Recreational Fisheries January 2023 Newsletter

The California Copper Rockfish Stock Assessment Team has been hosting informal virtual discussions on copper rockfish in California’s recreational and commercial fisheries. The Stock Assessment Team has questions and would like to hear from the fishing community as they begin the 2023 stock assessment.

While each meeting has a focus fishery, please attend whenever you’re available.

Copper Rockfish & the Recreational Fishery North of Pt. Conception

Monday, January 30 · 3:00 – 4:30 pm

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/hif-wiow-ixo

Or dial: (US) +1 347-896-0822 PIN: 757 119 127#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/hif-wiow-ixo?pin=9143124242384

View preliminary assessment information here.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers will convene an online pre-assessment workshop to review proposed data and modeling approaches to inform groundfish stock assessments for copper rockfish, canary rockfish, and black rockfish, scheduled for assessment during 2023. The workshop is open to the public. The pre-assessment workshop will be held Tuesday, January 31, 2023 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) or until business for the day is completed.  The workshop will reconvene on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. PST or until business for the day is completed. More information can be found on the Pacific Fishery Management Council website.

Please comment on the development of the 2023 ocean salmon management measures for recreational, commercial, and tribal salmon fisheries off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California. These comments will be used by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) to make final recommendations for the 2023 management measures. PFMC will develop alternatives for 2023 ocean salmon fishery management at the March 2023 Council meeting before selecting the recommended 2023 ocean salmon fishery management measures at their April 2023 meeting. Submit written comments via the Federal Register notice before the April 5, 2023 deadline.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council is requesting nominations to fill Advisory Body vacancies for the 2022-2024 term, including a Washington Charter Boat Operator position on the Groundfish Advisory Subpanel. Now is your chance to represent the Washington charter industry in the management of groundfish fishery and advise the Council on fishery management issues, planning efforts, and effects of fishery management plans, amendments, and regulations. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, January 31, 2023. Find more information on the position openings and nominate yourself or another individual.

New groundfish management measures and harvest specifications for the 2023-2024 biennium, as well as Amendment 30 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, are now in effect, as of January 1, 2023. The rule revises management measures to keep the total annual catch of each groundfish stock or stock complex within the annual catch limit, and includes a number of changes related to recreational fisheries by each state. View the final rule and supporting materials, including a compliance guide here.

Explore how policy and partnership are working to ensure U.S. recreational fishing remains vibrant and sustainable for the future through this podcast episode with Russ Dunn, National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries, and Alex Atkinson, NOAA Fisheries’ National Fish Habitat Partnership Coordinator. Check out the podcast episode here.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report examining recreational boating, along with the use of certain funding from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (Trust Fund). The Trust Fund is supported through taxes and import duties, and supports several programs including the Boating Access program managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Recreational Boating Safety program managed by the U.S. Coast Guard. Learn more about the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund by viewing the GAO report here.