August 27, 2015 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
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Live Streaming Information for next week’s SSC meeting, Sept 1, 2015
August 28, 2015 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
Dear Interested Parties:
Meeting: The public is invited to listen in to the September 1, 2015 Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting (SSC). It is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Boston Logan Airport, 100 Boardman Street.
Location: See Hilton Garden Inn for further information about the venue.
Webinar Registration: For online access to the meeting – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1465020447061066241.
The webinar will be activated beginning at 8:00 a.m. and end at approximately 6:00 p.m. EST.
Charges for Listening: There are no charges if you access the webinar via your computer. If dialing in, your normal phone charges will apply.
Dial in number: Toll: +1 (646) 307-1706
Access Code: 227-977-093
Meeting Materials: Please consult the Council’s website Sept. 1, 2015 SSC Meeting. You will find an agenda and copies of the materials to be considered.
ASMFC 74th Annual Meeting Details, Preliminary Agenda and Public Comment Guidelines
August 28, 2015 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Please find below the preliminary agenda and public comment guidelines for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 74th Annual Meeting, which will be held November 2-5, 2015 at the World Golf Village Renaissance Resort in St. Augustine, FL. This email contains meeting details, including the preliminary agenda. All of the business meetings scheduled during this week (with the exception of closed sessions) are open to the public, free of charge.
Our Florida Commissioners have been working hard on the meeting details and are looking forward to welcoming you all to St. Augustine. Similar to our previous Annual Meetings in Florida, this meeting will be held jointly with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 66th Annual Meeting. We have scheduled some overlapping events to allow for you all to spend time with your colleagues from the Gulf. Our nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine was founded 450 years ago along Florida’s historic coast. Here, history comes alive in red-brick lanes leading to centuries-old churches, in forts where soldiers still walk the grounds, and on horse-drawn carriage rides through time. Head just out of town and back to nature along 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches.
ACCOMODATIONS: A block of rooms is being held at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort (500 South Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, FL). Lisa Hartman(lhartman@asmfc.org) will make Commissioner/Proxy reservations and will contact you regarding the details of your accommodations. Please notify Lisa of any changes to your travel plans that will impact your hotel reservations (including late arrivals), otherwise you will incur no-show penalties. We greatly appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
For all other attendees, please make your reservations online at http://tinyurl.com/nlnogfn as soon as possible to obtain the negotiated room rate of $119.00 plus tax. Hotel reservations must be made before September 30, 2015. Room availability will not be guaranteed beyond this date. Please be aware that you must guarantee your room reservation with a major credit card or one night’s advance payment and you must notify the hotel of any cancellation prior to 72 hours before arrival or you will be billed one night’s room plus tax. If you have any problems regarding accommodations, please contact Lisa at 703.842.0740 or lhartman@asmfc.org.
PLEASE NOTE: The negotiated room rate will be available from October 30th through November 8th. If you plan on arriving on Saturday, you should make your reservation as soon as possible since the hotel will also be hosting the Georgia Football Team following Saturday’s Georgia-Florida game.
GETTING TO ST. AUGUSTINE: The World Golf Village Renaissance Resort is located in St. Augustine off of Interstate 95, and is easily accessible by either car or air. From the Jacksonville International Airport, take I-95 south to exit 323, International Golf Parkway. Following the exit, turn right onto International Golf Parkway, and right again into the main entrance to World Golf Village. Then follow signs to Hotel. The nearest major airport is Jacksonville International Airport (JAX). This airport is 45 miles from the Resort. Self-parking is complimentary for overnight guests.
REGISTRATION: The meeting registration fee is $200/per participant and $150/per spouse or guest if you register by October 26, 2015. After October 26th and in St. Augustine the fees will be $225 and $175, respectively. The registration fee covers the Monday night reception, the Tuesday night dinner, and the Wednesday Hart Award Luncheon, as well event materials. Payment is not required until you arrive at the meeting; however, we ask that you please assist us in planning for the meeting by registering as soon as possible. You may register by returning the attached registration form (by email, fax, or US mail) or online at http://mahi.accsp.org:8080/myJSPs/registration74thAnnualMtg.html. Once you have registered, payment can be made in several ways (1) check, cash or credit card at the ASMFC Registration Desk at the Annual Meeting; (2) credit card by calling Lisa Hartman at 703.842.0744; or (3) mail a check to ASMFC at 1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N, Arlington, VA 22201. Please note all board/committee members attending the Annual Meeting will be reimbursed for the full pre-registration fee. However, late registration fees will not be reimbursed.
FISHING TOURNAMENT: Plans are well underway for the 24th Annual Laura Leach Fishing Tournament. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate. You will receive a t-shirt with your $20 entry fee with 100% of the tournament proceeds going to kids’ fishing programs in Florida. If you intend to fish, a fishing license can be obtained at https://license.myfwc.com or by visiting a local tackle shop that sells licenses. The tournament runs from Sunday (11/1) through Wednesday morning (11/4); the raffle drawing and tournament prizes will be awarded at Wednesday Awards Luncheon. Additional information about kayak rentals, fishing locations, tackle shops, etc. will be provided to tournament anglers.
FOR SPOUSES/GUESTS: The Monday Morning Social for Spouses and Guests will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the hotel. On Tuesday, Ancient City Tours will take spouses and guests to some of the notable historic sites in St. Augustine, including the Fountain of Youth (remember to drink the water!), the Lightner Museum, and Castillo de San Marcos Fort. Sit back as the driver shares the history and sights of our Nation’s Oldest City on the Old Town Trolley tour. Lunch will be provided at the Five Flags Café.
The final agenda and meeting materials will be available on October 22, 2015 on the Commission website at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2015-Annual-Meeting. We look forward to seeing you all in St. Augustine in November!
Preliminary Agenda
The agenda is subject to change. Bulleted items represent the anticipated major issues to be discussed or acted upon at the meeting. The final agenda will include additional items and may revise the bulleted items provided below. The agenda reflects the current estimate of time required for scheduled Board meetings. The Commission may adjust this agenda in accordance with the actual duration of Board meetings. Interested parties should anticipate Boards starting earlier or later than indicated herein.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
2:00 – 5:30 p.m. Registration
Monday, November 2, 2015
7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Registration
8:00 – 10:30 a.m. American Lobster Management Board
- Discuss Management Response to the 2015 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report
o Report from Subcommittee (Subset of Board, Lobster Conservation Management Team and Technical Committee Members) Input on the Southern New England Stock
o Technical Committee Report
- Discussion and Initiation of an Addendum to Set Effort Controls for Jonah Crab-only Trap Fishermen
- Review and Consider Approval of 2015 American Lobster Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
- Review and Consider Approval of Advisory Panel Membership
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Atlantic Herring Section
- Set Fishery Specifications for 2016-2018
- Review and Consider Approval of Draft Amendment 3 for Public Comment
1:45 – 3:45 p.m. Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board
- Review Wave 4 Data (if available) for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Recreational Harvest and Discuss Potential Implications for 2016 Management
- Consider Continuing the Ad-Hoc Approaches to Regional Management for Black Sea Bass
- Consider Approval of the Terms of Reference for the Black Sea Bass Benchmark Stock Assessment
- Review the 2015/2016 Black Sea Bass Quotas Based on the Outcome of the September 2015 Mid-Atlantic Fishery management Council Science and Statistical Committee Meeting
- Update Board on Scup Scoping/Public Information Document for Amendment
- Update Board on the Schedule of Assessment Updates for Summer Flounder and Scup
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Executive Committee
(A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members only)
- Status Report (Program and Committee Updates)
- Independent Program Review Progress
- APAIS Update
- Governance Update
- Executive Committee Membership Standard Operating Procedures
- Recommendations from the Operations and Advisory Committees on Project Funding
3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Registration
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. ACCSP Coordinating Council
- Status Report (Program and Committee Updates)
- Independent Program Review Progress
- Governance Update
- Executive Committee Membership Standard Operating Procedures
- Recommendations from the Operations and Advisory Committees on Project Funding
- Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Welcome Reception
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Registration
8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Executive Committee
(A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members and Commissioners only)
- Review Guidance Documents
- Review Fiscal Year 2015 Audit
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Habitat Committee
- Discuss Improvements to Habitat Factsheet Content and Rollout
- Review 2015 Work Plan and Set 2016 Work Plan
- Discuss Progress on Fishery Management Plan Amendments, Habitat Bottlenecks White Paper, and Sciaenid Habitat Source Document
8:30 a.m. – Noon Joint Meeting of the SEAMAP-SA and GSMFC Crustacean Workgroups
10:15 – 11:15 a.m. American Eel Management Board
- Technical Committee Report on Maine’s Life Cycle Survey Proposal
- Review and Consider Approval of 2015 American Eel Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
11:30 a.m. – Noon Weakfish Management Board
- Review and Consider Approval of 2015 Weakfish Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
- Update on 2016 Benchmark Stock Assessment
Noon – 1:30 p.m. Legislators and Governors’ Appointees Luncheon
1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Winter Flounder Management Board
- Review the Groundfish Assessment and Review Meeting Stock Assessment Update Results for the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic Stocks
- Review and Consider Approval of 2015 Winter Flounder Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
2:00 – 4:30 p.m. Registration
3:15 – 5:45 p.m. Atlantic Menhaden Management Board
- Update on Working Group’s Progress for Ecosystem Management Objectives and Allocation
- Discuss Allowance of Cast Nets Under the Bycatch Provision of Amendment 2
- Provide Guidance to Plan Development Team on the Development of the Public Information Document for Draft Amendment 3
6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Annual Dinner at the Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
- Review 2015 Stock Assessment Update and Projections on Reaching Coastwide Fishing Mortality Target with Addendum IV Regulations
- Technical Committee Report on Coastwide and Fleet-specific Fishing Mortality Reference Points
8:30 a.m. – Noon Law Enforcement Committee
(A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members, authorized law enforcement personnel, and LEC Coordinators only)
- ISFMP Species Board Issues
- Federal and State Agency Reports
- Discussion of Atlantic Striped Bass Compliance Report Needs for 2016
- Review 2015 Action Plan Completion and 2016 Action Plan Items
- Closed Session (as needed, to discuss ongoing enforcement activities)
10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Tautog Management Board
- Review Public Comment on the Public Information Document to Draft Amendment 1
- Provide Guidance to Plan Development Team on the Development of Draft Amendment 1
- Review and Consider Approval of Advisory Panel Membership
12:15 – 1:45 p.m. ASMFC Captain David H. Hart & GSMFC Lyles-Simpson Awards Luncheon
1:45 – 5:45 p.m. Joint Meeting of the ASMFC Law Enforcement Committee and the GSMFC Law Enforcement Advisory Committee
1:45 – 2:45 p.m. Business Session
- Review and Consider Approval of 2016 Annual Action Plan
- Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
- Review Non-compliance Findings (if necessary)
2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP) Steering Committee
- Discuss Outcomes of the Recent Science and Data Committee Meeting and Next Steps for the Steering Committee
- Receive Updates on the Implementation Plan
- Discuss Potential Goals and Objectives for Next Conservation Strategic Plan
- Approve FY2016 Projects for Recommendation to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Coastal Sharks Management Board
- Set 2016 Specifications Based on Federal Quotas (if available)
- Update on NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Amendment 6 Final Rule and Draft Amendment 9
- Review and Consider Approval of 2014 Coastal Sharks Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
4:15 – 5:15 p.m. Spiny Dogfish Management Board
- Set Specifications for Spiny Dogfish
- Review and Consider Approval of 2014 Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
Thursday, November 5, 2015
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Horseshoe Crab Management Board
- Horseshoe Crab Technical Committee Report
o Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Survey Reports Summary
o Adaptive Resource Management Framework Harvest Output for 2016
- Set Specifications for the 2016 Delaware Bay Fishery
- Review and Consider Approval of 2015 Horseshoe Crab Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
- Update on the Virginia Tech Horseshoe Crab Trawl Survey
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ACFHP Steering Committee (continued)
9:15 – 11:15 a.m. Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board
- Atlantic Sturgeon Stock Assessment Update
- Review and Consider Approval of 2015 Atlantic Sturgeon Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Report
- Habitat Committee Report
- Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Report
- Law Enforcement Committee Report
- Management and Science Committee Report
11:15 – 11:45 a.m. Business Session (if necessary)
12:15 – 1:45 p.m. South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board
- Update on 2015 Red Drum Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review
- Review and Consider Approval of 2015 Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
- Review and Consider Approval of 2015 Spanish Mackerel Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance
- Discuss Black Drum Compliance Report Deadline
Public Comment Guidelines
With the intent of developing policies in the Commission’s procedures for public participation that result in a fair opportunity for public input, the ISFMP Policy Board has approved the following guidelines for use at management board meetings:
For issues that are not on the agenda, management boards will continue to provide opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of each board meeting. Board chairs will use a speaker sign-up list in deciding how to allocate the available time on the agenda (typically 10 minutes) to the number of people who want to speak.
For topics that are on the agenda, but have not gone out for public comment, board chairs will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. Chairs will have flexibility in deciding how to allocate comment opportunities; this could include hearing one comment in favor and one in opposition until the chair is satisfied further comment will not provide additional insight to the board.
For agenda action items that have already gone out for public comment, it is the Policy Board’s intent to end the occasional practice of allowing extensive and lengthy public comments. Currently, board chairs have the discretion to decide what public comment to allow in these circumstances.
In addition, the following timeline has been established for the submission of written comment for issues for which the Commission has NOT established a specific public comment period (i.e., in response to proposed management action).
1. Comments received 3 weeks prior to the start of a meeting week will be included in the briefing materials.
2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday, October 27, 2015 will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting and a limited number of copies will be provided at the meeting.
3. Following the Tuesday, October 27, 2015 5:00 PM deadline, the commenter will be responsible for distributing the information to the management board prior to the board meeting or providing enough copies for the management board consideration at the meeting (a minimum of 50 copies).
The submitted comments must clearly indicate the commenter’s expectation from the ASMFC staff regarding distribution. As with other public comment, it will be accepted via mail, fax, and email.
Live Streaming Information for next week’s SSC meeting, Sept 1, 2015
August 28, 2015 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
Meeting: The public is invited to listen in to the September 1, 2015 Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting (SSC). It is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Boston Logan Airport, 100 Boardman Street.
Location: See Hilton Garden Inn for further information about the venue.
Webinar Registration: For online access to the meeting – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1465020447061066241.
The webinar will be activated beginning at 8:00 a.m. and end at approximately 6:00 p.m. EST.
Charges for Listening: There are no charges if you access the webinar via your computer. If dialing in, your normal phone charges will apply.
Dial in number: Toll: +1 (646) 307-1706
Access Code: 227-977-093
Access Code: 227-977-093
Meeting Materials: Please consult the Council’s website Sept. 1, 2015 SSC Meeting. You will find an agenda and copies of the materials to be considered.
Questions: If you have questions prior to or during the meeting, feel free to call me at the Council office at
(978) 465-0492 ext. 106, or otherwise send an email to pfiorelli@nefmc.org.
Council to Hold Scoping Hearings for Action on Unmanaged Forage Species
August 28, 2015 — The following has been released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has scheduled a series of scoping hearings to gather public input for a proposed action to protect unmanaged forage species. The proposed action would consider a prohibition on the development of new, or expansion of existing, directed fisheries on unmanaged forage species in the Mid-Atlantic until adequate scientific information is available to promote ecosystem sustainability.
Eight hearings will be held between September 15, 2015 and October 1, 2015 in locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Written comments may also be submitted through October 2, 2015.
Forage species are small, low trophic level fish and invertebrates that play an important role in sustaining the productivity and structure of marine ecosystems. Many forage species in the Mid-Atlantic are not currently subject to significant directed fishing, but increasing global demand for fishmeal, fish oil, and bait could encourage the development of new fisheries for these species. With this action, the Mid-Atlantic Council is taking a proactive approach to conserving unmanaged forage species and the ecosystem services they provide.
The Council has not yet decided which forage species will be addressed by this action; however, this action will only address species that are not currently managed by the Mid-Atlantic, New England, or South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, or by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Scoping Process
Scoping is the process of identifying issues, potential impacts, and a reasonable range of alternatives associated with a management action being developed by the Council. Scoping is the first and best opportunity for the public to make suggestions and raise concerns about new Council actions. Comments may be submitted in-person during the hearings listed below or in writing.
Additional information and updates about this action can be found in the scoping document and on the Unmanaged Forage Action page of the council’s website.
Scoping Hearing Schedule
- Tuesday September 15, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. North Carolina Department of Marine Fisheries Washington Regional Office Hearing Room. Washington Square Mall, 943 Washington Street, Washington, NC, 27889. Telephone: 252-946-6481.
- Wednesday September 16, 2015. 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Virginia Marine Resources Commission 4th Floor Meeting Room. 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, VA, 23607. Telephone: 757-247-2200.
- Thursday September 17, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Congress Hall Hotel. 200 Congress Place, Cape May, NJ, 08204. Telephone: 844-264-5030.
- Monday September 21, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Kingsborough Community College Building T-3. 2001 Oriental Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY, 11235. Telephone: 718-368-5000.
- Monday September 28, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. University of Rhode Island Bay Campus Corless Auditorium. 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI, 02882. Telephone: 401-874-6222.
- Tuesday September 29, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. New York Department of Environmental Conservation Bureau of Marine Resources Hearing Room. 205 North Belle Mead Road, Suite 1, East Setauket, NY, 11733. Telephone: 631-444-0430.
- Wednesday September 30, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Worcester County Library Ocean Pines Branch Meeting Room. 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin, MD, 21811. Telephone: 410-208-4014.
- Thursday October 1, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. This hearing will be held via webinar with an audio only option. Information on how to connect to the webinar will be posted here.
These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, 302-526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
Written Comments
The Council will also accept written comments through 11:59 pm on Friday October 2, 2015. Written comments may be sent through any of the following methods:
- Online at www.mafmc.org/comments/unmanaged-forage
- Mailed to: Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE, 19901. (Please write “unmanaged forage scoping comments” on the outside of the envelope.)
- Emailed to: Julia Beaty, Assistant Fishery Plan Coordinator, at jbeaty@mafmc.org. (Please write “unmanaged forage scoping comments” in the subject line.)
- Faxed to: Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council at fax number 302-674-5399. (Please write “unmanaged forage scoping comments” in the subject line.)
Gulf Council Shifts Red Snapper Quota
August 25, 2015 — Debate over regional management of the Gulf of Mexico recreational red snapper fishery moved from Washington, D.C. to the Crescent City as the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met for the fourth time this year. In a highly contested vote, the Council voted to remove snapper quota from the commercial fishery while allocating additional quota to the recreational sector.
The Council’s action on Reef Fish Amendment 28 would allocate the increase in allowable harvest due to recalibration of Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) catch estimates to the recreational sector. The resulting allocation for 2016 – 2017 would be 48.5% commercial and 51.5% recreational.
For years, Amendment 28 has gone through numerous iterations as it has been under consideration by the Gulf Council. The current red snapper fishery is divided almost 50-50 between the commercial and recreational sectors. Some alternatives considered in Amendment 28 could have shifted millions of pounds of fish and done untold damage to commercial fishermen, the seafood supply chain, restaurants and grocery stores.
The Council’s final action will retain a portion of the commercial red snapper quota in 2016 to ensure that the IFQ quota intended for reallocation is not distributed among commercial fishermen before Amendment 28 is implemented.
“Gulf Council members friendly to the commercial coalition were able to defeat Alternative 9, the effort to take approximately 1.2 million pounds of red snapper from the commercial sector, but were unable to stop the motion to reallocate 380,000 pounds of our commercial quota,” said Gulf Seafood Institute (GSI) Board President Harlon Pearce, owner of Harlon’s LA Fish in New Orleans. “Amendment 28 was passed with an allocation change of approximately a 2.5% shift in the recreational fishery’s favor, and is now being sent to the Secretary of Commerce for final approval.”
Read the full story at the Gulf Seafood Institute
NEFMC Asking for Additional Comments on Herring Amendment 8
August 24, 2015 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council is in the process of preparing an environmental impact statement for Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan. Amendment 8 would specify a long-term acceptable biological catch control rule for the herring fishery and consider alternatives for this control rule that explicitly account for herring’s role in the ecosystem. The Council recently decided to expand the scope of Amendment 8 to include consideration of localized depletion in inshore waters. During this comment period, the Council is only seeking comments on the expanded scope of Amendment 8.
DATES: Written scoping comments must be received on or before 5 p.m., local time, September 30, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments may be sent by any of the following methods:
• Email to the following address: comments@nefmc.org;
• Mail to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; or
• Fax to (978) 465–3116.
• Please indicate ‘‘Herring Amendment 8 Re-Scoping Comment’’ on your correspondence.
Requests for copies of the Amendment 8 scoping document and other information should be directed to Sherie Goutier, New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950, telephone (978) 465–0492, ext. 102. The scoping document is accessible electronically via the Internet at www.nefmc.org/library/amendment-8-2.
For further details, please visit http://www.nefmc.org/news/herring-amendment-8-scoping-comment-period-extended-to-september-30-2015
American Lobster and Jonah Crab Reports Now Available
August 21, 2015 — The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has released the final versions of the 2015 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report and Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Jonah Crab. Both documents can be found on the Commission website at www.asmfc.org on the American Lobster webpage. Direct links to the documents follow:
2015 American Lobster Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report – Please note this is a low resolution version; a high resolution copy of the report can be obtained at https://asmfc.egnyte.com/dl/kJfBicPSNR.
ASMFC Releases Tautog Public Information Document for Public Comment: States Schedule Public Hearings for late September/early October
August 21, 2015 — ARLINGTON, VA — The following has been released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Tautog Management Board is seeking public comment on the Public Information Document (PID) for Draft Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Tautog. The PID responds to the findings of the 2015 benchmark stock assessment which, unlike previous coastwide assessments,evaluated stock status regionally to reflect differences in life history characteristics and harvest patterns. Based on its endorsed regional approach, the assessment also recommended associated biological reference points to guide management at the regional scale. Since tautog are currently managed on a coastwide basis, the Board initiated the PID to consider a new regional management approach.
As the first step in the development of an amendment, the PID seeks to gather information concerning the tautog fishery and to provide an opportunity for the public to identify major issues and alternatives relative to the management of this species. Input received at the start of the amendment development process can have a major influence on the final outcome of the amendment. Issues presented in the PID include FMP goals and objectives, adaptive management, monitoring requirements and illegal fishing of tautog. In addition, in order to streamline the development of the plan amendment, the PID seeks specific input on the selection of regional stock areas for management use.
The states of Massachusetts through Virginia have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the PID. The details of those hearings follow.
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
Tuesday, September 29th at 6:30 PM
Fairfield Inn & Suites
Vineyard Conference Room
185 MacArthur Drive
New Bedford, Massachusetts
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Wednesday, September 30th from 6 – 9 PM
University of Rhode Island Bay Campus
Corless Auditorium
South Ferry Road
Narragansett Rhode Island
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Thursday, September 24th at 7 PM
CT DEEP Marine Headquarters
Boating Education Center (Rear Building)
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, Connecticut
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Thursday, October 1st at 6 PM
Bureau of Marine Resources
205 North Belle Mead Road
East Setauket, New York
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
Tuesday, September 22nd from 6:30 – 9:30 PM
Ocean County Administration Building
Public Hearing Room 119
101 Hooper Avenue
Toms River, New Jersey
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Thursday, October 8th at 6 PM
DNREC Auditorium
89 Kings Highway
Dover, Delaware
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Wednesday, October 7th at 5 – 6:30 PM
Ocean Pines Library Conference Room
11107 Cathell Road
Ocean Pines, Maryland
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Tuesday, October 6th at 6 PM
2600 Washington Avenue, Third Floor
Newport News, Virginia
Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the PID either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The PID is available athttp://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/TautogAm1PID_PublicComment_Aug2015.pdf and can also be accessed on the Commission website (www.asmfc.org) under Public Input. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on October 23, 2015 and should be forwarded to Ashton Harp, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at aharp@asmfc.org (Subject line: Tautog PID). For more information, please contact Ashton Harp, at aharp@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.
Majuro Workshop Explores Management Options for Pacific Bigeye Tuna Overfishing
August 20, 2015 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
MAJURO, REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS (21 August 2015) A workshop to discuss bigeye tuna management in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) was convened by the Marshall Islands Marine Resource Authority (MIMRA) and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (WPFMC) on Aug. 19-21, 2015, in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands. The workshop brought together representatives from Asian, U.S. and Pacific Island purse-seine and longline fishing industries, government officials of Pacific Island countries, and representatives from the Forum Fisheries Agency, Parties to the Nauru Agreement, Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), Secretariat of the Pacific Community, and non-governmental organizations. The workshop was chaired by Andrew Wright, former executive director of the WCPFC.
Bigeye tuna, which is currently overfished in the WCPO, is subject to international management through the WCPFC. The objective of the workshop was to identify options that could help improve the existing WCPFC bigeye conservation and management measure.
As summarized by Kitty Simonds, WPFMC executive director, “The workshop was the second in a series that was started in April 2015 in Honolulu to address bigeye overfishing. The workshop embodied the spirit of cooperation that was present in the development of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, which was initiated 20 years ago by the Majuro Declaration. It is critical that the fishing industries and governments work together to improve the status of bigeye; only through international cooperation can effective tuna conservation and management measures be adopted and implemented.”
Over the course of the three-day workshop, participants discussed purse-seine and longline management options, avoiding the transfer of a disproportionate conservation burden on Small Island Developing States and Territories (SIDS), compliance issues and key bigeye tuna research themes. The outcomes of the workshop are a contribution to the consultations that will involve all WCPFC members that will take place in the lead up to this year’s annual session of the Commission in Bali in December.
According to Glen Joseph, MIMRA director, “The status quo is not acceptable for bigeye conservation, and workshops like the one we just held are critically important to advance options and views on management measures well before the Commission meets in Bali in December. For most of the Pacific Islands, all we have is tuna, and we have to do everything in our power to ensure that tuna resources are sustainably managed.”
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