**Template for Developing a**

**Fisheries Management and Evaluation Plan (FMEP)**

**under "4(d) Rules"**

The final 4(d) Rules (available from
[[http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/)]{.underline}](http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/).))
for certain[^1] listings of salmon and steelhead under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) may limit the application of take prohibitions of
listed species in fisheries if a Fisheries Management and Evaluation
Plan (FMEP) is developed and approved by the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS). If the FMEP is implemented accordingly, take of listed
species in the fisheries addressed in the FMEP will be covered under the
ESA. The primary goal of the FMEP is to devise biologically based
fishery management strategies that ensure the conservation and recovery
of listed Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs).

The purpose of this template is to provide additional guidance on
developing an FMEP which meets the criteria outlined in the final 4(d)
Rules. The language within text boxes is intended to provide insight on
the information being requested and should be deleted once the section
is completed. Some sections may not be applicable to certain fisheries.

**The details required for each section of the FMEP template depends on
the scope and effects of the proposed actions and the status of listed
populations affected by the fishery.** Some fisheries are low risk to
listed fish populations and will require minimal analysis. Other
fisheries, because of their scale and potential impacts to listed fish,
will require rigorous analysis of the effects on the survival and
recovery of affected ESUs. Fisheries occurring on listed salmonid
populations which are at extremely low abundance will also need more
detailed analyses to ensure fisheries are not contributing to the
further decline of listed salmon and steelhead.

The fisheries specified in the FMEP should be conducted according to the
approved FMEP. The life of the FMEP will be prolonged if contingencies
are sufficiently outlined in the FMEP to encompass run sizes and
corresponding harvest rates likely to occur in the foreseeable future.
However, a FMEP may be re-evaluated if: 1) the amount or extent of take
is exceeded, or is expected to be exceeded; 2) new information reveals
effects of the fisheries at a level not previously considered; 3) the
fisheries are conducted in a manner that causes an effect on listed
species that was not previously considered; or 4) a new species is
listed by NMFS within the management area of the FMEP.

The information included in the FMEP should be the best scientific and
commercial information available. Scientific and policy documents that
should be referred to during the development of an FMEP include: the
Federal Register Notice entitled "Final Rule Governing Take of 14
Threatened Salmon and Steelhead Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs)"
(June 2000), and NMFS' Technical Memorandum (NMFS-NWFSC-42, June 2000)
entitled "Viable Salmonid Populations and the Recovery of Evolutionarily
Significant Units." Both of these documents are available from NMFS
Northwest Region's website at
[[http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/).]{.underline}](http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/).)

The NMFS realizes that there may be insufficient information or
analytical capabilities in some cases to adequately complete all
sections in the template. However, by comprehensively identifying the
information needed for a scientific assessment of fisheries management
plans, NMFS intends for information gaps to be identified and additional
funding obtained to collect the information needed to better evaluate
and manage fisheries in the future.

A letter of concurrence from NMFS will be used to approve the FMEPs.
This letter will include the specific reporting and implementation
requirements for the FMEP. If questions arise related to an FMEP in a
particular region or ESU, see the appropriate NMFS contact in Table A.

**Table A. NMFS contacts for FMEPs by region or listed salmonid ESU.**

+-----------+---------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| **NMFS    | **ESU or      | **Email Address / | **Mailing Address** |
| Contact** | Region**      | Phone \#**        |                     |
+===========+===============+===================+=====================+
| **Susan   | Puget Sound   | [[susan.bish      | 7600 Sand Point Way |
| Bishop**  | Chinook ESU   | op@noaa.gov]{.und | NE, BIN C15700      |
|           |               | erline}](../susan | Seattle, WA         |
|           |               | .bishop@noaa.gov) | 98115-0070          |
|           |               |                   |                     |
|           |               | (206.526-4587)    |                     |
+-----------+---------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| **Lance   | Oregon Coast  | [[lance.kruzic@n  | 525 N.E. Oregon     |
| Kruzic**  | Region        | oaa.gov]{.underli | St., Suite 510      |
|           |               | ne}](mailto:lance |                     |
|           | Upper         | .kruzic@noaa.gov) | Portland, OR        |
|           | Willamette    |                   | 97232-2737          |
|           | ESUs          | (503.231-2178)    |                     |
+-----------+---------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| **Enrique | Columbia      | [[e               | 7600 Sand Point Way |
| Patino**  | River Basin   | nrique.patino@noa | NE, BIN C15700      |
|           | fisheries     | a.gov]{.underline | Seattle, WA         |
|           | under US v.   | }](mailto:enrique | 98115-0070          |
|           | Oregon        | .patino@noaa.gov) |                     |
|           |               |                   |                     |
|           |               | (206.526-4655)    |                     |
+-----------+---------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| **Herb    | Snake River   | [                 | 10215 W. Emerald,   |
| Pollard** | ESUs          | [herbert.pollard@ | Suite 180           |
|           |               | noaa.gov]{.underl |                     |
|           |               | ine}](../herbert. | Boise, ID 83704     |
|           |               | pollard@noaa.gov) |                     |
|           |               |                   |                     |
|           |               | (208.378-5614)    |                     |
+-----------+---------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| **Vince   | Upper         | [[vince           | 525 N.E. Oregon     |
| Tra       | Columbia ESUs | .tranquilli@noaa. | St., Suite 510      |
| nquilli** |               | gov]{.underline}] |                     |
|           | *(Note: FMEP  | (mailto:vince.tra | Portland, OR        |
|           | exemptions    | nquilli@noaa.gov) | 97232-2737          |
|           | under 4(d)    |                   |                     |
|           | rules not     | (503.230-5409)    |                     |
|           | applicable to |                   |                     |
|           | these         |                   |                     |
|           | endangered    |                   |                     |
|           | ESUs*)        |                   |                     |
+-----------+---------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| **Rich    | Lower         | [[rich.turner@    | 525 N.E. Oregon     |
| Turner**  | Columbia ESUs | noaa.gov]{.underl | St., Suite 510      |
|           |               | ine}](mailto:rich |                     |
|           | Mid-Columbia  | .turner@noaa.gov) | Portland, OR        |
|           | ESUs          |                   | 97232-2737          |
|           |               | (503.736-4737)    |                     |
+-----------+---------------+-------------------+---------------------+

**FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND EVALUATION PLAN**

**\[insert appropriate Evolutionarily Significant Unit(s), management
area, or specific fishery/fisheries\]**

**Prepared by**

**\[insert agency name\]**

**\[insert date completed\]**

**Title.**

> **Fishery Management and Evaluation Plan** \[*insert Evolutionarily
> Significant Unit (ESU) name, management area, specific fisheries,
> or/and appropriate fish specie or species*\]

**Responsible Management Agency.**

**Agency:**

**Name of Primary Contact:**

**Address:**

> **City, State, Zip Code:**
>
> **Telephone Number:**
>
> **Fax Number:**
>
> **Email Address:**

**Date Completed**.

Include the dates of any previous draft FMEP that were submitted, if
applicable.

###  {#section .unnumbered}

### FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

1.  **General objectives of the FMEP.**

![](media/image1.wmf)

1.  **List of the "Performance Indicators" for the management
    objectives.**

![](media/image2.wmf)

2.  **Description of the relationship and consistency of harvest
    management with artificial propagation programs.**

![](media/image3.wmf)

3.  **General description of the relationship between the FMEP
    objectives and Federal tribal trust obligations.** (This will be
    further addressed in section 4).

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2.  **Fishery management area(s).**

![](media/image4.wmf)

1.  **Description of the geographic boundaries of the management area of
    this FMEP.**

2.  **Description of the time periods in which fisheries occur within
    the management area.**

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3.  **Listed salmon and steelhead affected within the Fishery Management
    Area specified in section 1.2.**

![](media/image5.wmf)

1.  **Description of "critical" and "viable" thresholds for each
    population (or management unit) consistent with the concepts in the
    technical document "Viable Salmonid Populations and the Recovery of
    Evolutionarily Significant Units."**

![](media/image6.wmf)

2.  **Description of the current status of each population (or
    management unit) relative to its "Viable Salmonid Population
    thresholds" described above. Include abundance and/or escapement
    estimates for as many years as possible.**

Table 1. List of the natural fish populations, "Viable Salmonid
Population" thresholds, and associated hatchery stocks included in this
FMEP.

+--------------+---------------+--------------+---------------+------+
| Natural      | Critical      | Viable       | Associated    | Hatc |
| Populations  | Thresholds    | Thresholds   | hatchery      | hery |
| (or          |               |              | stock(s)      | s    |
| Management   |               |              |               | tock |
| Units        |               |              |               | e    |
|              |               |              |               | ssen |
|              |               |              |               | tial |
|              |               |              |               | for  |
|              |               |              |               | r    |
|              |               |              |               | ecov |
|              |               |              |               | ery? |
|              |               |              |               | (Y   |
|              |               |              |               | or   |
|              |               |              |               | N)   |
+--------------+---------------+--------------+---------------+------+
| **           | *             | **           | *             | N    |
| *Example*:** | **Example*:** | *Example*:** | **Example*:** |      |
|              |               |              |               |      |
| Hypothetical | Abundance:    | Abundance:   | Twin Forks    |      |
| R. Basin     | 500 adults/yr | 5,000        | Hatchery      |      |
| spring       |               | adults/yr    | spring        |      |
| chinook      | Productivity: |              | chinook       |      |
|              | short term    | P            | (stock #1),   |      |
|              | avg.          | roductivity: | Salmon        |      |
|              | replacement   | long term    | Hatchery      |      |
|              | rate \<0.7    | avg.         | spring        |      |
|              |               | replacement  | chinook       |      |
|              |               | rate =1      | (stock #56)   |      |
+--------------+---------------+--------------+---------------+------+
|              |               |              |               |      |
+--------------+---------------+--------------+---------------+------+
|              |               |              |               |      |
+--------------+---------------+--------------+---------------+------+
|              |               |              |               |      |
+--------------+---------------+--------------+---------------+------+
|              |               |              |               |      |
+--------------+---------------+--------------+---------------+------+
|              |               |              |               |      |
+--------------+---------------+--------------+---------------+------+

4.  **Harvest Regime**

    1.  **Provide escapement objectives and/or maximum exploitation
        rates for each population (or management unit) based on its
        status.**

![](media/image7.wmf)

2.  **Description of how the fisheries will be managed to conserve the
    weakest population or management unit.**

3.  **Demonstrate that the harvest regime is consistent with the
    conservation and recovery of commingled natural-origin populations
    in areas where artificially propagated fish predominate.**

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5.  **Annual Implementation of the Fisheries**

![](media/image8.wmf)

### EFFECTS ON ESA-LISTED SALMONIDS

1.  **Description of the biologically-based rationale demonstrating that
    the fisheries management strategies will not appreciably reduce the
    likelihood of survival and recovery of the affected ESU(s) in the
    wild.**

![](media/image9.wmf)

1.  **Description of which fisheries affect each population (or
    management unit).**

2.  **Assessment of how the harvest regime will not likely result in
    changes to the biological characteristics of the affected ESUs.**

![](media/image10.wmf)

3.  **Comparison of harvest impacts in previous years and the harvest
    impacts anticipated to occur under the harvest regime in this
    FMEP.**

![](media/image11.wmf)

4.  **Description of additional fishery impacts not addressed within
    this FMEP for the listed ESUs specified in section 1.3. Account for
    harvest impacts in previous year and the impacts expected in the
    future.**

![](media/image12.wmf)

### MONITORING AND EVALUATION

![](media/image13.wmf)

2.  **Description of the specific monitoring of the "Performance
    Indicators" listed in section 1.1.3.**

![](media/image14.wmf)

3.  **Description of other monitoring and evaluation not included in the
    Performance Indicators (section 3.1) which provides additional
    information useful for fisheries management.**

4.  **Public Outreach**

![](media/image15.wmf)

5.  **Enforcement**

![](media/image16.wmf)

6.  **Schedule and process for reviewing and modifying fisheries
    management.**

![](media/image17.wmf)

1.  **Description of the process and schedule that will be used on a
    regular basis (e.g. annually) to evaluate the fisheries, and revise
    management assumptions and targets if necessary.**

![](media/image18.wmf)

2.  **Description of the process and schedule that will occur every X
    years to evaluate whether the FMEP is accomplishing the stated
    objectives. The conditions under which revisions to the FMEP will be
    made and how the revisions will likely be accomplished should be
    included.**

![](media/image19.wmf)

1.  **CONSISTENCY OF FMEP WITH PLANS AND CONDITIONS SET WITHIN ANY
    FEDERAL COURT PROCEEDINGS**

![](media/image20.wmf)

**Appendix A**

**Recovery Categories for Puget Sound chinook ESU**

**Category 1 Watersheds: Areas with Indigenous Populations**

These core populations are genetically unique and indigenous to
watersheds of the ESU. Maintaining genetic diversity and integrity of
these stocks and achieving abundance levels for long-term natural
sustainability[^2] is the highest priority for these populations.

**Category 2 Watersheds: Productive Areas Lacking Indigenous
Populations**

The level of natural spawning in these streams may largely reflect
production and escapement of hatchery fish. The approach for these
populations depends on three steps:

a\) Scientific conclusions that indigenous populations no longer exist
in the watershed;

b\) Selection of the most appropriate stock for hatchery production; and

c\) Development of management regime that will support sustainable
natural spawning.

Management plans will have explicit objectives and intent for promoting
natural origin recruits ^2^ (NOR) that perpetuate the run. To achieve
sustainability, habitat must be protected and enhanced. In addition,
harvest and hatchery strategies must support needed escapements.

**Category 3 Watersheds: No Historical Production of the Target
Species**

These include areas that have never had independent, self_sustaining
populations. Many of these watersheds do not have morphological
characteristics (e.g. flow, channel width, gravel type) necessary to
support the target species. Historically these watersheds have been more
suited for other salmon species, trout, and native resident species.
Production of the target fish species in these watersheds is often
largely the result of hatchery outplants.

The focus on recovery in these areas will be directed towards habitat
protection to ensure maximizing fish productivity. Any production of the
target fish species from these tributaries is beneficial but incidental
to the goals of the FMEP. In these areas, there is no attempt to limit
or segregate hatchery or natural origin recruits.

[^1]: Applies only to the following Evolutionarily Significant Units
    (ESUs): Oregon Coast coho, Puget Sound, Lower Columbia, and Upper
    Willamette chinook, Hood Canal and Columbia River chum, and Ozette
    Lake sockeye, Lower Columbia River, Middle Columbia River, Snake
    River Basin, Upper Willamette River, Central California,
    South/Central California Coast, and Central Valley steelhead.

[^2]: Sustainability is the self-perpetuation of natural-origin fish at
    abundances where they are not likely to become endangered in the
    foreseeable future.