Saving Seafood

GEORGIA: Right whales return to Georgia coast

November 10, 2025 — North Atlantic right whales have returned to their calving grounds off Georgia earlier than expected. Or at least two of them did.

Anglers videoed the two endangered whales off Hilton Head, S.C., and Savannah Wednesday afternoon, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Two right whales were also reported near Cape Lookout, N.C., on Saturday but researchers couldn’t determine if they were the same whales.

“It is possible they are the same pair that was seen off Cape Lookout on Saturday,” DNR senior wildlife biologist Jessica Thompson told The Current GA. “The sighting documentation was similar. They had video that made it clear it was two adult right whales, but not clear enough to confirm ID. There was also an unconfirmed sighting at another location in N.C. of a single adult. No others have been seen in the Southeast yet. These are the early birds.”

The state marine mammal of Georgia, North Atlantic right whales are one of the most imperiled large whales, with a population estimated last month at 384 individuals. These bus-sized mammals migrate more than 1,000 miles each fall from Canada and New England to the Southeast. The waters off Georgia, north Florida and South Carolina are considered their core calving area, but they usually arrive in late November or early December.

Thompson, leader of the agency’s work with marine mammals, called the early sighting of these two uncommon but not unheard of. It did create an urgency to “make sure boaters know right whales are back and everyone is aware of the need to be vigilant.” She also encouraged boaters to report all sightings and stay at least 500 yards from any whale seen.

Read the full article at GPB

Births among endangered right whales highest since 2015

April 5, 2021 — North Atlantic right whales gave birth over the winter in greater numbers than scientists have seen since 2015, an encouraging sign for researchers who became alarmed three years ago when the critically endangered species produced no known offspring at all.

Survey teams spotted 17 newborn right whale calves swimming with their mothers offshore between Florida and North Carolina from December through March. One of those calves soon died after being hit a boat, a reminder of the high death rate for right whales that experts fear is outpacing births.

The overall calf count equals the combined total for the previous three years. That includes the dismal 2018 calving season, when scientists saw zero right whale births for the first time in three decades. Still, researchers say greater numbers are needed in the coming years for North Atlantic right whales to rebound from an estimated population that’s dwindled to about 360.

“What we are seeing is what we hope will be the beginning of an upward climb in calving that’s going to continue for the next few years,” said Clay George, a wildlife biologist who oversees right whale surveys for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. “They need to be producing about two dozen calves per year for the population to stabilize and continue to grow again.”

Read the full story at the Associated Press

GEORGIA: COVID relief deadline nearing for marine fisheries industry

October 13, 2020 — Marine fishery businesses have until Thursday to apply for federal COVID-19 relief.

As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act passed by Congress in March 2020, the federal government set aside $2 million in funds to be distributed to commercial fishermen, wholesale dealers, processors of saltwater species, aquaculturists with a Georgia commercial fishing license and for-hire guides, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

Of that, a total of $1.87 million is expected to be awarded to successful applicants.

Participants in Georgia’s marine commercial and for-hire industry who experienced a greater than 35 percent loss in revenue between March and May 2020 due to COVID-19 as compared to the same months in the prior five-year period may qualify for federal aid.

Read the full story at The Brunswick News

Fishermen, charters nearing deadline to apply for COVID relief funds

October 9, 2020 — Participants in Georgia’s marine fisheries industry have until Thursday to apply for federal COVID-relief aid.

Congress in March appropriated nearly $2 million to supplement Georgia’s marine industry’s’ pandemic-related revenue losses and applications must be postmarked by Oct. 15, 2020, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources reminded the public Friday.

Eligible industry members must have experienced a revenue loss of greater than 35 percent between March and May compared to the same period for the past five years. Other eligibility requirements and more information can be found at www.CoastalGaDNR.org/CARES or by calling 912-264-7218.

Read the full story at the Savannah Morning News

Georgia DNR Announces Red Snapper Reporting Program

August 9, 2018 — SEAFOOD NEWS –Disagreements regarding stock assessments for red snapper drives a significant amount of debate on whether the fishery should be open, how long it should be open and limits that should be imposed. However, the state Department of Natural Resources is advising recreational fishermen to participate in a data collection project that is in concert with NOAA Fisheries.

During discussion in March at the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting on Jekyll Island, Bill Kelly of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association emphasized the need for better data.

“We’ve got the (harvest) allocation that we think needs to be revisited on an annual basis — it’s easy enough to do with the data inputs nowadays, and then the second would be more frequent spot assessments on commercially important species, or economically important species, whether it’s the commercial sector or the recreational,” Kelly said.

To assist in better data collection, DNR advised different ways anglers can help develop “current information on the age, size and growth of red snapper in the population.”

One way is to discard red snapper carcasses in freezer chests along the coast. To draw in participants, DNR is offering a $50 Academy Sports gift card that will be awarded at random to two people. Also, folks can document their red snapper fishing trips through the smartphone app MyFishCount, or go to MyFishCount.com, and fill out a survey.

Along with these methods, state Coastal Resources Division staff will be on hand at boat ramps to interview people on their catch. For people who are releasing red snapper back into the water, CRD partnered with Yamaha and FishSmart to provide free descending devices that rapidly reintroduce the fish back to the depth they were caught, in an attempt to improve survival.

“Anglers have an opportunity to be citizen scientists by providing red snapper data,” Carolyn Belcher, CRD chief of Marine Fisheries, said in a statement. “During the last mini-season, with the help of anglers, CRD biologists examined 122 carcasses ranging in age from 1-to-19 years, with approximately 95 percent younger than 14. Data collected during 2018 will be combined with that from other South Atlantic states for future population assessments.”

Red snapper fishing is open in federal waters Aug. 10-12, and Aug. 17-19, with recreational fishermen limited to one fish per day with no size restriction. Freezer coolers are in place at Two-Way Fish Camp, 250 Ricefield Way, in Brunswick; Morningstar Marina, 206 Marina Dr. on St. Simons Island; and St. Simons Fishing Club, 1000 Arthur J. Moore Dr., on St. Simons Island.

This story originally appeared on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

NOAA Fisheries: Fishing for White, Brown, and Pink Shrimp is Open Off Georgia in Federal Waters

May 21, 2018 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

WHAT/WHEN:

  • Federal waters adjacent to Georgia state waters are open to fishing for white, brown, and pink shrimp as of 4:15 p.m., local time, May 18, 2018.
  • Georgia state waters remain closed until the state determines an appropriate reopening date.

WHY THIS REOPENING IS HAPPENING: 

  • Georgia closed its state waters to all shrimping on January 15, 2018, due to a prolonged period of water temperatures at or below 9°C in the region.
  • Georgia requested NOAA Fisheries to close federal waters off Georgia. The federal closure was effective January 24, 2018.
  • The purpose of the closure was to protect the white shrimp spawning population.
  • Based on warming water temperatures and current projections provided by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, state fisheries officials determined the threat to overwintering shrimp has passed and requested that NOAA Fisheries open federal waters to trawling.
  • Georgia officials will continue to monitor the white shrimp population for the purposes of determining when it is appropriate to allow shrimp fishing to resume in state waters.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the  Federal Register.

 

South Atlantic States Schedule Public Hearings on Draft FMP for Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia

August 17, 2017 — ARLINGTON, Va. — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission: 

September 20, 2017 — This press release modifies that of August 17. North Carolina’s September 19th hearing has been rescheduled to Thursday, September 21st at the same location and time. South Carolina and Georgia have also rescheduled their hearing dates to September 26th and 25th, respectively. Please note Georgia’s hearing will occur via webinar only. Please see below for the revised details of the three hearings.

The South Atlantic states of Virginia through Georgia have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Migratory Group (AMG) Cobia. The details of those hearings follow.

Virginia Marine Resources Commission

September 12, 2017 at 6 PM

2600 Washington Ave 4th floor

Newport News, VA

Contact: Joe Cimino at 757.247.2236

RESCHEDULED: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

September 21, 2017 at 7 PM

Hatteras Community Center

57689 NC Highway 12

Hatteras, NC

Contact: Michelle Duval at 252.808.8013

–

September 20, 2017 at 7 PM

Central District Office

5285 US Highway 70 West

Morehead City, NC

Contact: Michelle Duval at 252.808.8013

RESCHEDULED: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

September 26, 2017 at 7 PM

Town & Country Inn

2008 Savannah Highway

Charleston, SC

Contact: Mel Bell at 843.953.9007

RESCHEDULED: Georgia Department of Natural Resources

September 25, 2017 at 6 PM

This hearing will occur via webinar only

Call in for webinar audio at 1.888.394.8197 and enter Passcode: 815277 when prompted

Webinar Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4807279626897305603

Contact: Pat Geer at 912.264.7218

–

The intent of the Draft FMP is to complement federal AMG cobia management actions and distribute catches among member states through a proposed allocation strategy. The Draft FMP was initiated in response to recent overages of the federal annual catch limit (ACL) for AMG Cobia. The Draft FMP addresses immediate management and conservation goals in anticipation of a new benchmark AMG cobia stock assessment in 2018.  Management options include size, bag, and vessel limits to complement federal measures along with proposed de minimis options for Mid-Atlantic states (Maryland through New York) whose landings are minimal or episodic.

The most significant change may come in the form of state-specific recreational allocations.  The current ACL for AMG cobia is 670,000 pounds (620,000 pound recreational ACL and a 50,000 pound commercial quota). Managing the recreational ACL on a coastwide basis has resulted in federal closures and significant overages in 2015 and 2016, disrupting fishing opportunities and jeopardizing the health of the stock.  The Draft FMP contains a number of proposed options to allocate a recreational harvest limit (equal to the federal recreational ACL) to the four primary states (Georgia-Virginia) to allow those states more flexibility in developing seasonal options that best suit their specific state’s recreational and for-hire interests.

At this time, the options for the commercial AMG cobia fishery do not include state specific allocations and generally complement the proposed federal requirements. It is expected that the states from Georgia through Virginia will be conducting public hearings on the Draft FMP. The details of those hearings will be released in a subsequent press release.

The Draft FMP is available here or on the Commission’s website, www.asmfc.org, under Public Input. Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft FMP either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on October 6, 2017 and should be forwarded to Louis Daniel, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Cobia FMP). Final action on the Draft FMP is scheduled to occur in October 2017. For more information, please contact Louis Daniel, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at ldaniel@asmfc.org or 252.342.1478.

 

Crawling to Recovery: Loggerhead sea turtles reach a nesting milestone

July 18, 2016 — BRUNSWICK, Ga. — It’s been a record nesting season for Georgia’s loggerhead sea turtles, which last week reached a milestone in efforts to help the threatened species recover.

With 2,810 nests on Georgia barrier islands, the turtles edged past a key goal while also setting a record high since comprehensive nesting counts began in 1989.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries plan for goals for the region including Georgia and the Carolinas is a 2 percent annual nesting increase for a 50-year period. Before this season, Georgia’s 3 percent annual increase rate had the state on pace to hit its goal of 2,800 nests in 2020.

“We’ve had a number of increasing nesting years in a row, but this is kind of a big year for us,” Mark Dodd, coordinator for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Sea Turtle Program, said in a phone interview. “It’s been a long history of conservation in Georgia that culminated in this 2,800 nests number, so it’s pretty exciting for us.”

Georgia’s main nesting sea turtle, loggerheads weigh as much as 400 pounds. Female turtles crawl onto beaches from late spring into August to lay eggs in nests dug on the dry-sand beach, DNR officials say. Hatchlings begin emerging this month, crawling to the surf to begin their lives at sea.

Read the full story at the Albany Herald

Study measures drag from fishing gear entanglements on North Atlantic right whales

December 9, 2015 — Entanglement in fishing gear is the leading cause of death for North Atlantic right whales—one of the most endangered of all the large whale species. Their migratory routes take them through some of the busiest commercial fishing areas along the East Coast of the United States and into Canada.

Entangled whales can tow fishing gear for tens to hundreds of miles over months or even years, before either being freed, shedding the gear on their own, or succumbing to their injuries.

In a paper published online Dec. 9, 2015, in Marine Mammal Science, a research team led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), has for the first time quantified the amount of drag on entangled whales that is created by towing fishing gear, such as rope, buoys, and lobster and crab traps. The study provides important data for teams evaluating the risks and benefits of whale disentanglements.

“We know that entanglement can change a whale’s diving and swimming behavior and depletes their energy,” said Julie van der Hoop, lead author of the paper and a PhD Candidate in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography, “but the big thing we have never really known is what it must be like for animals to tow the gear. Is it like wearing an empty backpack or is that backpack overloaded with heavy books? Does removing part of the gear improve chances of survival? These are some of the questions that we were looking to answer with this research.”

Read the full story from Phys.org