INTERTEK MOODY MARINE January 2013 Ref: (82505) Russian Sea of Okhotsk Mid-water Trawl Walleye Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) Fishery FINAL CERTIFICATION REPORT Robert O’Boyle, David Japp, Andrew Payne, Steve Devitt Russian Pollock Catchers Association 51-a, Svetlanskaya Str., Vladivostok, 690990, Russia Intertek Moody Marine Merlin House Stanier Way The Wyvern Business Park Derby. DE21 6BF Russian Sea of Okhotsk Mid-water Pollock Trawl Final Certification Report Contents Contents ............................................................................................................................................................... i 1. Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 1 2. Authorship and Peer Reviewers ......................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Assessment Team ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Peer Reviewers .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 3.0 Description of the Fishery .................................................................................................................. 6 3.1 Unit(s) of Certification and scope of certification sought .......................................................................... 6 3.1.1 Eligible Fishers ............................................................................................................................................... 6 3.1.2 Rationale for Unit of Certification .......................................................................................................... 6 3.1.3 Unit of Certification ...................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Overview of the fishery .............................................................................................................................................. 9 3.2.1 Distribution and Biology ............................................................................................................................ 9 3.2.2 History of the Sea of Okhotsk Pollock Fishery .............................................................................. 11 3.2.3 Fishing Locations, TAC’s and Catches ............................................................................................... 15 4.0 Principle One: Target Species Background ................................................................................ 18 4.1 Management Unit ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 4.2 Information and Monitoring ............................................................................................................................... 19 4.3 Assessment of Stock Status ................................................................................................................................... 30 4.4 Stock Status ................................................................................................................................................................. 36 4.5 Harvest Strategy ....................................................................................................................................................... 38 4.6 Reference Points ........................................................................................................................................................ 40 4.7 Management Tools .................................................................................................................................................. 43 4.8 Peer Review ................................................................................................................................................................. 47 5.0 Principle Two: Ecosystem Background ....................................................................................... 48 5.1 Ecosystem Characteristics .................................................................................................................................... 48 5.2 Retained Species (Bycatch) .................................................................................................................................. 52 5.2.1 Retained and Bycatch Species Data Collection .............................................................................. 52 5.2.2 Observer DeployMent and Data Collection in the SOO .............................................................. 54 5.2.3 EstiMation of retained species proportions in the fishery ...................................................... 56 5.3 By-catch Species (Discard) ................................................................................................................................... 66 5.4 Endangered, Threatened and Protected Species ........................................................................................ 68 5.5 Habitat .......................................................................................................................................................................... 75 5.6 Ecosystem ..................................................................................................................................................................... 78 6.0 Principle Three: Management System Background ................................................................ 81 6.1 General Management, Consultation and Review ........................................................................................ 81 6.2 Participation in the Fisheries Management Process ................................................................................. 83 6.3 Fishing Rights, Licensing, and Subsidies ......................................................................................................... 84 6.4 Fishing Locations ...................................................................................................................................................... 85 6.5 Administrative Arrangements ............................................................................................................................ 86 6.6 Legislation, Regulation and Precautionary Management ..................................................................... 86 6.7 Research and Harvest Controls .......................................................................................................................... 88 6.8 Monitoring, Control and Surveillance ............................................................................................................. 90 6.9 Dispute Resolution, Sanctions, and Incentives ............................................................................................. 93 7.0 Evaluation Procedure ........................................................................................................................ 96 7.1 Previous assessments .............................................................................................................................................. 96 7.2 Assessment Methodologies ................................................................................................................................... 96 Document: FCM15 MSC_Full_Assessment_Report_SOO_FCR_Final_140113v3.doc page i Date of issue: January 2013 Russian Sea of Okhotsk Mid-water Pollock Trawl Final Certification Report 7.2 Assessment Methodologies ................................................................................................................................... 96 7.3 Evaluation Processes and Techniques ............................................................................................................ 96 7.3.1 Site Visits ....................................................................................................................................................... 96 7.3.2 Consultations ............................................................................................................................................. 102 7.3.3 Evaluation Techniques .......................................................................................................................... 102 7.4 Other Fisheries in the Area ................................................................................................................................. 105 8.0 Traceability ........................................................................................................................................ 106 8.1 Eligibility Date ......................................................................................................................................................... 106 8.2 Traceability within the Fishery ........................................................................................................................ 106 8.3 Eligibility to Enter Further Chains of Custody ........................................................................................... 107 9.0 Evaluation Results ..........................................................................................................................