlikely to
jeopardize populations in a Section 7 BO 2.3.2 Management Magnuson-‐Stevens Act, CEQA, Migratory Bird Act,
Marine Mammal Protection Act, etc. 2.3.3 Information Section 7 BO , SAFE reports, observer data
Habitat
Purse seine
Essentialfishhabitat(EFH)forcoastalpelagicspecies(CPS)wasdefinedin1998asallmarineandestuarinewatersinCalifornia,WashingtonandOregontothelimitsoftheexclusiveeconomiczone(EEZ)andabovethethermoclinewhereseasurfacetemperaturesrangebetween10°Cto26°C(PFMC1998).ArecentreviewoftheEFHin2010determinedthatnochangeswerenecessarytothe1998definition(CPSMT2010).
PurseseinesaretheprimarygearusedtocatchPacificsardines.Apurseseineisamovablenetusedtoencirclefish.Thetopofthenetisafloatlinewithcorks,orbuoys.Thenetisheldinaverticalpositionbyaweightedleadline.Thenetalsohasawirecable,runthroughringsonthebottom,whichisusedtodrawthenettogether.Purseseinefishersoftenusespotterplanesandsonartolocatethefish.Oncetheschoolislocated,asmallskifftakesoneendofthenetandthencirclesthefishwiththenet.Thewirecableiswinchedintocloseoffthebottomoftheseine.Thentheotherlinesarepulledinaswelltobringthecapturedschooloffishclosertothemothership,wherethefisharepumpedoutofthenetandputintofishholdsfilledwithrefrigeratedseawater(GoblirschandTheberge2003).Drumseinesaresimilartopurseseinesexceptahorizontallymounteddrumhaulsandstoresthenetinsteadofapowerblock.
AppendixDoftheCPSFMP(PFMC1998)notesthatcontactbetweenroundhaulgear(purseseines)andsubstrateisrareinfishingforCPSfinfish,becausefishingusuallyoccursinwaterdeeperthantheheightofthenet.Thus,theonlyopportunityfordamagetobenthosoressential
11
fishhabitatforanyspeciesinfishingforCPSfinfishisfromlostgear.Thereispotentialforfishingtoimpactsquidspawninggroundsbecausemarketsquidattachtheireggcasestothebottomsubstrateatspawningsitesthatincludeshallow,nearshoreareas.Suchdamageisnotbelievedtobeextensiveandistransitorywithregardtothehabitat.
Evaluation against MSC Component 2.4: HabitatPerformance Indicators Rating Justification 2.4.1 Outcome Limited impact with substrate because fishing usually
occurs in water deeper than the height of the net. 2.4.2 Management Limited entry permits limit the number of vessels with
purse seines 2.4.3 Information Appendix D of CPS FMP
Ecosystem
Pacificsardinearefilterfeedersandpreyoncrustaceans,copepods,fishlarvaeandphytoplankton.Larvalsardinesfeedextensivelyontheeggs,larvae,andjuvenilestagesofcopepods,aswellasotherzooplanktonandphytoplankton.Sardinesprovideimportantforageformarinemammals,birds,andfishofhighertrophiclevels.Aconcernwithlowtrophiclevelfisheriesistheimpactpopulationfluctuationsmayhaveonspeciesofhighertrophiclevelsthatdependonthemforforage(Smithetal.2011,Kaplanetal.2013).Moreinformationisneededtodetermineifcurrentharvestlevelsimpacttheecosystem.
Toaddressthisconcern,severalmanagementagencieshaveadoptedpoliciesregardingforagefishspecies.InAprilof2013,thePFMCadoptedthePacificCoastFisheryEcosystemPlan(FEP)tohelpinformFMPswithmoreecosystemscience.Additionally,theCounciladoptedtheobjectivetoprohibitthedevelopmentofnew,directedfisheriesonforagespeciesthatarenotcurrentlymanagedbytheCouncilorstates,untiltheimpactsofanyproposedfisherycanbefullyunderstood.InCalifornia,theCaliforniaFishandGameCommission(FGC)alsovotedinNovemberof2012topreventthedevelopmentofneworexpandedforagefisheriesuntilessentialfisheryinformationneededforecosystembasedmanagementisavailableandappliedtomanagement.InWashington,theWashingtonFishandWildlifeCommissionadoptedaforagefishpolicyin1998toconsiderecosystemscienceinthemanagementofforagefishspeciesandtousetheprecautionaryapproachtomanagement.Oregondoesnotappeartohaveaspecificpolicyforforagefishspecies.
Evaluation against MSC Component 2.5: EcosystemPerformance Indicators Rating Justification 2.5.1 Outcome Sardine are considered a low trophic level species;
more information is needed to determine if current harvest levels impact the ecosystem
2.5.2 Management The PFMC and the FGC recently adopted policies regarding ecosystem management of forage fish species.
2.5.3 Information Observer data on bycatch
12
MSC Principle 3: Management System
Governance and Policy
FisheriesintheU.S.aregovernedbytheMagnuson-StevensFisheryConservationandManagementAct(MSFCMA)of1976.TheMSFMCArequiresmanagingatorbelowMSYlevels,rebuildingoverfishedstocksandendingoverfishing,minimizingbycatchandbycatchmortality,identificationofessentialfishhabitatandmitigationofadversefishingimpacts.Inaddition,theEndangeredSpeciesAct,theMarineMammalAct,theMigratoryBirdTreatyAct,theCoastalZoneManagementAct,andtheCleanWaterActapplytoorprovideprotectionforspeciesand/orhabitatthatmaybeaffectedbythetargetfishery.
TheMSFCMAestablishedeightregionalfisherymanagementcouncilstomanagefisheryresourcesintheU.S.ExclusiveEconomicZone(EEZ).AlongtheU.S.westcoast,theEEZextendsfrom3to200nauticalmilesoffshore.EachcounciliscomprisedofFederal,State,andstakeholderrepresentatives.Additionally,advisorybodiesprovideexpertadviceonmattersrelatedtothepurposeofthecouncil.Thecouncilprocessemphasizespublicparticipationandinvolvementinfisheriesmanagement;meetingsareopentothepublicandtopubliccomment.ManagementmeasuresdevelopedbyeachcouncilarerecommendedtotheSecretaryofCommercethroughNOAA’sNationalMarineFisheriesService(NMFS).Alongthewestcoast,managementmeasuresareimplementedbyNMFSNorthwestandSouthwestRegionalofficesandenforcedbytheNOAAOfficeofLawEnforcement,theU.S.CoastGuard11thDistrict,andlocalenforcementagencies.
Eachcouncildevelopsfisherymanagementplans(FMPs)forthestocksintheirregionspecifyinghowafisherywillbemanaged.TheGuidelinesforFisheryManagementPlans(NMFS1997)requirethatastockassessmentandfisheryevaluation(SAFE)reportbepreparedandreviewedannuallyforeachFMP.SAFEreportsareintendedtosummarizethebestavailablescientificinformationconcerningthepast,present,andpossiblefutureconditionofthestocks,marineecosystems,andfisheriesbeingmanagedunderfederalregulation.Regionalfisherymanagementcouncilsusethisinformationtodetermineannualharvestlevelsforeachstock,documentsignificanttrendsorchangesintheresources,marineecosystems,andfisheryovertime,andassesstherelativesuccessofexistingstateandfederalfisherymanagementprograms.InCalifornia,thePacificFisheryManagementCouncil(PFMC)istheregionalcouncilthatmakesrecommendationstoNMFSonfederalfisheries.
Evaluation against MSC Component 3.1: Governance and PolicyPerformance Indicators Rating Justification 3.1.1 Legal and/or Customary Framework
PFMC and NMFS operate under Magnuson-‐Stevens Act
3.1.2 Consultation, Roles and responsibilities
PFMC meetings are public and public participation is encouraged
3.1.3 Long-‐term Objectives Magnuson-‐Stevens Act and FMPs 3.1.4 Incentives for Sustainable Fishing Magnuson-‐Stevens Act
Fishery Specific Management System
Priorto2000,Pacificsardineweremanagedbyindividualstates,butinJanuary2000,managementauthoritywastransferredtothePacificFisheryManagementCouncil(PFMC).
13
PacificsardinearenowmanagedunderthefederalCoastalPelagicSpecies-FisheryManagementPlan(CPS-FMP;PFMC1998)Managementtoolsincludealimited-entrypermitsystemandannualquotas.TheCPS-FMPoutlinesfisheryspecificobjectives,anannualcoast-widestockassessmentthatsetsannualoverfishing(OFL)andharvestguideline(HG)levelsforsardine,anddiscussesfutureresearchneeds(PFMC2011).
EnforcementoffishingregulationsisconductedinstatewatersbyCDFW’sLawEnforcementDivisionandinfederalwatersbyNOAA’sOfficeofLawEnforcement.Additionallytoolssuchasportsampling,logbooks,andobservercoverageareusedtomonitorcatchandensurevesselshavethecorrectpermitsforthecatchtheyarelanding.Violatorsareprosecutedunderthelaw.Thereisnoevidenceofsystemicnon-compliance.
Forfurtherinformation,pleaseseetheHarvestStrategysectionunderPrinciple1.
Evaluation against MSC Component 3.2: Fishery Specific Management System
Performance Indicators Rating Justification 3.2.1 Fishery Specific Objectives Outlined in the CPS FMP 3.2.2 Decision-‐making Processes PFMC has an appropriate decision-‐making process in
place 3.2.3 Compliance & Enforcement
An enforcement system exists and has demonstrated an ability to enforce relevant management measures, strategies and/or rules.
3.2.4 Research Plan CPS FMP 3.2.5 Management Performance Evaluation
Annual stock assessments are reviewed by the stock assessment review (STAR) panel
California Specific Requirements
TheCaliforniavoluntarysustainableseafoodprogramrequiresfisheriesseekingcertificationtomeetCaliforniaspecificstandardsinadditiontothestandardsandrequirementsoftheMarineStewardshipCouncil(MSC)sustainablefisheriescertificationprogram.Theseinclude:
1.Higherscores(80insteadof60)fortwoperformanceindicators(PI)oftheMSCprogram:“StockStatus”(PI1.1.1)and“By-catchofEndangered,Threatened,orProtected(ETP)Species”(PI2.3.1).ThesetwoPIsarehighlightedinthereport.
2.Additionalindependentscientificreview:TheOPCScienceAdvisoryTeamwillbeengagedinthecertificationprocessthroughearlyconsultationinreviewingminimumeligibilitycriteria,andreviewoftheMSC-requiredpre-assessmentsandfullassessments.ThereviewswillbeconductedinadditiontoMSC’speerreview,thusbringingadditionalcredibility,transparency,andindependencetoCalifornia’scertificationprocess.
3.Additionaltraceabilitycomponents:TheCaliforniaprogramwilldevelopauniquebarcodeforCaliforniacertifiedsustainablefish.Thisbarcodecanbeeitherscannedbyasmart-phoneorlinkedtoawebsitethatwillrevealadditionalinformationaboutthefishery,andinformationabouttoxicitywhenavailable
Recommendations
14
Additionalresearchcanfurtherrefineorimprovethesardinestockassessmentmodel.Hilletal.(2012)citedsomeofthefollowingresearchrecommendations:
• Informationontemperature-at-catchcouldbeusedtodifferentiatebetweenthenorthern andsouthernsubpopulatons,sinceitisbelievedthesouthernstockinhabitswarmer waters.
• Exploremodelsthatusealongertimeperiod;thismayprovideabettercontext forevaluatingchangesinproductivity.Thisbroadercontextcanalsobeusedtotest environmentaltimeseriesforuseinsimulationsthatevaluatesardineharvestcontrol rules.
• Examinefisherytargetingwhendevelopingappropriatefisheryselectivities.
• Lookatthesexstructureofthepopulationandthecatch.
• Considerusingagecompositioninsteadoflengthandconditionalage-at-length compositiondata.
• ExploreamodelthathasseparatefleetsforMexico,California,Oregon-Washington,and Canada.
• Consideringanalternatespawner-recruitrelationshipthatisbothbiologicallyrealisticand thatwillstabilizethemodel.
References
Baumgartner,T.R.,A.Soutar,andV.Ferreira-Bartrina.1992.ReconstructionofthehistoryofPacificsardineandNorthernanchovypopulationsoverthepasttwomilleniafromsedimentsoftheSantaBarbaraBasin,California.CalCOFIReports33:24-40.
Beamish,R.J.,D.Noakes,G.A.McFarlane,L.Klyashtorin,V.V.IvonovandV.Kurashov.1999.TheregimeconceptandnaturaltrendsintheproductionofPacificsalmon.CanadianJournalofFisheriesandAquaticSciences.56:516-526.
Butler,J.L.1987.ComparisonsofthelarvalandjuvenilegrowthandlarvalmortalityratesofPacificsardineandnorthernanchovyandimplicationsforspeciesinteractions.Ph.D.Thesis,Univ.Calif.,SanDiego,240pp.
CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame(CDFG).2011.ReviewofselectedCaliforniafisheriesfor2010:Coastalpelagicfinfish,marketsquid,oceansalmon,groundfish,highlymigratoryspecies,Dungenesscrab,spinylobster,spotprawn,Kellet’swhelk,andwhiteseabass.CalCOFIReports52:13-35.
Chavez,F.P.,J.Ryan,S.E.Lluch-Cota,andM.NiquenC.2003.FromAnchoviestoSardinesandBack:MultidecadalChangeinthePacificOcean.Science299(5604):217-221.
CoastalPelagicSpeciesManagementTeam(CPSMT).2010.Essentialfishhabitatperiodicreviewofcoastalpelagicspecies.CoastalPelagicSpeciesManagementTeamreporttothePacificFisheryManagementCouncil.November2010.
Demer,D.A.andJ.P.Zwolinski.2013.Draft:OptimizingU.S.-harvestquotastomeetthetarget
15
totalexploitationofaninternationallyexploitedstockofPacificsardine(Sardinopssagax).Inpreparation.Availableelectronicallybysendingane-mailto:[email protected].
DepartmentofFisheriesandOceans.2012.Pacificsardine2011seasonalbiomassandmigrationinBritishColumbiaandharvestadvicefor2012.CanadianScienceAdvisorySecretariatScienceAdvisoryReport2012/026.
Emmett,R.L.,Brodeur,R.D.,Miller,T.W.,Pool,S.S.,Krutzikowsky,G.K.,Bentley,P.J.,McCrae,J.,2005.Pacificsardine(Sardinopssagax)abundance,distribution,andecologicalrelationshipsinthePacificNorthwest.CalCOFIReports46:113-121.
Felix-Uraga,R.,andcoauthors.2005.Pacificsardine(Sardinopssagax)stockdiscriminationoffthewestcoastofBajaCaliforniaandsouthernCaliforniausingotolithmorphometry.CalCOFIReports46:113-121.
García-Rodríguez,F.J.,S.A.García-Gasca,J.D.L.Cruz-Agüero,andV.M.Cota-Gómez.2011.AstudyofthepopulationstructureofthePacificsardineSardinopssagax(Jenyns,1842)inMexicobasedonmorphometricandgeneticanalyses.FisheriesResearch107(1–3):169-176.
Goblirsch,G.andS.Theberge.2003.PurseSeiners.OregonSeaGrantPublication:ORESU-G-03-011.
Hedgecock,D.,E.S.Hutchinson,G.Li,F.L.Sly,andK.Nelson.1989.GeneticandmorphometricvariationinthePacificsardine,Sardinopssagaxcaerulea:comparisonsandcontrastswithhistoricaldataandwithvariabilityinthenorthernanchovy,Engraulismordax.FisheryBulletin.87:653-671.
Herrick,J.S.F.,J.G.Norton,J.E.Mason,andC.Bessey.2007.Managementapplicationofanempiricalmodelofsardine-climateregimeshifts.MarinePolicy31(1):71-80.
Hill,K.T.1999.DeterminingagecompositionofcoastalpelagicspeciesinnorthernCalifornia,Oregon,andWashingtoncoastalwaters.PacificStatesMarineFisheriesCommission.Gladstone,Oregon.Project#1-IJ-9FinalReport.47p.
Hill,K.T.,N.C.H.Lo,P.R.Crone,B.J.Macewicz,andR.Felix-Uraga.2009.AssessmentofthePacificsardineresourcein2009forUSAmanagementin2010.U.S.Dep.Commer.,NOAATech.Memo.NMFS-SWFSC-452.182p.
Hill,K.T.,N.C.H.Lo,B.J.Macewicz,P.R.Crone,andR.Felix-Uraga.2010.AssessmentofthePacificsardineresourcein2010forU.S.managementin2011.U.S.Dep.Commer.,NOAATech.Memo.NMFS-SWFSC-469.137p.
Hill,K.T.,P.R.Crone,N.C.H.Lo,D.A.Demer,J.P.Zwolinski,andB.J.Macewicz.2012.AssessmentofthePacificsardineresourcein2012forU.S.managementin2013.U.S.Dep.Commer.,NOAANMFS,SWFSC.SupplementalAssessmentReport2.51p.
Kaplan,I.C.,C.J.Brown,E.A.Fulton,I.AGray,J.C.Field,andA.D.Smith.2013.ImpactsofdepletingforagespeciesintheCaliforniaCurrent.EnvironmentalConservation,doi:10.1017/s0376892913000052.
Krutzikowsky,G.andJ.Smith.2011.Oregon’ssardinefishery2009summary.OregonDepartmentofFishandWildlifeMarineResourcesProgrampublication.20pp.
16
Lluch-Belda,D.,D.B.Lluch-Cota,S.Hernandez-Vazquea,C.A.Salinas-Zavala,andR.A.Schwartzlose.1991.SardineandanchovyspawningasrelatedtotemperatureandupwellingintheCaliforniaCurrentsystem.CalCOFIReports32:105-111.
Lo,N.C.H.,B.J.Macewicz,andD.A.Griffith.2005.SpawningbiomassofPacificsardine(Sardinopssagax)from1994-2004offCalifornia.CalCOFIReports46:93-112.
Lo,N.C.H.,B.J.Macewicz,andD.A.Griffith.2010.SpawningbiomassofPacificsardine(Sardinopssagax)offtheU.S.in2010.NOAATechnicalMemorandumNMFSSWFSC-463.
Lo,N.C.H.,B.J.Macewicz,andD.A.Griffith.2013.SpawningbiomassofPacificsardine(Sardinopssagax)offtheU.S.in2012.NOAANMFS,SWFSC;previewcopy.
Love,M.S.2011.CertainlyMoreThanYouWanttoKnowAbouttheFishesofthePacificcoast–APostmodernExperience.ReallyBigPress,SantaBarbara,CA.650pp.
Lynn,R.2003.VariabilityinthespawninghabitatofthePacificsardine(Sardinopssagax)offsouthernandcentralCalifornia.FisheriesOceanography12(6):541–553.
MacCall,A.D.1979.PopulationestimatesforthewaningyearsofthePacificsardinefishery.CalCOFIReports20:72-82.
McClatchie,S.,R.Goericke,G.Auad,andK.Hill.2010.Reassessmentofthestockrecruitandtemperature-recruitrelationshipsforPacificsardine(Sardinopssagax).Can.J.Fish.Aquat.Sci.67:1782–1790.
NationalMarineFisheriesService(NMFS).1997.OperationalGuidelines:FisheryManagementPlanProcess.SilverSpring,MD.Availableat:http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/GUIDELINES.PDF
Norton,J.G.,andJ.E.Mason.2005.RelationshipofCaliforniasardine(Sardinopssagax)abundancetoclimate-scaleecologicalchangesintheCaliforniacurrentsystem.CalCOFIReports46:83-92.
PacificFisheriesInformationNetwork(PacFIN).2013.PFMCAllW-O-CCoastalPelagicReport;2010,2011,and2012.PacificStatesMarineFisheriesCommission,Portland,Oregon.
PacificFisheryManagementCouncil(PFMC).1998.Amendment8(tothenorthernanchovyfisherymanagementplan)incorporatinganamechangeto:thecoastalpelagicspeciesfisherymanagementplan.PacificFisheryManagementCouncil,Portland,Oregon.
PacificFisheryManagementCouncil(PFMC).2011.StatusofthePacificCoastCoastalPelagicSpeciesFisheryandRecommendedAcceptableBiologicalCatches.StockAssessmentandFisheryEvaluation-2011.
PacificFisheryManagementCouncil(PFMC).2013.DraftreportofthePacificsardineharvestparametersworkshop.PacificFisheryManagementCouncil,Portland,Oregon.
Smith,A.D.,C.J.Brown,C.M.Bulman,E.A.Fulton,P.Johnson,I.C.Kaplan,H.Lozano-Montes,S.Mackinson,M.Marzloff,L.J.Shannon,Y.Shin,andJ.Tam.2011.Impactsoffishinglow–trophiclevelspeciesonmarineecosystems.Science333(6046):1147-1150
Sweetnam,D.2010.Currentmanagementandfishery-dependentsamplingoftheU.S.Pacificsardinefishery.Preparedfor:WorkshoponenhancingstockassessmentsofPacificsardinein
17
theCaliforniaCurrentthroughcooperativesurveysoftheU.S.Pacificsardinefishery.CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGameandNOAASouthwestFisheriesScienceCenter.
Wolf,P.1992.RecoveryofthePacificsardineandCaliforniasardinefishery.CalCOFIReports33:76-86.
18
Appendix A
MSC Assessment Tree Pacific Sardine Purse seine
Principle Component Performance Indicator All
Principle 1: Health of Fish Stock
Outcome
1.1.1: Stock status
1.1.2: Reference points
1.1.3: Stock rebuilding Did not assess
Harvest Strategy (Management)
1.2.1: Harvest strategy
1.2.2: Harvest control rules
1.2.3: Info/ monitoring
1.2.4: Stock assessment
Principle 2: Impact on Ecosystem
Retained species
2.1.1: Status
2.1.2: Mgmt strategy
2.1.3: Information
By-catch species 2.2.1: Status
2.2.2: Mgmt strategy
2.2.3: Info
ETP species 2.3.1: Status
2.3.2: Mgmt strategy
2.3.3: Info
Habitats 2.4.1: Status
2.4.2: Mgmt strategy
2.4.3: Info
Ecosystem 2.5.1: Status
2.5.2: Mgmt strategy
2.5.3: Info
Principle 3: Management System
Governance & Policy
3.1.1: Legal framework
3.1.2: Consultation, roles, and responsibilities
3.1.3: Long term objectives
3.1.4: Incentives for sustainable fishing
Fishery Specific Mgmt System
3.2.1: Fishery specific objectives
3.2.2: Decision making process
3.2.3: Compliance & enforcement
3.2.4: Research plan
3.2.5: Management performance evaluation