Proposed Amendments to §28.20, Title 14, CCR

Pacific Halibut

Fish and Game Commission MeetingDecember 11, 2013

Marci YaremkoState/Federal Fisheries Program

Marine Region1

Photo: Edgar Roberts

Presentation Overview

• Need for regulation change

• Proposed regulation changes

• Provide summary of Pacific halibut management process and 2014 changes

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Assembly Bill 497

Part of Assembly Bill 497 (Chesbro), Chaptered September 6, 2013, provided for a new Fish and Game Code section:

205.1.  (a) The commission may establish by regulation an automatic process to conform its sport fishing regulations to federal regulations.

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Proposed Amendments to §28.20, Title 14, CCR

• Repeal subsections 28.20(a)-(c), which specify season length, minimum size, and daily bag and possession limits.

• Add language to establish an automatic process to conform state regulations for Pacific halibut to relevant federal regulations and specify that the public will be informed.

Benefits of Auto-Conformance

• Reduce FGC and CDFW workload

• Eliminate redundant work

• Increase efficiency in state process

• Provide simpler rules and more clarity for constituents.

• Less opportunity for regulation “mismatch”

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What Would We Conform To?

Update on Management and Recent Council Actions

Photo: NOAA fisheries6

Management

• Pacific halibut managed internationally by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC)– Conduct annual stock

assessments

– Annual harvest limits set by management area

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Photo: Russell Black/IPHC

Management

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31 million pounds for 2013

6,000 pounds CA sport

990,000 pounds 2A

• Lead organization for Area 2A Catch Sharing Plan (CSP)– Framework for how 2A Total Allowable Catch will be

divided among fisheries and sectors– Sets sport regulations

• Considers proposed changes to CSP on annual basis

Pacific Fishery Management Council

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Recreational Catch EstimatesSince 2008, CA has exceeded quota every year

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2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000Estimate (pounds) CA Sport Quota

Year

Net

Po

un

ds

Shelter Cove

Fields Landing

Eureka

Trinidad

Crescent City

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

36%

18%

18%

27%

1%

Estimated Catch by Port 2010 - 2011

Trinidad Harbor Boat Launch

12Photo: Edgar Roberts, CDFW

Shelter Cove Tractor Launch

13Photo: Courtney Embry

Department Involvement in 2014 CSP Changes

• Two year process to get where we are now

• Working with Council, NMFS, other west coast states, and constituents

• Department actively participates in Council Workgroup and Policy Committees

• Department engaged the north coast community– Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers very involved

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Pacific Fishery Management Council Action

• 2014 Council approved changes:– Create California only

sport subarea and quota– Reduce season by one

month• Open May 1 - July 31 and

Sept 1 - Oct 31

Photo: Edgar Roberts

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CA Sport1%

Non-Tribal

31.7%

31.7%

Commercial

OR/CA Sport

WA Sport

36.6%

Commercial

WA Sport

OR Sport

31.7%

New CA Subarea

36.6%

30.7%

2013 2014

2A Halibut Allocations

Timeline for 2014 Regs

Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 2013/2014 Jan Feb Mar Apr May

IPHC sets final catch limits for

all areas

PFMC proposes options to

change CSP

PFMC adopts final changes to

CSP

IPHC sets preliminary catch limits

FGC Adoption Hearing

CDFW holds public meeting to get

constituent input on 2014 regulations

CD

FW

/FG

CIP

HC

/PF

MC

FGC Discussion

Hearing

FGC Notice

Hearing

New federal regulations in effect May 1

NMFS publishes 2014

regulations

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Summary

• New FGC §205.1

• Modify §28.20 of Title 14, CCR

– Remove current language

– Add language setting up process for automatic conformance with federal sport fish regulations

• Annual federal management process for Pacific halibut

• Changes to sport regulations for 201418

Thank You and Questions

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Halibut ‘n’ Chips photo: Melanie Parker, CDFW

AlternativeExpected Catch

California

Alternative 1: Prohibit Retention halibut on Salmon or Groundfish Trips

1a. Prohibit halibut on salmon and groundfish trips1b. Prohibit halibut on salmon trips1c. Prohibit halibut on groundfish trips

16,18717,98820,423

Alternative 2: Days of the Week

Data not sufficient/available to produce a projected estimate of expected catch

Alternative 3: Season Structure

3a. May – July, Sep – Oct3b. May – July 15, Sep – Oct 3c. May – June, Aug – Sep3d. May – June, Sep – Oct

13,60711,01816,7168,429

Alternative 4: MPA Savings Effective 2012 21,561

Alternative 5: Additional Time/Area Closures

5a. May, Sep – Oct5b. July, Sep5c. May – June, Oct

4,3215,5075,632

Alternative 6: Create Separate California Subarea

 2013 SOH allocation 6,063Average 2008-2012 Catch 22,223

Harvest Goal: approx. 9,000 pounds to 13,000 pounds

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Location of Catch

Percentage

State Waters 78%

Federal Waters 22%

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CRFS Sampled Catch 2004 to

2011Del Norte Co.

Humboldt Co.

Mendocino Co.