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Moulton Groundfish Trawl Task Force Receives $500,000 Backing From NOAA

October 26, 2021 — The following was released by the office of Congressman Seth Moulton:

It is an age-old question: how many fish are in the sea? In New England, the livelihoods of 34,000 people depend on the answer. A new federal grant that will fund the work of Rep. Seth Moulton’s Groundfish Trawl Task Force aims to get a more accurate count.

The results of the work have major implications for New England’s commercial fishermen. Government regulations that dictate how many groundfish commercial fishermen can catch are based on estimates of the groundfish population. Those estimates are currently calculated by combining decades of data from two research vessels that sporadically trawl the ocean and judge a species’ health based on what they catch. For decades, commercial fishermen have criticized the method as an archaic, inaccurate approach that leaves their financial security up to chance.

Groundfish are fish that live on or near the ocean floor. They include species like the iconic Atlantic cod, haddock, and flounder which fetch the highest-values for commercial fishermen.

Today, Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA) announced a $500,000 federal grant from The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that will fund research designed by Moulton’s Groundfish Task Force. The work will lead to new data NOAA, scientists and fishermen hope will be more accurate measurements of the fish population.

Moulton formed the Groundfish Task Force in 2015 in order to build consensus between the scientific community that conducts research which informs commercial fishing regulations and the commercial fishermen who are most affected by those regulations.

“When I took office I was told I had to make a choice: stand with the fishermen or the environmentalists. I thought that was crazy because both want—and fishermen need—a sustainable fishery. So instead, we rallied both groups around getting better science, and that is exactly what this historic partnership has produced,” Moulton said. “This work will protect the livelihoods of thousands of people, it will protect our ocean, and it will preserve New England’s identity as a place where people can make a living fishing.”

Jackie Odell, Executive Director of the Northeast Seafood Coalition, said: “Working constructively and collaboratively through the Task Force has been invaluable. The upcoming research will make a positive scientific contribution. This research will fill-in gaps and reduce uncertainty with the existing science.”

The new data will influence the commercial fishing industry. Gloucester, in the 6th Congressional district, is the second busiest port in the state.

According to a 2021 report by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, 436 permitted commercial fish harvesters have a Gloucester address and 446 commercial fishing vessels are homeported in the city.

They keep busy. Commercial fishermen landed 63,098,659 pounds of catch in 2018, with an ex-vessel value of $53,210,608. The top-ranked species, by dollar value, landed in Gloucester between 2014-2018 included American Lobster, Atlantic sea herring, and haddock. Herring and haddock are two of the species affected by the grants announced today.

Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken said: “As America’s Oldest Seaport, Gloucester has been proud to partner with Congressman Seth Moulton and our fishermen so that we can find common sense solutions to benefit the entire fishing industry. Our partnerships agree that we must continue to collaborate together, especially around sustainable solutions that will benefit us all.”

In December of 2020, with Moulton’s support, the task force sent NOAA several recommendations for ways that the government could improve its research.

In a letter in response to Rep. Moulton and the Task Force, NOAA’s Director of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Dr. Jon Hare said: “Thank you for forming the Cod Task Force. The Task Force has broad expertise and has made a number of helpful recommendations to the Northeast Fisheries Science Center.” 

It also outlined three recommendations that NOAA will fund.

NOAA selected three of the recommendations for funding. The first will explore whether NOAA can get a better count of how many fish are present in waters fished by commercial fishermen. It will do this by separating the data of the two research vessels NOAA used to conduct the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s trawl survey. The Albatross IV was used between 1963 and 2008, and the Bigelow was commissioned in 2007 and has been used since. NOAA currently combines the data gathered over the last six decades into one dataset in order to assess where and when fishermen can work.

The second will determine how many groundfish are present in the areas of the ocean where they are known to live but can be challenging to sample with traditional approaches such as trawl surveys. This study will use a variety of data sources including NOAA’s longline surveys. Longlining involves long strings of hooks dropped and left on or near the bottom of the ocean at depths beyond the reach of trawling vessels.

Finally, the grants will collect data on how many fish are caught by fishermen and compare that information to the trawl surveys that NOAA conducts. The goal is to determine the degree to which the trawl surveys overlap with where key groundfish stocks are caught in the Gulf of Maine.

The $500,000 grant that will fund these three projects was appropriated by Congress and sent to NOAA’s Cooperative Institute of the North Atlantic Region, which is housed at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. The institute divided the work into two parts. One part will fund the first two studies and will be conducted by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute with a subaward to Northeastern University. The third project will be funded through a grant to UMass Dartmouth.

Moulton and his team worked with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)  to secure funding for the research with an amendment to a Senate appropriations bill late last year. The money is now on the way.

According to NOAA, Cooperative Institutes are NOAA-supported, non-federal organizations that have established outstanding research and education programs in one or more areas that are relevant to the NOAA mission. Cooperative Institutes’ expertise and facilities add significantly to NOAA’s capabilities, and their structure and legal framework facilitate rapid and efficient mobilization of those resources to meet NOAA’s programmatic needs.

 

Amendment 23 Implementation Outreach Workshops

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

The New England Fishery Management Council developed Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan to revise the groundfish sector monitoring program. The Council’s selected measures include a requirement for 100 percent of sector groundfish trips to be monitored, if the agency can reimburse industry’s costs. Sectors would be able to use either human at-sea monitors or either of two electronic monitoring options, or a combination of those options, to meet their monitoring requirement.

While NOAA Fisheries reviews Amendment 23, we are determining how to implement the measures if they are approved. On October 12, we hosted an informational webinar and we have scheduled a series of virtual workshops this fall to assist industry in preparing for the implementation of Amendment 23, if approved. The informational webinar focused on presenting information about the new Maximized Retention Electronic Monitoring model, implementation decisions made to date, a timeline for additional implementation decisions, and our outreach plan to engage constituents in collaboratively planning implementation details.

Informational Webinar

October 12, 2021:  2-3:30 p.m.

Click here for a recording of the webinar.

Virtual Workshops

We are also planning a series of virtual workshops, with multiple webinars to allow each to focus in-depth on a limited number of topics. We will limit the number of attendees for each webinar to ensure that all participants have an opportunity to engage in the discussion. Topics will be chosen based on public feedback so that we focus on the issues of interest to our constituents.

We will be rescheduling the first workshop, initially scheduled for October 27, to a later date this fall.  Next week we will post an agenda for the November 3 workshop.

Please email us to register for a workshop webinar, suggest topics for a workshop agenda, or to provide other feedback for the workshops.

For more information on the webinar and virtual workshops, visit the event page.

Questions?

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

 

Council Endorses 2022 U.S./Canada TACs; Discusses Groundfish Framework 63, Focuses Options to Promote Stock Rebuilding

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

During its late-September 2021 meeting, the New England Fishery Management Council agreed by consensus to accept the U.S./Canada Transboundary Management Guidance Committee’s (TMGC) total allowable catch (TAC) recommendations for three shared groundfish resources on Georges Bank. These involve Eastern Georges Bank cod, Eastern Georges Bank haddock, and Georges Bank yellowtail flounder. The TMGC recommended the TACs based on advice from the U.S./Canada Transboundary Resources Assessment Committee (TRAC). The U.S. has members on both the TMGC and the TRAC. The TRAC deals with the science and assessment end of the process, while the TMGC focuses on management.

The TACs will be included in Framework Adjustment 63 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, which is under development. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, NOAA Fisheries) must approve the TACs before they are implemented.

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Read the full release from the NEFMC

 

Pacific Fishery Management Council named Merrick Burden as new Executive Director

October 20, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council named Mr. Merrick Burden as the new Executive Director for the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Mr. Chuck Tracy, the current Executive Director, will retire in December.

“We believe Merrick’s topical expertise, previous Director experience, and his in‐depth knowledge of the issues facing the Council will allow for a seamless transition as the Council deals with important ongoing issues,” said Council Chair, Marc Gorelnik. “We are convinced he will be able to motivate the Council staff to continue their high level of performance and enable the Council to take on future challenges successfully.” Mr. Burden’s appointment is effective November 15. For the last six years, he has been serving as the Senior Director for Resilient Fisheries and the Lead Senior Economist at the Environmental Defense Fund in Seattle, WA.

Mr. Burden has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Linfield College and a master’s degree in Environmental and Resource Economics from Oregon State University. In addition to his work with the Environmental Defense Fund, he has worked as Executive Director for the Marine Conservation Alliance, as a Groundfish Staff Officer for the Pacific Fishery Management Council, as Industry Economist for the National Marine Fisheries Service, and as an analyst for Northern Economics, Inc.

Council Role

The Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 for the purpose of managing fisheries miles offshore of the United States of America coastline. The Pacific Council recommends management measures for fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.

 

Pacific Fishery Management Council to hold online webinar only meeting in November 2021 to adopt management measures for ocean fisheries

October 19, 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 November 15-19 and 21-22, 2021 by webinar only, to address issues related to coastal pelagic species, groundfish, highly migratory species, salmon, Pacific halibut, and administrative matters.

Please see the November 2021 Council 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.  The meeting of the Council general session will be streamed live on the internet. The broadcast will begin at 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) Tuesday, November 16, 2021. The meeting will continue daily at 8 a.m. through Monday, November 22nd, except there will be no meetings scheduled on Saturday, November 20th. Broadcasts end daily at 5 p.m. or when business for the day is complete.

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

For further information:

•Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff at 503-820-2280; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC or Council) and its advisory bodies will meet November 15-19 and 21-22, 2021 by webinar only, to address issues related to coastal pelagic species, groundfish, highly migratory species, salmon, Pacific halibut, and administrative matters.

Please see the November 2021 Council 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.  The meeting of the Council general session will be streamed live on the internet. The broadcast will begin at 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) Tuesday, November 16, 2021. The meeting will continue daily at 8 a.m. through Monday, November 22nd, except there will be no meetings scheduled on Saturday, November 20th. Broadcasts end daily at 5 p.m. or when business for the day is complete.

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

For further information:

•Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff at 503-820-2280; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

NEFMC SSC – Listen Live – Wednesday, October 25, 2021 – Groundfish Issues

October 18, 2021 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee will meet by webinar to discuss issues related to groundfish.  The public is invited to listen live.  Here are the details.

WHEN:  Monday, October 25, 2021

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.  The Remote Participation Guide is posted here.

CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (562) 247-8422.  The access code is 206-777-773.  Please be aware that if you dial in using this number without joining the webinar at the link above, you will be unable to speak during opportunities for public comment.  This is a listen-only telephone option.  Your regular phone charges will apply.

AGENDA:  The SSC will meet to:

  • Review recent stock assessment information from the 2021 Groundfish Management Track Assessments and information provided by the Council’s Groundfish Plan Development Team (PDT);
  • Recommend overfishing limits (OFLs) and acceptable biological catches (ABCs) for Georges Bank cod and Gulf of Maine cod for fishing years 2022-2024;
  • Review information presented by the Groundfish PDT and consider recommending revised OFLs and ABCs for Georges Bank haddock and Gulf of Maine haddock for fishing year 2022;
  • Review information presented by the Groundfish PDT and consider recommending revised OFLs and ABCs for white hake under the recently implemented rebuilding plan for this stock; and
  • Consider other business as necessary.

COMMENTS:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 21, 2021.  Address comments to Council Chairman Eric Reid 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 25, 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.

Alaska residents’ salmon permits down 50 percent since 1975

October 13, 2021 — The preliminary value to fishermen of the nearly 41 million salmon caught this summer at Alaska’s largest fishery at Bristol Bay is nearly $248 million, 64 percent above the 20-year average. That figure will be much higher when bonuses and other price adjustments are paid out.

But as with the fish bucks tallied from Alaska’s cod, pollock, flounders and other groundfish, the bulk of the Bay’s salmon money won’t be circulating through Alaska’s economy because most of the fishing participants live out of the state.

In 2017, for example, 62 percent of gross earnings from the Bristol Bay driftnet fishery and 40 percent from the setnet fishery left Alaska as nonresident earnings.

That’s due to the region experiencing an overall 50 percent decline in local permit holdings since Alaska began limiting entry into commercial salmon fisheries in 1975. Combined, residents of the Bristol Bay region now hold less than one-quarter of the region’s salmon permits.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

 

Groundfish Management Team to hold online meeting November 8, 2021

October 13, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Groundfish Management Team (GMT) will hold a webinar meeting to discuss items on the Pacific Council’s November 2021 meeting agenda.  The meeting is open to the public.  The online meeting will be held on Monday, November 8, 2021beginning at 1:00 p.m. and ending at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, or when business for the day is completed.

Please see the GMT meeting notice on the Council’s website for details.

For further information:

•Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Todd Phillips at 503-820-2426;  toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

 

Amendment 23 Implementation Informational Webinar October 12

October 4, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The New England Fishery Management Council developed Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan to revise the groundfish sector monitoring program. The Council’s selected measures include a requirement for 100 percent of sector groundfish trips to be monitored, if the agency can reimburse industry’s costs. Sectors would be able to use either human at-sea monitors or either of two electronic monitoring options, or a combination of those options, to meet their monitoring requirement.

While NOAA Fisheries reviews Amendment 23, we are determining how to implement the measures if they are approved. We will host an informational webinar and virtual workshops this fall to assist industry in preparing for the implementation of Amendment 23, if approved. The informational webinar will focus on presenting information about the new Maximized Retention Electronic Monitoring model, implementation decisions made to date, a timeline for additional implementation decisions, and our outreach plan to engage constituents in collaboratively planning implementation details.

Informational Webinar

October 12, 2021:  2-3:30pm

Join by computer or mobile device:

Click:  https://noaanmfs-meets.webex.com/noaanmfs-meets/j.php?MTID=mf70daa7dbf1f38e61d475b239746200a

Enter event number: 2761 228 1129

Enter event password: Meeting123

Or Join By Phone:

Dial In: 866-647-1746

Enter Participant Code: 6042534

Virtual Workshops

We are also planning virtual workshops, with multiple webinars to allow each to focus in-depth on a limited number of topics. We will limit the number of attendees for each webinar to ensure that all participants have an opportunity to engage in the discussion. Topics will be chosen based on public feedback so that we focus on the issues of interest to our constituents.

For more information on the webinar and virtual workshops, visit the event page.

Questions?

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

Groundfish Management Team to hold online meeting October 18-22, 2021

September 29, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a webinar meeting of its Groundfish Management Team (GMT) for a weeklong work session that is open to the public. The online meeting will be held on Monday, October 18 from 1:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), until business for the day is completed.  The GMT will reconvene on Tuesday, October 19 through Friday, October 22, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. PDT until business for each day has been completed.

Please see the GMT meeting notice on the Council’s website for details.

For further information:

• Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Todd Phillips at 503-820-2426;  toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

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