HomeMy WebLinkAbout07052006 PACAB Packet
SEWARD PORT AND COMMERCE
ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
July 5, 2006
Council Chambers
Starts at 12:00 noon
1
SEWARD PORT AND COMMERCE ADVISORY BOARD
Regular Meeting
JUL Y 5, 2006 NOON
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Deborah Altermatt
Chair
Term Expires 2007
1.
CALL TO ORDER
2.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Karl Van Buskirk
Vice Chair
Term Expires 2007
3.
ROLL CALL
Jerry Waliezer
Board Member
Term Expires 2006
4.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND
REPORTS
D.J. Whitman
Board Member
Term Expires 2006
A. ARRC Representative Louis Bencardino
B. KPB/EDD - City Councilmember VaIdatta
Ron Long
Board Member
Term Expires 2008
C. Administrative Report
Vacancy
Board Member
Term Expires 2007
5. Citizens' comments on any subject except those items
scheduled for public hearing. [Those who have signed in will be
given the first opportunity to speak Time is limited to 2 minutes
per speaker and 30 minutes total time for this agenda item.}
Vacancy
Board Member
Term Expires 2008
6. Approval of agenda and consent agenda [Approval of
Consent Agenda passes all routine items indicated by asterisk
Scott A. Ransom
Harbormaster
*June 7, 2006 regular meeting minutes
Judi Sweeney
Board Secretary
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Alternative Energy - Tidal Energy
~ B. Goals and Priorities - On-Going
{O-lI
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City of Seward, Alaska
March 1,2006
3
Pacab Agenda
Page 1
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. P ACAB work session on July 19, 2006 Council Chambers to discuss
Tidal Energy Source, David Sauers.
9. CORRESPONDENCE, INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
(No action required)
A. North Pacific Fishery Management Council News and Notes June
2006 r J-- - ~ 0
10. BOARD COMMENTS
11. CITIZENS' COMMENTS [5 minutes per individual - Each individual has one
opportunity to speak]
12. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS'
COMMENT
13 ADJO~NT
City of Seward, Alaska
March 1,2006
Pacab Agenda
Page 2
4
City of Seward, Alaska
June 7, 2006
Port and Commerce Advisory Board Minutes
Volume 3, Page 220
CALL TO ORDER
The regular June 7, 2006 meeting of the Seward Port and Commerce Advisory Board was
called to order at 12:04 p.m. by Chair Altermatt.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Was led by Board member Martin.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Deborah AItermatt, presiding, and
D. J. Whitman
Jerry Waliezer
Bruce Martin
Ron Long
Absent: Karl VaD Buskirk
Comprising a quorum of the Board; and
Scott A. Ransom, Harbonnaster
Robert Valdatta, Councilmember/KPB/EDD Representative
Louis Bencardino, Alaska Railroad Corporation Representative
Judi Sweeney, PACAB Secretary
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Louis Bencardino, ARRC Representative reported that business is good and has nearly
doubled. He said they are upgrading the tracks from Fairbanks to Seward.
The Navy ship u.S.S.Chaffee was in port for the last few days. He said they were happy
with their visit to Seward and presented a picture to the American Legion. He thanked the City for
providing sewer service to the ship.
He mentioned that a special roof coating was applied to the building and has a ten-year
guarantee.
He reported on a meeting with Totem Ocean Trailer Enterprises, (T.O.T.E.). discussing the
logistics of loading and unloading freight from barges and ships.
He spoke in favor ofthe Coal-fired generation plant saying that the Railroad would like see a
contract signed by the City before they commit to a land lease. They are supportive of the coal plant.
5
City of Seward. Alaska
June 7. 2006
Port and Commerce Advisory Board Minutes
Volume 3. Page 220
Robert Valdatta, Council representative on EDD, said he did not have anything to report
concerning EDD at this time. He said that the fish weir (Cook Inlet Aquaculture) facility had 45,000
red salmon return to date.
Harbormaster Ransom reported on the May 24 work session with the full Council, three
from the U.S. Army Corps, Kim Nielsen from TNH, Ron Long and three Congressional
representatives via telephone. He said it was a very productive session. He said the Corps admitted
they made a mistake on the design of the breakwater and they have a willingness to resolve the issue.
Ransom said the Corps visited the City's rock quarry and felt it was organized well enough to do the
project.
Kim Nielsen, TNH Engineer gave a report on the progress of the harbor project. She said the
final inspection with Lash Construction is scheduled and the projected closeout should be by the end
ofthe month. She said they are working on float water, sewer and the design of the uplands.
CITIZEN'S COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS NOT SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC
HEARING: NONE
APPROV AL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION (LonglWaliezer) Approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda including the
minutes of May 3, 2006. Motion passed by unanimous consent.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Alternative Energy Ransom said there had been a good turnout for the (May 29) work
session held with Council. Mark Marlow, Seward Co-Generation suggested that a five-member
committee be formed consisting of the following: one P ACAB member, Marlow, Resurrection Bay
Conservation group member, a council member and a member of administration. Altermatt said she
would be giving a presentation to Council per their request for information on other avenues of
alternative energy options and asked if anyone from the board had any information they would like to
share with her. Long will be the P ACAB representative with Waliezer and Martin as alternates.
Goals and Priorities - on going list mention that the Corps is about to sign off on the
upland. NO CHANGES
NEW BUSINESS
Seward Economic Development Plan Altermatt explained that this was just an on the
agenda for discussion. Long gave an overview of the Seward Economic Development Plan booklet
and the figures and charts were taken from the KPB' s of the third and fourth quarter of last year
showing values rather than permits. He explained that (building) permits are required for things that
never used to require permits like inside structural improvements.
Fish Head Processing Plant Ransom explained this is a group from Korea that is
interested in buying fish heads. Ransom said he made some phone calls and was waiting for a reply.
6
City of Seward, Alaska
June 7, 2006
Port and Commerce Advisory Board Minutes
Volume 3, Page 220
Modular Housing Martin explained that this group is just inquiring about manufacturing
modular homes in Seward. He said they would be meeting with A VTEC on Tuesday, June 13,2006.
The interested party liked how Seward is the railhead, deep-water port and can get material from
anywhere to here.
CORRESPONDENCE, INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS: NONE
BOARD COMMENTS:
Following discussion, Waliezer volunteered to give the presentation regarding alternative
energy to the Council.
CITIZENS COMMENTS:
Willard Dunham asked about the plans for the upland area created by the harbor expansion.
Harbormaster Ransom said that there was an opinion paper written by City attorney, Brad Meyen
with suggestions for the land use of the upland area. Dunham commented the plan is strictly up to
us (Council) and we are not going to rush this plan through.
BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS:
ADJOURNMENT
The work session ended at 1:30 p.m.
Judi Sweeney
Board Secretary
Deborah Altennatt
Chairman
(City Seal)
7
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)cean ~enewable Power Company
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6/15/2006
North pacific Fishery Management Council
Ne1NS and Notes
Stephanie Madsen. Chair
Chris Oliver. Executive Director
GOA Groundfish
Rationalization
On June 6th, the Council held a public hearing to receive input on
alternatives, elements, and options under consideration to
rationalize the Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries. The Council
heard testimony from nearly 100 people representing a broad
range of interests, including vessel owners, processors, captains,
crew, communities, and support industries. The Council extended
the public comment period into Wednesday morning, delaying the
start of its meeting, to accommodate all people wishing to testify.
Gulf rationalization will next be on the Council's agenda at its
December 2006 meeting in Anchorage. The Council has elected
to remove the item fi:om 'the agenda .of its October meeting in
Dutch Harbor to better facilitate public input from Gulf-based
participants. Staff contact is Mark Fina.
Charter Halibut
The Council reviewed three issues related to management of
charter halibut fisheries. First. the Council included three
options to include communities in a proposed interim limited
entry program (moratorium), after receiving Charter Halibut
Stakeholder Committee, Advisory Panel, . and staff
recommendations. The Council could decide to allow..community
quota entities as already defined in regulations to: n ,purchase
existing moratorium permits, 2) be awarded new permits; and/or
3) be reissUed non-renewed permits. These options are not
mutually exclusive. A preliminary review of the moratorium
package' is scheduled for the October 2006 Council meeting. The
Council-also revised some other issues and options for clarity and
deleted an option that would not require moratorium permit
renewals. The revised text is posted on the Council web site.
Initial review of the overall moratorium package is tentatively
scheduled for December 2006, with final action in February 2007..
Implementation likely would not occur until the 2009 charter
fishery season.
605 West 4th Avenue. Ste 306
Anchorage. AK 99501-2252
Phone (907) 271-2809
Fax (907) 271-2817
Halibut Commission staff and streamlined the fixed
percentage allocation option, so that it would be based on a
combined charter/commercial catchy limit as set by the
IPHC each year. The Council also clarified the language for
an option to allow communities to purchase permits and
made several additions: 1) an option under the allocation
and quota share alternatives that allocations would be set
between sub-areas (yet to be identified); 2) development of
local area and sub-area management plans; and 3) elements
contained within the Kodiak Association of Charter-boat
Operators plan, which were not already included in
Committee recommendations. The Council tasked staff with
developing discussion papers on the suite of alternatives,
elements, and options for review in October.
Third, the Council discussed a letter by NOAA Fisheries, .
'. which reported that current Federal and State laws do not
allow the use of State reporting documents by Federal
enforcement personnel for the Council's preferred
alternative to implement a 5-fish annual limit for charter
anglers in Area 2C. Instead of State reporting documen~
NOAA determined that the proposed limit would require a
Federal charter vessel halibut angler permit and a charter
vessel halibut logbook. The costs for implementing Federal
reporting could be substantial, and redundant to State
reporting requirements. NOAA Fisheries recommended that
the Council reconsider this action once these costs have
been more fully evaluated. NOAA Fisheries will provide
additional information for review at the October meeting.
Thanks for your
help!
Our Council meeting this June in (partly) sunny Kodiak was
a great success, thanks to the gracious hospitality of the
Kodiak Inn and the Kodiak community, and in large part to
the extra efforts of Jeff Stephan, his wife Karen, and the
Unit~d Fisherman's Marketing Association in facilitating
meetmg room arrangements and numerous other logistics
during the week. Thanks again for all your help Jeff!
Second, the Council reviewed Committee recommendations for
three draft alternatives for a "permanent solution" to allocate
halibut between the charter and commercial sectors: 1) Status
quo; 2) Allocation to the charter sector; 3) Quota share program
The Council ado ted recommendations by International Pacific
North Pacific Fishery Management Council, June 2006
1 1 2
I HalibutlSableflsh IFQ
The Council took final action on four proposed amendments to the
commercial halibut and sablefish IFQ program. The Council's
preferred alternatives would allow: (I) non-IFQ species to be frozen
onboard while directed fishing for halibut when any amount of IFQ
halibut resulting from quota share assigned to vessel categories B, C, or
D are held by fishennen on board a vessel in the Gulf of Alaska,
Bering Sea, and Aleutian Islands; (2) use of pot longline gear in the
Bering Sea IFQ and CDQ sablefish fisheries during June; (3)
withdrawal ofhaIibut and sablefish QS from initial recipients who have
never fished any of those shares across all regulatory areas and allow a
lottery for halibut only if the amount of QS available for a lottery is
more than the number of QS units equivalent to 50,000 Ib for all IPHC
regulatory areas in the year of the lottery (never used QS will not be
withdrawn if the holder notifies NOAA Fisheries that slhe wishes to
retain those QS); and (4) temporary transfer of IFQs held by activated
reservists who are not otherwise authorized to hire a skipper. Three
years after implementation of Action I, the Council also will review a
report that will examine whether retention of cod and rockfish and total
amount of halibut QS fished on vessels using category "An (freezer)
QS has increased as a result of the proposed regulatory change. Staff
contact on halibut issues is Jane DiCosimo.
Trawl CV LLP changes
The Council received a staff report on a proposed BSA1/GOA trawl
cv LLP amendment Following staff presentations and reviewing
recommendations from the SSC and AP, the Council decided to
proceed with an analysis of the amendment The tentative schedule for
initial pubic review of the amendment is October 2006. The draft
problem statement adopted by the Council notes that vessels in the
BSAI and GOA groundfish fisheries that have made significant
investments, had long catch histories and are dependent on the
groundfish resources from these areas may need protection wm
vessels that could enter the fisheries in the future, including those
holding unutilized lLPs.
The Council approved analysis of a license-based LIP threshold
eligibility for vessels meeting a mininmm catch criteria of at least one
landing or two landings (two options) over a qualification period. LLPs
not meeting these rninimmll catch criteria will have endorsements in
the management area removed of all area (BOO & GOA) or subarea
(BS, AI, WG and CG) depending upon the option selected by the
Council. The participation periods (recency criteria) to be analyzed are
2000-2005 and 1995-2005. The analysis will apply to LIPs held by
BSAI trawl catcher vessels as well as ILPs held by GOA trawl catcher
vessels and catcher processors. The Council requested staff provide the
number of LLPs for vessels under 60 feet potentially eliminated under
the eligibility criteria.
The analysis will examine several options for the program, including:
alternatives for dealing with multiple (stacked) LLPs on a single vessel,
options to exclude LLPs held by AF A vessel owners and LLPs used
for eligibility in Amendment 80. Options for harvest during the
qualification period include trawl groundfish harvests and groundfish
harvests taken by trawl and fixed. The analysis will also address
options for vessels with a catch history in the parallel waters or state
waters Aleutian Island fishery.
The Council's draft problem statement and complete elements of
the LLP limitation program are listed on the Council web site.
Staff contact is Jim Richardson.
,
Fishery Ecosystem
Plan for the AI
The Council initiated development of a Fishery Ecosystem
Plan (FEP) for the Aleutian Islands ecosystem area. The
FEP will be a strategic policy and planning document, to
guide the Council in its management actions relating to the
Aleutian Islands. The FEP document, and its associated
process, is anticipated to be evolutionary in nature, and its
purposes are intended to be achieved over time. The
purposes of the FEP are:
a. to integrate information from across the FMPs with
regard to the Aleutian Islands, using existing analyses
and reports such as the Groundfish PSEIS, the EFH
EIS, and the Ecosystem Considerations chapter (note,
this integration should be user-friendly, i.e., short,
simple, and avoiding redundancy)
b. to identifY a set of indicators for the Aleutian Islands to
evaluate the status of the ecosystem over time
c. to provide a focal point to develop and refine tools,
such as ecosystem models, to evaluate the indicators
d. to identifY sources of uncertainty and use them to
determine research and data needs
e. to assist the Council in setting management goals and
objectives, and in understanding the cumulative effects
of management actions
The Council also agreed to form a technical AI Ecosystem
Team to assist Council. staff in developing the FEP. The
SSC is providing advice on the appropriate membership of
the team. Staff contact is Diana Evans. .
Crab Management
The Council concurred with the revised State/FederaJ
Action Plan for commercial king and Tanner crab fisheries
of the Bering Sea. and Aleutian Islands. The primary
difference in the revised action plan (from the previous
1993 version) is in the timeline provided for data exchange
between ADF&G and NMFS.
The Council also received a report from the Pacific
Northwest Crab Industry Advisory Committee (pNCIAC)
covering issues discussed in a recent meeting of that
committee. Among the primary issues discussed at the
PNCIAC meeting were their concerns with highgrading
reported in recent crab fisheries, and their efforts to work
within the industry to address this serious issue.
The Council was apprised of progress made towards an
amendment to revise the existing overfishing definitions for
BSAI crab stocks. A discussion paper outlining the
proposed alternatives for the EA and detailing the review
process as it relates to the determination of overfishing for
these stocks will be reviewed by the Crab Plan Team at their
September plan team meeting and by the Council at the
October meeting. Staff contact is Diana Stram.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council, June 2006
Page 2
Crab PSC
Improved Retentionl
Utilization
The Council completed final action on Amendment 80 at this
meeting. Below is a brief summary of the preferred alternative. A
complete copy of the June 2006 final action is available on the
Council's website.
CDO Groundfish Allocations
10% of Amendment 80 species and secondary species (except
Pacific cod) taken incidental in the primary trawl fisheries.
Non-AFA Trawl CP Groundfish Allocation
YFS ITAC (mt) H&GlLimited Access
< = 87,500 93% /7%
87,500 - 95,000 87.5% /12.5%
95,000 - 102,500 82% / 18%
102,500 - 110,000 76.5% / 23.5%
110,000-117,500 71% / 29%
117,500 - 125,000 65.5% / 34.5%
> 125,000 60% / 40% (AF A Sideboards removed)
Rock Sole 100%
Flathead Sole 100%
Atka Mackerel 98% in 541/EBS and 542, in the first year of
the program, decreasing by 2% increments
over 4-yr period to 90%. 100% in 543.
AI POP 95% in 541 and 542 in the first year of the
program, decreasing to 90% in the second
year of the program. 98% in 543,
These allocationS' would be managed as a hard cap. The
. remaining portion of the Amendment 80 species would be
allocated to the trawl limited access fishery. Prior to the allocation
of the Amendment 80 species, an ICA would be taken off the top
to accommodate incidental catch by the fixed-gear vessels and the
trawl limited access sectors. AF A vessel sideboards amounts will
be determined after COO reserve amounts are deducted from
TAC. Unutilized groundfish, PSC, and ICA allocations shall be
rolled over to the Non-AF A Trawl CP cooperative participants.
Any PSC rollover will be discounted 5%, which will remain in
the water.
PSO Allocation to CDO Prolmlm
Increase PSQ reserves allocated to the CDQ program (except
herring, halibut, and Chinook salmon) to levels proportional to
the CDQ allocation of primary species under Component 2.
Non-AFA Trawl CP PSC Allocation
Halibut and crab PSC levels shall be reviewed by the Council
during the fifth year of the program and adjusted as necessary
(through the normal amendment process).
Halibut PSC
BSAI Trawl limited access sector: 875 mt
Non-AF A Trawl CP sector: 2525 mt initial allocation with a 50
mt reduction in the second, third, fourth and fifth year after
program implementation. In the sixth year and subsequent years,
the allocation would be 2325mt unless adjusted. In the third year
:mly, the 50 mt reduction would be reallocation to the CDQ/PSQ
,eserve program.
/IIorth Pacific Fishery Management Council, June 2006
Allocation of crab PSC to the non-AF A Trawl CP secto;
shall be based on the % of historic usage of crab PSC in all
groundfish fisheries from 2000-2002 for red king crab
(62.48%) and from 1995 to 2002 for opilio (61.44%) and
bairdi (zone I: 52.64% and zone 2: 29.59%) (resulting
percentages are reported in the far right column in Table 3-
43 May 5, 2006 ENRIRJIRF A). The initial allocation will
be reduced by 5% per year starting in the second year until
the Non-AF A Trawl CP sector is at 80% of their initial
allocation. Trawl limited access sectors shall receive an
allowance of the sum of the combined AF A CY/CP
sideboards.
Cooperative Formation
To form a cooperative, membership must be comprised of at
least 3 separate entities and must have at least 30% of the
eligible vessels, including LLP licenses with associated
catch history for an eligible vessel that has been transferred
to that LLP license;.
Groundfish and PSC Allocation Within the Non-AF A Trawl
CP Sector
Allocations will be based on total catch using 1998-2004
year combination. In the Atka mackerel fishery, each vessel
will receive its 1998-2004 catch history based all subareas
combined. For non-mackerel vessels (less than 200' in
length having less than 2% of the sector's history of Atka
mackerel), their allocation would be distributed by area
according to the vessel's catch distribution. After the
deduction of the non-mackerel vessel allocation, the
remaiDing amount will be allocated to the mackerel vessels
(greater than 200' in length and have more than 2% if the
sector's mackerel allocation) based on each vessel's
respective catch history distributed equa11y in each area. AI
POP will be allocated equally in each subarea.
Excessive Share Caps and Vessel Use Caps
Excessive share cap would be applied on an aggregate basis
at 30% of the sector's allocation. Vessel use caps would be
20% of the entire Non-AF A Trawl CP sector allocation.
Persons or vessels that are over the initially allocation will
be grandfathered based on catch history held at the time of
fmal Council action.
Sideboards
BSAl
In the BSAI, management of unallocated groundfish species
would remain as status quo.
GOA
Non-AFA Trawl CP vessels having weekly participation
greater than 10 weeks in the flatfish fishery during 1998-
2004, will be eligible to participate in the GOA flatfish
fisheries. Non-AF A Trawl CP vessel(s) that fished 80% of
their weeks in the GOA flatfish fisheries from 2000 to 2003
will be exempt from GOA halibut sideboards. Exempt
vessels will be prohibited from directed fishing for all other
sideboard sideboard species in the GOA (rockfish, Pacific
cod, and Pollock). In addition, exempt vessels may lease
their BSAI Amendment 80 history.
0... ____.__.._..__...._ ..._" _ __.._.. --.-- .u - -- ----.---....--... -.. ----.....
1 4
Page 3
Gulf wide halibut sideboards for deep and shallow water complex
- fisheries would be established based on actual usage from 1998-
2004. That calculation results in the following percentages, less
the percentage attributed to GOA PSC sideboard exempt vessel:
precedence. Fina. )Ill aggregate sideboard limit for each
sideboard species will be established for all qualified
vessels subject to sideboards.
Socioeconomic Data Collection Program
The Council included a data collection program in the
action. The program will collect
economic data from the non-
AF A trawl CP sector on a
periodic basis. The purpose of
the data collection program is to
understand the economic effects
of the Amendment 80 program
on vessels or entities regulated
by this action, and to inform
future management actions. Data
will be used by Council and
agency staff, recognizing that
confidentiality is of extreme
importance. In addition, the
Council also requested a
discussion paper be prepared on issues surrounding
collecting socioeconomic data for all North Pacific
fisheries.
GOA Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for Non-AFA Trawl CP Sector (as percent of GOA
total sideboard limit, ie, 2,OOOmt in 2006)
Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Total
Deep 2.84% 11.92% 11.60% nfa Combined 26.36
Water wfshallow
Trawl water
Fisheries
Shallow 0.85% 1.92% 2.06% 1.73% 5.15% 11.71 %
Water
Trawl
Fisheries
Note: The FN Golden Fleece data still needs to be deducted from the above table
GOA pollock, Pacific cod, and directed rockfish species
sideboards would be established based on catch history from
1998-2004. While CGOA rockfish demonstration program is in
place, the CGOA rockfish demonstration program takes
MRA accounting period.
At its June 2006 meeting, the Council conducted an initial
review of an analysis of alternatives to modify the accounting
period for the maximum retainable allowance (MRA) for the
non-AF A trawl catcher processor sector. MRAs limit the. amount
of each non-directed species catch that may be retained to a
percentage of directed species catch. Under current regulations,
accounting is instantaneous. So, a vessel must be in compliance
with the MRA at all times during a fishing trip. This action
would modi1}t the MRA accounting period for certain species to
the end of a fishing trip or until an offload. A fishing trip ends on
the earliest of: a directed fishing closure, an offload, entering or
leaving an area subject to a directed fishing closure. changing
fishing gear, and end of a weekly reporting period. Prior to this
meeting, the analysis considered changes only for yellowfin
sole, rock sole, flathead sole, other flatfish, and arrowtooth
flounder, with options to include Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean
perch, Atka mackerel, Greenland turbot, and other rockfish. At
this meeting, the Council added options to consider application
of new adjustment periods for Pacific cod and Bering Sea
Pacific ocean perch. The Council also removed options for
applying the modified accounting period for Greenland turbot
and other rockfish, but requested that staff include analysis of
effects of the action with respect to other rockfish. The change in
accounting would be all of the non-AF A trawl catcher processor
sector prior to the implementation of the Amendment 80
cooperative program. After implementation of Amendment 80,
the change would apply only to participants in the non-AFA
catcher processor limited access fishery (and not to cooperative
fishing). The Council requested staff to evaluate the implications
of relaxing the MRA accounting period on incentives for
cooperatives formation and membership. Staff contact is Mark
Fina.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council, June 2006
Staff contact is Jon McCracken.
Exempted Fishing Permit
The Council approved an exempted fishing permit for
testing a halibut excluder designated to reduce halibut
bycatch rates on trawl catcher vessels targeting P. Cod in
the Gulf of Alaska. The permit was submitted by the Marine
Conservation Alliance Foundation with John Gauvin as the
principal investigator. The following performance goals will
be used to measure the ability of the EFP to meet the stated
objective: (1) compared to an unmodified trawl, the
excluder device should result in at least a 40 percent
reduction in the halibut bycatch rate (kilogram of halibut per
metric ton of allocated groundfish); (2) compared to an
unmodified trawl. the excluder device should not reduce the
target species catch by more than 10 percent; and (3) the
excluder must be functional for a typical GOAtrawl vessel
which has limited deck space and may have only aft reels.
The EFP will contain the following regulatory exemptions:
trawl closures in the Central GOA for reasons other than
overfishing concerns; PSC limits for halibut (limited to
90mt); and observer requirements while the EFP is being
prosecuted. The total amount of groundfish allowed to be
harvested annually is 1,300 mt, of which 950 mt will likely
be Pacific cod. Regulations describing maximum retainable
(MRA) amounts apply; however, Pacific cod is designated
as the basis species from which retainable amounts are to be
calculated
The permit will be effective for 1 year August I, 2006 _
August 31, 2006, but may be eligible for an extension for
2007. Staff contact is Diana Stram
15
Page 4
......-- ..n "._---. - ---'--.-___.. _. ..._..___... --"'-_____"'___'_h _...____.._ ........4.. ..__.._.. ._. '." ._ _.__,_
Observer Program
The Council reviewed the analysis for BSAI Amendment
86/GOA Amendment 76 to modify the funding and deployment
mechanism in the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program.
The Federal regulations authorizing the current program expire
after December 31, 2007. The five primary alternatives under
consideration included: no action; extension of the existing
program; and three alternatives to restructure the program such
that NMFS would contract directly with observer providers for
observer coverage. Observer coverage under the restructuring
alternatives would be funded by a user fee and/or Federal
funding. The problem statement identifies the data quality and
disproportionate cost issues resulting from the current program
structure, as well as the fundamental need for an observer
program beyond 2007.
The Council also reviewed a letter from NMFS recommending
Alternative 2 (extension of the current program) at this time. This
recommendation was based on the fact that: 1) Congressional
authority necessary to implement any of the fee-based alternatives
has not yet occurred, 2) it is not possible to estimate costs
associated with the fee-based alternatives until overtime pay
issues are clarified by the Department of Labor or in statute; and
3) the current observer program expires on December 31, 2007.
The Observer Advisory Committee (OAC) also reviewed this
letter at its January 2006 meeting and recommended that the
Council select Alternative 2, given the need for continuing the
program in the short-term and the lack of control over the
Congressional authority and cost issues.
In June, the Council selected Alternative 2 as its preferred
alternative, recognizing that while this alternative does not meet
the majority of the issues identified in the problem statement, it
meets the short-term need of preventing the expiration of the
observer program. The Council anticipates initiating a new
amendment package for a restructured program at such time that
the Congressional authority and cost issues are resolved to the
extent that an analysis can be completed. Broad authority to
collect fees to pay for observer coverage is included in several
proposed bills to amend the Magnuson Stevens Act. A letter was
also sent from NMFS to the Department of Labor earlier this year
requesting clarification on the application of overtime pay rules in
, the North Pacific observer program. The restructuring alternatives
evaluated in Amendments 86/76 would provide a starting point
for a new amendment package, at such time that these issues are
resolved.
Finally, the Council reviewed a discussion paper prepared by
NMFS on video monitoring and its potential for large scale
implementation in the North Pacific fisheries. Video is becoming
an increasingly viable technology for monitoring some types of
fishing activity or enhancing the ability of observers to gather
data. The paper stressed that the implementation approach for
electronic monitoring will depend on the monitoring questions
being asked in different fisheries and programs, and that the
regulatory process needed to implement this approach is not well
suited to a rapidly evolving technology. It is expected that the
current technology could be used to enhance human observers for
routine monitoring functions, for example, to determine whether a
discard occurred and quantification of that discard. Species
identification re uires further develo ment. NMFS has formed an
internal technoloi:.. .Norking group to explore the ongoing
issues associated with electronic monitoring and to
prioritize future research projects. .
The public review draft of Amendments 86/76 and the video
monitoring paper are on the Council's website. Note that the
OAC was reconstituted in February, and the membership
list is also posted on the Council's website. Staff contact is
Nicole Kimball.
Salmon Excluder
Research
John Gauvin (North Pacific Fisheries Research Foundation)
and John Grover (United Catcher Boats) provided a
progress report to the Council on the on-going EFP to test a
salmon excluder device in the pollock trawl fishery. This
on-going EFP has been working to develop behaviorally-
based avoidance device configurations placed within the
intermediate of the trawl net which allow salmon to escape
without harm prior to being captured in the pollock trawl
cod end. The report provided updates from the fall 2005 and
winter 2006 evaluation of various excluder device
configurations on the ability to reduce chum and Chinook
salmon bycatch in the pollock trawl fishery. The report
indicated positive results to date on Chinook escapement
after changing placement and size of the excluder and time
of slowdowns.
Future research includes focusing on maximizing the
escapement at slowdown through the use of a . flap that
opens when tow speed decreases. Staff contact is Diana
Stram
FMP Consultation
The Council received an update on the FMP consultation
process. NMFS Sustainable Fisheries (SF) Division has
submitted to the Protected Resources (PR) Division a
Biological Assessment document that summarizes SF's
assessment of effects of the groundfish fisheries on ESA-
listed species. Submission of the BA initiates the
consultation process. In addition, the Council's Steller Sea
Lion Mitigation Committee has met several times to review
new information on SSLs to prepare itself for tracking the
consultation process and to review proposals for regulatory
changes (see Call for Proposals in this newsletter). The
Committee is also working on a process for evaluating
proposals and plans to use a "trade-off tool" for comparing
proposals; a subcommittee of the SSLMC meets June 26 to
work on the trade off tool that will then be presented to the
full committee for further refinement. The SSC
recommended that the SSLMC include in the development
of a trade off tool a procedure for making decisions with
multiple objectives. The Council asked that the Conunittee
investigate this further and periodically brief members of
the SSC on progress in development of the trade off tool.
The full SSLMC meets June 27-30. Both meetings are at
the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle. The
announcements and agendas for these meetings are posted
on the Council's web site. Staff contact is Bill Wilson.
North P_cific Fishery Management Council, June 2006
1 6
Page 5
."."___._~_,..__._.__,__.._~____--:-,...._. _,,_.-. _._........,....__.,.._~_._ ._._,_...__ ____n_._..__.___.___.,.. .. _._~~___._.__.._'_n_....n .
C~II for Proposals:
SSL Protection
Measures
The Council requested that the SSL Mitigation Committee issue a
Call for Proposals for changes in SSL protection measures in the
Pacific cod, pollock, and Atka mackerel fisheries in the GOA or
BSAI. This newsletter announces that Call for Proposals. The
public is invited to submit proposals using the format that is
posted on the Protected Resources page of the Council's web site
The SSL Mitigation Committee will receive proposals until
August 18. The Committee will then start a review process,
eventually leading to a package of recommended regulatory
changes for Council review and further analysis. Staff contact is
Bill Wilson.
SSL Literature
The Council received a briefing from Dr. Jack Tagart on the
compendium of SSL literature produced by Dr. Tagart and Dr.
Tom Loughlin. The Compendium is an annotated bibliography of
Steller sea lion related research and includes summaries of
research and relevant publications produced since 2000 in eleven
thematic categories: SSL life history, foraging, vital rates, fishe!}'
effects, ecosystem effects, other anthropogenic effects, predation,
disease, contaminants, management, and communications. The
Compendium will be an important part of the record for the new
FMP consultation and a source document to inform NMFS, the
Council, the SSL Mitigation Committee, and the public as the
consultation proceeds. The Compendium is available on the
Council's web site. Staff contact is Bill Wilson.
SSL Recovery Plan
The Council received a presentation on the draft SSL Recove!}'
Plan :from Mr. Shane Capron, NMFS, Protected Resources
Division. The draft Plan was released for a 60 day public review
on May 24, 2006. The SSC received this presentation as well,
and recommended that the Council request an extension of the
comment period so that the Council and SSC could review further
the draft Recove!}' Plan and prepare detailed comments. The
Council requested that NMFS extend the comment period until
September 1 to allow adequate time for review and comment on
this important issue. Staff contact is Bill Wilson.
Fur Seal Plan
The Council received a report that NMFS recently released for
public review its draft Conservation Plan for the northern fur seal.
Since the comment period for the review ends August 4, 2006, the
Council asked staff to review the plan and convene the fur seal
committee if substantial issues are found, and comments appear to
be warranted. Staff contact is Bill Wilson.
Seabird Interactions
Ed Melvin and Michelle Wainstein with the. Washington
Sea Grant Program and Sunny Rice with the University of
Alaska Marine Advisory Program presented new
information to the Council on seabird interactions with
small vessels. Dr. Melvin presented information on seabird
distribution in inside waters of Southeast Alaska and Prince
William Sound, noting that the lack of albatrosses and
related species suggests that seabird avoidance measures for
all vessels in these waters might be relaxed. Ms. Rice
reported on trials of new seabird deterrent devices
appropriate for various kinds of smalllongline vessels. The
Council initiated an analysis of new regulations for seabird
avoidance in inside waters and for small vessels. A copy of
the motion is available on the Council's website. Staff
contact is Bill Wilson.
Cook Inlet Belugas
The Council received a briefing on the status of beluga
whales in Cook Inlet. This population has declined in
recent years, and although subsistence harvest was thought
to have caused the decline, this harvest has been greatly
restricted in recent years yet the beluga abundance has not
rebounded. Some are concerned that shipping, pollution,
commercial fishing, and other factors could contribute to
further declines in its population. Trustees for Alaska has
filed . a petition with the Secretary of Commerce to list the
Cook Inlet beluga whale under the Endangered Species Act
and that its critical habitat be designated. Some groups,
including the State of Alaska. have filed letters with the
Secretary urging that the Cook Inlet beluga not be listed at
this time. The Council is concerned over potential effects of
an ESA listing on Cook Inlet fisheries, and the Council
asked to receive additional information on this species at
future Cbuncil meetings. Staff contact is Bill Wilson.
Essential Fish Habitat
The Council will initiate a regulato!}' FMP amendment to
adjust boundaries within the Aleutian Islands Habitat
Conservation Areas (AIHCA). The AIHCA was adopted
under the EFH action taken by the Council in February
2005 and will be into the regulations by August 2006. The
changes are to include one historically fished area identified
near Aggattu Island that was not included in the current
regulations as an open area and to remove one area near
Buldir Reef that has not been historically fished and is
considered open. The Council initiated this amendment
process after receiving public comment from the fishing
industry. The regulatory language within the FMP for EFH
includes latitude and longitude boundaries for the open and
closed areas in the AICHA. Some of these latitude and
longitude positions once groundtruthed with fishing charts
need to be modified to represent the intent of the action.
Staff contact is Cathy Coon.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council, June 2006
Page 6
1 7
"--'-'~,-",---- ... - . -......----.. _..---'---.__.,....._..-.__._-_.-.._.~---_. . ~_.-~,--__.._ _._..____ n...,-_., ...._..__
Bering Sea Haoitat
Conservation
The Council received a report on two discussion papers on Bering
Sea habitat conservation during the June meeting. The purpose of
these two discussion papers was to provide background
information to assist the Council in formulating a reasonable
range of alternatives to minimize (to the extent practicable) the
effects of fishing on EFH in the Bering Sea.
The first discussion paper provided a framework of alternatives
for the upcoming Bering Sea habitat conservation analysis based
on the problem statement adopted by the Council in December
2005. The Council intends to evaluate potential new fishery
management measures to further conserve benthic habitat in the
Bering Sea. The analysis will tier off of the 2005 EFH
Environmental Impact Statement and will consider as alternatives
open and closed areas and gear modifications. The purpose of the
analysis is to consider practicable and precautionary management
measures to reduce the potential adverse effects of fishing on
EFH and to support the continued productivity of managed fish
species. The Council adopted alternatives for the analysis (the
motion is available on the Council's website). An update on
current gear modification research will be available in December.
The second discussion paper provided information on St.
Matthew blue king crab and Bering Sea snow crab (Opilio)
stocks. No new information warrants additional habitat
protections for these crab species within the current rebuilding
plans however thenf may beiricreased fishery interactions with
the locations of the crab stocks due to the northward expansion at
the trawl fleet. At this meeting the Council requested the crab
plan team meet to consider additional crab. protection areas for St.
Matthew blue king crab and Bering Sea OpiIio crab, and make
recommendations to the Council at the October meeting. Based
on these recommendations, the Council may consider changes to
the 'open area' alternatives or possible designation as HAPC in the
future.
The Council also discussed the need for the evaluation of the
current pelagic trawl gear performance standards within the
Bering Sea habitat conservation analysis. The Council noted that
the current standards seem to be working. Re-evaluation of
pelagic trawl performance standards will not included in the
Bering Sea Habitat Conservation analysis, but may be addressed
separately. Staff contact is Cathy Coon.
Upcoming Meetings
Crab Plan Team meeting: Sept. 13-15, Anchorage location TBA
Groundfish Plan Team: September 19-22, AFSC Seattle
SSLMC meeting: June 27-30, AFSC, Seattle
coa Program ·
In April, the Council received a presentation from the State
of Alaska on its draft 2006 - 2008 CDQ allocation
recom~~ndations. No Council action was required,
recogOlzmg that Federal regulations require the State to
consult with the Council on its allocation recommendations.
For all CDQ and prohibited species, except for halibut and
crab, the State's draft recommendations are as follows:
APICDA - 15%; BBEDC - 19%; CBSFA - 8%; CVRF-
22%; NSEDC - 20%; and YDFDA - 16%. The State has
not yet submitted these recommendations to NMFS, and has
extended the comment period for the CDQ groups to June
30. The current CDQ allocations have been in place since
2003, per a NMFS action that made the 2003 - 2005
allocations effective until they are replaced by a future final
agency action or Congressional action. The current (2006)
CDQ pollock allocations are as follows: APICDA - 14%;
BBEDC - 21 %; CBSFA - 5%; CVRF - 24%; NSEDC -
22%; and YDFDA - 14%.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of
2006. (H.R. 889) currently being considered in Congress
contains amendments to the CDQ Program section of the
Ma.gnu.son-Stevens Act (MSA), including provisions that
maJD~JD the current allocations to each CDQ group until
such tIme that they are adjusted (starting in 2012 and then
every ten years). In addition, this legislation would address
among other issues: overall allocations to the CoQ
Program; whether some allocations are modified to
represent directed fishing allowances or continue as total
allocations; eligible communities; administration of the
program; and the oversight roles of NMFS and the State of
Alaska. The conference committee biJJ and report were
released on April 6, but this bill has not yet been approved
by Congress. Controversy over a section of the biJJ
unrelated to the CDQ provisions appears to be delayina
formal consideration by the House and Senate. C
i
i
j
N~te that in r><:cember 2005, the Council adopted three
pnmary alternatIves and several options for analysis of
BSAI Amendment 71, many of which would be determined
and/or affected by the proposed legislation described above.
However, regulatory and FMP amendments would still be
necessary to implement the MSA amendments. Staff will
continue to wait for the outcome of the Coast Guard bill
before doing further work on the Amendment 71 analysis.
Some. of the provisions of the current biJJ are relatively
comphcated and will require significant analysis and/or
legal interpretation from NOAA GC. Should the biJJ pass
over the summer, staff will provide a detailed report at the
October 2006 Council meeting on the implications for the
CDQ Program and non-CDQ fisheries. The Council would
hav.e a~ oppoftuni.ty in October to assess the impacts and
revIse Its alternatIves and options for analysis in BSAI
Amendment 71.
The current suite of alternatives for Amendment 71, as well
as a preliminary summary of the alternatives that would be
affected by the bill, are provided on the Council website.
Staff contact is Nicole Kimball.
~
I
torth Pacific Fishery Management Council, June 2006
Page 7
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North Pacific Fishery Management Council
605 W 4th Ste 306
Anchorage, AK 9950 I
PRSRT-STD
US Postage
PAID
Anchorage, AK
Permit #69
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CITY OF SEWARD
HARBORMASTER
PO BOX 167
SEWARD AK 99664-0167
T AC setting EIS
The Council reviewed the suite of aItematives which NMFS is prq>osing
to include in the Fnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) to accompany our
annual quota (fAQ specifications this faD. The alternatives pupa;ed by
NMFS were similar to alternatives included in previous TAC setting
docwnents, with one significant addition which originated from the public
comment (scoping) period. The new AIt 4 JIqx>sed wa<> ac; follows:
I. Set TACs for rockfish species in Tu 3 at Fm,. Set TACs for
rockfish species in Tiel' 5 at F=OSM Set spatially explicit TACs for
shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the BSAI.
2. Set T ACs at ~ for pollock. Pacific cod. and Atka mackerel (in the
BSAI), unless totaJ TAC is below OY; in which case, set F",,;for these
species that wouJd achieve the lower limit of OY. <.,
3. Set T ACs for all othec species following Alternative 2.
This alternative sets conservative harvest rates for important prey species
(pollock. Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod) and sets conservative and
spatially explicit TACs for rockfish species that are long-lived and late to
mature species.
The Council recolIllrended to NMFS deletion of Option 2 under this
alternative. Primary reasons for this Council recommendation were that (J)
reduction of harvest for these three species can already be accommodated
as necessary under Alternative 2, the stanis quo process which incorporates
ecosystem considerations; (2) there are numerous other prey species which
may need to be accounted for, and singling out these three is not necessary
or appropriate; and, (3) the currently ongoing IMP consultation and
associated Biological Opinion relative to Steller sea lions will be
specifically focusing on these three particular prey species. The draft EIS
will be completed by NMFS this swnmer and available for further Council
comment in October.
~t_-~ ;'/":
SSL Permits Vacated
1be Humane Society and other plaintiffs have sued the
Secretary of Conunerce, Conrad Lautenbacher, William
Hogarth. and NMFS claiming violations of NEP A, the ESA,
the ~A, and the APA by ~certain pennits that
authonze research on the Steller sea Jioa On May 26, 2006
U.S. District Court (for the District of Columbia) Judge Ellen
Segal HuvelJe ordered that the contested pennits that authorize
research on SSLs be vacated. These research permits were
issued by NMFS for SSL research for 2006 and subsequent
years. The agency has initiated preparation of an EIS to
explore and analyze potential impacts of the SSL (and northern
fur seal) research activities and to explore alternative ways that
'this research might be conducted. But the plaintiffs claimed
that the EIS should be completed before this research continues
and the Court has agreed, claiming that the requirements of
NEP A were not properly followed. In effect, the Court Order
largely terminates nearly all SSL research currently being
conducted by the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, the
Alaska Sea Life Center, the North Pacific Universities Marine
Mammal Research Consortium, the Alaska Department of Fish
& Game, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the
Aleutians East Borough. The Council was informed that these
research groups are working together to develop a list of
research activities that are "non invasive" and might be allowed
to continue, and hope to meet with the plaintiffs and the judge
soon. Additional information on this new development will be
provided to the Council in October. Staff contact is Bill
Wilson.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council, .lu,.e 2006
Page 8
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