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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05022007 PACAB Packet .Seward Port and Commerce Advisory Board Re~ular Meetin~ May 2, 2007 Regular Meeting City Council Chambers Beginning at noon SEWARD PORT AND COMMERCE ADVISORY BOARD Regular Meeting May 2, 2007 NOON COUNCIL CHAMBERS Deborah Altermatt Chair Tenn Expires 2007 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Karl Van Buskirk Vice Chair Tenn Expires 2007 3. ROLL CALL Paul Scbuldt Board Member Tenn Expires 2009 4. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTA nONS AND REPORTS Darryl Scbaefermeyer Board Member Tenn Expires 2009 A. ARRC Representative Louis Bencardino B. Chamber Director Laura Cloward Ron Long Board Member Term Expires 2008 C. KPBIEDD - City Council member Valdatta D. Administrative Report Vacant Board Member Tenn Expires 2008 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 mirmtes total time for this agenda item.] Tberesa Butts Board Member Term Expires 2009 6. Approval of agenda and consent agenda {Approval of Consent Agenda passes all routine items indicated by asterisk Manin Yoder Interim City Manager Scott A. Ransom Harbonuaster 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Christy Terry Executive Liaison A Project Status List- On-Going...... ... ...... ... ....Page 3 B. Resolution 2007-02, recommending Andy Baker's Lowell Creek Hydro Engineering ProposaL.. ... ... ... .. . ... ... .Page 4 City of Seward, Alaska May 2,2007 PACAB Agenda Page 1 8. NEW BUSINESS- A. Set May 16, 2007 Work Session......... ...........................Page9 10. CORRESPONDENCE, INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required)- A. Interim City Manager Marvin Yoder's Update on Event Insurance . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .Page 10 B. Resolution 2005-080, amending the Port and Harbor Tariff by modifying the Passenger Transit Fee to change penalties for failure to timely remit payment, and to increase the passenger fee from $1.50 per passenger to $3.50 per passenger, to fund upland work in the South and East Harbors and construction of step 2 of the Harbor Expansion Project, including constructing new M, N, 0, P, and Q Floats in the South Harbor. ......................................................... Page 11 C. Process Status of SMIC Development Plan Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15 D. Northern Pacific Fishery Management Council, April 2007...... ...... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ........Page 17 11. BOARD COMMENTS 12. CITIZENS' COMMENTS [5 minutes per individual - Each individual has one opportunity to speak.] 13. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENT 14. ADJOURNMENT City of Seward, Alaska May 2, 2007 PACAB Agenda Page 2 <( f= 00 I- 0 W W ;::: Q 0 I- Z 0:: a; u W 9 c( <: :2 Z W :2 ~ ~ W -, >- .a 0 - 0.. 0 0 W ..>:: C9 CD 6 0 ~ 0::: C9 ...J C 0 0::: eo Z 0.. 1ii ~ u W Z :2 l- I- I 0 Q) I 0 Z o/l 0 Z 0 W 9- - :J Z ...J 0 I- III W ~ !D u... <( <( !!! 3: c u <( en .... 0::: I- 0.. 0 U > .!!! ,.... Q) C9 0 0 X W 0 Iii 0 00 E I'- Cf) Z W 0 '9 ..J 0 z u... ...J 0 0 z ,9 - <( W ('II 0 t::: z C9 l- I W <II c( II) .c W U C9 Cf) W C9 ~ ::J - ~ III N <( Z W Z Z W .... t:: Iii Z 0::: S2 ~ -, Z <( III .l!l C') i= 0 0 I- 0 0 0::: u... ~ 0::: - () 0 W :J c en "C 0 i= W 0 00 0::: W 0 00 0 Q) 0:: S C9 Iii :J 0::: ...J C9 0.. Z Z ...J U E W .... W "" ...J u... 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W w w ~ 0 u... z a II) z ~ 0 ~ r:r::x: 0 z r:r:: !cC z :I: ::i r:r:: ..; 0 ~ ~ !D Ii: ::.:: !D ~;i5 ~ !:2 :I: 3: a. w 3: fJ) :I: 0 r:r:: I- U ~ r:r:: r:r:: r:r:: :;: fJ) a. 0 <C 0 J: ..J 0 W i:2 <C (.!) wr:r:: <C <C (3 fJ) i:L ;:) 0 :I: Z fJ) <C r:r:: z a... :I: :I: fJ)!D Sponsored by: Board CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA PORT AND COMMERCE ADVISORY BOARD RESOLUTION 2007-02 (SUBSTITUTE) RESOLUTION OF THE PORT AND COMMERCE ADVISORY BOARD, PROVIDING A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL FOR PURSUIT OF ANDY BAKER'S YOURCLEANENERGY LLC, LOWELL CREEK AND MARATHON CREEK IN-STREAM HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS AS A SOURCE OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FOR THE SEWARD UTILITY DISTRICT WHEREAS, the Seward City Council has tasked the Port and Commerce Advisory Board to research possible sources of alternative energy for the community; and WHEREAS, future costs of fuel-based electricity are uncertain and this project offers a potential to sell fixed-cost hydroelectric power profitably over time; and WHEREAS, a diverse, stable, fixed-price energy supply is becoming a vital component of economic health and independence; and WHEREAS, the Board acknowledges that the construction and maintenance portions of this proposal may be underestimated; and WHEREAS, the proposed project has the potential to be NOT feasible at all, it also has the potential to be VERY beneficial to this community; and WHEREAS, the engineering costs proposed are quite reasonable; and WHEREAS, this project's feasibility hinges on the flow-analyses of the creeks and other key factors; and WHEREAS, the City may be able to reduce the amount of money at stake by minimizing or alternately re-structuring the proposed contract; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Seward Port and Commerce Advisory Board that: Section 1. The Board recommends the Seward City Council undertake the necessary steps to make Seward's electrical future safe, secure, reliable and stable in cost. Port and Commerce Advisory Board Resolution 2007-02 (Substitute) Page 2 of2 Section 1. The Board recommends the Seward City Council undertake the necessary steps to make Seward's electrical future safe, secure, reliable and stable in cost. Section 2. The Board recommends the Seward City Council investigate components of Andy Baker's Y ourCleanEnergy LLC proposal to determine the feasibility of minimizing or restructuring the initial contract. Section 3. The Board Recommends that the Seward City Council authorize the Administration to enter into negotiations with Y ourCleanEnergy LLC for engineering services outlined in the proposal. Section 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption. 2007. PASSED AND APPROVED by the Port and Commerce Advisory Board this 2th day ofMay mE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA Deborah Altermatt, Chair AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTEST: Jean Lewis, City Clerk (City Seal) MEMORANDUM Date: May 2, 2007 To: Port and Commerce Advisory Board Through: Scott Ransom, Harbor Master ~ From: Christy Terry, Executive Liaison Subject: Resolution 2007-02 (Substitute) At the Port and Commerce Advisory Board Regular Meeting of April 4, 2007 a motion postponing this item to the May 2, 2007 Regular Meeting was approved. Currently, there is no motion on the floor to approve Resolution 2007-02. Substitute Resolution 2007-02 has been proposed and the Board is allowed to substitute this resolution to bring before the Board, discuss, amend (if applicable), and vote for approval. RECOMMENDATION: If the Board wishes to take action on this item, a motion is in order: "I move to approve substitute Resolution 2007-02." Sponsored by: Board CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA PORT AND COMMERCE ADVISORY BOARD RESOLUTION 2007-02 RESOLUTION OF THE PORT AND COMMERCE ADVISORY BOARD, PROVIDING A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL FOR FURTHER STUDY OF ANDY BAKER, YOURCLEANENERGYLLC, LOWELL CREEK AND MARATHON CREEK HYDROELECTRIC PROJECfSASA SOURCE OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FOR THE COMMUNITY OF SEWARD WHEREAS, the Seward City Council has tasked the Port and Commerce Advisory Board to research possible sources of alternative energy for the community; and WHEREAS, hydroelectric power generated from Lowell Creek is affordable, reliable and safe energy for Seward; and WHEREAS, with rising grid electricity costs and rising diesel fuel costs there is a potential to sell fixed cost hydroelectric power profitably over time; and WHEREAS, the proposal is reasonable in cost; and WHEREAS, the Board recommends the Seward City Council examine closely if the proposal might be minimized into basic steps to verify feasibility; and WHEREAS, the Board recommends the Seward City Council examine closely the issues surrounding; volatile construction costs and maintenance costs that are perhaps underestimated in the proposal and power generation figures that are perhaps overestimated; and WHEREAS, the Board suggests that the Seward City Council negotiate with Y ourCleanEnergy LLC to enter into a fixed price contract for engineering study services where Y ourCleanEnergy LLC would supply all services including subcontractors, and would provide a finaI product to include complete engineering studies and permitting; and WHEREAS, through the Port and Commerce Advisory Board's review of the proposal, the Board finds sufficient merit in the proposal to warrant a higher level of examination and possible negation by the City Council and Administration. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Seward Port and Commerce Advisory Board that: Port and Commerce Advisory Board Resolution 2007-01- Page 2 of2 Section 1. The Board recommends the Seward City Council undertake the necessary steps to make Seward's electrical future, safe, secure, reliable and stable in cost. Section 2. The Board recommends the Seward City Council immediately initiate a through and complete evaluation of the Andy Baker, Y ourCleanEnergy LLC, proposal on the Lowell Creek and Marathon Creek Hydro projects. Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption. PASSED AND APPROVED by the Port and Commerce Advisory Board this 4th day of April 2007. THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA Deborah Altermatt, Chair AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABST AIN: ATTEST: Jean Lewis, City Clerk (City Seal) MEMORANDUM Date: May 2, 2007 To: Port and Commerce Advisory Board Scott Ransom, Harbor Master ~ k Christy Terry, Executive Liaison ~\ Through: From: Subject: May 16, 2007 Work Session The Board's current Work Session in May is scheduled for noon on April 16th. Administration helped coordinate a Joint Work Session with PACAB, the Chamber of Commerce Board and City Manager Phillip Oates to be held on this date at Oriental Gardens. Board Members have discussed conducting a joint Work Session with the Chamber Board and the incoming City Manager. Chamber Director Laura Cloward and City Staff worked together to coordinate a suggested time and place to present to PACAB. Both City Manager Phillip Oates and the Seward Chamber Board are available for a meeting scheduled for noon, April 16th at Oriental Gardens. The Board is allowed under Seward City Code 2.30.320 (a) to designate their own time and place for Meetings and Work Sessions. RECOMMENDATION: The Port and Commerce Advisory Board approve a joint Work Session with the Chamber Board and City Manager Phillip Oates to be held at Oriental Gardens on May 16th at noon. MEMORANDUM To: Port and Commerce Advisory Board Date: May 2, 2007 Subject: Interim City Manager Marvin Yoder recommendations Event Insurance There are approximately 10 events during the year. An event may have several venues such as sports, food, boat blessing etc. The City Council may set a fee for event certificates. Some of these events are well established with national and/or commercial sponsors who are able to insure the event under their own business or commercial policies. There are also events sponsored by the City of Seward (e.g. Parks and Recreation, Harbor Department). Additional insurance is not necessary for most of these events. There are local entities that have limited resources and/or access to insurance markets, who would like to sponsor an event that would provide an economic boost to the community. To encourage additional events and the economic impact derived from them, the City agrees to make available special event coverage for these events. The city would charge a user fee to the event sponsors if coverage is accepted. The permit would be offered by the City however, the Chamber of Commerce would be the preliminary contact point for these applicants and would assist in preparing the application for entities wanting to sponsor an event. All applications, with the fees must be submitted no later than 3 weeks before the event. Additionally, requirements include: · Sporting events require the participants to carry their own health insurance and sign a waiver releasing the city. · Any event that serves alcohol would have additional requirements & fees and also provide security staff. · Activities such as extreme sports, etc, would be disallowed. . A description of the proposed activities included in the application. L L SpoDsored by: Corbridge CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2005-80 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, AMENDING mE PORT AND HARBOR TARIFF BY MODIFYING THE PASSENGER TRANSIT FEE TO CHANGE PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO TIMELY REMIT PAYMENT,ANDTO INCREASE THE PASSENGER FEE FROM $1.50 PER PASSENGER TO 53.50 PER PASSENGER, TO FUND UPLAND WORK IN THE SOUTH AND EAST HARBORS AND CONSTRUCTION OF STEP 1 OF THE HARBOR EXPANSION PROJECT, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTING NEW M, N, 0, P, AND Q FLOATS IN THE SOUTH HARBOR WHEREAS, at its meeting of April 25, 2005, the Seward City Council approved Resolution 2005-27 accepting a final harbor expansion configuration (reflected in the Halbor Layout maps prepared byTryck. Nyman, Hayes, Inc., dated 415105) for the Harbor Expansion Project ("the Project"); and WHEREAS, at its meeting of May 23, 2005, the Seward City Council approved Resolution 2005-36 and authorized Step 1 of three steps in the Project (extending E, F, J Floats and moving the Fuel and X Floats) which was funded utilizing revenues from the 12.96% increase in moorage rates which was effective January I. 2005; and WHEREAS, this resolution pursues direction given to the City administration at Council's April 25, 2005 meeting, aimed at funding Step 2 in the Project (constructing new M, N, 0, P and Q Floats and upland work in the South and East Harbors) and authorizes an increase in the Passenger Fee from $1.50 to $3.50perpassenger effective January 1, 2006. to fund a portion of Step 2, with the remAining funds recommended to come from other sources which may include revenues derived from the newly created slips and a proposed 10% increase in harbor moorage fees; and WHEREAS, this resolution also changes penalties and late filing fees associated . with the late payment or non-payment of passenger fees, increases the amount of time that vendors have to remit payment from 10 days to 30 calendar days, and creates a mechanism by which the city manager can assess passenger fees to an operator who fails to file a return. in order to ensure that passenger fees are paid in time to meet the City's debt service obligations; and WHEREAS, it is necessary to establish an adequate revenue stream to support a future revenue bond proposal, and failure to make a timely decision will result in further . project delays and may result in higher project costs due to rising interest rates, drastically increasing fuel prices, and the upsurge in the price of steel; and CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2005-80 moorage and 1,024 feet of skiff space, and will help to reduce the waiting list which currently stands at more than 400 customers; and ..J WHEREAS. a $2.00 per passenger increase in the passenger fee will generate approximately $333.000 annually; and WHEREAS, the Harbor Passenger Fee was originally instituted according to Resolution 2000-093. with Section 4 of that resolution stating, "The passenger fees... shall be coHected and paid ... and shall continue until such time that there are no longer any outstanding Parity Bonds as defined in Resolution No. 94 relating to the issuance of harbor revenue bonds."; and WHEREAS, the intent language of Resolution 2000-93 stated that "it is the intent of the City Council to collect only those passenger fees sufficient to pay expenses and debt service on the revenue bonds and for other capital improvements in the Seward Small Boat Harbor"; and WHEREAS, additional intent language in that same resolution states "it is the intent of the City Council to not adopt new passenger fees while the revenue bonds are outstanding, and that the passenger fees provided for in this resolution shall sunset on payment of the revenue bonds;" and WHEREAS, the scope of the desired harbor configuration has changed dramatically since passenger fees were first imposed in 2000 (based on a lengthy and well-attended public involvement process), leading new principals involved in the process to conclude that additional passenger fees represent a justified and appropriate mechanism by which to generate a stable revenue source to repay revenue bonds for additional harbor capital improvements; and 1 j .... WHEREAS. it is within the purview of the present COWlCil to increase the passenger fee; and WHEREAS, the revenue bonds proposed to be issued to pay for the future capital improvements to the Seward Small Boat Harbor are parity bonds and as such, qualify to be paid utilizing passenger and other fees; and WHEREAS, it remains the intent of the current City Council to collect only those passenger fees sufficient to pay expenses and debt service on the revenue bonds and for other capital improvements in the Seward Small Boat Harbor, and the passenger fees provided for in this resolution shall sunset on payment of the revenue bonds; and CITY OF SEW ARD~ ALASKA RESOLUTION 2005-80 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE ~ CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, that: Section 1. The Port and Harbor Tariff is hereby amended to increase the Passenger Fee by $2.00 per passenger, from the current rate of $1.50 per passenger to $3.50 per passenger, with an effective date of January 1, 2006. Section 2. Effective December 1,2005, Subsection 230 entitled "Passenger Fees" of Section n entitled "Services and Charges" of the Rules, Rates, Charges and Regulations for Port and Harbor Facilities, Seward, Alaska" is hereby amended to add Subsections 230 (b) "Filing offorms and payment of fees" and 230 (c) "Failure to file" as follows: Z30 (b) Fili"g 91 jtlf71fS IIIId PfI1IIIelft tlllea. Prior to January 1 of each year, operators of affected passenger vessels shall corq>lete a passenger fee registration form provided by the City. Passenger fees shall be paid and reported to the City monthly, on a fonn, and in a manner. provided by the City, within 30 calCDdar days oftbe month for which the fees are due. The City may require more or less .J...- frequent filing, depending on the account status of the filer. A return must be filed everypcriod, even " ~ if no transactions have occurred. Failure to file a retum is subject to a missed filing feeof$25 Cor each missed filing. Failure to remit all taxes collected or later found to be due by the due date. is subject to a penalty in the amolDlt of 10% of the amount owed, plus interest charged at the maximun rate allowed by law per year, compounded monthly. ..... 130 (e) F"i/urll t9 JiIe. When an operator fails to fale a return, or when the city manager fmds that a return filed by an operator is not properly supported, the city manager may prepare and tile a return on behalf of the operator. Passenger fees estimated on a return filed on behalf of the operator may be premised upon any information that is available to the city manager including, without limitation, compantive data for similar businesses. An operator for whom an involuntaJy return is tiled under this subsection shall be liable for the passenger fees stated on the return as well as any applicable penalties and interest as stated in 230 (b). Section 3. The increase in the Harbor Passenger Fee shall continue until such time as there are no longer any outstanding parity bonds relating to the issuance of harbor revenue bonds. Jf Section 4. Section 5 of Resolution 2000-093 which states that "Passenger fees shall be paid and reported to the City monthly, on a form provided by the City, oW by the lOth oftbe month following the month for which the fees are due" is hereby r amended to be consistent with this resolution, since 230 (b) above extends the period of time in which an operator has to file and remit passenger fees to the City, to 30 calendar days. Section 5. This resolution shall take effect ten days after adoption. PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this 12th day of September, 2005. CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2005-80 u~ Vanta Shafer, Mayo I .J AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Branson. Dunham, VaIdatta, Amberg, Clark, Lorenz, Shafer None None None ATTEST: - i~M.'1f:~ an~s, ity CleriC- (Ci~"rJt",.. ~..... "" O:..~~lV4 ~~. .t d:"'oV-POR:t~.;::O '~ :: .'~ ~.. &'1 :: :..........- .. ft~ .. , S..-:t '" T ~ ,. : 0 \. ,r!.. "}..U : 9 ~ :. .. i ~ .. ---:..-; ~. ~ "",t'I,.: ~ l;t ~ ~. 1 ~ ~ ~ ~'\:-~ c 1 ~:...t."~ ~r ........-"'"~ ......1. t"-.' 4', ....... ...~ C~ r'-:..-'- ; "'r~t"." , . :.'j.' \:0-'.1: .- .1." ....J Seward Planning & Zoning Commission May 3, 2007 Marianna Keil Chair Term Expires 02/10 Tom Smith Vice-Chair Term Expires 02/10 Margaret Anderson Commissioner Term Expires 02/09 Kevin Clark Commissioner Term Expires 02/09 Lynn Hohl Commissioner Term Expires 02/08 Sandie Roach' Commissioner Term Expires 02/10 Bob Hicks Commissioner Term Expires 02/08 Phillip Oates City Manager Vacant Planner Donna Glenz Planning Assistant Vacant Executive Liaison '/:30 p.m. Re~~~~~~~!!=! 1. Call to Order 2. Opening Ceremony A. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Roll Call 4. Special Reports & Presentations A. City Administration Report 1. Reported Violations, Interpretation and Abatement B. Other Reports, Announcements & Presentations 1. KPB Planning Commission Report - Tom Smith 2. Liaison from Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board 3. Previous work session review - Chair 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) 6. Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda. [Approval of Consent Agenda passes all routine items indicated by asterisk (*). Consent Agenda items are not considered separately unless a Commissioner so requests. In the event of such a request, the item is returned to the Regular Agenda.] Planning & Zoning Commission May 3, 2007 Regular Meeting Agenda Page 1 7. Public Hearings [Limit comments to 5 minutes. Those who have signed in will be given the first opportunity to speak] A. Unfinished Business Items requiring a Public Hearing - None B. New Business Items requiring a Public Hearing _ None 8. Unfinished Business _ A. JaBl:lary 4, 20m Regalar Meetisg Mmmes (Pulled from agenda by staff, required information not received at time of packet printing) .........................................Page 9. New Business JfA. Select a Work Session date for review and recommendations of the Seward ~ Marine Industrial Center Development Plan .....................................................Page -~ B. Resolution 2007-08, approving the 2007 P&Z Commission Priority List .......Page C. Discussion and recommendation to Council regarding Annexation of area North of Seward City Limits............ .............................. ........................... ............ ....... Page 10. Informational Items and Reports (No action required) A. Special meeting notice for May 15,2007 ..........................................................Page B. A Request by Brad Snowden to purchase City of Seward land on the West side of Nash Road; approximately 5 acres of Tract HI, Fourth of July Subdivision, Roberts Replat (Staff plans to place item on the May 15, 2007 Special Meeting Agenda)..............................................................................................................Page 11. Commission Comments 12. Citizens' Comments [Limit to 5 minutes per individual - Each individual has one opportunity to speak] 13. Commissions and Administration Response to Citizens' Comments 14. Adjournment Regular Meeting Agenda Page 2 / ( '-. Planning & Zoning Commission May 3, 2007 '-~.-" ..... c:> in ~ "tl Q) - co "tl Co ::l ~ o o ...J ~ ::l o Cl z j:: w w ::!! W w a: ::J: ~ U ::!! LL 0.. Z ~ LL ~ C ,...", 0'>: 0'" N.l!! M~ ~ " ~g> E ~ ~~ ,,0 o~ '" ,....>: g~ N-O: ~oi l;; '" .c~ 00 US:; o~ ~ :: = r;:-~ ~c: ~.. 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North Pacific Fishery Management Council News and Notes /~-~~ f ~\ Stephanie Madsen, Chair Chris Oliver, Executive Director 605 West4"Avenue. Sle 306 Anchorage. AK 99501-2252 Phone (907) 271-2809 Fax (907) 271-2817 Volume 2-07 Visit our webpage at www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc April 2007 Halibut Charter Moratorium The Council approved a motion to implement a moratorium on entry into the charter halibut fisheries in Areas 2C and 3A using a control date of December 9,2005. The moratorium is intended to limit the number of halibut charter businesses that can operate in Areas 2C and 3A in the future. The moratorium program is comprised of several provisions, primary of which is a participation requirement that each licensed fishing guide business owner must have reported a minimum of 5 bottomfish trips on their logbooks during 2004 or 2005, and in the year prior to implementation (likely either 2007 or 2008) in order to qualify for a moratorium permit. A business owner would be issued a permit(s) based on the number of trips summed for all vessels in his best year of the qualification period, and would be limited to the number of permits equal to the highest number of vessels used in anyone year during the qualifying period. In. addition, individual vessels must meet a higher threshold of at least ]5 bottomfish trips in order to receive a transferable permit; vessels that do not meet this threshold would receive a non-transferable permit. An estimated 25% of the moratorium permits would be non-transferable using 2004 and 2005 logbook data. While the Council's preliminary preferred alternative from Febmary identified a more restrictive threshold for overall qualification (10 or ] 5 trips as opposed to 5), the Council's final motion balances the desire to allow more business owners to qualify for an initial permit with the parallel intent to limit the ability of the businesses with relatively low recent participation to sell their permits to a business that may have significantly greater participation (in terms of annual halibut trips) in the future. The Council approved a use cap of 5 permits in order to limit permit consolidation, meaning an individual business owner could not own or control more than 5 permits, unless it was grandfathered in at a higher level. The Council also approved a permit endorsement that would limit the number of halibut clients a vessel operating under that permit could have onboard. A permit's endorsement would be equal to the highest number of bottomfish clients on any trip in 2004 or 2005, with a minimum endorsement of 4. A business could also stack multiple permits on a single vessel, subject to the use cap. This provision was intended to allow individual businesses to expand their operations without increasing the total pool of permits allowed. Note that the permits that would be issued under this program do not limit a business in terms of the number of trips or angler days. The Council motion also included a military hardship provision, as supported by public testimony. This provision allows an individual who qualifies under this provision to be eligible to apply for a moratorium permit without having met the qualification requirements of the general program. To qualify under the military hardship provision a person must have been assigned to active military duty during 2004 or 2005; qualify as an "active" charter business during the year prior to implementation; and can demonstrate an intent to participate in the charter fishery in Area 2C or 3A (prior to the qualifying period). Permits issued under the military hardship provision would receive a halibut client endorsement of 6. Finally, the Council provided opportunities for a specified set of small, rural (not located on the road system) Gulf communities with under-developed charter industries to request and receive a limited number of permits at no cost. These permits would be non-transferable and held only by the Community Quota Entity representing the eligible community, and used to support halibut charter businesses operating out of those communities. The list of Area 2C and 3A eligible communities is noted in the final Council motion. The Council motion on this issue is provided on the Council web site. Council staff contact is Nicole Kimball. Plan Team Appointments The Council appointed two new members to the BSAI Crab Plan Team. Mr. Bill Bechtol is currently working on his PhD at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks conducting a retrospective analysis of the Kodiak red king crab stock collapse. Also appointed is Dr. Andre Punt, who is an associate professor of the School Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, and an expert on stock assessment modeling. We look forward to working with these distinguished scientists. North Pacific Fishery Management Council, April 2007 1 )'" Charter Halibut GHL I The Council reviewed a number of important issues that affect charter halibut fisheries in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska. NMFS infon11ed the Council that it will not implement the International Pacific Halibut Commission's recommendation for a I-fish bag limit in Area 2C (Southeast Alaska) during JLme 15 through July 31, 2007 and in Area 3A (Southcentral Alaska) during June 15 through June 30, 2007. Instead, NMFS has identified its preferred alternative in Area 2C, for a 2-fish. bag limit with a requirement that one of those halibut be no more than 32 inches. This proposed measure, in addition to State of Alaska Emergency Order I-R-02-07, which prohibited the retention of charter fish by skippers and crew and limited the lines that may be fished from a charter boat to the number of paying charter clients onboard the vessel, was determined to result in the same amount of reduction in charter halibut harvest in a manner that would reduce adverse impacts on the charter fishery, its sport fishing clients, the coastal communities that serve as homeports for this fishery, and on fisheries for other species. A proposed rule is expected to be published on April 6, 2007, and a final rule is expected to be published prior to June 1, 2007. Emergency Order 2-R-3-02-07, which implemented the skipper/crew and line restrictions State measures in Area 3A, was determined to be sufficient to restrict charter halibut harvests in that area in 2007. For 2008 and beyond, the Council reviewed an analysis to set restrictive management measures in Area 2C to limit charter halibut harvests to the guideline harvest level (GHL) of 1.432 M lb. The Council revised the range of options for final action in June 2007: 1) No more than one trip per vessel per day; 2) No harvest by skipper and crew, and line limits; 3) Annual limits of four, five or six fish per angler; 4) Reduced bag limits ~f one fish per day for May, June, July, August, September, or the entire season; 5) A two fish bag limit with one fish any size and one fish larger than 45" or 50"; 6) A two fish bag limit with one fish any size and one fish less than 32 inches; 7) A two fish bag limit with one fish any size and one fish either less than 32" or greater than 45"or 50"; 8) Combination of Options 1,2, & 6; 9) Combination of Options 1,2, 7; 10) Combination of Options 1,2, & 5; 11) Combination of Options 1,2,3, & 6; 12) Combination of 1,2,3, & 5; and 13) Combination of options 1,2,3 & 7. Three options were considered and rejected for future action: I) Closing the season after August IS, Sept I, or Sept 15; 2) Closing one or more days of the week to halibut fishing; and 3) A minimum size limit of32 inches. . The Council requested that the analysis compare options relative to Alternative 1 (2 fish bag limit) and Alternative 2, Option 6 (NMFS preferred alternative for 2007) and discuss the possibility that the GHL step down provisions may be triggered in 2008 as a result of a reduced CEY in Area 2C. This is to inform the public that the Council may choose to select management measures to achieve a harvest of either the current GHL of 1.432 M lbs or the step down of 1.217 M Ibs for Area 2C. The regulations are intended to be in effect prior to June 1,2008. The Council also initiated analysis of restrictive management measures to reduce charter halibut harvests to the Area 3A GHL. These include: I) No more than one trip per vessel per day; 2) No harvest by skipper and crew and line limits; 3) Annual limits of four or five or six fish per angler; 4) Reduced bag limits of one fish per day for May, June, July, August, September, or the entire season; 5) A two fish bag hmlt With one fish any size and one fish larger than 32",34", or 36"; 6) A two fish bag limit with one fish any. siz~ and one fish less than 32 inches; 7) A two fish bag hmlt With one fish any size and one fish either less than 32" or greater than 45"or 50". This analysis is scheduled for review in October and final action in December 2007. The regulations are intended to be in effect prior to June 1,2008. The Council is also focusing on long term solutions. It has selected a range of percentages (12-17% in Area 2C and 13- 15% in Area 3A) or fixed pounds (1.4 - 1.9 M Ib in Area 2C and 3.7 - 4.2 M Ib in Area 3A) for an initial allocation to the charter sector. An analysis is scheduled for October 2007. Linked to that decision, the Council has forwarded a separate suite of elements and options for a compensated reallocation program to its Charter Halibut Stakeholder Committee for review and recommendations at its April 12- 13, 200? meeting in Anchorage. The intent is to develop a mechanIsm to fund the purchase of commercial halibut quota shares for future increases in the charter allocation above the level set at initial allocation. The committee will report to the Council in June, The committee will meet separately to provide final recommendations on potential changes to the recently adopted jimited entry program or two share-based programs (client days or quota share) prior to the October Council meeting. The Council's motions are posted on its website. Staff contact is Jane DiCosimo. AI Fishery Ecosystem Plan The SSC and the Council reviewed a draft of the AI FEP at this meeting, and provided feedback to the writing team. The FEP is intended as a guidance document for the Council, to understand the ecosystem context of management actions affecting the Aleutian Islands ecosystem. Dr Saral1 Gaichas, from the Alaska Fisheries Scienc.e Center, pres~nted information on the physical, bIOlogical, and socioeconomic relationships in the Aleutians, including results from the Aleutian Islands food web model, and a qualitative risk assessment of AI ecosystem interactions. The Council was enthusiastic about the ecosystem information collected in the FEP, and requested that the revised document include a discussion of how this information could guide management actions. The Ecosystem Committee will meet in late May 2007 to provide recommendations for the Council about next steps for using the FEP. A revised draft of the FEP will be available on the Council website prior to the June meeting. Staff contact is Diana Evans. North Pacific Fishery Management Council, April 2007 2\ Dark Rockfish The Council took final action to addresses the management of dark rockfish under both the GOA and BSAI FMPs. The amendment 'analysis evaluates removing dark rockfish (Sebastes ciliatus) from the GOA and BSAI groundfish FMPs. This species is currently contained in the pelagic shelf rockfish (PSR) assemblage in the GOA and in the other rockfish complex in the BSAL It comprises a small proportion of the total biomass in each complex, is more often found in nearshore waters, and is caught in State fisheries. The Council recommended removing dark rockfish from both the BSAI and GOA groundfish FMPs. There is limited impact in the Federal fishery of removing this species from either FMP. Dark rockfish comprise a small proportion of the total biomass in the GOA PSR assemblage, which is dominated by the target species, dusky rockfish. Impacts to other PSR stocks as well as other groundfish stocks are minimal due to the relatively minor contribution to the overall eXploitable biomass from the dark rockfish stock. In the BSAI, dark rockfish makes up a very minor component of the total biomass in the other rockfish complex. This is not a target fishery, and retained catch is dominated by shortspine thornyhead rockfish and dusky rockfish. These two species make up the majority of the biomass in the complex. Management of dark rockfish by the State is anticipated to be an improvement over Federal management within the PSR complex due to the State's ability to manage this stock as a single stock and on smaller management areas to protect against the potential for localized depletion. Staff contact is Diana Stram. Salmon Bycatch Workshop The SSC had a workshop on salmon bycatch in conjunction with the Council meeting. Presentations were given by State and Agency scientists on current salmon bycatch patterns, fleet response to closures, stock origin for salmon species taken incidentally in the pollock fishery and updated information on stock status for A YK salmon stocks. The purpose of the workshop was to review this information in the context of the Council's alternatives for a forthcoming amendment package on revised time/area closures and caps on salmon bycatch in the pollock fishery. A workgroup has been formed by the Council to work with staff on options for both hard caps and trigger caps (for time/area closures). This workgroup will meet twice prior to the June Council meeting to formulate their recommendations. The meetings will be open to the public. The Council will receive the recommendations from the workgroup at their June Council meeting and will refine the final suite of alternatives for analysis at that time. Initial review of the salmon bycatch amendment package is anticipated for October 2007. More information on the salmon bycatch workshop, and the current suite of alternatives and Council actions with respect to salmon bycatch in the pollock trawl fishery can be found on the Council website. Staff contact is Diana Stram. Scallop Management The Council reviewed the status the weathervane scallop stocks in Alaska. Management of scallop stocks is delegated to the State of Alaska under a Federally-approved FMP. During the 2005/06 season, 8 of 9 registration areas were open for scallop fishing. Of these 8 areas, only 5 had fishing effort occurring in them. Scallop harvests within _ these areas are limited by the Guideline Harvest Ranges CGHRs) established by the State. Information on scallop stocks is provided by biennial surveys in two regions and by the statewide scallop observer program. New video survey technology is being utilized to provide additional information on scallop stocks. The scallop stocks in Alaska are neither overfished nor approaching an overfished condition. The 2007 Scallop Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report was approved by the Council and is available on our website. The Council also moved to send two letters regarding scallop management issues. The first letter will be sent to the Alaska Legislature to provide additional information on possible impacts of not continuing the current limited entry statutes in the scallop fishery. This vessel-based limited entry program will sunset at the end of 2008, unless extended by the legislature. The Council expressed concern with the possibility of reverting to an open access fishery in state waters and potential adverse effects relative to State/Federal management. The second letter is to the University of Alaska and the Alaska Department ofFish and Game to encourage continued support of research and analysis of scallop stocks, product quality issues, and the overall scallop habitat and ecosystem. Staff contact is Diana Stram. Economic and Social Data Collection The Council received a discussion paper from Alaska Science Center staff concerning the development of a comprehensive economic and social data collection program that would apply to participants in all fisheries. The paper described types of data and potential methods of collection to fulfill needs for economic and social analyses. The paper is the product of preliminary efforts of a workgroup of social and economic analysts on staff with NOAA Fisheries Science Center and Region, State of Alaska, and the Council. The Council suggested that the workgroup continue to develop this program, but stated its intent to postpone further action on this matter to provide the SSC and public with the opportunity to comment on the workgroup's report. In addition, the Council requested the charter industry to consider if and the extent to which that sector should be included in the economic and social data collection program. Staff contact is Mark Fina. North Pacific Fishery Management Council, April 2007 3 -'. "'1 L.... G'ulf of Alaska Pcod 'Sector Allocations The Council received a staff presentation concerning the a potential action to divide the Western Gulf of Alaska and Central Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod total allowable catches among various sectors. The COlmcil adopted the following draft purpose and need statement to guide its action on this matter: The limited access derby-style management of the Western Gulf and Central Gulf Pacific cod fisheries has led to competition among the various gear types (trawl, longline, pot, and jig) and operation types (catcher processor and catcher vessel) for shares of the total allowable catch. Competition for the GOA Pacific cod resource has increased for a variety of reasons, including increased market value of cod products, rationalization of other fisheries in the BSAI and GOA, increased participation by fishermen displaced from other fisheries, a reduced federal TAC due to the state waters cod fishery, and Steller Sea Lion mitigation measures including the AIB seasonal split of the GOA Pacific cod TAC. The competition among sectors in the fishery may contribute to higher rates of bycatch, discards, and out-ofseason incidental catch of Pacific cod. Participants in the fisheries who have made long-term investments and are dependent on the fisheries face uncertainty as a result of the competition for catch shares among sectors. Allocation of the TAC among sectors would reduce this uncertainty and contribute to stability across the sectors. Dividing the TAC among sectors may also facilitate development of management measures and fishing practices to address Steller sea lion mitigation measures, bycatch reduction. and PSC mortality issues. The Council also adopted a series of provisions for preliminary analysis. Those provisions would be used to define: Sectors by gear and operation type, Sector catch histories for determining allocations (which could include all retained catch, retained catch (except catch used in meal production), or catch during the directed fishery), An increasing allocation to the jig sector to allow for growth of that sector, Stranded allocations to allow for late season harvest of a ~ector' s remaining allocation by other sectors, Incidental catch allowances to support incidental catch needs The full list of elements and options is on the Council's website. The Council requested staff to begin the analysis of these elements and options to allow for further refmement at a future meeting. The analysis should provided the Council with preliminary estimates of the sector allocations that would result from the implementation of these elements and options. Staff contact is Mark Fina. Gulf of Alaska Fixed Gear LLP Recency The Council received a staff presentation concerning the potential development of recency requirements for continued LLP eligibility for fixed gear licenses in the Western Gulf of Alaska and Central Gulf of Alaska management areas. The Council adopted the following draft purpose and need statement to focus public input on this Issue: Western Gulf and Central Gulf groundfish fisheries are subject to intense competition, particularly in the A season, when fish are aggregated and of highest value. Competition amongflXed gear participants in the Western Gulf and Central Gulf fisheries has increased for a variety of reasons, including increased market value of Pacific cod products and a declining ABCITAC. The possible fUture entry of latent effort would have detrimental effects on LLP holders that have exhibited participation in, and dependence on, the fIXed gear ground fish fisheries. Many fIXed gear vessel owners have made significant investments, have long catch histories. and are dependant on WGOA and CGOA groundfish resources. These long-term participants need protection from those who have little or no recent history and who have the ability to increase their participation in the fisheries. The intent of the proposed amendment is to prevent latent fIXed gear groundjish fishing capacity that has not been utilized in recent years, from fUture entry or re-entry into the fisheries. This requires prompt action to promote stability in the fIXed gear sectors of the GOA groundfish fisheries, and is expected to be implemented concurrently with the division of GOA Pacific cod among sectors which is currently under consideration. The Council also requested staff to provide additional tables and information concerning participation across the various gear and operation types to assist it in the development of elements and options for analysis. Staff contact is Mark Fina. Upcoming Meetings Charter Halibut Stakeholder Committee April 12-13, Anchorage Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Committee: ApriI17-19, NMFS Conference room, Juneau; May 7-10 AFSC, Seattle Ecosystem Committee is meeting in Seattle (AFSe) on May 21st, timing TBD. Salmon Bycatch Workgroup meetings: April 27 Hilton Hotel Anchorage May 15-16 Hilton Hotel Anchorage Crab Plan Team: May 22-24 AFSC Seattle PNCIAC: April 17 LeifErickson Hall, Seattle Observer Advisory Committee: meeting, May 21 - 22 Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, Building 4, Room 1055 (Agenda will be posted on our website shortly.) North Pacific Fishery Management Council, April 2007 4 'f"-J BSAI Crab Rationalization 18 Month Review The Council received a report that reviews two aspects of the crab rationalization program as scheduled, 18 months after fishing began under the crab rationalization program. The first issue is whether the 90/10 A share/B share split and arbitration system are serving their intended purposes. Based on the report and public testimony, the Council took several actions. First, the Council tasked staff to develop a discussion paper further examining the use of B shares and whether those uses are consistent with the Council's intent in developing those shares. In' addition, the Council stated its intent to create an advisory committee to further examine the use of B shares and develop recommendations concerning several regulatory concerns identified, including issues related to the timing of market reports, and the time periods for matching A shares to IPQ. The Council also tasked staff to develop a discussion paper examining the provision of legal immunity to administrators of the arbitration program (which could include arbitrators, market analysts, arbitration organizations, and the third party data provider). The analysis also examined the landing pattern of C shares (captain and crew shares) in comparison to the landing patterns of A shares and B shares, to assess whether application ofthe 90/10 A shareIB share split is appropriate. Under current regulations, the 9011 0 A shareIB share split would apply to C shares after 3 years of fishing under the program. After considering the analysis and public testimony, the Council elected to initiate an amendment to prevent the application of the A shareIB share split to C shares. The Cotmcil also received a discussion paper prepared by Alaska Fishery Science Center staff concerning the crab economic data collection program. The paper defmed a process for the development of protocols to protect confidentiality and maintain data quality. Under that process, staff would prepare a briefing paper defining confidentiality protocols, including proposed aggregation rules for release of data in analyses. Staff would also prepare a briefing paper based on infonnation gathered from audits and from submitters of economic data concerning potential inaccuracies in data submitted under the program. Variable definitions and preliminary estimates of the degrees of error in the data will be included in the paper. Meetings would be scheduled in the summer for review of these papers by the public and industry. Input from these meetings would be incorporated into both briefing papers. Through this process, proposed data confidentiality and quality protocols will be defined for presentation to the Council at a future meeting. Staff contact is Mark Fina Stock Assessment Review Guidelines The Council reviewed draft guidelines for external reviews of stock assessments, and decided the guidelines should be revised so as to create separate guidelines for groundfish, scallops, and crabs, given the different timing required for completing the assessments and establishing annual catch limits. The Council will make final approval of the revised stock assessment review guidelines in June. GOA Sideboard Li m its . In December 2006, the Council heard public testimony that some of the Gulf of Alaska sideboard limits maybe overly restrictive and that some of the sideboard limits are not restrictive enough. To begin assessing whether changes in _ the sideboard limits in the Gulf of Alaska fisheries are needed, Council requested staff to prepare a summary of Gulf of Alaska sideboard limits. At this meeting, the Council reviewed the discussion paper and directed staff to expand the Gulf of Alaska sideboard limit discussion paper to include assessments of the following: I. Potential redundancies of the CGOA Rockfish Pilot Program and Amendment 80 sideboards and possible methods to modity those sideboards to eliminate redundancies while maintaining their integrity. 2. An option to allow AFA CV GOA sideboard exempt fleet to lease their BSAI pollock allocation during the B season (June IO to November I). 3. The removal of the 14 day stand down (July I to July 14) for CP vessels participating in the CGOA Rockfish Pilot Program that are members of cooperatives in the BSAI fisheries under Amendment 80. 4. An option to exempt crab vessels from GOA Pacific cod sideboards during the B season, starting on November 1 ... 5. An option to change the GOA Pacific cod sideboard exemption criteria for crab vessels. 6. An option to exempt certain crab vessels from GOA pollock sideboard. 7. The number and collective harvest of crab vessels that have been sold and entered into the GOA pot cod fishery. The expanded discussion paper will be available at the October 2007 Council meeting. Staff contact is Jon McCracken Western GOA Pollock Trip Limits At its February 2007 meeting, the Council heard testimony that the current structure of the Western Gulf of Alaska 300,000 Ib pollock trip limit may be ineffective for limiting temporal concentration of catch in that fishery. In response, the Council requested staff to bring back the February 2005 discussion paper concerning this issue. After reviewing the discussion paper and hearing public testimony, the Council initiated an analysis for a regulatory amendment to impose a landing limit of 300,000 Ibs during a 24-hour period trip for Western Gulf of Alaska pollock. Initial review is scheduled for October 2007. Staff contact is Jon McCracken. North Pacific Fishery Management Council, April 2007 5 1. v Trawl CV LLP Recency Tbe Council reviewed an updated discussion paper on trawl CY LLP recency requirements in the BSAI and GOA trawl fisheries. A discussioll paper was also presented by NOAA Fisberies that addressed the respective threshold periods proposed for the amendment (i.e. 1995-2005 or 2000-2005). There are data limitations associating barvests with licenses for the earlier period, therefore selection of the 1995-2005 threshold period, while possible to accomplish, could results in delays implementing tbe amendment. Otber issues addressed in tbe discussion paper included potential exemptions of LLP requirements for the three license limitation programs (AFA/AM80/Rockfish) and gear/area designations in the LLP program. These potential exemptions will be further assessed in tbe next iteration of this analysis. Going into this meeting, the amendment based the threshold criteria on ~l groundfish landings (Alternatives 2 and 4) or on or on both trawl and non- trawl landings (Alternatives 3 and 5). In their action on this proposed amendment, the Council took the following actions: I) Delete Alternatives 3 and 5 and make Alternatives 2 & 4 applicable onlv to LLP trawl endorsements (therefore the amendment will have no effect on non-trawl groundfish LLPs). 2) Direct staff to provide a discussion on exemptions that may be provided for LLP licenses used on vessels in the AFA, AM 80 & Central Gulf Rockfish programs. 3) Direct staff to assess the landings data for 2006 and determine the appropriateness of minimum 2006 landings and/or investments prior to 2006 as trawl Recency qualification tests. With respect to (3), comments during deliberation on this item indicated that Council intent is for staff to look at those LLPs that showed activity only in 2006 (LLPs that would otherwise not meet the landings threshold criteria) and provide additional information only for these instances. An updated version of the alternatives, components and options for this proposed amendment is posted on the Council website. The Council will review this package again in June. Staff contact is Jim Richardson. Observer Program In April, the Council tasked its Observer Advisory Committee (OAC) to convene prior to the June meeting in order to review a discussion paper outlining potential changes to the existing groundfish observer program proposed by NMFS. The OAC is scheduled to meet May 21 - 22 in Seattle to review this paper and recommend alternatives and options for a possible regulatory amendment to implement a suite of changes. The Council will review the discussion paper and the OAC's recommendations at its June meeting. Staff contact is Nicole Kimball. AI Habitat Conservation Area The Council adopted modifications to the Aleutian Island Habitat Conservation Area (AIHCA) during the March 2007 meeting. The AIHCA was created in 2005 as part of a suite of conservation measures to minimize the adverse effects of fishing on Essential Fish Habitat in the Aleutian Islands subarea. The AIHCA prohibits the use of non-pelagic trawl fishing gear in designated areas of the AI to reduce the effects of fishing on corals, sponges, and hard bottom habitats, while allowing areas that have been trawled repeatedly in the past to remain open. The modifications are a result of reported discrepancies in the latitude and longitude boundaries defined in the regulations and those latitude and the boundaries representing fishing patterns recorded on commercial fisher's plotters. Two areas in the Western Aleutians near Agattu and Buldir Islands will be corrected to allow fishing in areas historically fished and to prevent bottom trawling in areas that have not been repeatedly fished. One location near Agattu Strait had been historically fished and was included into the closure area. A second location near Buldir Island was included in the portions of the AIHCA open to bottom trawling but has some documented presence of corals and sponges which is indicative of a fragile habitat. Staff contact is Cathy Coon. Bering Sea Habitat Conservatio'n The Council received a staff report on an initial draft analysis of alternatives to minimize the effects of fishing on habitat in the Bering Sea The analysis tiers off the action taken by the Council in February 2005 to conserve essential fish habitat (EFH) from potential adverse effects of fishing. The alternatives focus on open and closed areas to bottom trawling, as well as gear modifications for bottom trawl gear. The Council recommended the document be made available for public comment with some minor revisions and fmal action will be taken at the June 2007 meeting. Additional information including maps of the areas and the Council's motion are available on the Council web site. Staff contact is Cathy Coon. FMP Consultation The Council received from NMFS a revised schedule for the Section 7 consultation on the Council's Fishery Management Plans. Given the re-prioritization of completing another draft of the Revised Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan, NMFS will suspend work on the consultation and will postpone preparation of a draft Biological Opinion until late 2007. The Council's Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Committee (SSLMC) will complete its work on the Proposal Ranking Tool (pRT) and will review the proposals it has received at its April and May meetings, respectively. The SSLMC will receive further guidance from the Council at its June meeting. Staff contact is Bill Wilson. North Pacific Fishery Management Council, April 2007 6 Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan At its Febmary 2007 meeting, the Council requested that NMFS consider preparing another draft of the Revised Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan for public and Council review. NMFS has agreed, and will release another draft for public review in early May 2007. NMFS intends to have this revised draft Recovery Plan peer reviewed by the Center for Independent Experts, and the Council also will work with the North Pacific Research Board to complete a separate independent peer review of the recovery plan. The Council will convene a special meeting in early August to review the draft Recovery Plan. Additional information on the Special Council meeting will be provided at the Council's June meeting. As part of its planned review of the second draft of the Revised Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan, the Council has contracted with Dr. Tom Loughlin to compile information on the criteria developed by endangered species recovery teams for changing the listing status of ESA-listed species other than Steller sea lions. The review will include discussion and comparison of recovery actions in the plans and their similarity to those in the draft SSL Recovery Plan. This report will be available for Council review at its June 2007 meeting. Staff contact is Bill Wilson. Miscellaneous Items The Council directed staff to drati letters on several issues, including a letter regarding I) a proposal for a pot closure area off Unalaska; 2) comments to NMFS on proposed annual catch limits; 3} complementary State regulations for seabird avoidance measures; 4) the State scallop vessel moratorium; 5} scallop research issues; 6) season dates for BSAI opitio and bairdi crab fisheries; 7) continued NMFS funding for rockfish; 8) inclusion of C shares in the cost recovery program; 9) comments on proposed revisions to the NEPA process; and 10) another letter requesting resolution of observer compensation relative to the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Council approved a motion to formally adopt the Council Coordination Committee. Additionally, they requested discussion papers on implications of removing dinglebar gear from VMS requirements. They also approved the minutes from the February meeting, and a process for awarding the Bob Mace Distinguished Service Award. Lastly, the Council met with a visiting delegation of Russian fisheries representatives, hosted by World Wildlife Fund. A question and answer session with the Council and Russian delegation proved very enlightening to both parties. Other Species Management In April 2005, the' Council initiated an analysis to eliminate the other species category in the BSAI and GOA groundfish FMPs, and set annual specifications for sharks, skates, squids, sculpins, and octopuses, with an option to add grenadiers. At the March 2007 meeting, the Council received a staff report on implications of alternatives being considered to manage the 'other species' complex. The Council decided to hold off on further development of this action until after the issue of setting annual catch limits for data poor stocks is discussed, at a national workshop. The issue could then be addressed by the Non- Target Species Committee over the summer, taking into consideration revised National Standard 1 guidelines, and brought back to the Council at a future meeting. Staff contact is Jane DiCosimo NPFMC Tentative Meeting Dates for 2007-2008* February Week ofl Location April Week ofl Location June Week ofl Location 2007 4/Sitka 2008 4/Seattle Renaissance Downtown March 311 Anchorage Hilton 2/Kodiak October Week ofl Location December Week ofl Location 8/Anchorage Hilton 3/Anchorage Hilton September291 Anchorage 1/Anchorage Hilton 'Meeting dates subject to change depending on availability of meeting space. Any changes will be published in the Council's newsletter. North Pacific Fishery Management Council, April 2007 7 n'V" ~./ " ...,. . i~.' ~ North Pacific Fishery Management Council 605 W 4th Sle 306 Anchorage, AK 99501 PRESRT STD US Postage PAID Anchorage, AK Permit #69 1I,l.,I,I."II, "ll.., I, ,Ill""" 11,11. ,1...I,Il,.l.. ,ll, I.. I MS. B~.RBARA HILDERBRAND SEWARD PORT PO BOX 167 SEWARD ~..K 99664--0167 Special August Council Meeting Scheduled The North Pacific Fishery Management Council will be holding a special meeting in August to comment on the Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan. The SSC will begin August 1 and continue through noon on the 2nd, and the Council will begin at 1 on the 2nd and continue through the 3rd at the Anchorage Marriott Hotel Downtown. The focus of the meeting will be a review of a second draft of the Revised Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan. The first draft of this Plan was released for public review in May 2006, after which NMFS received comments from the Council and its SSC and members of the public. At that time, NMFS' priority was the FMP consultation and Biological Opinion, but early in 2007 the Council requested that the Agency re-prioritize work on the recovery plan. NMFS agreed, and now plans to release another draft of the recovery plan in early May 2007 for another round of public review. The special SSC and Council meeting on August 1-3 will . include the following items: Presentation of the revised draft of the Revised Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan, a summary of the comments received on the first draft of the plan, the results of the peer review conducted by the Center for Independent Experts, a report on the Council's peer review of the revised plan, and a report on recovery criteria developed for other ESA-listed species. An update on the agenda for the meeting will be provided to the Council at its June meeting in Sitka. North Pacific Fishery Management Council, ~pril 2007 8 ".,< ,t.,.,./ May 2007 Monthly Planner ~ KPB Assembly Meeting (All Day) 6 7 8 13 14 15 7:30 PM City CouncU Meeting 6:30 PM P & Z Speclal Meeting 20 21 22 27 28 29 Memorial Day Offices Closed 7:30 PM City CouncH Meeting 12:00 PM PACAB Meeting 7 :00 PM KPB Sales Tax on Recreational Use 7:00 PM -9:00 PM Reception at Saalife Center for Phillip Oates 9 16 12:00 PM PACAB Work. Sessjon 6:30 PM Historic Preservation Meeling 23 30 7:30 PM P & Z Meeting 10 17 24 31 11 .12 18 19 9:00 AM -1 :00 PM Social Security Rep 25 26 June 2007 Monthly Planner 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7:30 PM P & Z Meeting 12:00 PM PACAB Meeting 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 7:30 PM Cny Council Meeting 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 6:30 PM P & Z Work Sess ion 6:30 PM Historic Preservation Meeting 9:00AM-1:00PM Social Security Rep 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 7:30 PM Cny Council Meeting