Proposed Changes to 2014 Halibut Fisheries (Central Coast Subarea) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Proposed Changes to 2014 Halibut Fisheries (Central Coast Subarea) Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 1

Why are you here? Give input on four proposed changes 1) A proposal will be presented • Why (a proposal was made) • Expected outcomes 2) Group will discuss proposal Group discussion: • Yes or no & why? 3) Repeat until all four finished Other changes can be discussed at the end Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 2

How were the proposals developed? August: 1) Anglers suggested halibut changes to ODFW (seasons & regs) 2) ODFW created four proposals based on this input September: 3 ) ODFW proposals to Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) 4) PFMC approved ODFW proposals for more input by anglers 5) Anglers (you) comment on the proposals at this meeting Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 3

What’s next? November: NMFS rejects or accepts ODFW proposals January: 2014 halibut quota set February: Anglers help set dates of spring all-depth fishery April: Final seasons announced May: 4

Proposal summary 3 about Nearshore 1) Limit nearshore to 30 fathoms 2) Nearshore back to 7 days per week 3) Delay spring all-depth start if low quota 4) Transfer summer all-depth quota to nearshore Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 5

Nearshore Fishery: 2007 6

Nearshore: 2012 7

Proposal 1: Restrict nearshore fishery to 30-fathoms (fm) Rationale for: 1) Longer nearshore season 2) Less confusion: Same line for halibut and groundfish Rationale against: 1) Closure of good halibut grounds 2) Crowding of fishing grounds (“riding the line”) 3) A longer season due to bad fishing a good thing? Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 8

30-fm may not reduce nearshore harvest Catch rates Angler trips 20-fm limit needed to slow fishing Most already fish inside 30-fm: Garibaldi, Pacific City, and Charleston Newport and Depoe Bay anglers may move inside where fishing is as good Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 9

30 vs 40- fm: Newport & Depoe “Lighthouse” Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 10

30 vs 40-fathoms: Brookings Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 11

Group discussion: Restrict the nearshore fishery to 30-fm? Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 12

Proposal 2: Change nearshore open days and start date? 2012: “Fewer days per week (7 to 3) for a longer season” 2013: “Back to 7 days per week, even if shorter season” Nearshore seasons options Season start Days per week Expected season Option May 1st 3 May-June SQ June 1st 7 June 1 After spring all-depth 7 *July 2 * Spring all-depth generally ends in mid or late June Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 13

Projected season structures for all fisheries Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bottomfish Tuna* Chinook* Coho AD halibut NS 3; May 1 NS 7; June 1 NS 7; Spring AD Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 14

Group discussion: Nearshore days and start date? Nearshore Options Season start Days per week Expected season Option May 1st 3 May-June SQ June 1st 7 June 1 After spring all-depth 7 *July 2 Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 15

Proposal 4: Proposal 3: Change start date of combined all-depth season Delay spring all-depth start if low quota* * Low quota trigger: If not enough quota for two summer AD days, that quota is split to spring AD and nearshore: 12% Spring A-D 74% 25% Nearshore 24% 61% Summer A-D So of Humbug 2% 2% Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 16

If trigger is activated, when should spring AD season start? 1)Status Quo: Second Thursday in May 2)Delayed Start: First Thursday in June Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 17

Season structures for trigger options? Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec SQ: Early May Start Bottomfish Tuna Chinook Coho NS 3 day; May 1 NS 7 day; June 1 NS 7 day; after spring All-depth; May Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec June start option Bottomfish Tuna Chinook Coho NS 3 day; May 1 NS 7 day; June 1 NS 7 day; after spring 18 All-depth; June

Group discussion: Delay all-depth season start a month if low quota? Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 19

Proposal 4: Transfer summer all-depth quota to nearshore fishery* *If SOH becomes separate area 12% Spring A-D 35% Nearshore 25% 61% 63% Summer A-D 2% 2% So of Humbug Rationale for: 1) More total and nearshore halibut days 2) Other fisheries in August (“nothing but bottomfish in spring”) 3) Alleviate crowding at ramps and fishing grounds Rationale against: 1) Summer all-depth very popular fishery 2) Combo trips (“ halbicore ”) 20

Seasons with and without quota transfer? Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec No quota change Bottomfish Tuna Chinook Coho AD Halibut NS 3 day; May 1 NS 7 day; June 1 NS 7 day; spring AD Summer->Nearshore Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bottomfish Tuna Chinook Coho AD Halibut NS 3 day; May 1 NS 7 day; June 1 NS 7 day; spring AD * 21 Summer quota: ~30-50k lbs * Summer all-depth: ~15k lbs per day * Nearshore 7 days per week: ~7k lbs per week * Nearshore 3 days per week: ~3.5 k lbs per week

Group discussion: Transfer summer all-depth quota to nearshore? Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 22

Meeting Goals Finished Thank you!!! 1) Limit nearshore to 30 fathoms 2) Nearshore back to 7 days per week 3) Delay spring all-depth start if low quota 4) Summer AD quota->Nearshore Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 23

Small Boats? 3% 10% 21% charter 90% < 20 North Coast (Gar and PC ) 80% 20-25 May 9-11 Percent of effort 70% 60% May 16-18 25-30 50% May 30-June1 30+ 40% June 6-8 30% June 20-22 9% 20% 10% 56% 0% < 20 20-25 25-30 30+ Boat length (feet) 100% 90% South Coast (Flor, WB, Char, North Coast (Gar and PC ) 90% Band) 80% May 9-11 80% May 9-11 70% Percent of effort Percent of effort 70% 60% May 16-18 May 16-18 60% 50% May 30-June1 50% May 30-June1 40% June 6-8 40% No effort June 30% 30% June 20-22 June 20-22 20% 20% 10% 10% 0% 0% < 20 20-25 25-30 30+ < 20 20-25 25-30 30+ Boat length (feet) Boat length (feet) Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 24

Nearshore halibut season length analysis Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 25

30 vs 40-fathoms: Garibaldi Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 26

30 vs 40-fathoms: Pacific City Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 27

30 vs 40-fathoms: Charleston Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 28

30 vs 40-fathoms: Bandon Central hbt presentation Sept 2013 29