| August 24, 2015 — JERRY’S UPDATE
Jerry’s comments will be sent separately later this week. SOUTHERN FLOUNDER SUPPLEMENT VOTE POSTPONED The Marine Fisheries Commission did not vote on the proposed supplement to the southern flounder plan at its business meeting last week as expected. More information will be posted as it becomes available. ASMFC FINDS DELAWARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH AMERICAN EEL PLAN The ASMFC has found the state of Delaware out of compliance with the mandatory management measures contained in Addendum III to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Eel. The commission has notified the secretaries of Commerce and the Interior of its finding. This action was taken pursuant to the provisions of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act of 1993. For more information see the news release. NMFS MAINTAINS CURRENT BLUEFIN TUNA COMMERCIAL LIMIT The National Marine Fisheries Service maintains the current Atlantic bluefin tuna general category (commercial handgear) daily retention limit of four large medium or giant bluefin (i.e., 73″ or greater) per vessel per day/trip for Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2015. This adjustment is intended to provide a reasonable opportunity to harvest the U.S. bluefin tuna quota without exceeding it, while maintaining an equitable distribution of fishing opportunities; help achieve optimum yield in the fishery; and collect a broad range of data for stock monitoring purposes. For more information see the news release. REGULATION AND RULE CHANGES: -South Atlantic Gag and Wreckfish Catch Limits Change Effective Sept. 11 -Atlantic Mackerel Slippage Consequences Measures Effective Sept. 11 -USCG Mandatory Dockside Inspections Required Effective Oct. 15 DEADLINES: Aug. 26 – Green Sea Turtles ESA Uplisting Comments Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. – Snapper-Grouper Regulatory Amendment 36 Comments Sept. 1 – SAFMC Snapper-Grouper Draft Vision Blueprint Comments Sept. 4 – Cape Fear River Restoration Scoping Document Comments Sept. 10 – NMFS Updated Draft Acoustic Guidelines Comments Sept. 14 – NMFS Generic Amendment to Snapper-Grouper, Golden Crab and Dolphin-Wahoo FMPs Comments Sept. 17 – 2016 Commercial Atlantic Shark Season Comments Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. – 2016-2018 Atlantic Herring Research Set Aside Applications Oct. 2 – MFC Proposed Rules Comments MEETINGS: If you are aware of ANY meetings that should be of interest to commercial fishing that is not on this list, please contact us so we can include it here.
Aug. 31-Sept.1 – ASMFC Menhaden Ecosystem Management Workshop Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. – MFC Rules Public Hearing, DMF Central District Office, 5285 Hwy 70 W, Morehead City Sept. 9-10 – Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel Meeting, Sheraton Silver Spring Hotel, 8777 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD and via webinar PROCLAMATIONS: COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL SHARK HARVEST CRAB TRAWLING AND TAKING SHRIMP WITH NETS (OPENING CAPE FEAR RIVER) |
