Saving Seafood

Tariffs on Chinese goods to remain in place, Trump says

March 20, 2020 — U.S. President Donald Trump will not suspend hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of tariffs his administration has imposed on Chinese goods, despite calls from U.S. business associations to do so to alleviate economic hardship brought on by the coronavirus outbreak.

On Wednesday, 18 March, more than 160 business belonging to the group Americans for Free Trade wrote a letter to Trump asking for the suspension of tariffs on Chinese-made goods, claiming that doing so would give the U.S. economy a USD 75 billion (EUR 70.3 billion) boost, equivalent to 0.4 percent of U.S. gross domestic product.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

MAINE: Keliher advises caution, communication

March 20, 2020 — Patrick Keliher, the state Commissioner of Marine Resources, said in a letter to the lobster industry Monday afternoon that he does not have “any immediate plans to close any commercial fishery in response to the coronavirus.” 

He advises fishermen and dealers to “actively communicate with each other about the realities of the market” and “refrain from landing product if there is no market for it.” But he does not have the authority, under the current circumstances, to order the lobster fishery to close. 

Read the full story at the Mount Desert Island

US restaurant, distributor trade groups seek government help as profits plunge

March 20, 2020 — As more U.S. states begin mandating restaurant closures or limited seating, restaurant and hospitality operators are reporting plunging profits and are instituting furloughs.

The United States National Restaurant Association and the International Foodservice Distributors Association are asking for immediate help from the Trump administration and Congress to stave off what they’re calling an imminent crisis for the U.S. foodservice industry.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Coronavirus concerns push back Maine elver season

March 20, 2020 — Maine is delaying the start of its $20 million elver fishery for at least two weeks to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The 11-week fishing season was set to begin on Sunday, but Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Pat Keliher decided to close the fishery for now to avoid the kind of crowded conditions on Maine’s rivers and in fishing shops that have become a hallmark of elver fishing season.

“The coronavirus pandemic continues to impact Maine’s fisheries in ways we could not have imagined,” Keliher said Friday. “It has become clear that the typical crowded conditions could not only allow transmission, but also speed the spread of the disease throughout the state as fishermen traveled along the coast to harvest and sell elvers.”

Read the full story at the Portland Press Herald

Rep. Amata Urges Fishing Access For National Food Security

March 20, 2020 — The following was released by The Office of Congresswomen Aumua Amata (R-American Samoa):

Thursday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata is urging President Trump to reopen fishing access as a matter of national food security during the worldwide economic and health crisis.

“At this time of global re-evaluation of world health and economics, I simply write to say that food security equals national security. Please use your Executive Order to immediately reopen the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) to commercial fishing,” Aumua Amata states in her urgent letter to the President.

“American Samoa is home to the largest tuna cannery in the Country and the cannery needs restored access to the Monument to keep up with demand which has spiked over 30 percent in the past week alone for this key healthy, shelf-stable and staple product for American consumers,” she continues.

“Now is the time to reopen American waters to ensure an American supply chain with American boats fishing American waters and having American manufacturing plants processing essential staple foods for the American people,” says Congresswoman Amata.

She supports her request with prior communications from herself and Governor Lolo Moliga, including one cosigned by House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Rob Bishop of Utah. The Congresswoman closes with appreciation to the President for ongoing bold action in the effort to protect our country and his continued optimism.

Read the full release here

New England commercial fishermen feeling effects of COVID-19 outbreak

March 20, 2020 — The impact of the coronavirus outbreak is now taking a toll on the fishing industry in New England.

From clams to lobster, fishermen in Maine are having trouble finding places to sell their product.

Lobsters are selling for about $5 a pound, which is good for the customer, but bad for the fishermen who said it usually sells for much more than that this time of year.

Read the full story at WMUR

Temporary Waivers for Northeast Fisheries Observer Requirements

March 20, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

As part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NOAA Fisheries is temporarily waiving the requirement for vessels with Northeast fishing permits to carry a fishery observer or at-sea monitor. The waiver will be in effect through April 4, and future extensions of this waiver will be evaluated weekly. For details, please read the letter from the Regional Administrator (pdf, 1 page).

Text of the letter below:

Dear Partners and Stakeholders:

As part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NOAA Fisheries is temporarily waiving the requirement for vessels with Northeast fishing permits to carry a fishery observer or at-sea monitor. The waiver will be in effect through April 4, and future extensions of this waiver will be evaluated weekly.

This action is consistent with agency authority to grant waivers for observer and at-sea monitoring requirements under certain circumstances. The availability and deployment of observers is becoming increasingly challenging. The action is also consistent with current federal and state health guidance. The health and well-being of fishermen, observers, and supporting staff is not only a human health concern, but also essential to securing our nation’s seafood production.

Through April 4, 2020, NOAA Fisheries will issue waivers for declared and incoming Northeast fishing trips. During this period:

  • All reporting and pre-trip notification call-in requirements remain in place.
  • Waivers will be issued for all current and newly selected fishing trips.
  • Port intercepts (i.e., observers selecting trips for coverage in the ports) will be temporarily suspended.
  • Trips that are currently at sea with an observer onboard are unaffected.
  • Vessels using Electronic Monitoring are unaffected, as this waiver applies to human observers only.

The Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center will evaluate the impacts of waivers on our fisheries and observer programs throughout this period:

  • We will monitor fishing activity in comparison to when observers have been deployed, to track continued compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
  • We will evaluate weekly observer availability, ability to travel, and level of fishing effort and landings.
  • We will monitor for changes in current health and safety guidelines that we expect would increase observer availability.
  • We will also monitor fishing effort and landings, which could be indicators that the temporary waiver of observer requirements could be ended.

Sincerely,

Michael Pentony

SAFMC Notice of Upcoming Meetings via Webinar

March 20, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Due to recommendations to avoid in-person gatherings, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold upcoming meetings of its advisory panels and the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee and Socio-Economic Panel via webinar. Council staff continue to work on the Council’s business through telecommuting, conference calls, and webinars to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The meetings via webinar are open to the public and registration is required. Additional information, including meeting agendas, overviews, and briefing book materials will be posted on the Council’s website two weeks prior to each meeting. Online comment forms will also available.

Please note the meeting dates listed below and mark your calendars!

Advisory Panel Meetings
https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/current-advisory-panel-meetings/

Information and Education Advisory Panel
April 14-15, 2020

Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel
April 15-17, 2020

Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel
April 22, 2020

Scientific and Statistical Committee
https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/scientific-and-statistical-committee-meetings/

SSC Socio-Economic Panel Meeting
April 8-9, 2020

Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting
April 29 – May 1, 2020

Council members and staff will monitor advisories and we will do our best to continue operations though this unprecedented situation. We encourage you to stay involved with fisheries management issues via webinars and the online comment forms, and to reach out with any questions you may have. Stay safe, support local businesses when possible, and keep washing your hands!

U.S., Canada close border for non-essential travel, supply chain exempted

March 19, 2020 — Border crossing between Canada and the U.S. will be closed for non-essential travels in an effort by both countries to slow the spread of Covid-19. The movement of goods and supplies between the two countries, as well as Canadians and Americans who cross the border daily for essential work-related matters will still be able to do so.

This new development was announced Wednesday by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“Our governments recognize that it is critical that we preserve supply chains between both countries. These supply chains ensure that food, fuel and life saving medicines reach people on both sides of the border,” Trudeau said, as he addressed reporters from outside his home in Ottawa where he has been self-isolating after his wife tested positive of Covid-19.

Read the full story at Aquaculture North America

CISA Releases Guidance on Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19

March 19, 2020 — The following was released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency:

As the Nation comes together to slow the spread of COVID-19, on March 16, the President issued updated Coronavirus Guidance for America. This guidance states that:

“If you work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, such as healthcare services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule.”

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) executes the Secretary of Homeland Security’s responsibilities as assigned under the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide strategic guidance, promote a national unity of effort, and coordinate the overall federal effort to ensure the security and resilience of the Nation’s critical infrastructure. CISA uses trusted partnerships with both the public and private sectors to deliver infrastructure resilience assistance and guidance to a broad range of partners.

In accordance with this mandate, and in collaboration with other federal agencies and the private sector, CISA developed an initial list of “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” to help State and local officials as they work to protect their communities, while ensuring continuity of functions critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security. The list can also inform critical infrastructure community decision-making to determine the sectors, sub-sectors, segments, or critical functions that should continue normal operations, appropriately modified to account for Centers for Disease Control (CDC) workforce and customer protection guidance.

The list identifies workers who conduct a range of operations and services that are essential to continued critical infrastructure viability, including staffing operations centers, maintaining and repairing critical infrastructure, operating call centers, working construction, and performing management functions, among others. The industries they support represent, but are not necessarily limited to, medical and healthcare, telecommunications, information technology systems, defense, food and agriculture, transportation and logistics, energy, water and wastewater, law enforcement, and public works.

We recognize that State, local, tribal, and territorial governments are ultimately in charge of implementing and executing response activities in communities under their jurisdiction, while the Federal Government is in a supporting role. As State and local communities consider COVID-19-related restrictions, CISA is offering this list to assist prioritizing activities related to continuity of operations and incident response, including the appropriate movement of critical infrastructure workers within and between jurisdictions.

Accordingly, this list is advisory in nature. It is not, nor should it be considered to be, a federal directive or standard in and of itself.

In addition, these identified sectors and workers are not intended to be the authoritative or exhaustive list of critical infrastructure sectors and functions that should continue during the COVID-19 response. Instead, State and local officials should use their own judgment in using their authorities and issuing implementation directives and guidance. Similarly, critical infrastructure industry partners will use their own judgment, informed by this list, to ensure continued operations of critical infrastructure services and functions. All decisions should appropriately balance public safety while ensuring the continued delivery of critical infrastructure services and functions.

CISA will continue to work with you and our partners in the critical infrastructure community to update this list as the Nation’s response to COVID-19 evolves. We also encourage you to submit how you might use this list so that we can develop a repository of use cases for broad sharing across the country.

Should you have questions about this list, please contact CISA at CISA.CAT@cisa.dhs.gov.

Read information for the food and agriculture sector here