NOAA fisheries has released their draft Bocaccio and Yelloweye Rockfish recovery plan this afternoon, and I think it may be worth taking the time to look into, and send comment on a portion of their recovery strategy that is calling for establishing MPA's throughout Puget Sound to protect these species. Specifically, it appears there will be a call for broad scoping MPA's in the San Juans and Straits that will directly impact our Ling Cod and Halibut fisheries, and likely Salmon and Shrimp fisheries to a certain degree.

The recovery plan in full can be found here:
http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/...covery_plan.pdf

The significant referencing of instituting MPA's can be found on page 79.

"Therefore, in the areas we have assessed to have remaining high risk of bycatch despite the regulations put into place by WDFW in 2010 to limit bycatch (areas are the San Juan Basin and the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca (generally east of Port Angeles)) (see Table 15), we recommend beginning the scientific and public process to establish marine protected or rockfish conservation areas to protect listed rockfish. These areas also have the most rockfish habitat. In other areas where further information is needed, we recommend further assessment to determine whether spatial protection or other improved fisheries management protections are needed. "

Comments can be submitted here until November, 14th:
https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0083

Anyone who fishes recreationally following the current 120 foot depth restriction is aware of the extremely low incidence of encounter with the species of concern in the recovery plan. Although encounters DO occur with various other species of rockfish, some 90+% of viable rockfish habitat throughout Puget Sound is deeper than 120 feet. This means that under current regulation over 90% of the current existing habitat is already protected. Institution of MPA's would not only be a redundancy, it will greatly jeopardize fishing opportunities throughout the region.