Council adopts 2025–26 Pacific sardine limits, keeps directed fishery closed

Council members adopted harvest specifications for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine on April 13, setting an age‑1+ biomass estimate of 30,158 metric tons, an overfishing limit (OFL) of 4,645 metric tons and an acceptable biological catch (ABC) consistent with the council’s chosen buffer. The resulting annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2025–26 fishing year was set at 2,200 metric tons, which keeps the directed commercial sardine fishery closed while allowing limited incidental and research catches.

The council’s fisheries advisors and the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) reviewed an update assessment prepared by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). The SSC endorsed the assessment as the best scientific information available for management, reported that the assessment should be designated category 2d given uncertainties (including the presence of Japanese sardine in samples), and recommended an OFL of 4,645 metric tons based on the assessment’s harvest control rule and a temperature‑dependent EMSY parameter. The council adopted ABC and ACL values consistent with council motions and advisory‑body recommendations.

Why it matters: the adopted ACL—2,200 metric tons—reflects the council’s November 2024 rebuilding plan decision that when age‑1+ biomass is below 50,000 metric tons the ACL should be set at 2,200 mt or the ABC, whichever is less. The 30,158 mt biomass is below the rebuilding plan’s 50,000‑mt threshold and well below the 150,000‑mt cutoff that would allow full directed fishing.

Key details adopted and next steps - Biomass (age‑1+ on 07/01/2025): 30,158 metric tons (assessment estimate endorsed by the SSC). - OFL: 4,645 metric tons (SSC endorsed calculation). - P* used in the adopted motion: 0.50 (motion text adopted by the council). - ABC (tier 2 table, corresponding to chosen P*): 3,957 metric tons (as adopted). - ACL: 2,200 metric tons (adopted; consistent with the council’s November 2024 rebuilding plan alternative for biomass below 50,000 mt). - ACT (annual catch target): 2,100 metric tons (adopted to trigger accountability measures before the ACL is reached). - Incidental landing allowance: up to 20% for sardine landed in other CPS fisheries while northern biomass is below 50,000 mt; the council also included specific per‑trip/landing limits (see text below).

Accountability measures: the council adopted an ACT of 2,100 mt to create a near‑term trigger for accountability measures. If the ACT is reached, the council will implement per‑trip or per‑landing limits (the adopted motion established a…