Year end Report of The FCA Offshore Rockfish Cooperative

Transcription

1 Year end Reprt f The FCA Offshre Rckfish Submitted t: Reginal Administratr NMFS Alaska P.O. Bx Juneau, Alaska 99802

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION. 3 II. COOPERATIVE MEMBERSHIP.. 4 III. COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT MONITORING. 4 IV. CO-OP ALLOCATIONS, TRANSFERS AND PERFORMANCE. 6 V. WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA (WGOA) SIDEBOARDS.. 7 VI. CO-OP PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH. 7 VII. PROGRAM SIDEBOARDS. 7 VIII. PENALTIES/CIVIL ACTIONS 7 Page 2 f 7

3 Sectin I INTRODUCTION The Cuncil adpted the prpsed Central GOA Rckfish Prgram n June 14, 2010, t replace the Pilt Prgram, which expired n December 31, The final rule implementing Amendment 88, the Rckfish Prgram, became effective n December 27, The Rckfish Prgram is similar t the Pilt Prgram, but des incrprate sme changes, such as: 1. Uses different qualifying years fr eligibility fr QS. 2. Uses a different suite f years t determine sidebard limits and the allcatin f QS The Rckfish Prgram takes ver the management f three primary rckfish species in the Central (): Pacific cean perch (POPA), nrthern rckfish (NORK), and dusky rckfish (DUSK). The Rckfish Prgram als allws fr the frmatin f rckfish fishing cperatives in the catcher vessel (CV) and catcherprcessr (CP) sectrs. During the 2017 fishing seasn FCA perfrmed quta transfers with the Gulf f Alaska Rckfish. Each cperative received an annual harvest share allcatin based n the qualified harvest histry f its members (cmbined vessel quta shares r QS). In additin t the allcatin f primary rckfish species (POPA, NORK, and DUSK), catcher prcessr cperatives als received allcatins f secndary species, which included sablefish, thrnyhead, shrtraker, rugheye rckfish and halibut PSC mrtality. The catcher prcessr (CP) vessel c-ps did nt receive allcatins f Pacific cd. The CP cd was managed as a maximum retainable amunt (MRA). Allcatins t bth the inshre and catcher prcessr sectrs were based n the average percentages f retained catch and halibut PSC mrtality usage f these species in the target rckfish fisheries during the qualifying perid. These allcatins are distributed t the cperative members based n the amunt f primary rckfish that the cperative member held marks the sixth year f the Rckfish Prgram, and in cmpliance with Amendment 88, this annual reprt is submitted t the Cuncil as a summary f harvests, transfers, and cperative perfrmance during the 2017 rckfish fishing seasn in the Central (). Page 3 f 7

4 Sectin II COOPERATIVE MEMBERSHIP The 2017 FCA cnsisted f five members, Alaska Spirit, Alaska Victry, Seafisher, Arah, and ne American Seafds LLP; the Alaska Spirit and Alaska Victry actively fished in the Rckfish Prgram. Sectin III COOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT- MONITORING The FCA was represented and managed by Bill McGill f The Fishing Cmpany f Alaska, Inc. in cperatin and crdinatin with the ther ffshre cperative, Rckfish, inshre participants, and the Natinal Marine Fisheries Service (in-seasn management). It was the 2017 FCA harvesting strategy t manage the harvesting in the central GOA utilizing the Alaska Spirit and Alaska Victry t take the quta. Based n ur fishing experience in the GOA cperative prgrams, FCA develped an effective catch mnitring prgram and emplyed fishing techniques that were intended t maximize harvest and minimize PSC bycatch in the withut exceeding any species r PSC allcatins. Vessel Catch-Mnitring All f the FCA vessels use nbard catch mnitring systems that allw them t cmpute and mnitr catch n a tw by tw basis based n real time hail estimates, species cmpsitin, and bserver infrmatin. Each vessel s accunting is cmpared t catch reprts cmpiled by an independent catch mnitring cmpany, Sea State, Inc., wh utilized the mst current fficial NMFS bserver catch infrmatin. The cmparative data was then transmitted t the vessels. Any discrepancies between vessel catch data and that cmpiled by Sea State were rectified. In additin, a third check f catch data accuracy was made when the c-p manager cmpared the vessel and Sea State catch numbers with the NMFS accunt balance. Page 4 f 7

5 Figure 1. Schematic f Fishing C. f Alaska Rckfish Operatins and Management. FCA C-p Manager Frmatin Allcatin Tracking Prblem Slving C-p Active Vessels Ak Spirit Ak Victry Perfrmed tw by tw species cmpsitin and catch mnitring functins. Independent C-p Catch Mnitring by Sea State Inc. Perfrmed tw by tw catch mnitring frm bserver data and made recmmendatins t adjust catch strategy. NMFS In Seasn Management Prvided fficial catch reprts and mnitring. Reslved catch reprting and interpretatin issues. Page 5 f 7

6 Sectin IV CO-OP ALLOCATIONS, TRANSFERS and PERFORMANCE FCA allcatins and transfers fr the 2017 seasn are summarized by species in Table 1. Table 1 Central Allcatins and Transfers IN and OUT f by Species. NAME Dusky (PSR) Nrthern POP FCA Allcatin Rugheye Sablefish Shrtraker Thrnyhead Halibut - PSC Transferred In frm r Out t the cp listed In Transfers Out Transfers Ttal QS Catch CQ Remaining Percent Harvested % % 3, , , % % % % % % GOA DW Cmplex Halibut SB % GOA SW Cmplex Halibut SB % 63 Chink salmn and 49 nn-chink were taken during the 2017 Rckfish Prgram fishery. Page 6 f 7

7 Sectin V WESTERN GULF OF ALASKA (WGOA) SIDEBOARDS Table 2 Western GOA Sidebard Species Species Grup Area Sidebard Percentage Ttal CP Sidebard Limit (mt) FCA C-p Sidebard Limit (mt) FCA Catch (mt) FCA Balance (mt) FCA % Remaining Nrthern Rckfish WG % Pacific Ocean Perch WG , % Dusky (PSR) WG % Sectin VI CO-OP CENTRAL GOA PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH (PSC) The FCA c-p was initially allcated mt f halibut PSC and used mts. Sectin VII PROGRAM SIDEBOARDS The Rckfish Prgram established sidebard limitatins (nt allcatins) that limited LLP hlders participating in the prgram frm expanding their harvests in ther fisheries. These sidebard limitatins apply nly in July, histrically the mst active mnth fr rckfish fishing. This fishery pened under an industry agreement that further limited catch f the sidebard species. Sectin VIII PENALTIES/CIVIL ACTIONS There were n NMFS enfrcement actins r ther sanctins taken against the FCA cperative fishing in the RP. Page 7 f 7