Saving Seafood

Council Actions

ASMFC Cancels July 5 Meetings of the Atlantic Striped Bass Board, ISFMP Policy Board & Full Commission

June 27, 2023 — The following was released by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has cancelled virtual meetings of the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board, Interstate Fisheries Management (ISFMP) Policy Board and the full Commission. The three bodies were tentatively scheduled to meet on July 5 to review compliance with the emergency action taken by the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board on May 2, 2023. However, since it is anticipated that all states and jurisdictions will have implemented regulations consistent with the required 31-inch maximum size limit for striped bass recreational fisheries by July 2, there is no need for the July 5 virtual meetings.

 
The Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board is scheduled to meet on August 1 during the Commission’s Summer Meeting to review a summary of the comments received at the public hearings on the emergency action and consider approval of Draft Addendum II for public comment. Addendum II was initiated to address concerns about increased removals and stock rebuilding beyond 2023. It is intended to follow the 2023 emergency action, and will consider 2024 management measures designed to reduce fishing mortality to the target.
 
For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, Fisheries Policy Director, at tkerns@asmfc.orgor 703.842.0740.

ASMFC 2023 Summer Meeting Details, Preliminary Agenda, and Public Comment Guidelines

June 21, 2o23 — The following was released by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Meeting will be August 1-3, 2023 at The Westin
Crystal City. This will be a hybrid meeting (both in-person and remote) to allow for participation by
Commissioners and interested stakeholders; the details of which will be provided two weeks prior to the
meeting. A brief, preliminary agenda and public comment guidelines are included with this memorandum.
Materials will be available July 19th on the Commission website at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2023-
summer-meeting.

A block of rooms is being held at The Westin Crystal City, 1800 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA 22202. Lisa
Carty 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, otherwise you will incur no-show penalties. We greatly appreciate your cooperation.
For all other attendees, please reserve online via our group link at
Book your group rate for Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission July 31 – August 03, 2023 or call
Marriott directly at 888.236.2427 as soon as possible and mention the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission to obtain the group room rate of $172.00 plus tax single/dbl. Please be aware you must guarantee
your room reservation with a major credit card or one night’s advance payment. Hotel reservations must be
made by Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Room availability will not be guaranteed beyond this date. If you are
being reimbursed by ASMFC for your travel, please make your reservation directly with the hotel. Reservations
made through travel websites do not apply toward our minimum number of required reservations with the
hotel. Please note, cancellations at The Westin must be made by 4:00 p.m. two days prior to arrival to avoid
penalty and an early departure fee of $100 will apply when checking out prior to the confirmed date. If you
have any problems regarding accommodations, please contact Lisa Carty at 703.842.0713 or lcarty@asmfc.org.
We look forward to seeing you at the Summer Meeting. If the staff or I can provide any further assistance to
you, please call us at 703.842.0740.

Enclosed: Preliminary Agenda, Hotel Directions, TA 23-043, and Travel Reimbursement Guidelines

Page 2 of 4; M23-061

Public Comment Guidelines

To provide 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 ask members of the public to raise their hands to let the chair know they would like to speak.
Depending upon the number of commenters, the board chair will decide 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 three weeks prior to the start of a meeting week (July 10th) will be included in
the briefing materials.

2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, July 25th will be included in supplemental materials.

3. Comments received by 10:00 AM on Friday, July 28th will be distributed electronically to
Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting.
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 and email.

NEFMC June 27-29, 2023 Meeting – Freeport, ME – Listen Live, View Documents

June 20, 2023 — 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, June 27 through Thursday, June 29, 2023.  This will be an in-person meeting coupled with a webinar option for individuals who cannot or prefer not to attend in person.  Please participate remotely if you do not feel well.  Updates will be posted on the meeting webpage as needed.

 

START TIME:  9:00 a.m. each day.  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.

 

  • WRITE A LETTER:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 22, 2023. Please note that written comments must address items listed on the agenda for this meeting.

 

  • 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 (if commenting remotely, 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 Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 12:00 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:  Interested in speaking?  If attending in person, fill out the sign-up sheet on the table at the entrance to the Council meeting room.  To speak remotely, 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.  Just email helpdesk@nefmc.org and we’ll get right back to you.

 

CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone without joining the webinar, dial +1 (562) 247-8422.  The access code is 577-802-684.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.  Remember, you will not be able to speak if you do not first join the webinar as described above.  This phone number provides a “listen-only” option without the webinar component.

 

AGENDA:  All meeting materials and the agenda are available on the Council’s website at NEFMC June 27-29, 2023 meeting webpage.  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.

Council Science Advisors Recommend Peer Review for NOAA False Killer Whale Population Assessment, Approve Bottomfish Stock Assessment to Set Catch Limits

June 20, 2023 — The following was released by Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

This week the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) discussed a NOAA assessment to quantify the population of pelagic false killer whales (FKWs) both inside and outside the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around Hawai‘i to account for its overlap with the local commercial longline fishery. Previous assessments estimated the number of pelagic FKWs inside the EEZ and a broader Central Pacific area that is thought to include other distinct groups of whales. The new approach defined a “management area” based on available survey sightings, observed longline bycatch, and genetic and satellite telemetry tag data.

 

The resulting abundance estimate within the new area is 5,528 individuals. This total is used to calculate the potential biological removal (PBR), or the maximum number of individuals that can be removed from a population without causing it to decline below its sustainable level. 

 

SSC members raised several concerns about the approach the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) used to define the new management area boundary and the assumptions used to account for uncertainty in available data. The SSC noted a comprehensive explanation is needed on the data included and excluded from the new area. Alternative boundaries should be considered, including areas south of the proposed one where the species distribution model suggests high abundance of FKWs. The SSC recommended an independent peer review be conducted on the assessment, including validation of the underlying model.

 

“This is a complex issue and it’s important the FKW population estimate be as accurate as possible because it directly affects the Hawai‘i longline fishery,” said SSC member Milani Chaloupka, Ecological Modelling Services, Australia. “Available scientific information suggests that pelagic FKWs occur outside of the proposed management area boundary, and that these observations could be included in a more comprehensive assessment.”

 

FKWs are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. When the number of fishery interactions that result in mortality and serious injuries (MSI) for the animals exceeds the PBR, the Act requires a Take Reduction Team to be formed to recommend a Take Reduction Plan. A team was formed in 2010 to address FKW interactions with the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery that targets bigeye tuna, and a plan was implemented in 2012. 

 

In recent years, the estimated number of MSI in the deep-set fishery was below or one above the PBR for the portion of the pelagic FKWs inside the EEZ, which changes with new population approximations. Using the new approach that includes areas outside of the EEZ, PBR is estimated at 33 FKWs for the management area, and the MSI estimate is 47 from the deep-set fishery for 2017-2021 in the same area. Most FKWs accidentally caught in the fishery are released alive with the hook and some amount of trailing line left on the animal, which NOAA counts as serious injuries. 

 

The SSC also determined a 2023 bottomfish stock assessment for American Samoa is the best scientific information available to use for developing annual catch limits. The new analysis resulted in the bottomfish stock status changing from overfished and overfishing occurring to not overfished or experiencing overfishing.

 

The PIFSC described updates from the 2019 to 2023 assessments to the SSC. The key differences were 1) using a new framework, which considers age and other characteristics of the population, and 2) splitting the 11 bottomfish species historically managed together in a species complex into individual species models. These changes allowed scientists to identify and fix errors in the data, such as when two species are very similar and may be misidentified.

 

PIFSC noted workshops organized in 2021 with fishermen in the territory, the Council and the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) provided valuable information to help interpret the available data.

 

“I appreciate the Science Center’s efforts to engage the fishermen and gather all the historical data,” said Domingo Ochavillo, DMWR Fisheries Biologist. “Working with the community was fruitful and made a big difference in resolving fishing data issues.”

The SSC also recommended rolling over the current acceptable biological catches for the CNMI bottomfish fishery for 2024-2025 (280,000 pounds) and the main Hawaiian Islands Kona crab fishery for 2024-2026 (30,802 pounds). The two limits are set to expire in 2023. The SSC evaluated the available data and analyses calculating the risk of overfishing and determined the existing limits were appropriate to extend.

 

Recommendations made by the SSC on these and other matters will be considered by the Council when it meets June 27-29, 2023, at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium in Utulei, American Samoa. Instructions on connecting to the web conference, agendas and briefing documents are posted at www.wpcouncil.org/event/195th-council-meeting.

Scientific and Statistical Committee: James Lynch (chair); Jason Biggs (Guam Division of Aquatic & Wildlife Resources); Debra Cabrera (University of Guam); Frank Camacho (University of Guam); Milani Chaloupka (University of Queensland); Erik Franklin (University of Hawai‘i, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology); Shelton Harley (Fisheries New Zealand); Jason Helyer (Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources); Ray Hilborn (University of Washington); Justin Hospital (NMFS PIFSC); Dave Itano (Fisheries Consultant); Donald Kobayashi (NMFS PIFSC); Steve Martell (Sea State Inc.); Domingo Ochavillo (American Samoa DMWR); Graham Pilling (Secretariat of the Pacific Community); Craig Severance (University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, retired); Francisco Villagomez (CNMI Division of Fish & Wildlife); Tia Brown (acting, ex-officio) (NMFS PIFSC).

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council: Secretary of Commerce appointees from nominees selected by American Samoa, the CNMI, Guam and Hawai‘i governors: John Gourley, Micronesian Environmental Services (CNMI) (chair); Roger Dang, Fresh Island Fish Co. (Hawai‘i) (vice chair); Manny Dueñas, Guam Fishermen’s Cooperative Association (Guam) (vice chair); Will Sword, noncommercial fisherman/engineer (American Samoa) (vice chair); Judith Guthertz, University of Guam (Guam); Shaelene Kamaka‘ala, Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (Hawai‘i); Matt Ramsey, Conservation International (Hawai‘i); and McGrew Rice, charter boat captain (CNMI). Designated state officials: Dawn Chang, Hawai‘i Dept. of Land & Natural Resources; Sylvan Igisomar, CNMI Dept. of Lands & Natural Resources (vice chair); Chelsa Muña, Guam Dept. of Agriculture; and Archie Soliai, American Samoa Dept. of Marine & Wildlife Resources. Designated federal officials (voting): Sarah Malloy (acting), NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office. Designated federal officials (nonvoting): Colin Brinkman, U.S. State Dept.; Brian Peck, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; and RADM Michael Day, U.S. Coast Guard 14th District.

US Pacific Territories Fishery Capacity-Building Scholarship Applications Due July 17, 2023

June 14, 2023 — The following was released by Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and its Education Committee members are pleased to announce the availability of up to three graduate scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic year. These scholarships support the aspiration of American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to build their capacity to effectively manage their fisheries and related resources by employing people from the local communities. 

Students with strong ties to these territories are eligible for scholarships that cover the cost of tuition and fees and some living expenses. The amount will be based on the University’s estimated cost of attendance. Click here for more information and a complete scholarship application.. Funding for the scholarships comes in part from the Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office and Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. For further details, please contact Amy Vandehey at info@wpcouncil.org or phone (808) 522-8220.

U.S. Fishery Management Council Report Finds More than 72% of Federal Waters Classified as “Conservation Areas”

June 13, 2023 — The following was released by the U.S. Fishery Management Councils:

The nation’s eight regional fishery management councils (Councils) have released a first-ever synthesis of conservation areas in federal waters of the United States. The report, located on https://www.fisherycouncils.org/area-basedmanagement, identifies hundreds of conservation areas covering nearly three quarters of federal waters. These findings demonstrate that a large portion of federal waters are protected from fishing activities that could negatively impact the environment.

The report was developed with the goal of identifying conservation areas that should be included in the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas (Atlas). Development of the Atlas is one component of the Biden Administration’s America the Beautiful initiative, which aims to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. According to the Biden Administration, the Atlas will be a “tool through which to measure the progress of conservation, stewardship, and restoration efforts across the United States.” The Council Coordination Committee (CCC), consisting of leadership from the eight fishery management councils, formed an Area-Based Management Subcommittee in May 2021 to identify conservation areas in federal waters.

“Our subcommittee produced a first-of-its-kind, groundbreaking, and highly detailed analysis of the conservation areas developed by all eight regional fisheries management councils under our authority mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act,” said Eric Reid, Chair of the CCC Area-Based Management Subcommittee. “These conservation areas are designed to maintain the productivity and biodiversity of marine ecosystems and balance fishery access to a wide variety of user groups.”

Areas under consideration were subject to a newly developed, rigorous review process that included defining a “conservation area” and then screening each area relative to qualifying criteria based on a combination of international standards for conservation and the America the Beautiful principles.

Based on those criteria, the subcommittee identified a total of 648 conservation areas covering more than 72%, or nearly 3.4 million square miles, of federal waters. The report includes an in-depth examination of fishing gear restrictions, with a focus on various configurations of “bottom tending” gear which contact the sea floor. According to the report, bottom trawling is prohibited in over half of U.S. federal waters, and over a third of the U.S. federal waters include prohibitions on all bottom tending gears.

Appendix A of the report includes summaries and maps of each Council’s conservation areas. Appendix B provides additional details and links, an evaluation relative to the eight America the Beautiful principles, and an effectiveness checklist. For those interested in exploring the maps more closely, the subcommittee also developed an interactive “dashboard” tool to serve as a companion to the report. The dashboard is a work in progress and will continue to be refined in the months to come.

“The CCC strongly encourages NOAA and other agencies involved in Atlas development to incorporate the conservation areas identified in the report,” said Dr. Greg Stunz, CCC Chair. “By including these areas in the Atlas, the U.S. effectively demonstrates how the Councils’ fishery management measures directly result in improved conservation outcomes that benefit sustainable fisheries, other marine species, and habitats.”

For more information visit the Area-Based Management webpage.

Contact Michelle Bachman or Eric Reid with technical questions about CCC Area-Based Management efforts and products.

Use this list of regional contacts for media inquiries or general questions.

NEFMC Seeks Fishery Specialist – Apply by July 7, 2023

June 12, 2023 — The following was released by New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) seeks candidates for the position of Fishery Specialist. The specialist will assist in the preparation of fishery management plans, which requires a broad range of technical and communications skills.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: The application deadline is Friday, July 7, 2023.

This is a highly visible, demanding position. The successful applicant will work closely with the Council staff, as well as other professionals from state agencies, the federal government, fishery user groups, and academic institutions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Support the development of fishery management actions by the Council.
  • Assist in the preparation of documents, including Environmental Impact Statements for fishery management plans/amendments and other related documents.
  • Compile and analyze fisheries, environmental, biological, social, economic, and other technical data using databases and statistical analysis software.
  • Communicate technical concepts effectively to decision-makers and the public.
  • Work collaboratively with other fisheries scientists, economists, and social scientists.
  • Prepare meeting summaries and assist in the conduct of public meetings.
  • Conduct other tasks as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND ANALYTIC/COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

  • General understanding of or experience in the management of fisheries in federal waters.
  • Experience working cooperatively with small teams to complete tasks under demanding deadlines.
  • Demonstrated ability to explain complicated issues to diverse audiences.
  • Graduate degree in fisheries policy or science with experience in resource or fisheries-related analysis.
  • Ability to research and analyze pertinent technical data and an understanding of various technical information sources.
  • Demonstrated quantitative analytic and technical writing skills.
  • Familiarity with plotting and analysis of data with Geographic Information Systems and solid understanding of Microsoft Office software packages.
  • Experience with R and Rstudio a plus.
  • Strong interpersonal and writing skills and ability to synthesize technical information from a variety of sources.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet exacting deadlines.

Further information about the position and the application process are available in the vacancy announcement.

Western Pacific Scientists to Discuss New Regional Analyses for Bottomfish, Kona Crab and False Killer Whales Next Week

June 12, 2023 — The following was released by Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

Scientific advisors to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet June 14-16, 2023, to provide advice and comments on U.S. Pacific Territory bottomfish stocks, Kona crab fishery and false killer whale (FKW) assessments in Hawai‘i, the proposed Pacific Remote Islands (PRI) sanctuary, and other topics.

 The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) meeting is open to in-person or remote participation via web conference for attendees. The full agenda, background documents and instructions for connecting to the meeting and providing oral public comments are available at www.wpcouncil.org/event/148th-scientific-and-statistical-committee-meeting.

 American Samoa Bottomfish Assessment

The SSC will discuss and evaluate a new bottomfish stock assessment model for the American Samoa fishery. The Council’s American Samoa Fishery Ecosystem Plan encompasses 11 bottomfish species, historically managed as a species complex. The previous 2019 assessment indicated the complex was overfished and undergoing overfishing, leading to a rebuilding plan that limited annual catches to below 5,000 pounds. However, using new methodology, a February 2023 assessment shows that the bottomfish complex is no longer overfished or experiencing overfishing. 

 The 2023 stock assessment uses biological information from nine of the 11 species and improved the reconstruction of historical catch. In 2022, NOAA held a series of data workshops to refine the interpretation of catch records, in cooperation with fishermen, the Council and the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources. The 2023 Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review panel found the methods and data integrations greatly improved the analysis. 

 The SSC will review the report and recommendations and may provide feedback to determine whether the new stock assessment represents the best scientific information available (BSIA). If deemed appropriate, the Council will proceed with developing new annual catch limits based on the outcomes, replacing the rebuilding plan.

 CNMI Bottomfish ABC Specification for 2024-2025

The SSC will consider specifying an acceptable biological catch (ABC) for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) bottomfish fisheries for fishing year 2024-2025. The specifications would be based on the 2019 Benchmark Stock Assessment of the Mariana Archipelago Bottomfish Fisheries, which the SSC previously considered BSIA. This assessment found the CNMI fishery was not overfished or experiencing overfishing.

 As part of the process to determine annual catch limits (ACLs), the Council will take into account the ABCs calculated by the SSC. These ABCs incorporate the overfishing limit derived from the stock assessment, while considering scientific uncertainties.

 MHI Kona Crab ABC Specification for 2024-2026

The SSC will also evaluate the ABC for the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Kona crab fishery to assist the Council in developing an ACL. At a prior meeting, the SSC set the ABC at 30,802 pounds. The committee will determine if this specification remains accurate for fishing years 2024-2026 based on the 2019 stock assessment with catch projections to 2026. The assessment determined that the fishery is not overfished or experiencing overfishing. 

 MHI False Killer Whale Assessments

The SSC will review new assessments conducted by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center for two separate FKW populations around Hawai‘i. The first assessment updates the population estimate for the MHI insular FKWs, which is a small population that is considered genetically distinct from other populations around the region and listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. 

 The second assessment focuses on the pelagic population of FKWs. The pelagic FKW range extends offshore from the MHI and well beyond the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but the outer extent of the range is unknown. The new assessment provided a population estimate for the pelagic stock both inside and outside the EEZ to account for its occurrence and overlap with the Hawai‘i longline fishery. NOAA provided the resulting pelagic population estimate to the FKW Take Reduction Team (TRT), which convened March 28-31, 2023. The TRT, established under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, aims to reduce mortality and serious injuries to FKWs. The SSC will also discuss a report of the TRT meeting. 

 Proposed Pacific Remote Islands Sanctuary

The SSC will hear a presentation and discuss information from NOAA on the goals and objectives of the proposed national marine sanctuary in the PRI. The Council, under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, has the responsibility to develop fishing regulations. The National Marine Fisheries Service is preparing a position statement, which includes keeping an objective of sustainable fisheries within the sanctuary boundaries. The SSC may recommend specific analyses for NOAA to conduct as it prepares its Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed sanctuary.

 The SSC meeting is a crucial platform for leading scientists, experts and stakeholders to collaborate and contribute their knowledge to the formulation of effective conservation strategies. By fostering dialogue and facilitating scientific deliberations, the SSC aims to protect and sustain the delicate balance of marine ecosystems while promoting responsible and sustainable fishing practices.

Recommendations made by the SSC on these and other matters will be considered by the Council when it meets June 27-29 at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium in Utulei, American Samoa. Instructions on connecting to the web conference, agendas and briefing documents are posted at www.wpcouncil.org/event/195th-council-meeting.

ASMFC Schedules Tentative Meetings of the Atlantic Striped Bass Board, ISFMP Policy Board & Full Commission for July 5 from 1-3 PM

June 7, 2023 — The following was released by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has scheduled tentative virtual meetings of the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board, Interstate Fisheries Management (ISFMP) Policy Board and the full Commission to review compliance with the emergency action taken by the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board on May 2, 2023. These meetings will be held via webinar on July 5 from 1 – 3 PM in the event that any state or jurisdiction fails to implement the required 31-inch maximum size limit for striped bass recreational fisheries by July 2.

Per the ISFMP Charter, a Board can initiate a compliance review any time after July 2, 2023 via an in-person or virtual meeting. If the Board finds a state or jurisdiction is not in compliance, the ISFMP Policy Board and then the Commission would meet immediately following the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board to review the finding. The intention would be to hold the 3 virtual meetings back-to-back.

The Commission will notify the public of its intent to hold the meetings during the week of June 26th, although it may cancel these meetings anytime up until the morning of July 5th.

The tentative webinar details follow:

Webinar link:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2120717568588686427

(Webinar ID 830-642-835)

If you will be joining the webinar but will not be using voice over internet protocol (VoIP), you can may also call in at +1 (562) 247-8422, access code 568-364-258. A PIN will be provided to you after joining the webinar; see webinar instructions for details on how to receive the PIN.

For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, Fisheries Policy Director, attkerns@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program Supports Two 2023-2024 Projects; Both Address a Top Research Priority

June 6, 2023 — The following was released by New England Fishery Management Council:

The Monkfish Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program will support two recommended projects during 2023 and 2024 that focus on one of the highest research priorities identified by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. The priority calls for:

“Research to develop a standardized catch per unit effort (CPUE) index for the commercial directed monkfish gillnet fishery to be used for stock assessment purposes.”

The New England and Mid-Atlantic Councils jointly manage the monkfish fishery. The New England Council has the administrative lead. The Councils and NOAA Fisheries work together to support the Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program. While the Councils determine the research priorities, NOAA Fisheries manages the RSA competition and administers the program.

NOAA Fisheries announced the recommended 2023-2024 awards on June 6, 2023. No federal money is used to support monkfish RSA projects. Instead, the RSA awards come in the form of monkfish days-at-sea. The Councils “set aside” 500 days-at-sea annually from the total number of monkfish days allocated tolimited access monkfish vessels. The money generated from compensation fishing under these days is used to fund the research and compensate industry partners.

Read the full release here