Saving Seafood

Reminder: Midwater Trawl Herring Vessels May Only Fish Inside Groundfish Closed Areas on Trips That Carry an Observer

October 22, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Atlantic herring vessels may only fish with midwater trawl gear inside the following Groundfish Closed Areas when carrying an observer onboard the vessel:

  • Closed Area I North (February 1 – April 15)
  • Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area
  • Cashes Ledge Closure Area
  • Closed Area II

Because industry-funded monitoring has not yet been implemented in the herring fishery, vessels are currently unable to purchase optional industry-funded observer coverage in order to fish inside a Groundfish Closed Area.

Currently, a vessel may fish with midwater trawl gear inside a Groundfish Closed Area on a herring trip if the following criteria are met:

  1. If the vessel is assigned Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) coverage on the trip in the Pre-Trip Notification System, and
  2. If the vessel actually carries a NEFOP observer on the trip.

If the vessel is issued a coverage waiver for the trip for any reason, the vessel is not permitted to fish inside Groundfish Closed Areas during that trip. For complete information on notification and reporting requirements, please see Notification, Reporting, and Monitoring Requirements for the Atlantic Herring Fishery.

Read the full release here

New England Fishery Management Council Seeks Feedback on For Hire Groundfish Limited Entry Template

October 20, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council is seeking feedback, via their contractor Tidal Bay Consulting, on a template for a limited entry program for party/charter vessels in the recreational groundfish fishery. Feedback on the template will assist the Council in further refining the elements considered under a strawman proposal. The development of the strawman and public input will assist the Council in deciding whether to develop a limited entry program for the recreational party/charter groundfish fleet in future actions.

You can find more information about recent Council activities related to limited entry in the for hire recreational fishery, and provide feedback here.

Questions?

Jessica Joyce, Tidal Bay Consulting, 207-200-8795

Jamie M. Cournane, New England Fishery Management Council, 978-465-0492

Re Trump’s May Executive Order: North Pacific Council Prioritizes Surveys and Catch Monitoring

October 19, 2020 — In response to Last May’s Executive Order 13921, the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC) submitted a list of prioritized recommendations to “reduce burdens on domestic fishing and to increase production within sustainable fisheries.” At the top of their list is groundfish surveys in the Gulf and Bering Sea, and improved observer coverage and electronic monitoring.

The president’s order “Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness Economic Growth” tasked each of the nation’s eight regional management councils with providing ways to reach four goals and asked them to provide recommendations by November 2. Implementation plans for the changes are to be submitted within a year of the President’s May 7, 2020 order.

Read the full story at Seafood News

NEFMC October 27, 2020 Webinar Meeting – Listen Live, Get Documents – Council Priorities

October 19, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council will hold a special half-day meeting by webinar on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 to: (1) discuss and approve final 2021 Council Priorities; and (2) identify and approve a list of actions responding to the May 7, 2020 Executive Order 13921, Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth.

START TIME:  12:30 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENT:  The public is invited to listen live and provide input during designated opportunities for public comment.

  • The Council’s “Guidelines for Providing Public Comments” can be found here.
  • The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration during this webinar meeting is Thursday, October 22, 2020 at 8:00 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.

  • Here are instructions in the Remote Participation Guide for successfully joining and participating in the webinar.
  • THIS IS KEY!  If you want to speak during opportunities for public comment, you need to: (1) register for the webinar; and (2) actually “join” the webinar.  People who call in by telephone without joining the webinar will be in listen-only mode.  Those who take both steps – register and then join the webinar – will see the meeting screen and be able to click on a “raise hand” button, which will let the meeting organizer know you want to be unmuted to speak.
  • We have a Help Desk in case you get stuck joining the webinar or have trouble along the way.  Phone numbers are listed on the Help Desk Poster, or just email helpdesk@nefmc.org.  We’ll get right back to you.

WEBINAR CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (562) 247-8422.  The access code is 638-472-965.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.

AGENDA:  All meeting materials and the agenda are available on the Council’s website at NEFMC October 27, 2020 Webinar Meeting.  Additional documents will be posted as they become available.

IMPORTANT GROUNDFISH ITEM UNDER OTHER BUSINESS:  The Council will consider making a change to 2020 groundfish priorities under “Other Business.”  The change is related to Framework Adjustment 61 to the groundfish plan, which is under development and slated for final action in December.  As part of this action, the Council will discuss whether to: (1) add a universal sector exemption pertaining to fishing for redfish; and (2) in exchange, remove an item involving investigating ways to increase Georges Bank haddock utilization.  The Council also may discuss other issues as needed under Other Business.

THREE MEETING OUTLOOK:  A copy of the New England Council’s Three Meeting Outlook is available HERE.

COUNCIL MEETING QUESTIONS:  Anyone with questions prior to or during the Council meeting should contact Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

PFMC: November 9-10; 12-13 and 16-20, 2020 PFMC Meeting Notice (Online) and Agenda Now Available

October 12, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC or Council) and its advisory bodies will meet November 9‐10, 12‐13 and 16‐20, 2020 by webinar only, to address issues related to groundfish, Pacific halibut, salmon, highly migratory species, coastal pelagic species, and administrative matters.

Please see the November 9-10; 12-13; and 16-20, 2020 Council meeting notice on the Council’s website 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 on November 11, or during the weekend of November 14‐15, however, the meeting will continue daily on Monday, November 16 at 8 a.m. through Friday, November 20, 2020. Meetings of advisory bodies will also be conducted by online meetings based on the schedules in the agenda. There will be one opportunity for public comment daily in each of the online meetings.

Instructions for how to connect to the online meetings will be posted on the Council’s November 2020 Meeting webpage prior to the first day of the meeting.

For further information:

New England’s Groundfish Fleet Will Be 100% Monitored, Not Yet Clear Who Will Ultimately Pay

October 8, 2020 — In an historic vote one week ago, the New England Fisheries Mainagement Council adopted Amendment 23 which will require human observers or electronic monitoring on all trips made by the groundfish fleet.

“After more than three-and-a-half years of hard work on developing measures to improve the groundfish monitoring program, the New England Fishery Management Council … overwhelmingly voted to submit the amendment to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, NOAA Fisheries) for review, approval, and implementation,” the Council announced in a press release yesterday.

Read the full story at Seafood News

MAINE: Seafood industry ponders viability of Portland Fish Exchange

October 7, 2020 — The Portland Fish Pier Authority is embarking on a strategic planning process that could determine the future of its underused waterfront space.

Built to accommodate large trawling vessels and massive landings, the Portland Fish Exchange faces challenges from the decline of landings, fewer boats in the state’s groundfishing fleet, the coming retirement of its longtime manager, and the sudden impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Business at the exchange peaked in the early 1980s when more than 300 vessels landed nearly 80 million pounds of groundfish. By 1999 only 15 million pounds were landed by 160 boats. The manager, Bert Jongerden, said as of 2019 only about 40 vessels were selling their catches at the exchange.

Read the full story at the Portland Phoenix

Alaska pollock, groundfish sector demands ‘non-negotiable’ military protection after run-ins with Russian warships

October 6, 2020 — The At-Sea Processors Association (APA) says US military protection of the Bering Sea groundfish fleets should be “non-negotiable” after a spate of incidents involving Russian military vessels in the US Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Bering Sea in August and September.

Recent confrontations initiated by Russian warships and warplanes against US-flagged fishing vessels operating lawfully within the US EEZ have caused fishing boat captains and their crews to fear for their safety, disrupting the business operations of fishing companies at a critical point in a very important fishing season, Stephanie Madsen, executive director of the At-sea Processors Association wrote in a prepared statement for a US Senate hearing, which was postponed at the last minute.

Read the full story at IntraFish

NEFMC Adopts 100% Groundfish At-Sea Monitoring Target; Industry to be Reimbursed if Funds Available

October 6, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

After more than three-and-a-half years of hard work on developing measures to improve the groundfish monitoring program, the New England Fishery Management Council took final action on September 30, 2020 on Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. The Council overwhelmingly voted to submit the amendment to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, NOAA Fisheries) for review, approval, and implementation.

The Council supported the following measures for this action.

  • 100% Monitoring: The Council adopted a target at-sea monitoring coverage rate of 100% for all groundfish sector trips for the first four fishing years following the effective date of Amendment 23. This target rate is intended to establish a baseline of accurate and precise catch information for the fishery until a subsequent Council action modifies the coverage level.
    • The Council recognized that waivers for at-sea monitoring coverage may be granted “in limited circumstances and for good cause only,” such as when at-sea monitors are not available.

Read the full release here

NEFMC SSC – Listen Live – Tuesday, October 13, 2020 – Groundfish Issues, Stock Assessments

October 6, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet via webinar on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 to discuss issues related to groundfish.  The public is invited to listen live.  Here are the details.

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 (562) 247-8422.  The access code is 632-479-325.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.

AGENDA:  The SSC will meet to:

  • Review information from the Fall 2020 Management Track Stock Assessments for groundfish and consider information provided by the Council’s Groundfish Plan Development Team (PDT);
  • Recommend the overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) levels for Georges Bank winter flounder, Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder, Gulf of Maine winter flounder, Acadian redfish, ocean pout, Atlantic halibut, wolffish, northern windowpane flounder, and southern windowpane flounder for fishing years 2021-2023
  • Discuss white hake rebuilding plan options developed by the PDT; and
  • Discuss other business as necessary.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENT:  The Peer Review Report for the Fall 2020 Management Track Stock Assessments is posted HERE.

COMMENTS:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Friday, October 9, 2020.  Address comments to Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.  Additional information is available in the meeting notice.

MATERIALS:  All documents for this meeting will be posted on the SSC October 13, 2020 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.