Management & Regulation

February 13, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today NOAA Fisheries announced some new management measures to, among other things, improve monitoring in the Atlantic herring fishery.

Click here to read more 

 

February 13, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

We want to make federal permit holders in the Atlantic sea scallop fishery aware of the management measures that will be in place on March 1, 2014. We also want to alert them of proposed changes to these management measures, which we expect to implement in June.

NOAA Fisheries is currently reviewing Framework Adjustment 25 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan, which includes proposed changes to the 2014 fishing year management measures. Framework Adjustment 25 was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council and now must be approved by NOAA Fisheries for implementation.

Click here to read more

 

February 10, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA:

NOAA Fisheries has changed the name of the Northeast Regional Office to the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office. We’re doing this at the direction of Congress to better reflect the broad extent of our region, which spans from Maine to North Carolina and includes the Great Lakes.

So as of today, we’ll start to use our new name in various communications. For instance, you’ll see our new name reflected on the home page of our regional office website, in emails and letters. When you call our office or one of our staff give a talk, you’ll hear the new name. Seafood dealers and fishermen will also see news about the name change when they log into various NOAA Fisheries catch and fish sales reporting systems such as SIMMs or Fish-on-Line.

Our goal is to make this transition as seamless as possible for constituents, but it will take some time to modify all of our operating systems, forms and procedures to reflect the new name. However, over time, you will see Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office and/or the Greater Atlantic Region used on all of our webpages, and in print and electronic communications materials, regulatory actions and legal documents. 

This change is in line with recent efforts to expand our presence in the Mid-Atlantic region. Our new Assistant Regional Administrator for Stakeholder Engagement, Kevin Chu, is based in Maryland and oversees our communications and fishing industry outreach teams. Click here to read more about this news.

So how will this change affect our constituents?

We don't expect there to be much of an impact on our constituents as we make this transition. But, we realize that it will take time for our stakeholders to become adjusted to seeing this new name and using it themselves.

As always, please feel free to contact our offices if you have questions about this news or other matters. You can reach us at 978-281-9300 or visit us at www.nero.noaa.gov.

Read the release from NOAA

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — February 7, 2014 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board has initiated the development of a Draft Addendum to the Fishery Management Plans for Spot and Atlantic Croaker. The Draft Addendum will propose replacing the current trigger analysis with the use of a traffic light approach in determining management measures for both species along the coast. The Draft Addendum will also include options that will allow for conservation equivalency measures to achieve reductions in catch and harvest when needed.

The Board initiated the Draft Addendum in response to concerns over trends in the spot and Atlantic croaker fisheries. The current management of Atlantic croaker and spot compares annual changes in various trigger indices (recent landings and survey information) for each non-assessment year to review trends in the fisheries. The results of the most recent trigger analysis found declines in the commercial and recreational landings for both Atlantic croaker and spot fisheries but did not trip the triggers. The Technical Committee was concerned that the current triggers do not illustrate long-term trends in the stocks and lack specific and timely management responses.  

The traffic light approach has been used as a precautionary framework for fisheries with limited data to allow for a reasonable level of resource management. The name comes from assigning a color (red, yellow, or green) to categorize relative levels of indicators on the condition of the fish population or fishery. The approach provides a clear illustration of the trends in the fishery and the need for management action. This method has been developed for use in the blue crab fisheries of North Carolina and Georgia.

The proposed traffic light approach is expected to be an interim approach until the completion of the next stock assessment for both species. The Draft Addendum will be presented to the Board for consideration and approval in May 2014. For more information, please contact Kirby Rootes-Murdy, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, atkrootes-murdy@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

February 7, 2014 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Commission’s 2014 Winter Meeting Press Releases, Meeting Summaries and Motions document is available on the Commission website at http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/Winter2014/2014WinterMeetingSummary.pdf. Summaries from prior meetings can be found at www.asmfc.org under News/Meeting Archives.

 

SEAFOOD.COM NEWS (John Sackton) — February 6, 2014 — A fish grab is underway in the Gulf, as recreational interests have mounted a fierce campaign over amendment 28 to the red snapper fishery.

The Gulf council is voting this week – and most options on the table involve taking some of the commercial quota and reallocating it to recreational fishermen.

The problem is that this is only feasible because the commercial sector got its act together, developed a limited access fishery, and since 2007 has consistently fished below its allocation.  Meanwhile, the recreational charter fishery has been managed by a shrinking number of days open, and at the same time has exceeded their planned allocation consistently year after year.

Now the council is being asked to take fish from the responsible commercial sector, and give it to the recreational sector.

The reef fish committee voted on Tuesday to pick alternative 5 as their preferred alternative.

This would take any TAC above 9.12 million pounds and divide it 75% recreational 25% commercial.  The TAC is currently at around 11 million pounds, so this would take nearly half a million pounds (488,800) away from the commercial fishery immediately.

The full Council is voting this afternoon, and could either follow the committee, or pick another plan.  The process would dictate that they move to public hearings after they vote their preferred alternative

The reallocation move would lead to widespread commercial losses as red snapper would become less available to the restaurants and tourist spots on the Gulf.  If the reef fish committee alternative stands, commercial fishermen will be penalized for acting responsibly, while the recreational sector is rewarded for exceeding their quotas.

Red drum is an example of a fish that used to be commercially available, but was taken 100% for sport fishing.  Prior to 1988, commercial gillnetters in the Gulf took about 28% of the annual landings, with 72% going to the recreational fishery.  Most commercial fishing was closed since then and the stock has rebuilt.  However, in 2007 Pres George Bush signed an executive order in response to lobbying from the recreational fishing groups, making red drum exclusively a game fish.

As a result, wild caught drum is not virtually unavailable on menus, although some farmed species are available.

Red snapper has a much larger population – but no commercial fishery can be built for the long term if those who come together to rebuild the stock through limited fishing and excersize of responsible fishing rights, find their efforts overturned as soon as they are successful.

There are alocation question that arise, but decisions about these must be made by a council that fully supports the rebuilding of the stock that has been achieved by the commercial industry.

Currently commercial fisherman can take 51% of the quota, and recreational fisherman get 49%.  If the reef committee plan is adopted, it would immediately take 488,000 lbs away from the commercial sector, reducing their share to 47%, and giving 53% to recreational fishermen.

This will impact tourism in the Gulf.  For example, Destin, Alabama is known for its local seafood; especially their red snapper.

"The public is used to having the snapper, and we have a tremendous demand and we don't want to lose that,” said David Krebs, Owner of Ariel Seafoods in Destin told WJHG – channel 7 in Destin.

This week, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is discussing possible changes to the amount of red snapper caught.

Dewey Destin says his Harborside Restaurant cooks between 700 to 800 pounds of red snapper a week during the summer months.

"To take it away from the commercial fisherman who supply the restaurants and seafood markets is not only something against tradition, it is going against the fairness of everybody in the country being able to enjoy the fresh, local fish,” said Destin.

Both Destin and Krebs have lobbied Congress on the issue, and say they plan to return to Washington next week.

This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It has been reprinted with permission.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — February 6, 2014 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission unanimously approved its 2014 – 2018 Strategic Plan at its 2014 Winter Meeting.  The Plan revises the Commission’s long-term vision to “Sustainably Managing Atlantic Coastal Fisheries” and establishes seven major goals and related strategies to pursue this vision. The Strategic Plan will guide the Commission’s activities over the next five years and will be implemented through annual action plans.

“This Strategic Plan is the culmination of extensive and thoughtful strategic planning by my fellow Commissioners,” states Commission Chair Dr. Louis B. Daniel, III of North Carolina. “The document revises the Commission’s long-term vision, values, driving forces, and goals to better respond to new challenges and opportunities in Atlantic coast fisheries management.  The Commissioners’ goal, through the review process, was to strengthen the Strategic Plan to make it more effective, concise, and accessible to the public.  We are deeply grateful for the thoughtful input we received from our stakeholders, with  more than 4,500 comments submitted during the public comment period. Commissioners were pleased to learn that an overwhelming majority of the public’s comments supported the direction of the Commission and we are committed to addressing the other issues raised through our annual action plans.”

The Plan’s seven goals are:

1. Rebuild, maintain, fairly allocate, and promote Atlantic coastal fisheries
2. Provide the scientific foundation for and conduct stock assessments to support informed management actions
3. Promote compliance with fishery management plans to ensure sustainable use of Atlantic coast fisheries
4. Protect and enhance fish habitat and ecosystem health through partnerships and education
5. Strengthen stakeholder and public support for the Commission
6. Advance Commission and member states’ priorities through a proactive legislative policy agenda
7. Ensure the fiscal stability & efficient administration of the Commission

The 2014 – 2018 Strategic Plan is available on the Commission website at http://www.asmfc.org/files/pub/2014-2018StrategicPlan_Final.pdf.

 

February 4, 2014 — New Jersey anglers will see reduced fluke catches this year, to the benefit of neighboring New York, under a decision made Tuesday by an interstate fisheries pane

The decision also could mean two different fluke sizes in the Delaware Bay, with a smaller keeper size in Delaware waters and a larger one on the New Jersey side.

New Jersey was on the short end of a 9-2 vote at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission meeting in Virginia as the East Coast states that land the popular flatfish, also known as summer flounder, voted in new measures for the 2014 fishing season. Only Virginia voted with New Jersey.

“Virginia realized it wasn’t fair,” said Tom Fote, a New Jersey representative on the ASMFC, an interstate panel that regulates migratory fish. “Our allocation is basically going to New York. It sets a bad precedent where they basically take fish from one state and give it to another, because New York has been crying for six years.”

New York has complained its anglers are allowed fewer fish per day, and they must be larger to be considered keepers. The system in place since 2001 awards each state a quota, and the states get to determine their own measures, called a “conservation equivalency,” to meet that quota. New Jersey has received 39.1 percent and New York 17.6 percent of the East Coast quota, the two highest amounts of the nine states that fish for fluke, since 2001.

Read the full story at the Press of Atlantic City 

 

 

February 4, 2014 — Stop and listen: Do you hear that buzzing noise? It's the grumbling from red snapper fishermen and buyers in the Gulf who are anticipating the results of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting in Houston this week.

At stake during the meeting is the future of Amendment 28, which would reallocate more of the red snapper quota currently allotted to commercial fishermen to recreational interests. This could hamper the supply of domestic red snapper going to U.S. restaurant menus and retail stores.

This potential outcome led chefs, restaurant owners, fishermen, seafood industry leaders and conservationists last October to form Share the Gulf, a coalition to support fair access to red snapper. This group of more than 150 has almost doubled in size over the concern that red snapper could disappear from menus and retail establishments not just in the Gulf, but nationwide. Share the Gulf's message is clear: Shifting the allocation to more recreational interests over commercial will jeopardize fishermen and businesses throughout the Gulf region, and could cut off public access to red snapper.

Consider this: The red snapper quota allocation of 8.46 million pounds (whole weight) is 51 percent for commercial fishermen and 49 percent recreational. However, recreational management struggles under the current system and allows large overharvests (46 percent over in 2012), which hardly supports the goal of maintaining sustainable harvest levels to help the fishery rebuild. According to Share the Gulf, the offshore recreational fishermen are stuck in a failed management system that leads to the fishery exceeding its limit every season and inaccurate and insufficient data collection, which has forced regulators to shorten the season year after year.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

 

January 31, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA:

NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comments on proposed measures under the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Fisheries. At the request of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, NOAA Fisheries is proposing to make adjustments to the butterfish discard cap to help extend the longfin squid fishery throughout the fishing year, while protecting the buttefish stock.

Click here to view the proposed rule and learn more about how to provide public comments on these proposed measures.  The deadline for providing public comments is March 3, 2014.