Saving Seafood

Winter 2017 Northern Shrimp Cooperative Sampling Program

December 6th, 2016 — The following was released by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department: 

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the NH Fish and Game Department are seeking one shrimp trawling vessel and captain to collect northern shrimp samples in the MA/NH area (Northern Massachusetts to Boon Island), beginning in mid- January, 2017, fishing once a week for eight weeks until mid- March.  The participant will be required to have an observer, and will be allowed to land and sell up to 1,200 pounds of northern shrimp per trip.  There will be no further compensation.  Selection preference will be given to applicants using a size-sorting grate (designed to release small shrimp).  Highest selection preference will go to applicants who will participate in a compound grate study.

The purpose of the project is to collect northern shrimp samples during the winter period when the shrimp are in inshore waters, to collect data on the timing of the egg hatch, and the size, gender, and developmental stage of the shrimp.  We also hope to collect data on the performance of the compound size-sorting grate.

Please see the attached announcements for details on the project, how to apply, the application deadline (Dec. 19, 2016), and the selection process. 

Robert Eckert

Marine Fisheries Division

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

225 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824

603-868-1095, Robert.Eckert@wildlife.nh.gov

Counting fish from the air

March 31, 2016 — This week, I was reminded of the outstanding Atlantic menhaden management program we have in Narragansett Bay. Monday night, George Purmont, a spotter pilot commissioned by the Marine Fisheries Division of the Department of Environmental Management (DEM), spoke about his work of counting schools of Atlantic menhaden (pogies) from the air in Narragansett Bay.

At a R.I. Saltwater Anglers Association meeting, Purmont said, “When the amount of Atlantic menhaden in the Bay goes above the threshold, the Bay is open to commercial harvesting. When it falls below the threshold, the Bay is closed to Atlantic menhaden fishing.”

The program is one of the most sophisticated and effective programs of its type in the nation. Purmont said, “Flights once or twice a week give fish managers at DEM good information to manage the fishery.” The program works well for recreational fishermen to protect this forage fish, as well as for the commercial fishery, allowing the Bay to be fished when there is an abundance of fish in the Bay.

Read the full story at The Warwick Beacon

23% harvest reduction approved for recreational black sea bass fishery

February 10, 2016 — Last week a board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved Addendum XXVII to the Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan, which continues the use of regional management for the two species in the 2016 recreational season.

Summer flounder (fluke) regulations will likely be the same in Rhode Island (eight fish per person, per day), however, the board approved a 23-percent harvest reduction for the recreational black sea bass fishery. This will result in more conservative regulations for Rhode Islanders.

At a public workshop Tuesday night, the Marine Fisheries Division of the Department of Environmental Management shared six black sea bass regulation options. All six can be found by clicking “Workshop Presentation” in the Marine Fisheries Division’s Feb. 16 public hearing meeting notice at www.dem.ri.gov.

One option in particular has drawn the attention of both private anglers and the charter/party boat industry. This would allow private anglers to take three fish from July 20 through Dec. 31, while party and charter boats who apply for and receive a “Letter of Authorization” would be allowed seven fish from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31.

Comments from recreational anglers on the various options for black sea bass and other species will be vetted at a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Coastal Institute Building, on the URI Bay campus.

Read the full story at the Providence Journal