Council Actions

The discussion documents are available here.

 

 

July 25, 2012 —

The final agenda and meeting materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's 2012 Summer Meeting are now available.  Please note the complete schedule for Tuesday (August 8, 2012) has been adjusted to allow for the addition of a meeting of the Winter Flounder Board from 5:00 – 6:00 PM.  

Supplemental materials will be posted to the website on Wednesday, August 1, 2012.

Final Agenda and Meeting Materials for ASMFC's 2012 Summer Meeting

 

 

On June 29, 2012, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has written to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to oppose seismic testing on the US east coast due to their "grave concerns of the enormous Level A and Level B marine mammal takes and the unexamined but suspected deleterious effects on other marine species" that the Council manages.

The text of the letter follows:

Gary D. Goeke
Chief, Regional Assessment Section Office of Environment (GM23E)
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region
1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394

Dear Mr. Goeke,

Please accept these comments from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC or "Council") in response to the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PElS) to evaluate potential environmental effects of multiple geologic and geophysical (G&G) activities in the Mid- and South Atlantic OCS Planning Areas. After receiving briefings on the proposed seismic activities and the potential impacts at the June Council meeting, the Council made the following motion:

Move to submit written comments opposing the BOEM seismic testing on the US east coast due to our grave concerns of the enormous Level A and Level B marine mammal takes and the unexamined but suspected deleterious effects on other marine species that our Council manages.

The Council's primary mission is to manage fishery resources in federal waters off the coast of the Mid- Atlantic region through the implementation of management measures that prevent overfishing while achieving optimum yield (OY) from each of 13 managed fisheries. Although the Council's focus is on sustainable fisheries management, this objective is only feasible in the context of a healthy and resilient ecosystem. It is clear that G&G activities have substantial impacts on marine environments, yet the Draft PElS provides insufficient information about how the specific proposed G&G activities may affect fish, marine mammals, benthic communities, and ecosystem structure and function. We understand that these impacts are difficult to predict or quantify, but given the existing value of marine resources to the region and the nation, it is clear that the potential benefits do not outweigh the risks of initiating the proposed G&G activities at this point.

Marine fisheries provide food, employment, recreational opportunities for millions of people in the Mid- Atlantic region, and many coastal communities depend on the utilization of fishery resources. For example, in 2009, the dockside value of commercial landings in the Mid-Atlantic region was $511.6 million. In addition, more than 2.6 million recreational anglers took 17 million fishing trips and spent more than $800 million on trip expenses. The commercial and recreational fishing industries in the Mid-Atlantic region support more than 166,000 jobs with an associated income exceeding $6 billion. In light of the insufficient data and analysis about potential impacts of G&G activities on these valuable marine resources, the Council cannot support the Draft PElS.

Over the past decades the Council has implemented management strategies to maintain sustainable levels of fishing and, in some cases, to rebuild overfished stocks. These efforts have often necessitated sacrifices from both the commercial and recreational fishing sectors in the form of economic losses and foregone fishing opportunities. After many years of working to rebuild Mid-Atlantic fisheries to sustainable levels, the potential negative impacts of G&G activities on these rebuilt resources are extremely troubling.

The Council recently hosted two scientists, Chris Clark and Aaron Rice of Cornell University, at a meeting in June. Dr. Clark reviewed the physical propagation of sound from seismic air gun surveys, and Dr. Rice addressed the potential for negative impacts of acoustic surveys on fish and fish populations. Their remarks suggest that highly mobile fish are able to easily relocate within 50 meters to avoid lethal effects of the air gun array. They may also avoid sub-lethal damage by maintaining even greater distances from areas subject to noise disturbance from the survey. However, the extensive (months long) survey timeframe makes it likely that prolonged avoidance of the arrays will be necessary and could lead to interruptions in fish spawning and access to forage. More importantly, the area under consideration in the PElS, which includes the entire continental shelf along the mid- and South Atlantic, is enormous, and much of the shelf is at a depth « 50 m) that would place the entire water column within the "lethal range" of the array.

The Council also has substantial concerns about the potential and unknown adverse impacts of G&G activities on marine mammals. The Council has participated in the development of Take Reduction Plans under the Marine Mammal Protection Act for Atlantic Large Whales, Harbor Porpoise and Bottle-nose Dolphin. These efforts have resulted in area and gear restrictions for several fisheries within the Council's

jurisdiction. In the case of north Atlantic right whales, which are among the most endangered whales in the world, protection measures have been extended to include seasonal vessel speed restrictions along the U.S. East Coast where endangered right whales travel to protect them from being injured or killed by ships. Initiating the activities described in the PElS, many of which could harm or endanger marine mammals, would counteract many of the conservation measures that have taken years to enact.

The general lack of information included in the PElS relative to impacts of G&G activities on fish, marine mammals, and the surrounding ecosystem is of serious concern. The Council recognizes the importance of energy exploration to U.S. economic security, but the activities described in the Draft PElS have the potential to contravene the Council's efforts to conserve and manage living marine resources and habitat. Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on this Draft PElS. The Council looks forward to working with BOEM to ensure that any future G&G activities in the Mid-Atlantic region are conducted in a manner that minimizes negative impacts on the marine environment.

Christopher M. Moore, PhD
Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council

 

View the original letter here

 

 

June 24, 2012 — After their meeting earlier this week, the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC), announced new rules impacting the Atlantic herring, groundfish, and sea scallop fisheries.

After their meeting earlier this week, the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC), announced new rules impacting the Atlantic herring, groundfish, and sea scallop fisheries.

The rule with the most impact is that Atlantic herring fishermen are now subject to a comprehensive monitoring program that includes full observer coverage on all of the fleet's 46 vessels. The council chose to focus on boats that land about 97 percent of the herring quota, therefore excluding smaller vessels that catch only small amounts of herring.

Recent statistics indicate that about 144 million pounds of Atlantic herring were sold by federally permitted dealers generating about $17.9 million for the boats. This represents a 22 percent decrease in revenues from 2009 because the council approved fishery specifications for 2010-2012 which lowered the herring catch limits for 2010-2012 to ensure sustainability.

The council also proposed measures to address the very low quota of Georges Bank yellowtail flounder that will be available to groundfish fishermen in 2012. The allowable catch has and will continue to severely constrain New England boats that harvest cod, haddock, flounders and other bottom-dwelling species.

A majority of the council voted to request that NMFS take action to re-apportion the amount of Georges Bank yellowtail allocated to the scallop fishery by reducing it to 346,185 pounds while increasing the groundfish fisheries' allocation to 811,440 pounds. In addition, they asked the agency to approve a one-time measure through an emergency action that would allow the scallop fishery to continue its operations next year without any additional restrictions unless it exceeded its original yellowtail allocation of 674,730 pounds.

 

Read the full story here

 

 

June 29, 2012 — The Council Report summarizes major issues voted on or discussed at each regularly scheduled meeting of the NEFMC. The Council’s 18 members met most recently on June 19-21, 2012 in Portland, ME.

At its June meeting, the Council addressed issues related to Atlantic herring, groundfish, small mesh multispecies, monkfish and habitat.

A number of presentations were received on the following topics and are available on the Council’s website, www.nefmc.org:

    • An update on a new amendment to address Standard Bycatch Reporting Methodology in NEFMC fishery management plans (Doug Potts, NERO);

    • An overview of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s new social science data collection efforts (Dr. Tammy Murphy, NEFSC);

    • A review of issues and work completed to date concerning the “state of the science” as it relates to climate change and its impact on fisheries in the Northeast (Dr. Jon Hare, NEFSC); and

    • A summary of issues and a solicitation for comments as part of the scoping phase of the Amendment 7 (bluefin tuna management) to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species FMP; (Tom Warren, NERO).

 

Read the full report here 

 

 

July 27, 2012 – New York State doggedly held on to an additional at-large seat on the influential Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, after New Jersey fishermen did not agree to support charter fishing captain Paul Eidman’s nomination to the position.

Tony Dilernia, a New York charter captain with long experience on the council, will return to take the at-large seat, the Department of Commerce stated Monday in announcing final choices for the quasi-government panel that sets fishing limits in federal waters.

Eidman had been nominated by Gov. Chris Christie as a candidate for the at-large seat — a post in addition to the obligatory seats filled by state representatives. One of New Jersey’s members, Chris Zeman, was reappointed.

But the Garden State Seafood Association, a commercial fishing industry group, and the New Jersey-based Recreational Fishing Alliance lobbied members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation not to support Eidman.

Eidman aroused the alliance’s ire by his criticism of efforts to change federal fisheries law, while commercial groups focused on his outspoken support for new limits on menhaden and herring commercial fisheries.

Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press.

 

June 22, 2012 – The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC):

Atlantic Herring The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) took several actions this week that will significantly affect two major fisheries operating out of ports in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. Atlantic herring fishermen saw new rules approved that would institute a comprehensive monitoring program including 100 percent observer coverage on the full-time fleet of 46 vessels. The Council excluded smaller vessels that catch only small amounts of herring, choosing instead to focus on those boats that land about 97 percent of the herring quota.

Also supported in the herring package were measures to encourage avoidance of depleted river herring species that can swim with Atlantic herring and are incidentally taken as bycatch. The two-phase avoidance approach is based on a pilot program developed in cooperation with the fishing industry, represented by the Sustainable Fisheries Coalition, working in partnership with Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and UMASS Dartmouth School of Marine Science and Technology. Bycatch limits or caps were approved for consideration in a subsequent herring action.

Recent statistics indicate that about 143,666,000 pounds of Atlantic herring were sold by federally permitted dealers generating about $17.9 million for the boats. This represents a 22 percent decrease in revenues from the 2009 fishing year, primarily because the Council approved fishery specifications for 2010-2012 which lowered the herring catch limits for 2010-2012 to ensure sustainability.

The U.S. Atlantic herring fishery occurs over the Mid-Atlantic shelf region from Cape Hatteras to Maine, including an active fishery in the inshore Gulf of Maine and seasonally on Georges Bank. The Atlantic herring resource is healthy and is classified as “not overfished.” If the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the agency which acts on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce and is responsible for final approval of federal fishery rules, approves the Council’s actions, most of the new measures will be in place by early 2013.

Groundfish and Sea Scallops The Council moved ahead to propose proactive measures yesterday to address the very low quota of Georges Bank yellowtail flounder that will be available to groundfish fishermen in 2012. The allowable catch has and will continue to severely constrain New England boats that harvest cod, haddock, flounders and other bottom-dwelling species.
A clear majority of the 18-member Council voted to request that NMFS take action to re-apportion the amount of Georges Bank yellowtail allocated to the scallop fishery by reducing it to 156.9 metric tons or to about 346,185 pounds while increasing the groundfish fisheries’ allocation to 368.3 metric tons or 811,440 pounds. In addition, the Council asked the agency to approve a one-time measure through an emergency action that would allow the scallop fishery to continue its operations next year without any additional restrictions unless it exceeded its original yellowtail allocation of 307.5 metric tons (approximately 674,730 pounds).

 Read the release here.

 

 

Here is a summary of the major Council actions on groundfish at the June 19-21, 2012 Council meeting in Portland, ME. As always, this brief summary does not capture the entire discussion. Sound files are available on our web page, and motions will be available in about a week. Please contact me if there are any questions or corrections.

1. Amendment 18 Scoping Comments: Council staff presented a summary of comments received during the Amendment 18 scoping period. The purpose of this amendment is to consider accumulation caps and issues related to fleet diversity. The presentation and a written summary, as well as all comments are available on the Council web page. Progress on this amendment is likely to be delayed as the Council addresses other groundfish issues.

2. Georges Bank Yellowtail Flounder: The Council discussed measures to address the low quota in FY 2012 for GB yellowtail flounder. They also received an updated estimate of the amount of GB YTF the scallop fishery is expected to catch in FY 2012. The following steps were taken; please note that these actions have to be approved by NMFS before they will be effective.
       a. The Council agreed to request NMFS take action to reduce the scallop fishery sub-ACL for GB YTF to 156.9 mt and increase the groundfish fishery sub-ACL to 368.3 mt. In addition, the Council asked NMFS to adopt an emergency action that would keep the trigger for scallop fishery AMs for GB YTF at the original sub-ACL (307.5 mt). This is a one-time measure and only applies to FY 2012.
       b. The Council added a measure to the sector framework that would define an area within the GB YTF stock area where sector vessels could continue to fish if their sector’s ACE for GB YTF was caught.
       c. The Council requested that NMFS allow SAPS in CAII for haddock to open May 1 rather than August 1.
       d. Tasked US TMGC members to work with NERO to compare the advantages and disadvantages of readdressing the US/CA Resource Sharing Understanding.
       e. Fast track the Omnibus Habitat Amendment.

3. ABC/ACL/AM Issues: The Council addressed several issues related to specifications that will be adopted in a framework action later this year. This included adopting an option for a SNE/MAB windowpane flounder sub-ACL for the scallop fishery, consideration of the Mixed Stock Exception for this stock, and two options for allocating GB YTF to the scallop fishery. The Council will also send a letter to the MFAFMC and ASMFC advising them that it will consider SNEMAB windowpane flounder sub-ACLs for the fluke and scup fisheries. Modifications to the timing for the AMs for non-allocated stocks were also adopted.

4. Sector Framework: Several options for changes to the sector management measures were added for consideration.

5. The Council formally decided to combine the ABC and sector actions into one framework, to be approved in November. Draft measures text will be posted on the web page and updated frequently as the framework is developed over the course of the summer.

6. The Council also voted to send several letters to NMFS or the NEFSC. These will clarify the Council’s intent on electronic monitoring, request a discussion of the discard mortality assumptions for halibut and wolffish, request full funding of monitoring costs in FY 2013, and request advice from NMFS on whether it is possible to authorize up to 50 pct. carryover of GOM cod sector ACL to fishing year 2013.

 

  

June 20, 2012 — Council Approves Amendment 14 and Initiates Amendment 15

At last week’s meeting in New York City, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council recommended measures to improve catch monitoring and reduce bycatch of river herrings (blueback and alewife) and shads (American and hickory) in the Atlantic mackerel and longfin squid fisheries.  These recommendations, if approved by The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), will be implemented via Amendment 14 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan.
 
River herrings and shads are among a number of important forage species in the Northeast region.  Although they are not managed as directed fisheries, river herrings and shads are caught as incidental catch (bycatch) by trawlers fishing for mackerel and squid.
 
Concerns about bycatch of these species have escalated in recent months after an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) stock assessment indicated that 92% of the 24 assessed river herring stocks were depleted.  The Council initiated Amendment 14 in response to a request from the ASMFC to improve monitoring and reduce river herring interactions as part of a coordinated effort to address sources of river herring mortality.
 
The recommended measures for Amendment 14 include a catch cap for river herrings and shads in the mackerel fishery beginning in 2014 and increased vessel and dealer reporting requirements. The Council recommended that NMFS increase observer coverage in the mackerel fishery and require 100% coverage on mid-water trawlers.  A portion of the costs associated with these new requirements would be paid by fishery participants. More rigorous reporting and monitoring requirements are expected to result in more accurate and complete data on river herring and shad catches.
 
The Council discussed the feasibility of adding river herrings and/or shads as directly managed fisheries in Amendment 14, and they determined that a follow-up Amendment (15) would allow for a more complete consideration of the issue.  Amendment 15 could include provisions for setting Annual Catch Limits, identifying Essential Fish Habitat, and establishing joint management with management partners such as the New England Fishery Management Council and/or the ASMFC.
 
“The Council recommended a strong monitoring program that will substantially improve our understanding of river herring and shad interactions in these small-mesh trawl fisheries,” said Council Chairman Rick Robins. “A catch cap will enable the Council to directly limit river herring and shad bycatch in these fisheries, and it will encourage the fleet to utilize bycatch avoidance programs to target mackerel and longfin squid in areas with lower rates of river herring and shad interactions.”

This press release will be available on the MAFMC website in a downloadable PDF format in the coming days. 

June 18, 2012 – Please find below and attached the preliminary agenda and public comment guidelines for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's 2012 Summer Meeting in Alexandria, Virginia.

The agenda and guidelines are also available here.

A block of rooms is being held at the Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria, 901 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA  22314. Please call the  Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria at (888) 233-9527 or  (703) 683-6000 as soon as possible and specifically mention the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to obtain the group room rate of $155.00 plus tax single/dbl. Hotel reservations must be made before July 6, 2012.  Room availability will not be guaranteed beyond this date. If you have any problems at all regarding accommodations please contact Cindy at (703) 842-0710 or crobertson@asmfc.org.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

2012 Summer Meeting
August 7 – 9, 2012

Crowne Plaza Hotel Old Town
Alexandria, Virginia

August 7, 2012
8:30 – 11 AM                Atlantic Herring Section

11:15 AM – 12:45 PM        American Lobster Management Board
 
1:45 – 3:45 PM                Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
 
4:00 – 5:30 PM                Shad & River Herring Management Board
 
August 8, 2012
7:30 – 9:30 AM                Executive Committee
     
9:45 AM – 12:45 PM        Atlantic Menhaden Management Board
& 1:45 – 2:45 PM

3:00 – 4:30 PM                Sturgeon Management Board
 
 4:45 – 6:15 PM                Interstate Fisheries Management Program (ISFMP) Policy Board
 
August 9, 2012
8:00 – 10:00 AM                American Eel Management Board
     
10:15 AM – 12:45 PM        Spiny Dogfish & Coastal Sharks Management Board
   
 1:15 – 2:45 PM                South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board
 
 2:45 – 3:15 PM                ISFMP Policy Board (continued)
 
 3:15 – 3:45 PM                   Business Session
 
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 on the briefing CD.

2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday immediately preceding the scheduled ASMFC Meeting (in this case, the Tuesday deadline will be July 31, 2012 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, July 31, 2012 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.