August 11, 2020 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The audio files from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2020 Summer Meeting Webinar are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/
Fishery managers agree to link menhaden policy to well-being of striped bass
August 7, 2020 — East Coast fishery managers have agreed to tie future menhaden population levels to the number needed to support a robust striped bass population — a first step toward recognizing the ecological role of the small bait fish.
The action, made by a unanimous vote, was described by conservation groups as “landmark” and “historic” because it was the first time the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has explicitly recognized the value of leaving fish uncaught to serve as food for predators.
Omega Protein, which operates a menhaden fishing fleet out of Reedville, VA, and is by far the largest harvester of the fish in the Bay and along the coast, issued a statement endorsing the commission’s decision. But it also emphasized that managing interactions between predators and prey is not a one-way street and must expand the focus beyond menhaden.
“It is now the responsibility of the commission to accurately estimate the populations of both menhaden and its predators and then make fair and equitable management decisions based upon the model’s findings,” the company said.
ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Board Adopts Ecological Reference Points
August 6, 2020 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The Atlantic Menhaden Management Board approved the use of ecological reference points (ERPs) in the management of Atlantic menhaden. By adopting ERPs, the Board will be accounting for the species’ role as an important forage fish. The 2020 Atlantic menhaden benchmark assessments, which were endorsed by an independent panel of fisheries scientists, used the Northwest Atlantic Coastal Shelf Model of Intermediate Complexity for Ecosystems (NWACS-MICE) in combination with the single-species model (Beaufort Assessment Model or BAM) to develop Atlantic menhaden ERPs by evaluating trade-offs between menhaden harvest and predator biomass.
“The Board took another important step in managing Atlantic menhaden in a broader ecosystem context,” stated Board Chair Spud Woodward of Georgia. “It’s the culmination of more than a decade of effort by state, federal, and academic scientists to develop ERPs that reflect menhaden’s role as a key food source for several fish species. These ERPs are not a silver bullet to resolve all our fisheries management issues, and the models on which they are based will continue to evolve. However, the use of ERPs for menhaden management will enhance the success of predator management by providing a more abundant forage base for rebuilding predator fish populations. It is important for us to keep those rebuilding efforts on track through the use of proven management tools such as controls on fishing mortality.”
Omega Protein Supports ASMFC Decision on Menhaden Reference Points
August 6, 2020 — The following was released by the Omega Protein:
Omega Protein supports today’s decision by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to adopt Ecological Reference Points (ERPs) for Atlantic menhaden, and looks forward to working with the Commission and its staff on further developing the ERP model and identifying future harvest levels for the fishery.
The ERP working group has worked for many years to develop the ecosystem model, and we will continue to support its development as the model’s accuracy and reliability improves over the next few years. It is now the responsibility of the Commission to accurately estimate the populations of both menhaden and its predators and then make fair and equitable management decisions based upon the model’s findings.
The best available science shows that current management is already doing much to ensure that menhaden meets ecological needs. A recent study by Dr. Steve Cadrin of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth found that 99.5 percent of menhaden born each year are left in the water to serve as forage for predators and meet other ecosystem roles, with only one half of one percent harvested by the fishery. The latest Commission stock assessment further confirms that menhaden is not overfished, nor is overfishing occurring, with menhaden biomass near record highs. The fishery is also certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council.
All these positive indicators should not be surprising, as the menhaden fishery has been operating at the levels suggested by the ERP model for the past two decades.
However, the Commission will also likely need to control fishing on predator stocks, as many key species are currently overfished. This could result in harvest reductions for predator species; the Commission cannot rely on the availability of menhaden alone to rebuild these predator stocks.
As recognized at this week’s meeting and in peer reviews by the Center of Independent Experts, having menhaden in the water at any abundance level is not guaranteed to help predator species reach their target biomass levels. In fact, expert scientists have stated that a moratorium on all menhaden fishing would not enable some predators to reach their target biomass without harvest reductions.
New Analysis Shows Minuscule Impact of Fishing on Atlantic Menhaden
August 3, 2020 — The following was released by the Menhaden Fisheries Coalition:
As the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) considers whether to adopt Ecological Reference Points for Atlantic menhaden at its Summer Meeting this week, a new scientific analysis confirms that current management is working, and that the fishery has a minuscule impact on the overall menhaden population.
The review, conducted by prominent fisheries scientist Dr. Steve Cadrin of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth at the request of the Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS), found that 99.5 percent of menhaden born each year are left in the water, where they serve as forage for other species and fulfill other ecological roles. Just 0.5 percent of menhaden are harvested by either the reduction or bait fishery.
Especially notable in the review’s findings was the fact that the menhaden fishery harvests very few menhaden under the age of 2, which are the ages at which menhaden are most likely to be consumed by predators. The fishery also rarely harvests older fish that are important for menhaden spawning.
Analyzing a decade’s worth of the most recent data, from 2008-2017, the review indicated that current menhaden harvest levels are extremely precautionary, and that current management is already doing a good job of protecting the ecosystem.
“This review confirms that menhaden management is working for the fishery, the resource, and the environment,” said Wayne Reichle, President of Lund’s Fisheries, a Menhaden Fisheries Coalition member based in Cape May, New Jersey. “The Commission should consider these results while they debate Ecological Reference Points, and before they consider any adjustments to the current menhaden harvest levels.”
In addition to demonstrating the minimal impact of the fishery on the larger menhaden population, the report also noted that the overall biomass for menhaden is “almost the highest on record,” while similarly noting that fishing mortality is “much less than historical levels, much less than the management reference points, and much less than the rate of natural mortality,” part of a trend towards lower mortality and higher biomass that began in the 1990s.
The healthy indicators for the menhaden fishery are in stark contrast to other species, specifically striped bass, which are considered to be overfished. Based on the available evidence from the most recent menhaden assessment, it is unlikely that current issues facing striped bass are a result of insufficient menhaden, given the near-historically high levels of menhaden abundance and low levels of fishing mortality.
The menhaden fishery is also certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, the preeminent fisheries sustainability certification body.
Dr. Cadrin’s review is part of an overwhelming body of evidence that the menhaden fishery is sustainable and current menhaden management is successful. The Commission should not forget this success as it considers the fishery’s future.
Review Finds 99.5 Percent of Atlantic Menhaden Year Class Stay in Water to Serve Ecological Role
July 30, 2020 — A review conducted by Dr. Steve Cadrin of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth found that the Atlantic menhaden fishery leaves 99.5 percent of menhaden year class in the water to serve as forage.
Cadrin’s findings are another indication that menhaden is a healthy and sustainable resource, according to the Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS).
ASMFC 2020 Summer Meeting Supplemental Materials Now Available
July 30, 2020 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Supplemental materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2020 Summer Meeting Webinar are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/
Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board – Draft FMP Review; Work Group Report on Issues to be Considered in the Next Management Action; Public Comment
ACCSP Coordinating Council – Governance Survey Results; Committee Status Summary; Program Updates; 2020 Action Plan
South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board – Memo on Upcoming Scheduling Considerations for Atlantic Cobia, Atlantic Croaker, and Spot
Shad & River Herring Management Board – Revised Agenda and Meeting Overview; Advisory Panel Comments on State Proposals
Atlantic Menhaden Management Board – Public Comment
Executive Committee – Revised Agenda; Memo on Potential Division of the South Atlantic Board
ISFMP Policy Board – Revised Agenda and Meeting Overview
Bluefish Management Board & MAFMC – Bluefish FMAT/PDT Webinar Meeting Summary
Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board & MAFMC – Revised Agenda and Meeting Overview; Draft Addendum XXIII for Public Comment; Recreational Management Reform Initiative
The agenda is subject to change. The agenda reflects the current estimate of time required for scheduled Board meetings. The Commission may adjust this agenda in accordance with the actual duration of Board meetings. It is our intent to begin at the scheduled start time for each meeting, however, if meetings run late, the next meeting may start later than originally planned.
Live-Steaming
Board proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar; please register athttps://attendee.
Each day, the webinar will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the first meeting so that people can troubleshoot any connectivity or audio issues they may encounter. If you are having issues with the webinar (connecting to or audio related issues), please contact Chris Jacobs at 703.842.0790.
We strongly recommend Commissioners and proxies connect to the webinar using the computer audio (VoIP). For the best sound quality, we recommend using a headset (any headphones with a microphone should work, such as headphones you use with your phone). If you are joining the webinar but will not be using VoIP, you can may also call in at 213.929.4212 (a pin will be provided to you after joining the webinar); see webinar instructions for details on how to receive the pin).
For those who will not be joining the webinar but would like to listen in to the audio portion only, you can do so by dialing 213.929.4212 (access code: 568-469-389).
Public Comment Guidelines
With the intent of developing policies in the Commission’s procedures for public participation that result in a fair opportunity for public input, the ISFMP Policy Board has approved the following guidelines for use at management board meetings. Please note these guidelines have been modified to adapt to meetings via webinar.
The following timeline has been established for the submission of written comment for issues for which the Commission has NOT established a specific public comment period (i.e., in response to proposed management action).
- Comments received 3 weeks prior to the start of the webinar (July 13)will be included in the briefing materials.
- Comments received by 5 PM on the Tuesday, July 28 will be included in the supplemental materials.
- Comments received by 10 AM on Friday, July 31, 2020 will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting.
Comments should be submitted via email at comments@asmfc.org. All comments must clearly indicate the commenter’s expectation from the ASMFC staff regarding distribution.
99.5 Percent of an Atlantic Menhaden Year Class is Left in the Water to Serve Its Ecological Role, New SCEMFIS Report Finds
July 29, 2020 — The following was released by the Science Center for Marine Fisheries:
The Atlantic menhaden fishery leaves 99.5 percent of a menhaden year class in the water to serve its ecological role as forage, according to a new review from Dr. Steve Cadrin of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. This finding is one of many indicators that menhaden is a healthy and sustainable resource, according to the review.
“Determining whether or not menhaden is fulfilling its role in the ecosystem has been at the heart of recent debates around menhaden management,” said Dr. Cadrin. “A review of all the available data from the most recent peer-reviewed stock assessment clearly shows that menhaden are conservatively managed and already successful in meeting ecosystem needs.”
The review comes at the request of the National Science Foundation’s Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS). Dr. Cadrin, a professor of fisheries oceanography and former president of the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists, previously conducted a review of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) most recent menhaden stock assessment in February.
Menhaden steamer launches from Mississippi; Maryland builder makes oyster boat with a bed
July 20, 2020 — Omega Shipyard at Moss Point, Miss., delivered the 180′ x 40′ x 7′ menhaden steamer Little River to the Omega Protein plant in Reedville, Va., to fish the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.
The vessel was motored in April from Moss Point, up the Atlantic Coast to the plant and now Omega’s corporate headquarters in Reedville. The firm started fishing the vessel in May.
The steel hull vessel was converted from an offshore oil supply vessel on the Gulf of Mexico named Black Diver II. Little River is powered by two 399 Caterpillar Diesel engines rated together at 2,250 hp, working through 4:1 ratio Caterpillar marine reduction gears.
There are two generators on the boat powered by two new John Deere 6068 Tier III engines, 150 kw. The vessel will travel at 12 knots consuming 100 gallons of fuel per hour. Little River has a fuel capacity of 9,000 gallons.
ASMFC Summer Meeting Webinar Preliminary Agenda and Public Comment Guidelines
July 8, 2020 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Please find attached and below the preliminary agenda and public comment guidelines for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2020 Summer Meeting Webinar, August 3-6, 2020. The agenda is also available athttp://www.asmfc.org/home/
Given the uncertainties of the pace of states reopening and potential continued prohibitions on large meetings in Arlington, Virginia in early August, the Summer Meeting will be held as a virtual meeting. Board meetings with complex decisions (e.g. Atlantic Menhaden and Atlantic Striped Bass) will recess following staff/technical presentations and a question and answer session. These Boards will reconvene the following day to allow time for Commissioners to consider the information from the previous day, fully vet the issues with their state delegates, and prepare for board discussion and action.
We are not planning to conduct pre-meeting webinar training sessions. However, staff will work with you if you would like a quick refresher or have changed computers and need to test out the webinar functions prior to the meeting. Please contact Toni Kerns, tkerns@asmfc.org, if you are interested in a test webinar.
Details about the webinar and meeting process will be provided prior to the meeting. We look forward to meeting with you at the Summer Meeting Webinar.
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