Opinion ID: 3037886
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Annual Management Measures

Text: The process for setting the “flexible” annual management measures for Pacific salmon fisheries begins in January, when the Council releases a report describing abundance levels for the previous year’s salmon stocks. See PFMC, Council Operating Procedure: Preseason Mgmt. Process (rev. Mar. 11, 2005). In February, the Council drafts Preseason Report I, which makes “stock abundance forecasts and harvest and escapement estimates [for the coming season] when recent regulatory regimes are projected on current year abundance.” Id. In early March, the Council meets in public to discuss various management options for the coming season in that year. It then releases Preseason Report II, which proposes “not more than three alternative regulatory options” to meet “FMP management objectives.” Id. The Council holds public meetings on the proposed salmon management options in late March. After receiving comments from the public, the Council chooses from among the options at its early April meeting. Most of that meeting is open to the public. See Pacific Plan at 9-1. The Council then forwards its proposed management OREGON TROLLERS v. GUTIERREZ 7393 measures to the NMFS for final approval. Annual management measures for the Pacific salmon fisheries are published in final form in the Federal Register in early May.