Saving Seafood

Mid-Atlantic Council to Hold Public Hearings on Atlantic Mackerel Rebuilding Amendment

April 13, 2022 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is seeking public input on a proposed amendment to rebuild the Atlantic mackerel stock. Comments may be submitted at any of five public hearings to be held between April 25 and May 2, 2022 or via written comment through May 9, 2022.

A 2021 stock assessment found that Atlantic mackerel was overfished and that overfishing was occurring. Although a rebuilding plan was implemented in November 2019, the 2021 assessment found that the stock was unlikely to rebuild as anticipated. The stock size increased 180% between 2014 and 2019 but was still less than a quarter rebuilt. In response to this updated information, the Council is developing a new rebuilding plan.

The Atlantic Mackerel Rebuilding 2.0 Amendment contains five rebuilding alternatives projected to rebuild the stock within 10 years. Potential management measures include commercial quotas, recreational bag/possession limits, a 3-inch commercial minimum mesh requirement, and permitting clarifications. The action would also set specifications and a river herring and shad cap for 2023. Please see the Overview of Rebuilding Alternatives and Public Hearing Document for additional information about the alternatives considered in this amendment. A video presentation will be available on the amendment page by Monday, April 18.

Public Hearing Schedule

1.New Bedford, MA – Monday April 25, 2022, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Fairfield Inn and Suites – 185 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, MA 02740, (774) 634-2000

2.Plymouth, MA – Tuesday April 26, 2022, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn – 4 Home Depot Drive, Plymouth, MA 02360, (508) 830-0200

3.Portsmouth, NH – Wednesday April 27, 2022, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Urban Forestry Center – 45 Elwyn Rd, Portsmouth, NH 03801, (603) 431-6774

4.Brunswick, ME – Thursday April 28, 2022, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m., Curtis Memorial Library (Morrell Meeting Room) – 23 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, ME 04011, (207) 725-5242

5.Webinar – Monday, May 2, 2022, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to Shelley Spedden, (302) 526-5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

Written Comments

Written comments may be submitted through May 9, 2022 by any of the following methods:

•Online: https://www.mafmc.org/comments/mackerel-rebuilding

•Email: jdidden@mafmc.org (use subject “Mackerel Rebuilding”)

•Mail to: Chris Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901. Mark the outside of the envelope “Mackerel Rebuilding.”

Documents

•Public Hearing Document

•Overview of Rebuilding Alternatives

For more information, contact Jason Didden at jdidden@mafmc.org (also 302-526-5254) or visit the Atlantic Mackerel Rebuilding Amendment page.

Changing Oceanographic Conditions And Environmental Justice Concerns In The Northeast Shelf

April 6, 2022 — Two new reports show the Northeast continental shelf marine ecosystems are experiencing notable ocean warming and changes in oceanography. The reports include new indicators that evaluate environmental justice concerns.

The Northeast shelf extends from North Carolina to Maine and is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the United States. The annual New England and Mid-Atlantic State of the Ecosystem reports capture the big picture of the biology, climate, physical, and social conditions of the marine ecosystem. The assessments inform fisheries management by showing how the ecosystem is connected and changing. This ecosystem change, in turn, affects the distribution and abundance of marine species from phytoplankton to whales.

“We develop these reports along with the regional fishery management councils to provide information on current social, economic, and environmental conditions and address priority questions on factors affecting their management objectives. Every year, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council uses these reports to update their ecosystem level risk assessment. This gives managers a quick overview of conditions that may affect fisheries,” said Sarah Gaichas, co-editor at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center.

Read the full story at NOAA Fisheries

East Coast fisheries ‘climate scenario’ workshop planned

April 5, 2022 — East Coast fisheries managers will host a June 21-23 workshop with fishermen and other stakeholders to develop possible scenarios for how management could adapt to shifting fishing stocks and biological and economic changes coming with climate change.

Since late 2020 the East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Initiative, fishery scientists and managers have been “working collaboratively and engaging diverse fishery stakeholders to explore jurisdictional and governance issues related to climate change and shifting fishery stocks,” according to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

The initiative is a joint project of the Mid-Atlantic, New England and South Atlantic fishery management councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and NMFS.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

Spiny Dogfish Assessment Stakeholder Session: Feb 15, 2022, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

February 11, 2022 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

As part of the Research Track Assessment for Atlantic spiny dogfish, a virtual stakeholder session will be held on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. This meeting will provide an overview of the fisheries stock assessment process before opening up for public questions and input.

Topics to be covered include:

•An introduction to the Research Track and Terms of Reference

•Current Research Track Assessment focus areas

•The assessment model

•Ecosystem drivers

•Life history updates

•Survey and catch information

To join this meeting, please register using this RSVP link no later than February 14th. If you are unable to attend but would like to add a question or comment you can submit one in the RSVP link. A WebEx meeting link will be sent to the email you provide in the RSVP. This WebEx meeting link is also available on the Spiny Dogfish Working Group webpage along with the Terms of Reference.

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

 

Public Comment for Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Board and Joint Meeting of the ISFMP Policy Board and MAFMC; Policy Board/MAFMC Meeting to Begin at 2:30 PM

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

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet next week, Tuesday, February 8 and Wednesday, February 9, 2022. Due to concerns about the continued spread of COVID-19, this meeting will be conducted entirely by webinar. A portion of the meeting will be conducted jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s ISFMP Policy Board.

Agenda and Briefing Materials: A detailed agenda is available here. Briefing documents are available on the February 2022 Meeting Page as they become available.

Public Comments: Oral public testimony will be accepted on all major agenda items. Written comments may be submitted using the online comment form.

Webinar: This meeting will be conducted by webinar on the Webex meeting platform. No pre-registration is required.

•Click here to join the webinar (if prompted, enter meeting number: 2339 572 6933; Meeting password: MpbNr3ZTD72)

•Join by phone: For those who will not be joining the webinar but would like to listen in to the audio portion only, dial 1-415-655-0001 and enter access code: 2339 572 6933#). When asked for your attendee ID, enter #. Participants connected by phone only will need to enter *6 on their keypad to unmute/mute themselves and *3 to raise/lower their hands.

•Need Help? If you need technical assistance, please check theWebex Participant Guide. For further assistance, contact Mary Sabo at msabo@mafmc.org.

Live Stream: For those who wish to listen only, we will also be streaming the meeting live on our YouTube channel.

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

 

Reminder: MAFMC to Meet by Webinar February 8-9, 2022

February 3, 2022 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet next week, Tuesday, February 8 and Wednesday, February 9, 2022. Due to concerns about the continued spread of COVID-19, this meeting will be conducted entirely by webinar. A portion of the meeting will be conducted jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s ISFMP Policy Board.

Agenda and Briefing Materials: A detailed agenda is available here. Briefing documents are available on the February 2022 Meeting Page as they become available.

Public Comments: Oral public testimony will be accepted on all major agenda items. Written comments may be submitted using the online comment form.

Webinar: This meeting will be conducted by webinar on the Webex meeting platform. No pre-registration is required.

•Click here to join the webinar (if prompted, enter meeting number: 2339 572 6933; Meeting password: MpbNr3ZTD72)

•Join by phone: For those who will not be joining the webinar but would like to listen in to the audio portion only, dial 1-415-655-0001 and enter access code: 2339 572 6933#). When asked for your attendee ID, enter #. Participants connected by phone only will need to enter *6 on their keypad to unmute/mute themselves and *3 to raise/lower their hands.

•Need Help? If you need technical assistance, please check the Webex Participant Guide. For further assistance, contact Mary Sabo at msabo@mafmc.org.

Live Stream: For those who wish to listen only, we will also be streaming the meeting live on our YouTube channel.

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

 

MAFMC Webinar Meeting: February 8-9, 2022

January 19, 2022 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s next meeting will be held Tuesday, February 8 – Wednesday, February 9, 2022. Due to concerns about the continued spread of COVID-19, this meeting will be conducted entirely by webinar. A portion of the meeting will be conducted jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s ISFMP Policy Board

Agenda and Briefing Materials: A detailed agenda is available here. Briefing documents and presentations will be posted on the February 2022 Meeting Page as they become available. Most briefing materials will be posted by January 28, 2022.

Public Comments: Oral public testimony will be accepted on all major agenda items. Written comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 to be included in the briefing book or by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 3, 2022 to be posted with the supplemental meeting materials. Written comments may be submitted using the online comment form linked below or via email, mail, or fax (see this page for details). Comments submitted after February 3 may only be submitted using the online form.

•February 2022 Public Comment Form

Webinar: Webinar connection instructions will be posted on the meeting page at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

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

 

Rutgers Cooperative Extension to Host Introductory Fisheries Science for Stakeholders (IFISSH) Course

January 11, 2022 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Rutgers Cooperative Extension is offering an introductory fisheries science course for stakeholders of New Jersey’s marine fisheries. The Introductory Fisheries Science for Stakeholders (IFISSH) course covers topics related to fisheries biology, oceanography, surveys of marine fishery resources, collection of commercial and recreational fishery catch data, stock assessments, and fisheries management.

Classes will be held weekly via Zoom on Tuesday evenings (6:30 – 9:00 p.m.) from February 1 through April 5. The program fee is $30.00 per person. Register by January 27 at this link or by contacting Kelly Jurgensen at kjurgensen@co.ocean.nj.us or 732-349-1152.

Visit the IFISSH web page or download the course flyer for additional details.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Douglas Zemeckis (County Agent III – Assistant Professor), Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Rutgers University at zemeckis@njaes.rutgers.edu or 732-349-1152.

 

December 2021 Highlights: NEFMC Supports Federal Trip Limit Increase for Spiny Dogfish; Approves 2022 Priorities

January 6, 2022 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council met December 7-9, 2021 by webinar and covered a wide range of issues. Here are some of the highlights.

Spiny Dogfish: The Council supported two actions related to spiny dogfish, which is managed jointly by the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils. The Mid-Atlantic Council has the administrative lead for this fishery.

  • The New England Council supported increasing the spiny dogfish trip limit from 6,000 pounds, which currently is in place, to 7,500 pounds; and
  • As a 2022 dogfish priority, the Council supported pursuing a framework adjustment – at the lead of the Mid-Atlantic Council – to develop possible additional changes to the trip limit if warranted pending the results of the 2022 Spiny Dogfish Research Track Assessment.

The Council made these decisions after receiving a considerable amount of information, including:

  • Dogfish actions taken by the Mid-Atlantic Council during its October 2021 meeting;
  • Recommendations from the Spiny Dogfish Monitoring Committee, the Mid-Atlantic Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), and the Joint Spiny Dogfish Committee, which includes representation from both Councils; and
  • The 2021 Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel Fishery Performance Report.

Read the full release from the NEFMC

MARYLAND: Wind reps, Ocean City fisherman still far apart

December 23, 2021 — Offshore wind energy continues to press ahead, and while those companies that intend to erect scores of turbines off the Ocean City coast continue to work on strengthening their ties within the maritime community, chasms remain between their interests and those of commercial and recreational fishermen.

Last week, representatives from US Wind — Director of External Affairs Nancy Sopko, Director of Marine Affairs Ben Cooper and Fisheries Liaison Ron Larsen — briefed the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council on their progress in the area and their discussions with fishermen.

The trio discussed their current project, “MarWin,” and also a new one, Momentum Wind, which received the go-ahead from the state of Maryland earlier this week in the form of 808.5 offshore renewable energy credits, according to a US Wind press release. The project will add 55 turbines to the company’s Maryland lease area.

Larsen demonstrated to the council that one concern — that maneuvering through a wind farm would put an added burden on fishermen — wasn’t as bad as it seems. It’s an added transit of anywhere from roughly 0.2 to 0.5 nautical miles, he said.

Read the full story at Ocean City Today