ASMFC Archives - Page 21 of 124

ASMFC and MAFMC Approve Changes to State Allocations of Commercial Black Sea Bass Quota

February 4, 2021 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board (Board) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) jointly approved several changes to the management program for black sea bass commercial fisheries. These changes include modifying the state allocations of the commercial black sea bass quota, adding the state allocations to the Council’s Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and modifying the regulations for federal in-season closures. The Board adopted the new allocations through Addendum XXXIII to the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass FMP, while the Council recommended these changes through an amendment to its FMP. These actions address significant changes in the distribution of black sea bass that have occurred since the original allocations were implemented under Amendment 13 in 2003 and also account for the historical dependence of the states on the black sea bass fishery.

Under the approved changes, Connecticut’s baseline allocation will increase from 1% to 3% of the coastwide quota to address its disproportionally low allocation compared to the increased availability of black sea bass in state waters. The state allocations will then be calculated by allocating 75% of the coastwide quota according to the new baseline allocations (historical allocations modified to account for Connecticut’s increase to 3%) and 25% to three regions based on the most recent regional biomass distribution information from the stock assessment (see Table 1). The three regions are: 1) Maine-New York, 2) New Jersey, and 3) Delaware-North Carolina. The regional allocations will be distributed among states within a region in proportion to their baseline allocations, except Maine and New Hampshire will each receive 1% of the northern region quota. Because the allocations are based in part on the regional biomass distribution from the stock assessment, they will be adjusted if a new assessment indicates a change to the biomass distribution. The Board and Council committed to reevaluating the approved state allocation system within 5 years.

The Council and Board agreed to add the state allocations to the Council’s FMP. As a result, future modifications to the allocations will require a joint action of the Board and Council. Additionally, they approved a change to the federal regulations such that the entire black sea bass commercial fishery will close in-season for all federally permitted vessels and dealers once landings are projected to exceed the coastwide quota plus an additional buffer of up to 5%. The buffer aims to minimize negative economic impacts of a coastwide closures on states that have not fully harvested their quotas. The Council and Board considered, but did not adopt, changes to the regulations for paybacks of state quota overages; states will only be required to pay back overages of their state quota if the coastwide quota is exceeded.

Read the full release here

Gathering data will help manage our coastal resources

February 4, 2021 — Resource management is a tricky thing. That’s especially true in the marine environment where things are so interconnected. Nutrients literally float from one area to the next and the larvae of spawning sea creatures similarly drift from place to place. Marine species do not abide by borders but are instead are a part of a larger ecosystem where things literally flow from one location to another.

For this reason, there are few marine species that are managed at a municipal level. Some, like lobster, are managed by the state – by Maine’s Department of Marine Resources. The DMR has jurisdiction over subtidal waters (those below mean low water) throughout the state. Others, like stripers, are managed by interstate groups like the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council. And others, like cod and haddock, are managed regionally by bodies like the New England Fisheries Management Council. They have jurisdiction over waters beyond three miles from shore classified as federal water.

So, what does that leave for the municipalities? That’s a seemingly tiny sliver of intertidal coast. But, this sliver often isn’t tiny at all. It is shallow and broad and supports a valuable array of shellfish species like soft shell, hard shell, and razor clams. While these species do move around as larvae, they are more likely to stay put than other more mobile creatures. For that reason, these are the resources that each town is in charge of managing under a system called co-management. This means that towns work with the DMR who helps to classify areas that are safe for harvesting in terms of water quality and also helps with enforcing statewide regulations.

Read the full story at the Portland Press Herald

Menhaden Fisheries Coalition Urging ASMFC to Consider Fair and Equitable Reallocation Process

February 3, 2021 — On Monday several organizations who are part of the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition submitted a letter to Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Menhaden Board Chair A.G. “Spud” Woodward. The letter called for the Commission to consider, as part of its decision-making, the “importance of historic landings records and the impacts to the fishing industry of the recently implemented ecosystem-based management.”

The Menhaden Fisheries Coalition is asking that the review process be guided by three principles:

1.The Management Board should ensure that the full amount of sustainable yield set for this year and next is able to be harvested.

2. Understanding that the total allowable catch for 2021 and 2022 is lower than total landings for 2019 (and, likely 2020), any reallocation scheme should recnogie states that have already contributed to menhaden conservation since the TAC was first established in 2012.

3. The conservation burden of the TAC reduction must be fairly and equitably distributed among states.

Read the full story at Seafood News

ASMFC could reallocate menhaden quota, industry pushes for equity

February 3, 2021 — The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will likely look into how the U.S. Atlantic menhaden fishery allocates its quota in 2021.

The commission is considering reallocating the menhaden fishery this year based on Amendment 3. Implemented in 2018, the rule requires the Atlantic Menhaden Management Board to revisit its quota allocations every three years. A letter written by the MFC, which represents some of the largest players in the menhaden fishing industry, is asking the commission to take into account historic catch levels in its deliberations.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Menhaden Fisheries Coalition Members Call on ASMFC for a Fair and Equitable Reallocation Process

February 1, 2021 — The following was released by the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition:

As the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) undertakes a performance review of the Atlantic menhaden fishery, members of the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition (MFC) are urging the Commission to consider, as part of its decision-making, the importance of historic landings records and the impacts to the fishing industry of the recently implemented ecosystem-based management.

The call came in a letter to ASMFC Menhaden Board Chair A.G. “Spud” Woodward, signed by several organizations in the menhaden bait and marine ingredient industries, representing several states including New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland. The signatories of the letter include New Jersey’s Lund’s Fisheries, Virginia’s Omega Protein, Reedville Bait, and Kellum Maritime, and Delmarva Fisheries Association based in Maryland.

While it is currently unclear whether the ASMFC will initiate an action to revisit current menhaden quota allocations, the letter asks the Commission to recognize in any possible decision factors such as changing patterns in landings, strong demand for menhaden products, and the need to ensure that the fishing industry has a fair opportunity to harvest their quota.

Specifically, the letter highlights the disparity between how the quota is currently distributed among states and where the harvest is occurring, impeding efforts to fully harvest the quota. The letter asks that if the Commission pursues quota reallocation, that it recognizes the few states that have already sacrificed some of their historical quota share, and that it ensures that the burden of any new cuts is fairly distributed throughout the stock’s range. Traditionally, both current use and a state’s fishing history are key determinants in resource allocations made by the Commission.

“Since the menhaden quota was established in 2012, cuts have come almost entirely at the expense of New Jersey and Virginia fishermen,” said Wayne Reichle, President of Lund’s Fisheries. “Now that the Commission has decided to reduce the quota for ecological reasons, the conservation burden needs to be fairly shared throughout the fishery, not by taking allocation from the two states with the largest historical fisheries.”

The menhaden fishery has changed significantly since the ASMFC passed Amendment 3 to its menhaden Fishery Management Plan in 2017. The Commission has adopted Ecological Reference Points (ERPs) to better account for the role that menhaden play in the ecosystem and has instituted a 10 percent cut in the coastwide quota. Also, a significant new bait fishery has developed in Gulf of Maine states, which join Virginia and New Jersey as a top harvesting region.

According to the letter, these changes have resulted in “a significant mismatch between the total menhaden catch allocation (TAC) and its actual use.” For this reason, the Coalition urges the Commission to focus any possible reallocation decisions to ensure the fishery can reach its optimum yield. It argues that “provid[ing] a reasonable opportunity for the bait and marine ingredients fisheries to fully harvest the amount of menhaden [the Commission] has determined to be sustainable” is particularly important as fishing communities have suffered economic harm by pandemic-related reductions in demand for other seafood products.

The ASMFC’s Menhaden Board takes up its review of this fishery tomorrow afternoon.

MAINE: Elver quotas to remain flat

January 29, 2021 — The Maine Department of Resources has released its 2021 elver quotas for license holders and they look the same as those in place for 2020, merely updating the years referred to in the 2020 rule.

“2021 allocations for individuals who held a license in 2020 will be the same as their 2019 allocation,” the proposed rule states. Any excess that is not allocated to new license holders will be “distributed evenly to all existing license holders.”

However, what is new is a proposed “tending requirement,” requiring that the contents of fyke nets and Sheldon box traps be removed at least once every 16 hours. The theory behind the proposed rule is that if fishermen regularly check their nets and traps, the risk of bycatch and elver mortality will decrease.

The extremely lucrative commercial elver fishery is limited by the number of licenses the DMR allows — 425 — and the total catch as determined by the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Council — 9,688 pounds.

Read the full story at The Ellsworth American

Final Supplemental Materials for ASMFC 2021 Winter Meeting

January 29, 2021 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The final portion of supplemental materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2021 Winter Meeting Webinar are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2021-winter-meeting-webinar for the following Boards/Committees (click on “Supplemental” following each relevant committee header to access the information). For ease of access, these materials have been combined into one PDF – http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/2021WinterMeetingWebinar/2021WinterMeetingSupplemental2.pdf. Below is the list of documents included in the supplemental materials.

American Lobster Management Board – Revised Memo on Review of American Lobster Stock Status, Reference Points, and Recommendations from 2020 Benchmark Assessment and Peer Review (memo has been revised to replace mislabeled abundance and exploitation graphs for the Southern New England stock). This document has been replaced in the American Lobster Board’s main meeting materials on 1/28/2021 and is provided at the Supplemental2 link under the Lobster Board.

Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board & Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Correspondence to both bodies from Senator Charles Schumer and the Connecticut Congressional Members

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board – Public comment

As a reminder, Board meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning Monday, February 1 at 9:30 a.m. and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 4:30 p.m.) on Thursday, February 4. The webinar will allow registrants to listen to board deliberations and view presentations and motions as they occur. To register for the webinar go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4886491769864000527, Webinar ID# 151-774-483.

When registering, Commissioners, proxies, and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council members (for Monday’s meeting), are requested to place two zeros (00) prior to their names (e.g., 00Toni Kerns). Detailed instructions on joining and participating in the webinars can be found athttp://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/2021WinterMeetingWebinar/Webinar_Instructions_Winter2021.pdf.

NEW JERSEY: Fishing slows to a crawl, new commercial and recreational fluke allocations sought

January 29, 2021 — Fishing has slowed to a crawl as we approach the dead of winter. There are just a handful of party boats are sailing on either daily or limited schedules.

The Jamaica II and Ocean Explorer party boats took patrons out for blackfish a couple of times this week.

After so-so fishing on Monday and skipping Tuesday due to the ocean conditions, Capt. Bobby Quinn reported the blackfish were hungry on Wednesday. The ocean was a bit lumpy from northwest winds but fishable.

One of his fares reeled in a 14-pound blackfish as Quinn said the big fish were really on the feed. He observed a number of fish in the six to 10-pound range get hauled in. He had anglers catch their four-fish limit.

Capt. Ryan Bogan of the Jamaica II sailed Monday. He bounced around and reported a catch of 17 keeper blackfish on the boat. There was one codfish and one ling landed on the boat.

Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press

ASMFC 2021 Winter Meeting Webinar Supplemental Materials Now Available

January 27, 2021 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Supplemental materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2021 Winter Meeting Webinar are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2021-winter-meeting-webinar for the following Boards/Committees (click on “Supplemental” following each relevant committee header to access the information). For ease of access, all supplemental meeting materials have been combined into one PDF – http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/2021WinterMeetingWebinar/2021WinterMtgSupplementalCombined.pdf.

Below is the list of documents included in the supplemental materials. Please note that minor changes have been made to the time and schedule for meetings on Monday, February 1 and Tuesday, February 2.

Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board – Revised Agenda and Meeting Overview; Technical Committee Memo on 2021 Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass Recreational Fishery Proposals

ISFMP Policy Board – Revised Agenda and Meeting Overview; 2020 Commissioner Survey Results; Draft Letter from ASMFC to USACE Wilmington District for Policy Board; Public Comment

American Lobster Management Board – Revised Agenda and Meeting Overview; Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument

Winter Flounder Management Board – Revised Agenda and Meeting Overview; Technical Committee Meeting Summary; Advisory Panel Meeting Summary

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board – Revised Agenda and Meeting Overview; Revised Memo on Recent Fishery Performance Relative to Commercial Allocations; Public Comment

Atlantic Herring Management Board – Revised Agenda and Meeting Overview; Public Comment

Executive Committee – Revised Agenda

ACCSP Coordinating Council – Draft Proceedings from October 2020; Program and Project Funding Summary; FY2021 Proposal Rankings; FY21 Administrative Budget; FY21 Calendar

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board – ME/MA Proposal to Study the Tube Rig Fishery and Consider Its Exemption from the Circle Hook Provision; Revised MA Implementation Plan for Striped Bass Addendum VI Circle Hook Requirement; Revised ME Striped Bass Implementation Plan for Addendum VI Circle Hook Provisions; Public Comment

Shad and River Herring Management Board – Advisory Panel Report and Technical Committee Recommendations to Improve Shad Stocks

Bluefish Management Board – Recommended Revisions to the Addendum I Biological Monitoring Program

Webinar Information

Board meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning Monday, February 1 at 9:30 a.m. and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 4:30 p.m.) on Thursday, February 4. The webinar will allow registrants to listen to board deliberations and view presentations and motions as they occur. To register for the webinar go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4886491769864000527, Webinar ID# 151-774-483.

Each day, the webinar will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the first meeting so that people can troubleshoot any connectivity or audio issues they may encounter. If you are having issues with the webinar (connecting to or audio related issues), please contact Chris Jacobs at 703.842.0790.

If you are joining the webinar but will not be using VoIP, you can may also call in at 415.930.5321 (a pin will be provided to you after joining the webinar); see webinar instructions for details on how to receive the pin. For those who will not be joining the webinar but would like to listen in to the audio portion only, you can do so by dialing 415.930.5321 (access code: 864-933-588).

Public Comment Guidelines

To provide a fair opportunity for public input, the ISFMP Policy Board approved the following guidelines for use at management board meetings. Please note these guidelines have been modified to adapt to meetings via webinar:

For issues that are not on the agenda, management boards will continue to provide an opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of each board meeting. Board chairs will ask members of the public to raise their hands to let the chair know they would like to speak. Depending upon the number of commenters, the board chair will decide how to allocate the available time on the agenda (typically 10 minutes) to the number of people who want to speak.

For topics that are on the agenda, but have not gone out for public comment, board chairs will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. Chairs will have flexibility in deciding how to allocate comment opportunities; this could include hearing one comment in favor and one in opposition until the chair is satisfied further comment will not provide additional insight to the board.

For agenda action items that have already gone out for public comment, it is the Policy Board’s intent to end the occasional practice of allowing extensive and lengthy public comments. Currently, board chairs have the discretion to decide what public comment to allow in these circumstances.

In addition, the following timeline has been established for the submission of written comment for issues for which the Commission has NOT established a specific public comment period(i.e., in response to proposed management action).

1. Comments received 3 weeks prior to the start of the webinar (January 11) will be included in the briefing materials.

2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, January 26 will be included in the supplemental materials.

3. Comments received by 10:00 AM on Friday, January 29 will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting.

Comments should be submitted via email at comments@asmfc.org. All comments must clearly indicate the commenter’s expectation from the ASMFC staff regarding distribution.

MAINE: Elver quotas to remain flat

January 20, 2021 — The Maine Department of Resources has released its 2021 elver quotas for license holders and they look the same as those in place for 2020, merely updating the years referred to in the 2020 rule.

Read the full story at The Ellsworth American