Several plans for Pacific groundfish would allow incidental catch without any way to reduce this source of fishing mortality. Several of the plans under consideration would also allow directed catch of vulnerable species such as lingcod and boccacio. Nevertheless, in recognition of progress over previous policies and relative to other regional plans, the council earns praise for preventing overfishing of groundfish. By failing to adopt a salmon plan amendment, the council has jeopardized the viability of healthy salmon runs on the Pacific Coast. As for progress to date on salmon, the council appears mired in allocation issues.
Significant improvement is needed to meet natural spawning escapement goals.
A number of stocks have been removed from the list for achieving their spawning escapement goal for just one year. A determination to end the overfished designation should be tied to specific evaluation criteria identified in recovery plans. The direction the council is moving could allow an increase in overfishing of these runs. The council has done an admirable job with establishing controls in its plan for coastal pelagics. There are several positive elements of the amendment.