GOAL: Cape to Cape Management
 
Background:
The coast-wide management scheme currently in use for West Coast groundfish stocks is out of balance – it does not protect the biological structure of fish populations, may encourage local area depletion, and does not reward the efforts of conservation-minded fishermen. As a result, high levels of bycatch in one area of the coast can shut down fishing in other areas. Fishermen with high bycatch rates are not held accountable, and those fishing selectively are penalized. Along the extraordinary coasts of Washington, Oregon and California, the interaction between ecosystem, fishermen and management is not receiving adequate attention. It’s time for sensible change.
PMCC advocates for area-based fishery management.
PMCC proposes that a practical first step in making this management shift is to analyze existing groundfish data and identify new data necessary to divide West Coast fisheries management into smaller units, possibly initially delineated by Cape Flattery, Cape Blanco, Cape Mendocino, and Point Conception. The Capes are well-known biogeographic boundaries of fish distributions. Area-discrete total catch limits (landed catch plus bycatch) would be established based upon more localized assessments of fish populations, largely filtered from information already available. This would move the management process toward better protecting the biological structure of overfished stocks while managing the effects of bycatch on communities in a more equitable manner. A management structure that supports area-based decision-making will provide incentives for improved local stewardship of marine resources, and reward fishing communities for effective conservation.
- Photo courtesy of Markus Mead
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