Saving Seafood

Mid-Atlantic Council Invites Public Input on Next 5-Year Strategic Plan

August 13, 2024 —  The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Public Input Webinar Scheduled for Aug. 20; Written Comments Accepted Through Sept. 4

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is seeking public input to inform development of its next strategic plan. The Council’s strategic plan provides a framework for prioritizing activities from year to year and ensuring steady progress toward long-term goals. The current plan will expire at the end of 2024. The Council is now soliciting public input to help shape the next plan for 2025 through 2029.

Interested parties are encouraged to provide input during a public webinar scheduled for Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Written comments may also be submitted via a public comment form or by email to msabo@mafmc.org. All comments must be received by Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

This is an important opportunity for the public to help shape the future management of Mid-Atlantic fisheries. The Council welcomes feedback on its performance relative to the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan as well as recommendations for priority issues to be addressed in the next plan for 2025-2029.

The Council is scheduled to review public comments and consider a draft strategic plan at its October 2024 Council Meeting.

Quick Links

Questions? Contact Mary Sabo at msabo@mafmc.org or 302-526-5261.

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to Meet August 12-15, 2024, in Philadelphia, PA

July 24, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Monday, August 12 – Thursday, August 15, 2024 at The Westin Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA. This will be an in-person meeting with a virtual option. Council members, other meeting participants, and members of the public will have the option to participate in person or virtually via Webex webinar. 

Briefing Materials: Please see the August 2024 Council Meeting Page for webinar details, briefing materials (as they become available), and other updates.

Public Comments: Public comments will be accepted from in-person and remote participants on all major agenda items. Written comments can be submitted through the comment portal or by email to cmoore@mafmc.org. The deadline for comments to be included in the briefing book is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, August 8, 2024, will be posted as supplemental materials on the meeting page. After the supplemental comment deadline, comments may only be submitted via the comment form (no email).

Live Stream: The meeting will be live streamed to the Council’s YouTube channel.

Agenda Overview

Visit the meeting page for additional details. 

Monday, August 12

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Swearing in of New Council Members / Election of officers

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 2025-2027 Golden Tilefish Specifications

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 2025 Blueline Tilefish Specifications

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. NOAA Fisheries Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management Road Map

4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel Updates

Tuesday, August 13

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Council Process Review – Final Report

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 2025 Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Specifications

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ———- LUNCH ———-

1:00 p.m. Council Convenes with the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. MRIP Update and Listening Session

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 2025 Summer Flounder Specifications

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Summer Flounder Mesh Exemptions Framework/Addendum

4:30 p.m. Council and Board Adjourn

Wednesday, August 14

9:00 a.m. Council Convenes with the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 2025 Scup Specifications

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 2025 Black Sea Bass Specifications

11:30 a.m. Council Adjourns

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board Only – FMP Review and Vice-Chair Election

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ———- LUNCH ———-

1:00 p.m. Council Convenes with ASMFC Interstate Fishery Management Program Policy Board

1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework/Addenda – Approve draft addenda for public comment

3:30 p.m. Council Convenes with ASMFC Bluefish Management Board

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 2025 Bluefish Specifications

5:00 p.m. Council Adjourns

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. ASMFC Bluefish Board Only – FMP Review and Vice-Chair Election

Thursday, August 15

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Business Session

  • Committee Reports
  • Executive Director’s Report
  • Organization Reports: NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Office of General Counsel, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, US Coast Guard
  • Liaison Reports
  • Other Business and General Public Comment

Mid-Atlantic fishermen fight unconstitutional regulation

July 10, 2024 — Raymond Lofstad and Gus Lovgren are both fourth-generation commercial fishermen running small-scale operations in the Mid-Atlantic. Raymond has fished in Long Island for over 45 years. Gus, who recently took over his father’s fishing boat, has operated out of New Jersey for over 20 years. Both possess the necessary permits to fish for flounder, scup, and black sea bass in the federal waters off the coast of the Mid-Atlantic. But a regulation adopted by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will reduce the amount of these fish that commercial fishermen may catch every year, reallocating the harvest in favor of recreational fishermen.

Over their long fishing careers, Raymond and Gus have fed countless American families. All the while, they have shared the ocean’s bounty with their fellow commercial fishermen and those who fish recreationally. Now, due to this regulatory change, they face tens of thousands of dollars in lost annual revenue. For Gus, the loss in revenue will also force him to spend more time at sea, losing precious time with his family, including his two young daughters.

Whether for food or for fun, ocean fisheries are under the watchful eye of government regulators. States handle the shoreline while the feds, under the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, govern waters from three to 200 nautical miles offshore.

Regional councils established under Magnuson-Stevens are charged with regulating federal waters to maximize fisheries’ long-term benefits. Raymond and Gus are two of the many fishermen regulated by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which covers all federal waters off the coast of the Mid-Atlantic, from the tip of Long Island to the middle of North Carolina.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to Meet June 4-6, 2024 in Riverhead, NY

May 20, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council: 

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, June 4 – Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Riverhead, New York. This will be an in-person meeting with a virtual option. Council members, other meeting participants, and members of the public will have the option to participate in person or virtually via Webex webinar. 

Lodging: Hyatt Place Long Island/East End, 451 East Main Street, Riverhead, NY 11901, Telephone 631-208-0002

Meeting Venue: Atlantis Banquets and Events, 431 East Main Street, Riverhead, NY 11901

Briefing Materials: Please see the June 2024 Council Meeting Page for webinar details, briefing materials (as they become available), and other updates.

Public Comments: Public comments will be accepted from in-person and remote participants on all major agenda items. Written comments can be submitted through the comment portal or by email to cmoore@mafmc.org. The deadline for comments to be included in the briefing book is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, 2024, will be posted as supplemental materials on the meeting page. After the supplemental comment deadline, comments may only be submitted via the comment form (no email).

Live Stream: The meeting will be live streamed to the Council’s YouTube channel.

Agenda Overview

Visit the meeting page for complete details. 

Tuesday, June 4

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Executive Committee (Closed Session): Advisory Panel appointments

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Executive Committee (Open Session): 2025-2029 Strategic Plan Vision, Mission, and Goals

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Summer Flounder Mesh Exemptions Framework/Addendum (Joint with ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Board) – Consider addition of alternatives to revise Small Mesh Exemption Program review trigger

Wednesday, June 5

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment – Final Action

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. 2025 Chub Mackerel Specifications Review

1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. 2025 Longfin Squid Specifications Review

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 2025 Illex Squid Specifications Review

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Unmanaged Commercial Landings Report

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. SSC’s Overfishing Limit (OFL) Coefficient of Variation (CV) Guidance Document

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Acknowledgment of Outgoing Council Members

Thursday, June 6

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Business Session

  • Committee Reports – Scientific and Statistical Committee
  • Executive Director’s Report
  • Organization Reports: NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Office of General Counsel, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, US Coast Guard
  • Liaison Reports: New England Council, South Atlantic Council
  • Other Business and General Public Comment

Questions? Contact Mary Sabo, msabo@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5261

Deadline Extended (May 24): Request for Proposals for Collaborative Strategies to Adapt Scup Gear Restricted Areas to Changing Ocean Conditions

April 29, 2024 — The following was released by Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Overview: The Mid‐Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) continues to seek a contractor to investigate potential modifications to the scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRA). This work will build on previous analyses of commercial scup discards and the GRAs, utilizing available fisheries and environmental data. This project will be funded by Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds and will address the IRA funding priority to develop and implement management changes or processes that address climate vulnerability or improve climate resiliency of fisheries. 

Proposal Deadline: The proposal deadline has been extended to Friday, May 24, 2024. Work is expected to be completed by January 16, 2026.

Background: First implemented in November 2000, the Northern and Southern Scup GRA are intended to reduce juvenile scup discards in small mesh fisheries during certain times of the year. GRA regulations and boundaries have been reviewed and modified several times. Recent analyses have shown that the GRAs contributed to the rebuilding of the scup stock and continue to have a positive effect on reducing juvenile scup discards. However, spatial patterns of more recently observed discards suggest there has been a shift in where and when discards occur.

Scope of Work: The contractor will build on previous Council commercial scup discard and GRA analyses and utilize available fisheries and environmental data to investigate potential modifications to the scup GRAs. Modifications could include consideration of alternative measures based on adaptive management strategies. As described in the full request for proposals, this project should analyze bycatch trends for scup over time, identifying changes in spatial patterns and intensity and their connection to shifts in scup distribution. Hotspot, cluster, or alternative time/area closure analyses may be used to pinpoint areas where regulatory changes could mitigate impacts on juvenile scup. The project should examine regulatory and economic factors influencing scup discards and assessment, including evaluation of potential tradeoffs associated with bycatch reduction strategies. In addition, the contractor will plan and facilitate at least two in-person workshops with fishery stakeholders to solicit input on scup discards and GRAs. 

The contractor will be expected to develop a report with recommendations on a set of management alternatives that the Council could consider for implementation through a future management action.

Additional Information: Complete details about the project background, scope of work, contractor qualifications, and proposal submission instructions can be found in the request for proposals.

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

April 20, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 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 May 9, 14, and 16. Written comments will also be accepted through May 30, 2024.

This action is intended to address the increased frequency of mixed catches in these fisheries, an issue raised by the clam fishing industry. Current regulations do not allow for surfclam and ocean quahog to be landed on the same trip or placed in the same cages. The mixing of catches has created challenges related to catch monitoring, allocation tracking, and enforcement. Industry has also reported that the increasing frequency of mixed catches will impact onboard fisheries operations, creating logistical and economic challenges in the long-term that need to be addressed.

The Public Hearing Document, which describes a range of management approaches (“alternatives”) that could address this issue and provides a summary of associated impacts, will be posted on the Council website by May 1. At the June 2024 Council Meeting, the Council will review public input and recommend an alternative to NOAA Fisheries for review and rulemaking.

Public Hearings

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

  1. Thursday, May 9, 2024. 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Webinar.
  2. Tuesday, May 14, 2024. 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport, 9000 Bartram Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153. 215-365-4500.
  3. Thursday, May 16, 2024. 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Hyatt Place Boston/Braintree, 50 Forbes Rd, Braintree, MA 02184. 781-848-0600.

Written Comments

Written comments may be submitted by any of the methods listed below. Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on May 30, 2024.

For more information, contact Jessica Coakley (jcoakley@mafmc.org, 302-526-5252) or visit https://www.mafmc.org/actions/scoq-species-separation.

Vineyard Wind and South Fork Wind Launch Fisheries Compensation Programs

March 4, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Vineyard Wind 1

Vineyard Wind opened a 90-day eligibility period for the Vineyard Wind 1 Fisheries Compensatory Mitigation Program. This program will provide compensation to commercial fishermen for economic impacts from the construction, operations, and decommissioning of Vineyard Wind 1.

To qualify for the program, commercial fishing vessel owners/operators must submit an online application between March 4, 2024 and June 3, 2024. This eligibility period is the only time that commercial fishing vessel owners/operators can qualify for compensation from the program. Fishermen will not need to demonstrate economic impacts from Vineyard Wind 1 to qualify or receive payments.

The program is open to commercial fishing vessel owners/lessees in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island who can demonstrate historical fishing activities in the lease area, OCS-A 0501.

Open house and tabling events will be hosted in March to help fishermen apply for the program. See this announcement for details. Additional information about the program, including eligibility criteria, is available on the program website.

South Fork Wind

South Fork Wind announced the opening of their eligibility application for direct compensation for commercial and for-hire recreational fishing vessels that have experienced economic impacts from construction and some aspects of operation of the South Fork Wind Project. Separate programs have been established for Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

If eligible, commercial and for-hire recreational fishing operations may file a claim for direct losses/impacts arising from the construction and some aspects of operation of the South Fork Wind project and unforeseen, extraordinary events that lead to later business interruption and direct losses/impacts caused by the project.

Visit the South Fork Wind Fisheries Compensation Program website for additional information and application instructions.

General Guidance for Submitting Fishing Activity Data Requests to NOAA Fisheries 

Contacts for data requests

NOAA Fisheries has provided the following contacts for fishing activity data requests:

General guidance for requests: 

NOAA Fisheries has provided the following guidance for fishing activity data requests:

  • Specify if data are needed by a certain date
  • Include all the fundamental details: Contact information for the person requesting the data; Permit number and vessel name for data requested; What data you need (e.g., logbook landings, fishing revenue, permit issuance); Date range for the data (e.g., fishing or calendar years 2016-2022); Area the data applies to (e.g., logbook data when fishing in the Vineyard Wind 1 lease area)
  • Ensure you have access to historical data from previous owners. Submit or reference existing written proof that a previous vessel/permit owner has given you permission to access their historic fishing data. Make sure permissions include all years of your data request.)
  • Identify expected data output (e.g., spreadsheet or map)

Request for Proposals: Collaborative Strategies to Adapt Scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRA) to Changing Ocean Conditions

February 26, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid‐Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking a contractor to investigate potential modifications to the scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRA). This work will build on previous analyses of commercial scup discards and the GRAs, utilizing available fisheries and environmental data. It is anticipated that this project will be funded by Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds. This project will address the IRA funding priority to develop and implement management changes or processes that address climate vulnerability or improve climate resiliency of fisheries.

Proposal Deadline: The proposal deadline is April 12, 2024. Work is expected to be completed by December 31, 2025.

Background: First implemented in November 2000, the Northern and Southern Scup GRA are intended to reduce juvenile scup discards in small mesh fisheries during certain times of the year. GRA regulations and boundaries have been reviewed and modified several times. Recent analyses have shown that the GRAs contributed to the rebuilding of the scup stock and continue to have a positive effect on reducing juvenile scup discards. However, spatial patterns of more recently observed discards suggest there has been a shift in where and when discards occur.

Scope of Work: The contractor will build on previous Council commercial scup discard and GRA analyses and utilize available fisheries and environmental data to investigate potential modifications to the scup GRAs. Modifications could include consideration of alternative measures based on adaptive management strategies. As described in the full request for proposals, this project should analyze bycatch trends for scup over time, identifying changes in spatial patterns and intensity and their connection to shifts in scup distribution. Hotspot, cluster, or alternative time/area closure analyses may be used to pinpoint areas where regulatory changes could mitigate impacts on juvenile scup. The project should examine regulatory and economic factors influencing scup discards and assessment, including evaluation of potential tradeoffs associated with bycatch reduction strategies. In addition, the contractor will plan and facilitate at least two in-person workshops with fishery stakeholders to solicit input on scup discards and GRAs.

The contractor will be expected to develop a report with recommendations on a set of management alternatives that the Council could consider for implementation through a future management action.

Additional Information: Complete details about the project background, scope of work, contractor qualifications, and proposal submission instructions can be found in the request for proposals.

Captain Jimmy Ruhle Honored Posthumously with New Cooperative Research Award

February 15, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council named Captain Jimmy Ruhle as the first recipient and namesake of a new award that recognizes outstanding contributions to cooperative fisheries research in the Mid-Atlantic region. His son, Captain Robert Ruhle, accepted the award on his father’s behalf during the Council’s meeting last week in Arlington, Virginia. 

Jimmy Ruhle was a lifelong commercial fisherman, a former Council member, and a trailblazer in cooperative fisheries research. He had an instrumental role in the creation and success of the Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (NEAMAP) Mid-Atlantic/Southern New England trawl survey, a cooperative fishery-independent survey of coastal waters from Cape Hatteras north to Cape Cod. Since 2007, the survey has been conducted biannually aboard Jimmy’s vessel, the F/V Darana R, by a team of Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) researchers working in partnership with Jimmy and his crew. Data from the survey have improved the assessments of several Council-managed species, including black sea bass, butterfish, longfin squid, scup, and summer flounder.

“The NEAMAP survey not only helps to fill gaps in survey data for nearshore waters, but it has also raised industry confidence in the data used for management decisions,” said Council Executive Director Chris Moore. “These successes would not have been possible without Jimmy’s passion, hard work, and long-term commitment to cooperative research.”

After Jimmy’s death in 2023, the Council decided to create a new award to honor his legacy. The James A. Ruhle Cooperative Research Award will be given to individuals or groups who have demonstrated exceptional collaboration, dedication, or innovation in their research, or in recognition of cooperative research projects that have made significant contributions to the understanding or management of Mid-Atlantic fisheries.

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to Meet February 6-7, 2024

January 21, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, February 6 – Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at The Westin Arlington in Arlington, Virginia.

Please see the February 2024 Council Meeting Page for webinar details, briefing materials (as they become available), and other updates.

Public Comments: Public comments will be accepted from in-person and remote participants on all major agenda items. Written comments can be submitted through the comment portal or by email to cmoore@mafmc.org. The deadline for comments to be included in the briefing book is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, February 1, 2024 will be posted as supplemental materials on the meeting page. After the supplemental comment deadline, comments may only be submitted via the comment form (no email).

Live Stream: The meeting will be live streamed to the Council’s YouTube channel.

 

Meeting Agenda

Tuesday, February 6th

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment                       

  • Review and approve Public Hearing Document

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ———- LUNCH ———-

1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Business Session

  • Committee Reports: Scientific and Statistical Committee
  • Executive Director’s Report – Dr. Chris Moore
  • Organization Reports: NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Office of General Counsel, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, US Coast Guard
  • Liaison Reports: New England Council, South Atlantic Council
  • Other Business and General Public Comment

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.  Briefing Book Tutorial

4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Legal Review, Financial Disclosure and Recusal Training

Wednesday, February 7th

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Offshore Wind Updates

  • Updates from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
  • Updates from the state working group on a fisheries compensation fund administrator
  • Updates from offshore wind project developers (Ørsted, Vineyard Wind, Kitty Hawk Wind, Community Offshore Wind)

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Black Sea Bass Assessment Overview

  • Overview of recently completed Research Track stock assessment

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ———- LUNCH ———-

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Sturgeon Framework

  • Review progress on joint Mid-Atlantic/New England Council action to reduce Atlantic sturgeon interactions in the monkfish/dogfish gillnet fisheries
  • Approve final packages of alternatives

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) White Paper: “Draft Proposed Plan for a Novel Industry Based Multispecies Bottom Trawl Survey on the Northeast US Continental Shelf”

  • Overview of the Industry-based survey white paper
  • Consider next steps

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Awards Presentation