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02/04/2010: "CC Approves MRC 2010 Work Plan"

( Jim Slocomb & MRC Coordinator Mary Knackstedt before County Council)

“the bottom fish recovery zones basically are not working” -Jim Slocomb, MRC member

There was no good news on the recovery of the rockfish population when Marine Resources Committee (MRC) members Jim Slocomb and MRC Coordinator Mary Knackstedt went before the County Council recently and presented the MRC 2009 Annual Report (large file) and the MRC proposed 2010 Work Plan for the council’s review and approval.

The dramatic news in the annual report was the dramatic decrease in the rockfish population, and the failure of the No-Take zones to allow recovery of the fish. The loss of bottom fish has been a concern for sometime, and in 1996 that concern was one of the reasons for the creation of the MRC by the then County Commissiners.

Rockfish are an interesting fish for a number of reason, not the least of which is how long they live.


Wayne Palsson of the Marine Fish Science Unit of WDFW gave a presentation on some rockfish facts last year to the public and MC members, and it was news to many that “Rockfish have evolved for a long life with some living up to 200 years.” Palsson said one of the problems with increasing their population is the fish have “only 1 successful spawning per decade,” and they “are habitat specific living in only a 50 sq yd area.”

Slocomb told the council that when divers go down to take a look in the no-take zones, which “have been in place for over a decade, we should be able to measure results by now, and there are not measurable results; probably for a variety of reasons.” Palsson agrees, and told the MRC that “stressors and risks include climate, disease, predation, pollution/water quality, derelict gear, humans.”

How big is the problem? “The size of copper rockfish, for instance, has shrunk to 20% of what it was and the species’ spawning potential has declined substantially (fewer fish, fewer eggs);” but “there are problems in interpreting the data.” Palsson said.

Slocomb told the council “adaptive management tells us that, we need to go another way….that leads us into a different sort of policy, which sort of leads us into our participation into the Puget Sound Rock Fish Advisory Group, under WFW [Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife] that is forming up.”

The WA Department of Fish & Wildlife has established an ad-hoc committee to advise the agency on proposed changes to rules on sport fishing for rockfish, that led to a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) (PSRCP), titled: Puget Sound Rockfish Conservation Plan. The group may also assist in the development of a final plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the conservation of rockfish in Puget Sound. Kit Rawson, Chair of the San Juan Marine Resources Committee and the Senior Fishery Management Biologist for the Tulalip Tribes. was appointed to the ad hoc committee.

The final plan is projected to “ provide a framework for new strategies and actions in areas including fisheries, monitoring and education to conserve and protect rockfish populations in Puget Sound.”

As for the draft plan, it clearly states there are “areas of controversy and uncertainty”, and lists the two most controversial categories, which are:

1. Fishery management- the PSRCP proposes a strategy which could reduce
fishing opportunities for rockfish and other species.

2. Habitat restoration enhancement- the PSRCP proposes a strategy to consider
restoration of degraded rockfish habitat and creation of new habitat for rockfish.
This strategy could have adverse impacts on other animals.

(For more information on fish management and conservation, contact the WDFW Fish Program at 360-902-2700, or email to fishpgm@dfw.wa.gov )

As for the MRC 2010 work plan, it was approved by the County Council.