Saving Seafood

NEW JERSEY: About those striped bass options: ‘They all stink’

September 16, 2019 — One thing is pretty clear after Thursday’s public hearing in Stafford on the striped bass quota cuts and that is someone is not going to be happy when this is all said and done.

If the powers that be elect to make circle hooks mandatory in the bait fishery, then snag and drop fishing the bunker pods with treble hooks is history.

If a 35-inch minimum size limit is chosen, the trophy hunters will be happy but at the expense of many charter and party boat captains.

Carl Sheppard, the skipper of the Star Fish a 40-foot charter boat in Beach Haven, said his customers need to be able to catch at least one fish to take home in order for him to stay in business. He said a 28 to 35-inch fish makes the most sense to him.

Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press

Omega Protein signals intention to exceed Chesapeake Bay menhaden cap

September 13, 2019 — Omega Protein, which recently attained MSC certification for the Atlantic menhaden fishery, has signaled it will likely exceed a cap for the species in the Chesapeake Bay.

The cap was initially suggested by the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission (ASMFC) in 2006, and was modified in 2012 to a 87,216 metric ton (MT) quota. However, in 2017, the ASMFC recommended cutting the cap by over 40 percent to 51,000 MT, a decision that Omega Protein objected to.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Atlantic Herring Area 1A Period 3 Moves to Zero Landing Days on September 15, 2019

September 11, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Period 3 Closure

The Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) Atlantic herring fishery is projected to have harvested 92% of the period 3 allocation by Sunday, September 15, 2019. Beginning 12:01 a.m. on September 15, 2019, the Area 1A fishery will move to zero landing days through October 31, 2019, as specified in Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring.

Period 4

The states of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts will determine the specifications for period 4 (November and December) of the Atlantic herring fishery during the next Days Out Call in October. A subsequent notice will announce the call information.

For more information, please contact Kirby Rootes-Murdy, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at krootes-murdy@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

A copy of this announcement can be found here – http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/5d794330AtlHerringDaysOutPeriod3_ZeroLandingDays_Sept2019.pdf

Proposed striped bass regulations draw mixed reaction

September 9, 2019 — On Aug. 29, I attended the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission striped bass public hearing in Dover. It began at 6 p.m. and by my count there were 13 members of the public in attendance.

The representative from ASMFC presented a summary as to why further restrictions were required on striped bass. This is due to the fact that the spawning stock biomass (large females) has fallen below the level that the scientists believe is needed to sustain the stock. Also, the entire striped bass population is overfished and overfishing is occurring. Therefore, action must be taken to stop the overfishing and restore the striped bass spawning stock biomass in the shortest amount of time.

Three options were presented for public comment. Option 1: Status quo. Take no action and keep the current regulations in place. Option 2: Place an 18 percent reduction on the commercial quota and an 18 percent reduction on the recreational catch. Option 3: Place a 1.8 percent reduction on the commercial quota and a 20 percent reduction on the recreational catch.

Read the full story at the Cape Gazette

Striped bass hearings draw few fishermen in N.J.

September 6, 2019 — About 40 people combined showed up for the first two public hearings on Draft Addendum VI to a fishery management plan, a measure that’s calling for an 18 percent reduction in the coastwide striped bass harvest.

The first hearing on Tuesday in Roselle Park had only eight people. Tom Fote, one of three New Jersey commissioners to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, or ASMFC, said they counted 30 people at Wednesday’s hearing in Ocean City.

While these draft hearings are going on up and down the Atlantic seaboard from North Carolina to Maine, New Jersey fishermen only have one more crack at speaking their piece on the issue in person.

Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press

New cuts coming to striped bass fishing

September 5, 2019 — At a sometimes contentious public hearing in Farmingdale Wednesday night, more than 200 anglers, boat captains and fishing club members weighed in on options for reducing the recreational and commercial harvest of striped bass by up to 18 percent, compared with 2017.

The measures, which will take effect with the 2020 season, are detailed in an August report by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the interstate body that regulates the fishery.

Measures under consideration include mandating the use of circle hooks that cause less damage to fish, new size restrictions on fish and a shortened recreational season, which now runs from April 15 through December 15, according to the report.

The proposals, which come as the striped bass season kicks into high gear, are part of an effort by fisheries regulators to prop up a stock they say is overfished.

Read the full story at Newsday

NEW HEARING ADDED: States Schedule Public Hearings on Atlantic Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI (October 3 MD Hearing added)

September 5, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Please note Maryland has added an additional hearing to be held on October 3rd. The details of that hearing follow and has been included in the press release link below.

NEW HEARING: Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Service

October 3, 2019 from 6 – 8 PM

The American Legion Dorchester Post 91

601 Radiance Drive

Cambridge, Maryland  

Contact: Michael Luisi at 410.260.8341

The revised press release can be found here – http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/5d712d47pr24AtlStripedBassDraftAddVI_PublicHearings_revised3.pdf

ASMFC 78th Annual Meeting Preliminary Agenda and Public Comment Guidelines

September 5, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 78th Annual Meeting will be held October 27-31, 2019 at the Wentworth by the Sea, 588 Wentworth Road, New Castle, New Hampshire. This memorandum contains meeting details, including the preliminary agenda. All of the business meetings scheduled during the week (with the exception of closed sessions) are open to the public, free of charge. However, if you plan to attend any of the Annual Meeting social events, please help us prepare for these events by registering early (see below for more details).

Please note the preliminary agenda is subject to change. Bulleted items represent the anticipated major issues to be discussed or acted upon at the meeting. The final agenda will include additional items and may revise the bulleted items provided in the Preliminary Agenda which follows.

Doug Grout, Ritchie White, and Dennis Abbott have been working with staff on the meeting details and are looking forward to welcoming you all to the island of New Castle, one of New Hampshire’s oldest settlements. New Castle, the only town in New Hampshire composed entirely of islands, covers approximately 500 acres and serves as a scenic residential and recreational community.  New Castle was founded in 1623, chartered in 1679, and incorporated in 1693 during the reign of William and Mary.  Today, in addition to a residential population of slightly more than 1,000, it is home to the Great Island Common recreational park, a UNH marine research laboratory, a Coast Guard station, and Fort Constitution and Fort Stark state parks.

ACCOMODATIONS: A block of rooms is being held at the Wentworth by the Sea. Please make your reservations by calling 877.762.2876 as soon as possible and identify Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to obtain the negotiated room rate of $169.00 sgl/dbl plus tax. Hotel reservations must be made before September 29, 2019. Room availability will not be guaranteed beyond this date. Please be aware that you must guarantee your room reservation with a major credit card or one night’s advance payment and you must notify the hotel of any cancellation prior to 72 hours before arrival or you will be billed one night’s room plus tax. If you have any problems regarding accommodations, please contact Cindy at 703.842.0740 or crobertson@asmfc.org.

GETTING TO NEW CASTLE: New Castle is served by 3 major airports, Boston Logan International, Portland Jetport in Maine, and Boston-Manchester Regional in Manchester, New Hampshire. Each of the airports is approximately 50 miles from New Castle. Since participants will need to rent a car to get to New Castle, we encourage people to ride share, usinghttp://www.groupcarpool.com/t/sxzib0

REGISTRATION:  The meeting registration fee is $200/per participant and $150/per spouse or guest if you register by October 18, 2019. After October 18th and in New Castle the fees will be $225 and $175, respectively. The registration fee covers the Monday night reception, the Tuesday night dinner, and the Wednesday Hart Award Luncheon, as well as event materials. Payment is not required until you arrive at the meeting; however, we ask that you please assist us in planning for the meeting by registering as soon as possible. You may register by submitting the attached registration form by email tolhartman@asmfc.org, fax (703.842.0741) or US mail to 1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A‐N, Arlington, VA 22201. Once you have registered, payment can be made in several ways (1) check, cash, or credit card at the ASMFC Registration Desk at the Annual Meeting; (2) credit card by calling Lisa Hartman at 703.842.0744; or (3) mail a check to ASMFC (address above).

The final agenda and meeting materials will be available on October 16th on the Commission website athttp://www.asmfc.org/home/2019‐annual‐meeting.

Changes are ahead for striped bass

September 4, 2019 — The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission met last month to hash out the details of Addendum VI, which addresses the current overfishing of striped bass and will implement new regulations taking effect in 2020.

Don’t expect this new management plan to solve all our problems or even to ameliorate them quickly. The newest management plan has a 50/50 probability of meeting the target in 2020. If all goes according to plan, female spawning stock should reach 93% of the target by 2027.

ASMFC won’t be discussing a possible amendment until February 2020.

A Coastal Conservation Association statewide campaign called “My Limit is One” in 2014 and ASMFC-imposed reductions back in 2015 (following a quota increase in 2014) did nothing to stem the overharvest of striped bass.

Read the full story at the Maryland Independent

NEW LOCATION: States Schedule Public Hearings on Atlantic Striped Bass Draft Addendum VI (Change in Location of NY’s September 4th hearing)

August 30, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board releases Draft Addendum VI to Amendment 6 of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass for public comment. Atlantic coastal states from Maine through North Carolina, including Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, have scheduled their hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum VI. The details of those hearings follow. Massachusetts is still scheduling its hearings; a subsequent release will announce the details of those hearings once they are finalized.

Read the full release