Saving Seafood

NEFMC Decides Against Limited Entry for Party/Charter Component of Recreational Groundfish Fishery

April 23, 2021 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council will not be developing a limited entry program for party/charter vessels that participate in the recreational groundfish fishery. The decision was made during the Council’s April 13-15, 2021 webinar meeting.

The Council debated a motion to move ahead with limited entry and thoroughly discussed the advantages and potential drawbacks of using limited entry to manage the for-hire groundfish fleet. The final vote was 7-to-7 with two abstentions. Therefore, the motion failed for lack of a majority and, as such, the Council will not pursue work on a limited entry amendment. Here is a recap of how the Council got to this point.

Read the full release here

NOAA Fisheries Sets Fishing Year 2021 Management Measures for the Common Pool Groundfish Fishery

April 21, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Effective May 1

We are setting common pool possession and trip limits to ensure that the common pool groundfish fishery is able to fully utilize its available quotas. Effective on May 1, these possession and trip limits were developed based on the common pool sub-Annual Catch Limits set by Framework Adjustment 59 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. We also considered preliminary 2021 sector rosters, expected common pool participation, common pool fishing activity in previous fishing years, and that Framework 61 is still being considered for approval. During the fishing year, we will monitor common pool catches, and will adjust common pool management measures, as necessary.

Additionally, Northeast multispecies vessels may not target yellowtail flounder within the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock Special Access Program (SAP) in fishing year 2021. Northeast multispecies vessels are not allowed to fish in this SAP using flounder trawl nets, but may fish in this SAP to target haddock with a haddock separator trawl, a Ruhle trawl, or hook gear. This SAP is open from August 1, 2021, through January 31, 2022.

Lastly, the Regular B Days-at-Sea (DAS) program is closed for fishing year 2021. During this closure, Northeast multispecies vessels may not declare or use regular B DAS.

For more details, read the notice as filed in the Federal Register and the permit holder bulletin.

Read the full release here

NEFMC SSC Social Science Subpanel – Listen Live – Wednesday, April 28, 2021 – Groundfish, Scallop Specifications

April 20, 2021 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

An ad-hoc Social Science Subpanel of the New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet via webinar on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 to conduct a peer review of recent Northeast multispecies and Atlantic sea scallop specifications.  The public is invited to listen live.

START TIME:  9:00 a.m.

WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.

CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (914) 614-3221.  The access code is 429-619-243.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply. 

AGENDA:  The SSC Social Science Subpanel will:
  • Receive presentations on the social and economic analyses in Groundfish Framework Adjustment 59 and Scallop Framework Adjustment 32;
  • Discuss the presentations and related materials, which are part of the subpanel’s review of social and economic impact analyses for typical Council actions that adjust fishery specifications; and
  • Where appropriate, develop recommendations for consideration by the full Council at a future meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:  Opportunities for public input and comments will be available during the meeting.  The deadline for submitting written comments is 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 23, 2021.  Address comments to Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.
 
MATERIALS:  All documents, including the peer review description, terms of reference, list of subpanel members, and framework documents, are posted on the SSC Social Science Subpanel April 28, 2021 meeting webpage.
 
QUESTIONS:  Contact Joan O’Leary at (978) 465-0492 ext. 101, joleary@nefmc.org or Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

NOAA to reimburse monitoring costs

April 13, 2021 — NOAA Fisheries has set its electronic monitoring reimbursement policy for Northeast groundfish sector vessels in the 2021 fishing season and is urging fishermen to purchase and install the systems now while federal funds are available.

“For fishing year 2021, groundfish sector vessels may use either electronic monitoring or human at-sea monitors to meet the monitoring requirements, provided the sector has a corresponding monitoring program as part of its approved operations plan,” the agency stated. “Vessels that choose to use electronic monitoring will be eligible for reimbursement, while government funding is available.”

The agency said sector vessels employing electronic monitoring should submit receipts for reimbursable costs to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, using the same process they use for human at-sea monitoring reimbursements.

It said costs eligible for reimbursement largely fall within six areas: equipment, technical support, video review, operational costs, training and COVID-19 protocols.

The equipment category covers the purchase and installation of equipment necessary “to outfit a vessel with one fully functioning electronic monitoring system.”

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

Dock price: The cost of cutting access to healthy fisheries

April 7, 2021 — In the early 1980s, when I was fishing a dayboat dragger out of Ogunquit, Maine, a noise ordinance came before the town meeting under the terms of which, as we understood them, fishermen would not be able to start their engines before 7 a.m.

On the bait wharf, we viewed the proposal as the child of well-heeled folks from away who liked the idea of water views and fishing boats but drew the line at having to listen to diesel engines starting up before breakfast.

Talk of the ordinance created quite a stir in the run-up to town meeting, but not so much among the fishermen. We would fish on our schedule, noise ordinance or no.

But that was then. Tourism was not yet a year-round industry nor was new-home construction a way of life. Coastal communities were still home to “working class” families, and during winter it was common to find laid-off construction workers, restaurant help and others on the back deck of fishing vessels trying to earn a paycheck. As a result, the connection to fishing was not casual, but intrinsic. Fishing was woven into the fabric of coastal communities.

Much has changed, especially, for example, in New England’s groundfish ports. The wharves in Portland, Maine, and Gloucester, Mass., that I scrambled over in my youth are no longer jammed with trawlers rafting two or three deep, to say nothing of the chandleries, gear lofts and fuel boats that have disappeared.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

NOAA Fisheries Announces Policy for Electronic Monitoring Cost Reimbursement for Groundfish Sectors

April 2, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries announces its policy to reimburse electronic monitoring costs in addition to human at-sea monitoring costs.

NOAA Fisheries has been reimbursing industry’s costs for sector at-sea monitoring in the groundfish fishery using funds appropriated by Congress to fully fund monitoring in that fishery. Beginning May 1, 2021, groundfish sectors may use electronic monitoring to meet sector monitoring requirements, provided that the sector has a contract with an approved electronic monitoring service provider and electronic monitoring is part of the sector’s approved operations plan. Accordingly, we are announcing the details of our policy to reimburse electronic monitoring costs in addition to human at-sea monitoring costs.

Consistent with that policy, we encourage vessels to purchase and install electronic monitoring systems now, while funding is available, in preparation for the implementation of Amendment 23 in 2022. For more information please read our bulletin.

Questions?

Industry: Contact Claire Fitz-Gerald, Regional Office, 978-281-9255

Media: Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, 978-281-9103

NOAA Fisheries Proposes to Approve 16 Groundfish Sectors for Fishing Years 2021 and 2022 and Allocate Annual Catch Entitlements for Fishing Year 2021

March 31, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries received sector operations plans and contracts from 16 groundfish sectors for the 2021 and 2022 fishing years. We are proposing to approve these 16 operations plans and grant 19 regulatory exemptions to improve the efficiency and flexibility of sector vessels. We are also proposing to allocate annual catch entitlements for fishing year 2021 based on Framework 59 and default specifications. Annual catch entitlements may be modified based on the New England Fishery Management Council’s recommendations in Framework 61, if approved, at a later date.

This proposed rule announces our determination that the electronic monitoring audit model is sufficient for use in place of at-sea monitors for catch accounting. Sector vessels may choose to use either at-sea monitoring or electronic monitoring to meet monitoring requirements, provided that the vessel’s sector has a corresponding monitoring program approved as part of its fishing years 2021-22 sector operations plan.

The proposed rule is published in the Federal Register. Submit your comments through the online portal. The comment period is open through April 15, 2021.

Copies of each sector’s draft operations plan and contract are available online.

Questions?

Media: Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, 978-281-9175

Fishermen: Contact Claire Fitz-Gerald, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 978-281-9255

Wicker, Cantwell Reintroduce Fishery Disasters Bill

March 18, 2021 — The following was released by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., ranking member and chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today reintroduced legislation to reform the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA)’s Fishery Resource Disaster Relief program of the National Marine Fisheries Service. This legislation, the Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act, will make improvements to provide fishermen with disaster relief more quickly.

“I have met with local officials and seen firsthand how extensive flooding in Mississippi has created an economic and environmental emergency for my state and its coastal fisheries,” said Wicker. “Freshwater has devastated our seafood industry and spurred the growth of Harmful Algal Blooms, further hurting our coastal economy. This legislation would expedite the process by which fishermen receive disaster relief. I hope my colleagues will move quickly to pass this bill and help our fishermen.”

“In Washington, fisheries are a cornerstone of our maritime economy. Its related businesses and seafood processors, ship builders, gear manufacturers, support 60 percent of our maritime economy, which is about 146,000 jobs and 30 billion in economic activity,” said Cantwell. “Washington has experienced 17 fishery disasters since 1992, including crab, groundfish, and salmon. There are several pending fishery disaster determinations for my state, and our bipartisan bill includes deadlines to ensure that those fishery disasters are elevated and declared in a reasonable timeframe. Fishermen are tired of waiting.”

The Fishery Resource Disasters Improvement Act would:

  • Maintain the authority of the Secretary of Commerce to determine the existence of a fishery disaster, after which the Secretary would make funds available to be used by state or regional groups to assess the impacts of the disaster and conduct other activities that support fishing activity;
  • Assign a 120-day timeline for the Secretary to evaluate a request, either upon receipt or immediately after the close of the fishery season; and
  • List the eligible uses of fishery disaster relief funds, including direct payments to affected members of the fishing community, habitat restoration and conservation, management improvements, job training, public information campaigns, and preventative measures for future disasters. It would prioritize hiring fishermen displaced by the fishery disaster for these tasks.

To read the full bill, click here.

April 6-9, and 12-15, 2021 PFMC (online) meeting notice and agenda now available

March 16, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC or Council) and its advisory bodies will meet April 6-9, and 12-15, 2021 by webinar only, to address issues related to groundfish, Pacific halibut, salmon, highly migratory species, ecosystem, and administrative matters.

Please see the April 6-9, and 12-15, 2021 Council meeting notice on the Council’s April 2021 meeting webpage for further updates and details regarding webinar participation; schedule of advisory body meetings, our E-Portal for submitting public comments, and public comment deadlines. There will be no meetings scheduled during the weekend of April 10-11, however, the meeting will continue daily on Monday, April 12 at 8 a.m. through Thursday, April 15, 2021. Meetings of advisory bodies will also be conducted by online meetings based on the schedules in the agenda.

Instructions for how to connect to the online meetings will be posted on the Council’s April 2021 meeting webpage prior to the first day of the meeting.

For further information:

NOAA Fisheries Announces Adjustments to the Possession and Trip Limit for the Common Pool Groundfish Fishery

March 10, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Effective on March 11, 2021, the new common pool possession and trip limits for Georges Bank (GB) cod, Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod, GOM haddock, Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) winter flounder, American plaice, and witch flounder are summarized in the tables below.  These increases are in effect through the end of the fishing year on April 30, 2021.

New FY 2020 Possession and Trip Limits

This action is intended to provide additional fishing opportunities and facilitate harvest of the common pool quotas.

For more details, please read the rule as filed in the Federal Register, and our permit holder bulletin.

Questions?

Industry: Contact Spencer Talmage, Regional Office, 978-281-9232

Media: Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, 978-281-9175