WA-OR-CA Sablefish Pot 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.
Current Classification on the List of Fisheries
Category |
II |
|
Estimated Number of Participants |
144 |
|
Target Species |
Sablefish |
|
Applicable Take Reduction Plans |
N/A |
|
Observer Coverage |
In the Limited Entry Sablefish endorsed fishery, annual coverage from 2009-2018 ranged from 14-72%.In the Open Access fixed gear fishery, coverage rates from 2009-2018 ranged from 2-12%. Observer coverage of pot fishing in the Catch Share sector (that includes sablefish) that do not use EM has been 100% since 2011. Observer coverage of pot fishing in the Catch Share sector (that includes sablefish) using EM from 2015-2018 ranged from 30-40%, with 100% use of EM. |
|
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured |
Humpback whale, Central America/Southern Mexico-CA/OR/WA1 Humpback whale, Mainland Mexico-CA/OR/WA1
|
^ 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
The mean annual mortality and serious injury of humpback whales (Central America/Southern Mexico - CA/OR/WA and Mainland Mexico - CA/OR/WA stocks) is greater than 1% and less than 50% of the stock’s Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level.
Distribution
Sablefish are targeted along the west coast of the continental U.S. from southern CA to the Canadian border at depths ranging from 100 – 375 fathoms. The limited entry catch shares Primary Tier fishery operates from April 1 until October 31, whereas the daily trip limit (DLT) limited entry and open access fishery is open year-round.
Gear Description
As with most pot gear fished out in deeper waters, sablefish traps are typically set in strings of multiple traps. Open access fishermen will usually fish 1 to 8 strings of 3–4 pots, each with a float line and buoy stick. Fishermen in the limited entry fishery will normally fish strings of 20-30 pots. Whether pots are used individually or in a string, it is mandatory that the surface end or terminal end is marked with a pole, flag, radar reflector and a buoy. The gear sometimes soaks for long periods, although it is required to be tended to at least once every 7 days.
The traps can be either rectangular, conical, or trapezoidal in shape. No matter which shape is used, there is a minimum 2 x 2-inch opening, allowing for incidental catch and undersized fish to escape. Round traps are typically 36 to 72 inches in diameter, and between 28-32 inches in height, although specific regulations of trap size may apply within each state. Each trap has a mandatory destructive device capable of leaving an 8-inch in diameter opening. Each trap has to be marked with a buoy at each end. In California, the buoy is marked with the commercial fishing license identification number followed by the letter “B”.
Management
Sablefish are one of over 100 species managed under the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (PFMC) Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The fishery is managed under multiple sectors, included: limited entry, open access, and catch shares (i.e. Primary Tier fishery). All components of the fishery, for the most part, share similar types of regulations applied to the other groundfish fisheries, such as: quotas, harvest guidelines, trip and landing limits, area restrictions, seasonal closures ( Primary Tier fishery) and gear restrictions.
Access to the limited entry fishery is granted under a limited entry permit system, in addition to gear endorsements required by the individual states. Open access privileges are currently available to any fishermen with the requisite state gear endorsement, but catch quotas and area closures are more restrictive than the primary limited entry permit. Open access quotas vary based upon the area targeted. Limited entry permits with a sablefish endorsement for the Primary Tier fishery are based on the annual cumulative landings allowed by each permit. Limited entry permits for the Primary Tier fishery are transferable, but the tier category remains fixed. Up to three limited entry permits may be stacked on a single vessel. Limited entry permits without a sablefish endorsement may land the cumulative weekly and bimonthly trip limits as part of the DTL fishery. In 2011, the groundfish trawl fishery was rationalized into an Individual Fishery Quota fishery. Regulations now permit vessels to “gear switch” and use other gear types such as pots to harvest their individual quotas.
Historical Information
|
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) |
III (1996) |
|
Original Number of Participants |
155 |
|
Basis for Original Classification |
This fishery was added to the LOF because of its known existence. However, there were no observer, logbook, or stranding data available at the time of its addition to the LOF. |
|
Past Names |
N/A |
|
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) |
N/A |
Timeline of Changes
| 2024 |
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2020 |
|
|
2011 |
|
|
2009 |
|