May 23, 2017 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The meeting summary, motions and presentations from the May 22, 2017 meeting of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Board are available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/meeting-archive. The audio proceedings of that meeting will be posted to the website by 1 PM.
May 22, 2017 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The states of Massachusetts through Virginia have scheduled hearings to gather public comment on Draft Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Tautog. The details of those hearings follow.
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at 6 p.m.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
101 Academy Drive
Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Contact: Jared Silva at 617.626.1534
Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife
Thursday, June 22, 2017 at 6 p.m.
University of Rhode Island Bay Campus
Corless Auditorium
South Ferry Road
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Contact: Jason McNamee at 401.423.1943
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Monday, June 26, 2017 at 7 p.m.
CT DEEP Boating Education Center, Building 3
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Contact: Mark Alexander at 860.447.4322
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at 6:30 p.m.
NYSDEC Division of Marine Resources
205 Belle Mead Road, Suite 1
East Setauket, New York
Contact: John Maniscalco at 631.444.0437
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
Tuesday, June 27, 2017 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Ocean County Administration Building
Public Hearing Room 119
101 Hooper Avenue
Toms River, New Jersey
Contact: Russ Allen at 609.748.2020
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Wednesday, June 28, 2017 from 6 – 8 p.m.
DNREC Lewes Facility
901 Pilottown Road
Lewes, Delaware
Contact: John Clark at 302.739.9914
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 6 p.m.
Ocean Pines Library
11107 Cathell Road
Berlin, Maryland
Contact: Angel Willey at 410.456.0311
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
2600 Washington Avenue
Newport News, Virginia
Contact: Joe Cimino at 757.247.2236
The Draft Amendment proposes a fundamental change in tautog management, moving away from management on a coastwide basis towards regional management. In addition, Draft Amendment 1 proposes the establishment of a commercial harvest tagging program, as well as new goals and objectives, biological reference points and fishing mortality targets, and a stock rebuilding schedule.
Specifically, Draft Amendment 1 proposes delineating the stock into four regions due to differences in biology and fishery characteristics, as well as limited coastwide movement.
Table 1. Four-Region Management Approach
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1) Massachusetts – Rhode Island |
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2) Long Island Sound (CT and NY LIS) |
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3) New Jersey – New York Bight |
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4) Delaware – Maryland – Virginia |
Management options by region have been developed in response to the 2016 stock assessment update. Long Island Sound and New Jersey-New York Bight would be required to take harvest reductions due to the regional overfishing stock status, while Massachusetts-Rhode Island and Delaware-Maryland-Virginia would not have to take harvest reductions, but are proposing regional measures.
A commercial harvest tagging program is being proposed to address an illegal, unreported and undocumented fishery that has persisted for more than a decade. Reports of illegally harvested fish have been documented in cases against fishermen, fish houses, and at retail markets and restaurants. The tagging program, which would accommodate both the live and dead commercial markets, was recommended by the Commission’s Law Enforcement Committee to increase accountability in the fishery and curb illegal harvest. A tautog tag trial was conducted to investigate the impact of the tags on the resource and found no mortality or degradation to fish health.
The Draft Amendment is available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/Tautog_DraftAmendment1_PublicComment_May2017.pdf or on the Commission website, www.asmfc.org (under Public Input). Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Amendment either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on July 14, 2017 and should be forwarded to Ashton Harp, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at aharp@asmfc.org(Subject line: Tautog Draft Amendment 1).
Final action on the Amendment is scheduled to occur in August. For more information, please contact Ashton Harp, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at aharp@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.
May 19, 2017 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The supplemental meeting materials for Monday’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Board are available at http://www.asmfc.org/calendar/5/2017/Summer-Flounder,-Scup-and-Black-Sea-Bass-Board-Conf-Call/1052.
The materials include the Technical Committee Report on New Jersey’s Proposal and New Jersey’s Notification to Implement Conservation Equivalency Measures. The direct link to those materials is http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/SFLScBSB_BoardConfCallSuppMaterials_May22_2017.pdf.
May 18, 2017 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board will meet via conference call on Monday, May 22 at 12:30 p.m. to review the Technical Committee’s report on New Jersey’s 2017 summer flounder recreational fishery proposal and consider final action on New Jersey’s measures.
The Board tasked the Technical Committee with reviewing the technical merits of the New Jersey’s proposal in meeting both the objectives of the proposal and the objectives of Addendum XXVIII. Addendum XXVIII, approved by the Board in February 2017, requires a one‐inch increase in size limit and a reduction in possession limits to no more than four fish to constrain coastwide harvest to the 2017 recreational harvest limit (RHL). These measures are broadly applied across all states to reduce harvest and provide for more coastwide consistency in regulations. The measures approved in the Addendum seek to achieve the 2017 RHL.
The public is welcome to listen to the discussion by phone (888.394.8197; passcode 815277) and view the webinar using the following link – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/499991200830679809.
The meeting agenda and materials are available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/SFLScBSB_BoardConfCallMaterials_May22_2017.pdf.
The Technical Committee report on New Jersey’s proposal will be posted, no later than 5 PM on May 19th, at http://www.asmfc.org/calendar/5/2017/Summer-Flounder,-Scup-and-Black-Sea-Bass-Board-Conf-Call/1052.
Time permitting, there will be a limited opportunity to provide comments at the end of the agenda. The Board Chair will outline the procedures for accepting public comment at the beginning of the conference call. We ask the public and other nonparticipating attendees to please mute their phones in order to minimize distractions to the Board’s deliberations.
For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, ISFMP Director, at tkerns@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.
May 17, 2017 — Interstate regulators approved a host of new rules in the Atlantic herring fishery in an attempt to avoid another bait shortage like the one that befell the lobster industry last year.
Herring are the most important bait for the lobster fishery, which is based in New England. Herring was frequently expensive and scarce last summer, especially north of Cape Ann, and the shortage sent ripples through the lobster supply chain.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved new rules last week. The commission says the rules are intended to stabilize the rate of catch in the near-shore area of the Gulf of Maine, a critical fishing area for herring boats.
Read the full story from the Associated Press at the Gloucester Times
May 17, 2017 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The presentations and audio files from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2017 Spring Meeting are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2017-spring-meeting; go to the relevant board header and click on either “Presentations” or “Audio.” Some Boards may have two audio links given the length of the meetings.
May 12, 2017 — Fishing regulators are pulling away from a plan to liberalize the regulation of the commercial and recreational striped bass fishery.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission was considering sending new rules for the fishery out to public comment, but chose not to this week. The commission will instead wait until the results of a new assessment of the striped bass stock.
Striped bass have been fished commercially from Maine to North Carolina over the years. The fishery was worth more than $18 million in 2015. Striped bass are also a very popular recreational sport fish.
The commission had been considering allowing more catch of the fish. Members were concerned that changing the management of the fishery could result in over-harvest.
May 12, 2017 — It appears that a compromise may be close on this year’s summer flounder regulations.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the state are close to agreeing on a recreational season of three summer flounder at 18 inches. The season would be shortened to 104 days from May 25 to September 5.
The commission had voted on Option 5, which was a 19-inch size limit, a three-fish bag limit and a 128 day season. New Jersey then appealed it, and has still not approved the summer flounder regulations for this year.
The compromise will need to be reviewed by the commission’s Technical Committee and then voted on by the ASMFC, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said.
“We look forward to the ASFMC’s Technical Committee’s review next week and, hopefully, a final positive commission decision. We still have some steps to go through, but we’re hopeful that New Jersey’s economically vital recreational fishing industry will be saved this summer,” said Bob Martin, Commissioner of the NJDEP.
The compromise would allow New Jersey to keep a three-fish at 17-inch fish limit in place in Delaware bay west of the COLREGS line, the water boundary line between the state and Delaware.
May 12, 2017 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Northern Shrimp Section (Section) releases Draft Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Northern Shrimp for public consideration and input. The states of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the Draft Amendment. The details of those hearings follow.
Maine Department of Marine Resources
Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at 6 PM
Maine Department of Marine Resources
Conference Room #118
32 Blossom Lane
Augusta, Maine
Contact: Terry Stockwell at 207.624.6553
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Thursday, June 8, 2017 at 6 PM
Ellsworth City Hall Conference Room
1 City Hall Plaza
Ellsworth, Maine
Contact: Terry Stockwell at 207.624.6553
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New Hampshire Fish and Game
Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 7 PM
Urban Forestry Center
45 Elwyn Road
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Contact: Doug Grout at 603.868.1095
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Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries
Monday, June 5, 2017 at 6 PM
MA DMF Annisquam River Station
30 Emerson Avenue
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Contact: Kelly Whitmore at 978.282.0308
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The Section initiated Draft Amendment 3 with the intention of considering a limited entry program to address overcapacity in the fishery. In the 2010 and 2011 fishing seasons, increased fishing effort and untimely reporting resulted in early season closures and an overharvest of the total allowable catch (TAC). The 2012 fishing season was further restricted, resulting in a 21-day trawl season and a 17-day trap season. In the 2013 fishing season, despite the fact that only 55% of the TAC was harvested, the fishing mortality rate (0.53) was estimated above the target (0.38). In December 2013, the Section established a moratorium for the 2014 fishing season due to recruitment failure and a collapsed stock. The moratorium was maintained each year, through 2017, in response to the continued depleted condition of the stock.
Due to the uncertainty about if and when the resource would rebuild and the fishery reopen, the Section shifted the focus of Draft Amendment 3 to consider measures to improve management of the northern shrimp fishery and resource. Proposed options in the Draft Amendment include state-by-state allocations and accountability measures to better manage effort in the fishery. The Draft Amendment also explores the mandatory use of size sorting grate systems to minimize harvest of small (presumably male) shrimp, as well as reporting measures to ensure all harvested shrimp are being reported.
Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Amendment either by attending public hearings or providing written comments. The Draft Amendment can be obtained at http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/NShrimpDraftAmd3_PublicComment.pdf or via the Commission’s website,www.asmfc.org, under Public Input. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on June 21, 2017 and should be forwarded to Max Appelman, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at mappelman@asmfc.org (Subject line: Northern Shrimp). For more information, please contact Max Appelman at mappelman@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.
May 12, 2017 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board approved Addendum XXIX to the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. The Addendum shortens the length of the commercial scup summer period and extends the length of the winter II period (Table 1).
Table 1. New Quota Periods approved in Addendum XXIX
| Winter I | January 1-April 30 (120 days) |
| Summer | May 1- September 30 (153 days) |
| Winter II | October 1-December 31 (92 days) |
This action seeks to allow for the better utilization of the commercial quota, which has been under-harvested since 2011. Specifically, the change in quota period length allows for higher possession limits for a longer period of time each year, thus increasing the likelihood the commercial fishery will fully harvest the quota. The quota allocation for each period remains unchanged. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) also took the same action through Framework 10. The Council will forward its recommendation to NOAA Fisheries for final approval.The Board and Council’s action will not affect the 2017 quota period start and end dates; these changes will likely be implemented for 2018 commercial quota. The Addendum will be finalized and available on the Commission website, www.asmfc.org (on the Scup webpage), within the next few weeks.
The Board also reviewed the final 2016 black sea bass recreational harvest estimates and considered changes to current measures to meet the 2017 RHL. Based on the performance of the 2016 fishery, which indicated a reduction is needed to stay within the 2017 RHL, the Board set the possession limit for wave 6 (November/December 2017) at five fish in state waters from Rhode Island through New Jersey. All other state measures remain unchanged from 2016.