Search Results for keywords:"sablefish"

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has announced the opening of the fishing season for sablefish with fixed gear under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. This season will run from March 20, 2025, to December 7, 2025, aligning with the Pacific halibut season, although the exact opening and closing hours differ. The actions are taken to promote conservation and management of fishery resources as per federal laws and regulations. This rule was issued quickly without public comment to ensure the simultaneous opening of the sablefish and halibut fisheries, which is essential for effective management and reducing bycatch.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a correction to the 2025-2026 harvest specifications for groundfish in U.S. waters off the West Coast, covering Washington, Oregon, and California. This amendment fixes errors and clarifies management measures, ensuring consistent regulations coastwide. It adjusts quota limits for shortspine thornyheads, corrects mis-specified limits for sablefish, and modifies terms from “Nontrawl” to “Non-trawl.” These corrections aim to prevent confusion among fishery participants and clarify previous regulatory specifications.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council is organizing three Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panel meetings to evaluate 2025 stock assessments of various rockfish species and sablefish. The meetings will take place between May and July 2025 and are open to the public. They will be held in person with options for remote participation and public comments. The panels will examine and review draft stock assessment models and information to make recommendations for managing fisheries starting in 2027.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council and the NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center are organizing a virtual pre-assessment workshop to discuss data and modeling methods for groundfish stock assessments. This workshop is scheduled for March 18, 2025, and is open to the public. The primary focus will be on assessing the rougheye/blackspotted rockfish and sablefish stocks. Participants will review data inputs and provide recommendations, but no final management decisions will be made during the meeting.

The U.S. Department of Commerce issued an amended Export Trade Certificate of Review to the Alaska Longline Cod Commission (ALCC) on December 3, 2024. This certificate allows ALCC to export certain fish products, such as headed and gutted pollock, sablefish, and Greenland turbot, as well as byproducts like fish heads and collars, while protecting them from specific antitrust actions. The amended certificate became effective on September 5, 2024, and it ensures that ALCC can continue its exporting activities with its existing member companies without facing legal challenges from the government or private parties for the designated export activities.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has set a 3.0% fee percentage for 2024 under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for halibut and sablefish in the North Pacific. This fee helps cover the costs involved in managing and enforcing the program. Fishermen must calculate their fees based on this percentage and the value of their catch, which they need to pay by January 31, 2025. Although management costs decreased, a significant drop in total fishery value keeps the fee percentage at this capped rate.