California department of fish and wildlife (cdfw) project staff monitor and assess fisheries and fish stocks and provide science-based recommendations to inform fisheries management decisions under…

California department of fish and wildlife (cdfw) project staff monitor and assess fisheries and fish stocks and provide science-based recommendations to inform fisheries management decisions under mixed state and federal jurisdiction. Federal support occurs by staff performing the analytical work of advisory bodies for the pacific fishery management council (pfmc). Similarly, products and content produced under this grant are used by the california fish and game commission (commission) in its processes. Work focuses on efforts to develop, adopt, amend and or implement fishery management plans (fmps) for the pfmc and the commission. This project also participates in stock assessments to inform managers on the status of fished populations, including the level of fishery removals that can be safely supported while maximizing fishing opportunities. In addition, cdfw collaborates with researchers on topics of biological or management interest. A key focal area of work under this agreement surrounds outreach efforts and products to assist the recreational fishing community with information to aid with compliance and understanding of current management. Activities range from: development and maintenance of web content attendance at conferences, public events, and fishery season openers development of informative handout materials and holding public meetings. To actively manage mixed jurisdiction fisheries in a sustainable, balanced, collaborative, and timely manner, cdfw must be fully engaged in federal and state management processes to ensure consistency in analyses and plan development. Cdfw involvement is imperative to inform management decisions for a variety of species of interest to the marine recreational fishing community and the california current ecosystem (CCE). Key recreational fisheries managed under this program include groundfish (e.g., rockfish, lingcod, flatfish), pacific halibut and highly migratory species (HMS e.g., tunas, dorado, some sharks and billfishes). Also included are coastal pelagic species (CPS) which form a major component of recreational fisheries bait and are critical to successful angling opportunities. As state and federal management develop a more ecosystem-based approach, pfmc work also includes activities directed to connections between these fished species and the greater CCE (e.g., predators, prey, environmental conditions and indicators). Supporting cdfw involvement in these processes using sport fish restoration act (sfra) funds is justified based on the high proportion of recreational anglers participating in these fisheries, the high proportion of fishery mortality of key nearshore and shelf rockfish and lingcod stocks by california s recreational fishery, and in recognition that ecosystem-level information is needed to ensure the continued availability of harvestable resources that are of high interest to recreational users. This work provides the scientific foundation for sustainable use of groundfish, pacific halibut, HMS, and CPS resources and understanding of their connections to the ecosystem continuation of this work is essential for effective management of these important fisheries.