Saving Seafood

Feds closing part of New England scallop fishery

May 2, 2018 — GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Federal regulators are closing a key scallop fishing area off of New England for nearly 11 months.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration says it is closing the northern Gulf of Maine to a class of fishermen who fish under a federal permit starting Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. The closure will last until March 31, 2019.

NOAA says the vessels will not be allowed to fish for, possess, or land scallops from the area, which is off of Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The agency says regulations require that it closes the area once it projects that all of the quota has been harvested.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at the Seattle Times

 

Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area for Limited Access General Category Vessels

May 2, 2018 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area is closed to all federally permitted Limited Access General Category (LAGC) scallop vessels effective 0001 hr, on May 2, 2018, except as exempted below.  The scallop regulations require that we close this area once we project that 100 percent of the 2018 LAGC total allowable catch for this area will be taken.  This closure is effective through March 31, 2019.

LAGC vessels that have declared a trip into the NGOM Scallop Management Area using the correct Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) code, and have crossed the VMS demarcation line before 0001 hr, May 2, 2018, may complete their trip and retain and land scallops caught from the NGOM Scallop Management Area.  Except for vessels that have met these trip completion requirements, no LAGC scallop vessel fishing under federal scallop regulations subject to this closure may fish for, possess, or land scallops in or from the NGOM Scallop Management Area.

This closure does not apply the Limited Access (LA) fleet.  The LA TAC will be harvested solely by vessels who are participating in the 2018 scallop Research Set-Aside Program and have been issues letters of authorization to conduct compensation fishing activities.

Exemption for Maine and Massachusetts Vessels Fishing Exclusively State Waters

Vessels issued a Limited Access General Category (LAGC) NGOM (LAGC B) or Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) scallop permit (LAGC A) may continue to fish in the Maine and Massachusetts state waters portion of the NGOM Scallop Management Area under the State Waters Exemption program provided they have a valid Maine or Massachusetts state scallop permit and fish only in that states waters.

Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Vessel Owners Please Note:  An IFQ scallop vessel must have scallop IFQ allocation to fish for scallops at any time or place.  For vessels fishing under an (IFQ) scallop permit (category LAGC A), all scallop pounds landed, including scallops caught under a state waters only trip, will be deducted from the vessel’s IFQ allocation.

Read the full bulletin at NOAA Fisheries 

 

Coast Guard, NOAA Increase Efforts to Protect North Atlantic Right Whale

May 5, 2018 — BOSTON — Northeast Coast Guard units and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement personnel are increasing focus this year on the enforcement of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan(ALWTRP), to detect and deter illegally placed fishing gear and reduce the likelihood of fatal whale entanglements from occurring.

Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and in alignment with whale migration patterns, increased operations will run May 1 through June 30 and compromise of more frequent air and sea patrols in seasonal gear closure areas by NOAA law enforcement personnel and Coast Guard patrol boats, cutter crews, and air assets.

Additionally, Coast Guard units across the First District will engage in an operation taking aim on at-sea inspections of unattended lobster and gillnet gear. The goal is to identify and affect the removal of illegally rigged and improperly marked gear in an effort to decrease whale entanglements within New England’s waters.

Read the full story at Cape Cod Today

 

US wants proof Canada saves whales, but some scientists balk

May 1, 2018 — PORTLAND, Maine — A group of Democratic senators says the U.S. should audit the job Canada is doing to protect endangered whales, but the Canadian government and some U.S. scientists are reacting coolly to the idea.

The senators, led by Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, cite the dire status of North Atlantic right whales as a reason to put some pressure on Canada. The right whales number only about 450 and suffered through a year of 17 deaths in 2017, and 12 of the deaths were in Canada.

The senators said in an April 25 letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that the agency should conduct a review of Canada’s right whale conservation standards, and consider prohibitions on some Canadian seafood imports if they are too weak. The U.S. imported more than $3.3 billion worth of Canadian seafood in 2017.

“Determining as quickly as possible whether Canada’s fishermen are being held to the same level of accountability as those in America is a critical step for taking swift action to protect this treasured species,” Markey said.

Canada believes it’s making a lot of strides to protect the whales, and also wants to avoid negative effects on the countries’ trade relationship, said Lauren Sankey, a spokeswoman for Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Read the full story at the Associated Press

Massachusetts: GOP Senate candidate Geoff Diehl visits New Bedford waterfront

May 1, 2018 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The endorsed GOP candidate for U.S. Senate visited the city’s Pier 3 on Monday promising to be more hands on for the city and fishermen, according to a news release.

“New Bedford deserves a dedicated senator who will put in the long hours to make a positive difference,” state Rep. Geoff Diehl said in the release. “Sen. (Elizabeth) Warren has been more focused on selling books than saving the fishing licenses in New Bedford. … Her lack of action will cost New Bedford vital jobs and cripple the local economy.”

Diehl, an early President Donald Trump supporter who served as co-chair of his Massachusetts campaign, was endorsed by Saturday’s state Republican convention with 55 percent of the vote.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

 

NOAA Fisheries Announces Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area

May 1, 2018 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Effective May 2, 2018

NOAA Fisheries is closing the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area to all federally permitted Limited Access General Category scallop vessels effective 0001 hr, on May 2, 2018.

As of May 2, 2018, no Limited Access General Category scallop vessel fishing under federal scallop regulations may fish for, possess, or land scallops in or from the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area. The scallop regulations require that we close this area once we project that 100 percent of the 2018 Limited Access General Category Total Allowable Catch for this area will be taken. The closure will be in effect until the end of the fishing year, March 31, 2019.

Limited Access General Category vessels that have declared a trip into the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area using the correct Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) code, and have crossed the VMS demarcation line before 0001 hr, May 2, 2018, may complete their trip and retain and land scallops caught from the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area.

Exemption for Maine and Massachusetts Vessels Fishing Exclusively State Waters

If you have a valid Maine or Massachusetts state scallop permit, you may continue to fish in Maine or Massachusetts state waters within the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area under the State Waters Exemption program. If you are fishing under an Individual Fishing Quota scallop permit (Limited Access General Category A), any pounds landed under a state waters only trip will still be deducted from your vessel’s allocation.

Exemption for Limited Access Vessels Fishing Compensation Trips Under the Scallop Research Set-Aside Program

This closure does not affect the Limited Access fleet that was allocated a separate Total Allowable Catch of 65,000 lb for the 2018 fishing year under Framework 29 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. The Limited Access Total Allowable Catch will be harvested by vessels that are participating in the 2018 scallop Research Set-Aside Program.

For more details, read the notice as filed in the Federal Register and the permit holder bulletin.

 

Massachusetts Business Leaders Call for Wind Development that Works with Fishing Industry

April 30, 2018 — A group of leading Massachusetts executives have endorsed a call from Saving Seafood’s National Coalition for Fishing Communities to ensure that the commercial fishing industry is protected in any offshore wind power development. The group, a standing committee of the New Bedford Economic Development Council’s (NBEDC) know as the “Regeneration Project,” made the recommendations as part of an April 19 letter to Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker to ensure on the ongoing offshore wind solicitation process.

The Regeneration Project is a coalition of New Bedford-area business and community leaders with c-level experience in industry, finance, communications, and public affairs whose goal is to “articulate a strategy for the city’s economic regeneration.” In the letter, the Council touts New Bedford as a liaison to the region’s important commercial fishing industry, and positions the city as a future hub of offshore wind development.

The NBEDC emphasizes the need for the Commonwealth to work closely and cooperatively with the commercial fishing industry to avoid negative impacts from offshore wind projects. The letter states that offshore wind must be “developed in such a way that it ‘fits in'” with commercial fisheries, and must not “exacerbate unintended consequences of negative impacts to commercial fishing and ongoing maritime trades.”

To avoid these impacts, the letter asks that initial wind development be limited to 400mw, to allow for study of its impact on other ocean users. The NBEDC further recommends that the Port of New Bedford serve as the main facilitator between offshore wind and commercial fishing interests.

The letter also highlights New Bedford’s previous experience with wind energy, and the city’s plans to be become “the central cluster of offshore wind for the east coast.” According to the NBEDC, the city “includes all major facets of the industry such as port services, construction training, research, engineering and manufacturing.”

Read the letter here

 

Sen. Tarr: $100 Million State Tax Credit Plan for Designated Ports Launched by Lawmakers

April 30, 2018 — The following was released by the Office Massachusetts of Senator Bruce Tarr:   

State lawmakers have filed a $100 million tax credit legislative plan designed to stimulate economic growth and private investments in ten Designated Port Areas (DPAs) which support important commercial marine-based industries.  A bipartisan group of legislators representing coastal communities including Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Representative Nick Collins (D- Boston), Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D- Gloucester) and Senator Mark C. Montigny (D- New Bedford) initially sponsored the bill.

They say waterfront properties and uses in DPAs must comply with strict state Coastal Zone Management use restrictions, which can limit access to capital and stall or stop revitalization and growth.  In 1978 these port areas were specifically designated for industrial uses such as marine terminals, commercial fishing facilities, boat repair and construction, marine research and transportation of goods which cannot be located inland due to their water-dependent needs.

“Commercial fishing and marine industries are among the oldest in our state, and they continue to plan an important role in our economy. We need to make sure the facilities they depend on remain available and in working condition,” said bill author Senator Tarr.  “This bill will empower the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development to use targeted state tax credits, of up to $100 million dollars each year, to support working harbors, working families, and business facilities –all of which are indispensable.”

“There is no chance for our maritime industries to survive without state assistance for shore side infrastructure. Boats need places to dock to unload harvests and cargos. Undoubtedly, the Commonwealth has a vested and real interest in maintaining and modernizing these properties in the wake of rising sea levels and wear and tear over time. This much needed economic relief will hopefully encourage investment and development in Gloucester and the Commonwealth’s designated port areas,” Representative Ferrante said.

“Boston is emblematic of the rich history of maritime industries and waterfront activity in Massachusetts,” said Representative Nick Collins. “This legislation will serve as an economic catalyst to the diverse industries that occupy DPA land in Boston and coastal communities across the Commonwealth, creating and sustaining good-paying jobs.”

The bill, an act Establishing the Massachusetts Maritime Commercial Development Tax Credit, will spur investments in capital projects in DPAs through saleable tax credits and mitigate some constraints which have hampered the ability of municipal officials and commercial property owners to both promote and protect environmentally sound port development initiatives.   The tax credit could spur an important lifeline to capital that might otherwise not be available.

“As the nation’s top fishing port and center of the emerging offshore wind industry, New Bedford-Fairhaven’s waterfront is ripe with job-creating development opportunities,” said longtime port development leader and current Assistant Majority Leader Montigny.  “This legislation provides a significant incentive to help ensure further economic development in historic ports like New Bedford comes to fruition.”

According to a 2015 UMass Dartmouth report, the Massachusetts maritime economy stimulates $17.3 billion in economic output which supports 136,000 jobs including $6.8 billion in wages across six core sectors; living resources, marine construction, offshore minerals, ship and boat building and repair, coastal tourism and recreation, and marine transportation and technology.

Results of a survey of marine-related industry leaders showed the two most critical policy areas that would help shore up the industry were reducing costs through tax assistance initiatives and protecting our ocean resources.

Consistent with the state’s recent efforts to address climate related issues such as flooding, erosion, and sea level rise, the bill will increase access to capital for development projects including those which incorporate coastal resilience measures.

“Fishermen depend upon a variety of on-shore facilities to supply and maintain their boats, and to process what they catch.  Local fishermen need local infrastructure that’s high in quality and dependability,” said J.J. Bartlett, President of Fishing Partnership Support Services, which promotes the health, safety and economic security of commercial fishermen and their family members.

Bartlett said the legislation “represents a break-through in the struggle to preserve and modernize the infrastructure in every working port.  It’s a big deal — big for the harvesters of seafood in Massachusetts, who number roughly 7,000, and big for the 100,000 or so workers on land who work with and support the fishing fleet, such as in seafood processing, handling and sales. This bill is critically important to the future of the state’s multi-billion-dollar-a-year seafood industry.”

“I am excited about the economic development potential for our Designated Port Areas to get a much needed tax credit for new developments. This is an important opportunity to build up our working waterfront and keep America’s oldest fishing port going, providing jobs and the world’s best Gloucester Fresh seafood to market.  I am thankful for the hard work of not only our team, but the hard work and leadership of Senator Tarr, Representative Ferrante, and friends from Massachusetts Fishing Partnership and colleagues from Boston and New Bedford,” said Sefatia Romeo Theken, Mayor of Gloucester.

The state’s ten Designated Port Areas are located in:

Gloucester Inner Harbor

Salem Harbor

Lynn

Mystic River

Chelsea Creek

East Boston

South Boston

Weymouth Fore River

New Bedford-Fairhaven

Mount Hope Bay

 

Feds Looking Into Health Of Scallops In The Atlantic

April 30, 2018 — Federal regulators are reviewing the health of sea scallops in the Atlantic Ocean to get a better handle on the status of the valuable shellfish.

Sea scallops are among the most valuable wild-harvested seafood products in the U.S. They were worth more than $485 million at the docks in 2016, a year in which fishermen harvested more than 40 million pounds of them.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration describes the assessment as a “scientifically rigorous review.” It will help inform future fishing regulations in the sea scallop fishery. The agency says assessment results will be available in July.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at Maine Public

 

Massachusetts: Whales in distress located off Provincetown

April 27, 2018 — The Center for Coastal Studies Marine Animal Entanglement Response team recently shot a “cutting arrow” at a rope around a whale to save the marine mammal from entanglement.

Two weeks ago the team got a report of an entangled right whale about three miles north of Provincetown.

The right whale was identified as a mature female, according to a statement from Center for Coastal Studies executive assistant Cathrine Macort.

“She was found with a tight wrap of very thick rope around her upper jaw and over the top of her rostrum (blow hole),” it stated. “There was no trailing line, so the usual technique of attaching buoys to the entanglement to slow the whale and keep it at the surface could not be utilized. Instead, responders used a cutting arrow fired from the deck of the rescue boat to damage the rope. The now-weakened line should deteriorate and be shed naturally over time.”

Researchers will continue to monitor the whale. It was originally seen in Stellwagon Bank, the 842-square-mile federally protected marine sanctuary.

Read the full story at the Cape Cod Wicked Local