Biological Opinion Bycatch Reporting

Jason E. JannotNWFSC,

Seattle, WA

PFMC Groundfish ESA Workgroup Meeting23 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 – 1st 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, 1st 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, 1st 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, 1st 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, 1st 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, 1st 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, 1st 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 Reportshttp://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/fram/observation/data_products/protected_species.cfm

• Evaluating Bycatchhttp://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/tm/tm66.pdf