North Pacific Fishery Management Council Eric A. Olson, Chair 605 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 306 Chris Oliver, Executive Director Anchorage, AK 99501-2252 Telephone (907) 271-2809 Fax (907) 271-2817 Visit our website: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc APPROVED:__________________________ DATE: February 12, 2013 MINUTES December 2012 211th Plenary Session North Pacific Fishery Management Council Anchorage Hilton Hotel, Anchorage, AK Contents C-1 Groundfish Specifications ...................................................................................................................... 5 C-1 (a) Exempted Fishing Permit to test a salmon excluder in the GOA pollock fishery ............................ 5 C-1 (b) Final GOA Groundfish SAFE Report and Specifications for 2013/2014 ........................................ 6 C-1 (c) BSAI Groundfish SAFE Report and 2013/2014 harvest specifications ........................................... 8 C-2 (b) Initial Review of BSAI Chum Salmon Bycatch ............................................................................. 10 C-2 (c) Initial review on GOA Chinook bycatch for non-pollock trawl fisheries .................................... 12 C-3 (a) Council recommendations to IPHC on management measures for Area 2C for 2013 ................... 15 C-3 (b) Discussion paper on CQE small block restrictions ........................................................................ 17 C-3 (c) Retention of Area 4A halibut in sablefish pots ............................................................................... 19 C-4 Steller Sea Lion Mitigation .................................................................................................................. 20 D-1 (a) Progress report on PSEIS SIR ........................................................................................................ 23 D-1 (b) VMS use and requirements. ........................................................................................................... 23 D-2 Staff Tasking ........................................................................................................................................ 25 1. Public Attendance Register 7. Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Measures 2. Time Log 8. Charter Management Implementation 3. AP Minutes Committee Minutes 4. SSC Minutes 9. Enforcement Committee Minutes 5. GOA Groundfish Specifications 10. Newsletter 6. BSAI Groundfish Specifications MINUTES NPFMC MEETING December 2012 The North Pacific Fishery Management Council met in Anchorage, Alaska in December 2012. The following Council, SSC and AP members, and NPFMC staff attended the meetings. Council Members Eric Olson, Chair Dave Hanson John Henderschedt, Vice Chair Roy Hyder Jim Balsiger Dan Hull Cora Campbell/Nicole Kimball Doug McBride Sam Cotten Bill Tweit Craig Cross RADM Tom Ostebo/LT Tony Kenne Duncan Fields NPFMC Staff Gail Bendixen Steve MacLean Sam Cunningham Jon McCracken Jane DiCosimo Chris Oliver Diana Evans Maria Shawback Mark Fina Diana Stram Peggy Kircher David Witherell Scientific and Statistical Committee The SSC met from December 3-5 at the Hilton Hotel, Anchorage AK. Members present were: Pat Livingston, Chair Robert Clark, Vice Chair Jennifer Burns NOAA Fisheries—AFSC Alaska Department of Fish and Game University of Alaska Anchorage Henry Cheng Alison Dauble Sherri Dressel Wash. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Alaska Department of Fish and Game Anne Hollowed George Hunt Gordon Kruse NOAA Fisheries—AFSC University of Washington University of Alaska Fairbanks Kathy Kuletz Seth Macinko Franz Mueter US Fish and Wildlife Service University of Rhode Island University of Alaska Fairbanks Jim Murphy Lew Queirolo Terry Quinn University of Alaska Anchorage NOAA Fisheries—Alaska Region University of Alaska Fairbanks Kate Reedy-Maschner Farron Wallace Ray Webster Idaho State University Pocatello NOAA Fisheries—AFSC International Pacific Halibut Commission MINUTES-December 2012 2 MINUTES NPFMC MEETING December 2012 Advisory Panel The AP met from December 3-6, at the Hilton Hotel, Anchorage, Alaska. Kurt Cochran Jan Jacobs Theresa Peterson John Crowley Alexus Kwachka Ed Poulsen Jerry Downing Craig Lowenberg Neil Rodriguez Tom Enlow Brian Lynch Lori Swanson Tim Evers Andy Mezirow Anne Vanderhoeven Jeff Farvour Matt Moir Ernie Weiss Becca Robbins Gisclair Joel Peterson Appendix I contains the public sign in register and a time log of Council proceedings, including those providing reports and public comment during the meeting. A. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Eric Olson called the meeting to order at approximately 8:06 am on Wednesday, December 5, 2012. Mr. Bill Tweit participated in the entire meeting in place of Phil Anderson, WDF Director. AGENDA: The agenda was approved with the change of taking the NOAA Enforcement report directly after the ED report. B. REPORTS The Council received the following reports: Executive Director’s Report (B-1); NMFS Management Report (B-2); ADF&G Report (B-3); NOAA Enforcement Report (B-4); USCG Report (B-5); USFWS report (B-6); and Protected Species Report (B-7). Executive Director’s Report: Chris Oliver reviewed his written report and introduced members of the audience that were visiting from other agencies and programs. He reviewed recent plan team nominations and noted that they would be finalizing the nominations, along with AP and SSC nominations, in executive session later in the week. He reviewed upcoming meetings, and recognized retiring members of NMFS staff, including Jesse Gharrett, Sherri Meyers, and Ken Hansen, who was awarded the Bob Mace distinguished service award. NMFS Management Report Glenn Merrill briefed the Council on the status of FMP amendments and clarified status of reviews with Council members. Briefly Mr. Merrill updated the Council on rural subsistence halibut and defining “immediate family members.” Martin Loefflad reviewed the observer deployment plan with Council, and answered questions along with Ken Hansen, who addressed possible violations within the observer program. Cindy Hartmann and Jeannie Hansen from NMFS Habitat Conservation Division gave an update on EFH consultation on non-fishing actions and answered questions from the Council. Mary Furuness reviewed the catch reports, and gave the update on the NOAA Habitat Blueprint. MINUTES-December 2012 3 MINUTES NPFMC MEETING December 2012 ADF&G Report Jim Fall, with the Division of Subsistence from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game gave the Council an update on the subsistence halibut harvest findings. He noted a draft annual report is available and has been distributed to the Council. Karla Bush (ADF&G) provided the Council with a review of the State fisheries of interest to the Council and answered general questions from the Council Members. Bob Clark gave an update from the recent 2012 Chinook Symposium that was held in Anchorage in October. NOAA Enforcement Report Bruce Bucksman introduced himself as the new Director of NOAA Office of Law Enforcement. He reviewed the priorities for his office and noted the close partnership with the USCG and the states’ enforcement agencies. Sherrie Meyers gave an update of current activities in the Alaska OLE office and answered questions from the Council. She noted it was her last time reporting to the Council as she is retiring at the end of the year. The Chairman presented her with a plaque and thanked her for her service. USCG Report RADM Ostebo introduced Lt. Tony Keene who reported on USCG activities from over October and November, 2012 and provided a written report. USF&W Report Doug McBride, the new representative of USF&W Service reviewed his written report noting that the Short-tailed albatross chick transplant location has been successful. He briefly discussed federal subsistence Chinook closures that took place around the state. Mr. McBride also noted a grounding and an oil spill that have occurred but that USFW worked with USCG for cleanup and samples, and both incidents have been resolved. IPHC Report Gregg Williams reported on the International Pacific Halibut Commission’s interim meeting, at which the IPHC discussed many items that will be covered in its annual meeting. He noted most of the meeting was webcast, and the meeting materials are available on the website. Mr. Williams noted that there was an advisory board that met before to discuss management approaches for the halibut fishery, and the Commission is working on a 5 year research plan which the public can comment on at the annual meeting. He also reviewed the status of the stock and discussed trends in the resource. Mr. Williams answered questions from the Council. Protected Species Report Steve MacLean noted that any discussion regarding Steller sea lions would be discussed under C-4 on the agenda. He also reviewed issues involving the Endangered Species Act, including Ice seals and the Iliamna population of Harbor seals. NMFS is responding to public comment on de-listing of the eastern population of Steller sea lions and will be publishing a final review soon. Public comment was taken on all B items. MINUTES-December 2012 4 MINUTES NPFMC MEETING December 2012 COUNCIL DISCUSSION/ACTION Mr. Tweit suggested the Ecosystem Committee could examine the information on Norton Sound mining operations and brief the Council. It was generally agreed to discuss this issue at staff tasking. Mr. Henderschedt spoke to the value of a summary settlement table or matrix and the Council should request progress on updating to accommodate new amendments. He noted that