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Preliminary catch‑share review: monitoring and species protection improved, but economic measures lag
Summary
Council staff and advisers presented a draft review of the West Coast trawl catch‑share program showing environmental improvements linked to monitoring and accountability, but economic indicators — utilization, net benefits and processor health — have declined since about 2020; advisory bodies asked for a diagnosis and for additional analysis before November.
Council staff and outside analysts presented a preliminary review of the West Coast groundfish trawl catch‑share program that found mixed results: strengthened conservation outcomes and monitoring, but worsening economic trends for many sectors.
Daryl Brannon and co‑authors told the Pacific Fishery Management Council that between 2016 and 2023 the program sustained improved bycatch accounting and safety outcomes after implementation of comprehensive monitoring (observers, electronic monitoring and shoreside review). The report credited 100% monitoring for better catch accounting in the trawl sectors and fewer ACL exceedances.
But economists and advisory panels said program goals tied to economic performance have not been met in recent years. The review shows declines in ex‑vessel prices, consolidation of landings into fewer ports, and weaker net revenue particularly in non‑whiting and shore‑side processor sectors since 2020. Monitoring and cost‑recovery fees, buyback repayment obligations and global market shifts (including COVID‑era effects and export disruptions) were cited as important drivers.
Advisory bodies urged the council to prioritize a diagnosis of why the program is not meeting its economic goals. The Groundfish Advisory Subpanel and the Groundfish Management Team recommended additional figures and clearer breakdowns of monitoring costs, quota leasing/ownership effects, and processor portfolios; they also requested better treatment of mothership and catcher‑processor sectors.
Economists from the Northwest Fisheries Science Center said the EDC (Economic Data Collection) dataset can provide vessel portfolios and some cross‑fishery revenue detail, but noted limits: some quota‑owner lease earnings are not linked to fishing operations and may represent leakage from harvest businesses into nonfishing entities.
What’s next: The council asked staff to incorporate advisory‑body recommendations and return with a diagnosis and additional analysis in November 2025. Public comment at the meeting backed the GAP recommendations and urged follow‑on actions to address monitoring costs and processor instability.
Representative quote: "The program has improved environmental outcomes but it is not meeting its economic goals; we need a diagnosis to design effective follow‑on actions," Daryl Brannon said.
Ending: The council left the review open for revision and instructed analysts to produce the diagnostic work needed to explore program changes for November.
