Dear Stakeholder – Please join BOEM Director Liz Klein for the first public meeting of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Standing Committee on Offshore Wind Energy and Fisheries. WHEN: April 13, 2023 (3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET) WHERE: Virtual Webcast – Registration Instructions All are welcome and encouraged to attend the webcast. The virtual open session will introduce the committee to the public and discuss the standing committee goals. The National Academies require advance registration. Meeting details, including a webcast link, registration instructions and a full agenda, will be available via the Registration Instructions above. Established at BOEM’s request, this new standing committee will help BOEM expand and improve its engagement and communication with the fishing community on offshore wind energy activities. The committee is to serve as an independent, credible forum to discuss the state of science and pressing concerns related to the intersection of offshore wind with fisheries. Committee members will choose meeting topics in consultation with BOEM staff, based on input from BOEM and other stakeholders.
Learn more by checking out the Standing Committee on Offshore Wind’s web page.
Deciphering the 2023-2024 Rock Fishing Regulations. Depth Restrictions, Species Identification and Closures. Check your management area for specific rules.
San Francisco Management Area – (Ocean waters between 38°57.5′ N. latitude (Point Arena) and 37°11′ N. latitude (Pigeon Point)
May 15-July 15 2023. 50 fathoms or deeper only. No Inshore fishing or retention of inshore species.
July 16-December 31 2023. All depths open to fishing.
Important to remember that no inshore fish are allowed to be kept when inshore fishing is closed, regardless of what depth they were caught. Emphasizing that it doesn’t matter if you caught a blue or a black in deeper than 50 fathoms, no retention of inshore species allowed.
How can I tell which species are inshore and which are slope and shelf?
Im so glad you asked. Here are some ID cards provided by CDFW, ODFW and Recfin to help with identification. Not only are there ID cards for Inshore, Shelf and Slope rockfish, there are also some for the Copper, Quillback and Vermillion among others. The individual species ID cards include several variations in color and appearance for each species. There are a few that are helpful in comparing and contrasting
Now that we are catching all these deepwater fish, how do we safely release them? (Yes, they can be safely released!!!). Stay tuned for more information about barotrauma. Coastside has an interesting history of involvement in influencing the use of descending devices to create more fishing opportunity for all.
Demystifying the salmon season planning process. An introduction to the Pacific Fisheries Marine Council
The Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. They recommend fishery management measures in the Federal waters off Washington, Oregon, and California. Planning the Salmon fishing season is one of their functions.
Each year at its March and April meetings the Council establishes management measures for commercial, tribal, and recreational salmon fisheries off the coasts of California, Washington, Oregon, and even landlocked Idaho. The management year for ocean salmon fisheries begins on May 16 and lasts for 12 months to the following May 15th. To support Council decision making the Council’s Salmon Technical Team and Council staff develop four documents that outline salmon management for the upcoming fishing year:
Review of Ocean Salmon Fisheries for the previous year (Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation, or SAFE, document)
Preseason Report I: The forecast used to set salmon fisheries
Preseason Report II: A description of the Council’s proposed ocean salmon management alternatives and their impacts on ocean salmon fisheries and stocks
Preseason Report III: The Salmon Technical Team’s analysis of ocean salmon fishery management measures adopted by the Council for submission to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce
This is where the first preseason report on the 2024 season will be posted.
Overall, the process of planning the salmon fishing season on the West Coast involves a complex and multifaceted decision-making process, with many different factors and stakeholders to consider. The PFMC works closely with state and federal agencies, as well as fishermen and other interested parties, to ensure that its decisions are based on the best available data and reflect the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.
There is opportunity for the general public to be involved.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) has a unique process of public participation in the planning and use of natural resources, particularly when compared to other federal processes that may not have as much public input.
One of the main ways that the PFMC involves the public is through its advisory bodies, which include representatives from different stakeholder groups, including commercial and recreational fishermen, environmental organizations, and tribes. These advisory bodies provide input to the council on issues related to fishery management and help to ensure that the council’s decisions reflect the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.
The council also holds public meetings throughout the year, which provide opportunities for members of the public to provide input and feedback on proposed regulations and management plans. The council encourages public comment and actively seeks out input from a wide range of stakeholders, including fishermen, conservation groups, and the general public.
Overall, the unique process of public participation in the PFMC’s decision-making process reflects the council’s commitment to promoting the sustainable use of natural resources and to ensuring that its decisions reflect the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.
How it get involved.
The PFMC posts a schedule of upcoming meetings, agendas, briefing books and E-portal for public comments. Additionally there is an archive of materials including youtube videos of past meetings. Please click through the links below to access the PFMC site directly.
