Saving Seafood

States comply with new striped bass catch curbs as more limits are considered

May 7, 2024 — With errant states falling in line with new striped bass catch curbs, East Coast fishery managers agreed last week to consider imposing still more limits on recreational fishing later this year to help the struggling fish recover.

The striped bass management board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which regulates inshore fishing for migratory species, accepted revised plans May 1 from Maryland, Pennsylvania and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission for making required cutbacks in recreational and commercial harvests.

The board had rejected the three jurisdictions’ plans in March, putting them in jeopardy of having the federal government shut down all fishing for striped bass if the deficiencies weren’t corrected.

At issue for Maryland and the bi-state Potomac fisheries agency were their plans to delay action until 2026 if their 2024 commercial harvests exceeded the reduced level ordered by the Atlantic States commission.

The commission in January had ordered reductions in recreational and commercial catch amid concerns over an unexpected jump in recreational catch along the coast and surveys finding poor reproduction in the Chesapeake Bay, where most of the coastwide stock is spawned.

Read the full story at the Bay Journal

ASMFC Presents 2024 Annual Awards of Excellence

May 2, 2024 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Last evening, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission presented its Annual Awards of Excellence to a number of individuals for their outstanding contributions to management, scientific, and law enforcement efforts along the Atlantic coast. Specifically, the 2024 award recipients are Phil Edwards for management and policy contributions; Nicole Lengyel Costa and Laura Lee for technical and scientific contributions; and Deputy Chief Jason Snellbaker 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 Awards Committee Chair Spud Woodward of Georgia. “I am humbled by the breadth and extent of accomplishments of the recipients and am grateful for their dedication to Atlantic coast fisheries.”

Management and Policy Contributions

Phil Edwards of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Phil has been an active and integral member on several Commission species management boards over the years, including serving as Chair of the American Eel, and Shad and River Herring Boards. Management of these diadromous resources is challenging due to data limitations and the various threats they face throughout their extensive range between freshwater and ocean ecosystems. Under his leadership, Phil has been able to deftly guide management of these species. As board chair and member on other boards, Phil has brought a wealth of knowledge and policy acumen to all his Commission endeavors, and the Commission at-large has benefitted from Phil’s work ethic, leadership, and expertise.

Phil’s strong policy and fisheries management skills are backed by over 20 years of participation on various technical committees and assessment work for Commission species. His extensive knowledge and years of work on fish passage has improved conservation of diadromous fish in Rhode Island, and by extension along the East Coast, and serves as an example of his dedication to these efforts.

Scientific and Technical Contributions

Nicole Lengyel Costa of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

For many years, Nicole has been an engaged and important member of several Commission technical committees, fish ageing projects, and plan development teams, and has served as Chair of the Atlantic Striped Bass Technical Committee for the past few years.

Aside from her technical contributions, Nicole has helped the Commission develop several particularly tricky management actions for striped bass, including recent actions to stop overfishing and aid in stock rebuilding. These actions were structurally complex and Nicole, working closely with her colleagues at the Commission, put together well-crafted documents in order for the public to understand and comment on these complicated proposed measures.

In addition to her efforts with striped bass, Nicole is a long serving member of the ACCSP Operations Committee and has been involved with age and growth work used in stock assessments across Commission species. Nicole brings to all her endeavors a strong scientific skill set and a keen understanding of fisheries management policy. Her efforts not only benefit Rhode Island but fisheries science and management activities along the entire East Coast.

Laura Lee of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and formerly with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NC DMF)

Laura has been involved in Commission stock assessments for nearly 25 years, including some of the first stock assessments for species such as Atlantic croaker, American eel, and spot. She has advanced fisheries science through the development of innovative approaches to common issues faced by stock assessments and the contribution of years of expertise and mentorship to numerous stock assessment subcommittees and scientists along the Atlantic coast. There is hardly a coastal Atlantic species Laura has not worked on, having been involved with or serving as chair on technical committees or stock assessment subcommittees for a multitude of species. During her time as a stock assessment scientist with NC DMF, she developed numerous codes for routine analyses used by the majority of Commission stock assessments today. With her new position as an ecologist at the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Laura will continue her productive fisheries career.

Aside from these professional accomplishments, Laura is an invaluable resource on Atlantic coast fish species and stock assessment methods. She is generous with her time and has mentored several fisheries scientists through complex analyses and approaches. Laura provided advanced statistical analysis and guidance to DMF staff for virtually every FMP adopted during her tenure. Some of these scientists have 3 gone on serve on Commission technical committees and to further their careers at other state agencies, NOAA Fisheries, and in academia. Despite her formal transition off Commission and Division committees due to her new role, she has continued to show her dedication to Atlantic species by regularly participating in committee meetings and providing valuable feedback to keep science projects moving forward.

Law Enforcement Contributions

Deputy Chief Jason Snellbaker of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Law Enforcement

Since becoming a member of the Commission’s Law Enforcement Committee (LEC) in 2014, Jason has promoted the role of law enforcement in fisheries management. He has represented the Committee on a number of species management boards, including tautog; summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass; Atlantic sturgeon; and bluefish. He has been the voice of the LEC on critical topics such as commercial tautog tagging and the summer flounder research set aside program.

During Jason’s time with the LEC, he was selected by his peers to serve in a leadership role as Vice-chair and Chair. He accepted these roles during the pandemic, a particularly challenging time for the LEC as members were drawn to other responsibilities in their home states. Jason kept the flow of communication open and provided steady leadership by staying on as Chair for an extended period. At the state level, Jason’s exceptional leadership has been recognized by both NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement for his efforts in support of the Cooperative Enforcement Program, and by the Commission for his work as part of a team of officers working in the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife marine region. He has also promoted marine fisheries law enforcement in forums such as the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs where he took on an advisory role and participated in an exchange program with an agency in Belize. 

US regulators maintain fishing quota for valuable baby eels, even as Canada struggles with poaching

May 2, 2024 — U.S. regulators decided Wednesday to allow American fishermen to harvest thousands of pounds of valuable baby eels in the coming years, even as authorities have shuttered the industry in Canada while they grapple with poaching.

Baby eels, also called elvers, are harvested from rivers and streams by fishermen every spring. The tiny fish are sometimes worth more than $2,000 per pound because of their high value to Asian aquaculture companies.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission decided Wednesday that U.S. fishermen will be allowed to harvest a little less than 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms) of the eels per year. That quota, which holds current levels, will stand through at least 2027 and could be extended beyond that year, the panel decided.

Read the full story at the AP

ASMFC Seeks Proposals for the Upgrade of its Website Proposals Due May 7, 2024

April 6, 2024 — The following was released by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission releases this Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify a qualified vendor to plan, execute, and deliver, and potentially host, the upgrade ofhttps://asmfc.org/ to aid in promoting the mission, vision, and programs of the Commission. ASMFC requires a vendor who has demonstrated experience in managing website projects and expertise with best practices regarding successful website design, development, and deployment.

As the Commission’s primary outreach tool, the website serves as a platform to promote the programs and activities of the Commission. It provides detailed information on the 27 species managed by the Commission, as well as information on the science, data collection, habitat conservation, and law enforcement programs that support our fisheries management activities. It contains a vast archive of current and historical documents (5,000+ documents), including management and science documents, management board proceedings, technical committee reports, press releases and newsletters. It serves as a resource for a wide array of stakeholders that follow our activities and provide input on proposed management actions.

The website should serve as an information portal for the programs and activities of the Commission. It should be able to address the needs of its various target audiences from those who are active and participate in the Commission’s activities, to those who are interested in the Commission’s programs, and those who may be unfamiliar with the Commission and are coming to the website to learn more and become better informed about fisheries management along the Atlantic coast.

The ideal developer for this project should be able to design and execute a dynamic and modern website, while also being willing to work closely with the Commission to create a website that is easy to update by the web manager.

Applicants seeking to apply to the RFP must submit, as a single file, an electronic proposal by email no later than midnight on May 7, 2024, to Tina Berger at tberger@asmfc.org. Please see the RFP for complete proposal details, qualifying requirements, and submission instructions. The RFP is available at https://asmfc.org/files/RFPs/ASMFC_WebsiteRFP_April2024.pdf.   For more information, please contact Tina Berger, Director of Communications, at tberger@asmfc.org or 703.842.0749.

ASMFC Atlantic Herring Days Out Meeting Scheduled for April 24, 1 – 2:30 PM

April 4, 2024 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Atlantic Herring Management Board members from the states of Maine, New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will meet via webinar on April 24, 2024 from 1 to 2:30 p.m., to discuss days out measures for the 2024 Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) fishing season. Days out measures can include specification of the number of consecutive landings days, weekly landings limits, and restrictions on at-sea transfers. The webinar and call information is included below:
 
Atlantic Herring Days Out Meeting
Wednesday, April 24
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
 
You can join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone at the following link:https://meet.goto.com/405812685. If you are new to GoToMeeting, you can download the app ahead of time (click here) and be ready before the meeting starts. For audio, the meeting will be using the computer voice over internet protocol (VoIP), but if you are joining the webinar from your phone only, you can dial in at +1 (571) 317-3112 and enter access code 405-812-685 when prompted. The webinar will start at 12:45 p.m., 15 minutes early, to troubleshoot audio as necessary.
 
Federally-permitted Herring Category A vessels must declare into the Area 1A fishery at least 45 days prior to the start of the fishing season. Small-mesh bottom trawl vessels with a federal Herring Category C or D permit must declare into the Area 1A fishery by June 1, 2024. Vessels should check with each state of landing regarding their notification procedures.
 
The 2024 Area 1A sub-annual catch limit (sub-ACL) is 5,504 metric tons (mt). The initial specification for the 2024 Area 1A sub-ACL of 5,546 mt was decreased by 42 mt due to the catch overage in Area 1A in 2022. After adjusting for the 30 mt fixed gear set-aside and the 8% buffer (Area 1A closes at 92% of the sub-ACL), the Area 1A sub-ACL is 5,036 mt. There is no research-set-aside for 2024.
 
In November 2023, the Board established the following seasonal allocations for the 2024 Area 1A sub-ACL: 72.8% available from June 1 – September 30 and 27.2% available from October 1 – December 31. Fishermen are prohibited from landing more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring per day harvested from Area 1A until June 1, 2024.
 

American Lobster Board Releases Draft Addendum XXX for Public Comment Draft Addendum Considers Addendum XXVII Impacts on Foreign Imports

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

Two public hearings have been scheduled to gather input on Draft Addendum XXX to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster. The Draft Addendum considers how the measures of Addendum XXVII, approved in May 2023, will apply to foreign imports of American lobster. One hearing will be conducted in a hybrid format, and one general hearing will be conducted via webinar. Regardless of where the hybrid hearing is being conducted, all are welcome to participate in either the virtual or hybrid hearing.

The Magnuson-Stevens Act prohibits imports of whole live lobster smaller than the minimum possession size in effect at the time under the Commission’s American lobster management program. This provision, referred to as the Mitchell Provision, was passed to prevent imports of lobster smaller than what the US industry can harvest. The current minimum gauge size for Lobster Conservation Management Area (LCMA) 1 of 3 ¼” is the smallest minimum size in effect for the US lobster fishery.

 
Under Addendum XXVII, changes to the current gauge and escape vent sizes in LCMA 1 (inshore Gulf of Maine) were triggered as of October 2023. Therefore, a series of gradual changes to gauge and vent size will begin January 1, 2025, starting with an increase to the minimum gauge size in LCMA 1 from 3 ¼” to 3 5/16”. The 3 5/16” gauge size will be the smallest minimum gauge size in effect for US harvesters in the Commission’s FMP. Draft Addendum XXX considers whether the Addendum XXVII minimum size increases should apply to imports, meaning the smallest minimum size for foreign imports would match the smallest minimum size in effect for the US industry.
 
Unlike most draft addenda, Draft Addendum XXX does not present a range of management alternatives. Rather, it is an administrative document that would consider whether the Addendum XXVII minimum size increases should apply to imports.
 
Webinar Instructions
Please note that in order to comment during the hybrid or virtual webinar hearing you will need to use your computer 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 U.S. 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. Regardless of where the hybrid hearing is being conducted, all are welcome to participate in either the virtual or hybrid hearing.
 
For the 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. 
 
Submitting Comments
The public is encouraged to submit comments at any time during the addendum process. The Draft Addendum is available athttps://asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/AmLobsterDraftAddendumXXX_PublicComment.pdf or via the Commission’s website at http://www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input. Public comment will be accepted until11:59 PM (EST) on June 3, 2024 and should be sent to Caitlin Starks, Senior FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201; or to comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Lobster Draft Addendum XXX).

Draft Agenda, Meeting Materials and Webinar Information for the March 26th Meeting of the ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board Now Available

March 12, 2024 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The draft agenda, meeting materials, and webinar information for the upcoming meeting of the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board are now available at https://asmfc.org/calendar/3/2024/Atlantic-Striped-Bass-Management-Board/2283. The Board will meet via webinar on March 26 from 1 – 3 PM to review and consider approval of Addendum II state implementation plans. The draft agenda and meeting materials can also be directly accessed at https://asmfc.org/files/Meetings/AtlStripedBassBoardMarch2024/AtlStripedBassBoardMaterials_March2024.pdf.

 
Webinar Information
To register for the webinar, please go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2467799310213414229(Webinar ID: 832-373-955). If you are joining the webinar but will not be using voice over internet protocol (VoIP) via your computer, you can also call in at 213.929.4212, access code 963-536-315. A PIN will be provided to you after joining the webinar. For those who will not be joining the webinar but would like to listen in to the audio portion only, press the # key when asked for a PIN.
 
For those who will not be joining the webinar but would like to listen to the audio portion only, press the # key when asked for a PIN.
 
Meeting Process
The Board Chair will provide an opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of the 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.
 
The webinar will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting so that people can troubleshoot any connectivity or audio issues they may encounter.  If you are having issues with the webinar (connecting to or audio related issues), please contact Chris Jacobs at 703.842.0790.
 
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 by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 18 will be included in supplemental materials.
2.    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. 

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