Hawaii FEP - Western Pacific Fishery Council

Second, the values of the reference points are estimated and third, the status of the stock isdetermined by estimating the current or recent values of fishing mortality and stock biomass ortheir proxies and comparing them with their respective reference points.The second step (including estimation of M, on which the values of the overfishing thresholdswould be dependent) and third step will be undertaken by NMFS and the latest results publishedannually in the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report. In practice, the secondand third steps may be done simultaneously—in other words, the reference point values could bere-estimated as often as the stocks’ status. No particular stock assessment period or schedule isspecified, but in practice the assessments are likely be conducted annually in coordination withthe preparation of the annual SAFE report.The best information available is used to estimate the values of the reference points and todetermine the status of stocks in relation to the status determination criteria. The determinationsare based on the latest available stock and fishery assessments. Information used in theassessments includes logbook data, vessel observer data, and the findings of fishery-independentsurveys when they are conducted.Measures to Address Overfishing and Overfished StocksAt present, no crustacean stocks in Hawaii have been determined to be overfished or thatoverfishing is occurring. If in the future it is determined that overfishing is occurring, a stock isoverfished, or either of those two conditions is being approached, the Council will establishadditional management measures using the FEP amendment process or the frameworkadjustment process. One important potential measure that would be considered is adjustments tothe harvest rate. Other potential measures that would be considered include additional areaclosures and adjustments to the NWHI seasonal closure.The combination of control rules and reference points is illustrated in Figure 22. Note that thepositions of the MSST and F OY are illustrative only; their values would depend on the bestestimates of M and r at any given time. As noted in Section 4.3.3, the NWHI lobster fishery hasbeen closed since 2000 due to uncertainty regarding NMFS’ population models, as well as theimpostion of the NWHI Marine National Monument which stipulates that any commerciallobster fishing permit shall be subject to a zero annual harvest limit.159