The Council’s Groundfish Committee met Wednesday, October 5, 2011. A number of actions were taken that affect FW 47 development. Here is a quick overview of the major decisions. The meeting summary will be available in about a week.
1. SNE/MAB windowpane flounder:
a. The PDT was directed to develop an option that would invoke the mixed stock exception for SNEMAB windowpane flounder. If approved by the Council and NMFS, this might allow catches that are more than the overfishing limit for this stock.
b. The Committee voted to consider a specific sub-ACL for SNE/MAB windowpane flounder for the multispecies fishery, the scallop fishery, and an as yet undefined other category – this other category will be based on information expected shortly from NERO.
2. The Committee expressed concerns with draft AM measures for ocean pout, windowpane flounder stocks, wolffish, and halibut. They added an AM option for halibut that would ban possession if the ACL is exceeded, and an option that would allow retention of one wolffish per commercial fishing trip with an AM that would ban possession.
3. Proposed an option for GB YTF that would allow the RA to transfer uncaught YTF from the scallop fishery to the groundfish fishery late in the year. NOAA GC expressed concerns that this may not be an item that can be adopted through a framework action. Also, they adopted an option that scallop fishery AMs would only be triggered if the overall ACL is exceeded (rather than as at present, where the AM is triggered if the sub-ACL is exceeded).
4. Directed the PDT to consider a sub-ACL for SNE/MA winter flounder for the scallop fishery.
5. The Committee also voted to adopt the PDT’s recommendation to eliminate the common pool restricted gear areas as part of the adoption of new AMs.
6. NERO representatives explained how the target ASM coverage level for FY 2012 was determined. This presentation is now available on the Council web page (multispecies “what’s new”).
7. The Committee discussed groundfish priorities for 2012 but decided to wait until the November Committee meeting to develop a Committee recommendation for the Council.
The Groundfish Advisory Panel and the Recreational Advisory Panel will meet November 1 (separate meetings), and the Committee will meet again on November 2. Meeting notices will be sent early next week.The final vote for the framework is planned for the November Council meeting.