Biological Opinion Bycatch Reporting Jason E. Jannot NWFSC, Seattle, WA PFMC Groundfish ESA Workgroup Meeting 23 January 2014
Common Reporting Reqmts. FYI – Annual reporting summaries Minimum – metrics documented in Biol. Opinion Document any changes to methods Develop methods for bycatch accounting in unobserved fisheries Discuss data gaps and uncertainty U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 2
Who, When, What Lead Timing – 1 st reports: Feb 2015 Scope Observer data about 1 year lag Feb 2015: data thru Dec 2013 Iterative process Teams have not yet met, except Eulachon U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 3
Marine Mammals Lead – Brad Hanson Timing – Every 2 years, 1 st report: Feb 2015 Scope Fleet-wide Bycatch Estimates Analysis of observer and strandings data Status of individuals: injured or dead Biological Opinion : Humpback Whales U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 4
Sea Turtles Lead – Rhema Bjorkland Timing – Every 2 years, 1 st report Feb 2015 Scope Fleet-wide Bycatch Estimates Analysis of observer and strandings data Fate of individuals Biological Opinion : Leatherback Sea Turtles U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 5
Eulachon Lead – Rick Gustafson Timing – Every 2 years, 1 st report: Feb 2015 Scope Fleet-wide Bycatch Estimates Analysis of observer data Met and discussed data sources and analytical approaches, still under discussion and development U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 6
Green Sturgeon Lead – Observer Program, TBD Timing – Every 2 years, 1 st report: Feb 2015 Scope Fleet-wide Bycatch Estimates Analysis of observer & mark-recapture data Fate of individuals: alive or dead Identify factors associated with high bycatch U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 7
Sea Birds Lead – Tom Good Timing – Every 2 years, 1 st report: Feb 2015 Scope Fleet-wide Bycatch Estimates Analysis of observer data & telemetry data Gear/vessel interactions with birds Biological Opinion : Short-tailed Albatross Black-footed Albatross as surrogate U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 8
Fishing Effort Lead – Marlene Bellman Timing – Every 2 years, 1 st report: Feb 2015 Scope Evaluate changes in fishing effort by gear type Changes in spatial and temporal characteristics Changes due to IFQ implementation Assess effects of bottom trawl gear on bottom habitats in green sturgeon critical habitat U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 9
Observer Coverage Lead – Jason Jannot Timing – One-time report: Feb 2015 Scope Evaluate the effect of observer coverage on bycatch rates and uncertainty Overall coverage rate and distribution by sector Goal for minimum coverage: 30% uncertainty U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 10
Resources U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 11 Protected Species Observer Reports _products/protected_species.cfm Evaluating Bycatch