June 22, 2017 — A federal panel voted on Thursday to offer new protections to some deep-sea corals in the Atlantic Ocean but held off on protecting others so it can get more information first.
Maine Marine Patrol Searching Penobscot River after Report of Abandoned Vehicle on Bridge
June 22, 2017 — The following was released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources:
The Maine Marine Patrol this morning is searching the waters beneath the Penobscot Narrows Bridge after a report of an abandoned vehicle on the bridge.
The Marine Patrol received the report at approximately 6:00 am this morning and began searching shortly after 7:00 am. The report indicated that the vehicle was discovered at approximately 3:30 am.
The State Police is investigating this incident.
NEFMC Postpones Coral Action for Continental Slope/Canyons
June 22, 2017 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council today adopted coral protection zones for the Gulf of Maine as part of its Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment. However, it postponed action for the Continental Slope south of Georges Bank in order to further develop an additional alternative. The Council’s Plan Development Team (PDT) will work with the Habitat Advisory Panel to further refine this new alternative. The Council’s Habitat Committee then will review the results and develop a recommendation for the full Council to consider. The timing of final action is uncertain.
Gulf of Maine
For the Gulf of Maine, the Council approved the following measures:
- Outer Schoodic Ridge – The Council adopted a discrete coral protection zone for this area where bottom-tending mobile gear (trawls and dredges) will be prohibited. Other types of fishing gear will be allowed, including lobster traps/pots.
- Mt. Desert Rock – The Council adopted a discrete coral protection zone for this area as well where bottom-tending mobile gear will be prohibited but other gears, including lobster traps/pots, will be allowed.
- Jordan Basin DHRA – The Council designated a Dedicated Habitat Research Area in Jordan Basin on/around the 114 fathom bump site, which encompasses roughly 40 square miles. This designation is meant to focus attention on the coral habitats at this site. The Council believes additional research on corals and fishing gear impacts should be directed here. No fishing restrictions are proposed at this time.
- Jordan Basin and Lindenkohl Knoll – The Council did not adopt any coral protection zones for either of these offshore Gulf of Maine areas or support any new fishing restrictions there.
Framework Items, Research Activities
The Council included a list of items that could be modified in the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment through framework adjustments rather than through additional amendments. These include: (1) adding, revising, or removing coral protection zones; (2) changing fishing restrictions; and (3) adopting or changing special fishery programs.
The Council included a list of items that could be modified in the Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment through framework adjustments rather than through additional amendments. These include: (1) adding, revising, or removing coral protection zones; (2) changing fishing restrictions; and (3) adopting or changing special fishery programs.
The Council also agreed that anyone conducting research activities in coral zones would be required to obtain a letter of acknowledgement of these activities from the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office.
MASSACHUSETTS: Fish council clams up about Carlos Rafael sector
June 22, 2017 — The New England Fishery Management Council on Tuesday opted not to adopt a position on whether restrictions should be enacted against Northeast Fishery Sector IX because of widespread misreporting by Carlos Rafael’s vessels.
The council, meeting for three days in Portland, Maine, refrained from pursuing formal comments, preferring to defer discussion on possible measures against the New Bedford-based groundfish sector until after Rafael is sentenced on July 28. The 65-year-old fishing mogul, known as the Codfather, pleaded guilty in late March to falsifying fish quotas, conspiracy and tax evasion.
“Many people think it is more appropriate to wait for the sentencing hearing to take place and the criminal case to be fully settled first,” said Janice Plante, council spokeswoman.
The council spent nearly all of Tuesday deliberating other groundfish issues, including the selection of varied monitoring alternatives for the Groundfish Monitoring Amendment 23 aimed at “improving the reliability and accountability of catch reporting.”
The council voted to include electronic monitoring alternatives, a dockside monitoring program option, alternatives to determine the total monitoring coverage rate, proposals to improve sector reporting and an option to publicize the coverage rate at a time that assists the sectors in their business planning.
The council specifically identified aspects of electronic monitoring requiring more analysis and development, including electronic monitoring “as an approved alternative to at-sea monitors to directly estimate discards.”
Protection of deep-sea Atlantic corals up for debate
June 22, 2017 — A federal panel is considering protections for deep-sea corals in the Atlantic Ocean that would impact commercial fishing interests off New England.
A committee of the New England Fishery Management Council is looking at proposals to preserve corals in two key fishing areas, the Gulf of Maine and south of Georges Bank.
The committee decided Thursday to hold off on voting on options to protect corals near Georges Bank. Coral protections in the Gulf of Maine will be considered Thursday afternoon.
Read the full story from the Associated Press at the New Jersey Herald
Celebrating Efforts to Restore Endangered Atlantic Salmon
June 22, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA:
On a bright June evening, a group of people who care passionately about the plight of Atlantic salmon gathered at the Veazie Salmon Club on the banks of the Penobscot River.
Researchers, academics, fisheries managers, non-governmental organizations, and members of the local salmon club came together to recognize the hard work that has gone into restoring the Penobscot River’s habitat for sea-run fish. The Penobscot River Restoration Project removed two dams and improved passage around two others. As a result, critically endangered Atlantic salmon, as well as river herring, shad, American eel, and other sea-run fish have improved access to hundreds of miles of their historic habitat.
“Rivers like the Penobscot are where we make fish. Sea-run fish are indicators of the health of our estuaries, our groundfish stocks, and our communities,” said John Bullard, regional administrator for NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region, who was there to present the awards. “It’s amazing to hear about the signs of ecosystem recovery that we are seeing. While we haven’t seen strong returns of Atlantic salmon yet, the results of the restoration project for other sea-run fish are encouraging. To go from fewer than 3,000 river herring in 2013 to more than 1.2 million returns in 2016 is awe-inspiring.”
The evening’s festivities included recognition of the efforts of two individuals, Claude Westfall and Andy Goode, who have been instrumental in helping to restore this population of endangered fish.
NEFMC Approves Scallop IFQ Program Review, RSA Priorities
June 22, 2017 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council took several actions related to Atlantic sea scallops during its June 20-21 meeting in Portland, ME. In summary, the Council:
- Approved the Limited Access General Category (LAGC) Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program Review for fishing years 2010-2015;
- Approved priorities for the 2018-2019 Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program;
- Voted against establishing a control date to address movement between LAGC Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) permits and LAGC incidental permits; and
- Voted to request the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Regional Administrator use his authority to “expand the Great South Channel scallop dredge exemption area to encompass all or part of the Georges Bank regulated mesh area, not including habitat closed areas or year round closed areas except when allowed under the Scallop Access Area Program.”
The Council also received a progress report on Framework Adjustment 29 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which will include: (1) fishery specifications for the 2018 fishing year and default specifications for 2019; (2) flatfish accountability measures for the scallop fishery; (3) NGOM Management Area modifications; and, potentially (4) modifications to scallop access areas, consistent with pending habitat area revisions.
The Council’s Scallop Plan Development Team, Scallop Committee, and Scallop Advisory Panel will work on these Framework 29 measures through the fall using 2017 survey results and updated scallop biomass estimates. Final action is scheduled for December.
Queen’s Speech confirms UK plans to control access to waters, set own quotas
June 22, 2017 — The UK will take control of access to its waters and setting quotas once it has left the European Union, according to the Queen’s Speech.
In the speech, delivered by Queen Elizabeth II in parliament on June 21, beleaguered prime minister Theresa May outlined a fisheries bill as part of legislation she plans to push through a hung parliament.
The aim of the fisheries bill is to “protect access to UK waters which are so important to Scottish fishermen” as it comes out of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), according to the document.
It will be “complemented by legislation to ensure that the United Kingdom makes a success of Brexit, establishing new national policies on […] fisheries”.
This will “enable the UK to set our own quotas once we have left the EU, which will both help ensure prosperity for a new generation of fishermen as well as preserve and increase fish stocks”.
There has been concern from the fisheries sector that access to UK waters could be “traded away” in negotiations.
Barrie Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organizations, said the fisheries bill is no guarantee this won’t happen.
“This [the bill] provides for a legal framework for UK fisheries post-Brexit. It is not the negotiations, where all that needs to be said on fisheries is that the UK will, by default, no longer be subject to the provisions of the CFP, including the principle of equal access to a common resource,” he told Undercurrent News.
“There will be subsequent discussions on the form of international agreements between the UK and the EU on the management of shared stocks, access arrangements and quota shares and it will be important that the commitments made by ministers to the UK industry are secured in full,” he said.
Responding to the detail of the speech, Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, welcomed the direct mention of its fishermen.
NOAA Fisheries Announces Initiation of Atlantic Salmon Status Review
June 22, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA:
NOAA Fisheries is initiating a five-year review of the Gulf of Maine distinct population segment (DPS) of Atlantic Salmon, as required by the Endangered Species Act. The Gulf of Maine DPS of Atlantic salmon is listed as endangered by NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. NOAA Fisheries is taking the lead for this review.
In a five-year review, we evaluate the best scientific and commercial data available to review the current status of listed species. We use these reviews to ensure that listing classifications are accurate.
Through this announcement, we are requesting submission of information on the Gulf of Maine DPS of Atlantic salmon, including any information on the status, threats, and recovery of the species that has become available since the final listing determination in 2009.
Please submit your information by July 20, 2017, either through the e-Rulemaking portal or by mail to:
Dan Kircheis
NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region
Maine Field Station
17 Godfrey Drive
Orono, Maine 04473
Questions? Contact Dan Kircheis at 207-866-7320 or Dan.Kircheis@noaa.gov.
NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on Proposed Framework 56 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
June 22, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA:
We are seeking public comment on an action that would set catch limits for four groundfish stocks the 2017 fishing year (May 1, 2017-April 30, 2018), as follows:
- Georges Bank cod would quota would decrease by 13%
- Georges Bank haddock quota would increase by 2%
- Georges Bank yellowtail flounder would decrease by 23%
- Witch flounder quota would increase by 91%
We set catch limits for the 2017 fishing year for the remaining 16 groundfish stocks in Framework 55. The 2017 catch limits for these 16 stocks remain the same as or similar to 2016 limits.
This action will set sector allocations and common pool trip limits based on the 2017 limits and finalized 2017 sector rosters.
Framework 56 would also:
- Create an allocation of northern windowpane flounder for the scallop fishery;
- Revise the trigger for implementing the scallop fishery’s accountability measures for both its GB yellowtail flounder and northern windowpane flounder allocation; and
- Increase the GB haddock allocation for the midwater trawl fishery.
Finally, this action describes the accountability measures for the 2017 fishing year for the northern and southern windowpane flounder.
Read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register, and the supplemental documents on our website.
Please submit your comments through the online portal by July 7, 2017.
You may also submit comments through regular mail to:
John Bullard, Regional Administrator
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930
Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel at 978-281-9175 or jennifer.goebel@noaa.gov