Saving Seafood

Lack of stock growth points to Gulf of Maine shrimp closure

October 3, 2018 — Nothing significant has changed for the Gulf of Maine’s imperiled northern shrimp stock in the past five years, as the fishery continues to be haunted by historically low abundance and biomass numbers that just refuse to improve.

The fishery’s recent past may indeed be prologue, as fishery managers from the shrimp section of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission get ready to meet Thursday to review and make recommendations on the most recent benchmark assessment of the stock, as well as a peer-review report on the assessment.

The meeting, set for Portland, Maine, is one of the final steps before the ASMFC decides in November whether to reopen the fishery for the 2019 season.

The early returns point to another closure.

Megan Ware, an ASMFC fishery management plans coordinator, said the 2018 stock assessment offers the same dismal assessment of the northern shrimp stock as every assessment since the 2013 assessment that instigated the past five closures.

“The trends are similar,” Ware told the Gloucester Daily Times last month. “We’re still seeing the low trends that we’ve seen in the past five years.”

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

August/September 2018 issue of Fisheries Focus Now Available

October 1, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The August/September 2018  issue of Fisheries Focus is now available at http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/5bae9553FishFocusAugSept2018.pdf.

Upcoming Meetings

page 2

From the Executive Director’s Desk 

MRIP’s Upgraded Fishing Effort Survey: A Significant Step Forward in Fisheries Science and Recreational Management

page 3

Species Profile

Horseshoe Crab

page 4

Essential Trawl Survey Receives Needed Boost

page 5

Fishery Management Actions

American Eel

Summer Flounder

Scup

Black Sea Bass

Bluefish

page 8

Science Highlight

Effects of the Biomedical Bleeding on the Behavior and Physiology of Horseshoe Crab

page 10

ACCSP Well Represented at AFS Annual Meeting

page 11

Proposed Management Actions

Summer Flounder

Scup

Black Sea Bass

Coastal Sharks

Cobia

page 12

In Memoriam
page 13

Comings & Goings

page 14

Employee of the Quarter Named

page 15

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

ASMFC 77th Annual Meeting Revised Preliminary Agenda

September 28, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:   

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 77th Annual Meeting will be held October 21-25, 2018 at The Roosevelt Hotel, Madison Avenue. The room block is now closed. Please notify Cindy Robertson (crobertson@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740) if you need assistance reserving a room.

Please note: The preliminary agenda has been revised with the following changes: (1) meeting times have changed on Monday, October 22 for the American Lobster Board, Atlantic Herring Section, and the American Eel Board; and (2) the Atlantic Menhaden Board, previously scheduled for October 23rd, and the Shad and River Herring Board, previously scheduled for October 25th, have both been cancelled. Meeting times on those days have shifted to reflect those cancellations. The revised agenda is attached and follows below.

All meetings throughout the week are open to the public, free of charge. However, if you are planning on attending any of the meeting events (Sunday and Monday Receptions, Tuesday Dinner, or Wednesday Hart Award Luncheon), please register as soon as possible; simply fill-in and submit the registration form to Lisa Hartman at lhartman@asmfc.org. Events are filling up quickly and we cannot guarantee you space unless you register. The meeting registration fee is $200/per participant and $150/per spouse or guest if you register by October 15, 2018. After October 15th and in New York the fees will be $225 and $175, respectively. The registration fee will be used to defray the cost of the Sunday and Monday night receptions, the Tuesday night dinner, and the Wednesday Hart Award Luncheon, as well as event materials. Payment is not required until you arrive at the meeting; however, we ask that you please assist us in planning for the meeting by registering as soon as possible.

If you are driving to the meeting, we strongly encourage you to park in New Jersey at the Port Imperial/Weehawken Terminal and take a short ferry to Midtown Manhattan since parking in NYC is exorbitant.  Directions are attached and can also be found here.

The final agenda and meeting materials will be available on October 10th on the Commission website at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2018-annual-meeting.

ASMFC 77th Annual Meeting:

October 21 – 25, 2018

The Roosevelt Hotel
Madison Avenue @ 45th Street
New York, NY

Revised Preliminary Agenda

Please note: The preliminary agenda has been revised with the following changes: (1) meeting times have changed on Monday, October 22 for the American Lobster Board, Atlantic Herring Section, and the American Eel Board; and (2) the Atlantic Menhaden Board, previously scheduled for October 23rd, and the Shad and River Herring Board, previously scheduled for October 25th, have both been cancelled. Meeting times on those days have shifted to reflect those cancellations.

The agenda is subject to change. Bulleted items represent the anticipated major issues to be discussed or acted upon at the meeting. The final agenda will include additional items and may revise the bulleted items provided below. The agenda reflects the current estimate of time required for scheduled Board meetings. The Commission may adjust this agenda in accordance with the actual duration of Board meetings. Interested parties should anticipate Boards starting earlier or later than indicated herein.

Sunday, October 21

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Hosts’ Reception

Monday, October 22

8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. American Lobster Management Board:

  • Review of the NOAA Fisheries Technical Memo on Right Whale Status and Recovery
  • Report on the October 2018 Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team Meeting
  • Review American Lobster Addendum XXVII Timeline
  • Discuss Protocols to Evaluate Bait Sources
  • Progress Update from the American Lobster Electronic Tracking and Reporting Subcommittees
  • Consider Approval of 2018 Fishery Management Plan Reviews and State Compliance Reports for American Lobster and Jonah Crab

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch (On Your Own)

1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Atlantic Herring Section:

  • Review 2018 Atlantic Herring Benchmark Assessment Peer Review Report
  • Review and Consider Approval of Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report for Management Use
  • Review and Discuss White Paper on Atlantic Herring Spawning Protections
  • Update on 2019-2021 Fishery Specifications Process
  • Set 2019 Specifications for Area 1A
  • Review and Populate Atlantic Herring Advisory Panel

3:45 – 4:45 p.m. American Eel Management Board:

  • Presentation on Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Workshop and Discuss Next Steps
  • Consider Approval of 2018 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Welcome Reception

Tuesday, October 23

8:00 – 10:15 a.m. Strategic Planning Workshop

10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Business Session:

  • Review and Consider Approval of the 2019 Action Plan
  • Elect Chair and Vice-Chair

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Coastal Sharks Management Board:

  • Review and Consider Addendum V for Final Approval
  • Review Proposed 2019 Coastal Sharks Fishery Specifications
  • Consider Approval of 2018 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch (On Your Own)

12:30 – 5:00 p.m. Law Enforcement Committee:

(A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members only)

  • Review 2018 Action Plan and New Tasks for 2019
  • Progress Report on Enforcement of the Offshore American Lobster Fishery
  • Update on American Eel Addendum V and State Aquaculture Proposals
  • Review Federal Transit Zone Proposal for Striped Bass in Block Island Sound
  • Review Transit Zone Proposal for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass
  • Review Tautog Commercial Tagging Program
  • Review ASMFC Managed Species
  • Review Ongoing Enforcement Issues (Closed Session)
  • Federal and State Agency Reports

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Spiny Dogfish Management Board:

  • Review 2018 Stock Assessment Update
  • Set Spiny Dogfish 2019-2021 Fishery Specifications
  • Discuss Adjustments to Federal Commercial Trip Limit
  • Consider Approval of 2018 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports

2:45 – 4:00 p.m. Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board:

  • Review Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Lifting the Ban on Atlantic Striped Bass Fishing in the Federal Block Island Sound Transit Zone
  • Update on North Carolina Cooperative Winter Tagging Program
  • Progress Update on the Benchmark Stock Assessment

6:15 – 9:00 p.m. Annual Dinner

Wednesday, October 24

8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Executive Committee: (A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members and Commissioners only)

  • Consider Approval of FY18 Audit
  • Discuss Priorities for Use of Plus-up Funding
  • Consider Changes to the Appeals Process
  • Appointment of Aquaculture Committee
  • Report from the Awards Committee

8:30 a.m. – Noon Law Enforcement Committee (continued):

10:15 – 11:00 a.m. Weakfish Management Board:

  • Review Technical Committee Report on Commercial Discards
  • Consider Approval of 2018 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports
  • Elect Vice-Chair

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Horseshoe Crab Management Board:

  • Set 2019 Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Fishery Specifications
  • Progress Update on the Horseshoe Crab Benchmark Stock Assessment
  • Consider Approval of 2018 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports
  • Elect Vice-Chair

12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Captain David H. Hart Award Luncheon

1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board:

  • Consider Approval of Draft Addendum XXXII (2019 Black Sea Bass and Summer Flounder Recreational Management) for Public Comment
  • Progress Update on Black Sea Bass Commercial Working Group

3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Coordinating Council:

  • Program/Committee Updates
  • Progress Report on SAFIS Redesign
  • Consider Recommendations of FY2019 Submitted Proposals
  • Clarify Funding Decision Process
  • Discuss Formation of Data Reporting Committee on Data Accountability

Thursday, October 25

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Tautog Management Board:

  • Progress Update on Development of the Commercial Harvest Tagging Program
  • Technical Committee Report on Biological Sampling Requirements
  • Consider Approval of 2018 Fishery Management Plan Review and State Compliance Reports

9:15 – 11:00 a.m. Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board:

  • Update from the Executive Committee
  • Progress Update on Risk and Uncertainty Workgroup
  • Review Recommendations of the October 2019 Atlantic LargeWhale Take Reduction Team Meeting and Possible Impact to Commission Species
  • Review and Consider Approval of the Stock Assessment Schedule
  • Update on the Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program
  • Standing Committee Reports

o   Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership

o   Law Enforcement Committee

  • Consider Noncompliance Recommendations (If Necessary)

11:00 – 11:15 a.m. Business Session (continued):

  • Review Noncompliance Findings (If Necessary)

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board:

  • Review Public Comment Summary for Cobia Draft Amendment 1 Public Information Document
  • Provide Guidance to the Cobia Plan Development Team on Options for Inclusion in Draft Amendment 1
  • Consider Approval of 2018 Fishery Management Plan Reviews and State Compliance Reports for Black Drum, Spotted Seatrout, and Spanish Mackerel

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. Board chairs will use a speaker sign-up list in deciding 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, board chairs will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. Chairs will have flexibility in deciding 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, board chairs have 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 3 weeks prior to the start of a meeting week will be included in the briefing materials.

2.    Comments received by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 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 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 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.

 

Cut bait: Regulators move to slash Atlantic herring catch

September 28, 2018 — The New England Fishery Management Council voted this week to approve a new management approach to the region’s Atlantic herring fishery that will significantly scale back catch limits for the species over the next three years.

Based on the council’s latest stock assessment, recruitment numbers were lower than the previous low point in the 1970s when record catches essentially wiped out the fishing. Assessments show that recruitment numbers have been well below average for the species since 2013.

The regulation change, called Amendment 8, has been in the works for several years. The herring committee created nine alternatives for the management plan, ranging from taking no action on the previous management plan to a 50-nautical-mile prohibition on all midwater trawling gear.

The council decided to approve an allowable biological catch control rule, a revised version of Alternative 4B, which will slash the total allowable catch of herring from 49,900 tons to 21,266 tons in 2019. The 2018 total of 49,900 tons was already slashed from the year’s original ACL of 110,500 tons of Atlantic herring. A shortage in herring landings also means a shortage of lobster bait throughout New England.

“There’s no one that has more at stake,” said Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association. “The lobster industry has already been dealing with issues related to bait, and the latest decision by the council will likely cause those problems to be even worse.”

The Gulf of Maine herring fishery was shut down by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for much of September as the fleet neared its catch limit.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

ASMFC Northern Shrimp Section to Meet October 4th to Review Benchmark Assessment Results and Consider Draft Addendum I for Public Comment

September 27, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Northern Shrimp Section (Section) will meet on October 4, 2018 at the Maine Historical Society, 2nd Floor Reading Room, 489 Congress Street, Portland, Maine. The Section will review the findings of the 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report, and consider its approval for management use. The Section will also review Draft Addendum I and consider approving the document for public comment. This Draft Addendum considers providing states the authority to allocate their state-specific quota between gear types in the event the fishery reopens.
 
In November 2018, the Northern Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP) will meet to review the Benchmark Stock Assessment and provide recommendations on the 2019 fishery specifications. In addition, the AP will review public comment on Draft Addendum I and provide recommendations on its preferred management alternative. Following the AP meeting, the Section will meet to review the AP’s recommendations, take final action on Addendum I, and set 2019 specifications. Information regarding the date and location of the November meeting will be provided, when available, in a subsequent press release.
 
The October 4th meeting is open to the public; the draft agenda can be found at http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/NShrimpSectionAgenda_Oct2018.pdf. For more information, please contact Megan Ware, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at mware@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740

ASMFC: Atlantic Menhaden Benchmark Stock Assessment Workshops Scheduled for October 9 – 12, in Arlington, VA

September 24, 2018 — ARLINGTON, Va. — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission: 

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Subcommittee (SAS) and Ecological Reference Points (ERP) Workgroup will be meeting October 9 – 12, 2018, at the Commission’s office, 1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N, Arlington, VA.  The SAS will meet October 9 – 10, while the ERP Workgroup will meet October 11 – 12. Both groups will focus on completing a thorough review of all data to be used in both the menhaden single-species and ecosystem-based benchmark assessments. The SAS will also begin to explore modeling approaches, while the ERP Workgroup will continue to explore various modeling approaches to evaluate the health of the stock and inform the management of the species in an ecological context. Both assessments will be peer-reviewed at the end of 2019.

The deadlines for the submission of data and alternate multispecies or ecosystem models have passed. The deadline for submission of alternate single-species models is Thursday, November 1, 2018. For alternate models to be considered, the model description, model input, and complete source code must be provided to Dr. Katie Drew, Stock Assessment Team Leader, at kdrew@asmfc.org by November 1, 2018. Any models submitted without complete, editable source code and input files will not be considered.

View the release in its entirety here

 

NEW JERSEY: Conflict boils over baitfish harvest off Sandy Hook

September 20, 2018 — A tug-of-war over menhaden baitfish has been playing out for the last half-dozen years in quiet library meeting rooms and hotel lobbies from Maine to Florida.

Now it’s taken to the high seas.

Twice in three weeks, a pair of industrial-size reduction boats from Reedsville, Virginia came within sight of Sandy Hook to net the bait, removing nearly 3 million pounds of the fish from the water on the two trips.

A sum equal to one-tenth of one percent of all the menhaden in the ocean.

The boats were within their legal right but a social media dust-up ensued with whale watchers and conservationists who homed their cameras in on the boats. See the above video.

They then blasted their pictures and videos on the web, clamoring the boats took the fish out of the mouths of hungry humpback whales.

“The simple sight of our vessels sets them off. They don’t say anything about the bait guys who take 70 million pounds of fish,” said Ben Landry, spokesman for Omega Protein, the company that owns the boats.

Omega Protein operates the lone fish reduction industry on the East Coast. The company’s name is a reference to menhaden’s rich source of Omega 3 fatty acids.

The company’s workforce is made up of multi-generational fishermen who have been harvesting the menhaden for years and raising their families on the fish.

But some want them to slow down, if not stop completely, and leave more menhaden in the water to feed big marine mammals like whales and game fish.

Menhaden, also known as bunker, play a vital role in the ecosystem as filter feeders that turn plankton into fat and protein.

Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press

Atlantic Herring Area 1A Trimester 3 Effort Controls

September 19, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Herring Section (Section) members from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts met via conference call on Tuesday, September 18th to discuss Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) effort control measures for Trimester 3 (October 1 – December 31). Section members agreed to five 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.

  • For the first week of October, beginning on October 1, 2018: Vessels in the States of Maine and New Hampshire, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may possess and land herring from Area 1A starting at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, October 1st up to 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 5th.
  • Beginning on October 7, 2018: Vessels in the State of Maine may land herring starting at 6:00 p.m. on Sundays up to 5:59 p.m. on Fridays. Beginning October 8, 2018, vessels in the State of New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may land herring starting at 12:01 a.m. on Mondays up to 11:59 p.m. on Fridays.

The Atlantic Herring Section members from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts are scheduled to reconvene via conference call to review fishing effort on:

  • Friday, October 12 at 1:00 p.m.

To join the call, please dial 888.585.9008 and enter conference room number 502-884-672 when prompted.

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 Megan Ware, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at 703.842.0740 or mware@asmfc.org.

A PDF of the announcement can be found here –http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/5ba145f1AtlHerringDaysOutTri3_Sept2018.pdf.

IMPORTANT: NC & GA/SC Revised Cobia PID Hearing Dates

September 17, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

North Carolina’s Public Hearing on Atlantic Cobia PID, which was scheduled for September 18th at 6 PM in Manteo, has been rescheduled for September 26th at 6 PM at the same location (Dare County Commissioners Office, 954 Marshall Collins Drive, Room 168, Manteo, NC). The Georgia/South Carolina Public Hearing on Atlantic Cobia PID, which was scheduled for September 12th at 6 PM, will be held on September 24th at 6 PM at the same location (National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, 175 Bourne Avenue, Pooler, GA).

Atlantic Herring Days Out Conference Call Scheduled for September 18 at 9:30 AM

September 17, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Herring Section members from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts set effort control measures for the Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) fishery via days out meetings/calls.

The next meeting to set days out measures for the Trimester 3 (October 1 – December 31) fishery will be convened, via conference call, on:

Tuesday, September 18 at 9:30 AM

To join the call, please dial 888.585.9008 and enter conference room number 502-884-672 as prompted.

Please contact Megan Ware, Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at mware@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740 for more information.