Agenda Item K.5.c Supplemental Public Comment PowerPoint 3 March 2014 California s Dri-net Fishery for Swordfish and shark California s Deadliest Catch Photos le) to right, swordfish, seafood counter, sperm whale c Doug Perrine/seapics.com Pacific Fishery Management Council March 12, 2014 Sacramento, CA Teri Shore, Program Director, Turtle Island Restoration Network, tshore@tirn.net, www.seaturtles.org
No Expansion of Dri)nets AUC Increased Risk of Bycatch BycatchHigher in AUC Per 100 sets Endangered Sperm Whales Cetaceans (Whales/ Dolphins) Endangered Leatherbacks Open Areas PLCA AUC Vs. Open Areas and PLCA.065.27.77 11 X ~3X r 7.9 7.64 11.83 1.5 X 1.5 X.098.85.51 5 X ~ <1 Lower Endangered Sperm Whales Less than 1,000 in West coast populalon Endangered Leatherbacks Less than 1,400 mature adults in enlre Pacific (IUCN Red List Assessment) 15% average observer coverage 1990-2012 Source: Agenda Item K.5.b HMSMT Report March 2014 Table 1
California Coast Turtle- Safe 2 Observed ~ 8 eslmated takes 2001-2012 CriXcally Endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle 90 percent decline in populaxons 6 percent per year 1,100 to 1,500 total nesters at one key Indonesian beach ESA CriXcal Habitat 16,000 square miles in CA 42,000 square miles total February 2012 first along U.S. mainland Pacific Leatherback ConservaXon Area No Dri- Gillnets Aug 15 to Nov. 15 One Take since 2001
Council AcXon End Dri-nets Whales, Dolphins, Marine Mammals 2001-2011 EsXmated Deaths 1,039 Short Beaked Common dolphin California Sea Lion Pacific White sided dolphin Northern Right Whale Dolphin Long Beaked Common dolphin Risso s dolphin Northern Elephant Seal Sperm whales 16 in 2010 (3/yr) Boelenose dolphin Leatherback Sea Turtle Shorfinned pilot whale Loggerhead Sea Turtle Gray whale - 2013/14 Highest Level Bycatch Threat in US West Coast MMPA Cat. 1
Finfish Bycatch Sharks, Sunfish Blue Sharks 13,000 caught and discarded over 10 years Ocean Sunfish Mola Mola 100,000 caught and discarded over 10 years Photos at le) of entangled marine life in CA dri) gillnet fishery acquired through FOIA request to NaLonal Marine Fisheries Service. More at www.seaturtles.org Blue shark above, NOAA photo; ocean sunfish courtesy Dr. Tierney Thys
Finfish Catch RaXos - CA Dri- Gill Net 15% Targeted Fish [35% Kept 65% Discarded] EsXmated by Individuals, 20% Observer Coverage; 2001 2010 NMFS Observer Data 48% Mola 15% OTHER FINFISH 5% 5% Thresher Shark All Other Thresher Shark Albacore Tuna Skipjack Tuna Shorfin Mako Shark Blue Shark Swordfish Common Mola 10% 6% Swordfish 5% 6% Blue Shark
TRT RecommendaLons Weaker than emergency regulalons Doesn t cover May 1 to Aug 15 season. May not meet ESA and MMPA Emergency TRT 100% observer cover in Zone 100% - 67% in Zone (to avoid PBR) 1 sperm whale mortality, fishery closes 1 sperm whale mortality in Zone, Zone Closes ONLY Effort Moves Inshore 2 nd sperm whale mortality, fishery closes NOTE: ZMG is legal threshold not PBR
No FederalizaLon of Fishery 1. Conflicts with longstanding California fishery policy and management 2. Not in the interest of the state of California 3. Opens door to vacalng decades of fishery reform 1. Time and area closures 2. Gear reform 4. State authority to issue permits is clear 5. Federal inilalves to expand dri)nets and introduce longlining are in direct conflict with state statutes and policies 6. California Department of Fisher and Wildlife, California State Legislature, California Coastal Commission 7. People of California the fishery is a public trust resource
Swordfish Market Transfer Reality or Myth? No evidence no science of market transfer effect 80 to 90 percent of U.S. Seafood is Imported Imports don t meet U.S. standards SoluLon Enforce MSA and MMPA Dolphin- Safe Tuna Turtle- Safe Shrimp (TEDs) Instead NMFS Rulemaking 2010 abandoned CA AJR 8 Call on NMFS to Act CA require imports to meet U.S. standards? Kill More Turtles and Marine Mammals Here to Save More There? Other nalons will conlnue to sell their fish no maner what CA does.
Note: Northwest Albacore low in mercury. Promote as alternalve to swordfish.
California Sustainable Seafood IniLaLve Top CA fishery candidates Dri)net Fishery Not Assessed Harpoon swordfish good candidate increased parlcipalon needed Ending Dri)nets in Swordfish Improve Market for Swordfish Sustainable Restaurants, Retailers, Seafood Lovers Increase Demand for CA fish; Avoid Imports
No Dri)net Expansion Council AcLon to End Dri)nets Support Marine ConservaLon and Sustainable Fisheries Teri Shore, tshore@lrn.net, www.seaturtles.org