Saving Seafood

Reminder of Upcoming Webinars for the New South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico For-Hire Electronic Reporting Requirements

December 14, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Background

  • NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils are implementing the new Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program in January 2021.
  • The intent of the program is to provide more timely catch information by federally-permitted charter vessels, to enhance data collection, and provide accurate and reliable fisheries information about catch, effort, and discards to be used in future population assessments and management evaluations.

Southeast For-Hire Reporting Webinar Information and Registration

  • Please join us as we walk you through the reporting process and answer your questions. The webinars will be recorded and available to the public.
  • For Gulf of Mexico permit holders:
  • For South Atlantic permit holders:

Please Note: All permit holders should have received an informational toolkit with additional program information via US Postal Service.  These tool-kits and instructional videos are also available online at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing-data/southeast-hire-electronic-reporting-program.  The website also provides information on the webinars including how to register and attend.

If you have any questions or did not receive a toolkit, please call our customer service hotline (available from 8:00-4:30, EST, Monday through Friday) at 1-833-707-1632 or email us at ser.electronicreporting@noaa.gov.

New South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico For-Hire Electronic Reporting Requirements Begin January 2021

November 24, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Educational materials are on their way to all permit holders and are available online

NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils are implementing the new Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program in January 2021.  The intent of the program is to provide more timely catch information by federally-permitted charter vessels, to enhance data collection for better fisheries management and science, and to provide accurate and reliable fisheries information about catch, effort, and discards to be used in future stock assessments and management evaluations.

South Atlantic – Start Date for reporting is January 4, 2021

Federal Charter/Headboat Permit Holders for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper, Atlantic Coastal Migratory Pelagics, or Atlantic Dolphin Wahoo are required to begin submitting weekly reports on January 4, 2021.

Gulf of Mexico – Start Date for reporting is January 5, 2021

Federal Charter/Headboat Permit Holders for Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) Reef Fish or Gulf Coastal Migratory Pelagics are required to begin reporting on January 5, 2021.  The owner or operator of a vessel with a federal Gulf Charter/Headboat Permit will be required to submit an electronic fishing report for each trip prior to offloading fish, or within 30 minutes after the end of the trip, if no fish are landed.  Also, the owner or operator of a vessel with the permit must electronically declare (hail-out) a trip before departing for a trip.  Additionally, at a later date that NOAA Fisheries has not yet determined, vessel owners or operators must install NOAA Fisheries approved hardware/software with location tracking capabilities that, at a minimum, archives vessel position data and transmits data to NOAA Fisheries.

Helpful Tools and Materials

To help you prepare for the upcoming reporting requirements, NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils have developed the following outreach tools:

  • Information tool-kit: Informational packet describing the requirements with a step-by-step guide on how to sign-up for an account, download reporting applications, and begin reporting. The tool-kit will be mailed to all charter/headboat permit holders in the beginning of December 2020.
  • Instructional videos: Short videos describing the requirements and how to report.
  • Webinars: Hands-on training to answer your questions and walk you through the reporting process. The webinars will be recorded and made available to the public.
    • Gulf of Mexico federal for-hire permit holder webinars:
      • December 15, 2020 at 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, EST
      • December 15, 2020 at 6:00–8:00 PM, EST
    • South Atlantic and Atlantic federal for-hire permit holder webinars:
      • December 16, 2020 at 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, EST
      • December 16, 2020 at 6:00–8:00 PM, EST
    • Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Website: This website will contain all the informational materials and host the most up-to-date information on vendors, landings locations, reimbursements, and more.

To access the tool-kits and instructional videos go to: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing-data/southeast-hire-electronic-reporting-program.  The website also provides information on the webinars including how to register and attend.

If you have any questions, please call our customer service hotline (available from 8:00-4:30, EST) at 1-833-707-1632 or email us at ser.electronicreporting@noaa.gov.

Please know that NOAA Fisheries is here to help, and we respect your time and business operations.  We look forward to working with you during the implementation phase of this new program.  Our goals are to provide each fisherman with excellent customer service, improve for-hire data collection, and reduce the amount of time you spend reporting so you can focus more time on your customers.

SAFMC: Council Meeting to Focus on Recreational Issues in November

October 28, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a recreational information meeting on Monday, November 9, 2020 via webinar to review recreational fisheries issues and ongoing Council actions. The Council will review the status of several amendments that address recreational topics such as recreational permits and angler reporting requirements in the snapper grouper fishery and recreational accountability measures.The Council will also receive a final report on the MyFishCount voluntary recreational reporting pilot program.

Council members will receive an update on a joint workgroup convened by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to develop recommendations in response to Section 102 of the Modern Fish Act, designed to expand management flexibility. Given the importance of recreational fisheries in the Southeastern U.S. and the jurisdictional overlap between the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic stocks and fisheries, both Councils agreed to use this workgroup to develop initial strategies for implementing flexible management approaches for recreational fisheries.

The Council is using this meeting format primarily for informational and discussion purposes as Council members continue to consider options for improving data collection and management of recreational fisheries. Discussion questions are included as part of the meeting materials.

The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and is open to the public via webinar. Registration is required. Meeting materials, public comment form and registration link are now available from the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/.

Request for Comments: Proposed Rule to Modify the Requirements for Federally-Permitted For-Hire Vessels Multi-Day Trip Possession Limits in the Gulf of Mexico

July 28, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

KEY MESSAGE:

  • NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on a proposed rule that would modify the on-board multi-day possession limit of fish species on for-hire trips by federally-permitted vessels in the Gulf of Mexico.
  • The rule would increase the required trip duration to greater than 30 hours, but would allow anglers to retain the second daily bag limit at any time after the federally-permitted for-hire vessel leaves the dock.
  • The rule would also require that the receipt issued to passengers specify the date and time of both the departure and return of the trip, and would clarify that the entire trip must occur on days when the harvest and possession of the applicable reef fish species are allowed.
  • Comments are due by August 27, 2020.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES:

  • In response to concerns by some for-hire captains, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council developed an amendment to modify the requirements to retain the possession limit of fish species on for-hire trips by federally-permitted vessels in the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Current regulations allow anglers to retain two bag limits of most reef fish or coastal migratory pelagic (CMP) species on multi-day trips, but prohibit anglers from possessing the second bag limit until 24 hours of the trip have passed. CMP species to which this possession limit applies are king mackerel and Spanish mackerel.
  • The possession of Gulf of Mexico cobia is limited to two per person per day regardless of the duration of a trip and this proposed rule would not revise the cobia possession limits.
  • Speckled hind and warsaw grouper have daily bag limits of one fish per vessel per day; therefore, the possession limit is two vessel limits, or two fish per vessel.
  • The rule would require a multi-day trip duration be greater than 30 hours in length to allow anglers to retain the possession limit, but would allow the retention of the possession limit any time during the trip, versus having to wait until the first 24 hours have passed after the federal for-hire vessel leaves the dock.
  • The existing requirements would remain the same for the vessel to have two licensed operators aboard, and each passenger issued and have in possession a receipt issued on behalf of the vessel that verifies the length of the trip. However, the receipt would need to specify the date, time of departure, and length of trip.
  • For the purpose of the possession limit, the entire trip duration must coincide with an open fishing season for the applicable species.
    • For example: if anglers on a federal for-hire vessel intend to retain the possession limit of red snapper, which has an open season beginning on June 1, the vessel cannot depart before 12:01 AM on June 1.
  • The rule is expected to promote efficiency in the utilization of the reef fish and CMP resources and a potential decrease in regulatory discards by providing the owners and operators of federally-permitted for-hire vessels greater flexibility in determining when to allow passengers to retain the possession limit on multi-day trips.

HOW TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED RULE:

The comment period is open now through August 27, 2020.  You may submit comments by electronic submission or by postal mail.  Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.

FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 85 FR 45363, published July 28, 2020.

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

  1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=NOAA_FRDOC_0001-5568
  2. Click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields.
  3. Enter or attach your comments.

Mail: Submit written comments to Rich Malinowski, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

  • Contact NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office

By Mail: 

Rich Malinowski
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505

By FAX: (727) 824-5308

By Phone: (727) 824-5305

Two Fishery Management Council Agendas to Focus on COVID-19 Effects on Fisheries, Management

May 26, 2020 — Concerns relating to the coronavirus have meant many state, federal and international fishery management meetings have gone virtual. But now two of those meetings are tackling COVID-19’s direct effect on fisheries and fisheries management.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is seeking input on COVID-19 impacts on fisheries and management when it meets virtually for its June 2020 meeting. The council may also consider management changes to ease those impacts, according to an industry notice.

Read the full story at Seafood News

FLORIDA: Destin charter fleet looks forward to extra red snapper days

February 26, 2020 — Just a couple of days after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the recreational season for 2020 red snapper, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council sent out a little good news themselves.

The management council is predicting that the 2020 season for red snapper for the for-hire federally permitted boats, which is the majority of Destin’s fishing fleet, will be extended seven to eight days longer this year.

Last year, the for-hire charter boats had a 61 day season, starting on June 1. The projected increase in days this year is due to the reduction in buffer, from 20 percent to 9 percent. Because the federal for-hire component didn’t exceed its annual catch target, the council determined that the buffer between the annual catch limit and the annual catch target could be reduced from 20 to 9 percent.

So with the possible increase, charter boats are looking at a 67 to 68 day season, that would take them through the first week of August.

Read the full story at The Destin Log

Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery coming under more permanent state control

December 9, 2019 — A pilot program that gave five U.S. states bordering the Gulf of Mexico greater control over their quotas for the Gulf red snapper fishery is in the process of being made permanent, signaling a willingness from NOAA Fisheries to embrace more flexible, decentralized management programs for U.S. fisheries.

In April 2019, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council unanimously adopted Amendment 50, which would extend state regulations for recreational red snapper harvest in the Gulf of Mexico into adjacent federal waters for 2020 and beyond. Draft rules are now being considered by the individual states, which include Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. As that happens, NOAA Fisheries is conducting an evaluation of input received during a recently-concluded public comment period, and will soon publish a final rule, cementing Amendment 50 in place. That will likely happen in the early part of 2020, according to Roy Crabtree, the regional administrator of NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Senators Cassidy, Jones Introduce Bill to Improve Red Snapper Numbers

November 25, 2019 — SEAFOOD NEWS — U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Doug Jones (D-AL) introduced a bill earlier this week that aims to improve the health of reef fish (red snapper) populations in the Gulf of Mexico.

A common issue when catching red snapper is barotrauma, a condition that kills fish if they are caught and rapidly rough to the surface from deep water. Barotrauma kills fish because they cannot readjust to deep water upon release. Fishermen can venting tools and descending devices to reduce the impact and save fish harvested for both commercial and recreational uses.

NOAA and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council are prepping an eight-year, $30 million project to further reduce barotrauma. However, current regulations prevent the Council from both requiring fishermen to use venting tools and other methods to return fish and providing federal dollars to study the issue, Senator Cassidy’s office said in a press release.

“I’ve been fishing all my life, so I know how important it is to protect Gulf species like red snapper,” Jones said. “The use of descending devices and venting tools is one way we can help maintain healthy populations of reef fish, which is crucial for the economy of Alabama and for ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy red snapper season.”

The Direct Enhancement of Snapper Conservation and the Economy through Novel Devices (DESCEND) Act would force commercial and recreational fishermen to keep descending devices onboard vessels. It would also allow the study to continue after new regulations are implemented to comply if the DESCEND Act were to become law.

“Louisiana loves to fish. We’re at risk of there not being enough red snapper for recreational and commercial fishing to continue,” Dr. Cassidy said. “This increases the number of red snapper for now and for future generations.”

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

ASMFC Approves Atlantic Cobia Amendment 1

August 9th, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia (Atlantic cobia). Amendment 1 establishes management measures that transition the FMP from complementary management with the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils to sole management by the Commission. Amendment 1 to the FMP was initiated in anticipation of the Councils’ Regulatory Amendment 31 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics (CMP) FMP, which was approved earlier this year and removed Atlantic cobia from the Councils’ oversight.

Amendment 1 changes several portions of the Commission’s FMP that were previously dependent on the CMP FMP and institutes a long-term strategy for managing in the absence of a federal plan. Several of these changes establish processes for the Commission to carry out management responsibilities previously performed by the South Atlantic Council, including the setting of harvest quotas and sector allocations, defining stock status criteria and recommending management measures to be implemented by NOAA Fisheries in federal waters. Additionally, Amendment 1 transitions responsibilities of monitoring and closing (if necessary) commercial harvest to the Commission.

Moving forward, the Commission will recommend to NOAA Fisheries that fishing in federal waters be regulated according to the state of landing. If a vessel has licenses for multiple states with open seasons, they must follow the most restrictive license’s regulations. If a vessel has licenses for multiple states, only one of which has an open season, they may fish under the regulations of the open state. Regulations resulting from this recommendation would only apply in federal waters. Fishermen would still be required to follow state possession or landing limits in state waters.

Amendment 1 establishes a harvest specification process, which allows the Board to specify a limited set of management measures for up to 3 years. One of the measures that may be set through this process is a coastwide harvest quota. However, until the first specification process occurs, after completion of the ongoing stock in 2020, the current coastwide quota (670,000 pounds) remains in effect.

The Amendment also changes the units used to measure and evaluate the recreational fishery from pounds numbers of fish. To accommodate this change, the recreational harvest quota in pounds (620,000) is converted to numbers (22,142 fish) and allocated among the states, resulting in the following state recreational harvest targets:

· Virginia: 8,724 fish
· North Carolina: 8,436 fish
· South Carolina: 2,679 fish
· Georgia: 2,081 fish
· 1% De Minimis Set Aside: 222 fish

States still may set their own seasons and vessel limits to achieve their respective targets.

Finally, Amendment 1 establishes a de minimis status for the commercial sector that exempts states with small commercial harvests from in-season monitoring requirements. States are required to implement measures of Amendment 1 by July 1, 2020. Amendment 1 will be available on the Commission’s website, http://www.asmfc.org/species/cobia, by the end of August.

For more information, please contact Dr. Michael Schmidtke, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at mschmidtke@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.