Click the link below to view the April 2013 PFMC meeting report from Chris Kubiak.

The Central California Seafood Marketing Association (CCSMA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and other partners applied for and received approval for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) for the 2013 and 2014 groundfish seasons from the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC). The EFP will be used in a collaborative fisheries research project focused on gaining a better understanding of the distribution, abundance, and size of overfished rockfishes inside of the trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCA) between Pt. Conception and Pt. Reyes, in order to help inform bycatch avoidance plans, and enable fishermen to target healthy populations while avoiding depleted ones. The project partners are seeking qualified fishermen who have experience using vertical hook and line and/or hydraulic snapper reel gear types and who also have targeted rockfish. Preference will be given to candidates based on the attached application; candidates will be chosen by a selection committee organized by CCSMA.. Applications are due Friday, May 24, 2013.

We just got the sad news that Nick Deurloo has passed away. Nick was a long time fisherman from Port San Luis and then later in Morro Bay. His son Jon has asked that any donations be made in his name to the Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization in lieu of flowers. There will be a service for Nick on April 26th from 11:00 A.M.- 2:00 P.M. in Giovanni’s parking area. Please pass this along.