Welcome to the Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative’s (PWCC) website. Our site provides information about PWCC and our member companies [About PWCC], and the Pacific whiting fishery [Fishery]. Detailed information about research projects [Research] and bycatch avoidance initiatives [Catch Management] sponsored by PWCC is also provided.
The PWCC is a trade association representing three companies that own and operate U.S. catcher/processor vessels that participate in the west coast Pacific whiting fishery. By weight, this abundant, well-managed groundfish fishery accounts for the largest volume of fish harvested on the U.S. west coast each year. Fishery managers and scientists employ a precautionary approach to management to ensure healthy fish stocks for years to come.
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The
Pacific
whiting fishery in U.S. and Canadian waters is governed by the Pacific
Hake
Agreement and NMFS
maintains a Hake
Treaty webpage.
Conservation of the Pacific whiting resource and associated species is paramount to the PWCC. As partners in these robust fisheries, the PWCC works with fishery managers, scientists, environmentalists, and other industry members to ensure the continued health and sustainability of our marine resources.
PWCC, our U.S. industry partners, and the Canadian Pacific hake industry joined together to have the Pacific hake fishery certified under the Marine Stewardship Council fishery certification program.
In
the U.S.,
the whiting fishery is managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS),
specifically the NMFS-Westcoast Region
and the NMFS-Northwest
Fisheries Science
Center
including the West Coast Groundfish Observer
Program.
Recently,
Pacific
whiting was featured on the new
NMFS seafood information page FishWatch. The
NMFS FishWatch
site provides consumers “the most accurate and timely
information available on
the sustainability of U.S. seafood fisheries.”
In addition to stock status
and fishery management information, the site
also provides nutritional and other information for consumers to
consider when making
seafood choices.
NMFS states –
“Population
levels of Pacific whiting are high, and no overfishing is
occurring.”
“Biomass of the
coastal stock is 80% of the
biomass needed to support maximum sustainable yield.” “There
are few habitat concerns in the
Pacific whiting fishery, given that pelagic trawls have very little
bottom
habitat impact.”
“Whiting is a good
source of selenium, vitamin B, magnesium, and protein.”