California Anchovy, Mackerel, Sardine Purse Seine Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries

U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level of interactions that result in incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.

West Coast

Current Classification on the List of Fisheries

Category	III
Estimated Number of Participants	65
Target Species	Anchovy, mackerel, sardine
Applicable Take Reduction Plans	None
Observer Coverage
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured	California sea lion, U.S. Harbor seal, CA

^ Number of participants estimates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data. The estimated number of participants is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, then the number from the most recent LOF is used. NOAA Fisheries acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflating actual effort.

*Observer coverage levels include the latest information reported in the most current final Stock Assessment Report (SAR).

¹ Indicates the stock or species is driving the classification of the fishery.

Basis for Current Classification

No observed take over past five years.

Distribution

The fishery operates year-round predominantly in southern California (including the Channel Islands) from San Diego, Oceanside, Dana Point, and San Pedro then north to San Francisco.

Gear Description

This fishery uses purse seine gear.

Management

This fishery is a limited entry fishery, and the mackerel and sardine fisheries are quota fisheries. The fishery is managed in accordance with the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and under the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Historical Information

Original Category (Year added to the LOF)	III (1996)
Original Number of Participants	63
Basis for Original Classification	This fishery was originally classified as Category II based on observer data from 1991-1993, and logbook data from 1990-1992. The total mortality and serious injury of offshore bottlenose dolphin was 0.33 animals/year, or 2% of PBR.
Past Names	CA anchovy, mackerel, tuna purse seine (until 2007)
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list)	Bottlenose dolphin, CA/OR/WA offshore

Timeline of Changes

2011	Estimated number of participants was updated from 63 to 65. Removed bottlenose dolphin (CA/OR/WA offshore)
2008	Estimated number of participants was updated from 100 to 63.
2007	Reorganized the CA purse seine fisheries based on gear types and FMP management. The tuna portion of the “CA anchovy, mackerel, and tuna purse seine” fishery was split into its own "CA tuna purse seine” fishery. The existing "CA sardine purse seine” fishery is merged into this fishery to make the "CA anchovy, mackerel, sardine purse seine” fishery. The gear used and areas fished for tuna are different than for the other three species, and harvest for tuna is managed under the Highly Migratory Species FMP. Gear, fishing methods, and areas fished for anchovy, mackerel, and sardine are similar and harvest is managed jointly under the Coastal Pelagic Species FMP. Estimated number of participants was updated from 110 to 100.
2006	Added a superscript “1” after bottlenose dolphin (CA/OR/WA offshore), indicating that takes of this stock are driving the classification of this fishery.
2005	Estimated number of participants was updated from 150 to 110.