September 15, 2015 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
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Unmanaged Forage Scoping Hearings and Comment Opportunity
August 27, 2015 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
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Council to Hold Scoping Hearings for Action on Unmanaged Forage Species
August 28, 2015 — The following has been released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has scheduled a series of scoping hearings to gather public input for a proposed action to protect unmanaged forage species. The proposed action would consider a prohibition on the development of new, or expansion of existing, directed fisheries on unmanaged forage species in the Mid-Atlantic until adequate scientific information is available to promote ecosystem sustainability.
Eight hearings will be held between September 15, 2015 and October 1, 2015 in locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Written comments may also be submitted through October 2, 2015.
Forage species are small, low trophic level fish and invertebrates that play an important role in sustaining the productivity and structure of marine ecosystems. Many forage species in the Mid-Atlantic are not currently subject to significant directed fishing, but increasing global demand for fishmeal, fish oil, and bait could encourage the development of new fisheries for these species. With this action, the Mid-Atlantic Council is taking a proactive approach to conserving unmanaged forage species and the ecosystem services they provide.
The Council has not yet decided which forage species will be addressed by this action; however, this action will only address species that are not currently managed by the Mid-Atlantic, New England, or South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, or by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Scoping Process
Scoping is the process of identifying issues, potential impacts, and a reasonable range of alternatives associated with a management action being developed by the Council. Scoping is the first and best opportunity for the public to make suggestions and raise concerns about new Council actions. Comments may be submitted in-person during the hearings listed below or in writing.
Additional information and updates about this action can be found in the scoping document and on the Unmanaged Forage Action page of the council’s website.
Scoping Hearing Schedule
- Tuesday September 15, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. North Carolina Department of Marine Fisheries Washington Regional Office Hearing Room. Washington Square Mall, 943 Washington Street, Washington, NC, 27889. Telephone: 252-946-6481.
- Wednesday September 16, 2015. 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Virginia Marine Resources Commission 4th Floor Meeting Room. 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, VA, 23607. Telephone: 757-247-2200.
- Thursday September 17, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Congress Hall Hotel. 200 Congress Place, Cape May, NJ, 08204. Telephone: 844-264-5030.
- Monday September 21, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Kingsborough Community College Building T-3. 2001 Oriental Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY, 11235. Telephone: 718-368-5000.
- Monday September 28, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. University of Rhode Island Bay Campus Corless Auditorium. 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI, 02882. Telephone: 401-874-6222.
- Tuesday September 29, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. New York Department of Environmental Conservation Bureau of Marine Resources Hearing Room. 205 North Belle Mead Road, Suite 1, East Setauket, NY, 11733. Telephone: 631-444-0430.
- Wednesday September 30, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Worcester County Library Ocean Pines Branch Meeting Room. 11107 Cathell Road, Berlin, MD, 21811. Telephone: 410-208-4014.
- Thursday October 1, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. This hearing will be held via webinar with an audio only option. Information on how to connect to the webinar will be posted here.
These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, 302-526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
Written Comments
The Council will also accept written comments through 11:59 pm on Friday October 2, 2015. Written comments may be sent through any of the following methods:
- Online at www.mafmc.org/comments/unmanaged-forage
- Mailed to: Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE, 19901. (Please write “unmanaged forage scoping comments” on the outside of the envelope.)
- Emailed to: Julia Beaty, Assistant Fishery Plan Coordinator, at jbeaty@mafmc.org. (Please write “unmanaged forage scoping comments” in the subject line.)
- Faxed to: Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council at fax number 302-674-5399. (Please write “unmanaged forage scoping comments” in the subject line.)
Mid-Atlantic Council and ASMFC Approve Specifications for Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish
August 17, 2015 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
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The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) met jointly last week in New York, NY to establish specifications for the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish fisheries. The table below summarizes the recommended commercial quotas and recreational harvest limits for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass (2015 values are provided for comparison purposes). Please note that specifications may be adjusted based on changes in the fishery or new scientific information. The Council’s recommendations apply to federal waters (3 – 200 miles from shore) and will be forwarded to NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Administrator for approval. The Commission’s actions are final and apply to state waters (0-3 miles from shore). Summer Flounder For summer flounder, the Council and Commission approved an Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) limit of 16.26 million pounds for the 2016 fishing year. This represents an approximate 29% decrease relative to the 2015 ABC. After accounting for projected discards in the commercial and recreational fisheries, this ABC is divided into a commercial quota of 8.12 million pounds and a recreational harvest limit of 5.42 million pounds for the 2016 fishing year. These reductions in summer flounder catch and landings limits were recommended based on the findings of the 2015 stock assessment update, which indicates that the summer flounder stock was experiencing overfishing in 2014. The fishing mortality rate in 2014 was estimated to be 16% above the fishing mortality threshold reference point. For more information on the assessment update and its impacts on harvest limits for 2016, please see the Council’s Summer Flounder Catch and Landings Limit Fact Sheet. Scup For scup, the Council and Commission approved an ABC of 31.11 million pounds for the 2016 fishing year. After accounting for projected discards in the commercial and recreational fisheries, this ABC is divided into a commercial quota of 20.47 million pounds and a recreational harvest limit of 6.09 million pounds. This represents a decrease from 2015 levels due to a slight decrease in spawning stock biomass (SSB) as projected by the 2015 benchmark stock assessment. Black Sea Bass For black sea bass, the Council and Commission approved an ABC of 5.50 million pounds for the 2016 and 2017 fishing years. After accounting for projected discards in the commercial and recreational fisheries, this ABC is divided into a commercial quota of 2.24 million pounds and a recreational harvest limit of 2.33 million pounds. These catch levels are unchanged relative to 2015 levels. Both the commercial quota and recreational harvest limit may be changed pending further review by the Council’s Science and Statistical Committee in September 2015. The next benchmark stock assessment is scheduled be peer-reviewed through the Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop/Stock Assessment Review Committee in late fall 2016. Bluefish For the bluefish fishery, the Commission and Council approved an ABC of 19.45 million pounds for the 2016 fishing year, an approximate 10% decrease from 2015 levels. The reduction responds to the findings of the 2015 benchmark stock assessment which lowered both the SSB target level (223 million pounds) and the SSB estimate (191 million pounds in 2014). The 2016 commercial quota and recreational harvest limit will be set once the 2015 recreational harvest estimates are available. |
MAFMC: Trawl Survey AP Applications Due Tomorrow, August 4
REMINDER:
Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Applicants for Trawl Survey Advisory Panel
Applications due August 4, 2015
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) is soliciting applications from qualified individuals to serve on the Northeast Trawl Survey Advisory Panel. The objectives for the panel are to understand existing NEFSC trawl survey gear performance and methodology, evaluate the potential to complement or supplement current NEFSC surveys, and to improve understanding and acceptance of NEFSC survey data quality and results.
The panel will identify concerns about regional research survey performance and data, identify methods to address or mitigate these concerns and promote mutual understanding and acceptance of results. The panel will consist of 16 members including members of the Councils and the Atlantic States Fishery Commission, industry experts, non-federal scientists and Northeast Fisheries Science Center scientists. Panel members are expected to serve for three years.
The Council is seeking applications to fill five positions:
- Three fishery stakeholder representatives
- Two academic or non-academic scientists
Anyone interested in serving on this advisory panel may apply online or download an application at www.mafmc.org/forms/advisory-panel-application. Applications can also be obtained by calling the Council office at (877) 446-2362 or by emailing jsaunders@mafmc.org. Completed applications should be submitted using one of the following methods:
- Online using the web form at www.mafmc.org/forms/advisory-panel-application;
- Mail to Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901;
- Email to jsaunders@mafmc.org; or
- Fax to (302) 674-5399.
Please include “TRAWL SURVEY ADVISORY PANEL” in the subject of your fax or email.
Completed applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2015.
All nominees are subject to an additional level of review by NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement and may be declined membership because of a marine resource violation.
MAFMC: August Council Meeting Agenda
July 20, 2015 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC):
The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s August 2015 meeting on August 10 – 13, 2015 in New York, NY. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Midtown, 440 West 57th St., New York, NY 10019: telephone 212-581-8100. Additional details and briefing materials will be posted on the August 2015 Council Meeting page.
For online access to the meeting, enter as a guest at: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/august2015/
Agenda
Monday, August 10th
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee
- Review input from Advisory Panel on draft habitat policy documents
- Provide comment/revisions to draft documents
- Other general Committee updates
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee (continued)
Tuesday, August 11th
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Executive Committee
- Discuss possible framework related to Council risk policy and harvest control rules.
10:00 a.m. Council Convenes
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Swearing in of New Council Members and Election of Officers
10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Industry Observer Amendment
- Review Amendment development and analyses
- Approve alternative range for completion of draft Environmental Assessment
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Special Award
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Blueline Tilefish Action
- Review scoping comments and approve plan of action
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Electronic For-Hire Vessel Trip Report Contract – Andy Loftus
- Review findings and consider next steps
2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Council Meeting with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Bluefish Board
2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Bluefish Specifications
- Review SSC, Bluefish Monitoring Committee, and Advisory Panel recommendations regarding 2016, 2017, and 2018 harvest levels and associated management measures
- Adopt recommendations for 2016, 2017, and 2018 harvest levels and associated management measures
Wednesday, August 12th
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Council Meeting with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Board
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. Summer Flounder Specifications
- Review SSC, Summer Flounder Monitoring Committee, and Advisory Panel recommendations for 2016, 2017, and 2018
- Adopt recommendations for 2016, 2017, and 2018 commercial and recreational harvest levels and commercial management measures
- Update on ASMFC activities regarding summer flounder
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Summer Flounder Amendment
- Update on amendment progress and action plan
- Discussion of FMP Goals and Objectives (with Fisheries Forum staff)
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Black Sea Bass Specifications
- Review SSC, Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committee, and Advisory Panel recommendations for 2016 and 2017
- Adopt recommendations for 2016 and 2017 commercial and recreational harvest levels and commercial management measures
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Scup Specifications
- Review SSC, Scup Monitoring Committee, and Advisory Panel recommendations for 2016, 2017 and 2018
- Adopt recommendations for 2016, 2017, and 2018 commercial and recreational harvest levels and commercial management measures
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Scup Amendment
- Discuss development and scoping
Thursday, August 13th
9:00 a.m. Council Convenes
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Business Session
- Organization Reports
- NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Office
- NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- NOAA Office of General Counsel
- NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
- Liaison Reports
- New England Council
- South Atlantic Council
- Executive Director’s Report
- Science Report
- Committee Reports
- Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee
- SSC
- Continuing and New Business
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