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Council forms Fishery Innovation Work Group to finalize HMS roadmap, EFP framework and bycatch metrics
Summary
Council discussion advanced the HMS roadmap and charged a new ad-hoc Fishery Innovation Work Group (FIW) to draft performance criteria for EFPs, refine an EFP process (COP-20) and recommend bycatch monitoring metrics; advisory bodies urged SMART goals and clear performance targets for bycatch and expanded HMS opportunities.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council directed its new ad-hoc Fishery Innovation Work Group (FIW) to continue work on the highly migratory species (HMS) roadmap with particular emphasis on defining an exempted-fishing-permit (EFP) framework, clarifying Council Operating Procedure (COP) 20 process improvements, and recommending performance metrics and acceptable bycatch criteria for HMS EFPs.
Management team staff presented a first draft roadmap and proposed edits that grouped action items into four themes: management objectives and strategies; an EFP framework; decision-support tools and analyses; and continued drift gillnet monitoring. The management team recommended the council adopt the draft components, clarify roles among the management team (MT), advisory subpanel (AS), and FIW, and revise wording in goal language that had included the phrase "climate-ready fisheries." The MT asked whether the terms appendix and some content from an earlier swordfish monitoring and management plan should be incorporated into the roadmap.
Advisory bodies and public commenters urged concrete, measurable goals. The HMS Advisory Subpanel recommended SMART goals for bluefin and swordfish landings, bycatch levels tied to science and potential biological removals, and clearer differentiation between EFP-test expectations and standards for an authorized fishery. Public commenter Teresa Labriola urged EFP performance criteria that include target-species catch rates, bycatch avoidance, post-release survivorship and gear principles (e.g., deep-setting hooks, reduced soak time, active tending).
Council discussion focused on the roadmap—s scope and wording. Several council members said the roadmap is ready to move to the FIW for detailed work rather than adopt it on the floor. Members asked the FIW to return a June briefing-book report with draft terms of reference, EFP process improvements, suggested EFP performance metrics, and clarification of roles. The council also confirmed that IRA-funded resources are available to support the FIW—s work.
Why it matters: finalizing an EFP framework, standardized performance goals and bycatch metrics will create clearer expectations for applicants and managers, shorten review cycles, and help the council evaluate whether experimental gear can become an authorized HMS fishery.
Quotes and sourcing: Management team lead Alan Sarich summarized the draft roadmap edits and asked for guidance; HMS Advisory Subpanel vice-chair Mike Conroy and public commenter Teresa Labriola recommended SMART performance goals; FIW chair Kerry Griffin summarized the group—s plan to meet in late April and report in June.
Next steps: FIW will meet in late April and deliver a report and draft recommendations for the council—s June advanced briefing book, including terms of reference and draft EFP performance criteria.
