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Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)

Certification Units Covered Under this Species

• SouthernCalifornia,Harpoon

Summary

Swordfishisahighlymigratoryspecies(HMS)distributedthroughouttheworld’soceans.IntheNorthPacific,thesestocksaremonitoredandassessedbytheInternationalScientificCommitteeforTunaandTuna-likeSpecies(ISC)andtheInter-AmericanTropicalTunaCommission(IATTC).AlongtheU.S.WestCoast,swordfisharemanagedunderthePacificFisheryManagementCouncil’sHighlyMigratorySpeciesFisheryManagementPlan.Swordfisharefishedcommerciallyprimarilyusingharpoons,driftgillnets,andpelagiclonglines.StocksofWesternandCentralNorthPacific(WCNPO)andEasternNorthPacific(EPO)swordfishareconsideredhealthyandabovethelevelrequiredtosustainrecentcatches.Bycatchintheharpoonfisheryisclosetozero.

Strengths:

• NorthPacificandEasternPacificstocksareconsideredhealthy

• Stockassessmentsareconductedbyinternationalorganizations;theinformationis reviewedannuallybythePFMC

• Almostnobycatchintheharpoonfishery

Weaknesses:

• Harpoonfisheryissmall;maynotbeeconomicaltopursueMSCcertification

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History of the Fishery in California

Biology of the Species

Swordfish(Xiphias gladius)isthesolememberofthefamilyXiphiidae.Itisahighlymigratoryspecies(HMS)distributedthroughouttheworld’soceans.Swordfisharelargefishwithamaximumweightofover650kgandlengthof457cm.Swordfishhaveadistinctivesharppointedbillwhichisaflattenedextensionoftheupperjaw.Anotherdistinctivecharacteristicofswordfishistheydonothavepelvicfins.Adultswordfishfeedopportunisticallyonawiderangeofsquids,fishandcrustaceans.OffCalifornia,northernanchovy,squid,hake,jackmackerel,rockfish,barracudas,blacksmelt,ribbonfish,andshrimparecommonpreyitems(PFMC2003).Larvalandyoungswordfishactivelyfeedonzooplanktonandby11-12mminlengthstartfeedingonavarietyofepipelagicfishlarvae(PFMC2003).

Swordfishcanlivebetween9-14yearsformalesand15-32yearsforfemales(WilsonandDean1983;RadtkeandHurley1983).Femalesarebelievedtomatureat4-5yearsandmalesat3-4yearsold(Love2011).Swordfishdonotseemtohaveadiscretespawninggroundorspawningseason(PFMC2003),however,larvaeandjuvenilestendtooccurinwarmertropicalandsubtropicalregions.ThegeographicaldistributionoflarvaesuggeststhatspawningoccursinwaterswhereSSTsareabove24°C;thisisothermrarelyextendsnorthof35°Norsouthof35°S.Spawningoccursthroughouttheyearinequatorialwaters,butisprogressivelyrestrictedtospring-summerathigherlatitudes.Femalesarebatchspawners;a68kgfemaleisestimatedtorelease16,130,400eggs(Loveetal.2011).Eggshatchin2.5days.Larvalabundanceishighalongsharpthermalandsalinitygradients.Swordfishgrowextremelyfastduringtheirfirstyearoflife,andbyoneyearofagemayreach90cm(3feet)(Uchiyamaetal.1998;WardandElscot2000).Growthishighlyvariableamongfishofthesameageandsex,andthereisamarkeddifferenceingrowthratebetweenmalesandfemales.Aftertwoyearsofage,femalestendtogrowfasterthanmales,growtoalargersize,andareproportionatelyheavieratthesamelength(Palkoetal.1981).Mostlarge-sizedfisharefemales,andtheyappeartobemorecommonincoolerwaters.AccordingtoBeckett(1974)andPalkoetal.(1981)fewmalestendtooccurinwatersbelow18°C,andmalesmakeupthemajorityofwarmwaterlandings.

[FromPFMC2003]:StockstructureofswordfishintheIndianandPacificoceansisunclear.Somegeneticanalyses(Reebetal2000;Kasapidisetal.2008)suggestthatswordfishcompriseasingle,homogenouspopulationinthePacific,andthatgeneflowoccursthroughahorseshoe-shapedcorridor,runningbetweenthenorth-westernPacific,acrosstotheeasternPacificandbacktothesouth-westernPacific.Howeverothergeneticanalyses(AlvaradoBremeretal.2006)andfisheriesdata(HintonandDeriso1998,Hinton2003)indicatethattheswordfishpopulationinthePacificiscomprisedofthreeormoredistinctgroups.ThelateststockassessmentsbytheISCdividetheNorthPacificswordfishpopulationintotwogroups:WesternandCentralNorthPacific,andEasternNorthPacific.

Commercial Fishery

[FromPFMC2003]:Broadbillswordfishsupportmajorfisheriesinalloceansoftheworld.MajorPacificOceanfishingareasareoffJapan,theNorthPacificTransitionZonenorthofHawaii,thewestcoastsoftheU.S.,Mexico,Ecuador,Peru,Chile,andoffAustraliaandNewZealand.ThelargestcatchesofswordfishintheNorthPacificOceanhavebeentakenbyJapanformorethanfivedecades(Figure1).AlongtheU.S.WestCoastEEZ,swordfisharetargetedprimarilybythedriftgillnetfisheryoffCaliforniaandOregon(HoltsandSosa-Nishizaki1998,PFMC2012),

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byasmallharpoonfisheryoperatingwithintheSouthernCaliforniaBight(Coanetal.1998,PFMC2012),andbyaHawaii-basedlonglinefisherythatfishesbeyondtheU.S.WestCoastEEZonthehighseasandlandtheircatchinCalifornia,OregonandWashington(PFMC2012)(Figures2and3).Therehasalsobeenaverysmallsurfacehook-and-linefisheryinthepast,butfrom2003-2011landingswerelessthan0.5mtperyear.In2012,surface-hook-and-linelandingsincreasedto10.67mt(ElizabethHellmers,personalcommunication,2013).

[FromPFMC2012]:California’sharpoonfisheryforswordfishdevelopedintheearly1900s.Priorto1980,harpoonandhook-and-lineweretheonlylegalgearsforcommerciallyharvestingswordfish.Atthattime,harpoongearaccountedforthemajorityofswordfishlandingsinCaliforniaports.Intheearly1980s,alimitedentrydriftgillnetfisherywasauthorizedbytheStateLegislatureandsoonafterwarddriftgillnetsreplacedharpoonsastheprimarymethodforcatchingswordfish.driftgillnetsreplacedharpoonsastheprimarymethodforcatching

Figure 1.AnnuallandingsofswordfishreportedbyISCmembersintheNorthPacificOcean(figurefromISC2013).

swordfish.Historically,theCaliforniadriftgillnetfleetoperatedwithinEEZwatersadjacenttothestateandasfarnorthastheColumbiaRiver,Oregon,duringElNiñoyears;however,Oregonnolongerissuesthenecessarypermittolanddriftgillnetcatchinthestate.Driftgillnetfishingactivityishighlydependentonseasonaloceanographicconditionsthatcreatetemperaturefrontswhichconcentratefeedforswordfish.Becauseoftheseasonalmigratorypatternofswordfishandseasonalfishingrestrictions,over90percentofdriftgillnetfishingeffortoccursfromAugust15throughJanuary31.

IntheU.S.WestCoastharpoonfishery,26vesselsparticipatedin2010,17in2011andonly9in2012.(PFMC2012;ElizabethHellmers,personalcommunication,2013).FishingeffortwasconcentratedincoastalwatersoffSanDiegoandintheSouthernCaliforniaBight,especiallybetweenthecoastandSantaCatalinaandSanClementeIslands.Atotalof158swordfishwerelandedin2010byharpoon.

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Figure 2. SwordfishlandingsalongtheU.S.Westcoastfrom1970to2012bygeartype(datafromISC2011;PFMC2012;ElizabethHellmers,personalcommunication,2013).Dataforlonglinelandingsfrom2005-2009wasnotavailable.

Figure 3.Annualex-vesselrevenuealongtheU.S.Westcoastfrom1981to2012(datafromPFMC2012;ElizabethHellmers,personalcommunication,2013).Dataforlonglinelandingsfrom2005-2009wasnotavailable.

Recreational Fishery

RecreationallycaughtswordfisharearareoccurrencealongtheWestCoast.InCalifornia,recreationalcatchdataiscollectedfromtheCaliforniaRecreationalFisheriesSurvey(CRFS)program.DatafromCRFSindicatethatfrom2003to2012,swordfishwereonlycapturedrecreationallyinCaliforniain2007(CDGF2011;ElizabethHellmers,personalcommunication,2013).However,thismaynotbeanaccuratereflectionoftotalcatchofswordfishbyrecreationalanglers;theCRFSprogramonlysamplesfrompubliclaunchramps.Several

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billfishtournamentsareheldeachyearintheearlyfall,andthesenumbers,aswellasthosefromprivatevesselslaunchingfromprivatemarinas,arelikelynotcaptured(ElizabethHellmers,personalcommunication,2013).Thereisadailybaglimitof2fish.FurtherinformationonrecreationalcatchofswordfishinSouthernCaliforniamaybeavailablefromfishingtournamentorganizers.

MSC Principle 1: Resource Sustainability

*Sustainability of Target Stock

SwordfishareharvestedintheNorthPacificbyfleetsfromJapan,Korea,Taiwan,andtheUnitedStates.StockassessmentsoftheWesternandCentralNorthPacificandEasternNorthPacificstocksofswordfishareconsideredhealthyandabovethelevelrequiredtosustainrecentcatches(BrodziakandIshimura2010,IATTC2011,ISC2013)(Figure4).CatchofswordfishbyU.S.WestCoastfisheriesconstitutesabout5.8percentoftheEasternPacific-widecatch.ThePFMCusesthedatafromthesestockassessmentstoinformtheHMSFMP.StockstatusreferencepointsforBMSYandBMSST(minimumstandingstockthresholdbiomass)weregiveninthelateststockassessmentbytheISC(BrodziakandIshimura2010).ThePFMCalsohasgear,permit,season,andarearestrictionsinplacetomanagebycatch.

*ForCalifornia’sSustainableSeafoodProgram,thiscategorymustscorean80orhigherduringanMSCassessment.

Figure 4.Timeseriesofestimatesofexploitablebiomass(solidline,filledcircle)ofeasternNorthPacificswordfishduring1952-2006,with95%credibilityintervals(dashedlines),projectionsofexploitablebiomass(solidline,filledtriangle),and95%credibilityintervals(dashedlines).Stochasticprojectionsofexploitablebiomassandcatchbiomassduring2007-2010arebasedonproductionmodeldynamicsassumingthattheprojectedexploitationrateisnormallydistributedwithameanequaltotheaverageexploitationrateduring2004-2006andanassociatedstandarddeviation(ISC2010).

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Evaluation against MSC Component 1.1: Sustainability of Target Stock

Performance  Indicators   Rating   Justification  1.1.1  Stock  Status     Stock  biomass  is  above  BMSY  and  considered  

healthy  1.1.2  Reference  Points     Reference  points  have  been  calculated  and  the  

stock  is  maintained  at  a  level  exceeding  BMSY    1.1.3  Stock  rebuilding       Not  triggered;  stock  is  considered  healthy  

 

Harvest Strategy (Management)

Becauseswordfisharegloballydistributed,severalinternationalorganizationsundertakemonitoringandstockassessmentsforswordfish.IntheNorthPacific,thefisheryisdividedintotwostocks:theWesternandCentralNorthPacific(WCNPO)andtheEasternNorthPacific(EPO).TheWCNPOstockisassessedbytheInternationalScientificCommitteeforTunaandTuna-likeSpecies(ISC)andismanagedbytheWesternandCentralPacificFisheriesCommission(WCPFC).TheEPOstockisassessedandmanagedbytheInter-AmericanTropicalTunaCommission(IATTC).TheISCandtheIATTCworktogetherunderaMemorandumofCooperation(MOC).RepresentativesfromNOAA’sSouthwestFisheriesScienceCenterandPacificIslandsFisheriesScienceCenterparticipateinallthreeorganizations.

[PFMC2012]:AlongtheU.S.westcoast,swordfisharemanagedunderthePacificFisheryManagementCouncil’sHighlyMigratorySpeciesFisheryManagementPlan(HMSFMP).ThePFMCdoesnotassesstheswordfishstock,butusesthedatafromtheinternationalstockassessmentstoinformtheHMSFMP.Swordfisharetargetedcommerciallyusingharpoons(inSouthernCalifornia),driftgillnets,pelagiclonglines,andrecentlyafteraseveralyearshiatus,withsurfacehook-and-linegear.CatchofswordfishbyU.S.WestCoastfisheriesconstitutesabout5.8percentoftheEasternPacific-widecatch.NostockstatusreferencepointsorquotashavebeendevelopedbythePFMCforswordfishbecauseswordfishisoneofelevenHMSspeciesthatfallunderan“internationalexception”inplaceforstocksmanagedunderaninternationalagreementtowhichtheUnitedStatesisaparty.However,referencepointshavebeendevelopedbytheISCintheirlateststockassessmentforswordfish(BrodziakandIshimura2010).ThePFMCalsohasgear,permit,season,andarearestrictionsinplacetomanagebycatch.

Formoreinformationonmanagement,seeSection3.2:FisherySpecificManagementObjectives.

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Evaluation against MSC Component 1.2: Harvest StrategyPerformance  Indicators   Rating   Justification  1.2.1  Harvest  Strategy     Operates  under  Magnuson-­‐Stevens  Act  to  prevent  

overfishing;  The  U.S.  fishery  is  monitored  and  mgmt  actions  are  in  place  to  limit  bycatch;  There  are  no  set  harvest  limits  because  the  stock  is  considered  healthy.    

1.2.2  Harvest  Control  Rules  and  Tools  

  Reference  points  were  developed  by  the  ISC  and  are  evaluated  during  stock  assessments  every  few  years  

1.2.3  Information/Monitoring     Observers  and  logbook  data  are  available  to  monitor  catch  in  the  U.S.  

1.2.4  Assessment  of  Stock  Status     Until  recently,  stock  assessments  lacked  enough  data  for  accuracy.  The  most  recent  assessment  with  updated  data  from  2010  seems  to  be  acceptable.  

 

MSC Principle 2: Environment

Retained Catch

Harpoon

Thereisalmostnoretainedcatchintheswordfishharpoonfishery.Theremaybeanoccasionalshark,butthiswouldbearareoccurrence(ElizabethHellmers,personalcommunication,2013).

Evaluation against MSC Component 2.1: Retained Catch  Performance  Indicators   Rating   Justification  2.1.1  Outcome     No  retained  species  2.1.2  Management     Not  applicable  because  no  retained  species  2.1.3  Information     Logbook  data    

Harpoon

Bycatchintheswordfishharpoonfisheryisexpectedtobealmostnon-existent(NMFS2012).

Evaluation against MSC Component 2.2: BycatchPerformance  Indicators   Rating   Justification  2.2.1  Outcome     Bycatch  is  close  to  zero  2.2.2  Management     Not  applicable  because  no  bycatch  2.2.3  Information     Logbook  data    

 

*Endangered, Threatened, & Protected Species

Harpoon

NoETPspeciesareknowntobecapturedintheswordfishharpoonfishery.

*ForCalifornia’sSustainableSeafoodProgram,thiscategorymustscorean80orhigherduringanMSCassessment.

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Evaluation against MSC Component 2.3: Endangered, Threatened & Protected SpeciesPerformance  Indicators   Rating   Justification  2.3.1  Outcome     No  ETP  species  2.3.2  Management     Not  applicable  –  no  ETP  bycatch  2.3.3  Information     Logbook  data  

 

Habitat

Harpoon

[FromPFMC2012]:Harpoongearconsistsofapointeddartorironattachedtotheendofalineseveralhundredfeetinlength,theotherendofwhichisattachedtoaflotationdevice.Harpoongearisattachedtoapoleorstickthatispropelledonlybyhand,andnotbymechanicalmeans.

Harpoonsdonottypicallyencountertheoceanbottom,thusthereisverylittleornobottomhabitatimpactfromharpoons.

Evaluation against MSC Component 2.4: HabitatPerformance  Indicators   Rating   Justification  2.4.1  Outcome     Limited  to  no  impact  on  habitat    2.4.2  Management     No  mgmt  strategy,  but  should  not  be  applicable  because  

no  habitat  impacts  2.4.3  Information     Not  applicable  because  no  habitat  impacts    

Ecosystem

[FromPFMC2003]:Swordfisharetoppredatorsandfeedopportunisticallyonawiderangeofsquids,fishandcrustaceans.OffCaliforniatheyeatnorthernanchovy,squid,hake,jackmackerel,rockfish,barracudas,blacksmelt,ribbonfish,andshrimp.OffBajaCalifornia,Pacifichake,theflyingpurplesquidandjumbosquidareimportantintheirdiet.Larvalandyoungswordfishactivelyfeedonzooplanktonandby11-12mminlengthstartfeedingonavarietyofepipelagicfishlarvae(Arata1954;Gorbunova1969).Swordfishcanforageatgreatdepthsandhavebeenphotographedatadepthof1,000mbyadeepdivingsubmersible(Mather1976).Itisgenerallyacceptedthatswordfishinthepelagicenvironmentfeedonsquidandmesopelagicfishandforageondemersalfishwheninshallowerwaters.

[FromPalkoetal.1981]:Predatorsofjuvenileswordfishlikelyincludeanysufficientlylargepiscivorousfishormarinemammal.Juvenileswordfishhavebeenfoundinthestomachofbluemarlin,blackmarlin,stripedmarlin,shortbillspearfish,sailfish,yellowfintuna,albacoretuna,bigeyetuna,dolphin,andblueshark.Adultswordfishhavefewknownnaturalenemies.Spermwhales,killerwhales,andlargesharksareperhapstheonlyspeciescapableofpreyingonadults.Sharksaretheonlycreatureseverseeninactualcombatwithswordfish.

Gearssuchasgillnetsandpelagiclonglinesusedintheswordfishfisherycanhavehighlevelsofbycatchwhichincludeseaturtles,sharks,seabirdsandmarinemammals.BycatchisstrictlyregulatedintheU.S.,butmanyothercountriesthatfishthesamestockdonothavebycatchmitigationplans.Higherbycatchlevelsbyothercountriesmayimpactecosystemstructureorfunction.

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Evaluation against MSC Component 2.5: EcosystemPerformance  Indicators   Rating   Justification  2.5.1  Outcome     In  countries  other  than  the  U.S.,  bycatch  can  be  

unregulated;  this  will  likely  have  ecosystem  impacts  2.5.2  Management     Strict  regulations  to  prevent  bycatch  in  the  U.S;  fewer  

bycatch  regulations  in  other  countries  2.5.3  Information     Observer  and  logbook  data  in  the  U.S.  

 

MSC Principle 3: Management System

Governance and Policy

FisheriesintheU.S.aregovernedbytheMagnuson-StevensFisheryConservationandManagementAct(MSFCMA)of1976.TheMSFMCArequiresmanagingatorbelowMSYlevels,rebuildingoverfishedstocksandendingoverfishing,minimizingbycatchandbycatchmortality,identificationofessentialfishhabitatandmitigationofadversefishingimpacts.Inaddition,theEndangeredSpeciesAct,theMarineMammalAct,theMigratoryBirdTreatyAct,theCoastalZoneManagementAct,andtheCleanWaterActapplytoorprovideprotectionforspeciesand/orhabitatthatmaybeaffectedbythetargetfishery.

TheMSFCMAestablishedeightregionalfisherymanagementcouncilstomanagefisheryresourcesintheU.S.ExclusiveEconomicZone(EEZ).AlongtheU.S.westcoast,theEEZextendsfrom3to200nauticalmilesoffshore.EachcounciliscomprisedofFederal,State,andstakeholderrepresentatives.Additionally,advisorybodiesprovideexpertadviceonmattersrelatedtothepurposeofthecouncil.Thecouncilprocessemphasizespublicparticipationandinvolvementinfisheriesmanagement;meetingsareopentothepublicandtopubliccomment.ManagementmeasuresdevelopedbytheeachcouncilarerecommendedtotheSecretaryofCommercethroughNOAA’sNationalMarineFisheriesService(NMFS).Alongthewestcoast,managementmeasuresareimplementedbyNMFSNorthwestandSouthwestRegionalofficesandenforcedbytheNOAAOfficeofLawEnforcement,theU.S.CoastGuard11thDistrict,andlocalenforcementagencies.

Eachcouncildevelopsfisherymanagementplans(FMPs)forthestocksintheirregionspecifyinghowafisherywillbemanaged.TheGuidelinesforFisheryManagementPlans(NMFS1997)requirethatastockassessmentandfisheryevaluation(SAFE)reportbepreparedandreviewedannuallyforeachFMP.SAFEreportsareintendedtosummarizethebestavailablescientificinformationconcerningthepast,present,andpossiblefutureconditionofthestocks,marineecosystems,andfisheriesbeingmanagedunderfederalregulation.Regionalfisherymanagementcouncilsusethisinformationtodetermineannualharvestlevelsforeachstock,documentsignificanttrendsorchangesintheresources,marineecosystems,andfisheryovertime,andassesstherelativesuccessofexistingstateandfederalfisherymanagementprograms.InCalifornia,thePacificFisheryManagementCouncil(PFMC)istheregionalcouncilthatmanagesfederalfisheries

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Evaluation against MSC Component 3.1: Governance and PolicyPerformance  Indicators   Rating   Justification  3.1.1  Legal  and/or  Customary  Framework  

  PFMC  and  NMFS  operate  under  Magnuson-­‐Stevens  Act  

3.1.2  Consultation,  Roles  and  responsibilities  

  PFMC  meetings  are  public  and  public  participation  is  encouraged  

3.1.3  Long-­‐term  Objectives     Magnuson-­‐Stevens  Act  and  FMPs  3.1.4  Incentives  for  Sustainable  Fishing     Magnuson-­‐Stevens  Act  

 

Fishery Specific Management System

AlongtheU.S.westcoast,swordfisharemanagedunderthePacificFisheryManagementCouncil’sHighlyMigratorySpeciesFisheryManagementPlan(HMSFMP).ThePFMCdoesnotassesstheswordfishstock,butusesthedatafromtheinternationalstockassessmentstoinformtheHMSFMP.ManagementandresearchgoalsformanagingbycatchintheswordfishfisheryareoutlinedintheHMSFMP.Swordfisharetargetedcommerciallyusingharpoons(inSouthernCalifornia),driftgillnets,pelagiclonglines,andrecentlyafteraseveralyearshiatus,withsurfacehook-and-linegear.NostockstatusreferencepointsorquotashavebeendevelopedbythePFMCforswordfishbecauseswordfishisoneofelevenHMSspeciesthatfallunderan“internationalexception”inplaceforstocksmanagedunderaninternationalagreementtowhichtheUnitedStatesisaparty.

[FromPFMC2012]:Toparticipateintheharpoonfisheryastatepermitandlogbookarerequiredinadditiontoageneralresidentornon-residentcommercialfishinglicense.Additionally,forallU.S.vesselsthatfishforHMSwithintheWestCoastEEZandonthehighseas,afederalpermitwithaharpoongearendorsementisrequired.

Thedriftgillnetfisheryismanagedbyalimitedentrypermitsystem,withmandatorygearstandardsandseasonalareaclosuresusedtoaddressvariousconservationconcerns.Alogbookandobservercoverageisalsorequired;in2010,approximately12%ofHMSdriftgillnetvesselshadobservercoverage.

CaliforniaprohibitspelagiclonglinefishingwithintheEEZ.VesselsoperatingoutsideoftheEEZonthehighseascanlandfishinCaliforniaportsiftheoperatorhasageneralresidentornon-residentcommercialfishinglicense,currentCDFWvesselregistration,andafederalpermitwithapelagiclonglinegearendorsement.Alogbookisalsorequired.

EnforcementoffishingregulationsisconductedinstatewatersbyCDFW’sLawEnforcementDivisionandinfederalwatersbyNOAA’sOfficeofLawEnforcement.Additionallytoolssuchasportsampling,logbooks,andobservercoverageareusedtomonitorcatchandensurevesselshavethecorrectpermitsforthecatchtheyarelanding.Violatorsareprosecutedunderthelaw.Thereisnoevidenceofsystemicnon-compliance.

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Evaluation against MSC Component 3.2: Fishery Specific Management SystemPerformance  Indicators   Rating   Justification  3.2.1  Fishery  Specific  Objectives     There  are  objectives  on  reducing  bycatch  in  the  HMS  FMP  3.2.2  Decision-­‐making  Processes     PFMC  has  an  appropriate  decision-­‐making  process  in  

place  3.2.3  Compliance  &  Enforcement  

  An  enforcement  system  exists  and  has  demonstrated  an  ability  to  enforce  relevant  management  measures,  strategies  and/or  rules.  

3.2.4  Research  Plan     Yes,  HMS  FMP  3.2.5  Management  Performance  Evaluation  

  Stock  assessments  and  reference  points  are  developed  by  the  ISC;  catch  restrictions  are  evaluated  by  the  PFMC      

 

California Specific Requirements

TheCaliforniavoluntarysustainableseafoodprogramrequiresfisheriesseekingcertificationtomeetCaliforniaspecificstandardsinadditiontothestandardsandrequirementsoftheMarineStewardshipCouncil(MSC)sustainablefisheriescertificationprogram.Theseinclude:

1.Higherscores(80insteadof60)fortwoperformanceindicators(PI)oftheMSCprogram:“StockStatus”(PI1.1.1)and“By-catchofEndangered,Threatened,orProtected(ETP)Species”(PI2.3.1).ThesetwoPIsarehighlightedinthereport.

2.Additionalindependentscientificreview:TheOPCScienceAdvisoryTeamwillbeengagedinthecertificationprocessthroughearlyconsultationinreviewingminimumeligibilitycriteria,andreviewoftheMSC-requiredpre-assessmentsandfullassessments.ThereviewswillbeconductedinadditiontoMSC’speerreview,thusbringingadditionalcredibility,transparency,andindependencetoCalifornia’scertificationprocess.

3.Additionaltraceabilitycomponents:TheCaliforniaprogramwilldevelopauniquebarcodeforCaliforniacertifiedsustainablefish.Thisbarcodecanbeeitherscannedbyasmart-phoneorlinkedtoawebsitethatwillrevealadditionalinformationaboutthefishery,andinformationabouttoxicitywhenavailable

Recommendations

AlthoughtheharpoonfisheryforswordfishhasalowimpacttotheecosystemandwouldlikelyscorewellduringanMSCassessment,catchofswordfishbyharpoonislow.Thereisagoodpossibilityitmaynotbeeconomicallyfeasibletocertifythissmallfishery.Alternatively,thesurfacehook-and-linefisheryappearedtomakeacomebackthisyear;ifthiscontinues,thismaybeanotherbranchofthefisherytotakeacloserlookattodetermineifitwouldbeeconomicallyfeasibletocertifythisgeartype.Hook-and-linefisheriestypicallyhavelowbycatchandalmostnohabitatimpacts.

References

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CaliforniaDepartmentofFishandGame(CDFG).2011.ReviewofselectedCaliforniafisheriesfor2010:Coastalpelagicfinfish,marketsquid,oceansalmon,groundfish,highlymigratoryspecies,Dungenesscrab,spinylobster,spotprawn,Kellet’swhelk,andwhiteseabass.CalCOFIReport.52:13-35.

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Appendix A

MSC Assessment Tree Swordfish Harpoon

Principle Component Performance Indicator Southern

Principle 1: Health of Fish Stock

Outcome

1.1.1: Stock status

1.1.2: Reference points

1.1.3: Stock rebuilding Did not assess

Harvest Strategy (Management)

1.2.1: Harvest strategy

1.2.2: Harvest control rules

1.2.3: Info/ monitoring

1.2.4: Stock assessment

Principle 2: Impact on Ecosystem

Retained species

2.1.1: Status

2.1.2: Mgmt strategy

2.1.3: Information

By-catch species 2.2.1: Status

2.2.2: Mgmt strategy

2.2.3: Info

ETP species 2.3.1: Status

2.3.2: Mgmt strategy

2.3.3: Info

Habitats 2.4.1: Status

2.4.2: Mgmt strategy

2.4.3: Info

Ecosystem 2.5.1: Status

2.5.2: Mgmt strategy

2.5.3: Info

Principle 3: Management System

Governance & Policy

3.1.1: Legal framework

3.1.2: Consultation, roles, and responsibilities

3.1.3: Long term objectives

3.1.4: Incentives for sustainable fishing

Fishery Specific Mgmt System

3.2.1: Fishery specific objectives

3.2.2: Decision making process

3.2.3: Compliance & enforcement

3.2.4: Research plan

3.2.5: Management performance evaluation