Dan Hull, Chairman
David Witherell, Executive Director
SUBJECT: title
Fixed gear CV rockfish retention - Initial review
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STAFF CONTACT: Jon McCracken (NPFMC) and Josh Keaton (NMFS)
ACTION REQUIRED: recommended action
• Review Draft RIR and decide whether to release for public review.
• Consider whether to select preliminary preferred alternative at this time.
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BACKGROUND:
In October 2016, the Council requested staff develop a discussion paper to consider requiring full retention of all rockfish species for fixed-gear catcher vessels. After reviewing the discussion paper during the December 2017 meeting, the Council adopted a purpose and need statement and initiated an analysis. The proposed action includes an alternative requiring full retention of rockfish species by all fixed gear CVs (hook-and-line, pot, and jig) in the BSAI and GOA and an alternative that would limit full retention of rockfish species to only hook-and-line CVs in the GOA. The suite of alternatives also includes an option requiring full retention of rockfish even if the species is on prohibited species status but would prohibit these retained rockfish from entering commerce.
The purpose of this proposed action stems from the benefits of full retention of rockfish by fixed gear CVs. These benefits include improving the identification of species when CVs are subject to electronic monitoring, improve data collection by providing more accurate estimates of catch, reduce incentives to discard rockfish, reduce waste, reduce overall enforcement burden, and promote more consistent management between State and Federal fisheries.