Saving Seafood

Summer flounder: good news on quota, but waiting for restaurants’ return

July 7, 2020 — The $25.2 million East Coast market for summer flounder — although a reliable bread-and-butter fish — has faced ups and downs in quotas over the years.

The 2020 commercial quota is 11.53 million pounds, while the recreational harvest limit is 7.69 million pounds. The highest percent of commercial allocation goes to Virginia (21.32 percent) and North Carolina (27.44 percent) while Delaware, Maine and New Hampshire have the smallest allocations.

Anecdotally, in the last few years, the price per pound for jumbo summer flounder (4 pounds or larger) decreased, with some vessels getting around 50 cents less per pound for jumbos compared to smaller sizes. As market conditions have shifted relative to quotas over the past few years, there is some speculation that markets prefer smaller product that fits better on a plate.

Now 2020 is the first full year with higher quotas for the fishery — but with the covid-19 crisis and its impact on markets globally, it remains to be seen if quotas will be fully utilized.

“It’s going to be very hard to predict summer flounder landings for 2020 at this point. Last year, the quotas were revised upward by about 50 percent, based on the new stock assessment, but that change wasn’t implemented until midyear,” says Kiley Dancy of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council staff.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

NOAA Fisheries Announces Revised 2020-2021 Bluefish Specifications and Recreational Management Measures

June 26, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries is implementing the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s recommended revised bluefish specifications and recreational management measures for 2020 and 2021. These catch limits are reduced to account for the results of the recent operational assessment and prevent overfishing on the now overfished bluefish stock.

The commercial total allowable landings are reduced by 25 percent, from 3.71 to 2.77 million pounds, and the recreational total allowable landings are reduced by 39 percent, from 15.62 to 9.48 million pounds. There is no sector transfer this year because the recreational fishery is expected to fully attain its harvest limit.

Table 1 (below) provides the commercial fishery state allocations for 2020 based on the final coast-wide commercial quota, and the allocated percentages defined in the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan. No states exceeded their state allocated quota in 2019; therefore, no accountability measures are necessary for the 2020 commercial fishery.

This action also permanently implements the reduced federal bluefish recreational fishery daily bag limit from 15 to 3 fish per person for private anglers and to 5 fish per person for for-hire (charter/party) vessels as established through recent interim measures. All other recreational management measures and commercial management measures remain unchanged.

For more details, please read the rule as filed in the Federal Register, or the bulletin posted on our website.

Read the full release here

NOAA Announces Resumption of Greater Atlantic Fisheries Observer Requirements; Fishery Management Councils Object to Decision

June 23, 2020 — Yesterday, NOAA Fisheries announced that vessels in the Greater Atlantic region will once again be required to carry fishery observers and at-sea monitors beginning July 1. The agency had previously waived the requirements since the start of the COVID-19 crisis in March.

While the agency, in its letter to stakeholders, stated that “Observers and at-sea monitors are an essential component of commercial fishing operations,” the decision was opposed by Fishery Management Councils in the region. In its own letter to NOAA Fisheries, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) called on the agency “to extend the observer coverage waiver until the number of active COVID-19 cases in the region has been substantially reduced and the number of new cases is steadily declining.”

“Although some states are beginning to slowly reopen, social distancing protocols are still almost universally recommended or required. However, the close living quarters on most fishing vessels would make social distancing virtually impossible,” the Council’s letter states. “Recognizing that the virus could spread rapidly within these environments, many fishing crews have been self-quarantining before fishing trips. Unless observers are subject to mandatory 14-day quarantine periods between assignments, we are concerned that they could unknowingly become vectors for transmission of the virus between fishing vessels.”

In addition to expressing concern over the safety of reallowing observers on fishing vessels, the Council also noted that the resumption of onboard observers and monitors goes against the telework policies implemented by both the Council and NOAA during the ongoing COVID-19 related shutdown.

“It is our understanding that NOAA, like the Council, continues to operate under a maximum telework policy. Also, we believe that NOAA staff such as Northeast Fisheries Science Center employees are currently prohibited from participating in on-board cooperative research,” the letter stated. “During our June Council Meeting, which was conducted entirely by webinar, we discussed plans for how and when to resume in-person meetings. The Council was generally in agreement that at this time the public health risks outweigh the benefits of face-to-face meetings and that we should continue to utilize virtual meetings for the near term. Considering these steps that have been taken to minimize health risks for fishery scientists and managers, why should the same consideration not be extended to the fishing industry?”

At its meeting today, the New England Fishery Management Council approved a motion “to task Council staff to write a letter expressing the Council’s concern regarding the redeployment of the observer program on July 1.” The motion was agreed to by consensus with 3 abstentions.

Read NOAA’s announcement here

Read the Council’s letter here

Meeting Summaries and Motions from the Joint ASMFC/MAFMC June Meeting Webinar; NOAA Approves Conservation Equivalency for the 2020 Summer Flounder Recreational Season

June 19, 2020 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Meeting summaries and motions from the Joint meeting of the MAFMC and ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass and Bluefish Boards are now available athttp://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/ASMFC_MAFMCSFlounderScupBSB_Bluefish_June2020.pdf.  The document can also be obtained on the Commission website on the Meeting Archives page athttp://www.asmfc.org/home/meeting-archive.  Presentations, briefing materials, and webinar recordings are available on the MAFMC website at: http://www.mafmc.org/briefing/june-2020

Additionally, for those interested summer flounder management, NOAA Fisheries has approved conservation equivalency for the 2020 summer flounder recreational fishing season. The federal recreational bag limit, minimum fish size, and fishing season are waived and anglers are subject to the regulations of the state where they land when fishing in federal waters. The state measures were approved by the Board following the Joint December Commission/Council meeting. The state measures can be found on the Commission’s website at the following link:http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/5e6954df2020SummerFlounderRecreationalMeasures.pdf. NOAA Fisheries’ final rule became effective June 17, 2020. More information can be found at the following link:https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/recreational-management-measures-summer-flounder-fishery-fishing-year-2020

Reminder: June Council Meeting Webinar

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

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet via webinar this week, June 16-18, 2020. The agenda, briefing materials, and other details are available on the June 2020 Council Meeting web page.

Participants are encouraged to review the June 2020 Webinar Guide for step-by-step instructions for joining the webinar, connecting your audio, commenting and voting procedures, and troubleshooting tips. Please note that we highly recommend that meeting participants use the Adobe Connect desktop application, which can be downloaded here. However, you may also join the webinar using your web browser.

To join the webinar: Click the following link or copy the URL into your browser or Adobe Connect desktop application: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/june2020/. On the log in screen, select “Guest,” type your first and last name, and click “Enter Room”. You will be connected to the Adobe Connect meeting.

Connecting your audio: Audio connection instructions will pop up automatically when the webinar opens. Please note that you must use your telephone if you are planning to participate in the meeting (Council members, presenters, and those wishing to make public comments). To connect your audio, select the “Receive a Call” option and enter your phone number to receive a call from the meeting. You may need to wait a minute or two. When you answer the phone, you will press 1 to enter the meeting room. Once your audio is connected, please mute yourself until it is your turn to speak. If you are not planning to participate or make public comments, join in “Listen Only” mode (or select the “Device Speaker” option if joining via browser). For telephone-only access, dial 800-832-0736 and enter room number 7833942# when prompted.

For general questions about the meeting, contact Mary Sabo (msabo@mafmc.org, 302-528-1143). If you are having technical difficulties connecting to the webinar, please contact the staff members listed on the June 2020 Meeting Page (staff contacts may be updated throughout the meeting).

Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) Seeking Advisory Council Applications

June 8, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) is seeking applications from recreational and commercial fishermen to join its Advisory Council, which provides substantive direction and strategic guidance to the alliance. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2020.

ROSA is a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance regional research and monitoring of fisheries and offshore wind interactions through collaboration and cooperation. ROSA’s work currently concentrates on the waters from Maine to North Carolina.

The background information and applications are listed below and can be found at https://www.rosascience.org/. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2020.

Deadline Extended: Survey on Impacts of COVID-19 on Commercial Fisheries

June 5, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Rutgers University Center for Fisheries and Ocean Sustainability has extended the deadline to complete a survey on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on commercial fishermen and their livelihoods in the Northeast US. The survey results will be shared broadly to help fisheries managers and policy makers understand what some of the immediate impacts of the pandemic have been on the fishing industry and on commercial fishermen in the Northeast.

All commercial fishermen (including vessel owners, captains, and crew) in the Northeast US (North Carolina through Maine) are invited to complete the 15 minute anonymous survey online here: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1MiTWJDQDt4atTf

The survey deadline has been extended to June 14 to ensure broad representation from across the Northeast region. Please feel free to forward this announcement to relevant individuals or groups.

Questions? Contact Dr. Victoria Ramenzoni, Department of Human Ecology, Rutgers University, victoria.ramenzoni@rutgers.edu, (848) 932-9153

Take the survey here

Reminder: Black Sea Bass Commercial State Allocation Amendment Scoping Comment Deadline

May 27, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The deadline to submit written scoping comments on the Black Sea Bass Commercial State Allocation Amendment is Sunday, May 31, 2020. This management action will consider potential modifications to the allocations of the black sea bass commercial quota among the states of Maine through North Carolina. All interested members of the public are encouraged to provide input on the range of management alternatives that should be considered in this action.

How to Submit Comments

Written comments should be submitted by 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday May 31, 2020 by any of the following methods:

  1. ONLINE: http://www.mafmc.org/comments/bsb-com-allocation-amendment
  2. EMAIL: jbeaty@mafmc.org
  3. MAIL: Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901
  4. FAX: 302.674.5399

Please include “Black Sea Bass Commercial Allocation Amendment” in the subject line if using email or fax, or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments.

Read the full release here

June 16-18 MAFMC Webinar Meeting Agenda

May 19, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold its June Council Meeting via webinar June 16-18, 2020. Due to public health concerns related to COVID-19, this webinar-based meeting replaces the in-person meeting previously scheduled to be held in Virginia Beach, VA.

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

  • Black Sea Bass Commercial State Allocation Amendment
  • Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment
  • Summer Flounder Commercial/Recreational Allocation Study Model Update
  • Recreational Reform Initiative
  • Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment
  • 2020-2021 Illex Specifications
  • Update on Habitat Activities
  • Unmanaged Landings Update

Briefing documents and webinar connection details will be posted at https://www.mafmc.org/briefing/june-2020 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 June 3, 2020 to be included in the briefing book. Comments received after this date but before 5:00 p.m. on June 11, 2020 will be posted as supplemental materials on the Council meeting web page. After that date, all comments must be submitted using the online comment form linked below.

June 2020 Public Comment Form
Questions? Contact Mary Sabo, msabo@mafmc.org, (302) 518-1143.