Council briefed on using 'if-then' rules and inseason actions to speed fisheries decisions

The Pacific Fishery Management Council advisory briefing on Special Project One centered on strategies to shorten the time between changing ocean conditions and management responses. Staff described 'if-then' statements—predefined actions triggered when specified monitoring thresholds are met—and inseason management actions that can be implemented without full council deliberation.

Gilly, the staff lead for the project, said the council scoped the work in Spokane last September and adopted a problem statement noting that “management decisions in the council process often unfold over years,” which can leave actions lagging behind climate- and event-driven changes in the marine environment. She emphasized that carefully designed if‑then statements can allow timely responses while analysis and review are completed in advance.

The briefing contrasted two existing models: the groundfish approach, which typically requires council meetings for inseason adjustments, and the salmon model, where daily catch monitoring has allowed the Pacific Coast Salmon FMP to adjust season length, location and gear more rapidly. As a concrete West Coast example, staff cited an if‑then trip‑limit change used for bluefin tuna: “If total catch is within a certain amount of the annual limit between January and June, the trip limit automatically would decrease to Y amount,” Gilly said, explaining that such predefined thresholds let managers act without convening a full meeting.

Staff outlined three near‑term actions for the council to consider: develop a framework to prioritize and assess potential if‑then statements; compile and review existing if‑then usage across Fishery Management Plans (FMPs); and direct FMP management teams and advisory subpanels to identify FMP‑specific opportunities for new if‑then statements or inseason management actions. Staff warned these efforts can be resource intensive up front because they require analyzing scenarios and setting defensible thresholds.

The advisory bodies were asked to weigh in on which opportunities have the greatest value for timely responsiveness. Gilly said staff expect to phase work through 2026 and into 2027, and that advisory body input will inform which preliminary preferred actions are brought forward at upcoming council meetings.