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Conservation of Marine Resources in Puget Sound Development of Cooperative Management Efforts Jeff Koenings, PhD. , Director Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife November 15, 2000

WDFW is Revising its Groundfish Management Strategies for Puget Sound We invite co-managers to jointly develop  management principles We believe we need to:  build responsible science-based harvest policies, safeguard sensitive species and habitats, effectively monitor our resources and fisheries,  and rebuild confidence in our management approach among all users

Why do we need a new management strategy? The old strategy isn’t working Stocks are in decline Information base is limited Habitat is being lost To reverse these trends, we need joint co-manager participation in the process

How bad off are we? American Fisheries Society declared Puget Sound to be one of four areas in North America with the most threatened marine fish stocks. NMFS is currently evaluating a petition to list six species of groundfish under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Why do we need increased conservation efforts in Puget Sound? Groundfish abundance has declined greatly in the past 20 years. Decline accelerated in the last 10 years. Harvests now at lowest levels since the 1930s.

Current stock status of groundfish in Puget Sound

Causes for Decline Overfishing Environmental change Interactions with marine mammal predators Habitat modification

What has WDFW been doing lately? In 1998, adopted Puget Sound Groundfish Management Plan Invokes a precautionary approach to management of non-tribal fisheries In 2000, adopted Marine Fish Culture Policy Establishes a reliance on natural production to meet our conservation objectives In 2000, circulated a draft MOU to develop a process to establish a marine fish policy framework with our co-managers

What are we working towards? Developing a conservation plan consistent with our Puget Sound Groundfish Management Plan Co-manager participation is necessary to develop management principles that integrate usual and accustomed fishing areas. Cooperatively developed individual species conservation plans must follow Developing a problem statement to evaluate an artificial reef policy

Strategic elements of a draft conservation plan Precautionary Principle: burden of proof We are now asking if there is enough information to allow a fishery, rather than if there is enough evidence to stop one. Science-based harvest rules that incorporate a precautionary approach. Consideration of ecosystem consequences. Effective monitoring and evaluation of resources and fisheries. Promote a program of habitat protection. Manage for sustainable levels of natural production.

Where do MPAs enter the conservation plan? WDFW believes MPAs offer a tool for protection and preservation of critical marine fish habitat WDFW believes MPAs may increase productivity in unprotected habitats

MPAs can help: Build healthy fish populations Re-establish ecosystem diversity Restore sustainable fishing opportunities

What do we know about MPAs in Puget Sound? A series of MPAs established over last 30 years without an overall conservation plan. Location and size of each MPA has been opportunistic. WDFW has been studying the potential of MPAs as a management tool for several years.

At Edmonds Underwater Park: higher fish densities than in adjacent open areas

Larger fish within EUP than in adjacent open areas

Much Higher Reproductive Potential Greater at EUP

MPAs offer a tool to: maintain high densities of rocky reef fish establish size and age diversity in rocky reef fish export fishes to adjacent unprotected habitats

MPA Issues for Joint Resolution Explicit definition of MPA objectives Science-based site selection criteria Co-manager siting agreements Benefit to targeted fish populations Sensitivity to usual and accustomed fishing grounds.

Where do we go from here? Finalize the draft MOU Develop list of issues critical to co-managers Meet to discuss Puget Sound Groundfish Conservation Plan