Saving Seafood

Council Actions

US Pacific Fishery Managers Set Uku Catch Limits in Hawai‘i, Support Exploring Cultural Take of Green Sea Turtles

September 21, 2021 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recommended that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implement a 291,010-pound annual catch target for uku in the main Hawaiian Islands. This would include an in-season accountability measure to avoid surpassing this level for fishing years 2022 to 2025. The previous catch limit, effective from 2019 to 2021, was nearly half the amount at 127,205 pounds, but only applied to commercial fishers, whereas the new limit combines the commercial and noncommercial sectors.

The Council also heard a report on honu (green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas) management in Hawai‘i, noting continued requests from the fishing community to allow harvest for cultural purposes. Council members supported developing a way forward with NMFS. Manny Dueñas, Council member from Guam, expressed deep concern at the erosion of respect for indigenous cultures in our region, where turtles have been valued for medicine, food and sustenance for more than 4,000 years. The Council will work with communities to document the history of cultural harvest and use of honu in Hawai‘i.

The Council deferred taking final action on the rebuilding plan for the federally managed bottomfish complex in American Samoa, and will organize an intercessional meeting for the week of Oct. 18, 2021. Several Council members expressed their dismay at the low catch limit alternatives and the potential fishery closure. Archie Soliai, Council chair and director of the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources said the extra time would allow him time to consult with the governor on the coordinated management of the bottomfish fishery in territorial and federal waters.

“We carefully balance the economic development aspirations with sustainable management of the bottomfish resource based on available scientific information,” Soliai said. The territory is working with local communities to develop a Territorial Bottomfish Fishery Management Plan that is in line with Fa’a Samoa, the Samoan identity and way of living.

“Fishing is how we keep in touch with Fa’a Samoa…our God-given right and our way of feeding our communities,” noted Howard Dunham, Council member from American Samoa and president of the American Samoa Alia Fishing Association. “We need to revive our alia fleet instead of further marginalizing a small underserved fishing community. Some alia still use wooden reels because modern reels are expensive.” The territory has a population of approximately 58,000 people, with more than 54% living in poverty.

The Council requested that the NMFS Stock Assessment Program separate the shallow- and deepwater-bottomfish into separate stock complexes in its next assessment. The Council also requested that the data workshop sharing information with the American Samoa fishing communities currently planned for November 2021 be held in-person.

For meeting agenda and briefing materials, visit www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars.

 

Salmon Technical Team to hold joint online meeting with Salmon Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee and Model Evaluation Workgroup October 20-21, 2021

September 23, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Salmon Technical Team will host a joint online meeting with the Salmon Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee and the Model Evaluation Workgroup.  The online meeting will be held Wednesday and Thursday, October 20-21, 2021, from 8:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, until 3 p.m. daily, or until business is completed, and will be open to the public.

Please see the meeting notice on the Pacific Council’s website for the purpose of the meeting and participation details.

For further information:

  • Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff Robin Ehlke at 503-820-2410.

Western Pacific Fishery Managers Recommend Improved Seabird Conservation Measures

September 23, 2021 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council recommended modifications to a regulatory amendment as an initial action to improve seabird conservation in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery.

A recent tori line study showed that the streamer lines are significantly more effective than blue-dyed fish bait to deter seabirds like Laysan and black-footed albatross from interacting with longline gear. The Council supported using tori lines instead of blue-dyed bait, which is currently required as a seabird interaction mitigation measure implemented under the Council’s Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan. The Council will consider a full analysis to make a final decision at its December 2021 meeting.

In addition, the Council recommended removing strategic offal (fish waste) discards from the regulatory requirement. Discharging offal and spent bait in the ocean away from where fishing gear is set may distract birds in the short-term, but may also increase seabird attraction to fishing vessels over time. The Council also recommended best practices training on offal management be added to the required annual protected species workshop for Hawai‘i commercial fishermen.

“We support this change since blue dye is messy and not always effective,” said Hawaii Longline Association Executive Director Eric Kingma. “Tori lines are extensively used around the world, including fisheries in Alaska, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. They are practical, easy to use and not expensive.”

The Hawai‘i longline fishery has been using seabird conservation measures for more than 20 years and pioneered many of the mitigation measures used internationally in pelagic fisheries.

The Council started discussion today on the American Samoa bottomfish rebuilding plan and will take a final decision tomorrow on the last day of the quarterly meeting. The Council will also decide annual catch limits for the main Hawaiian Islands uku fishery. Instructions on connecting to Webex, agendas and briefing documents are posted at www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars.

The Council manages federal fisheries operating in waters offshore of the State of Hawai‘i, the Territories of American Samoa and Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the U.S. Pacific Remote Islands Areas.

US Pacific Fishery Managers Support Climate Change Research to Inform Management Decisions

September 22, 2021 — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council voted today to approve several plans aimed at improving research and data in the region. The Council’s work relies on robust scientific information for its fishery management decisions. The Council and its advisors developed research priorities with the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, setting the direction for the future.

Climate change is a high priority, in line with the Biden Administration’s efforts to mitigate the impacts and enhance fisheries resilience. Addressing the shift in distribution of stocks and fishing effort due to changes in oceanographic features is a good example.

The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee Three-Year Plan focused its priorities on science that directly supports fishery management. A major focus is helping fishing communities to understand the value of data for fishery sustainability.

The Council’s five-year regional research plan is mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The plan covers research priorities for pelagic and island fisheries, protected species, human communities, cooperative research and management strategy evaluation.

The Council also endorsed the Fishery Data Collection and Research Committee’s strategic plan for 2022 to 2026. The overarching goals of the plan are to:

  • Build local agency capacity to improve fishery-dependent data collection.
  • Provide non-peer-reviewed reports and unpublished datasets.
  • Conduct science and research to support ecosystem-based fishery management.

The Council concluded the first day of its three-day virtual meeting today. The meeting continues tomorrow with decisions on the American Samoa bottomfish rebuilding plan and initial action on seabird mitigation in the Hawai‘i longline fishery. Instructions on connecting to Webex, agendas and briefing documents are posted at www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars.

The Council manages federal fisheries operating in waters offshore of the State of Hawai‘i, the Territories of American Samoa and Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the U.S. Pacific Remote Islands Areas.

 

September 2021 PFMC decision document online

September 21, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council met September 9-11, and 13-15, 2021 via RingCentral webinar. The September 2021 Council Meeting Decision Document contains the highlights of significant decisions made during that meeting. Results of agenda items that do not reach a level of highlight significance are typically not described in the decision document.

NEFMC September 28-30, 2021 Webinar Meeting – Listen Live, View Documents

September 21, 2021 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council will hold a three-day meeting from Tuesday, September 28 through Thursday, September 30, 2021.  The public is invited to listen live and provide input during designated opportunities for public comment.  Due to ongoing public safety considerations related to COVID-19, this meeting will be conducted entirely by webinar.

START TIME:  9:00 a.m. daily.  The webinar will end shortly after the Council adjourns each day.

PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES:  The Council wants to hear from you.  Here’s how you can let the Council know what you think.

  • TALK TO THE COUNCIL:  You’ll be able to address the Council directly through two different avenues:
  1. By commenting on motions at the discretion of the Council chair (raise your hand on the webinar and unmute yourself when called upon); and
  1. By speaking during the open period for public comment.  Here are the Guidelines for Providing Public Comment.
  • OPEN PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:  On Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 1:30 p.m., the Council will offer the public an opportunity to provide comments on issues relevant to Council business but not listed on this agenda.  Given the Council’s busy meeting schedule, we ask that you limit remarks to 3-5 minutes.
    • SIGN UP NOW:  Interested in speaking?  Email Janice Plante at jplante@nefmc.org to get on the list. 

WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.

  • THIS IS KEY!  If you want to speak during opportunities for public comment, you need to: (1) register for the webinar; and (2) actually “join” the webinar.  People who call in by telephone without joining the webinar will be in listen-only mode.  Those who take both steps – register and then join the webinar – will see the meeting screen and be able to click on a “raise hand” button, which will let the meeting organizer know you want to be unmuted to speak.
  • We have a Help Desk in case you get stuck joining the webinar or have trouble along the way.  Phone numbers are listed on the Help Desk Poster, or just email helpdesk@nefmc.org and we’ll get right back to you.

WEBINAR CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (914) 614-3221.  The access code is 906-934-652.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.

AGENDA:  All meeting materials and the agenda are available on the Council’s website at NEFMC September 28-30, 2021 meeting.  Additional documents will be posted as they become available.

THREE MEETING OUTLOOK:  A copy of the New England Council’s Three Meeting Outlook is available HERE.

COUNCIL MEETING QUESTIONS:  Anyone with questions prior to or during the Council meeting should contact Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

 

Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team to hold online meeting Monday, October 4, 2021

September 20, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team will hold an online meeting Monday, October 4, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, or until business for the day has been completed.

Please see the meeting notice on the Council’s website for additional details.

For further information:

Pacific Fishery Scientists Recommend Ways to Better Manage False Killer Whale Impacts

September 20, 2021 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council adopted recommendations to improve the management of impacts to false killer whales (FKWs) in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery. The issues paper from an SSC working group reviewed cetacean avoidance research and interaction reduction measures, and risk assessment methods used to evaluate the population-level impacts of fishery interactions.

The paper, endorsed by the SSC, raises concerns about the serious lack of fundamental population demographic information needed to support evidence-based policy guidance on the issue. The current risk assessment framework used to evaluate the potential impacts of FKW bycatch in the U.S.-based pelagic longline fishery is based on a concept called the potential biological removal (PBR), which is required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). At its June 2021 meeting, the SSC acknowledged the PBR approach does not account explicitly for the present assumption that long-term consequences exist for FKW populations exposed to anthropogenic hazards such as pelagic longline gear. The working group found that available scientific data do not strongly support this assumption.

The SSC’s recommendations highlighted several approaches to address the current deficiencies in the risk assessments. This includes implementing a conceptual framework called “population consequences of disturbance” comprised of a four-level sequence, ranging from observed changes in individual behavior to population-level effects like impaired reproductive, survival or population growth rates. Another recommendation noted the need for a risk assessment model based on population dynamics to assess the applicability of PBR for bycatch management.

Also, the group recommended that a post-release study on FKWs should be conducted using satellite tags or other technology to assess mortality rates and sublethal effects of capture and release. Currently, there is not enough demographic information, such as survival rates at different ages and reproductive rates, to do a population assessment or diagnose trends for FKWs. Additionally, the lack of post-release survival data has led to the assumption that most FKWs observed in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery are not likely to survive, even though most individuals are released alive.

“The underlying theme to all of these recommendations is that fishery impacts on FKWs to date have been seemingly small and infrequent,” said SSC Chair Jim Lynch, who presented the report. “Take reduction measures imposed should balance the biological and economic impacts.”

FKWs are incidentally hooked in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery, which primarily targets bigeye tuna. Under the FKW Take Reduction Plan, fishermen are required to use hooks of a certain diameter intended to straighten and release the animals. However, this “weak hook” measure, among other requirements, has not been successful in achieving the conservation goals required under the MMPA. The Take Reduction Team, which includes members from academia, conservation groups, fishing industry, government and fishery management organizations, was not able to reach consensus on measures to revise the existing Plan after nearly three years of deliberations. In light of this situation, the SSC formed the working group to inform the future direction of this issue for the Council, which holds a seat on the Team.

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Regarding seabird conservation in the Hawai‘i longline fishery, the SSC recommended that tori lines should replace blue-dyed fish bait as a required bycatch mitigation measure. Scientists endorsed the findings from the tori line experimental fishing permit study that showed the streamers are significantly more effective than colored bait at reducing fishery interactions with seabirds like Laysan and black-footed albatross.

The Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources (HDAR) summarized data for the SSC from four reopened bottomfish restricted fishing areas, or BRFAs. Data quality and quantity were concerns, creating challenges to interpreting effort and landings in evaluating the effects of BRFA opening. The SSC reiterated its recommendation since 2013 to eliminate all BRFAs in federal waters, due to the change in stock status since their establishment and because their management utility has been superseded by annual catch limits. The SSC also recommends HDAR continue to improve fishery-dependent data collection through better fisher engagement to effectively manage the bottomfish fishery.

Recommendations made by the SSC on these and other matters will be considered by the Council when it meets Sept. 21-23, 2021, virtually with host sites at Tedi of Samoa Building, Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa; BRI Building, Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI); and Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O’Brien Dr., Hagatña, Guam.

Instructions on connecting to the web conference, agendas and briefing documents are posted at www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars. Host sites are subject to local and federal safety and health guidelines regarding COVID-19; check the Council website for updates.

SAFMC Approves Expansion of Shrimp Fishery Access Area Adjacent to Deepwater Coral

September 20, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

It has been seven years since expansion of the northern end of the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) was approved by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Designed to provide additional protection for the rare, slow growing, deepwater Oculina coral found off the central east coast of Florida, the expansion also included historic fishing grounds for the economically important rock shrimp fishery, shutting off access along the eastern boundary. The initial Oculina Coral HAPC, established in 1984, was the first deepwater coral protected area in the U. S., and its boundaries were developed in cooperation with the rock shrimp industry. Vessel Monitoring Systems have been in place since 2003 for the fishery. Following expansion of the Coral HAPC in 2014, the Council assured rock shrimp fishermen that the area would be reviewed to determine if the historic trawling areas could be reopened. During its quarterly meeting this week, members of the Council voted to approve Coral Amendment 10 to establish the rock shrimp fishery access area. The amendment must be approved by the Secretary of Commerce before the measures are implemented.

The decision to reopen the fishery access area, a narrow strip along the eastern edge of the Coral HAPC measuring approximately 22-square miles, was not without controversy. Over the years, the Oculina Bank has suffered extensive habitat damage due to mobile fishing gear (trawls and dredges) and anchoring. Council members considered recommendations from its advisory panels and received public comment both in support of and against the rock shrimp fishery access area.

Letters in support of the fishery access area included those from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, fishing industry leaders, and a former Council member. Coral biologists, scientists, and environmental groups were among those who expressed concerns that reopening the trawling area could damage existing coral habitat, noting the negative impacts of sediment from trawling activities. “We’ve heard from both sides on this issue and sincerely appreciate all of the letters and public comment received,” said Council Chair, Mel Bell. “After exploring options, including additional mapping and bottom surveys, we felt it important to move forward with this amendment.” If approved by the Secretary, the new regulations would become effective in 2022.

Red Snapper

Discussion of Red Snapper management continued to focus on the challenge of dealing with the increasing number of fish that are released throughout the year as the stock continues to rebuild, and the estimated number of released fish that don’t survive. In June 2021, the Council received the results of the most recent stock assessment for Red Snapper, which indicated that the stock is not yet rebuilt and experiencing overfishing. According to the stock assessment, released fish account for 90% of the fishing mortality for Red Snapper in the South Atlantic.

After receiving a report from its Scientific and Statistical Committee at this week’s meeting, the Council agreed to immediately look at actions to help reduce the number Red Snapper killed by discarding. Measures to be considered include gear modifications (single hook rigs, larger hooks, leader modifications, natural bait prohibition), consideration of a slot limit, increased outreach on best fishing practices, and data collection through the Council’s Citizen Science Project, SAFMC Release. The Council also requested a Research Track stock assessment be conducted for Red Snapper at the next available opportunity. Council members acknowledged the need to consider the multi-species snapper grouper fishery as a whole and will form a work group to lead a Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) approach to reduce discards and increase landed yield across the entire snapper grouper fishery.

As required, the Council will also begin an amendment to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan to revise management parameters for Red Snapper based on the latest stock assessment and recommendations from its Scientific and Statistical Committee. The amendment will incorporate the results of the MSE project and consider additional actions for the snapper grouper fishery to address widespread fishery issues such as discard losses. The Council will receive input from its Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel and continue work during its December 2021 meeting.

Climate Change Scenario Planning: Kick-Off Webinars a Wrap; Input Now Needed on Fishery Impacts via Questionnaire

September 20, 2021 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

Climate-related forces such as ocean temperature changes and sea-level rises are certain to shape fisheries on the East Coast between now and 2040. Which forces do you think are most important? What are the unknowns? Do you support exploring how fishery management will be affected by shifting fish stock distributions due to climate-related factors?

These are the kinds of questions being asked as part of the scoping process for the East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Initiative. The Core Team overseeing the project recently held three kick-off webinars to introduce fishermen and other stakeholders to climate change scenario planning. Anyone who missed the webinars can watch the videos:

• Introduction to East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning
• Introduction to Scenario Planning
• Initiative Details
• Process and Participants

The Core Team is now soliciting additional insights, perspectives, and feedback via a questionnaire to help guide future work on this initiative. The 12 questions should take no more than 10-to-30 minutes to complete, and some are short and simple, such as “where are you based.” Commercial and recreational fishermen, as well as others who are out on the water day after day witnessing changing ocean conditions first-hand, are especially encouraged to provide input. However, anyone who has a stake in this initiative is welcome to fill out the questionnaire on this webpage.

Read the release here