Herring Fishery Management Plan Peer Review

Scientific Review of the Draft Fishery Management Plan for Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasii)

This report from the Pacific herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP) peer review panel contains recommendations and scientific guidance to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife based on the panel’s scientific and technical review of the draft FMP.

Pacific herring, a schooling fish species found throughout California, play an important role in the marine ecosystem and support important commercial and recreational fisheries in state waters. Concerns about changing ocean conditions, sea-level rise, loss of spawning habitat and more have prompted the need for a Pacific herring fishery management plan (FMP) to inform decisions on the future of the herring fishery in accordance with the Marine Life Management Act. California Ocean Science Trust is serving the State by convening an independent scientific review that will focus on reviewing key components of the FMP.

Main goals of this work include:

• To ensure that the science underpinning the FMP represents the best scientific information available and is appropriately used
• To provide an independent external scientific and technical review of the Pacific herring FMP

CDFW is seeking an independent assessment of whether the available data and predictive model that underpin the proposed FMP management strategy are applied in a manner that is scientifically sound, reasonable, and appropriate. Ocean Science Trust worked closely with CDFW to develop a terms of reference that captures the scope and process of the review, focused on key components of the FMP where independent scientific review would be most valuable.

1. Select a review mode. A remote meeting review process was selected in consultation with CDFW and the Ocean Protection Council to promote core review principles
2. Assemble review team. Ocean Science Trust will convene a diverse 3-4 member review panel composed of Ocean Protection Council Science Advisory Team member(s) and other experts.
3. Conduct review. CDFW will engage directly with reviewers at the outset, providing two-way interaction. The review will then proceed via a series of webinars and written comments, maintaining candid and independent assessment.
4. Develop and share final report.  Reviewers will contribute to the development of a final summary report, which will be made available online.
5. Stakeholder Webinar to Share Peer Review Results. A public webinar will be held at the close of the review to share results of the peer review. A subset of the peer review panel will present on their findings and be available to answer questions.
   • Webinar Date: October 9, 1:00 – 2:00pm (PDT).
     • Webinar link: https://zoom.us/j/350374691
     • To join by phone: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 646 876 9923
     • Webinar ID: 350 374 691
   • Agenda
   • Webinar Presentation

• Elliott Hazen (chair) – Environmental Research Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries
• Dan Okamoto – Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University
• Rebecca Selden – Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University
• Cody Szuwalski – Bren School of Environmental Science and Management – University of California, Santa Barbara

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