Session 3

Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Oregon Dungeness Crab Gear

CaseID: 20150703Mn NMFS MMHSRP Permit #: 18786 Overview

West Coast Information – Framing the problem

• Summary of West Coast large whale entanglements in fishing gear

• What we know and don’t know about entanglements

• NMFS efforts to address increase of entanglements

Oregon’s recent efforts to address increasing entanglements

• Summary of working group efforts

• Whales and crab fishing effort off Oregon Crab Gear in Risk Dungeness of Reducing Entanglements Whale - • Options to increase what we know about entanglements in fishing gear Session 3 3 Session • Management options to reduce risk 2 WCR Whale Entanglements • Dramatic increase in reports since 2014 • Driven by humpback whales, but now including blue whales • High demand for updates and evaluation of incoming data • Quality of reporting improving

3 Sources of Confirmed Whale Entanglements 2015-2017 All whales Humpback whales

Blue whales Gray whales

4 5 Whale Entanglement Reports in Oregon • 1995-2017: 31 total reports, 27 confirmed • First report: 2003 • Primarily gray (16) and humpback (9) whales

6 Confirmed Gear Types on Entanglements Reported in Oregon since 2003

7 Entanglements Confirmed in Oregon Dungeness Crab Gear Date Species Report location April 20, 2003 Gray whale Oregon May 14, 2006 Gray whale Oregon August 17, 2010 Gray whale Northern CA August 31, 2010 Humpback whale Oregon (OR + WA gear) May 11, 2012 Gray whale Central CA (OR + CA gear) May 19, 2012 Gray whale Oregon May 6, 2014 Humpback whale Washington July 3, 2015 Humpback whale Central CA September 25, 2015 Humpback whale Southern CA April 13, 2018 Gray whale Washington 8 Distribution of Entanglement Reports in Oregon and Surrounding Area by Species

1995-2017

9 What we think is going on • Complex relationship between whale distribution/abundance/behavior, environmental variability/prey distribution, fishing effort distribution, public awareness • Better documentation and increasing response has increased ability to identify gear (along with trap tags), but still limited NOAA MMHSRP 18786 • Trap/pot fisheries identified as the majority entangling gear (when known); Dungeness crab fishery = large co-occurrence • Whales are getting entangled every way possible, in all types/colors/arrangements of gear – not likely to be NOAA MMHSRP 18786 easy fix 10 Priorities for Addressing Information Needs

Entanglement Data • Knowing the total # of entanglements that occur (unobserved) • Identifying entanglement origins (fishery, locations, timing) Whale data • Precise understanding of seasonal/annual variability in whale presence and abundance along the west coast, including factors that influence that variability Fishery Data • Precisely where and when (spatial and temporal) crab gear is distributed across the west coast, along with factors that influence variability • Knowledge of how crab gear is configured across the west coast • General knowledge of recreational crab fishery

11 What Other Issues Are Entanglements Creating? • Management under MMPA – Potential Biological Removal • for CA/OR/WA humpback whales is 16.7 seriously injured or killed per year (entanglements alone essentially = PBR); • CA/OR/WA blue whales is 2.3 seriously injured or killed per year (entanglements = 0.96); • Pacific Coast Feeding Group gray whales is 3.5 seriously injured or killed (entanglements = .95) • Humpback and blue whales are protected by the ESA • Public perception of entanglements and associated fisheries is unpopular – market concerns • Increased pressure on disentanglement response – inherently dangerous and not a solution 12 What are we doing? • Extensive outreach on the entanglement issue across the west coast; entanglement response trainings • Supporting initiatives such as the California Dungeness crab Whale Entanglement Working Group (started in 2015) • Develop recommendations for industry and management (e.g. Best Practices Guide) • RAMP • Review/analysis of whale entanglement documentation • Enhanced data collection and analysis of entanglement reports • Forensic Review Workshop • Working to provide/facilitate scientific expertise and developing tools that can be used by industry, States, others, to help understand and address this issue • Funding (BREP, ESA Section 6 grants) 13 CA Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program

14 Oregon Whale Working Group

Initiated – requested by Oregon fishermen and convened by Oregon Sea Grant in May 2017. Participants – 2 facilitators, 10 fishermen, marine mammal, disentanglement response and fishing gear experts, ODCC, WCSPA, NGO’s, ODFW Meetings – 8 to-date, held in Coos Bay and Newport

Primary goal - develop short- and long- term options for reducing the risk of whale entanglements in Dungeness crab and other fixed gear to ensure thriving and resilient fisheries in Oregon and

along the entire west coast. Crab Gear in Dungeness 3 Risk of Session Reducing Entanglements Whale 15 Oregon Whale Working Group

• Gained a better understanding of the issue and identified information gaps;

• Developed an Oregon Dungeness Crab Best Practices Directive to provide industry with best known Dungeness crab fishing practices to reduce interactions with whales;

• Helped distribute information on who to call to report entangled whales (1-877-SOS-WHALe);

• Developed range of management options to reduce risk of whale and gear interactions;

• Surveyed OR fleet for input on knowledge and concern for whale entanglement issue, Best Practices Directive and possible management options to reduce entanglement risk;

• Developing recommendations for more research and Crab Gear in Dungeness 3 Risk of Session Reducing Entanglements Whale enhanced gear markings to learn more about entanglements and recommendations for management options to reduce risk. 16 entanglements Oregon off whales entanglements and Options - w scale finer Increase 3. - 2. - - - - 1. to reportto Identify hotspots for more adaptive management more adaptive for Identify hotspots Distribute during hold inspectionsand with new logbooks Increase Increase Line markings Recreationalcrab gear marking requirement Registration ofbuoy color tags buoy sided Double Improve gear markings awareness to to increase what increase to – coordinated across states and federal fisheries federal and states across coordinated hale distributionhale informationOR off report entanglements and what information patterns we know about about 17

Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Gear Working Group Survey

Gathered input from the fleet on: 1. Concern about entanglements 2. Best Practices Directive 3. Management options to reduce risk

2017 Active Permits 200 • Mailed 424 (Dec) and 344 (May) surveys 2017 Inactive Permits 180 Survey Respondents • Received 111 responses 160 • Response rate = 26.2% (of 424 permits) 140 120

• 151 permits represented (36% of permits) 100 • Good representative sample of the fleet by 80 pot limit, vessel size, months fished 60 number of permits 40 Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Crab Gear in Dungeness 3 Risk of Session Reducing Entanglements Whale

20

0 200 pot limit 300 pot limit 500 pot limit 18 Survey result result Survey - in Oregon! Lots of concern about entanglements 19

Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Gear Survey result result Survey Communicate whale locations whale Communicate Post-season gear recovery gear Post-season Avoid setting near whales near Avoid setting Remove gear not fished not gear Remove Report Entanglements Remove derelict gear derelict Remove Most of the time (51-90%) time the of Most Applicable Not Adjust line length Adjust line Maintain gear - The The 0% clarification. Some practices 10% Almost Always (91-100%) Always Almost (0-10%) Rarely or Never fleet is following many best best manyfollowing is fleet 20% areas for improvement and 30% to help avoid entanglements! avoidhelp to 40% 50% Some of the time (11-50%) time the of Some 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 20

Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Gear Survey Result Result Survey 1B. Non-transferable summer endorsement summer Non-transferable 1B. 1A. Transferable summer endorsement Neither Response No 5. Eliminate lost pot tag replacement tag pot lost Eliminate 5. 3. Summer closures hotspots around 3. Summer 4. Lower pot limit after June 15th June after limit pot Lower 4. 6. Close the fishery on June 15th June on fishery the Close 6. 2. Summer buoy tag buoy Summer 2. No Change Somewhat Support Somewhat Information More Need - 0% The fleet is very divided on many of of manyon divided very is fleet The more input! more the proposed options. WE need 10% 20% 30% Strongly Support Strongly Oppose Strongly 40% 50% 60% 70% Somewhat Oppose Somewhat 80% 90% 100% 21

Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Gear Whales off Oregon

Gray Whale Gray Whale Humpback Blue Eastern North Pacific Coast WA/OR/CA Eastern North Pacific Stock Feeding Group Stock Pacific Stock Population trend increasing* increasing* leveling off* stable Endangered/ Population status delisted 1994 No formal status Endangered Threatened Primary activity migrating feeding feeding feeding migratory corridors by coastal reef habitats distance from shore Stonewall and Known hotspots off central and none identified coastwide Heceta Banks southern regions

Northbound - late Jan- Jul, peak Apr-Jul Peak timing Jun-Nov May-Nov Jun-Nov Southbound - Oct-Dec, peak in Dec-Mar

frequently within 2.5- frequently within 2 most commonly in 3 Risk of Session Reducing Entanglements Whale Crab Gear Dungeness Area utilized typically on shelf 5nm from shore nm of shore inside 100 fa epibenthic zooplankton, Prey na krill and anchovy krill benthic crustaceans 22 Management Options to Reduce Risk Reduce to Options Management low/poor/unlikely 1B 1A 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Lower pot limit after June Summer closures around around closures Summer Transferrable Transferrable Minimize Eliminate lost pot tag pot lost Eliminate summer endorsement summer Close fishery on June June on fishery Close medium/fair/likely Summer buoy tags buoy Summer Non endorsement replacement - Longline hotspots transferrable transferrable 15th 15th surface gear surface high/good/highly likely high/good/highly summer summer Reduce Risk economic economic Minimize impact fleet wide fleet Equitable Logistics Industry support survey survey 24

Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Gear - - - - 1. Summer Fishery Endorsement Endorsement Fishery Summer 1. 1A. 1A. Support Neither Oppose Info more Need or NR Opinion risk part of the season season the of risk part highest in the participate to able gear of permits/amount Limits Non maintain endorsement. maintain effortifthere measures were addedto requirelandings to future or endorsement for ‘qualify’ to season the of times risk If the in lines gear status quo future Immediate attrition Potential Potential Tradeoffs Summary of survey survey of Summary TransferrableEndorsement Summer transferable, transferable, - transferrable transferrable to reduce risk reduceto Total Responses Total could increase immediate effort in the higher higher the in effort immediate increase could Proportion of of Proportion - 17.12% 11.71% 53.15% 18.02% reduce future participation through through participation future reduce ( i.e. caps potential effort potential caps i.e. feedback 1B. Support Neither Oppose Info more Need or NR Opinion Non - TransferrableEndorsement Summer water; ); Total Responses Total Proportion of of Proportion 12.61% 14.41% 54.05% 18.92%

number of pots number of permits 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 160 100 120 140 20 40 60 80 0 0 May May 12 season12 average Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug 25

Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Gear 2. Summer2. - - - derelict gear retrieval. gear derelict Potential to facilitate earlier and longer post season their of tagging summer with deal to have wouldn’t they so Encourages vessels to get gearout of the water earlier cap potential effort potential cap not might Standalone, Summary of survey survey of Summary Opinion Support Neither Oppose more need or NR Tradeoffs to risk reduce Potential gear; info Total Responses Total Proportion of of Proportion buoy tags tags buoy 36.04% 18.02% 36.94% 9.01% reduce gear gear reduce in now or water feedback

number of pots number of pots/replacement tags 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800 200 400 600 800 0 0 2008-09 Dec 2009-10 Jan 2010-11 Feb Mar 2011-12 Total DG retrievedpost-season Total estimatedin-season DG retrievals Total replacement tags issued Total estimatedlost pots crab season crab Apr 2012-13 Averagederelict gear retrieved Average pots lost May 2013-14 Jun 2014-15 Jul 2015-16 Aug 2016-17 26

Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Gear - Summer3. - - - inform effective placement for - in for placement effective inform to Oregon off data distribution Very limited whale mgmt. actions to areas of highest risk highest of areas to actions mgmt. minimize to trying while harvest maximum for Allow risk elevated areas of from gear of Removal Significantly increases complexity increases management Significantly Potential Potential Summary of survey survey of Summary Tradeoffs Opinion Support Neither Oppose Info more Need or No response to reduce risk reduceto closures around hotspots around closures Total Responses Total Proportion of of Proportion 37.84% 13.51% 33.33% 15.32% feedback season management whale distribution = + distribution effort fishing whale elevated risk hotspots risk elevated 27

Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Gear 4. Lower pot limit after June 15th

Potential to reduce risk - Reduces active and allowable gear in higher risk time of season - Minimizes economic impact and lost harvest 90000 2017-18 estimated maximum pots used 200 pot limit opportunity 80000 150 pot limit 70000 100 pot limit Tradeoffs - Unknown economic impact 60000

- Enforcement likely would require summer buoy 50000 tag 40000

number of pots of number 30000 Summary of survey feedback 20000 Proportion of Opinion Total Responses 10000 NR or Need more Info 10.81% 0 Oppose 39.64% Apr May Jun Jul Aug Neither 10.81% Support 38.74% Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Crab Gear in Dungeness 3 Risk of Session Reducing Entanglements Whale 28 5. Eliminate lost pot tag replacement Total Replacement Tags Issued Total Possible Potential to reduce risk 14000 - Eliminates potential for additional 10% of total pots in the 12000

fleet from being utilized in the fishery 10000 - Equitable impact to all sectors of the fleet 8000 - Improve fleet’s efforts to avoid pot loss and potential to increase efforts to recover gear in-season 6000 4000

Tradeoffs replacement tags 2000 Potential to decrease efficiency in the early season with - 0 lower entanglement risk and may encourage some to fish longer into the season

2500 2017-18 Summary of survey feedback Proportion of 2000 Opinion Total Responses 1500 NR or Need more Info 7.21% Oppose 45.95% 1000

Neither 14.41% Crab Gear in Dungeness 3 Risk of Session Reducing Entanglements Whale

replacement tags 500 Support 32.43%

0 Feb Mar Apr 29 ------6 . Close Fishery on June 15th June on Fishery Close . Lengthens time allowedfor post Removesin gear higher risk times theseason of Reduces availability of live crab for local availability local crab for markets Reduces live of months spring/summer during fisheries alternative of suite Reduces resource the to access Reduces Inequitable impactson different sectorsthe of fleet programto remove more gear Summary of survey survey of Summary to risk reduce Potential Tradeoffs Support Neither Oppose Info more Need or NR Opinion Total Responses Total Proportion of of Proportion 40.54% 49.55% 4.50% 5.41% feedback - season derelict gear gear derelict season

number of pots 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 0 May 12 season12 average Jun Jul Aug 30

Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Gear 7. Limit Surface Gear

Potential to reduce risk - Minimizes part of gear that has been found in some gear recovered from whales that have been disentangled Max 24’ Trade-offs - Status quo number of vertical lines in the water - Unclear if significant contribution to entanglements - Might have minimal impact if most of the fleet in within limits already

Max 36’ Working Group Preliminary Recommendation • Gear modification remains an important area for exploration and research • Currently not enough information to recommend specific gear modification(s) • Collaborate with the other states Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Crab Gear in Dungeness 3 Risk of Session Reducing Entanglements Whale • Involve fishermen in future forensic reviews in real time to learn more 31 8. Longlining 8. - Reduces vertical lines lines vertical in the Reduces water Potential Potential to reduce risk reduceto - - - - whichcould lead to more pots deployedeach year Potential to reduceconfidencein enforcement potlimitsof risk greater of lost gear and gear lost to couldlead more conflicts gear Increased Potential Potential Trade - offs to increase riskwhales to thatonfeed the to increase severityentanglementsof to whales bottom 32

Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Gear Management Options to Reduce Risk Reduce to Options Management low/poor 1B 1A 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Lower pot limit after June Summer closures around around closures Summer Transferrable Transferrable Minimize Eliminate lost pot tag pot lost Eliminate summer endorsement summer Close fishery on June June on fishery Close medium/fair Summer buoy tags buoy Summer Non endorsement replacement - Longline hotspots transferrable transferrable 15th 15th surface gear surface high/good summer summer Reduce Risk economic economic Minimize impact fleet wide fleet Equitable Logistics Industry support survey survey 33

Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Gear Next Steps

• Evaluate input from October public meetings

• Discuss feedback with Oregon Working Group

• Informational report to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission

• Refine a package of recommendations to reduce risk Session 3 Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements in Dungeness Crab Crab Gear in Dungeness 3 Risk of Session Reducing Entanglements Whale 34