Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on an Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit to Collect Deep-water Reef Fish in U.S. Caribbean Federal Waters

July 19, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Key Message:

NOAA Fisheries is accepting comments on an application for an exempted fishing permit from NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Fisheries Science Center Panama City, Florida Laboratory.  The objectives of this project are to (1) use underwater video to collect size and abundance data and describe benthic habitats of deep-water reef fish species off the western, northeastern, and southeastern coasts of Puerto Rico and (2) collect biological samples to determine reproductive cycles, growth estimates, and the age and size at sexual maturation of commercially important deep-water snapper species.

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council has ranked investigations into deep-water snapper fishing at the highest priority level for deep-water research in their region.  The applicant is currently authorized to conduct similar deep-water snapper research under an exempted fishing permit issued on July 30, 2020, which is valid through August 1, 2021.

Project Description:

  • Under this exempted fishing permit, Science Center staff and contracted commercial fishers would deploy four vertical lines per site: one to collect a water sample at depth, one with an underwater video camera to record deep-water species and habitats at depth, and two fishing lines with 9 hooks each to catch the targeted deep-water snappers (vertical fishing line).
  • Targeted species include black, blackfin, cardinal, queen, silk, and wenchman snappers.  Non-targeted species expected to be incidentally caught include vermilion snapper and black, red, tiger, yellowfin, misty, yellowedge, and red hind groupers.
  • Project activities would be conducted from August 1, 2021 through August 1, 2023.
  • Sampling would occur along the western, northeastern, and southeastern coasts of Puerto Rico at depths of 328 – 2,133 feet (100 – 650 meters).
  • A maximum of 45 fishing trips would be conducted per coast, per year.  Approximately, 40 of the trips each year would be in federal waters and the remaining 95 trips in state waters.

NOAA Fisheries finds this application warrants further consideration, and is seeking public comment on the application.  A final decision on issuance of the permit will depend on NOAA Fisheries’ review of public comments received, the Caribbean Fishery Management Council’s recommendations, consultations with the affected states and the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as a determination that it is consistent with all applicable laws.

How to Comment on the Application:

The comment period is open now through July 30, 2021.  You may submit comments by electronic submission or by postal mail.  Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.

Application information:  https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/commercial-fishing/noaa-nmfs-panama-city-lab-2021

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the e-Rulemaking portal.

  1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter “NOAA-NMFS-2021-0058” in the Search box.
  2. Click the “Comment” icon, complete the required fields.
  3. Enter or attach your comments.

Mail:  Submit written comments to Sarah Stephenson, NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

Seasonal Prohibition on All Fishing (Commercial and Recreational) for or Possession of Queen Conch in Federal Waters off St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

May 24, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

What Is Happening And When:

NOAA Fisheries reminds the public of the upcoming seasonal prohibition on fishing for or possession of queen conch on board a fishing vessel.

  • This annually recurring prohibition will take effect at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2021.
  • The queen conch harvest season will reopen at 12:01 a.m., local time, on November 1, 2021.
  • The closure applies in federal waters east of 64°34′ W longitude, including that portion of the Lang Bank area falling within those federal waters (see map below).
  • Remaining federal waters are closed year-round to all fishing for queen conch.
  • Possession of queen conch in U.S. Virgin Island jurisdictional waters (0-3 nautical miles) is prohibited June 1 through October 31.
  • Possession of queen conch in Puerto Rico jurisdictional waters (0-9 nautical miles) is prohibited August 1 through October 31.

Why This Closure Is Happening:

This seasonal closure protects queen conch when they are spawning (reproducing) and therefore more vulnerable to fishing pressure.

During the open season (November 1 – May 31), fishing for queen conch in U.S. Caribbean federal waters is only allowed in waters east of 64°34′ W longitude.

Read the full release here

Seasonal Prohibition on All Fishing (Commercial and Recreational) for or Possession of Mutton and Lane Snapper in U.S. Caribbean Federal Waters

March 29, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHEN:

NOAA Fisheries reminds fishermen and the public of the upcoming seasonal closure on fishing for, or possession of, mutton and lane snapper in U.S. Caribbean federal waters.

  • This closure begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on April 1, 2021, and extends through 11:59 p.m., local time, June 30, 2021.
  • The prohibition on possession does not apply to mutton and lane snapper harvested and landed ashore prior to the closure.

The U.S. Caribbean exclusive economic zone consists of those waters extending from the three-nautical mile seaward boundary of the Territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the nine-nautical mile seaward boundary of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, out to 200 nautical miles offshore.

WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:

This seasonal closure protects mutton and lane snapper when they are spawning (reproducing) and therefore more vulnerable to fishing pressure.

Seasonal Closure of Mutton Snapper Spawning Aggregation Area in U.S. Caribbean Federal Waters off St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

February 22, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHEN:

Annual Seasonal Area Closure

NOAA Fisheries reminds fishermen and the public of the upcoming seasonal closure on fishing for any species in federal waters of the mutton snapper spawning aggregation area in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (Figure 1).

  • This closure begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on March 1, 2021, and extends through 11:59 p.m., local time, June 30, 2021.

Year-Round Fishing Prohibitions

Fishing with pots, traps, bottom longlines, gillnets, or trammel nets is prohibited within federal waters of the mutton snapper spawning aggregation area year-round.

WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:

This seasonal area closure protects mutton snapper when they are spawning (reproducing) and more vulnerable to fishing pressure.  The closure also protects the habitat that supports those aggregations.

The Mutton Snapper Spawning Aggregation Area is located off southwest St. Croix and is bounded by lines connecting the following coordinates:

A   17°37.8′ N         64°53.0′ W

B   17°39.0′ N         64°53.0′ W

C   17°39.0′ N         64°50.5′ W

D   17°38.1′ N         64°50.5′ W

E   17°37.8′ N         64°52.5′ W

A   17°37.8′ N         64°53.0′ W

Read the full release here

US officials working to address IUU fishing in Latin America

January 21, 2021 — The U.S. announced late last week several moves officials hope will curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Caribbean and Latin America.

On Friday, 15 January, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a news release stating it plans to make available up to USD 8 million (EUR 6.6 million) in grant funding through its Bureau of International Labor Affairs. The bureau’s mission is to push for a fair playing field for workers in the U.S. and across the world by fighting child and illegal labor practices and bolstering labor standards worldwide.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Reminder of Seasonal Fishing Restrictions in U.S. Caribbean Federal Waters

November 25, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

WHAT/WHEN:

1)  Seasonal Red Hind Closure

NOAA Fisheries reminds fishers and the public of the annual seasonal closure on fishing for, or possession of, red hind grouper in Puerto Rico federal waters west of 67° 10’ W longitude (see map).

  • The closure begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on December 1, 2020, and extends through 11:59 p.m., local time, February 28, 2021.

2)  Seasonal Fishing Prohibitions in Red Hind Spawning Areas

From December 1 through February 28 each year, fishing for any species is prohibited in federal waters of the following red hind spawning aggregation areas:

  • The Tourmaline Bank area closure off western Puerto Rico (see map, inset A), bounded by the following coordinates (regulations only apply to the portion of Tourmaline Bank in federal waters):
    • A      18°11.2’ N      67°22.4’ W
    • B      18°11.2’ N      67°19.2’ W
    • C      18°08.2’ N      67°19.2’ W
    • D      18°08.2’ N      67°22.4’ W
  • The Abrir La Sierra Bank area closure off western Puerto Rico, which lies completely within federal waters (see map, inset A), and is bounded by the following coordinates:
    • A      18°06.5’ N      67°26.9’ W
    • B      18°06.5’ N      67°23.9’ W
    • C      18°03.5’ N      67°23.9’ W
    • D      18°03.5’ N      67°26.9’ W
  • The Lang Bank red hind spawning aggregation area, east of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (see map, inset B), bounded by the following coordinates:
    • A      17°50.2’ N      64°27.9’ W
    • B      17°50.1’ N      64°26.1’ W
    • C      17°49.2’ N      64°25.8’ W
    • D      17°48.6’ N      64°25.8’ W
    • E      17°48.1’ N      64°26.1’ W
    • F      17°47.5’ N      64°26.9’ W

3)  Annual Fishing and Anchoring Prohibitions within Hind Bank

NOAA Fisheries also reminds that fishing for any species and anchoring by fishing vessels within the Hind Bank Marine Conservation District, south of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, is prohibited year round (see map, inset C).  The Hind Bank Marine Conservation District is bounded by the following coordinates:

  • A      18°13.2’ N      65°06.0’ W
  • B      18°13.2’ N      64°59.0’ W
  • C      18°11.8’ N      64°59.0’ W
  • D      18°10.7’ N      65°06.0’ W

4)  Seasonal Bajo de Sico Area Closure

The seasonal closure in Federal waters of the Bajo de Sico area off western Puerto Rico, which began October 1, 2020, continues until March 31, 2021.  During the closure, fishing for and possession of reef fish managed by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council is prohibited.  Anchoring by fishing vessels is prohibited year-round.  See Fishery Bulletin FB20-060 for more information.

WHY THESE CLOSURES ARE HAPPENING:

These restrictions were developed to provide further protection for red hind spawning aggregations and large snappers and groupers, and to better protect the essential fish habitat where these species reside.

Read the full release here

Coast Guard, Bahamas military intercept illegal fishing vessels

September 24, 2020 — U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders coordinated with a Royal Bahamas Defence Force team to apprehend two Dominican Republic flagged vessels illegally fishing the Grand Bahamas Bank Sept. 24, a week after the Coast Guard issued its new strategy to internationally combat illegal fishing.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard’s Bahamas and Turks and Caicos operation center coordinated the effort as a Bahamas boarding team interdicted the vessels El Ship and Angel Gabriel, with 83 crew in all on board fishing off Diamond Point.

Bahamas authorities seized more than 12,000 pounds of fish and lobster, and the vessels were escorted to New Providence, Bahamas, for further enforcement action, Coast Guard officials said.

They noted the incident as an example of the Coast Guard working with international partners as outlined in a document released Sept. 17, defining what the service calls “a new strategy to enhance global safety, security, and stewardship of the maritime domain by combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.”

Read the full story at National Fisherman

US family fighting to free commercial fishermen held prisoner in British Virgin Islands

September 1, 2020 — A U.S. family from New Jersey is fighting to get the U.S. State Department to intervene in the imprisonment of Mike Foy, a commercial fisherman who has been held in the British Virgin Islands since 8 June.

Foy, according to a Change.org petition nearing 5,000 signatures, was waiting in the waters of Tortola for clearance to enter the island’s port in order to obtain passport stamps for the crew so they could obtain clearance to Puerto Rico – a requirement of U.S. Customs. Instead, Foy was imprisoned and charged with “illegal entry and unlicensed fishing” after being told to dock his boat off the coast.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Putting a Delicious Invasive Species on Your Plate

July 27, 2020 — Go for a dive anywhere in the tropical Atlantic and chances are you may see a fierce looking white and red striped fish with a “mane” of spikes running down its spine. Beautiful and ferocious, invasive lionfish have plagued the Caribbean and parts of the Atlantic for over 30 years now. Originally a native of the Indian Ocean, lionfish are carnivorous creatures with a voracious appetite. In the time since their arrival in the American tropics, they have eaten through small native fish species and multiplied exponentially, reducing native reef fish recruitment up to 79% and establishing themselves as the king of the reef. However, not all hope is lost — it turns out they are quite tasty!

Supported by NOAA’s “Eat Lionfish” campaign, divers, scientists and fisherman across the Caribbean and south-eastern U.S. Coast have started hunting lionfish to mitigate their harm to reef communities. In fact, many organizations have come together to support and improve the reef ecosystem by advocating for lionfish consumption. Free public access to scientific research on the ecological impacts and nutritional content of the fish, how-to methodology on how to properly catch and deal with the invaders and even recipes for cooking them have become readily available online to educate and encourage everyone involved in the sea-to-fork cycle: divers, fisherman, wholesalers, chefs and diners.

Read the full story at Medium