The following summary was provided by Tom Nies of the Council Staff Here is a summary of Council actions on groundfish at the June 23, 2010, meeting in Newport, RI. 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.
• Framework Adjustment 45: The Council reviewed measures that are being considered in FW 45. The final meeting for this framework is planned for November. After NMFS review, approved measures should be effective on May 1, 2010. For the most part the Council adopted Committee recommendations for this framework. Draft measures will be posted on our web page early next week to reflect Council decisions and corrections that were suggested at the meeting. Measures that will be included are:
• Revised biomass and mortality targets and annual catch levels (ACLs) for pollock as a result of the new assessment.
• Alternative GB yellowtail flounder rebuilding strategies. Another option was added so there are now four combinations of ending date/probability of success (plus No Action): 2016/50 pct, 2016/60 pct, 2016/75 pct, and 2019/60 pct.
• Several additional sectors have requested approval, including four lease-only sectors operated by the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, andRhode Island.
• Revisions to Handgear A trip limits and reporting requirements.
• Changes to commercial fishery monitoring requirements, including the possible elimination of dockside monitoring and changes to the language on funding of at-sea monitoring.
• Removal of the current spring closures designed to protect spawning yellowtail flounder for the General Category Scallop Fishery.
• Adoption of measures to protect spawning cod in the Whaleback Area off New Hampshire in April/May/June. These measures are likely to include closure of an area to recreational and commercial fishing.
• There may be adjustments to the amount of yellowtail flounder allocated to the scallop fishery added to this framework after details of the scallop management program that will be adopted in FW 22 are determined.
• During the FW 45 discussion the Council spent time discussing NOAA-sponsored, state-operated permit banks, and considered adding measures to FW 45 to facilitate their operating as entities distinct from sectors. Based on advice that these measures could not be included in a framework action, the Council decided to initiate a single-issue amendment to consider these measures. The timeline for this amendment has not yet been developed but rapid action is planned.
• The Council approved recommendations from the Transboundary Management Guidance Committee for US/CA area TACs for 2011. The approved quotas are: (1) cod – 1,050 mt (US share 200 mt, Canadian share 850 mt), (2) haddock – 22,000 mt (US share 9,460 mt, Canadian share 12,540 mt), (3) yellowtail flounder – 1,900 mt (USshare 1,045 mt, Canadian share 855 mt).
• The Council received a presentation on a draft white paper for accumulation limits prepared by the Groundfish PDT. After a brief discussion, the Council agreed to consider accumulation limits in the next appropriate groundfish action. The draft paper is posted on the Council web page.
• In related actions, the Council approved Accountability Measures (AMs) for the scallop fishery catch of yellowtail flounder in Amendment 15 to the Scallop FMP. The Council also received a report from its Science and Statistical Committee (SSC) with recommended pollock and GB yellowtail flounder ABCs; these will be included in FW 45.
The next Council meeting will be in Brewster, MA November 16-18, 2010. In addition to final action on FW 45, the Council is expected to choose priorities that will guide Council work in 2011.
Eric Schwaab, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, speaks with Saving Seafood on WBSM
Each week, on WBSM in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Bob Vanasse of Saving Seafood joins host Phil Paleologos to discuss issues related to the fisheries with news-making guests.
Bob and Phil speak with Eric Schwaab, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries. Topics include Secretary Locke's announced changes in the wake of the inspector general report on enforcement, and initiatives to improve science. Also discussed are the upcoming organizational and managerial examinations of the Northeast Regional Office, the New England Fisheries Management Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Following fishermen complaints, fisheries management to review its process
Federal fisheries chief Eric Schwaab says a sweeping review of Northeast management will focus on how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, its regional fisheries science center and New England managers can work together and better fulfill their missions.
"This is something Fortune 500 companies do all the time, not because they believe they are performing poorly but because they want to ensure they do not miss opportunities to perform better,'' said Schwaab, NOAA's assistant administrator for fisheries.
But the review comes after a year of vociferous complaints from fishermen and coastal members of Congress, who say NOAA has fumbled management of key species at the expense of fishing communities. A NOAA inspector general's report this year found fault with the agency's law enforcement division, and a retired federal magistrate was appointed last week to review a number of controversial penalties against fishermen.
Read the complete story from The Asbury Park Press.
Mark Tapscott: When journalists become Big Green’s spinmeisters
Many Gloucester, Mass., residents depend on commercial fishing, so it's not surprise they have little patience with the almost uniformly negative media coverage in recent years suggesting the entire marine ecosystem is about to collapse due to the industry.
Nancy Gaines, a Gloucester Times reporter who recently analyzed that coverage, made some shocking discoveries about a cozy little Iron Triangle among well-known reporters, Big Green environmental scientists whose findings they regularly report, and funding by foundations that share the movement's ideological agenda.
"The journalists are wined and dined by the advocates and hired to train the scientists to use the media to advance their message," Gaines reported. "The journalists, in turn, call on those same scientists as sources when writing about the advocates and their agenda.
Read the complete story from the Washington Examiner.
Fish council shoots down changes targeting scallop industry
The top-dollar New England scallop fishery — a poster child for sustainability and economic productivity — will not undergo the proposed major changes that had been put before the New England Fishery Management Council.
The New England Fishery Management Council decided Wednesday against allowing scallop boat owners to accumulate permits by "stacking" and leasing, activities that would almost certainly have resulted in massive consolidation of the industry.
At the council's September meeting in Newport, R.I., a proposal to allow boat owners to lease their fishing days to other vessels was narrowly rejected, 9-7 with one abstention.
The stacking proposal — which would have allowed boat owners to acquire multiple permits — was beaten, 11-6.
Read the complete story from The Gloucester Times.
Fishery Council Acts on Issues Affecting Skate and Herring Fishermen, Elects New Officers
NEWPORT, RI – Sept. 30, 2010 – During the first two of its three-day meeting in Newport, the New England Fishery Management Council addressed several important items of business that will affect the region’s fishermen.
Skate Emergency Action Requested: Responding to the testimony of concerned stakeholders about the negative economic impacts the skate accountability measure is having on the skate wing fishery, the Council on Tuesday asked National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Regional Administrator Pat Kurkul to take emergency action as a potential remedy to help both fishermen and shore-side businesses. The Council seeks an increase in the skate wing possession limit if it appears that the fishery will be unable to land 100 percent of the skate total allowable landings by April 30, 2011 (end of the current fishing year) while the 500 pound possession limit remains in effect.
As background, NMFS, in keeping with the Council’s skate management plan, reduced the skate wing possession limit from 5,000 pounds of wings to 500 pounds on September 3 because the landings for the fishing year, which began this past May, had exceeded an 80% “trigger”. The management concern is that the skate catch would soon exceed the management plan’s total landings limit.
The Council also directed its Skate Plan Development Team to estimate and forecast skate discards for 2010 using recently collected groundfish sector data. Based on that information, the plan team would provide recommendations on whether total skate discards have declined enough to allow an overall increase in skate landings. The fishing industry believes skate discards have declined because groundfish sector vessels now use modified gear to target specific groundfish species and avoid skates.
Atlantic Herring – Major Issues Highlighted: Although Amendment 5 to the herring management plan is still very much in development, the Council, by unanimous consent, agreed on Tuesday to better target the issues of greatest concern to fishermen and the public — an effective monitoring program for the herring fleet and the protection of river herring populations that are taken as bycatch in the fishery.
A number of measures under consideration were eliminated altogether or modified. These related to costly and/or impractical methods of tracking the herring catch and other species taken in the fishery. Importantly, the Council retained a number of proposals that would identify and contain measures to avoid river herring “hotspots”. To further protect river herring — principally alewives and blueback herring — the Council unanimously agreed to develop river herring “catch caps” that would directly limit amounts taken by the Atlantic herring fishery. The Council also will consider measures to protect Atlantic herring when they aggregate in NE waters to spawn. Further action on Amendment 5 is scheduled for January 2011.
New Officers Elected: The Council also elected its 2010-2011 officers on Tuesday. Again this year by acclamation, the Council named John Pappalardo Chairman and Rip Cunningham Vice Chairman. Mr. Pappalardo is a fisherman and CEO of the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association, while Mr. Cunningham is a former editor and publisher of Saltwater Sportsman magazine and an active sport fisherman. The Council elected three members to its Executive Committee: Mr. Jim Odlin, a Portland ME fishermen, Mr. Terry Stockwell, Director of External Affairs for the Maine Dept. of Marine Resources and Ms. Sally McGee, New England Policy Director for Environmental Defense.
Congressmen Frank and Tierney respond to accusations from Federal worker’s union
WASHINGTON — Congressmen Barney Frank and John Tierney today responded to accusations from the National Weather Service Employees Organization (NWSEO) alleging that Department of Commerce Secretary Locke’s recent actions to address unfairness by law enforcement are politically motivated. Secretary Locke recently announced several reforms in response to the Inspector General’s (IG) report to increase accountability and transparency and strengthen the public's trust in NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement and the General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation. The IG report identified multiple cases of likely abuse of police or legal authority in the federal fisheries law enforcement system and argued that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration needs to redress miscarriages of justice against fishermen.
The NWSEO’s made the following statement in a letter written to NOAA General Counsel Lois Schiffer and Department of Commerce General Counsel Elise Steinberg:
“NWSEO is keenly aware of the serious political trouble that Democratic officeholders are facing in their re-election efforts in Massachusetts. This desperation does not give the agency an excuse to engage in serious and blatant violations of Federal labor law.”
Frank and Tierney issued the following statements in response:
“I will not be intimidated by the NWSEO’s attempt to deflect attention of serious allegations of misconduct by law enforcement officials,” said Frank. “I am particularly troubled that a union would take such a hostile stance against working fisherman and their families who have been victims of unfairness. Additionally, the allegations of misconduct were not documented by Members of Congress, but by the nonpolitical Inspector General who thoroughly investigated this matter. I am pleased that Secretary Locke acted swiftly and appropriately to the IG’s scathing report, and I applaud the Secretary and the Inspector General for their leadership and integrity.”
“Instead of taking uninformed political swipes at those fighting for local fishermen, the NWSEO should get a better grip on the facts. It is well-known that it was the Department of Commerce’s Inspector General, an independent, non-political entity, which investigated the claims of misconduct by law enforcement officials. In response, Secretary Locke has initiated appropriate action and I am pleased that he did so. I will keep working to ensure our fishermen are treated fairly and anticipate that members of NWSEO will also be treated fairly throughout the process,” said Congressman John F. Tierney.
Council votes against changing scalloping rules
NEWPORT, R.I. — September 30, 2010 — The New England Fishery Management Council voted on Wednesday against changing some key elements of the rules governing the commercial scallop fishery.
At a meeting at the Viking Hotel, a proposal to allow boat owners to lease their fishing days to other vessels was narrowly rejected with nine council members voting against, seven in favor and one abstention.
Rep. William Straus of Mattapoisett who chairs an environmental committee with jurisdiction on state fisheries spoke out against leasing, saying that any departure from resource management would change the council's role to that of "junior economists."
"If you are using the resources of the federal government to decide how this plays out economically, aren't you a little far afield from fisheries management?" he asked.
Another emotionally charged proposal — to allow owners with more than one boat to "stack" their fishing permits on a single fishing vessel — also failed but by a larger margin, with a motion to take no action passing by 11 votes to six.
Catch Shares, Consolidation and the Tipping Point
A Report prepared by Dick Grachek for the American Alliance of Fishermen and Their Communities:
Proponents claim Catch Shares will stop overfishing, restore the stocks, create high paying quality jobs, and make the fishermen profitable and safe. A closer look at Catch Share programs in place for decades shows no data to support these claims.
Further consolidation or reduction of the commercial fishing fleet is a known consequence of Catch Shares and a stated goal by NOAA during their push for implementation. This fleet reduction will push the independently owned fishing vessel operations and the dockside support businesses beyond their financial “tipping point”; and in turn will cause the small, family owned, independent fishing businesses and their communities to collapse.
Read the complete story from Ahab's Journal.
Fishing council eyes major scalloping rule changes
The New England Fishery Management Council is scheduled to debate and vote today on a re-engineering of the stable and lucrative $1 billion scallop fishery that would authorize an accumulation — or "stacking" — and leading of permits and could lead to a radical consolidation of the fleet.
Concerned about upsetting the present system that has made his city the nation's No. 1 cash value port, New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang has urged the council to go slow with changes to the scallop fishery, and is asking for a socio-economic impact study and an industry referendum before acting.
The impetus for the amendment to the scallop management plan is the requirement in the 2006 reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to put the fishery under catch limits with penalties or "accountability measures."
Read the complete story from The Gloucester Times.