Saving Seafood

Legislator: Fed money for fish study a good sign

October 2, 2015 — BOSTON — One of the Legislature’s top fishing advocates has taken encouragement from the federal government approving funding for an industry survey of cod stocks.

As part of $6.9 million in federal disaster relief, the National Marine Fisheries Service approved federal funds for an industry-based survey of Gulf of Maine cod, a species whose apparent decimation led to drastic reductions in catch limits and a fisheries disaster declaration.

Gov. Charlie Baker and other Massachusetts elected officials have criticized federal fishery regulators for refusing to consider alternative scientific methods for estimating fish stocks. The School for Marine Science and Technology at UMass Dartmouth has developed new methods for assessing sea life.

Sen. Bruce Tarr, a Gloucester Republican, said he was encouraged that the industry study was included in the grant award approved by federal fishery regulators.

“It offers me a sign of hope that they will begin to take seriously collaborative research and consider the independent efforts to try to give us a better understanding of what’s happening with cod stocks,” Tarr told the News Service.

The state Division of Marine Fisheries on Thursday announced the award, which will send most of a $6.7 million pot toward direct aid for fishermen and use another $200,000 to fund the administration of a program to buy back fishing licenses, which would be industry-funded, according to the state. The division will work on developing a proposal for a buyback program, and will work on helping fishermen obtain experimental federal permits for small-mesh nets.

Read the full story at New Bedford Standard – Times

 

 

Disbursement of Groundfish Disaster Funds (Bin 3)

October 1, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The final installment of groundfish fishery disaster aid, commonly known as Bin 3, has been released to four of the affected states (Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut) by NOAA Fisheries. Bin 3 represents the final third of $32.8 million available to assist the groundfish industry. This action allows the states to move forward with the development of individual spend plans for economic assistance to include direct aid to permit holders and crew.  

For more information on the spend plans, contact:

Maine: Meredith Mendelson (207) 624-6553 

New Hampshire: Cheri Patterson (603) 868-1095

Massachusetts: Melanie Griffin (617) 626-1528

Connecticut: David Simpson (860) 434-6043 

New York and Rhode Island continue to work with NOAA Fisheries to develop and complete grant applications to benefit affected fishers and their families.

More information is available on our website.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, at 978-281-6175 or Jennifer.Goebel@noaa.gov.

Credit: NOAA

 

MASSACHUSETTS: State won’t follow Gloucester fishery aid plan

October 1, 2015 — GLOUCESTER, Mass. — With one day to spare before the grant period is set to begin, the state finally released details on its plan to distribute the final portion of federal fishery disaster aid to Massachusetts fishermen with federal permits.

It is not the so-called “Gloucester Plan” that would have spread between $6 million and $7 million to federally permitted fishermen who landed at least 20,000 pounds of groundfish in any of the fishing seasons 2012 to 2014.

Instead, according to Katie Gronendyke, spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the state will divide the federal assistance among fishermen with a Massachusetts homeport as of April 30, 2015, who either landed at least 10,000 pounds of groundfish in any fishing season between 2012 and 2014 or had an observer aboard their vessel for at least one groundfish trip in 2014.

The plan, according to Gronendyke, will “better target active fishermen in the groundfishery throughout the Commonwealth.”

The full grant of $6.9 million contained in the third phase, or Bin 3, of federal funding being funneled through the state is the final installment of the roughly $21 million in federal fishery disaster funds designated for Massachusetts from the $75 million appropriated by Congress in January 2014.

The state Division of Marine Fisheries, Gronendyke said, is in the process of identifying qualified recipients by auditing federal catch and trip data.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

Cape Cod fleet hopes for financial aid

September 29, 2015 — The big “bin” of cash, doled out by Congress in September 2012, when they declared the New England groundfish fishery a disaster, is about to be emptied of the last nickels and dimes.

It wasn’t a hurricane or brutal snowstorm that caused the disaster, it was a lack of cod. Quotas for the Cape’s namesake fish were slashed 80 percent in the Gulf of Maine and 61 percent for Georges Bank.

A total of $32.8 million was set aside for the New England fishery, with $11 million reserved for future use and $14.6 million sent to Massachusetts for distribution.

“The first round was money distributed by the federal government to permit holders who caught 5,000 pounds of ground fish in either 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013,” explained Claire Fitzgerald, policy analyst for the Chatham-based Cape Cod Commercial Fisherman’s Alliance.
In round one (or bin one) $6.3 million of Massachusetts’ share of the award was parceled out to 194 ground fish permit holders who qualified; $32,463 apiece. Unfortunately, in the case of the Fisheries Alliance, less than half of the two dozen boats in their Fixed Gear Sector qualified.

Read the full story from The Cape Codder

MASSACHUSETTS: Working Waterfront Festival wraps up another successful year in New Bedford

September 27, 2015 — NEW BEDFORD — The smell of fried clams and scallops permeates the air as the crisp early autumn wind wisps the scent onward to every corner of Pier 3, as people listen to music, view creations from artisans, and witness how to shuck a scallop – which can mean only one thing.

The 12th annual Working Waterfront Festival is in full swing at New Bedford Harbor.

Since it’s inception in 2004, the two-day festival in late September brings in thousands of locals throughout SouthCoast in celebration of the vibrant fishing industry and those who make it work.

“We wanted people and locals to understand the fishing industry,” said Kirsten Bendiksen, one of the founders of the festival.

“Everyone sees the bridge go up,” says Bendiksen of the New Bedford/Fairhaven Bridge. “They know when the bridge goes up, the fishing vessels go out, but they don’t know how they get their catch.”

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Scallop Fest draws visitors by the busload

September 18, 2015 — FALMOUTH, Mass. — Yellow school buses weren’t the only ones on the road Friday afternoon, as tour groups from throughout Massachusetts and neighboring states rolled their way to the 46th annual Scallop Fest.

About 50,000 people were expected to descend upon the Cape Cod Fairgrounds to enjoy 6,000 pounds of deep-fried scallops Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, said Marie Oliva, the CEO and president of the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce.

The Scallop Fest, which has been named one of the Top 100 bus tours in the United States five times by the American Bus Association, had 48 scheduled bus groups for the weekend, Oliva added.

Early Friday afternoon, about a half dozen large tour buses were parked just outside the festival, along with a handful of smaller ones. Most of the attendees were senior citizen groups.

Denise Paquette has been driving buses for 21 years. During her early driving days she would bring her camera for sightseeing. Now, the festival veteran, who estimates she’s been to Scallop Fest about 17 times, says she’s seen everything, and doesn’t need her camera.

Read the full story at Cape Cod Times

 

Massachusetts: Rep Koczera Joins Fishermen’s Call for Better Science and Better Funding for Groundfish Monitoring

September 17, 2015 — The following was released by Massachusetts State Representative Robert Koczera:

State Representative Robert Koczera (D-New Bedford) has joined Massachusetts officials and fishermen in calling for a reassessment of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)’s recent decision to shift the costs of federally-mandated At-Sea Monitoring expenses onto the shoulders of the struggling Massachusetts fishing fleet.

“NOAA’s insistence on at-sea monitoring as the only means to reach observational requirements is symptomatic of a bureaucracy wedded to one approach, especially when science has demonstrated there are other alternatives of fishery management and data collection that can possibly better meet the short-term and long-term needs of the fishing industry and the monitoring program,” stated Rep. Koczera.

“I would like to see NOAA reach out to local research organizations — like UMD’s School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST) or the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute – – to bring together unbiased scientific research and local knowledge for alternative monitoring ideas,” added Rep. Koczera.

“Our fishermen are seasoned professionals with years of expertise which is being disregarded in current discussions,” added Rep. Koczera. “The ongoing disagreement between policy-makers and hands-on practitioners on the best approach underscores the need for a better understanding of current stock conditions and more research before a scientifically and statistically-sound monitoring program can be developed and implemented successfully.”

In a recent letter to Secretary of Commerce Penny Prizker which highlighted his concern with the structure and rationale of the current at-sea monitoring program, Rep. Koczera also decried the anticipated effects of the cost-shift on the fishing fleet.

According to NOAA’s recent assessment, each fishing vessel would have to absorb a $710/day expense for an at-sea monitor. Collectively, this would lead to an industry cost $2.6 million annually, with the dire prediction that 60% of the fishing fleet would have negative returns in the first year of implementation.

“For an industry that has been through a federally-recognized commercial failure, these actions equate to an ill-advised and insurmountable unfunded mandate that would cripple any progress towards sustainable recovery,” said Rep. Koczera.

NOAA recently suggested that remaining “Bin 3” federal disaster funding be specifically allocated towards at-sea monitoring expenses. Governor Charlie Baker and the entire Massachusetts Congressional delegation are strongly opposed to this proposal.

“It is disingenuous to suggest this proposal is for the relief of the fishing industry, while, in truth, it would undercut the support system put in place to assist in their long-term viability,” added Rep. Koczera. “I join with my colleagues in insisting that this would be an inappropriate use of the “Bin 3” allocation of disaster funding.”

“The history of contention between the New England fishing fleet and NOAA is well known, but both have incentives for maintaining a healthy fishing industry and both agree that better information is needed to achieve that objective,” said Rep. Koczera.

“However, shifting the cost of an unfunded mandate onto the backs of the fishing industry – an indispensable partner in the federal government’s efforts to ensure a thriving fishery – is NOT how we will reach that objective,” added Rep. Koczera. “If NOAA is serious in this commitment, it should address the cost-effectiveness concerns of the at-sea monitoring program, be open to alternative strategies of meeting monitoring goals, and commit appropriate federal funding to prevent this unjust costshift to the fishing fleet,” concluded Rep. Koczera.

Read the press release from Rep. Koczera here

Read the letter from Rep. Koczera to the Secretary of Commerce Penny Prizker

Massachusetts 2015 Commercial Summer Flounder and Bluefish Quotas Reached

September 16, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries announces no commercial landings of summer flounder or bluefish will be allowed in Massachusetts through December 31.

Vessels issued Federal commercial summer flounder permits may not land summer flounder in Massachusetts as of 0001 hours on September 17.

Vessels issued Federal commercial bluefish permits may not land bluefish in Massachusetts as of 0001 hours on September 19.

Massachusetts has harvested its commercial summer flounder quota and its commercial bluefish quota.

These closures are concurrent with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ closure of its commercial summer flounder fishery effective 0001 hours on September 17 and bluefish fishery effective 0001 hours on September 19 to state permitted vessels and dealers.

Vessel owners issued Federal permits must continue to complete and submit vessel logbooks for all other species landed. Dealers issued Federal dealer permits for summer flounder  and bluefish may not purchase these species from federally permitted vessels that land in Massachusetts for the remainder of the calendar year. Federally permitted dealers must also continue to report all fish purchases from any vessel.

Read the rule as filed in the Federal Register, and read the permit holder Bulletin on our website.

Questions? Contact Reid Lichwell, Regional Office at 978-281-9112 or Reid.Lichwell@noaa.gov.

Seafood Takes Center Stage at the 2015 Working Waterfront Festival: Program Includes Cooking Demonstrations, Book Signings, and a Seafood Throwdown

September 17, 2015 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The following was released by the New Bedford Working Waterfront Festival:

Come hungry to the 2015 Working Waterfront Festival, an educational celebration of the commercial fishing industry. The free event takes place on the working piers of New Bedford’s historic waterfront on September 26 & 27. The Foodways Area features hourly cooking demonstrations followed by tastings.  Visitors are invited to learn the basics of preparing fresh seafood at home as well as ethnic approaches to seafood cooking and galley fare. Some highlights this year include North African Style Monkfish Stew, Bacalhau A Bras, and Begali Fish Chowder. Ann Pieroway, author of Tastes and Tales of Cape Cod and the Islands and A Lobster Tale and Some Tastes Too, will demonstrate her recipe for Haddock Chowder on Saturday at 12:30 followed by a book signing at 1:30. Heather Atwood, author of In Cod We Trust, will demonstrate Nantucket Scallop Pie, also known as “Boyfriend Pie,” on Sunday at 1:00 followed by a book signing at 2:00.  Carlos Rafael, owner of Carlos Seafoods, will demonstrate his expert fish filleting at 4:30 on Saturday.

The Festival culminates on Sunday afternoon with a Seafood Throwdown, in which two chefs compete to create a winning seafood dish using a surprise seafood ingredient which is revealed to them at the event.  Chefs can bring three of their favorite ingredients and, once the secret seafood is revealed, they are given $25 and 15 minutes to shop the Festival Farmers’ Market for their remaining ingredients.  After their shopping spree, they have one hour to cook and plate their entry for the judge’s consideration. This year’s contest will pit Chef Chris Cronin of Padanaram’s Little Moss Restaurant against Rob Pirnie, Executive Chef of Warren, Rhode Island’s Trafford. Judges include food writer Heather Atwood (author of In Cod We Trust), Chef and Culinary Arts Instructor Henry Bousquet, and Margaret Curole Executive Chef for Commercial Fishermen of America. The Seafood Throwdown is a collaboration between the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance and the Working Waterfront Festival.

All of this activity is sure to whet the appetite. Festival attendees will be able to enjoy a wide variety of fresh, local seafood. The Seafood Hut will serve a full menu of the finest local seafood including fish and chips, fried scallops, and clam cakes. Newburyport Crab Company will offer crab cakes, lobster quesadillas, salmon tacos, and more.  Littlenecks and oysters on the half shell will be available from R. Shucks Raw Bar and Oxford Creamery’s Ox-Cart will serve up lobster rolls, quahog chowder and more. Looking for fresh ingredients? The festival farmer’s market features produce and specialty items from a number of local farms as well as fresh local seafood provided by Revolution Lobster which will be sold directly off their boat.

The Working Waterfront Festival is a project of the Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern MA, a non-profit organization. The FREE festival, a family friendly, educational celebration of New England’s commercial fishing industry, features live maritime and ethnic music, fishermen’s contests, fresh seafood, vessel tours, author readings, cooking demonstrations, kid’s activities and more.  It all takes place on working piers and waterfront parks in New Bedford, MA, America’s #1 fishing port, on the last full weekend in September.  Navigate to us at www.workingwaterfrontfestival.org.

 

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