Saving Seafood

MASSACHUSETTS: Long a lifeblood, South Shore fishing industry faces numerous challenges

October 6, 2020 — Over his more than five decades fishing commercially, Frank Mirarchi has watched the business evolve from thriving and straightforward to complicated and diminished, with skyrocketing costs, foreign competition and changing regulations choking an industry synonymous with the South Shore.

In the late 1960s, when he purchased his first of three successive boats, fish was abundant enough to make a solid living off of.

“You worked hard, you caught a lot of fish, the fish were actually enough to compensate you for their cost,” he said.

In the 70s, he had two other men work on his boat with them, and their catch was enough to support all three families.

But the technologically-advanced equipment and permits have gotten prohibitively expensive for many, while regulations aimed at replenishing overfished populations have not been successful, Mirachi said.

Up until the 1970s, fishing was largely unregulated. In 1976, the US government extended its jurisdiction from 12 miles off coast to 200, eliminating foreign competition and leading to a rush of new US fishermen, creating a fish scarcity from overfishing.

“By 1985 or so, fishing was pretty bad,” Mirachi said. With profits dropping, he switched from having two other crew members to one.

Read the full story at Wicked Local

Extended: Slow Speed Zone South of Nantucket to Protect Right Whales

October 5, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

In Effect to October 20

NOAA Fisheries announces an extension to the previously triggered voluntary vessel speed restriction zone (Dynamic Management Area  or DMA) south of Nantucket.

This DMA was originally triggered by an August 31, 2020, sighting of an aggregation of right whales and previously extended until October 9, 2020. A  New England Aquarium aerial survey observed an aggregation of whales in this area on October 4. Since the current DMA is set to expire in less than a week we are extending it until October 20, 2020.

Mariners, please go around this areas or go slow (10 knots or less) inside this area where groups of right whales have been sighted.

South of Nantucket DMA is in effect to October 20.

41 16 N
40 32 N
069 37 W
070 28 W

Read the full release here

Maine scallop fishermen secure important access to northern Gulf of Maine resources

October 2, 2020 — Three years ago, the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) began working with fishermen and local businesses to improve scallop management and give a voice to scallop fishermen on important regulatory issues. As a result of the work from these efforts, at a virtual meeting of the New England Fishery Management Council Oct. 1, the Council voted in favor of regulations that protect both the scallop resource and the smaller Northern New England scallop fishing businesses.

The outcome of the meeting ensures that there will be a scientifically set limit on scallops harvested from the Gulf of Maine and meaningful investments in science and accountability to ensure the resource continues to grow.

The Council also voted to set aside a portion of catch specifically for the federally permitted smaller fishing businesses from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. The scallop set aside will allow for preferential access for the small boats within this area and create stability for the small-boat fleet moving forward.

Read the full story at the Wiscasset Newspaper

New Bedford Port Director Proposes Reforms to Magnuson-Stevens Act in Latest Congressional Listening Session

October 2, 2020 — The following was released by the Port of New Bedford:

This week, Ed Anthes-Washburn, Director of the Port of New Bedford, proposed improvements to the Magnuson-Stevens Act during the latest fisheries listening session conducted by Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife. As part of his testimony, Director Washburn called for changes to the term “overfishing”; more collaboration between fishermen, regulators and scientists; greater flexibility in rebuilding periods and catch limits; a legislative fix for the conflict between fisheries management and national monuments; and maintaining and enhancing funding for fisheries research.

Representing the nation’s highest grossing fishing port, Director Washburn called for threatened fish stocks to be labeled as “depleted” instead of “overfished,” a charged term that may not accurately describe why a stock is diminished, and may innacurately imply that fishermen are to blame.

“There can be a number of reasons for the loss of biomass of a given fish stock that have nothing to do with fishing activity, including the effects of climate change, pollution, changes in migration patterns, or other reasons,” Director Washburn said.

Chairman Huffman agreed, saying, “I know that we have situations, salmon in California for example, where the overfish framework applies because the numbers are down, but it is not the fishermen’s fault.” Chairman Huffman cited drought impacts and diversions of water that have forced the closure of the salmon fishery, making the term “overfishing” “a completely inaccurate term that many fishermen feel like is highly disparaging.”

Chairman Huffman also asked Director Washburn specifically about the success of the Atlantic scallop fishery, which Director Washburn attributed to buy-in from industry, regulators, and scientists. Programs like NOAA’s Scallop Research Set-Aside, in which a portion of the industry’s scallop profits go to research projects, as well as collaborative research from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science & Technology have led to high confidence in the fishery’s management. Director Washburn called for a Magnuson-Stevens Act reauthorization that encourages a systematic approach to cooperative research.

In his testimony, Director Washburn expressed support for flexibility in rebuilding periods and annual catch limits. The current 10-year rebuilding requirement places unrealistic mandates on fishery managers since many stocks lack proper scientific data, leading to overly conservative catch limits. Greater flexibility for managers in setting catch limits would also help to achieve the Magnuson-Stevens Act’s goal of optimum yield on a continuing basis.

Director Washburn also called for a legislative fix to the conflicting goals of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the Antiquities Act. While President Trump recently allowed fishing to resume in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, Director Washburn reiterated the industry’s concerns with the process that led to the monument’s creation. “The process that led to the designation lacked the scientific rigor and industry input that ordinarily come with temporary ocean closures, much less a permanent closure,” Director Washburn said.

Director Washburn concluded his testimony by calling for maintaining and enhancing funding for fisheries research. He recommended using funds from offshore wind lease sales to ensure NOAA has the funding to adequately review offshore wind plans and conduct vital stock assessments.

Regulators Move to Increase At-Sea Monitoring of Groundfish Catch in New England Waters

October 2, 2020 — New England fishing regulators have approved a plan that would significantly increase at-sea monitoring for groundfish trips, as a way to help inform scientists and stocks managers about what’s being caught in area waters.

The plan calls for in-person observers or video monitoring on up to 100 percent of trips made by fishermen who target cod, flounder, haddock, and other groundfish.

For the first four years, nearly all costs are expected to be covered by the federal government and other organizations to avoid financially burdening fishermen. But if the full costs aren’t covered beyond that point, the monitoring level could drop back to the current 40 percent, paid for, at least in part, by fishermen. The new plan calls for reevaluation of costs and other considerations in the fifth year.

The plan was endorsed by the New England Fishery Management Council but still requires additional federal approvals before taking effect.

Read the full story at CAI

NEMFC approves 100 percent observer coverage with federal funding

October 2, 2020 — The Northeast groundfish fleet will move toward 100 percent observer coverage – so long as full government funding if available, the New England Fishery Management Council decided in approving Amendment 23 to its multispecies plan Wednesday.

While most fishermen dispute the need for blanket coverage – whether by at-sea observers or electronic systems – the final amendment offers some temporary respite, in specifying that costs will be 100 percent reimbursed by federal funding for the first four years.

If federal funding is insufficient, industry will pay for a default of 40 percent coverage. In the third year of the program, the council will review results and could reset the requirements for year five.

It’s expected the amendment, if approved by NMFS, could take effect in 2021. The compromise devised by council members came a day after Massachusetts Gov. Charles Baker wrote to council chairman John Quinn, urging a solution to monitoring costs.

At around $700 a day, requiring full monitoring on every trip would drive much of the fleet out of business, fishermen warned.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

MASSACHUSETTS: Baker to fish council: Consider industry’s sustainability

October 1, 2020 — Gov. Charlie Baker is urging the New England Fishery Management Council to develop a program that will take the commercial groundfish industry off the hook for paying for at-sea monitors aboard their vessels.

With the New England Fishery Management Council’s scheduled Wednesday, Sept. 30, to vote on the measure that will set future monitoring levels for groundfish vessels, Baker sent a letter to NEFMC Chairman John Quinn stating his administration’s commitment to the long-term viability of the state’s commercial fishing industry and its coastal fishing communities.

“The decision made by the council stands to have long-term impacts on the fishing industry at a time when it’s essential to protect the commonwealth’s working ports and fishing families,” Baker wrote to Quinn. “I urge the council to devise a program that accounts for the cost of trip monitors and does not place that burden on the industry.”

Baker, unlike a group of about a dozen state legislators, did not call for the council to reject Amendment 23 as currently constituted. But the governor did highlight the importance of building long-term sustainability for an industry that already feels under siege by regulation and pandemic.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

NOAA Extends Vessel Slow Speed Zone South of Nantucket to Protect Right Whales

September 29, 2020 — NOAA Fisheries announced that they are extending the vessel slow speed zone south of Nantucket due to North Atlantic right whales

NOAA initially announced the voluntary vessel speed restriction zone, or Dynamic Management Area (DMA), on August 31. The DMA was extended until September 29, and now it’s been extended again until October 9 after a New England Aquarium aerial survey observed an aggregation of whales in the area on September 24.

Read the full story at Seafood News

NEFMC Reelects Dr. John Quinn as Chair, Eric Reid as Vice Chair; Welcomes Two New Members

September 29, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council today reelected Dr. John Quinn of Massachusetts and Eric Reid of Rhode Island to serve as chairman and vice chairman, respectively, for another year in the Council’s two top leadership positions.

This is Dr. Quinn’s fifth consecutive year in the chairman’s post. He is the Assistant Dean of Public Interest Law and External Relations at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) School of Law. He also is the Special Assistant to the Chancellor for Government Relations at the UMass School of Law. Prior to becoming Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn. – NEFMC photo Council Vice Chairman Eric Reid. – NEFMC photo Council chairman, Dr. Quinn served as vice chair for three years. He joined the Council in 2012 with a long history of legislative, legal, and fishing industry experience as a former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for 18 years and as a practicing attorney, first at an outside law firm from 1989-1992 and then through his own firm from 1994-2010. During these tenures, he spent a considerable amount of time working on fisheries issues, which led him to be well prepared for his extensive responsibilities as Council chairman.

This is Eric Reid’s second year as Council vice chairman. He works at Seafreeze Shoreside Inc., a large, full-service seafood processing facility in Galilee, Rhode Island. He previously owned and operated his own business, Deep Sea Fish of Rhode Island, for 11 years before joining Seafreeze in 2013. Eric has a long history in seafood processing in several of New England’s largest fishing ports, and in his early career, he spent time on both commercial and recreational fishing vessels. He currently is a U.S. Commissioner to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization.

Read the full release here

SEAN HORGAN: Fishery in Hail Mary mode

September 28, 2020 — A quick recap: The council has been working on the measure — Amendment 23 — for more than two years. It seems like 50.

The amendment will set future monitoring levels for sector-based groundfish vessels. The council faces four alternatives: Monitors aboard 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of groundfish trips. The council has chosen 100% coverage as its preferred alternative.

That’s not good for the groundfishermen. Once the federal government stops harvesting spare change from between the sofa cushions to keep reimbursing the fleet for at-sea monitoring, the onus for paying falls on the fishermen at a current tune of about $700 per day per vessel.

If 100% monitoring carries the day, it will add an estimated $6.4 million of additional costs across the fishery. The fishermen aren’t even patting their pockets. They are serious when they say it could easily spell the end of the fleet.

So this is a big deal.

Environmental groups have poured in resources and comment in support of the preferred alternative. If they set a betting line on fisheries management, conservationists would probably be heavy favorites.

The industry is in Hail Mary mode. The long pass, not the prayer. Though at this point, it’s a difference without a distinction.

In a letter, the Northeast Seafood Coalition reached out to Gov. Charlie Baker for support and leadership on the issue — Massachusetts stands the most to lose within the fishery — and was rewarded with a palpable silence.

Sixteen members of the Massachusetts Legislature, at the urging of Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr and others from fishing communities, signed a letter asking the council to reject Amendment 23 as currently constituted. They cited the measure’s inconsistency with a number of standards within the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and executive orders.

Read the full opinion piece at the Gloucester Daily Times