Saving Seafood

ASMFC September/October issue of Fisheries Focus Now Available

October 21st, 2016 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission: 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

 Upcoming Meetings

page 2

 From the Executive Director’s Desk

Celebrating the Past, Honoring the Present and Envisioning the Future

page 3

Species Profile

Weakfish

page 4

 Fishery Management Actions

ASMFC & MAFMC Set Specifications

Coastal Sharks

Atlantic Menhaden

Horseshoe Crab

Cobia

American Lobster

Tautog

page 9

 ACCSP

Maine Launches eDR Swipe Card System for Sea Urchin

page 11

 Science Highlight

Atlantic Menhaden Harvester and Dealer Survey Participants Sought for Socioeconomic Survey

page 11

 ASMFC Comings & Goings

page 13

 New Species Coordinator Assignments

page 13

 Past issues of Fisheries Focus can be found at http://www.asmfc.org/search/%20/%20/Fishery-Focus.

———-

Tina Berger

Director of Communications

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N

Arlington, VA 22201

 

703.842.0740

tberger@asmfc.org

www.asmfc.org

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ASMFC 75th Annual Meeting Supplemental Materials Now Available

October 20, 2016 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Supplemental materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 75TH Annual Meeting have been posted at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2016-annual-meeting for the following Boards/Committees (click on “Supplemental” following each relevant committee header to access the information).

Spiny Dogfish Management Board – Spiny Dogfish 2017 Specifications Review; MAFMFC October 2016 Meeting Summary

Coastal Sharks Management Board – NOAA Fisheries Presentation on HMS Amendment 5b Proposed Rule; AP Nomination

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board – Advisory Panel Meeting Summary; Public Comment

Executive Committee – Meeting Summary from August 2016; Draft ASMFC Standard Operating Procedures for Meetings

South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board – FMP Reviews for Black Drum, Spanish Mackerel and Spotted Seatrout; Advisory Panel Nominations

Tautog Management Board – Guidance on Reference Points

Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board – FMP Reviews for Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass (NOTE: Two additional documents will be posted on Friday – Memo on Preliminary Black Sea Bass Commercial Landings and Meeting Summary of the 2017 Summer Flounder Recreational Management Working Group).

Shad and River Herring Management Board – Technical Committee Report on  Review of the Nemasket River Sustainable Fishery Management Plan; MAFMFC Press Release and Motions on Shad and River Herring

Horseshoe Crab Management Board – Horseshoe Crab and Delaware Bay Ecosystem Technical Committees’ Meeting Summary; FMP Review

ACCSP Coordinating Council – ACCSP Transition Document and Draft MOU

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board – Advisory panel Report on Draft Amendment 3 Public Information Document; Public Comment

ISFMP Policy Board – Revised Draft Agenda and Meeting Overview; Conservation Equivalency Memo; meeting Summary of the Climate Change and Fisheries management Work Group; Draft Correspondence to BOEM; Presentation on National Park Service Director’s Order

American Lobster Management Board – American Lobster Draft Addendum XXV; Technical Committee Report on Season Closures and Trip Limits in the SNE Lobster Fishery; FMP Review for American Lobster

For ease of access, supplemental meeting materials have combined into one PDF –http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/2016AnnualMeeting/CombinedSupplementalMaterials_rev.pdf.

As a reminder, Board/Section meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar athttps://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6632926318150310403 beginning at 8:30 a.m. on October 24th, continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 4:00 p.m.) on October 27th.  The webinar will allow registrants to listen to the proceedings of the Commission’s management boards/sections during the 75thAnnual Meeting, October 24-27, 2016. Registrants will also be able to view presentations and motions as they occur. No comments or questions will be accepted via the webinar. Should technical difficulties arise during the streaming of the broadcast, the boards/sections will continue their deliberations without interruption. We will attempt to resume the broadcast as soon as possible. Board/Section summaries, presentations, and audio files will be available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2016-Annual-Meeting  the week of October 30th.

Interstate lobster conservation plan up for key vote soon

October 20, 2016 — BAR HARBOR, Maine — Interstate fishing managers will vote next week on whether to send a proposal to try to rebuild the southern New England lobster population out for public comment.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has been working on new management measures to try to preserve lobsters in the waters of southern New England.

The commission is meeting on Oct. 27 in Bar Harbor, Maine, to decide whether to send the management proposal to the public for consideration.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Times

ASMFC Northern Shrimp Section and Advisory Panel to Meet November 10th to Set 2017 Fishery Specifications

October 17th, 2016 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Comission:  

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Northern Shrimp Section (Section) and Advisory Panel will meet on November 10, 2016 in Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; 603.431.6774. The Advisory Panel will meet in the morning (10-11:30 a.m.) to review the 2016 Stock Status Report and Technical Committee recommendations, and formulate recommendations to the Section for the 2017 fishing season. The Section will meet in the afternoon (1-3 p.m.) to set 2017 specifications after reviewing the 2016 Stock Status Report, as well as the recommendations from the Technical Committee and Advisory Panel.  

For the past three fishing seasons (2014-2016), based on the status of the resource, which is considered at record low levels and experiencing poor recruitment since 2012, a moratorium has been in place for the Gulf of Maine northern shrimp fishery. 

Both meetings are open to the public. The draft agendas for the meetings can be found at http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/NoShrimp_Section_AP_Nov2016.pdf. For more information, please contact Max Appelman, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at mappelman@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.    

Directed Atlantic Herring Fishery Closure for Management Area 1A

October 17th, 2016 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission: 

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) projects the Atlantic herring fishery will catch approximately 92% of the Area 1A sub-ACL by October 18, 2016. The Area 1A directed fishery will close effective 12:01 a.m. on October 18, 2016 and remain closed until further notice. Vessels that have entered port before 12:01 a.m. on October 18, 2016, may land and sell from that trip more than 2,000 pounds of herring from Area 1A.

Vessels participating in the herring Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program may continue to fish in Area 1A for the remainder of the fishing year, and land, subject to state landing restrictions, greater than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring provided they are on a declared herring RSA trip. 

During a closure, vessels participating in other fisheries may retain and land an incidental catch of herring that does not exceed 2,000 pounds per trip or calendar day. In addition, directed herring vessels traveling through Area 1A must have all fishing gear stowed.

In accordance with the Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring, the fixed gear set-aside of 295 metric tons will continue to be available to fixed gear fishermen operating in Area 1A west of Cutler, Maine through December 31, 2016.

If you have any questions please contact Ashton Harp at aharp@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

ASMFC 75th Annual Meeting Final Agenda and Meeting Materials

October 12th, 2016 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Comission: 

The final agenda and meeting materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 75TH Annual Meeting can be obtained at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2016-annual-meeting; click on the relevant Board/Committee name to access the documents for that Board/Committee.  

For ease of access, Board/Section meeting documents (with the exception of the materials for the Atlantic Menhaden Board and ACCSP Coordinating Council due to file size) have been combined into one PDF. Supplemental materials will be posted to the website on October 19, 2016. The agenda is subject to change. The agenda reflects the current estimate of time required for scheduled meetings. The Commission may adjust this agenda in accordance with the actual duration of meetings. Interested parties should anticipate meetings starting earlier or later than indicated herein.

Board/Section meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning at 8:30 a.m. on October 24th and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 4:00 p.m.) on Thursday October 27th. The webinar will allow registrants to listen to board/section deliberations and view presentations and motions as they occur. No comments or questions will be accepted via the webinar. Should technical difficulties arise while streaming the broadcast, the boards/sections will continue their deliberations without interruption. We will attempt to resume the broadcast as soon as possible.

Please go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6632926318150310403 to register.

 As a reminder, the guidelines for 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) are as follows: 

1.   Comments received 3 weeks prior to the start of a meeting week will be included with the main meeting materials.

2.   Comments received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday immediately preceding the scheduled ASMFC Meeting (in this case, the Tuesday deadline will be October 18, 2016) will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting and a limited number of copies will be provided at the meeting.

3.   Following the Tuesday, October 18, 2016  5:00 PM deadline, the commenter will be responsible for distributing the information to the management board prior to the board meeting or providing enough copies for the management board consideration at the meeting (a minimum of 50 copies).

The submitted comments must clearly indicate the commenter’s expectation from the ASMFC staff regarding distribution.  As with other public comment, it will be accepted via mail, fax, and email.

Council Votes to Continue Collaborative Efforts on River Herring and Shad

October 12th, 2016 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Based on a comprehensive review of existing and planned conservation and management efforts, last week the Council determined that management of river herring and shad (RH/S) through a Council fishery management plan (FMP) is not warranted. However, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to participating with partners in the conservation and management of RH/S, noting that it will continue to protect RH/S stocks by proactively using the tools provided in the recently-approved Ecosystem Approaches to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Guidance Document. The Council will also continue to use catch caps to incentivize harvesters to reduce river herring and shad bycatch.

The four species under consideration included two species of river herrings (blueback herring and alewife) and two species of shads (American shad and hickory shad). These stocks are currently managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).

In the late 2000s concerns were brought to the Council that bycatch in high-volume fisheries such as Atlantic mackerel may be negatively impacting RH/S populations. These concerns led the Council to implement a limit on the catch of RH/S in the Atlantic mackerel fishery. The Council has also worked to improve data by increasing vessel and dealer reporting requirements and collaborating with NOAA Fisheries on an amendment to increase observer coverage in the Atlantic mackerel fishery. The New England Fishery Management Council has taken similar steps to address RH/S catch in the Atlantic herring fishery.

The Council has also worked to address RH/S conservation through participation on an interdisciplinary River Herring Technical Expert Working Group (TEWG). The TEWG has provided and compiled information used by NOAA Fisheries and the ASMFC in the development and execution of a proactive conservation plan focused on river herring. The TEWG has funded several important projects to enhance our understanding of RH/S bycatch and the species’ overall population health.

Prior to the meeting the Council received a large number of public comments on the issue, all of which supported the development of a Council FMP for RH/S. The Council considered these comments thoroughly but ultimately determined that the management of RH/S under a Council FMP is not appropriate at this time.

 The Council’s decision not to add these stocks to the fishery management plan for Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish was largely based on the fact that RH/S are already managed by the ASMFC and that the catch caps set by the Council have kept incidental catch very low compared to historic levels. There is no evidence that RH/S are targeted in Federal fisheries, and the Council concluded that an FMP would not substantially improve the condition of RH/S stocks.

 Additional background information and documents about river herring and shad can be found at http://www.mafmc.org/rhs/. 

Atlantic Herring Massachusetts/New Hampshire Spawning Closure in Effect Starting October 2, 2016 through October 29, 2016

September 27th, 2016 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Under Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring, Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) fishery regulations include seasonal spawning closures for portions of state and federal waters in Eastern Maine, Western Maine and Massachusetts/New Hampshire. In 2016, the Commission’s Atlantic Herring Section approved a one-year pilot of a new forecasting method that relies upon at least three samples, each containing at least 25 female herring in gonadal stages III-V, to trigger a spawning closure.

Sampling in the Massachusetts/New Hampshire spawning area (Figure 1) began on August 8, 2016; nine samples totaling 654 female herring were collected to evaluate spawning condition. Based on the analysis of the samples, theMassachusetts/New Hampshire (MA/NH) spawning area will be closed starting 12:01 a.m. on October 2, 2016 extending through 11:59 p.m. on October 29, 2016.

Vessels in the directed Atlantic herring fishery cannot take, land or possess Atlantic herring caught within the MA/NH spawning area during this time and must have all fishing gear stowed when transiting the area. Due to landing day restrictions in Trimester 3 (October 1-December 31) vessels will not be allowed to land prior to the onset of the MA/NH spawning closure. Therefore, if a vessel harvests herring from the MA/NH spawning area on October 1, it will be in violation of the Atlantic Herring FMP starting on October 2 at 12:01 a.m. (when the MA/NH spawning closure takes effect).  The Eastern Maine spawning area will be open to the directed Atlantic herring fishery at the start of Trimester 3.  For more information on landing day restrictions in Trimester 3, see the ASFMC memo released on September 21, 2016.

An incidental bycatch allowance of up to 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring per trip per calendar day applies to vessels in non-directed fisheries that are fishing within the Massachusetts/New Hampshire spawning area.

For more information, please contact Ashton Harp, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at 703.842.0740 or aharp@asmfc.org.

Atlantic Herring Landing Days Set for Area 1A Trimester 3

September 21, 2016 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

This release revises the September 16th release by modifying the end time of Maine’s landing period and clarifying that vessels may only land once every 24-hour period.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Herring Section (Section) members from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts met via conference call on Friday, September 16, 2016 to discuss Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) days out measures for Trimester 3 (October 1 – December 31). Section members, with input from industry, agreed to four consecutive landing days until 92% of the Area 1A sub-ACL is projected to be harvested or until further notice. Vessels may only land once every 24-hour period.

Beginning on October 2, 2016: Vessels in the State of Maine may land herring starting at 6:00 p.m. on Sundays up to 5:59 p.m. on Thursdays.

Beginning on October 3, 2016: Vessels in the State of New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may land herring starting at 12:00 a.m. on Mondays up to 11:59 p.m. on Thursdays.

Trimester 3 landings will be closely monitored and the directed fishery will close when 92% of the Area 1A sub-ACL is projected to be reached. Fishermen are prohibited from landing more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring per trip from Area 1A until the start of Trimester 3. For more information, please contact Ashton Harp, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at 703.842.0740 or aharp@asmfc.org.

U.S. Seafood Producers to White House: Don’t Harm Fisheries for Ocean Monuments

September 12, 2016 — The following was released by the National Coalition for Fishing Communities:

WASHINGTON — Today, in advance of the “Our Oceans” conference being held later this week at the State Department, the National Coalition for Fishing Communities (NCFC) delivered a letter to the White House calling on the President to refrain from designating new marine monuments under the Antiquities Act. Copies of the letter were also delivered to the offices of Senators representing the states of the signers.

The letter, with over 900 fishing industry signers and supported by 35 fishing organizations that represent the majority of domestic seafood harvesters, instead urges the President to conserve marine resources through the federal fisheries management process established by the bipartisan Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Management Act (MSA).

“The federal fisheries management process is among the most effective systems for managing living marine resources in the world,” the letter states. “The misuse of the Antiquities Act to create a marine monument is a repudiation of past and ongoing efforts to make Magnuson-Stevens management even more effective.”

The NCFC members join an ever-growing list of fishing organizations and individuals opposing new ocean monuments via use of the Antiquities Act. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Council Coordination Committee, and over two dozen individual fish and seafood industry trade organizations have previously written to the White House asking for the MSA continue to guide fisheries management.

Mayors from major East and West coast ports have previously expressed their concerns with monument designations in letters to the White House. NCFC members have also spoke out in opposition to designating a monument off the coast of New England, which would hurt the valuable red crab, swordfish, tuna, and offshore lobster fisheries.

Today’s letter was signed by the following fishing organizations:

  • Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers
  • American Scallop Association
  • American Albacore Fisheries Association
  • At-Sea Processors Association
  • Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Association
  • Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen’s Association
  • California Fisheries and Seafood Institute
  • California Lobster & Trap Fishermen’s Association
  • California Sea Urchin Commission
  • California Wetfish Producers Association
  • Coalition of Coastal Fisheries
  • Coos Bay Trawlers
  • Directed Sustainable Fisheries
  • Fisheries Survival Fund
  • Fishermen’s Dock Co-Op
  • Garden State Seafood Association
  • Golden King Crab Coalition
  • Groundfish Forum
  • Hawaii Longline Association
  • Long Island Commercial Fishing Association
  • Midwater Trawlers Cooperative
  • National Fisheries Institute
  • North Carolina Fisheries Association
  • Oregon Trawl Commission
  • Organized Fishermen of Florida
  • Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations
  • Pacific Seafood Processors Association
  • Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative
  • Southeastern Fisheries Association
  • Sustainable Fisheries Coalition
  • United Catcher Boats
  • Ventura County Commercial Fishermen’s Association
  • Washington Trollers Association
  • West Coast Seafood Processors Association
  • Western Fishboat Owners Association

Read the letter here