Saving Seafood

NEFMC Approves Framework 9 Monkfish Fishery Management Plan

November 23, 2015 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council: 

The NEFMC took final action on Framework 9 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan. It is developed jointly with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Council, with New England in the lead. While this framework addresses monkfish issues, it also would modify the region’s groundfish regulations. If approved by NOAA Fisheries, it would:

  • Allow limited access monkfish category C and D sector vessels only to declare, and use, while at sea, a groundfish (or Northeast Multispecies) day-at-sea while fishing in the Northern Fishery Management Area (NFMA).
  • Eliminate the monkfish trip limit when on a groundfish/monkfish day-at-sea in the NFMA.
  • Reduce the minimum mesh size of standup gillnet gear in the Southern Fishery Management Area (SFMA). Vessels fishing on a monkfish day-at-sea with a stand-up gillnet in the Mid-Atlantic Exemption Area could use mesh a minimum mesh of 5- inches, fish with no more than 50 standup gillnets, and retain dogfish and monkfish.
  • Allow vessels fishing on a monkfish day-at-sea in the Southern New England (SNE) Dogfish Exemption Area to use a minimum standup gillnet mesh size of 6-inches, fish no more than 50 standup gillnets from May 1 through October 31, and retain both dogfish and monkfish. Vessels fishing on a monkfish day-at-sea in the SNE Monkfish and Skate Exemption Area could use a minimum mesh size of 10-inches year round and retain both dogfish and monkfish on the same trip.
  • Allow a 6.5-inch minimum mesh size for standup gillnet gear while fishing on a monkfish and groundfish day-at-sea in the SFMA.

The Council opted for No Action on three alternatives that would have: a.) allowed vessels in the SFMA to declare a monkfish day-at-sea while at sea; b.) increased the daily day-at-sea/ trip limit allocation for Category F (offshore) vessels; and c.) allowed vessels to re-declare or use a monkfish research set-aside day-atsea while already at sea using a monkfish dayat-sea. The decisions were made largely on the basis of concerns effort shifts from north to south.

Both Councils, voting at their respective June Council meetings, agreed on the management measures proposed in Framework 9. It will be submitted to NOAA Fisheries later this summer. The Monkfish Committee is scheduled to consider next Amendment 6, an action that will address among other issues, options for catch shares in this fishery.

View a PDF of the Newsletter

 

December 7-10 MAFMC Meeting in Annapolis, Maryland

November 18, 2015 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Monday, December 7, 2015 – Thursday, December 10, 2015

The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s December 2015 meeting to be held in Annapolis, Maryland on December 7 – 10, 2015. 

  • On Monday, December 7, the meeting will be held at the O’Callaghan Annapolis Hotel (174 West St., Annapolis, MD: telephone 410-263-7700). 
  • On Tuesday, December 8 through Thursday, December 10, the meeting will be held at the Westin Annapolis (100 Westgate Circle, Annapolis, MD: telephone 410-972-4300). 

Briefing Materials: Additional details and briefing materials will be posted on the December 2015 Council Meeting page.

Webinar: For online access to the meeting, go to http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/december2015/

Agenda

Monday, December 7

O’Callaghan Annapolis Hotel

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.  Executive Committee (CLOSED)

  • Ricks E Savage Award nominees and other awards

10:00 a.m.  Council Convenes

 

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  Comprehensive 5-year Research Priority Plan

  • Review and approve plan

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Non-Fishing Activities that Impact Fish Habitat

  • Review and approve policies

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Lunch

 

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.  Golden Tilefish Framework 2 – Meeting 1

 

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Blueline Tilefish Alternatives

  • Review public hearing document

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Spiny Dogfish Committee Meeting as a Committee of the Whole

  • Review findings from SSC meeting
  • Adjust specification recommendations as appropriate

 

Tuesday, December 8

Westin Annapolis

 

8:30 a.m.  Council Convenes

 

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.  Unmanaged Forage – The Pacific Council Experience, Rich Lincoln

 

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  Unmanaged Forage Species Amendment

  • Review and approve list of species for inclusion in the public hearing document
  • Review and approve management alternatives for NEPA analysis and public hearing document

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Scup GRA Framework – Meeting 1

  • Discuss and adopt alternatives

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.  Lunch

 

1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.  Summer Flounder Goals and Objectives Workshop, Fisheries Forum

  • Review feedback from Fisheries Forum project
  • Discuss priorities for revised FMP goals and objectives
  • Identify draft goals and objectives for Summer Flounder Amendment

Wednesday, December 9

Westin Annapolis

 

9:00 a.m.  Demersal Committee Meeting as a Committee of the Whole with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Boards

 

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  2016 Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Commercial Management Measures

  • Review recommendations from the Monitoring and Technical Committees
  • Recommend changes to commercial management measures if appropriate

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Summer Flounder 2016 Recreational Management Measures

  • ASMFC Addendum for summer flounder (Board Action)
  • Review Monitoring Committee and Advisory Panel recommendations for 2016
  • Adopt recommendations for 2016 management measures

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Lunch

 

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.  Summer Flounder Recreational Management Measures (continued)

 

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.  Summer Flounder Amendment

  • Discuss timeline and update on progress

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Black Sea Bass 2016 Recreational Management Measures

  • ASMFC Addendum for black sea bass (Board Action)
  • Review Monitoring Committee and Advisory Panel recommendations for 2016
  • Adopt recommendations for 2016 management measures

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Scup 2016 Recreational Management Measures

  • Review Monitoring Committee and Advisory Panel recommendations for 2016
  • Adopt recommendations for 2016 management measures

 

Thursday, December 10

Westin Annapolis

 

8:00 a.m.  Council Convenes

 

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.  GARFO Recreational Implementation Plan, Mike Pentony

 

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.  NEFSC Strategic Plan, Bill Karp

 

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  2016 Implementation Plan

  • Review and approve Implementation Plan

10:30 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
    • Regional Planning Body
  • Executive Director’s Report, Chris Moore
    • Review and approve change to SOPPs
  • Science Report, Rich Seagraves
  • Committee Reports
    • Executive Committee
    • Collaborative Research Committee
    • River Herring/Shad Committee
  • Continuing and New Business

View a PDF of the Agenda

 

Fishermen, Conservationists, and Regulators Honored for Landmark Coral Preservation Efforts

October 29, 2015 – The following was released by the Garden State Seafood Association (GSSA):

TRENTON, N.J. — Representatives from the Garden State Seafood Association (GSSA) are among those being honored for their efforts to preserve 38,000 square miles of Mid-Atlantic ocean habitat, and extend valuable protections to vulnerable coral reefs. Ernie Panacek, President of the GSSA, Richard Robins, Chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), and Jay Odell, Director of the Mid-Atlantic Marine Program at the Nature Conservancy, were presented with this year’s Regional Ocean Champions Award, given by the Urban Coast Institute at Monmouth University, at the Institute’s 11th Annual Future of the Ocean Symposium.

Dr. Sylvia Earle, Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society, and Terry Garcia, the Chief Science and Exploration Officer at the National Geographic Society, were presented with the National Champions of the Ocean Award.

Earlier this year, the MAFMC approved the Deep Sea Corals Amendment, which created a series of “deep sea coral zones,” totaling over 38,000 square miles, to be closed off to fishing gear that comes into contact with the seafloor. These zones protect the fragile coral ecosystems and other notable habitats from potentially harmful disturbances.

“The Deep Sea Corals Amendment presented the Council with an opportunity of a lifetime to conserve sensitive deep sea corals and their associated marine ecosystems in the Mid-Atlantic,” said Mr. Robins. “What was so unique about this action was that we used a participatory approach to defining the protected areas, which allowed a broad range of stakeholders to reach consensus on what those boundaries should be.”

This participatory process brought together Council members, fishermen and industry representatives, scientists, and other stakeholders in a collaborative and cooperative effort.

“The fishing industry has a lot to offer intellectually,” said Mr. Panacek. “When there is mutual respect, meaningful results can be achieved.”

The resulting protections have been widely praised, by environmentalists and fishermen alike. Peter Baker, of the The Pew Charitable Trusts, wrote in a post featured on the Conservation Law Foundation’s Talking Fish blog that the Amendment would “cement a conservation legacy for the Mid-Atlantic.”

Industry representatives, such as GSSA Executive Director Greg DiDomenico, see the open and inclusive process that lead to the Amendment as an example for fisheries managers nationwide, one that demonstrates the value of stakeholder engagement and proves that the fisheries management system established by the Magnuson-Stevens Act works.

“The process in the Mid-Atlantic should be the model for developing targeted habitat protection in New England,” said Mr. DiDomenico. “An open, collaborative process is the best way to build on these efforts.”  

The Champion of the Ocean Awards honor those who have “demonstrated sustained leadership in advancing a future in which coasts and oceans are clean, safe, sustainably managed and preserved for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.”

This is the second time this year that GSSA has been honored for its conservation work. Mr. DiDomenico, along with MAFMC Chairman Robins, were recognized as Conservation Leaders by the New York Aquarium in a September ceremony held at the Central Park Zoo.

About the Garden State Seafood Association

The Garden State Seafood Association (GSSA) advocates on behalf of New Jersey’s fishermen and fishing communities. Through closely monitoring regulatory developments, actively participating in the management process, and sharing the latest fisheries news and information with our members, GSSA holds our leaders accountable to the concerns and priorities of New Jersey’s hard working, historic fishing industry.

Supplemental Materials Now Available for the ASMFC’s 74th Annual Meeting

October 27, 2015 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Supplemental meeting materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 74th Annual Meeting have been posted at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2015-Annual-Meeting for the following Boards/Sections (click on “Supplemental Material” following each relevant committee header to access information). 

American Lobster Management Board – Report for the Southern New England (SNE) Subcommittee’s October 2nd Meeting; Update on SNE Stock Projections Presented at the Subcommittee Meeting; Relationship Between Fishing Effort and Fishery Exploitation; Incidental Bycatch of Jonah Crab by Non-trap Gear; and Revised Advisory Panel Nominations

Atlantic Herring Section – Issues and Options Under Development and Consideration for Inclusion in Draft Amendment 3; Technical Report on Gonadal-Somatic Index-based Monitoring System for Atlantic Herring Closures; and Advisory Panel Meeting Summary

Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board – Delaware Bay Summer Flounder White Paper; Black Sea Bass Commercial Quotas; and 2015 FMP Reviews for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass

Executive Committee – Executive Committee Recommended Changes to Commission Documents and Additional Issues for Consideration on Commission Guidance Documents

American Eel Management Board – Public Comment

Winter Flounder Management Board – Northeast Fisheries Science Center Stock Assessment Update on 20 Northeast Groundfish Stocks Through 2014 (This report has been modified to include information on winter flounder stocks only).

Atlantic Menhaden Management Board – Ecological Reference Point Recommendations for Draft Amendment 3 Development; Socioeconomic Study of Menhaden Fisheries – Request for Proposals Update; and Public Comment

Law Enforcement Committee – Revised Agenda

Tautog Management Board – Summary of Submitted Public Comment; Individual/Organization Comments; and Law Enforcement Subcommittee Review on Illegal Tautog Harvest

Spiny Dogfish Management Board – Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Spiny Dogfish Motions and Selected Alternatives

Horseshoe Crab Management Board – 2015 FMP Review 

South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board – 2015 FMP Reviews for Spotted Seatrout and Spanish Mackerel

As a reminder, Board/Section meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning at 8:00 a.m. on November 2nd, continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 1:45 p.m.) on November 5th.  The webinar will allow registrants to listen to the proceedings of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s management boards/sections during the Commission’s 74th Annual Meeting, November 2-5, 2015. Registrants will also be able to view presentations and motions as they occur. For a detailed agenda and meeting materials, go to http://www.asmfc.org/home/2015-Annual-Meeting. No comments or questions will be accepted via the webinar. Should technical difficulties arise during the streaming of the broadcast, the boards/sections will continue their deliberations without interruption. We will attempt to resume the broadcast as soon as possible. Board/Section summaries, presentations, and audio files will be available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2015-Annual-Meeting the week of November 9th.

View a PDF of the Supplemental meeting materials here

MAFMC Recommends Spiny Dogfish Quota Reduction for 2016

October 15, 2015 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Mid-Atlantic Council Votes to Reduce Spiny Dogfish Quota for 2016

At last week’s meeting in Philadelphia, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council recommended a substantial cut in the spiny dogfish commercial quota for next year. Following a review of the most recent scientific information, public comments, and advice from the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel, the Council voted to set the 2016 commercial quota at 25.3 million pounds, a 50% reduction from the 2015 quota of 50.6 million pounds. If approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service, the new measure will go into effect May 1, 2016. 

The Council’s decision was driven by the recent spiny dogfish stock assessment update, which estimated the stock’s biomass to be at 87% of the rebuilt target in 2015. Although the stock was found to be neither overfished nor subject to overfishing, the new estimate of stock biomass was a marked decrease from the 2013 update, which indicated that the stock’s biomass was at 135% of the target.  

The Council received a considerable number of comments from the fishing industry, with the majority in opposition to the proposed cuts. Several commenters expressed concern about the accuracy of the trawl survey data used in the assessment update and requested that the Council maintain status quo regulations until a benchmark assessment for the stock has been completed. 

After extensive discussion, the Council approved the SSC’s recommended acceptable biological catch (ABC) limit of 37.0 million pounds. After accounting for management uncertainty, projected discards, Canadian landings, and recreational landings, this ABC translates into a commercial quota of 25.3 million pounds for 2016. However, because the fishery has not taken the full quota in recent years, the recommended quota for 2016 would still be 11% above the landings in the most recent fishing year. 

Given that the survey data from 2014 was not included in the 2015 update due to a mechanical breakdown in the NEFSC trawl survey, the Council also requested that the SSC determine an overfishing limit (OFL) and ABC for 2016 using averaged data to fill in the missing 2014 data point. The SSC will meet later this year to consider this request. 

Finally, because the spiny dogfish fishery is managed jointly, the New England Fishery Management Council must also make recommendations for spiny dogfish specifications at its upcoming meeting in December. 

2016/2017 Monkfish RSA Federal Funding Opportunity

October 5, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:

Dear Interested Parties:

For those who may not have heard, NOAA Fisheries is soliciting monkfish research proposals to use 500 Monkfish Days-at-Sea per year that have been set-aside by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils to fund monkfish research through the 2016 Monkfish Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program. Proceeds generated from the sale of monkfish harvested during a “set-aside day-at-sea” will be used to fund research activities and compensate vessels that participate in research activities and/or harvest monkfish while fishing under an RSA day-at-sea.

The deadline for receipt of the proposals is November 16, 2015. Please read the attachment for more detailed information or, if you have questions, contact Cheryl A. Corbett, Cooperative Programs Specialist at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA  02543 or at 508-495-2070, or cheryl.corbett@noaa.gov. Her fax number is 508-495-2004.

Read the full announcement from NOAA here

October 6-8 Council Meeting in Philadelphia, PA

September 15, 2015 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Council Meeting in Philadelphia, PA: October 6-8 

Tuesday, October 6, 2015 – Thursday, October 8, 2015

Doubletree Philadelphia Center City

237 S. Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Telephone 215-893-1600

The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s October 2015 meeting to be held in Philadelphia, PA. Briefing materials for the meeting will be posted on the October 2015 Council Meeting Page. 

For online access to the meeting, go to http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/october2015/ and select “enter as guest.”

Meeting Agenda

View as PDF

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

9:00 a.m. Council Convenes

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Habitat Workshop

  • A workshop to discuss potential strategies to more fully integrate habitat into the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management process

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.  Habitat Workshop (Continued)

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Blueline Tilefish

  • Approve range of alternatives for blueline tilefish amendment

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.  Spiny Dogfish Specifications

Spiny Dogfish Committee of the Whole

  • Review SSC ABC, Monitoring Committee and AP recommendations
  • Recommend 2016 – 2018 spiny dogfish specifications and associated management measures

4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Bureau of Ocean Energy Management – Brian Hooker

  • Update on recent activities

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.  Executive Committee

  • Review 2015 Implementation Plan
  • Discuss and review 2016 Implementation Plan

10:00 a.m. Council Convenes

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  Comprehensive Research Plan

  • Review and approve Council’s 2016-2020 Five-Year Research Priority Plan

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Council Cooperative Research Plan

  • Identify research priorities for near-term cooperative research projects

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.  Black Sea Bass Allowable Biological Catch 2016/2017

  • Review SSC report regarding data limited methods for recommending black sea bass Acceptable Biological Catch
  • Revise 2016-2017 black sea bass catch limit recommendations if appropriate

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.  NEFMC Framework for Surfclams and Ocean Quahogs – Michelle Bachman

  • Clam dredge exemption areas on Georges Bank and Nantucket shoals areas

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Unmanaged Forage Scoping Results

  • Summary of scoping comments
  • Identify next steps

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.  Summer Flounder Model – Pat Sullivan

  • Update on progress

Thursday, October 8, 2015

9:00 a.m.  Council Convenes

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  Industry Funded Observer Amendment – GARFO

  • Identify preferred alternatives for public hearings

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management Policy – Heather Sager

  • Review NOAA Draft Policy Statement on Ecosystem Based Fishery Management

11:30 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 – Chris Moore
  • Science Report – Rich Seagraves
  • Committee Reports
    • Executive Committee
    • SSC
  • Continuing and New Business

Unmanaged Forage Scoping Hearings and Comment Opportunity

August 27, 2015 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council: 

Council to Hold Scoping Hearings for Action on Unmanaged Forage Species

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Thursday September 17, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Congress Hall Hotel. 200 Congress Place, Cape May, NJ, 08204. Telephone: 844-264-5030.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.)

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Thursday September 17, 2015. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Congress Hall Hotel. 200 Congress Place, Cape May, NJ, 08204. Telephone: 844-264-5030.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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:

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.