ODFW CRAB INDUSTRY MEETINGS Reducing Risk of Whale Entanglements

in Oregon Dungeness Crab GearOctober 2019

Caren BrabyTroy BuellKelly Corbett

CaseID: 20150703MnNMFS MMHSRP Permit #: 18786

Need to design whale entanglementmanagement measures

• We’ve experienced 5 years in a row (2014-2019) of increased whale entanglements on West Coast

• Includes Oregon crab gear• Includes ESA-listed species• The “Blob” may be re-forming

• We want whales and fisheries to co-exist• It’s the right thing to do• ESA mandate• Public perception/marketing of product

CBD vs. CDFW Settlement (March 2019)

• Season closed April 15 – statewide

• Season closed April 1 – south of Tri-State• RAMP Risk Assessment

• Bi-monthly meetings with Whale Working Group

• District-wide closure if:• 1 ESA-entanglement in CA crab gear, or • 2 unidentified ESA-entanglements• 20 ESA-whale aggregation

• Season closed April 1 – south of Tri-State• Exception: Ropeless gear allowed

2019

2020(or until HCP drafted)

2021(or until ITP issued)

https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=166146&inline

It is up to us to design a fishery that…

• We can live with economically• We can implement effectively on the water• We believe makes a difference for whales• We can adjust if we learn that we need to make

changes

Outlook on Whale Entanglements Along the

U.S. West Coast

NMFS West Coast Region Protected Resources Division

Dan Lawson

WCR Whale Entanglements

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 6

• Dramatic increase in reports since 2014

• Driven by humpback whales, but now including blue whales

• High demand for updates and evaluation of incoming data

• Quality of reporting and data improving

Entanglements Confirmed in Oregon Dungeness Crab Gear

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2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

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NMFS Assessment Process• West Coast Region PRD

receive, respond, evaluate, record reports• Confirmed Entanglement:

Photo/video evidence NOAA observation Trusted/professional source Multiple/independent reports Detailed/specific information from expert interview

• Gear/Fishery Identity Confirmed by documentation or specific description of the gear such as identification

markings or tags, the type, size, or nature of materials involved, and/or report origins • Review/Evaluation

Preliminary Updated with new information Periodic in-season re-evaluation End of Year Comprehensive Summary

NOAA permit #18786

NOAA permit #18786

Where Are We At?

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 9

• Management under MMPAo Evaluate entanglements reports

with specific injury criteriao “serious injury” = injury with >50% chance of deatho SI/M rate for recent entanglements evaluated ~70%o Potential Biological Removal (PBR) for CA/OR/WA

humpback whales is 16.7 seriously injured or killed per year (entanglements alone essentially > PBR)

• Humpback DPSs and blue whales protected by the ESAo Take (all entanglements) is prohibited without authorization

NOAA permit #18786

Where Do We Go From Here? • ESA Section 10 Permits incidental

take of ESA-listed species during State/private actions

• Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Management plan

proposed by applicant to address issue

• NMFS has not previously issued one for ESA-listed marine mammals

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Section 10 Permit and Conservation PlanFundamental Conservation Plan elements/permitting steps:(i) Measures to minimize impacts to the extent practicable

(funding?)(ii) Monitoring (funding?)(iii) NEPA - evaluate alternative actions the applicant

considered and why they are not being utilized (funding?)(iv) Compliance with ESA jeopardy standard(v) MMPA compliance – Negligible Impact Determination

• Current guidance: 10% PBR for individual fishery(vi) Stakeholder and public engagement (funding?)

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Key Challenges and Needs Resources for States and NMFS to complete ITP Coordination across 3 states

• Gear Marking• Data Collection/Sharing• Applications/Proposals• Plan Measures/Approach?

Resolution of Big Questions• Stocks vs DPS• Unknowns• Effectiveness of Measures

Adaptive Approach Gear Development

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NOAA permit #18786

NOAA permit #18786

Scientific Support Needed• Dynamics of whales, fishing,

environment - entanglements • Risk Assessment• Socio-Economics• Forensic Analysis• Photo ID/scarring • Population assessment

13CRC, 2018 NOAA permit #18786

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Oregon’s ResponseTimeframe Actions

2010 - 2012 Collaborated with NOAA on co-occurrence modeling efforts and fixed gear guide

2015 - in progress Targeted fleet outreach on issue

2017 - 2018 Participated in PSMFC whale entanglement mitigation workshops

2017 - in progress Oregon Whale Entanglement Working Group (member) Best Fishing Practices Directive Oregon whale surveys and co-occurrence

modelling Industry survey

2018 - in progress Developing phased approach of potential management measures

Learn more from each event Reduce risk of entanglement

Gear marking Commercial crab gear buoy color and pattern registration

Recreational crab gear marking

Other commercial fixed-gear marking

Double-sided buoy tags (non-rulemaking)

Fishery information Electronic fish tickets with crab harvest areas

Preparing for risk reduction Late season limited entry control date (Aug 14, 2018)

Phase I – Adopted Sep 2019

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Risk Assessment – Present Day

Co-occurrence Models(Saez et al. 2013, Samantha Macks 2018)

Limitations• Whale surveys only Jul-Nov for most species• Fishery data lag time• Co-occurrence ≠ risk (probably)

Whale density Fishery intensity Co-occurrence

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Risk Assessment – Present Day

Confirmed entanglements• 50% unknown fishery origin• Time & place of observation, usually not occurrence

Opportunistic sighting data• Presence only• Absence could be no whales or no one looking

Expert knowledge• ODFW science advisory panel• April-November – most of the humpbacks that feed off

Oregon will be here at some point in this timeframe

18Source: NMFS

Dungeness Crab Gear Entanglements by Observation Month (2003-2017)

West Coast

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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

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Blue Whale

Gray Whale

Killer Whale

UnidentifiedWhale

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Source: NMFS

Dungeness Crab Gear Entanglements by Observation Month (2003-2019)

Oregon

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April May June July August September October

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Humpbacks

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Risk Assessment – Future

OSU / ODFW aerial surveys

Real-time fishery data• Electronic logbooks• Vessel monitoring systems

Identify other risk factors• “Severity” based on gear

configuration and materials• Relation between co-occurrence and

risk

Year-round whale data

ODFW logbook data

Better co-occurrence

maps

Diane Kleine, IAN Image Library (ian.umces.edu/imagelibrary/)

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Conservation Plan

Process (~5 years)• First draft by end of 2020• Negotiation and refinement

(NMFS / ODFW)• NEPA review• Biological Opinion• Public comment period• Final approval• Implementation• Adaptive management

Conservation measures implemented before and during the process are part of the plan

Resources• $100,000 committed by

ODCC• One ODFW staff position• Contractor

Filling in the knowledge gap on whale distribution in Oregon waters

Oregon Whale Entanglement Working Group identified the lack of knowledge

on whale distribution in Oregon to be a major limitation to reducing entanglements.

Established a collaboration between many groups:

Objectives: 1) Gain an understanding of whale distribution patterns

in Oregon waters2) Generate predictions of whale occurrence

at different times and areas3) Assess overlap between whales and fishing gear

to determine entanglement risk

• Survey for whales along4 set tracklinesonce each month for 2 years, onboard USCG helicopters.

• Collect replicate data in the same areas under different ocean conditions.

• Build predictive models for whole coast based on these data, and relate to distribution of fishing effort.

Methods:

Methods:

Collect data on where we do and do not see whales.Record species and number of animals

Results to date:

Project started in February 2019

Conducted 29 surveys

Observed 11 different species of marine mammal

Recorded 125 sightings of 410 individual animals

Most frequent observation is of a humpback whale

Primarily observed in water depths between 100 and 200 m, but were also recorded in depths out to 1000 m.

We have also recorded sightings of

Blue whale

Gray whale

Fin whale

Future plans:

• Continue USCG helicopter surveys until March 2021.• Begin analyzing data in April 2020.• Estimated project completion: December 2021.

Whale Alert Mobile App

Help us understand where whales Are

Why work with citizen scientists?

We need to ground truth our models

Helicopter Survey Observations

Figures from Hazen et al., 2017

Environmental Data

Whale Density Predictions

Why work with citizen scientists?

We need to ground truth our models

Helicopter Survey Observations

Figures from Hazen et al., 2017, www.oregonadventurecoast.com

Environmental Data

Whale Density Predictions

Citizen Scientist Observations

Who are we asking to participate?Commercial Fishermen

Recreational FishermenWhale Watching OperatorsColumbia River Bar Pilots

Tug and Shipping Operators Citizen Science Groups

Citizen science works best with lots of data

Photo by Alan Haig-BrownPhoto by Pat Kight/OSG

Photo courtesy of AWACC

www.oregonadventurecoast.com

https://www.tradewindscharters.com

Why should you contribute?• Fellow fishermen felt this research was important

• Oregon Whale Entanglement Working Group identified this information gap

• ODCC helped fund this research

• Data from a range of coastal ocean habitats are critical• Fishermen have unique access to both nearshore and

offshore areas

• This research will inform ODFW management• Helicopter surveys will go forward regardless • Your observations will help make the results more accurate• Better data will support more targeted management

options, with less impact on fisheries

Potential concerns• Data access & accuracy?

• Sightings will be publicly accessible• No identifying information on person submitting the sighting• Whale ID info in app & printed outreach materials

• Who is leading this research?• Leigh Torres, OSU Researcher• Collaborators: OSU, ODFW, USCG, OSG, ODCC

• What are their motivations?• Better information on year-round whale distribution.• Support management with less impact on fleet.

• How is it funded? • ODCC & NOAA Section 6

How does it work?

Download the Whale Alert app

Front Screen• Explore recent whale sightings

Front Screen• Explore recent whale sightings• Zoom in to your area of interest

Report a sighting• Initiate a new sighting

by clicking on the binoculars icon

• Follow prompts to complete the sighting

If you encounter an entangled whale or otherwise in distress:Call 1 877 SOS-WHALe

Identification Aids

For more information:

Project Webpage Short url: https://beav.es/Z6NFull url: https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/gemm-lab/where-are-whales-oregon-waters

Whale Alert West Coast Apphttp://westcoast.whalealert.org/

Project LeadsResearch: Leigh Torres, leigh.torres@oregonstate.edu, 541-867-0895 Outreach: Amanda Gladics, amanda.gladics@oregonstate.edu, 503-325-8573

Download the Whale Alert app

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Short term measures to reduce risk of whale entanglements

Oct 2019 – Industry meetings to solicit targeted input on phase II measures

Feb 2020 – Phase II final ODFW recommendations to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for consideration

A. Target implementation – Apr/May 2020o Primary risk reduction measures

B. Target implementation – Dec 2020o Additional risk reduction measureso Additional measures to learn more

Future phases – timing and need TBD

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Measures for Long Term Consideration Late season limited entry Near-real time vessel monitoring Depths closures Hotspot closures Tri-state coastwide pot limit Permit stacking Long-lining (2 pots) Buy-back Gear modifications:

a. Break-away devicesb. Ropeless gearc. Others?

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A. Target implementation – Apr/May 2020

1. ODFW DRAFT recommendation

o Late season pot limit reduction and separate seasonal buoy tag

a. April 1 reduce all pot limits by 30% or,b. May 1 reduce all pot limits by 30% or,c. Either April 1 or May 1, reduce all pot limits by a

different % reduction or flat rate

o Permanent elimination of the two-week gear clean-up period after the season ends

Phase II – Short Term Measures

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Alternatives for consideration:

2. Close the season April 1, May 1 or June 1, or

3. Season intermission - close the season as of April 1, then re-open with a late season buoy tag on May 1

Phase II – Short Term Measures

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Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug

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2014-152015-162016-172017-182018-19

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Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug

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2018-19

Estimated pots

Ex-vessel value

Crab Season Season Start Date(s)

2014-15 Dec. 1 coastwide

2015-16 Jan. 4 north of OR/CA border

2016-17Dec.18 south of Cape Blanco Jan.1 north of Cape Blanco

2017-18Jan 15 Cape Blanco to OR/WA Feb 7 Cape Blanco to OR/CA

2018-19Jan. 4 north of Cape AragoFeb 1 from Cape Arago to OR/CA

Max pots permitted – 149,200 Ave. annual pots used – 115,423

Estimated Pots and Ex-vessel

Value by month

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“Late season” Pot Limit ReductionCurrent pot

limit30%

reductionFlat 200 pot

reduction200 140 200300 210 200500 350 200

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Past 3 season estimate

30% reduction

Flat 200 pot reduction

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Pots by Tier Limit and MonthPast 3 season average (2016-17 through 2018-19)

2019Total

PermitsLanding Into

OR200 92 53300 176 132500 156 134Total 424 319

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Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug

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200 pot limit

300 pot limit

500 pot limit

1. Which primary whale entanglement risk reduction measure do you support? Why?

A. “Late Season” pot limit reductionB. Early ClosureC. Season intermission

2. What month do you support implementing risk reduction measures? Why?

A. April 1B. May 1C. June 1 (early closure only)

3. What % reduction of pots do you support? Why?A. 30%B. Flat 200 pot limit C. Other? 51

Discussion Questions

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B. Target implementation – Dec 2020

1. ODFW DRAFT recommendation

o Initiate “late season” derelict gear removal program, incentivized by allowing ownership of retrieved pots (will require legislative changes)

o Eliminate replacement tags

o Require line marking

Phase II – Short Term Measures

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Initiate “late season” or “intermission” derelict gear removal program

1. Do you support?

2. Why or why not?

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Average pots lost (annual average =5,788)

Average in-season derelict gear retrieved(average annual = 1,256)

Post-season derelict gear (annual average= 755)

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0

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1000

1500

2000

2500

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Jan Feb Mar Apr May

repl

acem

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ags i

ssue

d 2017 (total=3,777)

2018 (total = 3,582)

2019 (total=2,916)

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Jan Feb Mar Apr May

vess

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2017 (total=110)

2018 (total=98)

2019 (total=86)

Eliminate Replacement

tags

1. Do you support?

2. Why or why not?

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Line Marking Examples

WA Line Marking Proposal“WA crab fishery”

* Subject to change

Illustration: WDFW

1. Marks per line?

2. Minimum size of marks?

3. Color of marks?

4. Location of marks?

5. Other considerations?

OR Line Marking Proposal“OR crab fishery”

1. Marks per line?

2. Minimum size of marks?

3. Color of marks?

4. Location of marks?

5. Other considerations?

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o Define maximum line length and number of trailer buoys allowed for use in surface gear (new CA reg)

o Require lines to be taut (new WA reg under consideration)

o Others?

Require Best Practices

Max 36’

Max 24’

Illustration: CDFW

1. Do you support?

2. Why or why not?