Saving Seafood

‘Completely uncharted territory’: Cape Cod’s dolphin stranding season breaks records

September 20, 2024 — The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has been rescuing stranded dolphins for 26 years, but this has been the busiest year by far.

In the last two weeks alone, IFAW’s Yarmouth-based marine mammal rescue team has responded to 26 stranded dolphins, including 14 stranded bottlenose dolphins in Brewster on Monday. That event marked the largest recorded mass stranding of bottlenose dolphins in the U.S. Northeast.

IFAW’s director of Marine Mammal Rescue, Brian Sharp, said three of the bottlenose dolphins died, but his team managed to re-float and save 11 others. A satellite tag attached to one has since shown that the pod has stuck around Cape Cod Bay.

“I don’t think I’ll take a sigh of relief until they get out and around Provincetown and out into out into the ocean and out of the bay,” Sharp said.  “We’re hoping that they will be able to figure it out.“

Read the full article at CAI

Whales and dolphins in US waters losing food, habitat to climate change, study says

October 10, 2023 — Whales, dolphins and seals living in U.S. waters face major threats from warming ocean temperatures, rising sea levels and decreasing sea ice volumes associated with climate change, according to a first-of-its-kind assessment.

Researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration examined more than 100 stocks of American marine mammal species and found more than 70% of those stocks are vulnerable to threats, such as loss of habitat and food, due to the consequences of warming waters. The impacts also include loss of dissolved oxygen and changes to ocean chemistry.

The scientists found large whales such as humpbacks and North Atlantic right whales were among the most vulnerable to climate change, and that other toothed whales and dolphins were also at high risk.

The study, published last month in the journal PLOS ONE, is evidence that the way the U.S. manages whales and dolphins needs to adapt in the era of climate change, advocates for marine mammals said.

The news is bleak, but the assessment also is the first to look solely at marine mammal stocks managed by the U.S. and the results can help inform federal ocean managers about how to safeguard the vulnerable animals, said Matthew Lettrich, a biologist and lead author of the study.

Read the full article at ABC News

NEW JERSEY: Dolphin found in Barnegat Bay is 40th death this year in N.J.

July 20, 2023 — A boat captain on the Barnegat Bay on Monday morning found a dead dolphin floating near Tice’s Shoal off Island Beach State Park.

Korey Tomei was providing a boating lesson at about 9:30 a.m. when he spotted what the Marine Mammal Stranding Center confirmed to be an adult male bottlenose dolphin.

From a distance, Tomei said thought he had spotted garbage and only realized what he saw was a dolphin after moving in for a closer look as he had planned to retrieve the trash.

Read the full article at NJ.com

NOAA Fisheries Announces a Delay in Effective Date for New For-Hire Electronic Reporting Requirements in the Atlantic

August 7, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

KEY MESSAGE:

NOAA Fisheries is delaying the effective date of the final rule to implement the South Atlantic For-Hire Reporting Amendment. The final rule establishes electronic reporting requirements for vessels with a federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Atlantic coastal migratory pelagics, or Atlantic dolphin and wahoo, or South Atlantic snapper-grouper and modifies the reporting deadline for headboats.

WHEN RULE WILL TAKE EFFECT:

The rule will be effective on January 4, 2021.

WHAT THIS MEANS:

  • No action is required by federally permitted charter fishermen at this time. NOAA Fisheries will send more information in the fall of 2020. If you have questions, please call 833-707-1632
  • The final rule requires weekly electronic reporting for federally permitted charter fishermen and modifies the reporting deadline for headboats starting January 4, 2021.
  • The requirements for weekly electronic reporting apply to charter vessels with a federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Atlantic coastal migratory pelagics, or Atlantic dolphin and wahoo, or South Atlantic snapper-grouper.
    Charter fishermen must report information such as trip start and end dates and times, species kept and discarded, fishing location, depth fished, hours fished, and charter fee.
  • Electronic reports from charter fishermen are due by Tuesday following the end of each reporting week, which runs from Monday through Sunday.
  • Charter fishermen can report using their computer, smartphone, or tablet with access to the internet. Reporting must be through software approved by NOAA Fisheries for this program.  NOAA Fisheries will send information on approved software and how to use it through a toolkit mailed to each permit holder in fall of 2020.  This information will also be posted to our website.
  • Headboat vessels with a federal charter vessel/headboat permit for Atlantic coastal migratory pelagics, or Atlantic dolphin and wahoo, or South Atlantic snapper-grouper will continue to submit reports to the Southeast Headboat Survey but will be required to submit electronic fishing reports by Tuesday following a reporting week, rather than by Sunday.

FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 85 FR 47917, published August 7, 2020

This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

Control Date for the Federal For-Hire Recreational Sector of Fisheries for the Atlantic Dolphin and Wahoo, Atlantic Coastal Migratory Pelagics, and South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper

September 28, 2016 — The following was released by NOAA:

On September 27, 2016, NOAA Fisheries published an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to set a control date of June 15, 2016, for the federal charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) component of the recreational sectors of the coastal migratory pelagics fishery in the Atlantic, dolphin and wahoo fishery in the Atlantic, and snapper-grouper fishery in the South Atlantic. This notice informs current and potential future fishermen that the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is considering restrictions limiting participation in these fisheries. Fishermen who enter the federal for-hire recreational sector for these fisheries after June 15, 2016, will not be assured of future access should a management regime that limits participation in the sector be prepared and implemented.

The establishment of a control date does not commit the Council or NOAA Fisheries to any particular management regime. The Council may or may not make use of this control date as part of the requirements for participation in these fisheries. Fishermen are not guaranteed future participation in the sector, regardless of their entry date.  The Council may take action that would affect participants who were in these fisheries prior to the control date, or the Council may choose to take no further action to control entry or access.

SAFMC Reminder: Public Hearing 6:00 PM Tonight via Webinar – Charterboat Reporting Requirements and Changes to King Mackerel Management

February 8, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold the final in a series of public hearings tonight via webinar to solicit public input on management measures that may affect fishermen fishing in federal waters (greater than 3 miles offshore) along the entire Atlantic coast. Join Council staff at 6:00 p.m. as they review proposed measures in the two amendments listed below. Then provide your formal comments via the webinar for Council consideration. 

  • Electronic Reporting Requirements for

Federally-Permitted Charterboats

The Council is considering mandatory reporting requirements for charterboats (6-pack) with federal for-hire permits including Atlantic Dolphin Wahoo For-Hire and Coastal Migratory Pelagic For-Hire permits. The amendment also modifies existing requirements for headboat electronic reporting.

  • Changes to King Mackerel
  • Management Measures 
  • Changes are proposed for king mackerel management along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico including changes to management zones, annual catch limits, commercial trip limits, split seasons, and other measures. NOTE: Registration for the webinar is required.  Click below to register and join us later today to learn more and provide your comments!

Additional information, including public hearing summaries, video presentations for each amendment, and additional resources are available from the

Public Hearing and Scoping Meeting page of the Council’s website at www.safmc.net.  Written comments may be submitted until Wednesday, February 10, 2016.  Email comments to mike.collins@safmc.net with “For-Hire Amend” and/or “Mackerel Amend 26” in the Subject line of the email.  

NOAA Fisheries Reminds Commercial Fishermen that the Recreational Bag Limit Applies for Some Species After a Commercial Closure if the Recreational Season is Open

July 17, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:

Atlantic Dolphin, Atlantic Wahoo, and Snapper-Grouper Species (Except for Wreckfish)

After the catch limit is met and the commercial sector is closed for Atlantic dolphin, Atlantic wahoo, or snapper-grouper species (except for wreckfish):

  • The recreational bag limit for these species applies to commercial vessels.
  • If a commercial vessel is on a trip that lasts longer than one day, each person onboard the commercial vessel is limited to only one day’s bag limit.
  • Sale and purchase of these species is prohibited.
  • The commercial closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels with a federal commercial permit.
  • The recreational bag limit for dolphin is 10 per person per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel, whichever is less, except on board a headboat, where the bag limit is 10 per paying passenger.
  • The recreational bag limit for wahoo is 2 fish per person per day.
  • Recreational bag limits for snapper-grouper species can be found at 50 CFR § 622.187.These measures apply from:
  • Maine through the east coast of Florida for dolphin and wahoo.
  • North Carolina/Virginia border through the east coast of Florida for snapper-grouper species (except black sea bass and scup).
  • Cape Hatteras, North Carolina through the east coast of Florida for black sea bass and scup.

Atlantic King and Spanish Mackerel

After the catch limit is met and the commercial sector is closed for Atlantic king or Spanish mackerel:

  • There is no recreational bag or possession limit that applies to commercial vessels, and commercial fishermen may NOT fish under the recreational bag limit of king mackerel and Spanish mackerel.
  • A person aboard a vessel that has both a valid charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic fish and a valid commercial vessel permit for king or Spanish mackerel, may continue to fish under a bag limit, provided the vessel is operating as a charter vessel or headboat.These measures apply from:
  • New York through the east coast of Florida.

NOAA Fisheries Announces the Re-opening of the Commercial Sector for Atlantic Dolphin

June 24, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:

Because we understand that commercial Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) vessels may occasionally catch Atlantic dolphin, we want to make sure Atlantic HMS permit holders are aware of the following action.

NMFS announces the re-opening of the commercial sector for Atlantic dolphin (dolphin) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the Atlantic states (Maine through the east coast of Florida) through a temporary rule. The most recent landings for dolphin indicate the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) has not yet been reached. Therefore, NMFS re-opens the commercial sector for dolphin at 4:15 p.m., local time, June 24, 2015, and it will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 30, 2015 in the EEZ of the Atlantic. A June 30, 2015, closure will minimize the risk of the commercial ACL being exceeded and provides more sufficient notice to fishermen of the closure.

For more information, please contact the NMFS Southeast Regional Office Sustainable Fisheries Division at 727-824-5305

 

Commercial Harvest of Atlantic Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi) Extended to June 30, 2015

June 24, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:

The commercial harvest of Atlantic dolphin from Maine through the east coast of Florida will reopen from 4:15 p.m. (local time), June 24, until 12:01 a.m. (local time) June 30.

Atlantic dolphin

A previous Federal Register notification announced the commercial sector for dolphin would close at 12:01 a.m. June 24, 2015. However, a landings update indicates the dolphin catch limit has not yet been met. Information received from fishermen after the notification indicates that some vessels are far offshore and need additional time to return to port. Therefore, we are reopening the commercial sector for five days to allow for the catch limit to be caught and for vessels to return to port without having to discard dolphin.

The operator of a vessel with a federal commercial permit for dolphin-wahoo that is landing dolphin for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such dolphin prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time), June 30.

The prohibition on sale does not apply to sale or purchase of dolphin that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time), June 30 and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.

During the closure:

  • Harvest or possession of dolphin is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits.
  • Sale and purchase of dolphin is prohibited.
  • The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels with a federal commercial permit.

This closure is necessary to protect the dolphin-wahoo fishery because the commercial annual catch limit will be reached.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has developed a fishery management plan amendment that would increase the commercial sector’s dolphin allocation from 7.54% to 10%, and the resulting catch limit from 1,157,001 pounds whole weight to 1,534,485 pounds whole weight. If the amendment is approved and landings are below the catch limit, the commercial sector will be reopened later this year.

Questions? Call 727-824-5305 or fax 727-824-5308.