May 7, 2013 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council:
The Council has scheduled two public meetings to talk with members of the fishing industry about options for improving management of the longfin and Illex squid fisheries. The meetings will build on input provided by fishermen, processors, scientists, and managers during a Squid Management Workshop held in January 2013. The workshop focused on options for implementing responsive harvest strategies in the squid fisheries. A full summary and additional materials from the workshop are available on the Squid Management Workshop page.
The Council is seeking additional industry input on responsive harvest strategies as well as general concerns and recommendations for improving squid management. Those who are unable to attend the meetings may also submit comments through our website.
These meetings are not associated with a specific action or proposed amendment, but comments provided during the meetings will be considered by the Council during future discussions of squid management, including the June 2013 Council meeting when 2014 specifications are approved.
Meeting Information
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Date: May 22, 2013
Time: 10 a.m.-noon (can go later if necessary)
Location: Superior Trawl- 55 State St., Narragansett, RI 02882
Cape May, New Jersey
Date: June 5, 2013
Time: 7 p.m.-9 p.m. (can go later if necessary)
Location: Congress Hall Hotel- 29 Perry St, Cape May, NJ 08204, (888) 944-1816
Staff Contact: Jason Didden- jdidden@mafmc.org or (302) 526-5254.
Background
Both squid stocks are currently managed with annual catch quotas, and the longfin squid quota is partitioned into trimester quotas to distribute landings throughout the year. Although longfin squid landings have only exceeded the annual quota once, the high frequency of trimester closures during periods of high squid abundance has prompted industry concerns and requests for more responsive management approaches.
The term “responsive harvest strategies” includes a broad spectrum of management approaches that account for seasonal and year-to-year fluctuations of a stock. Implementation of a responsive harvest strategy in the squid fisheries could potentially help avoid in-season closures without having adverse impacts on the stock. However, these strategies can also be data intensive and challenging to implement effectively. Participants in the squid management workshop noted that changes in management can have uneven impacts on different locations and different types of vessels and recommended that the Council seek broader input from the fishing industry before considering any management changes.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) is one of eight regional councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council has primary responsibility for twelve species of fish and shellfish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between 3 and 200 miles off the Mid-Atlantic coast. Member states include New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. For more information, visit our website: www.mafmc.org.