Council debates which nearshore groundfish to keep in federal plan as stock‑definition review continues

Summary

At the Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting the staff presented Phase 2 stock‑definition work to decide whether 42 remaining groundfish stocks need federal conservation and management in the EEZ; states, SSC, GMT and advisory panels differed on which stocks to retain, and legal context from an Alaska court ruling was discussed.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council spent extensive time on its Phase 2 stock‑definition project on Tuesday as staff, state delegations, and advisory bodies debated whether dozens of nearshore and shelf groundfish stocks are "in need of conservation and management" in the U.S. exclusive economic zone and therefore should remain in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan.

Council staffer Katrina Bernas told the council the action before members is to adopt final preferred alternatives for 42 species and to prepare an FMP amendment where appropriate. The analytical framework uses the 10 non‑exhaustive factors in National Standard guidance (50 CFR 603.05(c)) — for example whether a stock is a component of the marine environment, whether the fishery catches the stock, and whether federal management can improve the stock's condition.

Why it matters: Determining whether a stock is in need of federal conservation and management affects whether NMFS would continue to set annual catch limits, adopt overfishing limits or maintain…

Council debates which nearshore groundfish to keep in federal plan as stock‑definition review continues

Summary

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