US West Coast limited entry groundfish trawl
Last Updated: 22 December 2011
Number of fisheries: 16
Species
Dover Sole (Microstomus pacificus)
Rex Sole (Glyptocephalus zachirus)
English Sole (Parophrys vetulus)
Petrale Sole (Eopsetta jordani)
Arrowtooth Flounder (Atheresthes stomias)
Pacific Sand Dabs (Citharichthys sordidus)
Ling Cod (Ophiodon elongatus)
Yellowtail Rockfish (Sebastes flavidus)
Widow Rockfish (Sebastes entomelas)
Chilipepper Rockfish (Sebastes goodei)
Splitnose Rockfish (Sebastes diploproa)
Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria)
Pacific Grenadier (Coryphaenoides acrolepis)
Longnose Skates (Raja rhina)
Shortspine Thornyheads (Sebastolobus alascanus)
Longspine Thornyheads (Sebastolobus altivelis)
MSC assessment status
The certification body, Intertek Moody Marine, has announced an additional 30 day stakeholder comment period on the US West Coast Limited Entry Groundfish Trawl Fishery draft report. The comment period will take place from 5 January - 4 February 2012.
Any stakeholder with information on this fishery that should be considered in the assessment should contact Steve Devitt.
Please refer to the assessment downloads section for further details.
Fishery location
US West Coast Pacific EEZ waters (i.e. off Washington, Oregon, California) between the southern Canadian EEZ border and the northern Mexican EEZ border. FAO Statistical Areas: 67 and 77.
Fishing method
Otter Trawl configurations including large footrope, selective flatfish trawl, and small footrope trawl gear and mid-water trawl configuration.
Fishery management
Current management measures within the candidate fishery are outlined in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan. While the PFMC develops harvest specifications and management measures, all management decisions are subject to approval by the NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) prior to implementation.
Commercial market
West coast groundfish compete in both the fresh and frozen fish product markets, on a global scale not only with similar species produced in other regions of the world but with other fish species such as salmon and tuna. In 2006, Japan was the largest destination for exported fish products, with 19% of exports going to Japan. Close behind Japan, China and Canada were the largest export destination at 15% and 10% respectively.
Assessment timeline
The assessment process is expected to take 12 to 16 months and is scheduled for completion around November 2011. Please see the download section for a detailed assessment timeline.
The target eligibility date for this fishery is six months prior to the publication of the Public Comment Draft Report.
The MSC ecolabel can only be applied to product from certified fisheries. The MSC program does allow, in certain circumstances and within strict traceability requirements, the MSC ecolabel to be applied following certification to product caught before the actual date of certification. The target eligibility date therefore represents the date from which products may become eligible to carry the MSC ecolabel, however they cannot be sold until and if the fishery is certified. The actual eligibility date will be determined if the fishery is certified to the MSC standard.
To find out more about when fish from this fishery may be sold with the MSC ecolabel, please follow this link (http://www.msc.org/get-certified/supply-chain/eligibility-dates).
