Saving Seafood

Lobster prices high, but dropping as summer approaches

May 7, 2018 — PORTLAND, Maine — Lobster prices are high in the U.S. right now, but members of the industry expect them to come down soon as the Canadian catch creeps up and America’s summer haul gets going.

One-pound lobsters, which Mainers call “chicks,” are selling for about $12 per pound to consumers, which is a couple of dollars per pound more than six months ago. The U.S. lobster industry, based heavily in Maine, is in a slow mode as fishermen get ready to pull traps in the summer.

The lack of fishing effort and high prices have caused some in the seafood industry to raise the possibility of a shortage, but industry members say quite the opposite is true. Canada’s spring fishing season is just starting to heat up, which means prices already are starting to track back down, industry members said.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at the Boston Globe

 

ASMFC Presents Annual Awards of Excellence

May 3, 2018 — ARLINGTON, Va. — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission presented Mr. Dan McKiernan, Dr. Larry Jacobson and Colonel Kyle Overturf with its Annual Awards of Excellence for their outstanding contributions to science and law enforcement along the Atlantic coast.

“The Atlantic coast has no shortage of skilled and dedicated fisheries policy, science and law enforcement professionals. However, Dan, Larry and Kyle represent the cream of the crop’” said ASMFC Chair Jim Gilmore of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. “The Commission’s 2018 Annual Awards of Excellence reflect a diversity of accomplishments from management to science to law enforcement. It is an honor to provide the 2018 AAE to three exceptional individuals for their contributions to the management and conservation of Atlantic coast fisheries.”

From left: ASMFC Chair Jim Gilmore, AAE Recipients Dan McKiernan and Colonel Kyle Overturf, and ASMFC Executive Director Bob Beal

Management & Policy Contributions

Mr. Dan McKiernan, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

Dan McKiernan has been a vital contributor to the Commission’s management and policy programs for over three decades. Throughout his career, he has worked tirelessly to meet the needs of Massachusetts’ fishermen while ensuring the health of the fisheries resources on which they depend. At the management board level, Mr. McKiernan approaches problem solving in a pragmatic, collaborative way.  His recipe for success has been one part engagement and one part persuasion, bringing his colleagues together during board meetings or over a friendly meal to make his case for Massachusetts’ position while finding effective solutions to difficult interstate fisheries management problems.

Mr. McKiernan’s efforts on the development and adoption of Amendment 1 to the Tautog Fishery Management Plan illustrate his dedication to the collaborative process. Working closely with neighboring Rhode Island officials, he helped to develop uniform rules throughout the region. He was also a staunch advocate of a harvester tagging program to improve tracking of fish in commerce, thereby addressing a longstanding poaching problem in the fishery.

Having spent much of his career working on science and management of the lobster fishery, there are few who are more passionate and dedicated to this species.  As Chair of the American Lobster Management Board, Mr. McKiernan skillfully led the Board through difficult deliberations regarding the findings of the 2015 benchmark assessment and the future management of the species. In response to the decline of the Southern New England stock, Mr. McKiernan was integral to right-sizing the industry in Lobster Conservation Management Areas 2 (inshore Southern New England) and 3 (offshore waters) to the abundance of the resource. This was accomplished through trap reductions over a six-year period.

Mr. McKiernan understands that on-the-water experience and talking to fishermen is a critical component of any fisheries manager job. That is why he has spent considerable time on fishing vessels acquiring the hands-on knowledge and perspective necessary to understand and respect fishermen’s views.  Throughout his career, Mr. McKiernan has been a proponent of working with the fishing industry to understand their unique perspective, get advice about management issues, and engage them in cooperative fisheries research.

Science, Technical & Advisory Contribution

Dr. Larry Jacobson, formerly with NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Dr. Larry Jacobson has greatly advanced the scientific understanding of American lobster biology through his contributions on the Commission’s American Lobster Stock Assessment Subcommittee. In 2004, Dr. Jacobson was one of the lead model developers for the Lobster Model Technical Review. He played an important role in shifting away from the historical Delury stock assessment model to the current statistical length-based approach developed by Dr. Yong Chen. Dr. Jacobson’s extensive knowledge in population dynamics and statistics, combined with his model programming skills, were invaluable during this transition and the continued development of Dr. Chen’s assessment model.

During the 2015 lobster assessment, Dr. Jacobson took over the assessment responsibilities for the Gulf of Maine stock. Under his leadership, the assessment model was substantially improved to incorporate spatial dynamics within a stock and show changes in climate and stock productivity. These improvements allowed for accurate modeling of the Southern New England stock decline, as well as the rapid increase in the combined Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stocks. The 2015 lobster assessment could not have been completed in a timely fashion without Larry’s skill and commitment.

Dr. Jacobson’s willingness to step into a leadership role when needed, his commitment to seeking out and using the best scientific methods available, and his dedication to sharing his knowledge of lobster biology and stock dynamics with his colleagues are several reasons why American lobster is one of our best understood marine species.

Law Enforcement Contributions

Colonel Kyle Overturf, Connecticut Environmental Police

Colonel Kyle Overturf exemplifies the lifelong commitment and spirit of public service that is common among his natural resource enforcement peers. Growing up hunting and fishing, Colonel Overturf learned the “game warden” lifestyle firsthand from his father, who served 25 years with Connecticut’s Environmental Police.

Colonel Overturf began his law enforcement career in 1986, serving as a Conservation Enforcement Officer in the Central Marine Sector for the State Environmental Police. Progressing through his career, Colonel Overturf was promoted to Sergeant, then to Eastern District Supervisor in Recreational Law Enforcement. He later went on to serve as Captain and Commander of the State’s Western and Marine Districts. In recognition of his leadership and professionalism, Colonel Overturf was promoted to Colonel in 2010 and continues to lead the Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police as Director.

That leadership and professionalism has been reflected in Colonel Overturf’s work throughout his career, where he has focused on the mentoring, instruction and professional development of fellow marine and conservation officers. Colonel Overturf has served as an instructor at the Connecticut Police Academy and currently serves as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Connecticut, where he teaches Conservation Law Enforcement. He has been a leader in resource conservation at regional and national levels, serving in the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs, including as President of the Northeast Association of Chiefs. He supported the development of an enforcement group within the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and for many years has been a positive presence on the Commission’s Law Enforcement Committee. Colonel Overturf served as Law Enforcement Committee Chair from 2011-2013.

Reflecting his concern for professional development and training in the field of marine and conservation enforcement, Colonel Overturf has been a staunch advocate and supporter of a nationwide Conservation Law Enforcement Leadership Academy, administered through the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs and with support from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. He serves on the Academy Steering Team and was a member of the first graduating class in 2014. He actively encourages and supports future leaders through this program, carrying on a tradition of care and passion for protecting all our natural resources that was bestowed on him by his father.

Learn more about the ASMFC by visiting their site here.

 

Sens. King, Collins push for more research on ocean warming in Gulf of Maine

May 1, 2018 — U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King have urged the federal government to improve efforts to understand the causes and effects of the rapid warming of the Gulf of Maine, which threatens to disrupt Maine’s traditional fisheries and the ecosystem that supports them.

“We need greater resources, enhanced monitoring of subsurface conditions, and a better understanding of the diversity of factors that are simultaneously impacting the Gulf of Maine, from changes in circulation and water temperature to ocean acidification,” the senators wrote in a letter Monday to the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Tim Gallaudet.

“This effort is critical not just for Maine and New England states but for our country as a whole,” they added in the letter, which also called for greater cooperative research and monitoring efforts with Canada, which has sovereignty over the eastern half of the gulf. “Understanding the changes occurring in the Gulf of Maine with respect to warming ocean waters will allow us to better understand the impact to fisheries and benefit other waters similarly affected by climate change.”

Canadian scientists recently measured record-breaking temperatures in the deep water flowing into the principal oceanographic entrance to the Gulf of Maine – nearly 11 degrees above normal – and other researchers report warmer water has been intruding into some of the gulf’s deep-water basins. In a press release, the senators said their letter was prompted by an April 24 Press Herald story on these developments.

Read the full story at the Portland Press Herald

 

Lobster industry taking a hit as a result of rules protecting right whales

April 30, 2018 — New rules off the coast of New England are designed to protect endangered right whales, but as a result, the lobster industry is taking a hit.

Some lobstermen say they’re losing thousands of dollars.

For David Hobson, it’s a way of life. He’s been a commercial fisherman for 30 years, but for three months out of the year, he can’t catch lobsters due to the fishing ban in Cape Cod Bay to protect the endangered right whales.

“The business doesn’t just stop on February 1, it continues on. Bills keep rolling,” said Hobson.

Losing out on thousands of dollars, he took a part-time job to make ends meet.

Read the full story at WFXT

 

Massachusetts regulators: Lobster season will have to wait

April 27, 2018 — MARSHFIELD, Mass. — The dozens of right whales spotted off South Shore coasts since Sunday have delivered a major blow to the local fishing fleet.

The unusually large number of right whales feeding close to the shores of Marshfield and Hull and in Cape Cod Bay this week has led the state Division of Marine Fisheries to implement two emergency regulations, which will push off the start of lobster season in southern Massachusetts.

Lobstermen already have to observe a three month closure from Feb. 1 to April 30 annually in an effort to reduce the number of whales that get entangled in fishing gear during their annual migration. Now, however, boats won’t be able to hit the water until May 6 at the earliest, and a second regulation imposes a 10 knot speed limit for vessels less than 65 feet long through May 15. Right whales feed close to the surface and are vulnerable to vessel strikes.

Read the full story at the Patriot Ledger

 

ASMFC 2018 Spring Meeting Supplemental Materials Now Available

April 26, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Supplemental materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Spring Meeting are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2018-spring-meeting for the following Boards/Sections (click on “Supplemental” following each relevant committee header to access the information). For ease of access, supplemental meeting materials have combined into one PDF – http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/2018SpringMeeting/SupplementalMaterialsCombined.pdf. NOTE: The Shad and River Herring Management Board, previously scheduled for May 1st (11:15 a.m. – Noon), has been cancelled. The Tautog Management Board will be meeting in its place (same date and time). The Tautog Board’s materials can be accessed through the Board link and is also in the combined supplemental materials file.

Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Board jointly with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council –  Revised Draft Agenda and Meeting Overview; Summer Flounder Commercial Issues Amendment Draft Public Hearing Document; Draft Amendment to the FMP for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass for Public Comment; Black Sea Bass Management Reform Initiative 

Bluefish Management Board jointly with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council – Draft Agenda

Tautog Management Board – Draft Agenda & Meeting Overview; Draft Proceedings from October 2017; Connecticut 2018 Commercial Measures

Atlantic Herring Section – Technical Committee Task List & Update on River Herring/Shad Catch Caps, Accountability Measures in the Mackerel Fishery, and Potential Impacts on Atlantic Herring

Northern Shrimp Section – Technical Committee Task List

Executive Committee –  Draft Meeting Summary from February 2018

American Lobster Management Board – Technical Committee Task List & Public Comment

Winter Flounder Management Board – Technical Committee Task List; Technical Committee Report on Proposed Aggregate Weekly Limits in the Commercial SNE/MA Fishery; Law Enforcement Committee Guidelines on the Enforceability of Fishery Management Measures

South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board – NOAA Southeast Regional Office Correspondence to ASMFC

As a reminder, Board meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning April  30th at 10 a.m. and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 2:15 p.m.) on Thursday, May 3rd. The webinar will allow registrants to listen to board/section deliberations and view presentations and motions as they occur. No comments or questions will be accepted via the webinar. Should technical difficulties arise while streaming the broadcast the boards/sections will continue their deliberations without interruption. We will attempt to resume the broadcast as soon as possible. Please go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1945339924799258370 to register.

 

Offshore wind farms concern fisherpeople

April 25, 2018 — When Greg Mataronas steams out of Narragansett Bay as early as 3 a.m., he is headed for grounds he knew as an eight-year-old. A native Rhode Islander, Mataronas grew up lobstering in Little Compton. After college, he returned to the ocean, unable to resist a profession rife with memories of his childhood. But as a commercial lobsterman, Mataronas’ days are far from youthful. Early morning wake-up calls, 16-hour days and occasional bouts of seasickness take their physical toll, and he has watched the lobster population around him decline over the last two decades. But more than the grueling lifestyle, there is a new force threatening Mataronas’ ability to provide for his wife and children: offshore wind energy.

Many fisherpeople see a future where segments of their industry will ultimately disappear unless the federal government ensures their concerns are taken into account in the construction and development of wind farms. Fisherpeople’s fears include the incompatibility of certain types of fishing gear with the clustered placement of wind turbines and a lack of site-specific research regarding economic and ecological impacts of the turbines.

Meghan Lapp, a fisheries liaison for Seafreeze Limited, an R.I.-based producer and trader of sea-frozen seafood, is also frustrated with a lack of communication between fisherpeople and wind energy companies. Though BOEM requires each wind energy company to construct and implement a “fisheries communication plan,” which details how the company will engage with and hear from the fishing industry, many fisherpeople complain that talk is not translating into action.

“All of our concerns fall on deaf ears,” Lapp said. “I personally have been meeting with BOEM for three years.” Lapp added that she gave “confidential business information” from over 20 fishing vessels to BOEM to demonstrate that there was heavy fishing activity on one particular lease site, but she said BOEM issued the lease regardless.   

Read the full story at the Brown Daily Herald

 

Lobster Shortage Sends Prices Rising ‘Off the Charts’: Report

April 25, 2018 — If rising temperatures have you dreaming about that first lobster roll of the season, be prepared to get sticker shocked.

The price of lobster has surged over the past few months as Maine, the state the dominates the U.S. lobster haul, saw the catch fall due to a long winter and chilly spring while global demand remains on the rise, according to The Boston Globe. Cold weather in Canada is keeping its fisheries iced over, adding to the shortage.

Hard-shell lobster prices have shot up to about $15 a pound, nearly double from last year’s $8 a pound. And restaurants looking to buy pre-shucked lobster meat for their rolls can expect to shell out about $40 a pound.

The Globe surveyed seafood prices in restaurants around Boston and found the cost of many lobster dishes to be “off the charts,” the paper reports. A lobster roll at Chef Chris Coombs’ restaurant Deuxave will set you back $49, instead of the usual $22. And another area restaurateur told the Globe that it currently costs $47 to prepare his lobster rolls, but has kept the menu price at $29.

Read the full story at NBC New York

Trump administration seeks dismissal of Northeast Canyons and Seamounts monument lawsuit

April 19, 2018 — Despite its willingness to review the designations made by its predecessor, the Trump Administration is at least defending former President Obama’s ability to create national monuments. That’s according to a filing in federal court earlier this week.

Jeffrey H. Wood, acting assistant attorney general for the environment and natural resources division, entered a motion on 16 April to dismiss a lawsuit filed last year by the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association. The Lobstermen and other fishing groups filed the suit in response to the Obama Administration designating the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in September 2016.

The Northeast Canyons was the first national marine monument in the Atlantic Ocean, and with that designation, commercial fishing – with certain exclusions for red crab and lobster fishing – is not permitted in the nearly 5,000-square-mile area. Crab and lobster fishing would continue until a seven-year permit expires.

Last year, Trump ordered Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review the monuments, which were created under the Antiquities Act. While Zinke has not recommended removing any designation for marine monuments, he has encouraged Trump to open monuments for more commercial fishing opportunities.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

 

Regulators push for rope removal to save North Atlantic right whale

April 18, 2018 — In a multinational drive to protect the North Atlantic right whale, fisheries along the east coasts of the Canada and the United States are being mandated, legislated, or volunteering to reduce rope use as much as possible.

The Canadian government has instituted steps that requires snow crab fishermen use less rope, use more easily breakable rope and report any lost gear as soon as possible. These conditions apply to all fishing in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

While Canada’s federal effort has been heavily on the snow crab fishery, the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA) recently laid out its own plan to reduce potential entanglements and involvements with the endangered whales.

No right whale has been found entangled in lobster gear, but nevertheless, the lobster fishermen in Area 24, along Prince Edward Islands’s North Shore, have agreed to voluntarily reduce what the gear they put in the water by at least 25 percent – setting their traps in bunches of six rather than a one trap set or smaller bunches.

“We feel we’re eliminating somewhere around 16,000 Styrofoam buoys out of the system and each of those buoys is responsible for 130 or 140 feet of rope, which go from the buoy down to the trap,” Francis Morrissey, of the Area 24 Lobster Advisory Board, said. “So we feel that by doing this, there’s 16,000 less chances for marine mammals to get entangled.”

South of the border, an op-ed in The Boston Globe by John K. Bullard, the retiring regional administrator for NOAA’s Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, challenged the U.S. lobster industry to take the lead in heading off the extinction of the North Atlantc right whale.

Read the full story at Seafood Source