The Council received a report from the GOA Groundfish Plan Team and adopted proposed harvest and prohibited species catch (PSC) specifications for 2021 and 2022. The GOA Groundfish Plan Team report summarized the issues discussed and actions taken by the Plan Team at its virtual September meeting. Highlights of the GOA Plan Team report included results from the winter acoustic trawl survey, an update on survey design optimization for the GOA bottom trawl survey, and team discussions with individual assessment authors. The SSC provided guidance and recommendations on these issues as well as on harvest specifications for 2021.
For proposed rulemaking for the 2021 and 2022 fishing years, the SSC recommended OFLs and ABCs based on a rollover of existing 2021 specifications for all stocks. Updated stock assessments and PT and SSC recommendations will be reviewed by the Plan Team at the upcoming virtual meeting November 16-20. The Council recommended OFLs and ABCs consistent with SSC recommendations and proposed TACs. The Council also recommended halibut PSC limit apportionments and adopted updated halibut DMRs for 2021; full details are included in the Council motion for the GOA.
Staff contact for GOA Groundfish is Sara Cleaver. Information on proposed specifications for the BSAI is available here.
