Overview
Title
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Amendment 23 to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The people taking care of fish near the West Coast are planning a new way to help a type of fish called the Pacific sardine get healthy again because there aren't enough of them. They want to change the rules about how many sardines people can catch each year and are asking everyone what they think before making a final decision.
Summary AI
The Pacific Fishery Management Council has proposed Amendment 23 to update the plan for rebuilding the Pacific sardine population off the west coast, which has been declared overfished. This amendment aims to revise the rebuilding strategy to align with a court order, setting new catch limits based on the sardine population size each year. The proposed plan is expected to rebuild the sardine stock within 17 years, providing stability and growth opportunities for small fisheries. Public comments on this proposal will be considered before the final decision is made.
Abstract
The Pacific Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 23 to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for review by the Secretary of Commerce. If approved, Amendment 23 would implement a revised rebuilding plan for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine. This proposed amendment is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act or MSA), the CPS FMP, and other applicable laws. NMFS will consider public comments in deciding whether to approve, disapprove, or partially approve Amendment 23. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, NMFS also announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment that analyzes the potential effects of the associated proposed amendment.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
General Summary
The document from the Federal Register details Amendment 23 proposed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan (CPS FMP). The amendment focuses on revising the rebuilding plan for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine, which is currently overfished. The plan sets new annual catch limits (ACLs) based on the sardine population's size, aiming to rebuild the stock within 17 years. This comes in response to both ecological needs and a specific court order, with the proposed plans expected to balance ecological sustainability and economic considerations for small fisheries.
Significant Issues or Concerns
Several issues arise from this document. First, there is no clear indication of the estimated costs or budget necessary for implementing the revised rebuilding plan, which can make it difficult to evaluate financial efficiency or potential overspending. Moreover, the document lacks a clear rationale for selecting Alternative 6 from the six considered, raising potential concerns about the thoroughness of the evaluation in terms of economic, environmental, and social impacts. Additionally, the document's explanation of the methods for adjusting ACLs based on biomass may be too complex for those without a scientific background. The lack of detailed criteria for how ACL calculations will be determined adds to potential ambiguity in management. Lastly, while the document cites numerous legal and regulatory frameworks, it does not provide concise summaries, posing challenges for readers unfamiliar with these technicalities.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, the amendment aims to promote the sustainable management of the sardine stock, which could help ensure long-term viability of fishery resources critical for the ecosystem and future fishing opportunities. This may benefit the public in terms of conserving marine biodiversity and potentially stabilizing associated economic activities such as fishing and tourism. However, the effectiveness of the amendment depends significantly on its successful implementation and public understanding, which could be hindered by its complex language and lack of transparency in certain areas.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For stakeholders like small fishery businesses, the proposed amendment offers potential stability and opportunities for growth by setting structured catch limits based on sardine population assessments. This could help these fisheries remain operational even with low biomass levels. On the other hand, unclear scientific criteria for setting ACLs may lead to unpredictability or unfair advantages. Furthermore, policymakers and regulatory bodies may face challenges ensuring the effective communication and enforcement of these regulations, depending on how well the public and stakeholders comprehend the regulatory changes.
In addressing these aspects comprehensively, the document underscores the critical interplay between environmental regulation, legal mandates, and practical implications for fisheries, reflecting the complexities of managing natural resources in compliance with legal frameworks and ecological demands.
Issues
• The document does not specify the estimated cost or budget associated with implementing the revised rebuilding plan, making it difficult to assess potential wasteful spending.
• The rationale for selecting Alternative 6 over the other five alternatives is not clearly articulated in terms of economic, environmental, or social impacts, which could raise concerns about favoritism or inadequate evaluation.
• The details regarding how the ACL will adjust based on biomass status could be simplified to improve clarity for stakeholders who may not have a scientific background.
• The process and criteria for determining the ACL calculations are not detailed, potentially leading to ambiguity in their implementation.
• The document relies on references to legal and regulatory frameworks without concise summaries, making it challenging for readers unfamiliar with these frameworks to fully understand their implications.