CDFW Rockfish Depth Limit Changes coming

Per Coastside,

CDFW has decided to revert rockfish depth limits back to 2016 depths due to increased retention of Yelloweye.  This change will be coming relatively soon so keep your eye out for it.  Too bad that it has to happen, but better than closing down the rockfishery altogether.


-bmb

This came out of the PMFC meetings over the weekend.  I was not monitoring, but I'm a little surprised that they would go with reversion to 2016 depths rather than closing the fishery on October 31 given the data that came out of the meetings.

http://www.pcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/E10a_Sup_REVISED_GMT_Rpt2_SEPT2017BB.pdf

They still project to be over.  Is CA borrowing the unused OR YE mortality to make up the 0.3mt?  What did we have to horse trade if that is the case?  Did that get explained at coastside?

Reading the rest of the recently uploaded material, the 2019-2020 groundfish regs discussions are starting.  Reduction to one lingcod and/or increase in size limit, increase in canary limit, year round southern area fishery, and different sublimits of black rf by management area are all alluded to but its very early in the game.  Make sure you show up to any DFW meetings in your area and report back.  We don't need a repeat of 2016 next year.