IB 20-14: NMFS Notifies Operators of Catcher Vessels Using Hook-and-line, Pot, or Jig Gear of New Rockfish Retention Requirements
February 27, 2020 - 1:30 p.m.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) notifies operators of catcher vessels (CVs) using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear of new rockfish retention requirements, effective March 23, 2020.
This action contains two main provisions: 1) requiring full retention and landing of rockfish by CVs using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear; and 2) limiting the amount of rockfish that can enter commerce. The first provision mandates that the operator of a CV required to have a federal fisheries permit using hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear to retain and land all rockfish that are caught while fishing for groundfish or halibut in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the BSAI or GOA, even if the species of rockfish is closed to directed fishing or on prohibited species status.
The second provision implements a new method for limiting potential rockfish catch: the maximum commerce allowance (MCA). The MCA would limit the amount of rockfish allowed to enter commerce through barter, sale, or trade. Rockfish in excess of these limits could not be sold but could be kept for personal use, donated, processed into fishmeal, or discarded by processing plant personnel.
The MCA for rockfish is 15%, of which 5% can be yelloweye rockfish in all areas, except the Southeast Outside District of the GOA (SEO). Current full retention requirements for demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) in the SEO remain unchanged. To aid the reader in understanding how the MCA works, here is an example:
A CV operator retains all rockfish during an IFQ halibut trip in the Central GOA and delivers 1,000 pounds of halibut and 200 pounds of various rockfish species, of which 50 pounds is yelloweye rockfish. The MCA for rockfish is 150 pounds (1,000 * 0.15). The MCA for yelloweye rockfish is 50 pounds (1,000 * 0.05). The CV operator could sell all yelloweye rockfish and 100 pounds of other rockfish species. Fifty pounds of rockfish could not enter commerce but could be kept for personal use, donated, processed into fishmeal, or discarded by processing plant personnel.
More information can be found here. For any questions regarding this bulletin please feel free to contact Josh Keaton at (907) 586-7519 or josh.keaton@noaa.gov.