SIGNIFICANT MANAGEMENT ACTIONS
1996
- Two month cumulative trip limit periods for limited entry groundfish were established, with no more than 60% of the limit available for harvest in the first month.
- Dover sole, shortspines, and sablefish were managed as a complex, with separate sub-limits for the various species. Differential limits were established north and south of Cape Mendocino.1997
- A new (and highly controversial) stock assessment for yellowtail rockfish substantially reduced the ABC.
1998
- New stock assessments were completed for Dover sole, sablefish, the thornyhead species, and widow rockfish, resulting in decreased ABCs for these species.
- A revised stock assessment for yellowtail rockfish raised the ABC.
- The lingcod ABC was revised downward and harvest restrictions were placed on both commercial and recreational harvests.
- Cumulative limits for deep water species (Dover sole, thornyheads and sablefish) were established coast-wide rather than being separated at Cape Mendocino.
- A "platoon" system was established so that some vessels began fishing later during cumulative periods, in order to spread out landings.1999
- The Council adopted a precautionary "40-10" policy which automatically reduced OY for species below 40% of unfished biomass.
- The Council adopted an MSY proxy of F40% for rockfish species.
- Chilipepper rockfish and splitnose rockfish had separate OYs calculated; chilipepper harvest was managed so as not to exceed 2000 mt in landings in order to avoid interaction with bocaccio rockfish.
- Cumulative limits were adjusted to allow harvest at higher levels during times that bycatch could be avoided, including a three-month cumulative period at the beginning of the year.
- Lingcod, POP and bocaccio designated overfished in March.2000
- Rebuilding plans were put in effect for lingcod and bocaccio rockfish.
- Major rockfish species were separated from the Sebastes assemblage and the remaining species were aggregated in groups based on occurrence at depth: slope, shelf, and near-shore. Resulting cumulative limits allocated a major portion of the near-shore assemblage to the recreational fishery. New sorting requirements accompanied this change.
- Fixed gear harvest of lingcod was prohibited for 6 months.
- Differential fishing opportunities based on trawl footrope size were established to avoid targeting of sensitive species. This in turn led to establishment of bycatch allowances for some species that are inevitably taken along with other target species.
- Cowcod and canary designated overfished in January.2001
- Darkblotched and widow rockfish designated overfished in January.
2002
- Commercial bottom trawling was closed along the entire coast for most of the month of August. Beginning in September, most commercial fishing was closed on the continental shelf, based on fathom lines.