Saving Seafood

States Schedule Public Hearings on Atlantic Cobia Draft Amendment 1

May 13, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Commission’s South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board approved Draft Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia (Atlantic cobia) for public comment. Atlantic coastal states from Virginia through South Carolina have scheduled their hearings to gather public input on Draft Amendment 1. The details of those hearings follow.

Virginia Marine Resources Commission

  • June 12, 2019; 6:00 PM
  • 380 Fenwick Rd, Building 96
  • Fort Monroe, Hampton, VA
  • Contact: Pat Geer at 757.247.2200

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

  • June 13, 2019; 7:00 PM
  • Dare County Commissioners Office
  • 954 Marshall Collins Drive, Room 168
  • Manteo, NC
  • Contact: Chris Batsavage at 252.808.8009

Read the full release here

States Schedule Public Hearings on Atlantic Cobia Draft Amendment 1

May 10, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Commission’s South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board approved Draft Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia (Atlantic cobia) for public comment. Atlantic coastal states from Virginia through South Carolina have scheduled their hearings to gather public input on Draft Amendment 1. The details of those hearings follow.

Read the full release here

Presentations and Audio Files from the ASMFC 2019 Spring Meeting Now Available

May 9, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The presentations and audio files from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2019 Spring Meeting are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2019-spring-meeting; go to the relevant board/committee header and click on either “Presentations” or “Audio.” Audio files of this meeting and prior meetings can also be found on the Commission’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/ASMFCvideos.

A daunting task begins: Reducing lobster gear to save whales

May 6, 2019 — Fishing managers on the East Coast began the daunting process this week of implementing new restrictions on lobster fishing that are designed to protect a vanishing species of whale.

A team organized by the federal government recommended last week that the number of vertical trap lines in the water be reduced by about half. The lines have entrapped and drowned the North Atlantic right whale, which numbers a little more than 400 and has declined by dozens this decade.

The interstate Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission met Monday outside Washington to discuss the implementation of the new rules, which are designed to reduce serious injuries and deaths among whales by 60 percent.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at the Gloucester Daily Times 

Fisheries Commission Looks to Manage Dropping Rockfish Population

May 6, 2019 — The goal is to save the striped bass population on the east coast.

But many watermen fear that further restrictions could affect their livelihoods.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Eastern Shore Director Alan Girard says the dropping rockfish population are in need of some regrowth.  The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is looking to manage that population through these regulations.

Read the full story at WBOC

ASMFC 2019 Spring Meeting Press Releases, Summaries and Motions Now Available

May 3, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Press releases, meeting summaries and motions from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2019 Spring Meeting are now available here. The document can also be obtained on the Commission website on the Meeting Archives page at http://www.asmfc.org/home/meeting-archive. Presentations and audio files from this week’s meetings will be posted to the 2019 Spring Meeting page (http://www.asmfc.org/home/2019-spring-meeting) next week.

ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Board Approves Benchmark Stock Assessment for Management Use

May 3, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The 2019 Horseshoe Crab Benchmark Stock Assessment evaluated the stock status of the resource by region, finding populations within the Delaware Bay and Southeast regions remaining consistently neutral and good, respectively, through time. The Northeast region population has changed from poor to neutral, while the status of the New York region population has trended downward from good, to neutral, and now to poor. The Benchmark Assessment was endorsed by the Peer Review Panel and accepted by the Horseshoe Crab Management Board (Board) for management use.

To date, no overfishing or overfished definitions have been adopted for management use. For the assessment, biological reference points were developed for the Delaware Bay region horseshoe crab population although not endorsed by the Peer Review Panel for use in management. However, given the assessment results of low fishing mortality and relatively high abundance, overfishing and an overfished status are unlikely for female horseshoe crabs in the Delaware Bay region.

Read the full release here

ASMFC Approves 2019 – 2023 Strategic Plan

May 2, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission unanimously approved its 2019 – 2023 Strategic Plan at its 2019 Spring Meeting. The Strategic Plan revises the Commission’s long-term vision to “Sustainable and Cooperative Management of Atlantic Coastal Fisheries” and establishes eight major goals and related objectives to pursue this vision. The Strategic Plan will guide the Commission’s activities over the next five years and will be implemented through annual action plans.

“The states recognize circumstances today make the work of the Commission more important than ever before. The Strategic Plan articulates the mission, vision, goals, and objectives needed to accomplish the Commission’s mission,” said Commission Chair James J. Gilmore of New York. “It serves as the basis for annual action planning, whereby Commissioners identify strategies to tackle the highest priority issues and activities for the upcoming year. With 27 species currently managed by the Commission, finite human and fiscal resources, changing ocean conditions, and ever-increasing political pressures, Commissioners recognize the absolute need to prioritize activities. The Commission must dedicate staff time and resources where they are needed most and address less pressing issues only as resources allow. A key to prioritizing issues and maximizing efficiencies will be working closely with the three East Coast Regional Management Councils and NOAA Fisheries.”

Read the full release here

ASMFC Presents Annual Awards of Excellence

May 2, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission presented its Annual Awards of Excellence to an esteemed group of fishery and data managers, scientists, law enforcement officers and environmental attorneys for their outstanding contributions to fisheries management, science and law enforcement along the Atlantic coast. Specifically, the award recipients are Robert Ballou for management and policy contributions; Geoffrey White, Coleby Wilt, Alex DiJohnson, Sarah Rains, Michael Celestino, and John Sweka for science and technical contributions; and Casey Oravetz, Sara Block, Banumathi Rangarajan, Lauren Steele, Shane Waller, Shennie Patel, and Joel La Bissonniere for law enforcement contributions.

“Every year a great many people contribute to the success of fisheries management along the Atlantic coast. The Commission’s Annual Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding efforts by professionals who have made a difference in the way we manage and conserve our fisheries,” said ASMFC Chair Jim Gilmore of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. “I am humbled by the breadth and extent of accomplishments of this year’s recipients and am grateful for their dedication to Atlantic coast fisheries.”

Read the full release here

New rules aim to stop alarming loss of Atlantic herring

May 2, 2019 — Interstate fishing managers have approved new protections for herring that they hope will help reverse an alarming trend in the fish’s population.

The Atlantic Herring Management Board, an arm of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. is implementing protections to help Atlantic herring. The schooling fish are important commercially and a key part of the ocean’s food chain. They’re also important as lobster bait.

The board says the changes mean the fishery will close in Area A1, the inshore Gulf of Maine,  when a lower percentage, 25 percent to 20 percent, of the population of herring is spawning, and extending the closures from four weeks to six.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at the Gloucester Daily Times