Saving Seafood

Reminder: SAFMC Meeting Begins Next Week via Webinar

December 2, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The quarterly meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council begins this Monday, December 7th via webinar and is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, December 10, 2020. Meeting materials, including agendas, overviews, and documents are available for the upcoming meeting. Unless otherwise indicated, the meeting is open to the public as it occurs. Register now and receive email reminders for the meeting.

Council members will address management measures affecting fisheries in federal waters, including proposed actions for Red Porgy, Greater Amberjack, King and Spanish Mackerel, Dolphin and Wahoo. Agenda items also include modifications to the Wreckfish Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program, deepwater shrimp closed areas, the Council’s Fishery Ecosystem Plan and its Citizen Science Program.

Public Comment and Additional Details

An online public comment form is available for persons wishing to provide input on items included on meeting agenda. Written comments submitted online may be viewed from the meeting website at: https://safmc.net/december-2020-council-meeting-details/.

A formal public comment session will be held via webinar on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 beginning at 4:00 p.m. Register now to provide comment during the formal public comment session.

Additional meeting details including agenda highlights, items scheduled for approval for public scoping and public hearing, and schedule-at-a-glance are also available from the website.

Questions? Contact Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer at kim.iverson@safmc.net or 843/302-8440.

SAFMC Meeting Scheduled via Webinar for December 7-10, 2020

November 23, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Meeting materials, including agendas, overviews, and documents are now available for the upcoming meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council scheduled December 7-10, 2020 via webinar. Unless otherwise indicated, the meeting is open to the public as it occurs. Register now and receive email reminders as the meeting dates approach.

During the meeting Council members will address management measures affecting fisheries in federal waters, including proposed actions for Red Porgy, Greater Amberjack, King and Spanish Mackerel, Dolphin and Wahoo. Agenda items also include modifications to the Wreckfish Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program, deepwater shrimp closed areas, the Council’s Fishery Ecosystem Plan and its Citizen Science Program.

Public Comment and Additional Details

An online public comment form is now available for items on the the Council meeting agenda. Members of the public are encouraged to provide comments using the online comment form prior to the meeting. Written comments submitted online may also be viewed from the meeting website at: https://safmc.net/december-2020-council-meeting-details/.

A formal public comment session will be held via webinar on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 beginning at 4:00 p.m. Register now to provide comment during the formal public comment session.

Additional meeting details including agenda highlights, items scheduled for approval for public scoping and public hearing, and schedule-at-a-glance are also now available from the website.

Questions? Contact Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer at kim.iverson@safmc.net or 843/302-8440.

Russia Hopes to Compensate Unsuccessful Salmon Fishing Season by Increase of Pollock Catch This Year

October 27, 2020 — Russia hopes to compensate the unsuccessful salmon fishing season this year with the increase of production of ivasi sardine, mackerel and pollock, according to recent statements made by the head of the Russian Federal Agency for Fishery (Rosrybolovstvo), Ilya Shestakov, during his recent meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin.  

During the meeting, which was dedicated to the situation in the domestic fishing sector, Shestakov said despite the pandemic, the current situation in the industry remains stable.  

Read the full story at Seafood News

MAFMC Webinar Meeting: October 5-8, 2020

September 15, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The next meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will be held October 5-8, 2020. Due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19, this meeting will be held by webinar.

A detailed agenda is available here. Topics to be discussed at this meeting include:

  • 2021 Implementation Plan – Draft Actions and Deliverables
  • Spiny Dogfish 2021-2022 Specifications
  • Chub Mackerel 2021 Specifications Review
  • Executive Order 13921 Recommendations
  • Research Priorities Update
  • Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management Updates
  • Joint Council/SSC Meeting
  • Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment
  • Recreational Reform Initiative
  • Proposed Rule for the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Update

Briefing documents and webinar connection details will be posted on the October 2020 Council Meeting Page as they become available.

Written comments may be submitted using the online comment form linked below or via email, mail, or fax (see this page for details). Written comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. on September 23, 2020 to be included in the briefing book. Comments received after this date but before 5:00 p.m. on October 1, 2020 will be posted as supplemental materials on the Council meeting web page. After that date, comments may only be submitted using the online comment form below.

Questions? Contact Mary Sabo, msabo@mafmc.org, (302) 518-1143.

Atlantic King Mackerel Trip Limits Double in the Atlantic Southern Zone

September 9, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

KEY MESSAGE:

NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule to implement Framework Amendment 8 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region (Framework Amendment 8), which increases the Atlantic king mackerel trip limit in federal waters off Florida.

Effective Date: September 9, 2020

SUMMARY OF CHANGES:

  • The rule increases the Season 2 (October-end of February) Atlantic king mackerel trip limit in Federal waters of the Atlantic Southern Zone, beginning on October 1, 2020.
  • For Season 2 between the Flagler/Volusia, Florida county line and the Miami-Dade/Monroe, Florida county line, the trip limit is 100 fish.

FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 85 FR 55592, published September 9, 2020.

This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

Council Approves Changes to Management of Illex Squid Fishery

July 20, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Last week the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved an amendment that proposes modifications to the permitting and management of the Illex squid fishery. These changes are intended to both reduce excess capacity in the fishery and mitigate the rapid use of the quota seen in recent years. The amendment also revises the goals and objectives of the Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish (MSB) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). After considerable discussion and consideration of public comments, the Council selected preferred alternatives and adopted the amendment for Secretarial review and implementation. Below are summaries of the issues and the Council’s preferred alternatives.

Illex Permitting

In June 2017, the Council considered, but did not adopt, revisions to Illex squid permits as part of Amendment 20 to the MSB FMP. Since then, effort and landings have substantially increased, and the fishery closed early in 2017-2019 after harvesting the Illex squid quota. Given recent fishery performance, the Council initiated this amendment to evaluate whether permitted access to the Illex fishery should be modified based on present and historical participation, and/or other considerations. The amendment considered a range of permitting alternatives, including various time periods and thresholds for permit re-qualification and options for a tiered permitting system.

Read the full release here

Mid-Atlantic Council Webinar – July 16, 2020

July 10, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet via webinar on Thursday, July 16, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to consider final action on the Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish FMP Goals/Objectives and Illex Permits Amendment. An agenda, briefing materials, and webinar connection instructions are available on the July 16, 2020 Council Meeting web page.

Public comments must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 13, 2020, in order to be posted as supplemental materials on the meeting web page. After that deadline, comments may only be submitted via the online comment form and will automatically be added to a spreadsheet linked from the meeting page. See the “Public Comments” section on the meeting page for additional details.

For general questions about the meeting, contact Mary Sabo (msabo@mafmc.org, 302-528-1143). For questions related to the Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish FMP Goals/Objectives and Illex Permits Amendment, contact Jason Didden at jdidden@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5254.

Federal Fishery Council Seeks Applicants for Advisory Panel

July 9, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting applicants for open advisory panel seats. The Council’s advisory panels inform and guide the Council in developing and implementing federal fishery management plans. Members include recreational and commercial fishermen, seafood dealers and processors, scientists, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as environmental groups and fishing organizations, and concerned citizens.

Most of the seats on advisory panels are allotted by state and fishery sector, with others considered “at large” and open to any interested person. Advisory panel members are appointed by the Council to three-year terms and may be reappointed for two additional terms. The Council’s advisory panels generally meet once or twice each year and members are compensated for travel and per diem expenses.

Applications are now being solicited for the following positions:

Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel
(1) NC Recreational Seat, (1) SC Recreational Seat, and
(1) At-Large Research Scientist Seat

Law Enforcement Advisory Panel
(1) Commercial Seat and (1) Recreational Seat

Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel
(1) NGO Seat and (2) Open Seats

Outreach and Communication Advisory Panel
(1) Open Seat, (1) Recreational Seat, and (1) Media Seat

Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel
(3) NC Seats, (3) SC Seats, (1) GA Seat, and (6) FL Seats

How to Apply

Detailed instructions on how to apply and application forms for individual advisory panels are available online from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/about-safmc/advisory-panels/. For questions please contact Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, at Kim.Iverson@safmc.net or call 843/571-4366.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact area Council representatives to discuss their interest in serving. Contact information for all Council members is available from the Council’s website at safmc.net/council-members/ or through the Council office.

Applications must be received by August 10, 2020 for consideration by the Council during its September 14-18, 2020 meeting currently scheduled for Charleston. South Carolina.

Conservation Group, Ocean Gold Get S-K Funding for Nearshore Pelagics Study

May 22, 2020 — Casual conversation over coffee has turned into fully-funded collaborative sardine research project between the seafood industry and fishery scientists.

Ocean Gold Seafood, based in Westport, Wash., received word this week it received a $295,800 Saltonstall-Kennedy grant on behalf of the West Coast Pelagic Conservation Group. The collaborative study will help inform sardine stock assessments and improve the understanding of other pelagic species such as herring, anchovies and mackerel.

Read the full story at Seafood News

FB20-034: Request for Comments: Proposed Modifications to Atlantic King Mackerel Trip Limits in the Atlantic Southern Zone

May 19, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

KEY MESSAGE:

NOAA Fisheries requests comments on a proposed rule for Framework Amendment 8 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region (Framework Amendment 8), which if implemented, would increase the Atlantic king mackerel trip limit in federal waters off Florida.

Comments are due by June 18, 2020

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES:

The proposed rule for Framework Amendment 8 would increase the Season 2 (October-end of February) Atlantic king mackerel trip limit in Federal waters of the Atlantic Southern Zone.
For Season 2 between the Flagler/Volusia, Florida county line and the Miami-Dade/Monroe, Florida county line, the trip limit would be 100 fish.

HOW TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED RULE:

The comment period is open through June 18, 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 29916, published May 19, 2020.

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

  1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D= NOAA–NMFS–2020–0074.
  2. Click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields.
  3. Enter or attach your comments.

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

Read the full release here