Saving Seafood

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

Reminder: Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Scientist for One Opening on Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel

January 2, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is seeking applications from qualified scientists to fill one open seat on the Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP). Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 5, 2024.

NTAP is a joint advisory panel of the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. The primary purpose of the panel is to provide advice and direction on the conduct of trawl research in the northeast region, with a focus on the multispecies bottom trawl survey conducted by NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). NTAP also discusses and recommends research priorities, and members frequently participate in recommended research projects. NTAP has guided multiple studies that have improved information used in stock assessments.

The twenty-member panel includes Mid-Atlantic and New England Council members, scientists and industry stakeholders appointed by each Council, representatives of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), and NEFSC staff.

The current vacancy is for one of two seats designated for academic or non-academic scientists appointed by the Mid-Atlantic Council. Individuals with expertise in any of the following areas are encouraged to apply: gear design and construction, trawl gear efficiency, trawl mensuration, fish behavior, fishery acoustics, survey statistics, and stock assessments.

Applications can be downloaded at the link below or on the NTAP web page. The completed application should be submitted to hhart@mafmc.org by 5:00 p.m. Friday, January 5, 2024.

 

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to Meet December 12-14, 2023

November 21, 2023 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, December 12 – Thursday, December 14, 2023 at the The Notary Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (21 N. Juniper Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107; 215-496-3200) and via webinar. Portions of the meeting will be conducted jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board and Interstate Fishery Management Program Policy Board.

Please see the December 2023 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, November 29, 2023. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, December 7, 2023 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, December 12, 2023

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Executive Committee Meeting (Closed Session)

  • 2023 Ricks E Savage Award discussion

10:00 a.m. Council Convenes with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Summer Flounder Commercial Mesh Size Regulations and Exemptions

  • Review industry and Monitoring Committee recommendations on summer flounder commercial minimum mesh size, Small Mesh Exemption Program, and flynet exemption
  • Consider any necessary changes to the regulations
  • Identify next steps and research priorities as needed

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

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Recreational Demand Model Overview

  • Overview of Northeast Fishery Science Center (NEFSC) Recreational Demand Model and development of Decision Support Tool

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 2024-2025 Summer Flounder Recreational Measures

  • Review Advisory Panel and Monitoring Committee recommendations
  • Adopt target level of coastwide harvest based on the Percent Change Approach
  • Recommend conservation equivalency or coastwide management and associated measures for 2024-2025

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 2024-2025 Scup Recreational Measures

  • Review Advisory Panel and Monitoring Committee recommendations
  • Adopt target level of coastwide harvest based on the Percent Change Approach
  • Recommend 2024-2025 recreational management measures for federal waters, provide preliminary guidance to the Technical Committee on development of state measures proposals, and discuss the federal waters closure for January-April 2024

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 2024 Black Sea Bass Recreational Measures

  • Review Advisory Panel and Monitoring Committee recommendations
  • Adopt target level of coastwide harvest based on the Percent Change Approach
  • Recommend conservation equivalency or coastwide management and associated measures for 2024
  • Review and consider approval of Virginia’s proposal for February 2024 recreational fishery (Board only)

10:30 a.m. Council and Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board Adjourn / Council Convenes with the ASMFC Interstate Fishery Management Program Policy Board

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass and Bluefish Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework/Addenda

  • Update on progress
  • Consider refining range of preliminary alternatives based on recommendation of FMAT/PDT
  • Discuss next steps

11:00 a.m. Council and ASMFC Interstate Fishery Management Program Policy Board Adjourn / Council Convenes

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Guidance Document for Council Review of Exempted Fishing Permit Applications for Unmanaged Forage Amendment Ecosystem Component Species

  • Review revisions to the document
  • Review Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel and Committee input
  • Approve document

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA)

  • Review of ROSA’s Strategic Plan, activities, and steps to support the Council’s offshore wind efforts

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

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. 2024-2026 Spiny Dogfish Specifications

  • Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff
  • Adopt specifications for 2024-2025
  • Review and revise 2024-2025 commercial measures if needed

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 2024-2025 Atlantic Mackerel Specifications

  • Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Golden Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota Program Twelve-Year Review

  • Presentation of final report (Northern Economics, Inc.)
  • Initiate public comment period

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. 2024 Implementation Plan

  • Review and approve 2024 Implementation Plan

Thursday, December 14, 2023

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

  • Committee Reports
  • Executive Director’s Report
  • Organization Reports
  • Liaison Reports
  • Other Business and General Public Comment

MREP Fisheries Science and Management Workshop: February 12-16, 2024

November 10, 2023 — The following was released by Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) is accepting applications for the next Greater Atlantic Fisheries Science and Management Workshop, to be held in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

MREP is designed to equip fishermen with tools to engage in shaping regulatory action and to participate in collaborative science. Created by fishermen, for fishermen, this workshop will bring commercial, charter, and recreational fishermen from North Carolina to Maine together with regional scientists and managers to learn the processes, share insights, and network.

The workshop is free and includes hotel lodging, meals, and travel reimbursement for accepted participants.

Space is limited, and preference will be given to applications received by November 13, 2023. The application takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. Accepted participants will be notified in early January 2024.

For more information about MREP, please visit https://mrep.gmri.org/faqs or contact Liz Moore, MREP Greater Atlantic Program Manager, (207) 228-1680 or emoore@gmri.org. Liz can also put you in contact with fishermen who have participated in past MREPs for their perspective on the program!

Mid-Atlantic Council to Host Public Webinar on NOAA Fisheries Climate Governance Policy

October 11, 2023 — The following was released by Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will host a public webinar on Monday, October 16, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., to collect public comments on NOAA Fisheries’ draft procedural directive titled “Guidance on Council Authority for Preparing Fishery Management Plans for Stocks that May Extend across the Geographic Areas of more than one Council, pursuant to MSA §304(f).” Any comments provided during the webinar or submitted to the Council in writing (see below for instructions) will be compiled and submitted to NOAA Fisheries.

The draft procedural directive, which has also been referred to as the “Climate Governance Policy,” is intended to provide guidance on when and how the Secretary will review and assign, or re-assign, management authority over fisheries found across more than one Council jurisdiction. NOAA Fisheries has stated that additional guidance is needed to address governance issues associated with climate-related shifts in stock distributions. Given the Mid-Atlantic Council’s shared regional boundaries with two other East coast Councils, as well as the number of Mid-Atlantic stocks that extend beyond the Council region boundaries, this policy has the potential to directly impact a number of Mid-Atlantic Council fishery management plans. 

NOAA Fisheries is accepting public comments on the draft procedural directive until November 17, 2023. The eight regional fishery management councils have submitted a joint comment letter which identifies a number of concerns regarding the draft procedural directive. The Mid-Atlantic Council is currently developing a separate letter which will include additional comments specific to the Mid-Atlantic region. The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee has also reviewed and provided comments on the draft procedural directive.

Although NOAA Fisheries is solely responsible for the development and potential revision of this procedural directive, the Council is conducting this supplemental outreach effort to ensure that all interested individuals have an opportunity to provide comment on this important issue.

Webinar Details and Comment Instructions

The webinar will be hosted by the Council on the Webex meeting platform. No pre-registration is required.

  • Date and Time: October 16, 2023, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
  • Webinar Link: Click here to join the webinar (if prompted, enter access code: 2341 187 1059 and password: uDYWF5pvq53). To join by phone only, dial 415-655-0001 and enter access code 2341 187 1059.

Written comments can be submitted to the Council using the Online Comment Form or by email to Mary Sabo at msabo@mafmc.org. Comments must be submitted to the Council by November 10 to be compiled and transmitted to NOAA Fisheries prior to the comment deadline. Comments may also be submitted directly to NOAA Fisheries by email to marian.macpherson@noaa.gov.

NORTH CAROLINA: North Carolina’s captain Jimmy Ruhle passes at age 75

October 3, 2023 — James A. Ruhle Sr., a well-known North Carolina captain and commercial fishing advocate, passed away Sept. 28 at age 75.

Ruhle was a 2004 recepient of National Fisherman’s Highliner award, recognizing his long dedication to responsible fisheries management and cooperative research. Ruhle served for nine years on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and participated in numerous research projects with scientists.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Dr. Mark Terceiro Receives Mid-Atlantic Council’s Ricks E Savage Award

August 31, 2023 — Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has named Dr. Mark Terceiro, long-time fisheries scientist with NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), as the recipient of the Council’s Ricks E Savage award. The award was established in 2006 and is given each year to an individual who has added value to the Council process and management goals through significant scientific, legislative, enforcement, or management activities.

The Council selected Dr. Terceiro for the award in recognition of his significant scientific contributions in his role as lead assessment biologist for several Council-managed species. The award was presented to Dr. Terceiro during the August 2023 Council Meeting held in Annapolis, Maryland.

Dr. Terceiro joined the NEFSC’s Population Dynamics Branch in 1986 after receiving his B.S. degree in zoology and Ph.D. in biological oceanography from the University of Rhode Island. For nearly his entire career, he has served as the lead assessment biologist for summer flounder, a species that supports economically and socially important commercial and recreational fisheries throughout the region. He also served as the lead assessment biologist for bluefish early in his career and as the lead assessment biologist for scup since the early 2000s.

“Mark has patiently, consistently, and effectively explained complex assessment results to Council members and the public,” said Mike Luisi, former Council Chair. “He has worked tirelessly to improve the science that supports the management process, and the Council has benefitted from his long tenure with the Science Center.”

Dr. Terceiro has been a member of the Council’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committee for much of his career. He captured his vast institutional knowledge of the history of science, management, and politics of this fishery in “The Summer Flounder Chronicles,” a three-part series published in the journal Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries.

NEFSC leadership also expressed appreciation for Dr. Terceiro’s scientific contributions. “Mark has been steadfast in his stock assessment duties, and his knowledge of Mid-Atlantic stock assessments is without equal,” said Jon Hare, NEFSC Science and Research Director. “This award is well-deserved.”