Saving Seafood

MAFMC April 2023 Meeting in Durham, NC

March 15, 2023 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, April 4 – Thursday, April 6, 2023 in Durham, North Carolina. This will be an in-person meeting with a virtual option. Please see the April 2023 Council Meeting Page for webinar details, public comment deadlines, briefing materials (as they become available), and other updates.

A detailed agenda is available here. Below is an overview of the main topics to be addressed each day.

Tuesday, April 4th

  • Executive Committee Meeting (Closed Session) – SSC Membership, Award of Excellence nominations
  • Short-Term Forecasts of Species Distributions for Fisheries Management Project Results
  • East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning – update from February 2023 East Coast Scenario Planning Summit

Wednesday, April 5th

  • Illex Squid: Review 2023 Specifications and Set 2024-2025 Specifications (MSB Committee of the Whole)
  • Illex Squid Permit Action Follow-Up (MSB Committee of the Whole)
  • Habitat Activities Update – aquaculture, wind, other projects
  • Ocean City Video Boat Count Project Results
  • Update from ACCSP on Atlantic Recreational Data Implementation Plan
  • Marine Recreational Information Program Update
  • Scup Federal Recreational Season – review recent ASMFC Board recommendation and consider similar Council action
  • 2023 Mid-Atlantic State of the Ecosystem Report
  • NOAA Draft National Seafood Strategy

Thursday, April 6th

  • Business Session
  • Other Business and General Public Comment

East Coast Fishery Managers to Convene Climate Change Scenario Planning Summit

February 6, 2023 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Over the past two years, East Coast fishery management bodies have been collaborating on a climate change scenario planning initiative designed to prepare fishing communities and fishery managers for an era of climate change. The final stage of this initiative will include an in-person summit meeting, to be held February 15-16, 2023, in Arlington, Virginia. The summit meeting will serve as a venue to discuss input collected throughout the scenario planning process, with the goal of developing a set of potential governance and management actions and priorities. 

Summit participants will include representatives from each of the three U.S. East Coast Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and NOAA Fisheries. Non-invited participants attending the meeting in person are invited to observe the plenary discussions and provide comments during designated public comment opportunities. Only plenary sessions will be broadcast by webinar.

Additional details, including webinar connection information and a draft agenda, are available on the event page.

NOAA Seeks Applicants for Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council

January 6, 2022 — The following was released by Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is in the process of considering designation of a new national marine sanctuary in the Hudson Canyon area off the coast of New York and New Jersey. The Hudson Canyon is the largest submarine canyon along the U.S. Atlantic coast and is one of the largest in the world. The area is also one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s most important commercial and recreational fishing grounds.

NOAA is establishing an advisory council for the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary and is seeking applicants for advisory council seats. The advisory council will bring members of the local community together to provide advice to NOAA and help guide the designation of the sanctuary.

Voting Seats 

The proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council will include 15 voting members and 15 alternates. NOAA is seeking applicants to represent the following voting seats:

  1. Commercial Fishing (2 seats)
  2. Recreational Fishing (2 seats)
  3. Tourism/Recreation (1 seat)
  4. Conservation (2 seats)
  5. Science/Research (1 seat)
  6. Business and Economic Development (1 seat)
  7. Marine Industry (2 seats)
  8. Education/Outreach (2 seats)
  9. Citizen At-Large (2 seats)

Non Voting Seats 

The following government agencies have been invited to participate on the Sanctuary Advisory Council and may appoint a non-voting member and an alternate to the council:

  1. NOAA Fisheries
  2. New England Fishery Management Council
  3. Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
  4. South-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
  5. U.S. Coast Guard
  6. U.S. Department of Interior/Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
  7. U.S. Department of Navy
  8. State of New York
  9. State of New Jersey
  10. State of Rhode Island

Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2023. Visit NOAA’s Hudson Canyon Sanctuary Advisory Council page for details and application instructions.

Comment Period Extended for Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment

November 18, 2022 — The following was released by Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has extended the deadline for members of the public to submit written comments on the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment. Written comments can now be submitted until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. The Council is extending the deadline to accommodate individuals who may have been affected by the canceled public hearing on November 14th.

The Council developed the draft amendment to address the increased occurrence of mixed catches in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. Current regulations do not allow for surfclam and ocean quahog to be landed on the same trip or placed in the same cages. The draft amendment contains a range of management approaches (“alternatives”) that would modify current regulations to allow for mixed catches onboard vessels. Details about these management alternatives can be found in the Public Hearing Document and Public Hearing Presentation.

Written comments may be submitted by any of the methods listed below. Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 29, 2022.

Mid-Atlantic Council to Hold Public Hearings on Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements

November 8, 2022 — The following was released by Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is requesting public comments on a draft amendment to modify the species separation requirements in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. Comments may be submitted at any of three public hearings to be held on November 10, 14, and 17. Written comments will also be accepted through November 23.

This action is intended to address the increased occurrence of mixed catches in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. Current regulations do not allow for surfclam and ocean quahog to be landed on the same trip or placed in the same cages. Industry has reported that it has become increasingly difficult to avoid mixed catches due to changes in the species’ distributions. The draft amendment contains a range of management approaches (“alternatives”) that would modify current regulations to allow for mixed catches onboard vessels. Details about these management alternatives can be found in the Public Hearing Document and Public Hearing Presentation.

Following a review of comments received, the Council will choose a preferred alternative and submit the amendment to the Secretary of Commerce for approval and publication of proposed and final rules, both of which have additional comment periods. The Council may consider final action at its December 12-15, 2022 meeting.

Public Hearings

Comments may be submitted at any of the following public hearings:

  1. Thursday, November 10, 2022. 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport. 9000 Bartram Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153. 215-365-4500.
  2. Monday, November 14, 2022. 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Hampton Inn. 53 Old Bedford Road, Westport, MA 02790. 508-675-8500.
  3. Thursday, November 17, 2022. 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Webinar. Register here. 

Written Comments

Written comments may be submitted by any of the methods listed below. Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23, 2022.

For more information, contact Jessica Coakley (jcoakley@mafmc.org, 302-526-5252) or visit the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment page.

Mid-Atlantic Council to Hold Public Hearings on Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements

October 7, 2022 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is requesting public comments on a draft amendment to modify the species separation requirements in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. Comments may be submitted at any of three public hearings to be held on November 10, 14, and 17. Written comments will also be accepted through November 23.

This action is intended to address the increased occurrence of mixed catches in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. Current regulations do not allow for surfclam and ocean quahog to be landed on the same trip or placed in the same cages. Industry has reported that it has become increasingly difficult to avoid mixed catches due to changes in the species’ distributions. The draft amendment contains a range of management approaches (“alternatives”) that would modify current regulations to allow for mixed catches onboard vessels. Details about these management alternatives can be found in the Public Hearing Document.

Following a review of comments received, the Council will choose a preferred alternative and submit the amendment to the Secretary of Commerce for approval and publication of proposed and final rules, both of which have additional comment periods. The Council may consider final action at its December 12-15, 2022 meeting.

Public Hearings

Comments may be submitted at any of the following public hearings:

  1. Thursday, November 10, 2022. 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport. 9000 Bartram Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153. 215-365-4500.
  2. Monday, November 14, 2022. 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Hampton Inn. 53 Old Bedford Road, Westport, MA 02790. 508-675-8500.
  3. Thursday, November 17, 2022. 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Webinar. Register here. 

Written Comments

Written comments may be submitted by any of the methods listed below. Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23, 2022.

Mid-Atlantic Council Approves Revised Stock Rebuilding Plan for Atlantic Mackerel

June 15, 2022 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has approved a revised rebuilding plan and 2023 specifications for Atlantic mackerel. The first rebuilding plan for the stock was implemented in November 2019. However, an updated 2021 stock assessment found that, although the stock size almost tripled between 2014 and 2019, the stock was only 24% rebuilt in 2019 and unlikely to complete rebuilding as anticipated.

The revised rebuilding plan approved by the Council has a 61% probability of rebuilding the stock by 2032. Of the five rebuilding options considered, the Council selected this approach because it has a high probability of successfully rebuilding the stock while avoiding the severe economic impacts that would likely occur with some of the other alternatives. Compared to the original rebuilding plan, the revised plan uses lower predicted recruitment in projections to reduce the chance of underperforming stock growth predictions again.

The Council also voted to implement a first-ever federal waters recreational possession limit for Atlantic mackerel for 2023. Recreational catches of Atlantic mackerel have been relatively low historically, but recreational restrictions were deemed appropriate to achieve the total catch reduction required under the rebuilding plan. The Council had initially considered possession limits in the range of 10 to 15 fish per person, but they ultimately recommended a 20-fish per person limit based on the limited historical recreational catch and the importance of mackerel for recreational fishermen (including as bait). This limit is expected to reduce recreational catch by about 17%. Coordination with states that have substantial recreational mackerel catches (MA, NH, and ME) occurred during development of the plan, and it is hoped that these states will mirror the federal rules for their state waters in 2023.

Under the selected rebuilding plan, the acceptable biological catch (ABC) will be 8,094 metric tons (MT) for 2023. After accounting for expected Canadian catch, recreational catch, and commercial discards, the Council recommended setting the 2023 commercial quota at 3,639 MT. This quota is 79% lower than the initial 2021 rebuilding quota. A new Management Track Assessment will be available next year to inform 2024-2025 specifications.

The Council also discussed potentially scaling down the river herring and shad cap, currently set at 129 MT, in response to the reduced commercial quota. However, given the challenges associated with monitoring a very small cap, including potential closures based on a few observed trips, the Council voted to maintain the cap at 129 MT for 2023.

Finally, the Council agreed to request that NOAA Fisheries provide additional outreach and compliance assistance regarding the appropriate permitting and catch reporting for both commercial and for-hire vessels. Additional outreach should address any ambiguity regarding the need to have a permit and submit electronic vessel trip reports (eVTRs) by these vessels.

The Council will submit this amendment to the Secretary of Commerce for approval and implementation. Updates will be posted on the Atlantic Mackerel Rebuilding 2.0 page. For additional information about this action, contact Jason Didden at jdidden@mafmc.org or (302) 526-5254.

 

Atlantic scup from Lund’s Fisheries becomes the fourth MSC-certified product offered by the family-owned New Jersey company

May 10, 2022 — The following was released by Lund’s Fisheries:

Lund’s Fisheries, Inc., operating in Cape May, New Jersey since 1954, is pleased to announce that the company’s Atlantic scup fishery has been certified as sustainable according to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standards. MSC certification is one of the most rigorous and sought-after sustainability certifications in the world, and our scup trawl fishery now meets those high standards.

Scup is Lund’s fourth MSC-certified fishery, following the company’s certifications for Atlantic sea scallops, Loligo squid, and Illex squid. Lund’s has been a seafood industry leader on the Atlantic coast in certifying its fisheries as sustainable for U.S. and international markets and will continue to look for new opportunities to add products to the MSC certification process.

The company owns and operates 20 fishing vessels delivering seafood to its freezing and processing facility year-round. Other independent vessels, from North Carolina through Maine, land scup at the company’s plant, utilizing its 500 metric ton daily freezing capacity.

“Lund’s Fisheries is proud of our long-standing commitment to harvesting and processing some of the most sustainable seafood in the world, and the MSC certification of our scup fishery is just the latest example of that commitment,” said Wayne Reichle, President of Lund’s Fisheries. “In partnership with the MSC, consumers can continue to trust that our products meet the highest standards of responsible sourcing. This new certification will help us to present another locally harvested, sustainable fish to the public that they may not have heard of, seen, or eaten before.”

The certification comes after a year-long, comprehensive evaluation by independent third-party assessor SCS Global Services. The assessment ensures that the Atlantic scup trawl fishery meets the three MSC Principles, focusing on the status of the scup resource and the harvest strategy in place; the fisheries ecosystem impacts, including efforts to avoid interactions with endangered and protected species; and the governance and management system employed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. MSC certification also ensures that Atlantic scup products can be traced back to where they were caught through required recordkeeping, from harvest to product sale.

The fishery’s strengths include a well-defined and proven governance system of national and state laws; a suite of strategic policy frameworks that are supportive of the MSC’s Principles; effective leadership within federal and state management and scientific organizations; a transparent and engaging consultation and decision-making process; and a proven federal-state record of effective collaboration and cooperation at all levels.

Atlantic scup, which is mainly fished in New England and Mid-Atlantic waters, is considered to be an “underutilized” species, meaning that the population is healthy, and that fishing levels are well below the sustainable limits set for the fishery.

“Demand for sustainable U.S. seafood is only growing, and we are pleased to receive this certification from the MSC, which has become the international leader in seafood sustainability,” said Jeff Kaelin, Lund’s Director of Sustainability and Government Relations.  “This certification reflects the hard work done by our fishermen and our production team at our Cape May plant to successfully sell sustainably harvested products to our customers. It also represents tremendous support from our management partners at the Council and Commission in helping us to accumulate the technical information used in this process over the past year.”

Black Sea Bass Assessment Stakeholder Session: May 16, 2022, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

May 9, 2022 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Black Sea Bass Working Group will hold a virtual stakeholder meeting on Monday, May 16 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., using the WebEx online meeting platform. The meeting will provide an overview of the black seas bass assessment and highlight stakeholder input before opening up for a discussion on, but not limited to the following topics:

•Changes over time in availability, distribution, landings, and discards
•Ecosystem drivers
•Selectivity by gear type
•Socioeconomic impacts on fishing operations

Please register using this RSVP link before May 13, 2022. If you are unable to attend but would like to add a question or comment you can submit one via the RSVP link. The WebEx meeting link will be sent to the email you provide and can also be found on the Black Sea Bass Working Group webpage.

This stakeholder session will be hosted by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Please direct any questions to Michele Traver, Assessment Process Lead.

 

Survey conflicts test relations between wind, fishing industries

April 27, 2022 — The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and offshore wind energy developers are pledging to do better by commercial fishermen – with fisheries studies, scout boats to head off survey conflicts with fishing gear, and bringing on highly experienced and respected fishermen as industry liaisons.

Incidents of survey boats towing through fixed gear in Mid-Atlantic waters are putting those processes to the test. Conch and black sea bass trap fishermen who have had gear damaged off the Delmarva coast and New Jersey brought their complaints to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

At an April 5 briefing Amanda Lefton, director of the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and wind developers Ørsted and Atlantic Shores updated the regional fishery management council on plans for two adjacent turbine projects off Atlantic City and Long Beach Island, N.J. – and BOEM’s recent $4.37 billion sale of New York Bight wind leases that could become even bigger arrays farther out on the continental shelf.

Then they heard from fishermen who have seen their conch and black sea bass gear dragged and damaged by survey vessels working on wind leases off New Jersey and the Delmarva peninsula.

New Jersey captain Joe Wagner Jr. told the council how he lost 157 bass traps in 2021 during a survey around the Ørsted Ocean Wind project area.

“The only reason I got somewhat of a payment (compensation) is because I caught their vessel at 3 o’clock in the morning pulling three of my high flyers behind their boat,” said Wagner.

Read the full story at National Fisherman