Saving Seafood

Commercial Closure for Red Snapper in South Atlantic Federal Waters on November 7, 2018

November 2, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

WHAT/WHEN:
  • The commercial harvest of red snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on November 7, 2018, and unless specified otherwise, will open on July 8, 2019, for the 2019 commercial fishing season. During the commercial closure, all sale or purchase of red snapper is prohibited.
  • All harvest or possession of red snapper in or from federal waters is now prohibited, as the recreational fishing season is also closed for 2018.
WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:
  • The 2018 commercial catch limit is 124,815 pounds whole weight. Commercial landings are projected to reach the commercial catch limit. According to the accountability measure, harvest should close to prevent the annual catch limit from being exceeded.
AFTER THE CLOSURE:
  • The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal commercial permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper.
  • The prohibition on sale or purchase during a closure for red snapper does not apply to fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. on November 7, 2018,and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations.  Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=383bc195ccbeab4fd6bec1c24905df34&node=sp50.12.622.i&rgn=div6#se50.12.622_1193.

South Atlantic Electronic For-Hire Reporting Informational Sessions Scheduled for 2018

October 30, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

KEY MESSAGE:

  • NOAA Fisheries is developing an electronic reporting program for permit holders who have a South Atlantic Federal charter/headboat for-hire permit for snapper-grouper, dolphin wahoo, or coastal migratory pelagics fisheries.
  • The final rule for the program has not published but these requirements are expected to be effective in 2019.
  • Once implemented, this electronic reporting program will require the owners and operators of all charter vessels issued South Atlantic Federal permits to report information about their trips and catch on a weekly basis.
  • NOAA Fisheries will be holding informational sessions on the electronic reporting program in the locations listed below.
  • During these informational sessions, NOAA Fisheries and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council staff will review the electronic reporting program requirements, including how to submit reports electronically, and where to report if you hold Federal for-hire permits in different regions.
  • All informational sessions begin at 6:00 pm with a presentation from staff. After the presentation, there will be time for questions about the program.
  • These informational sessions are not mandatory but will provide useful information about the upcoming electronic reporting program.
  • For more information about the Electronic Reporting Program, please  visit: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/et or, contact Karla Gore at (727) 824-5305 or karla.gore@noaa.gov.
Date
Location
October 30, 2018  Haddrells Point and Tackle, 885 Ben Sawyer Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
November 1, 2018 Armstrong Science Center, Biology Classroom 1109, Library Dr, Savannah, GA 31419
November 13, 2018 Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Ave, Key West, FL 33040
November 15, 2018 North East Florida Marlin Association, 30 harbor Dr.  St Augustine, FL 32084
December 13, 2018 Dare County Office Rm 168 954 Marshall C. Collins Dr Manteo, NC 27954
If you cannot attend an informational session in person, webinars are scheduled for November 27, 2018, and December 13, 2018, from 6:00-7:00 pm. The links to register for the webinar can be found here:

Grouper, snapper, cod? Mislabeling is rampant in the seafood industry

October 22, 2018 — Recent investigations and studies have shown mislabeling – sometimes due to error but often the result of outright fraud – is rampant in the seafood industry, showing up both in the marketplace and on restaurant menus.

One study of retailers found seafood like grouper, cod and snapper may be mislabeled up to 87 percent of the time, swapped out for less desirable and cheaper varieties. For example, only seven of the 120 samples of red snapper were actually red snapper.

CBS News’ Meg Oliver spoke to Vinny Millbourn, who hails from a long line of fishermen. The fishmonger at Greenpoint Fish and Lobster Company in Brooklyn, New York, specializes in local, domestic and traceable species. His storefront acts as a fish market, raw bar and restaurant.

“It’s a very big problem and the issue is once it’s prepared, there’s really no way to check it other than DNA testing which a lot of companies are now doing,” Millbourn said. “So I have a have a network of small boat fisherman and wharfs all over the country that are shipping to me daily through the air or by truck. And we are processing every single day to bring in high-quality fresh seafood.”

Millbourn not only knows where his fish come from he can tell a tale about each one. That personal connection is hard to find, but is a good sign. It’s estimated that more than 90 percent of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, and less than one percent is tested by the government.

Read the full story at CBS News

Federal Fishery Advisors Scheduled to Meet

October 17, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has scheduled meetings of its Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel, System Management Plan Workgroup, and its Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel. These groups provide recommendations on a variety of federal fisheries issues for consideration by the Council as it develops fishery management plans and amendments.

Meetings are open to the public and available via webinar. Registration for the webinars is required.The Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel will meet to review amendments currently under development by the Council including those affecting red grouper rebuilding, yellowtail snapper accountability measures, and best practices. The AP will also receive updates on the Council’s Citizen Science efforts and provide input on Fishery Performance Reports for yellowtail snapper and golden tilefish. The meeting agenda, briefing book materials and webinar registration is available at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/current-advisory-panel-meetings/

System Management Plan (SMP) Work Group

The System Management Plan Workgroup, consisting of fishery scientists, agency personnel, and representatives from commercial and recreational sectors, was established by the Council in March 2018 to aid in the management and evaluations of protected areas recommended by the Council. The Workgroup will review the Council’s System Management Plan, with the focus on Spawning Special Management Zones implemented in July 2017. The Workgroup meeting agenda, briefing book material, and webinar registration information is available at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/other-meetings

Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel Meeting

The Council’s largest advisory panel will meet for three days to cover a long list of agenda items relative to fisheries including: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s energy development activities; predator/prey relationships supporting the dolphin wahoo fishery; updates on fishery independent research programs; and mapping and characterization of deepwater ecosystems by NOAA’s R/V Okeanos Explorer. The meeting will also include break-out sessions to address information and regional partnerships affecting Essential Fish Habitat. A complete agenda and overview, briefing book materials and registration information for this meeting will be available October 24th from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/current-advisory-panel-meetings

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council October 1-5, 2018 Meeting Summary

October 12, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council held their regularly scheduled September meeting October 1-5, 2018 in Charleston, SC. The meeting was postponed due to Hurricane Florence. Below are highlights from the Council’s weeklong meeting. Additional information from the meeting is available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/september-2018-council-meeting-details/, including a Meeting Report, Story Map, final committee reports, public comments, and briefing book materials.

Amendments Approved for Secretarial Review

The Council approved four amendments to fishery management plans for formal Secretarial review. NOAA Fisheries will solicit additional public input on the amendments as part of the review process. Regulatory actions in the amendments will be implemented following the review process, if approved by the Secretary of Commerce.

Spiny Lobster Amendment 13

The amendment includes actions to update federal regulations to align with the State of Florida and update the enhanced cooperative management procedure between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and NOAA Fisheries. The new regulations would apply to commercial harvesters using bully net gear and include permit requirements, vessel markings, and prohibitions on the use of trap pullers or underwater breathing apparatus (excluding dive masks or snorkels) when commercial bully net fishing. The amendment would also establish a daily vessel limit of 250 lobsters per day/vessel for the commercial bully net fishery and for the commercial dive fishery, in specified areas.

Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 27 (Commercial Visioning)

In response to input received as part of the Council’s Vision Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery addressing long-term management, the actions in this amendment are designed to address concerns over equitable access for commercial fishermen, minimize discards, and improve marketability. The amendment would: establish a commercial split season and modify trip limits for blueline tilefish, greater amberjack, and red porgy; establish a split season for snowy grouper, modify the trip limit for vermilion snapper; specify a minimum size limit for almaco jack and a trip limit for the Other Jacks Complex; remove the minimum size limit for queen snapper, silk snapper and blackfin snapper; and reduce the commercial minimum size limit for gray triggerfish in federal waters off east Florida.

Snapper Grouper Abbreviated Framework Amendment 2
(Vermilion Snapper and Black Sea Bass)
Based on results of the latest stock assessments, the framework amendment would adjust fishing levels for both vermilion snapper and black sea bass. Actions in the amendment would increase the overall annual catch limit (ACL) for vermilion snapper and decrease the annual catch limit for black sea bass. The ACL for vermilion snapper would increase from 1,269,000 pounds whole weight (ww) to 1,579,000 pounds (ww) beginning in 2019. For black sea bass, the ACL would be reduced from 1,756,450 pounds (ww) to 760,000 pounds beginning in 2019 with the recreational ACL effective at the start of the 2019/2020 fishing year (starting April 2019). The Council is considering the amendment an “interim adjustment” until new recreational estimates from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) are incorporated into the assessment. The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee will review the MRIP recalibrations and updated assessments using the new MRIP numbers for both species during its October 15-17, 2018 meeting and provide a report to the Council during its December 2018 meeting.

Scoping Meetings Cancelled – SAFMC Votes to Discontinue Development of Options to Modify Federal For-Hire Snapper Grouper Permits

October 5, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Public scoping meetings scheduled to gather input on options for modifying the Federal South Atlantic Charter/Headboat for Snapper Grouper Permit will not be held. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council decided to stop work on the draft Amendment 47 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan during its meeting this week. The amendment included options for a moratorium on the federal permit, modifying current permit conditions that prohibit harvest of snapper grouper species in state waters when the species is closed to harvest in federal waters, issuing a for-hire permit for an individual rather than a vessel, and issuing an ID number for for-hire permits.

A Story Map for the Council meeting is available from the Council’s website at www.safmc.net. Additional information about the meeting, including a meeting summary will be available tomorrow from the Council’s website.

Note: A For-Hire Electronic Reporting Information Session scheduled for October 30, 2018 in Mt. Pleasant, SC will be held as planned. See below for details.

SAFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting – October 15-17, 2018

October 4, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee October 15-17, 2018 in Charleston, SC. The SSC assists the Council in the development, collection, evaluation, and peer review of information relevant to fishery management plans and amendments. The meetings are open to the public and may also be access remotely via webinar.

Meeting Dates: October 15-17, 2018

Meeting Location:
Town & Country Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29401

Agenda Highlights

  • Review of changes to the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) data
  • Review of stock assessment revisions using the newly calibrated MRIP numbers for Blueline Tilefish, Black Sea Bass, Red Grouper, and Vermilion Snapper
  • Review of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission’s Red Snapper Gear Selectivity Study

Additional Information:

Council Seeks Input on Options to Modify Federal For-Hire Permits for the Snapper Grouper Fishery

October 1, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting public comment for measures proposed in draft Amendment 47 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. The amendment would modify the Federal South Atlantic Charter/Headboat for Snapper Grouper Permit (For-Hire Permit). Public scoping occurs early in the amendment development process and the Council is seeking input on proposed options at this time.

Options in Amendment 47:
  • A moratorium on Federal South Atlantic Charter/Headboat for Snapper Grouper Permits;
  • Options for the start date of a moratorium, exceptions for eligibility, and transferability of for-hire permits;
  • Options to allow new entrants, establishing a for-hire permits pool, creating multiple for-hire permit types, and time limits/sunset provisions for a moratorium; 
  • Options are also being considered for modifying current permit conditions prohibiting harvest of snapper grouper species in state waters when the species is closed to harvest in federal waters, issuing a for-hire permit for an individual rather than a vessel, and issuing an ID number for for-hire permits similar to limited entry permits.
Learn More and Provide Comments:
  • Information is available from the Council’s website including the 
    • Amendment 47 Public Scoping Document
    • Scoping Overview Powerpoint and Video Presentation
    • Story Map
  • Council staff will provide an overview of the options being proposed at the beginning of each in-person public scoping meeting and answer questions.
  • The Council is requesting that public comments be submitted using the online public comment form now available. You may also read what others are posting. Public comment will be accepted until November 9, 2018.

Read more here

Reminder – Council Meeting September 30 – October 5, 2018

September 28, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The September meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council was postponed earlier as Hurricane Florence threatened the Carolina coastline. Our thoughts are with those impacted by the hurricane and subsequent flooding. The rescheduled Council meeting will begin this Sunday with a Recreational Workshop and continue throughout the week here in Charleston. During the meeting the Council will address federal fishery management measures affecting offshore fisheries including snapper grouper, king and Spanish mackerel, spiny lobster, and habitat protection and ecosystem-based management. The meeting is open to the public unless otherwise specified, and public comment is now being accepted on agenda items.

Agendas, Overviews, and Briefing Materials:
The agenda for the week long meeting as well as individual committee agendas and helpful overviews are available from the Council meeting website. Documents, summaries, presentations, and other briefing materials for the meeting are also available.

Attend the Meeting via Webinar:
The meeting may be accessed via webinar each day as it occurs. Registration for each day is required. Register now and receive email reminders for the upcoming sessions.
– Monday, October 1 2:30 pm – 5 pm
– Tuesday, October 2 8:30 am – 5 pm
– Wednesday, October 3 8:30 am – 6 pm
– Thursday, October 4 8:30 am – 5 pm
– Friday, October 5 8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Public Comment:
Comments on agenda items may be submitted using the online comment form. The form allows Council members immediate access to all comments and gives others the opportunity to read comments as they are posted. The Council will also solicit public comment during the meeting beginning at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, October 3, 2018.

Agenda Highlights:
Final Approval: The Council is scheduled to approve four amendments for review by the Secretary of Commerce during the meeting. The amendments address vermilion snapper and black sea bass fishing levels, commercial king mackerel trip limits, use of bully nets in the spiny lobster fishery, and commercial measures as outlined in the Council’s Vision Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery.

Additional information is available online. Access all of the meeting information, submit comments, and listen live as the meeting occurs.

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting September 16-21, 2018

September 4, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet in September to address federal fishery management measures affecting offshore fisheries including snapper grouper, king and Spanish mackerel, spiny lobster, and habitat protection and ecosystem-based management. The meeting is open to the public unless otherwise specified, and public comment is now being accepted on agenda items.

Agendas, Overviews, and Briefing Materials:
The agenda for the week long meeting as well as individual committee agendas and helpful overviews are available from the Council meeting website. Documents, summaries, presentations, and other briefing materials for the meeting are also available.

Attend the Meeting via Webinar:
The meeting may be accessed via webinar each day as it occurs. Registration for each day is required. Register now and receive email reminders for the upcoming sessions.
– Monday, September 17 2:30 pm – 5 pm
– Tuesday, September 18 8:30 am – 5 pm
– Wednesday, September 19 8:30 am – 6 pm
– Thursday, September 20 8:30 am – 5 pm
– Friday, September 21 8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Public Comment:
Comments on agenda items may be submitted using the online comment form. The form allows Council members immediate access to all comments and gives others the opportunity to read comments as they are posted. The Council will also solicit public comment during the meeting beginning at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

Agenda Highlights:
Final Approval: The Council is scheduled to approve four amendments for review by the Secretary of Commerce during the meeting. The amendments address vermilion snapper and black sea bass fishing levels, commercial king mackerel trip limits, use of bully nets in the spiny lobster fishery, and commercial measures as outlined in the Council’s Vision Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery.

Species Migration Northward
Representatives from the New England Fishery Management Council and the Mid-Atlantic Council will come together during the Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee meeting to discuss changes in migratory patterns being observed as ocean temperatures continue to warm and other environmental changes occur.

Additional agenda highlights are available online. Access all of the meeting information, submit comments, and listen live as the meeting occurs.

Agendas, Overviews, and Briefing Materials:
The agenda for the week long meeting as well as individual committee agendas and helpful overviews are available from the Council meeting website. Documents, summaries, presentations, and other briefing materials for the meeting are also available.

Attend the Meeting via Webinar:
The meeting may be accessed via webinar each day as it occurs. Registration for each day is required. Register now and receive email reminders for the upcoming sessions.
– Monday, September 17 2:30 pm – 5 pm
– Tuesday, September 18 8:30 am – 5 pm
– Wednesday, September 19 8:30 am – 6 pm
– Thursday, September 20 8:30 am – 5 pm
– Friday, September 21 8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Public Comment:
Comments on agenda items may be submitted using the online comment form. The form allows Council members immediate access to all comments and gives others the opportunity to read comments as they are posted. The Council will also solicit public comment during the meeting beginning at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

Agenda Highlights:
Final Approval: The Council is scheduled to approve four amendments for review by the Secretary of Commerce during the meeting. The amendments address vermilion snapper and black sea bass fishing levels, commercial king mackerel trip limits, use of bully nets in the spiny lobster fishery, and commercial measures as outlined in the Council’s Vision Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery.

Species Migration Northward
Representatives from the New England Fishery Management Council and the Mid-Atlantic Council will come together during the Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee meeting to discuss changes in migratory patterns being observed as ocean temperatures continue to warm and other environmental changes occur.

Additional agenda highlights are available online. Access all of the meeting information, submit comments, and listen live as the meeting occurs.