Saving Seafood

Councils Approve Omnibus Commercial eVTR Framework

January 29, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council & Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council have taken final action on an omnibus framework adjustment that will require commercial fishermen to submit vessel trip reports (VTRs) electronically as eVTRs instead of on paper for all species managed by both Councils. The Mid-Atlantic Council initiated the action in December of 2018 and signed off on the framework during its December 2019 meeting. The New England Council joined the framework in June of 2019 and took final action during its late-January 2020 meeting in Portsmouth, NH.

Once approved and implemented by the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS/NOAA Fisheries), the framework will:

  • Require commercial vessels with federal permits for all species managed by both Councils to submit currently required VTRs to NOAA Fisheries through electronic means; and
  • Change the VTR reporting deadline to 48 hours after entering port at the conclusion of the trip.

Read the full release here

NOAA Fisheries Announces 2020 At-Sea Monitoring Coverage Levels for Groundfish Sector Fishery

January 28, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries announces that for fishing year 2020, the total target at-sea monitoring coverage level is 40 percent of all groundfish sector trips subject to the at-sea monitoring program. For more information, please read our letter to the New England Fishery Management Council and the Summary of Analysis Conducted to Determine At-Sea Monitoring Requirements for Multispecies Sectors FY 2020.

Per direction in 2020 appropriations, we have funds allocated for reimbursing industry for its at-sea monitoring costs. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will continue to administer the reimbursement program for 2020 as in prior years.

Read the full release here

Fisherman’s Perspective: Electronic Monitoring Needs to Pay Off for Fishermen

January 28, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

This is part two of our interview Rick Bellevance, a charter fisherman out of Point Judith, Rhode Island and a member of the New England Fishery Management Council, about his experiences using electronic monitoring and reporting. In this part, we focus on electronic monitoring. Read Part 1 for Rick’s take on electronic reporting.

Getting Started in Electronic Monitoring

You just recently started a pilot project using cameras to attempt to verify eVTR recreational fishing reports. Why did you start this project?

I started the project on electronic monitoring as a way to validate my electronic vessel trip reports. I grow frustrated with folks who feel like they need to double, triple, and quadruple check our vessel trip reports. I honestly believe that we all try hard to accurately report what we catch and what we throw back. This was my way of being able to show a full season of how my business works. So those cameras are, in my opinion, recording what I already know, and I want to have an opportunity to show that to people.

Where are the cameras located on your boat?

One camera is on the railing on my bridge that shoots down into the cockpit and captures all the anglers in the back of the boat and all of the fishing activity. There is a second camera that is focused straight down on the station where we generally measure all the fish to determine if they are legal-sized or not. And so as I understand it, they can take the images from the angler reeling in the fish. Then the fish is then captured by the camera where it gets measured, and you can see whether the fish is discarded or retained. That system validates the numbers of discards and kept fish that we reported.

Have you seen the video? How are the cameras on the vessel working out so far?

I did see a little snippet from the program. It’s really cool how you can see the fish get caught on the first camera, and then see the fish measured and tossed or kept on the second camera.

Read the rest of the interview on our website.

Brouhaha brewing over fish monitoring

January 27, 2020 — The New England Fishery Management Council is set to resume action on the contentious groundfish monitoring amendment next week, but the Gloucester-based Northeast Seafood Coalition is questioning whether the council is rushing its own process and operating with incomplete information.

The council, scheduled to meet for three days next week in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, will return Wednesday to the arduous task of completing Amendment 23, which will set monitoring levels for vessels operating within the Northeast multispecies groundfish fishery.

Those monitoring levels ultimately will dictate the magnitude of monitoring costs the industry will bear in future fishing seasons. The current draft of the amendment includes four alternatives that call for groundfish monitoring coverage levels of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%.

The council, which has been working on the amendment for nearly three years, faces two pivotal tasks on Wednesday: It must approve a full range of monitoring coverage alternatives and it must approve a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) and accompanying analyses in advance of sending both out for public comment.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

NEFMC January 28-30, 2020 – Portsmouth, NH – Listen Live, View Documents

January 21, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council will hold a three-day meeting from Tuesday, January 28 through Thursday, January 30, 2020.  The public is invited to listen live via webinar or telephone.  Here are the details.

MEETING LOCATION:  Portsmouth Harbor Events and Conference Center, 100 Deer Street at 22 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth, NH 03801; Portsmouth Harbor Events Center.
 
START TIME:  The webinar will be activated at 8:00 a.m. each day.  However, please note that the meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 28 and 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, January 29 and 30.  The webinar will end at approximately 6:00 p.m. EST or shortly after the Council adjourns each day.
 
WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.
 
CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (562) 247-8422.  The access code is 266-672-298.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.
 
AGENDA:  The agenda and meeting materials are available on the Council’s website at NEFMC January 28-30, 2020 Portsmouth, NH.  Additional documents will be posted as they become available.
 
COMMENTS:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2020.  Address comments to Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.  The address for mailing comments is:  New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill #2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
 
THREE MEETING OUTLOOK:  A copy of the New England Council’s Three Meeting Outlook is availableHERE.
 
COUNCIL MEETING QUESTIONS:  Anyone with questions prior to or during the Council meeting should contact Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

New England Council Seeks Contractor to Prepare EBFM Public Outreach Materials

January 17, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council is seeking the services of an independent contractor to prepare visually rich and understandable materials for distribution and presentation during public information workshops about Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management (EBFM).  Letters of interest and supporting materials must be received by February 14, 2020.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:  In addition to strong writing, presentation, and communication skills, applicants should have a general understanding of fisheries and fishery management in New England, including on Georges Bank, and in the Mid-Atlantic.  Applicants also should: (1) be familiar with the use of scientific information in the fishery management process and the concept of EBFM; and (2) have experience interacting with fishery managers, scientists, and stakeholders.
 
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING:  The Council has been working on an EBFM conceptual approach for several years, and it developed an example Fishery Ecosystem Plan (eFEP) that shows how EBFM might be carried out on Georges Bank.  The Council is now ready to take the next step and more fully engage the public in its work.  It intends to begin this process by conducting public information workshops and utilizing outreach materials that clearly explain EBFM on multiple levels.  The Council will be communicating with fishermen, conservation groups, the research community, and many other stakeholders through the workshops as it continues to advance EBFM. 
 
WHAT’S INVOLVED:  To assist the Council with this undertaking, the contractor will:
  • Research and prepare outreach materials and then work with Council staff to present the related products to the EBFM Plan Development Team (PDT), the EBFM Committee, and the Council.  The contractor is not expected to present the materials at future workshops or assist with the final design of materials published on paper and/or online;
  • Develop products that are suitable for a variety of stakeholders who have varying ranges of knowledge about EBFM and fishery management; and
  • Consider multiple formats for visually rich materials, which may include documents, pamphlets, videos, PowerPoint presentations, news releases, and other options.
The contractor will meet with the PDT and Committee (independently or jointly) for one or two meetings to understand the EBFM framework in the eFEP, ask questions, and receive feedback and guidance.  The contractor also will discuss progress on a weekly basis with Council staff.
 
TIMELINE:  The contractor’s role is a short-term, temporary position that will begin on or about February 15, 2020 and end when the Council approves outreach materials, which is expected to happen during the Council’s June 23-25, 2020 meeting in Freeport, ME.  Therefore, final draft materials are due by June 10, 2020.  Following the June Council meeting, the contractor may need to make necessary changes and provide final revised materials by July 25, 2020.
 
APPLICATION DETAILS:  Interested professionals are encouraged to submit a letter of interest, current resume or curriculum vitae, examples of similar work completed for other organizations or publications, and a budget with expected expenses no later than February 14, 2020.
  • A complete list of desired experience and demonstrated skills can be found in the solicitation announcement, along with application mailing/email addresses and other information.
  • NOTE:  Candidates employed by advocacy organizations or by organizations that are parties in fishery lawsuits will not be considered.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:  Interested candidates may want to review:
  • The Council’s Draft Example Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Georges Bank, which is available at eFEP;
QUESTIONS:  For more information, contact: (1) New England Fishery Management Council Senior Fishery Analyst Andrew Applegate at (978) 465-0492 ext. 114, aapplegate@nefmc.org for technical questions; and (2) Administrative Officer Margaret Bernier, (978) 465-0492 ext. 104,mbernier@nefmc.org regarding contract questions.

NOAA Fisheries Announces Expansion to the Great South Channel and Southern New England Scallop Dredge Exemption Areas

January 14, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA Fisheries filed a final rule to expand the Great South Channel and Southern New England Scallop Dredge Exemption Area as requested by the New England Fishery Management Council. The final rule expands the boundaries of the current Great South Channel and Southern New England Scallop Dredge Exemption Areas creating a single area south of 42° 20’ N lat. and east of the Mid-Atlantic Exemption Area. All other regulatory requirements, such as possession limits and the requirement to use dredge gear 10.5 ft or less, remain unchanged.

In addition, the rule implements new prelanding reporting requirements for limited access vessels sailing on an open area days-at-sea.  Limited access vessels are now required to send in a prelanding vessel monitoring system report on all scallop trips.

For more details, please read the rule as filed in the Federal Register, and our permit holder bulletin.

Read the full release here

NEFMC SSC – Listen Live – January 10, 2020 – Groundfish Related

January 6, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet on Friday, January 10, 2020.  The public is invited to listen live via webinar or telephone.  Here are the details.

 
START TIME:  9:30 a.m. on Friday, January 10, 2020.
 
WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.
 
CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (562) 247-8422.  The access code is 279-391-516.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.
 
AGENDA:  The SSC will meet to:
  • Consider the New England Fishery Management Council’s remand of the SSC’s acceptable biological catch (ABC) recommendations for American plaice, Gulf of Maine haddock, Georges Bank haddock, and Atlantic pollock for fishing years 2020-2022;
  • Discuss any issues concerning ABC control rules for groundfish and the lack of fish stock status determination criteria; and
  • Discuss other business as necessary.
COMMENTS:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2020.  Address comments to Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.  The address for mailing comments is:  New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill #2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
 
MATERIALS:  Meeting materials will be posted on the Council’s website at SSC January 10, 2020 documents.
 
QUESTIONS:  Contact Joan O’Leary at (978) 465-0492 ext. 101, joleary@nefmc.org or Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

New England Council’s January 2020 meeting lineup

January 2, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council will hold a number of committee meetings over the next few weeks before it gathers in Portsmouth, NH at the end of January for its first full session of the New Year.  Here’s the lineup, along with a couple of additional items of potential interest to stakeholders.  Agendas and documents will be posted on the Council’s website as meeting materials become available.

SCIENTIFIC AND STATISTICAL COMMITTEE (SSC):  The SSC will meet on Friday, January 10, 2020at the Hilton Garden Inn – Boston Logan Airport beginning at 9:30 a.m. to review acceptable biological catch (ABC) recommendations for four groundfish stocks that the Council remanded to the SSC for further consideration.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:  The Council’s Executive Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at the Four Points Sheraton in Wakefield, MA to discuss administrative matters related to Council business.

GROUNDFISH:  The Council has three groundfish-related meetings on its calendar.

  • Groundfish Recreational Advisory Panel (RAP) – The RAP will meet on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Four Points Sheraton in Wakefield, MA to: (1) develop recommendations for the Groundfish Committee on 2020 recreational measures for Gulf of Maine cod and Gulf of Maine haddock; and (2) receive an overview of the Council’s 2020 groundfish priorities.
  • Groundfish Advisory Panel (GAP) – The GAP also will meet on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 in the same location beginning at 12:30 p.m. to discuss the same agenda items as the RAP.
  • Groundfish Committee – The Groundfish Committee will meet on Thursday, January 23, 2020beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Four Points Sheraton in Wakefield, MA to review and discuss the RAP and GAP recommendations and the Council’s groundfish priorities.

HABITAT:  The Habitat Committee and Habitat Advisory Panel will meet jointly on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at the Four Points Sheraton in Wakefield, MA beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Several items are on the agenda, including: (1) a review of the Council’s habitat-related research priorities; (2) potential development of comments on an Exempted Fishing Permit for the Great South Channel if the notice publishes prior to this January 22 meeting; (3) offshore wind updates; (4) updates on the development of habitat policies for aquaculture, submarine cables, and floating wind projects; and (5) a Northeast Regional Habitat Assessment update.

WHITING:  The Small-Mesh Multispecies (Whiting) Committee and the Whiting Advisory Panel will meet jointly on Monday, January 27, 2020 at the Portsmouth Harbor Events and Conference Center in Portsmouth, NH beginning at 1:00 p.m. to discuss issues and develop recommendations on a Council action to rebuild southern red hake.

  • 2020 Red Hake Stock Structure Working Group – On a related note, the Red Hake Stock Structure Working Group will meet January 6-8, 2020 at the UMass Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology in New Bedford, MA to prepare the red hake assessment and ensure the terms of reference have been fully addressed in the reports and documents provided to the Stock Assessment Review Committee.

NEW ENGLAND FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL:  The full Council will meet January 28-30, 2020at the Portsmouth Harbor Events and Conference Center.

MREP ON THE HORIZON:  A Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) Fisheries Science Workshop will be held February 25-27, 2020 in Woods Hole, MA.  The workshop is being organized by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

SCALLOPS ON THE HORIZON:  Two scallop-related meetings are on the Council’s calendar for February.

THREE MEETING OUTLOOK:  A copy of the New England Council’s Three Meeting Outlook is availableHERE.

QUESTIONS:  Contact Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

Cod could choke catch of other fish

December 19, 2019 — It’s been a long road to setting final groundfish catch limits for the next three years in the Northeast Multispecies groundfishery and the journey isn’t quite over yet.

The New England Fishery Management Council approved the management framework that sets Northeast multispecies groundfish catch limits for 2020-2022 earlier this month. And local groundfishermen are looking at significant increases in several flounder stocks, American plaice and haddock.

But the state of the cod fishery in the Gulf of Maine and on Georges Bank remains a point of contention.

“Overall, it’s pretty rosy,” said Jackie Odell, executive director of the Northeast Seafood Coalition. “But the real issue is codfish, with catch limits that are going to be limiting and constricting when fishermen try to target other stocks.”

The council approved a 32% cut to Georges Bank cod to 1,073 metric tons per season and slashed the annual catch limit for Gulf of Maine cod by 24% to 275 metric tons per season.

Fishing stakeholders say those cuts reflect the continuing deep divide between what fishermen are seeing with cod on Georges Bank and in the Gulf of Maine and what NOAA Fisheries scientists include in their projections and assessments.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times