Pacific Fishery Management Council SSC Update Pacific Fishery

Pacific Fishery Management Council SSC Update Pacific Fishery Management Council 2011 National Scientific and Statistical Committee Workshop Kingsmill Conference Center , Williamsburg, VA October 4 -6, 2011 1

Pacific Fishery Management Council ACL implementation • P* approach, with different σ for data-rich (category 1), datamoderate (category 2), and data-poor stocks (category 3). • Council adopted Groundfish OFLs for 2013 -14 recommended by the SSC – Selected species-specific P*s for two stocks in an appropriate if not fully enlightened manner • Data-poor methods review panel endorsed DCAC and DB-SRA as suitable methods for obtaining OFLs for data-poor stocks. • Salmon ACL amendment adopted (ABCs=ACLs not constraining except under high stock size) 2

Pacific Fishery Management Council ACL implementation (off-year science activities) • Another data-poor methods review panel scheduled for 2012 • SSC is considering methods for setting stock-specific σs for category 1 stocks • Initial planning for MSE modeling to evaluate the appropriate level of scientific uncertainty (σ) for data-poor groundfish stocks • Request for guidelines on the P* policy decision? 3

Pacific Fishery Management Council SSC Subcommittees • Hold separate meetings for review of subject-area analyses • Subcommittee reports go to the full SSC for review and endorsement • Ecosystem Based Management Subcommittee was initially established as the Marine Reserve Subcommittee – 9 subcommittee members out of 17 SSC members • Economics Subcommittee – 2 economists, 2 quantitative biologists that dabble in economics 4

Pacific Fishery Management Council EBFM in the PFMC • Council launched a major initiative in 2009 • Established a Ecosystem Plan Development Team and Ecosystem Advisory Panel • Initial focus on a Purpose and Need statement and the regulatory scope of the EFMP • Informational presentations (NPFMC SSC Chair, California Current IEA developers) • SSC has given advice on EBFM to the Council in a number of areas: – Conceptual frameworks, next steps, questions to be addressed – Ways of incorporating ecosystem science into the Council process – Review processes needed for ecosystem science tools and products 5

Pacific Fishery Management Council Sentiments (a subjective assessment) • Progress on EBFM should be evolutionary rather than revolutionary • The Council is already doing many things generally regarded as EBFM – – EFH provisions Environmentally-based run size forecasts and harvest control rules Bycatch restrictions to rebuild overfished groundfish stocks Ban on krill fishing • EBFM should augment single species management rather than replace it • What are the tangible benefits of EBFM in achieving Council responsibilities under MSA? 6

Pacific Fishery Management Council Progress on EBFM • In June 2011 the Council approved the draft purpose and need statement as proposed by the Ecosystem Plan Development Team (EPDT) • Moved to develop an ecosystem plan that is primarily advisory in nature with the potential for expanding the plan to include regulatory authority in the future. • Recommended continued management of stocks and fisheries through existing fishery management plans (FMP) • Potential for additional management measures forage fish species as the Council deems appropriate. 7

Pacific Fishery Management Council Purpose of Fishery Ecosystem Plan The purpose of an FEP is to enhance the Council’s species-specific management programs with more ecosystem science, broader ecosystem considerations and management policies that coordinate Council management across its FMPs and the California Current Ecosystem (CCE). An FEP should provide a framework for considering policy choices and trade-offs as they affect FMP species and the broader CCE. 8

Pacific Fishery Management Council Socioeconomics review in the PFMC • Either review by the full SSC or review by the Economics Subcommittee • Typical review topics – – Socioeconomic data collection programs Economic models used for impact analysis Socioeconomic analyses in NEPA documents Bycatch projection models with implicit fleet dynamics (joint with Groundfish Subcommittee) 9

Regional Economic Impact Model 10

Pacific Fishery Management Council Socioeconomic Review Issues • Economic analyses tend to appear for review as near final drafts (providing no opportunity for revision) • Reviews are often combined with, and are subordinate to, review of associated non-economic analyses • No formal review process with TOR (unlike the STAR-process for stock assessments) • Improvements are under consideration 11