May 13, 2016 — The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold seven public hearings in May and June 2016 to solicit public input on the Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment. The Council is also soliciting written comments on the amendment through 11:59 pm on Friday June 17, 2016. The goal of this amendment is to prohibit the development of new and expansion of existing directed commercial fisheries on unmanaged forage species in Mid-Atlantic Federal waters until the Council has had an adequate opportunity to both assess the scientific information relating to any new or expanded directed fisheries and consider potential impacts to existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the marine ecosystem.
CALIFORNIA: Monterey Bay squid season basically a bust
May 13, 2016 — MONTEREY, Calif. — If Monterey had a signature restaurant dish, cioppino and fried calamari would battle it out for the top spot. But the common ingredient in each is squid, those prehistoric looking cephalopods (scientific name loligo) that school in the cool, nutrient-rich waters of Monterey Bay.
In August a worldwide television audience tuned in for “Big Blue Live,” a BBC-PBS production that showcased our marine sanctuary teeming with sea life, from tiny shrimp to giant blue whales.
Then “the boy” arrived.
“Once El Niño showed up things started to look different in the bay,” said Sal Tringali, president of Monterey Fish Company, who oversees a five-boat fleet that provides local restaurants with most of their fresh seafood, including squid.
Not to panic; our shared “Serengeti of the Sea” is still a pristine habitat. But warming waters along the West Coast have changed the waterscape — at least for now. For example, local squid fishermen have turned out their bright boat lights because the season is basically a bust.
FLORIDA: TDC adopts message to counter possible scallop season suspension
May 12, 2016 — The Gulf County Tourist Development Council Advisory Committee adopted a rapid response plan during its regular meeting last week to address the possibility the 2016 scallop season will be cancelled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
A final decision on the season will be made by the FWC, which intends to hold local public workshops this month and next, in June.
The Board of County Commissioners last week passed a resolution sent to the FWC suggesting alternatives to cancellation, such as size limits, smaller bag counts or a shorter season.
Jennifer Jenkins, TDC executive director, confirmed that FWC officials would conduct their regular scallop surveys of the bay in June and present those findings at an FWC meeting June 22-23, after which a decision would be made.
Currently, scallop season is set to open Saturday, June 25.
Cod, haddock rules change
May 12, 2016 — AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Department of Marine Resources announced an emergency rule change for the recreational cod and haddock fisheries effective May 7.
In accordance with the New England Fisheries Management Council and for consistency with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) federal regulations effective May 1, the department is enacting emergency rulemaking for charter, party and recreational fishing vessels operating in state waters regarding cod and haddock.
Statement from the North Carolina Fisheries Association on ASMFC Marine Monument Policy
May 11, 2016 — The following statement was released by Jerry Schill, President of the North Carolina Fisheries Association, following the passage of the ASMFC motion calling for the president not to declare a marine monument in the Atlantic Ocean:
“Recently the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission adopted a resolution in support of continuing the current New England Fishery Management Council’s coral management process. The North Carolina Fisheries Association supports the ASMFC’s resolution, and opposes a Presidential Proclamation designating a marine monument. Such a designation would have a very negative effect on our nation’s seafood industry.
A process has been set up to allow for the management of our marine resources in federal waters. It was called the Magnuson Act when passed by Congress in 1976 and we respectfully urge the President to allow the process to be served through that legislation.”
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The North Carolina Fisheries Association, Inc. was organized in 1952 and serves as the voice of the commercial fishing industry in North Carolina.
Public Hearings on Forage Species
May 11, 2016 — The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is soliciting public input on a draft amendment to address management and conservation of Unmanaged Forage Species in the Mid-Atlantic.
The goal of the amendment is to prohibit the development of new, and expansion of existing directed commercial fisheries on unmanaged forage species in Mid-Atlantic Federal waters until Council has had an adequate opportunity to assess the related scientific information and consider potential impacts to existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the marine ecosystem.
According to the executive summary of the Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment released by the Council, forage species are defined as small, low to mid trophic (position occupied in a food chain) level species which are subject to extensive predation throughout their lifespan and which serve as important conduits of energy from low to high trophic levels. Forage species play an important role in sustaining the productivity and structure of marine ecosystems by linking low trophic level species such as phytoplankton and zooplankton to higher trophic level species, including predatory species sought after by many commercial and recreational fisheries.
NEW JERSEY: Gloucester County Calls Out Fish To Fend Off Zika Virus
May 11, 2016 — WEST DEPTFORD, NJ — A batch of 5,000 little fish have a big battle ahead of them in West Deptford Township and hopefully they are hungry. As warm and muggy summer months approach, so does a heightened risk for the spread of dangerous mosquito transmitted viruses.
South Jersey is starting its annual war against mosquitoes with a little extra urgency.
“It’s even more important with the increase of the Zika virus coming this way and the effects that is having on human life and unborn lives,” said Gloucester County Freeholder Director, Robert M. Damminger.
The Zika virus is carried by mosquitos from a person who is infected to others. Images of the effects it has had globally are as well-known as they are heartbreaking.
The boats that land the fish
May 11, 2016 — To ask the question “what boat landed this fish?” may be one of the most important environmental, social and political acts of 2016.
These are some names of Gloucester day boats, boats that make short trips to Jeffreys Ledge, Ipswich Bay and Middle Bank: the Maria GS, the Santo Pio, the Angela & Rose, the Janaya & Joseph, and Cat Eyes. And there are more. These boats land a mix of species that call the Gulf of Maine home, but they are primarily landing codfish, dab flounder, blackback flounder, yellowtail flounder, gray sole and some whiting.
These are some of the offshore Gloucester boats currently fishing the northern edge of George’s Bank: The Miss Trish, The Midnight Sun, the Teresa Marie III, the Harmony, the Teresa Marie IV and the Lady Jane. Again, there are more boats than this. Right now, they are landing haddock, redfish, pollock, codfish, dab flounder, gray sole and some hake.
In port, these boats, and others, can be seen tied up at Felicia Oil, Rose Marine, Gloucester Marine Railways and the State Fish Pier, wharfs along the Inner Harbor, many in clear sight of some Gloucester restaurants.
In an effort to celebrate and promote the quality seafood that these boats land, Gloucester Seafood Processing in Blackburn Circle stamps every issue of fish with the name of the fishing vessel that landed it. They are hoping other processors will, too. Restaurants — particularly in Gloucester — should proudly be announcing to their guests, “This pollock was landed yesterday on the Angela & Rose!” — or the Janaya & Joseph, or the Santo Pio.
Florida Red Snapper Season Now Open on Gulf Coast Weekends
May 11, 2016 — At its April 13 meeting in Jupiter, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set the 2016 recreational red snapper season in Gulf of Mexico state waters.
The 2016 season is open Saturdays and Sundays in May starting May 7. On May 28, the season will open continuously through July 10. Finally, the season will reopen for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September and October, and on Labor Day.
This would provide for a 78-day season in Gulf state waters. This season will help maintain fishing opportunities for recreational anglers in state waters and provide additional May and fall weekend fishing days.
Prosecutors in Rafael case: Carlos Seafood’s transaction reports didn’t match up
May 11, 2016 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The FV Hera II, a boat that prosecutors said fishing fleet owner Carlos Rafael owned through a shell corporation, reported catching 4,595 pounds of haddock on Jan. 25, then selling it to Rafael’s Carlos Seafood business, a registered dealer, according to the indictment of Rafael that was unsealed Monday.
Carlos Seafood also recorded acquiring 840 pounds of American plaice, or “dabs,” from the Hera II that day, prosecutors said.
But here’s the rub: Records of Carlos Seafood’s third-party sales Jan. 25, according to the indictment, cite about 200 pounds of haddock and 5,200 pounds of dabs.
In other words, prosecutors allege, a lot of the fish caught by the Hera II on Jan. 25 and reported as “haddock” actually were dabs, which are subject to stricter regulatory quotas. Those quotas are administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and limit how much of certain species commercial fishermen can catch.
Catching more of a protected species than allowed can bring significant value on the black market.