Saving Seafood

Delmarva Watermen File Lawsuit Challenging New Rockfish Regulations

March 11, 2024 — Delmarva Fisheries Association Inc. (DFA) and Maryland Charter Boat Association (MCBA) have filed a formal lawsuit challenging the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) recent mandates that would reduce recreational fishing limits for striped bass (or rockfish) by more than 50%.

As WBOC’s Lauren Miller previously reported, ASMFC’s new regulations would reduce the recreational catch limit on striped bass from two bass 19-31 inches per person to one fish 19-24 inches per person. The new rules are currently slated to take effect May 1st. On the commercial side, fishermen would face a 7% reduction in harvest limits.

Read the full article at WBOC

SEDAR Begins Preparations for Benchmark Stock Assessment for the Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia

March 5, 2024 — The following was released by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The SouthEast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process has initiated a benchmark stock assessment for Atlantic migratory group (AMG) cobia to be completed in the fall of 2025. The goal of the assessment is to evaluate the health of AMG cobia and inform the Commission’s management of this species. SEDAR’s stock assessment process and meetings are open to the public.

As the first step in a multi-step method for determining the status of AMG cobia along the US Atlantic coast, SEDAR will be conducting a Data Scoping Webinar on March 18 from 1 – 3 p.m. Information on registering for the webinar is available by contacting Julie Neer, SEDAR Coordinator, at Julie.Neer@safmc.net.  Another six Data Webinars, each focusing on a different topic, will be conducted from June 3 – August 12. The final product of these data webinars is a data report which compiles and evaluates potential datasets and recommends which datasets are appropriate for assessment analyses.
 
The remaining two steps in the SEDAR process include an Assessment Process utilizing webinars and an in-person Review Workshop. The product of the Assessment Process is a stock assessment report which describes the fisheries, evaluates the status of the stock, estimates biological benchmarks, projects future population conditions, and recommends research and monitoring needs. The assessment is independently peer reviewed at the Review Workshop. The product of the Review Workshop is a Summary documenting panel opinions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the stock assessment and input data. Additional information on the schedule of events can be found at https://sedarweb.org/documents/sedar-95-atlantic-cobia-schedule-of-events/.
 
Participants for the upcoming SEDAR Workshops were appointed by the Commission’s Coastal Pelagics Management Board and NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Participants include: data collectors and database managers; stock assessment scientists, biologists, and researchers; and staff of the Commission and state and federal agencies.
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PR24-07
 
 
Tina Berger
Director of Communications
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200 A-N
Arlington, VA 22201
703.842.0749

Striped bass harvest restrictions trigger widespread impact

February 27, 2024 — It’s going to be a lean year for those who like to catch or eat Atlantic striped bass — with still leaner times perhaps to come.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which regulates inshore fishing for migratory species, has ordered new curbs, starting May 1, on both recreational and commercial catches of the popular finfish, also known as rockfish in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Amid persistent signs of trouble with the species, the commission’s striped bass management board decided Jan. 24 to limit all anglers in the Chesapeake and its tributaries to landing one striper a day, and only if it’s between 19 inches and 24 inches long. Ocean anglers likewise can keep just one fish a day, but with a narrower legal-size window of 28 to 31 inches.

Maryland and Virginia watermen, meanwhile, face a 7% reduction in their allowed commercial harvest of the fish.

Read the full article at the Bay Journal

ASMFC Releases 2023 Annual Report

February 24, 2024 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is pleased to present you with our 2023 Annual Report, https://asmfc.org/files/pub/2023ASMFCAnnualReport_web.pdf. In the report, you will find a quick guide to stock status for the 27 species and species groups the Commission manages; a fisheries management section, which focuses on species which had the most significant management or stock assessment activities in 2023; and sections highlighting our major accomplishments in 2023 in the areas of fisheries science, habitat conservation, and fishery data collection and management. Please visit the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org for additional information on any of our programs or activities.

The report reflects our Commissioners’ commitment to accountability and transparency in all they do to sustainably manage the stocks under their care.

ASMFC Releases Fish Habitat of Concern Designations for Commission-managed Fish and Shellfish Species

February 21, 2024 — The following was released by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

In recognition of the importance of protecting, restoring, and enhancing fish habitats along the Atlantic coast for the sustainability of fisheries, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission announces the release of its newest habitat document: Fish Habitat of Concern Designations for Fish and Shellfish Species. This document focuses on identifying Fish Habitat of Concern (FHOC) for fish and shellfish species managed solely by the Commission, aiming to concentrate conservation efforts on specific habitats that are ecologically invaluable and necessary to support each life stage of these species. It offers a comprehensive overview of the regulatory and policy framework for habitat descriptions in Commission fishery management plans and will serve as the primary habitat guidance document for Commission-managed species.

FHOCs constitute a subset of fish habitat, such as submerged aquatic vegetation, spawning grounds, or types of nearshore estuarine habitat, that are of high ecological importance, rare, sensitive, or vulnerable to development threats. These areas are defined based on criteria similar to federally-designated Habitat Areas of Particular Concern under the purview of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA). However, since species solely managed by the Commission do not fall under the MSA, their habitats currently lack federal legal protection, and consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service is not required.
This document addresses this gap in protection by emphasizing the critical role habitats play in fisheries production and ecosystem function. FHOC descriptions will be updated regularly as new information becomes available. The Commission believes that by highlighting the importance of these habitats for the species under its management, stakeholders and policymakers will better understand the need for targeted conservation efforts to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of Atlantic coast fisheries.
The document is available at http://asmfc.org/files/Habitat/FHOC_Designations_January2024.pdf. For more information, please contact Simen Kaalstad, Habitat Coordinator, at skaalstad@asmfc.org.

MAINE: Regulators keeping Maine elver fishery quota flat

February 16, 2024 — The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASFMC) is planning to maintain the same quota in the Maine elver fishery for at least the next few years, even as preliminary data indicates an abundance of the eels.

Maine’s elver, or glass eel, fishery has grown to be the state’s second-most valuable fishery, earning USD 20.1 million (EUR 18.7 million) in 2022 and USD 19.3 million (EUR 18.1 million) in 2023, with an average price per pound of USD 2,031 (EUR 1,894). Each year, the fishery has a quota of 9,688 pounds.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

SAVE THE DATE: ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board Meeting Scheduled for March 26, 1 – 3 PM

February 15, 2024 — Read the full article at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board will be meeting via webinar on March 26 from 1 – 3 PM to review and consider approval of Addendum II state implementation plans. The webinar information, draft agenda, and meeting materials will be posted to https://asmfc.org/calendar/3/2024/Atlantic-Striped-Bass-Management-Board/2283 by March 12th.

 
Public Comment Guidelines
With the intent of developing policies in the Commission’s procedures for public participation that result in a fair opportunity for public input, the ISFMP Policy Board has approved the following guidelines for use at management board meetings:
For issues that are not on the agenda, management boards will continue to provide opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of each board meeting. The Board Chair 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, the Board Chair will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. The Board Chair has the flexibility to decide 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, the Board Chair has 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 three weeks prior to the meeting (March 5) will be included in the briefing materials.
2.    Comments received by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 18 will be included in supplemental materials.
3.    Comments received by 10 a.m. on Friday, March 22 will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting.
 
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 and email.
 
For more information, please contact Emilie Franke, FMP Coordinator, at efranke@asmfc.org.

Meeting Summary, Motions and Presentations from the February 14th Meeting of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board Now Available

February 15, 2024 — The following was released the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The meeting summary, motions, and presentations from the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board’s February 14, 2024 meeting are now available athttps://asmfc.org/calendar/meeting-archive. Links to both files are also provided below. The recording of that meeting will be posted later today on the Meeting Archives page at http://www.asmfc.org/home/meeting-archive.

American Eel Board Releases Draft Addendum VI for Public Comment Draft Addendum Considers Maine’s Glass Eel Quota for 2025 and Beyond

February 7, 2024 — The Commission’s American Eel Management Board has released Draft Addendum VI to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Eel for public comment. The Board initiated the addendum to address Maine’s glass eel fishery quota, which expires at the end of 2024. Draft Addendum VI presents options to set Maine’s quota as well as the number of years the quota would remain in place once it is implemented, and whether or not an additional addendum would be required to maintain the same quota for subsequent years.

 
Addendum V, approved in August 2018, maintained Maine’s glass/elver eel quota of 9,688 pounds, previously established by Addendum IV, and specified that the quota be set for three years (2019-2021). The quota was extended for an additional three years (2022-2024) through Board action in 2021. Since Maine’s current glass eel quota of 9,688 pounds expires after 2024, the Board initiated Draft Addendum VI to establish a quota for the 2025 fishing season and beyond.
 
One virtual public hearing has been scheduled to gather public input on Draft Addendum VI on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Details on how to register and attend the hearing are provided below.
 
Webinar Instructions
In order to provide comment at any virtual or hybrid hearings, you will need to use your computer (voice over internet protocol) or download the GoToWebinar app for your phone. Those joining by phone only will be limited to listening to the presentation and will not be able to provide input. In those cases, you can send your comments to staff via email or US mail at any time during the public comment period. To attend the webinar in listen only mode, dial 562.247.8422 and enter access code 960-376-742.
 
To register for the public hearing webinar, please click HERE. The hearing will be held via GoToWebinar, and you can join the webinar from your computer, tablet or smartphone. If you are new to GoToWebinar, you can download the software by (clicking here) or via the App store under GoToWebinar. We recommend you register for the hearing well in advance of the hearing since GoToWebinar will provide you with a link to test your device’s compatibility with the webinar. If you find your device is not compatible, please contact the Commission at info@asmfc.org (subject line: GoToWebinar help) and we will try to get you connected. We also strongly encourage participants to use the computer voice over internet protocol (VoIP) so you can ask questions and provide input at the hearing. 
Submitting Comments
The Draft Addendum is available athttps://asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/AmericanEelDraftAddVI_GlassEelQuota_PublicComment.pdf or via the Commission’s website at http://www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input. Public comment will be 
accepted until 11:59 PM (EST) on March 24, 2024 and should be sent to Caitlin Starks, Senior FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201; or at comments@asmfc.org(Subject line: Glass Eel Draft Addendum VI).
 
For more information, please contact Caitlin Starks, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, atcstarks@asmfc.org.

States Schedule Public Hearings on American Eel Draft Addendum VII Draft Addendum Considers Changes to Commercial Yellow Eel Coastwide Harvest Cap

February 7, 2024 — The majority of Atlantic coastal states from New Hampshire through Virginia have scheduled hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum VII to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Eel. Draft Addendum VII considers management measures to reduce the commercial yellow eel coastwide harvest cap in response to the 2023 benchmark stock assessment, which found the stock remains depleted. The Draft Addendum also considers options to modify monitoring requirements based on recommendations from the stock assessment and Technical Committee. Some hearings will be conducted in-person, and some hearings will be conducted via webinar, or in a hybrid format. If your state does not hold a hearing, or you are unable to participate in your state’s scheduled hearing, you are welcome to participate in any of the virtual or hybrid hearings. The public hearing details follow:

Date and Hearing Format
State/Agency
Contact
Tuesday, February 20
Webinar Hearing
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection
 
The webinar registration link is available here, and additional webinar instructions are below.  
Joe Cimino
609.748.2063
 
 
Tuesday, February 27
Webinar Hearing
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
 
New Hampshire Fish and Game Dept.
 
The webinar registration link is available here, and additional webinar instructions are below.  
Cheri Patterson
603.868.1095
Tuesday, March 5
Webinar Hearing
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
 
New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation
 
The webinar registration link is available here, and additional webinar instructions are below.  
Jesse Hornstein631.444.0714
Thursday, March 7
In-person Hearing
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
 
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
 
Hearing Location:
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
380 Fenwick Road, Building 96
Fort Monroe, VA, 23651
Shanna Madsen757.247.2247
Tuesday, March 12
In-person Hearing
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
 
Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources
 
Hearing Location:
Tawes State Office Building, C-1
580 Taylor Avenue 
Annapolis, MD 21401
443.758.6547
 
 
 
Wednesday, March 13
Hybrid Hearing
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
 
Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
 
The webinar registration link is available here, and additional webinar instructions are below.
 
Hearing Location:
Dover Public Library
35 Loockerman Plaza 
Dover, DE 19901 
John Clark302.739.9108
The Board initiated Draft Addendum VII in August 2023 in response to findings of the 2023 Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report. The results of the assessment indicate the stock is at or near historically low levels due to a combination of historical overfishing, habitat loss, food web alterations, predation, turbine mortality, environmental changes, and toxins, contaminants, and disease. The assessment and peer review recommend reducing fishing mortality on the yellow eel life stage, while also recognizing that stock status is affected by other factors. The benchmark assessment proposed a new index-based tool for setting the yellow eel coastwide cap, since there is no statistical model for estimating the population size of American eel. This tool, called ITARGET, is an index-based method that needs only catch and abundance data from surveys to provide management advice on coastwide landings.
 
Draft Addendum VII also proposes options to reduce the requirements for biological sampling during young-of-year surveys conducted by the states, based on the stock assessment finding that individual length and pigment stage data are not useful for evaluating population trends. In addition, it considers changing the requirements for the collection of trip-level harvester data on catch per unit effort, and the policy used to determine if a state qualifies for de minimis status and can be exempt from implementing fishery regulations and monitoring requirements.
 
Webinar Instructions
In order to provide comment at any virtual or hybrid hearings, you will need to use your computer (voice over internet protocol) or download the GoToWebinar app for your phone. Those joining by phone only will be limited to listening to the presentation and will not be able to provide input. In those cases, you can send your comments to staff via email or US mail at any time during the public comment period. To attend the webinar in listen only mode, dial 562.247.8422 and enter access code 796-096-508. If your state does not hold a hearing, or you are unable to participate in your state’s scheduled hearing, you are welcome to participate in any of the virtual or hybrid hearings.
 
For all virtual or hybrid hearings, please click HERE and select the hearing(s) you plan to attend from the dropdown menu to register for a public hearing webinar. Hearings will be held via GoToWebinar, and you can join the webinar from your computer, tablet or smartphone. If you are new to GoToWebinar, you can download the software by (clicking here) or via the App store under GoToWebinar. We recommend you register for the hearing well in advance of the hearing since GoToWebinar will provide you with a link to test your device’s compatibility with the webinar. If you find your device is not compatible, please contact the Commission at info@asmfc.org (subject line: GoToWebinar help) and we will try to get you connected. We also strongly encourage participants to use the computer voice over internet protocol (VoIP) so you can ask questions and provide input at the hearing. 
 
Hearing Presentation Recording
For those who cannot attend any in-person or virtual hearings, the Commission will also post a recording of the hearing presentation on the Commission’s YouTube page so that stakeholders may watch the presentation and submit comment at any time during the comment process. This recording will be available by mid-February.
Submitting Comments
The Draft Addendum is available athttps://asmfc.org/files/Science/AmEelDraftAddendumVII_YellowEelCap_PublicComment_Feb2024.pdf or via the Commission’s website at http://www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input. All those interested in the management of American eel are encouraged to provide input either by participating in public hearings, which may be conducted via webinar, or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 11:59 PM (EST) on March 24, 2024 and should be sent to Caitlin Starks, Senior FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201; or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Yellow Eel Harvest Cap Draft Addendum).