Posted on December 19, 2924
In early December, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) met in Anchorage. AMCC focused on advancing accessible, sustainable, and climate-resilient fisheries, with key priorities including harvest specifications for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska groundfish, climate planning, and the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program Review.
AMCC emphasized the need to integrate ecosystem impacts into BSAI harvest specifications, advocating for a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) that accounts for biological changes, shifting food webs, and the socio-economic effects on fishing-dependent communities.
In response to the Climate Change Task Force Report, AMCC supported the development of a robust climate work plan. This plan prioritizes equitable, climate-resilient strategies and tools to help fisheries and communities adapt and thrive amid environmental changes.
AMCC also engaged in discussions around the IFQ Program Review, underscoring the importance of sustaining and rejuvenating Alaska’s fishing workforce. Ensuring equitable access to local fisheries for future generations remains central to AMCC’s mission.
This blog provides an overview of these efforts, highlights key outcomes from the meeting, and identifies opportunities to advance sustainable fisheries and resilient communities.
AMCC Testimony on C1 BSAI Specs:
AMCC Testimony on D1 Climate Planning: 12/04/24 AP testimony by Theresa Peterson: 8:23:07 to 8:31:00
AMCC Testimony on E Staff Tasking & GOA Halibut ABM:
Agenda Item C-1 and C-2:
Harvest Specifications for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Fisheries
The NPFMC Council Members have finalized harvest specifications for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish fisheries. These specifications are crucial as they determine the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the upcoming fishing year, ensuring sustainable harvest levels that do not deplete fish stocks.
At AMCC, we recognize that every decision in commercial fishing impacts marine ecosystem health and the communities relying on these resources. During the recent meeting, we advocated for a more significant consideration of ecosystem impacts when setting the TAC. This includes acknowledging biological changes, such as shifts in food webs, and the social and economic effects on fishing-dependent communities.
BSAI Groundfish
The recent council meeting focused on the Ecosystem Status Reports for the Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea. The Council approved the BSAI Groundfish Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Report and finalized recommendations on groundfish harvest specifications, prohibited species catch (PSC) limits, and halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMRs) for the 2025 and 2026 fisheries. These specifications are available in the Council motions.
The assessments included evaluations of several groundfish stocks, such as Eastern Bering Sea (EBS) pollock, EBS and Aleutian Islands (AI) cod, Sablefish, and various flatfish and rockfish stocks. Encouragingly, no BSAI stocks are experiencing overfishing or overfishing, with all stocks above their biomass sustainability thresholds. However, stocks like sablefish, Greenland turbot, and BSAI sharks have had their Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) set below the maximum permissible limits.
In addition to determining TACs for 2025 and 2026, the Council set Guideline Harvest Levels (GHLs) for the State of Alaska groundfish fisheries and established reserves for several species. A new approach was adopted for estimating the Togiak herring stock due to the lack of a directed fishery in 2024. The Council also addressed annual catch limit overages for the Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish stock, initiating a discussion paper to explore future management measures.
GOA Groundfish
Following Science and Statistical Committee (SSC) recommendations, the Council approved the 2024 GOA Groundfish SAFE report and set final harvest specifications for the 2025 and 2026 fishing years. This included separate specifications for demersal shelf rockfish in various GOA regions. Additionally, the Council recommended halibut PSC limit apportionments and updated halibut discard mortality rates.
The GOA Groundfish SAFE reports provide comprehensive stock status updates, with various stocks assessed based on prioritization and data availability. Most GOA stocks are above their biomass sustainability thresholds, except for Pacific cod, which remains at low levels. For 2025, TACs were generally set equal to ABCs, with a few exceptions.
Agenda Item D-1:
Climate Planning
At the recent Council meeting, members reviewed the final report from the Climate Change Task Force (CCTF), established based on recommendations from the Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan. The Council sought recommendations for improved tools to manage fisheries and ecosystems in the face of rapid climate change impacting Alaska’s fisheries.
Alaska is experiencing unprecedented climate-driven changes affecting our marine ecosystems, fisheries, and coastal communities. AMCC has long been an advocate for climate-ready fisheries policies. At this meeting, we continued to push for integrating climate science into all aspects of fisheries policy design, decision-making, and implementation. This includes collecting data, analyzing climate risks, and making this information accessible and actionable for all stakeholders.
In response to the report, AMCC supported creating a robust climate work plan. This plan focuses on developing and implementing equitable climate-resilient strategies and tools, ensuring that our fisheries and communities can adapt to and thrive amidst these changes.
IRA Funding Timeline
The Council affirmed the updated timeline for climate resilience planning under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This timeline highlights recent progress and upcoming milestones for the NPFMC's climate work and will be updated regularly to support future discussions. Actions related to IRA Objective 3 are included in the climate work plan.
IRA Objective 1: Programmatic Evaluation
The Programmatic Evaluation aims to develop a climate-resilient management policy. The Council adopted a purpose and need statement in June 2023. In April 2025, the Council plans to refine the high-level Programmatic Evaluation alternatives and begin analytical work, facilitating engagement with Tribes and stakeholders. To support this, Council staff will provide information in advance, including a review of existing goals and example language for revised management approaches. A public webinar is scheduled for early March 2025 to discuss the scope of the Council’s April action.
IRA Objective 3: Risk and Uncertainty in Harvest Specifications
Staff are progressing on IRA Objective 3, which aims to strengthen the consideration of risk and uncertainty in harvest specifications. This includes exploring the formation of a technical work group and planning for an April 2025 SSC discussion to provide direction for this work.
CCTF and AFSC CEFI Updates
The Council’s Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan CCTF held its final meeting in November 2024, delivering a final report with recommendations. The primary recommendation was to develop a climate change workplan to increase fisheries management resilience by incorporating climate-related information and tools. The workplan focuses on three key elements: expanding inclusive processes, considering climate information in management tools, and establishing a dedicated review group for climate information.
Establishing a Climate Resilience Work Plan
After reviewing the Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Climate Ecosystems and Fisheries Initiative update and CCTF final report, the Council established a climate resilience work plan for the North Pacific. This plan prioritizes recommendations from the CCTF report, including incorporating climate forecasts into management advice, using ecosystem indicators, and considering dynamic management tools for in-season adaptation.
The Council also discussed the need for a dedicated review body for climate-related information and will address this during the April meeting. They are considering reconstituting the Ecosystem Committee to support the Council's climate workplan.
Agenda Item D-5:
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program Review
At the recent Council meeting, members received the IFQ Program Review, conducted every seven years for Limited Access Privilege Programs under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. This comprehensive review aligns with NOAA Fisheries procedural guidance for periodic allocation reviews.
Ensuring local fisheries are accessible and sustainable for future generations is at the heart of AMCC’s mission. We continue to build a strong case for supporting and rejuvenating our fishing workforce by engaging in these critical discussions. We can create a vibrant and enduring future for Alaska’s fisheries.
The Council approved the review as final and complete. In addition to Section 3.5 (Identified Issues and Areas for Future Research), it was also recommended that the economic and management effects of the current International Pacific Halibut Commission minimum size regulation on IFQ program participants be examined. Once these revisions are made, the final document will be posted on the Council’s webpage for Program and Allocation reviews.
The Council also requested a discussion paper to explore potential changes to the IFQ Program, including:
Automation of In-Season Transfers: Exploring options for automating in-season transfers of Community Quota Entity (CQE) held quota share between eligible residents.
Transfer Eligibility Criteria:
Waiving or reducing transfer eligibility requirements for CQE-eligible community residents fishing CQE-held quota share (QS).
Allowing time spent as crew on a tender vessel operating in support of a commercial fishery to count towards the 150 days of sea time required for a Transfer Eligibility Certificate.
Establishing a regulatory minimum age for eligibility to receive IFQ or QS by transfer, including discussing the possibility of setting this minimum age below 18 years (e.g., 16 years).
QS Retention by Beneficiaries: Providing information on QS held by beneficiaries beyond the three-year approval period for transfer of IFQ by the NMFS Regional Administrator. This will help assess whether changes to the survivorship transfer privilege regulations are warranted.
These updates aim to refine and enhance the IFQ Program, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of the fishing community while maintaining sustainability and fairness.
Your support helps us continue this vital work, ensuring that the needs of the environment and our communities are met. Read the NPFMC’s December newsletter to learn more about the outcomes of the meeting, and be sure to mark your calendars for February 3-9, 2025, the next scheduled meeting of the NPFMC in Anchorage. This special meeting focuses on Chum salmon bycatch and Cook Inlet salmon harvest specifications. Visit the NPFMC’s website for more details, and watch for updates from AMCC in our monthly Sea Change e-newsletter - sign up at www.akmarine.org!
Photo courtesy of Patrick McCormick
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