July 1, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:
The Pacific Fishery Management Council, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center have initiated a review of essential fish habitat (EFH) provisions in the Pacific Coast Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This call for data and information is intended to support the review.
The HMS FMP, its EFH provisions, and maps can be found on the Council’s HMS webpage, under “Key Documents”. The HMS FMP includes the following species:
- Sharks: common thresher, shortfin mako, blue
- Tunas: albacore, bigeye, Pacific bluefin, skipjack, yellowfin
- Striped marlin
- Broadbill swordfish
- Dorado
Fishery management plans are required to identify and describe EFH for each life stage and species, identify and minimize impacts from fishing and non-fishing activities, and identify research needs, among other requirements. A complete description of EFH provisions to be included in FMPs can be found in the EFH regulatory guidance at 50 CFR§600.815(a). Information and data should be relevant to:
- The habitat needs, associations and distribution FMP species listed above
- Major prey items of species listed above
- Adverse impacts on EFH from fishing activities and potential minimization measures
- Adverse impacts on EFH from non-fishing activities and potential minimization measures
- Research and information needs
Information and data sources can include published scientific literature, unpublished scientific reports, information from interested parties, and previously unavailable or inaccessible data.
Information relevant to the HMS EFH review should be submitted to Nicole Nasby-Lucas (nicole.nasby-lucas@noaa.gov) no later than Monday July 13th, 2020. For further information, please contact Kerry Griffin (kerry.griffin@noaa.gov).