PFMC ADOPTS MORE RESTRICTIONS FOR ROCKFISH!!
APPROVES TOTAL ROCKFISH CLOSURE SOUTH OF POINT CONCEPTION FOR JAN-FEB & NOV-DEC, 2002!

In a surprise move, the biologists for the PFMC recommended, and the Council approved, a four-month total rockfish closure south of Pt. Conception during the months of January-February and November-December next year. For the other eight months, we were able to get approval for a re-allocation of available bocaccio from commercial to recreational anglers that allowed us to get shelf and nearshore rockfish fishing from March 1 thru October 31.
The only state-managed species not included in these closures are sheephead, whitefish, cabezon and greenling, and the Fish & Game Commission will be considering DFG recommendations on these at their Dec. 6-7, 2001 meeting in Long Beach.

The major reason given for these much more restrictive regulations was a concern for increased pressure on nearshore rockfish that resulted from the past and proposed closures on the shelf rockfish. The biologists were concerned also with a probable 'transfer of effort' to nearshore rockfish from shelf species that would probably occur north of Point Conception. In addition to bocaccio being an overfished shelf rockfish stock, the fishermen north have to worry about canary and yellow eye rockfish, which are also listed federally as overfished. Since all recreational and commercial take of nearshore rockfish is managed under one quota throughout the state of California, the increased pressure in the north will result in further restrictions in the south.

One possible change that could lead to some additional nearshore opportunity in Nov-Dec. was agreed to by the DFG during discussions this week. The Council gave authority to the CA Fish & Game Commission to review catch information on nearshore at their October, 2002 meeting and make recreational nearshore fishing available in November and/or December, 2002 if sufficient quota remains.

Under any of these restrictions, as long as shelf and/or nearshore fishing is allowed, recreational anglers will have a 2-fish ling cod bag limit in addition to the rockfish, and the PFMC has agreed to reduce the minimum size limit from 26 to 24 inches on ling cod.

Between Pt. Conception and Cape Mendocino, in central California, the season in 2002 will be much different, mainly because canary and yellow-eye rockfish are listed as overfished, in addition to bocaccio. Their season will start with: shelf and nearshore rockfish fishing allowed in January-February; a complete rockfish closure in March-April; nearshore rockfish fishing only, inside of 20 fathoms in May-June; shelf and nearshore rockfish fishing in July-August; nearshore rockfish fishing inside 20 fathoms in September-October; and a complete rockfish closure in November-December, unless the CA Fish & Game Commission determines that enough nearshore rockfish quota remains to allow some nearshore rockfish fishing during November and/or December, 2002.

In central California, the catch of canary rockfish will also be reviewed by the Commission prior to allowing any nearshore rockfish opportunity in November-December. In addition, two shelf rockfish will be allowed within the 10 fish rockfish bag limit during periods when nearshore rockfish fishing is allowed. Overfished rockfish, such as canary, yellow eye, and bocaccio, will not be part of that two fish shelf rockfish allowance.

Within the 10 shelf rockfish daily limit, there were sublimits set on several overfished rockfish stocks. These included bocaccio: 2 fish; yellow eye: 1 fish but only two per vessel; cow cod: no fish; and canary: 1 fish.

We'll keep you up to date with any changes.