Saving Seafood

RHODE ISLAND: Fisherman and scientists collaborate during voyage

September 8, 2017 — NARRAGANSETT – Last week, the fishing vessel Karen Elizabeth docked home in Point Judith following a 10-day voyage that involved the study of flat fish populations and the methods used to catch various species. Formulated by the Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel, a group made up of fishing industry professionals, government bodies and various fishing councils, the research was examining the number of summer flounder, winter flounder and red hake off the coast of New England. The resulting data will go on to better inform catch and population estimates of each species and came about due to the collaboration of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the local fishing industry.

On the NOAA side, John Manderson, a senior fisheries research biologist with specialties in field ecology, habitat ecology, fisheries ecosystem science and collaborative research working out of the organization’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in New Jersey, served as the chief scientist on the project. Chris Roebuck, operator of the Karen Elizabeth, was representing the fishing industry. The crew onboard the vessel totaled 10 members – five researchers and five fishing professionals.

The goal of the study was to develop a quantitative understanding of two different modes of ocean-floor species surveying – one approved by the federal government and one designed by the fishing community for maximum efficacy.  For this experiment, the third leg of the overall project, researchers were examining the catch rates of summer flounder, winter flounder and red hake. Previous and similar research conducted in 2015 was examining yellow-tail flounder and grey sole.

“My specialty has become collaborative research with the fishing industry,” said Manderson. “The reason for that is that at the scale of the ecosystem, experts in the fishing industry have much greater access to the ecosystem and as a result they have much better intuitions about what is going on in the ecosystem in real time, including changes in habitat occurring as a result of changes in climate, than we do. “

The fishing vessel Karen Elizabeth is a twin trawler equipped with two nets as close together as possible which can then be towed simultaneously at approximately the same speeds and for the same duration. These assets lend the boat well to research-based projects that involve comparing different survey methods literally side-by-side.

Read the full story at the Narragansett Times

 

NOAA Fisheries Removes the Northern and Southern Windowpane Flounder AMs for all Trawl Vessels

August 31, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Effective tomorrow, September 1, 2017, until February 28, 2018, non-groundfish trawl vessels fishing with a codend mesh size of 5 inches or greater are no longer required to use approved selective trawl gear (haddock separator trawl, rope separator trawl, or Ruhle trawl) in the large southern windowpane flounder Accountability Measure (AM) areas. For more information, read the permit holder bulletin and the emergency rule as filed in the Federal Register. 

Through a previous action, groundfish vessels may also fish in the AM areas without selective gear, effective September 1 2017 through April 30, 2018. While we were able to remove the accountability measures for the groundfish vessels through existing regulatory processes, an emergency rule was required to remove the accountability measures for non-groundfish trawl vessels. This emergency rule is intended to minimize economic harm to the fluke and scup fisheries.

NEW JERSEY: Freeholders Praise Washington’s Approval Of Flounder Limits

July 22, 2017 — The federal government’s decision to cap flounder fishing limits at levels favored by the state, county and local fishermen is a win for the entire Jersey Shore, Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari said.

“We are very pleased with this decision that maintains the limits that the state already imposes on daily flounder catches,” Vicari said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) earlier this month affirmed New Jersey’s summer-flounder fishing size, bag limits and the length of the fishing season, meaning all rules adopted by the state earlier this year will remain in effect through early September.

The decision also won final approval from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

In approving the state plan, Ross rejected a proposal to reduce the annual flounder haul by 34 percent and instead found that New Jersey’s existing rules are in compliance with the safe and sustainable management of summer flounder.

The Freeholders in April passed a resolution favoring the existing limits and rejecting the proposed 34 percent decrease, saying the change would have harmed the local tourism economy and done nothing to protect the flounder population.

Read the full story at Jersey Shore Online

Feds shutting down Massachusetts flounder fishery for year

July 19, 2017 — Federal fishing regulators are shutting down the summer flounder fishery in Massachusetts for the year because fishermen are nearing the end of their quota.

Summer flounder are the subject of a major commercial fishery on the East Coast, with fishermen bringing more than 10 million pounds of them to land most years. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says Massachusetts fishermen are projected to meet or exceed their quota for the fish Wednesday.

The East Coast summer flounder fishery has been the source of a disagreement between the Trump administration and interstate fishing regulators in recent months. An interstate commission announced in June that it had found the New Jersey summer flounder fishery out of compliance with rules.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at the New Jersey Herald

NEW JERSEY: Rep. LoBiondo Applauds Decision on Summer Flounder

July 13, 2017 — After months of fighting against proposed reductions on summer flounder harvest limits for New Jersey commercial and recreational fishermen, U.S. Representative Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) applauded U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’ decision late last night to accept New Jersey’s management plan.

“Commerce Secretary Ross’ decision to adopt New Jersey’s conservation equivalency plan for summer flounder signals a win-win for our fishing industry and conservation efforts,” said LoBiondo. “For months I have argued that NOAA and ASMFC were flawed in their data and decision-making process, creating a significant and arbitrary disadvantage to New Jersey fishermen. Going forward we must reform the use of questionable methodologies and outdated science by federal bureaucrats that, left unchecked, will again threaten fishing operations in South Jersey. I will continue to work with my colleagues and Commerce Secretary Ross to protect the critical fishing industry in South Jersey as well as the summer flounder stocks.”

Earlier this month LoBiondo joined with fellow New Jersey Representative Chris Smith (NJ-04) and other members of the Congressional delegation to urge delaying 2017-2018 restrictions on New Jersey fishermen proposed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).

The letter requested Commerce Secretary Ross consider the management plan proposed by the state of New Jersey, and urged him to, “work administratively with the State of New Jersey to approve, implement and enforce New Jersey’s 2017 Summer Flounder regulations.” The full letter is available here.

Read the full story at the Cape May County Herald

How Trump administration ended great New Jersey fish fight

July 11, 2017 — President Donald Trump’s administration sided with New Jersey Tuesday in a dispute over catch limits for summer flounder that threatened to shut down the entire fishing season.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross approved the state’s Marine Fisheries Council proposal for 24 fewer fishing days but a smaller minimum size for fish, rather than the limits imposed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.) called Ross’s decision “great news for the state of New Jersey, our fishing community, our economy and all who visit the shore.”

Members of the state’s congressional delegation had opposed the more stringent limits of a 19-inch minimum, with a three fish limit per trip over a 128-day season.

At one point, the fisheries commission threatened to impose a moratorium on all fishing.

“The decision to not institute a fishing moratorium, and instead accept New Jersey’s more balanced and reasonable summer catch standards, will sustain New Jersey’s summer flounder industries while upholding conservation standards,” Smith said.

Read the full story at NJ.com

Summer flounder remains big hit throughout New Jersey

July 10, 2017 — Summer flounder seem to be holding on to their ranking as the fan favorite against a number of contenders.

Last week, Bill Mendenhall Sr. and Jr. made their trek from Downingtown, Pennsylvania, to the back bays of Margate, like they have done since forever.

They racked up 94 fish with regular partner Skip Van Lew on a rental boat from Ray Scott’s Dock in Margate to come away with two keepers both at the minimum 18 inches.

The Mendenhalls were back Monday with another fishing partner and topped both of those amazing numbers with 112 flounder and three keepers. Bill Sr. was high hook with all three keepers (picture on B8), one 20 inches long, and he racked up four doubleheaders, according to Robin Scott.

A signficant number of flounder are being caught throughout the back bays, inlets and inshore waters, but there sure seems to be a carpet of fish under the 18-inch minimum there and on the inshore lumps in the ocean.

One of the quality catches recently was reported by Sue Burns at Point Tackle in Somers Point. Dave Filarski weighed a 7.8-pound flounder he caught with a mackerel strip near the Longport Bridge. Filarski docks at Seaview Harbor Marina in Great Egg Inlet.

Another was recorded at Avalon Hodge-Podge by Rob Myers,of Pittsburgh. He weighed a 5.5-pound flounder caught in the back bays of Avalon with a minnow.

Noel Feliciano weighed five flounder Sunday, including a 4.7-pounder.

Read the full story at the Press of Atlantic City

Changes to cod, haddock, flounder quotas eyed in New England

July 3, 2017 — Federal fishing regulators are planning a host of changes to the quota limits of several important New England fish, including cod.

New England fishermen search for cod in two key fishing areas, Georges Bank and the Gulf of Maine. Regulators have enacted a series of cutbacks to the cod quota in those areas in recent years as cod stocks have dwindled.

This year, regulators want to trim the Georges Bank cod quota by 13 percent and keep Gulf of Maine’s quota the same. They also want to keep the Georges Bank haddock quota about the same and enact a 25 percent increase for the Gulf of Maine haddock quota. Changes are also planned for some flounder species.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at the New Jersey Herald

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on Proposed Framework 56 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan

June 22, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA:

We are seeking public comment on an action that would set catch limits for four groundfish stocks the 2017 fishing year (May 1, 2017-April 30, 2018), as follows:

  • Georges Bank cod would quota would decrease by 13%
  • Georges Bank haddock quota would increase by 2%
  • Georges Bank yellowtail flounder would decrease by 23%
  • Witch flounder quota would increase by 91%

We set catch limits for the 2017 fishing year for the remaining 16 groundfish stocks in Framework 55. The 2017 catch limits for these 16 stocks remain the same as or similar to 2016 limits. 

This action will set sector allocations and common pool trip limits based on the 2017 limits and finalized 2017 sector rosters.

Framework 56 would also:

  • Create an allocation of northern windowpane flounder for the scallop fishery;
  • Revise the trigger for implementing the scallop fishery’s accountability measures for both its GB yellowtail flounder and northern windowpane flounder allocation; and
  • Increase the GB haddock allocation for the midwater trawl fishery.

Finally, this action describes the accountability measures for the 2017 fishing year for the northern and southern windowpane flounder.

Read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register, and the supplemental documents on our website. 

Please submit your comments through the online portal by July 7, 2017.

You may also submit comments through regular mail to: 

John Bullard, Regional Administrator

Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office

55 Great Republic Drive

Gloucester, MA 01930

Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel at 978-281-9175 or jennifer.goebel@noaa.gov

N.J. fishermen make their case to feds as fluke battle rages on

June 20, 2017 — With New Jersey’s summer flounder fishing industry on the line, Garden State officials made their case to NOAA fisheries on Tuesday afternoon.

In a hearing with the federal agency, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection officials argued that the state’s regulations for summer flounder (or fluke) fishing reach conservation equivalency with new federal regulations.

The cornerstone of New Jersey’s argument: That the state’s proposed regulations will actually preserve more of the summer flounder stock than the measures being put forth by the feds.

Tuesday’s call was closed to the press, but in a statement following the call NJDEP spokesperson Bob Considine described it as a “good discussion.” He added that New Jersey emphasized its plan would protect more breeding females, thus making a brighter outlook for the future of the fluke stock.

The showdown between NOAA and New Jersey fishermen has been building throughout the spring. On June 1, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission declared New Jersey to be out of compliance with fluke regulations.

The dispute is now being considered by NOAA Fisheries, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, for a final decision. If the out-of-compliance finding is upheld, a moratorium on fluke fishing in New Jersey could be instated until the state returns to compliance.

Read the full story at NJ.com