Saving Seafood

Come Join the NEFMC at the 48th Maine Fishermen’s Forum

February 21, 2023 — The New England Fishery Management Council will be participating in four seminars at this year’s in-person Maine Fishermen’s Forum, which is taking place March 2-4, 2023 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, ME.

Come meet some of our staff members and Council Chair Eric Reid at sessions related to: (1) offshore wind; (2) gillnet fishery interactions with whales and Atlantic sturgeon; (3) the Northern Gulf of Maine scallop fishery; and (4) an open forum discussion with federal fishery management leaders on topics of interest to fishermen. Chair Reid is taking part in the leadership session on Friday, March 3, 2023 at 2:45 p.m.

Read the full release here

NEFMC Seeks Contractor to Assist with Executive Director Search

February 8, 2023 — The following was released by New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council is soliciting the services of an independent contractor to assist the Council with the hiring of a permanent, full-time executive director.  The Council’s current executive director recently announced his retirement.

This is a short-term, temporary contractor role.  The application deadline is March 1, 2023.  The Council’s goal is to make a hiring decision on the new executive director by early June 2023.

The Council is taking the extra step of soliciting a contractor to ensure that it undertakes a thoughtful, objective, and trusted executive search process.

The contractor will work with the current executive director and Executive Committee to, among other tasks:

  • Clarify the qualifications and experience desired for the position;
  • Assist with outreach efforts to encourage qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply;
  • Help develop effective interview questions;
  • Execute a rigorous evaluation and screening process; and
  • Support the Executive Committee’s development of a list of finalist candidates.

The Council’s Executive Committee is overseeing the search and will recommend finalists to the full Council.  The Council will select the new executive director in closed session.

Details about the project description, Council background, project objectives, initial statement of work, desired experience and demonstrated skills, and application submission information are outlined in the request for proposals.

Questions concerning the technical aspects of the request for proposals should be directed to Tom Nies at tnies@nefmc.org.  Questions concerning the contracting process or NOAA grant regulations should be directed to Margaret Bernier at mbernier@nefmc.org.

NEFMC Recommends 2023 Recreational Cod and Haddock Measures; Revises Halibut ABC in Framework 65

February 7, 2023 — The following was released by New England Fishery Management Council:

During its January 24-26, 2023 meeting in Portsmouth, NH, the New England Fishery Management Council voted on a suite of recreational fishing measures for Gulf of Maine cod, Gulf of Maine haddock, and Georges Bank cod that it will recommend to NOAA Fisheries for the 2023 fishing year. The Council also received:

• A revised recommendation from its Scientific and Statistical Committee regarding fishing year 2023-2025 acceptable biological catches (ABCs) for Atlantic halibut, which the Council approved and incorporated into Framework Adjustment 65;

• A progress report on work being conducted to develop metrics to evaluate the groundfish monitoring program in Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan; and

• An update on the 2023 Atlantic Cod Research Track Stock Assessment.

Read the full release here

 

NEFMC SSC – Listen Live – Wednesday, February 8, 2023 – SSC Planning and EBFM pMSE

February 2, 2023 — The following was released by New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet by webinar to discuss its 2023 work plan and a project related to ecosystem-based fishery management.  The public is invited to listen live.  Here are the details.

 
 
START TIME:  12:00 p.m.  
 
WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to join the meeting through this webinar.  The Remote Participation Guide is postedhere.
 
CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (631) 992-3221.  The access code is 924-181-460.  Your regular phone charges will apply.
 
AGENDA:  The SSC will meet to:
 
  • Discuss the expected SSC workplan and meeting timing for the remainder of 2023;
 
  • Provide guidance to Council staff and the project team on a prototype management strategy evaluation (pMSE) for ecosystem-based fishery management (EBFM) using a Georges Bank 10-stock operating model; and
 
  • Discuss other business if needed.
 
COMMENTS:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Monday, February 6, 2023.  Address comments to Council Chair Eric Reid or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.  Additional information is available in the meeting notice.
 
MATERIALS:  All documents for this meeting will be posted on the SSC February 8, 2023 meeting webpage.
 
QUESTIONS:  Contact Joan O’Leary at (978) 465-0492, ext. 101, joleary@nefmc.org or Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

Scallops: Council Requests Control Date to Potentially Address Switching Between LAGC Permit Categories in Northern GOM

January 31, 2023 — The following was released by The New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council is asking the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS/NOAA Fisheries) to establish a control date that potentially could be used to determine eligibility criteria for switching between the types of Limited Access General Category (LAGC) permits that can be used to access the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Management Area.

The Council voted to request the control date during its January 24-26, 2023 meeting in Portsmouth, NH. The vote was 10-to-6 with one abstention. Control dates become effective the day NOAA Fisheries publishes a notice in the Federal Register, which may not be until March for this particular request.

The Council took this step as a precautionary move while it assesses a recent increase in fishing activity and permit switching in the Northern Gulf of Maine, especially between C and B permits. Category C permits give vessels the opportunity to land 40 pounds of scallops as incidental catch on non-scallop trips, while B permits allow directed fishing on 200 pounds of scallops per day in the Northern Gulf of Maine area.

LAGC Category A permit holders with individual fishing quota (IFQ) can make a one-time transfer from a Category A IFQ permit to either a Category B 200-pound NGOM permit or a Category C 40-pound incidental catch permit (see graphic on page 2).

The permit switching issue is not one of the Council’s 2023 scallop work priorities, so no action is forthcoming in 2023. But the control date will remain in place should the Council choose to address LAGC permit switching down the road. Scallop biomass in the Northern Gulf of Maine is increasing, which is one reason for the switches.

Read the full release here

 

Council Presents 2022 Award for Excellence to Maggie Raymond

January 26, 2023 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council honored Maggie Raymond, former Executive Director of Associated Fisheries of Maine and a 25-year participant in the Council process, by presenting her with the 2022 Janice M. Plante Award for Excellence.

Council Chair Eric Reid called the recognition “long overdue.”

“Maggie represents the epitome of someone dedicated to both the commercial fishing industry and sustainable fisheries management,” said Chair Reid. “Her tenure covers a period of tremendous change, stretching from the early days of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to our evolving adaptation to climate change and the challenges of coping with offshore wind development.”

Maggie’s strongest connection with the Council is with groundfish, beginning around the time the Council adopted limited entry and was transitioning the entire fishery to days-at-sea management. It was a period of intense conflict between fishermen and managers, driven by fear in the industry that the changes would collapse the fishery.

“Maggie helped people navigate these tumultuous changes and served as an invaluable conduit to explain the science and management implications to fishermen,” said Chair Reid. “She was a fierce advocate for industry interests.”

Read the full release here

Monkfish: Council Takes Final Action on Fishing Year 2023-2025 Specifications/Measures; Revises Research Set-Aside Priorities

January 26, 2023 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council voted on a package of measures during its January 2023 meeting that set the stage for how the monkfish fishery will operate during the 2023-2025 fishing years.

The measures were developed through Framework Adjustment 13 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan and include the following:

• Acceptable biological catches (ABCs) and other specifications for both the Northern and Southern Monkfish Fishery Management Areas (see map on page 2);

• Days-at-sea allocations and a days-at-sea usage cap for both the northern and southern areas; and

• A 12″ minimum mesh size requirement for monkfish gillnets with implementation delayed until 2026.

The monkfish fishery is managed jointly between the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. The New England Council has the administrative lead, but joint management means both Councils must vote on new measures before an action can be submitted to NOAA Fisheries for review, approval, and implementation. The Mid-Atlantic Council will discuss and vote on Framework 13 on February 7, 2023.

The New England Council also revised its 2023-2024 priorities for the Monkfish Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program during the January meeting in Portsmouth, NH.

Read the full release here

 

New England council honors Maggie Raymond of Maine

January 26, 2023 — The New England Fishery Management Council honored Maggie Raymond, former executive director of the Associated Fisheries of Maine and a 25-year participant in the council process, by presenting her with the 2022 Janice M. Plante Award for Excellence.

Council Chair Eric Reid called the recognition “long overdue.”

“Maggie represents the epitome of someone dedicated to both the commercial fishing industry and sustainable fisheries management,” said Reid. “Her tenure covers a period of tremendous change, stretching from the early days of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to our evolving adaptation to climate change and the challenges of coping with offshore wind development.”

Raymond’s strongest connection with the council is with groundfish, beginning around the time the council adopted limited entry and was transitioning the entire fishery to days-at-sea management. It was a period of intense conflict between fishermen and managers, driven by fear in the industry that the changes would collapse the fishery.

Read the full article at National Fisherman

Fishery council executive retires

January 24, 2023 — The executive director of the Newburyport-based New England Fishery Management Council is retiring.

The council opened its Jan. 24 to 26 meeting in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with the announcement that Executive Director Thomas A. Nies, a 25-year veteran of the council staff, will retire this summer. The council is initiating a nationwide search for his replacement.

“I’m fully committed to the council process, said Nies in the announcement. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my job.”

Nies joined the council staff in 1997. He first worked on the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan and then spent 13 years as the council’s lead analyst for groundfish. In that role, he led the Groundfish Plan Development Team (PDT), as he did the Herring PDT beforehand. He also helped develop a standardized bycatch reporting methodology for Northeast fisheries. He became executive director in 2013.

Read the full article at Gloucester Daily Times

NEFMC Executive Director Tom Nies Announces Retirement

January 24, 2023 — The following was released by New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council opened its January 24-26, 2023 meeting in Portsmouth, NH with the news that Executive Director Thomas A. Nies, a 25-year veteran of the Council staff, will be retiring this summer. The Council will immediately initiate a nationwide search for his replacement.

Tom joined the Council staff in 1997. He first worked on the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan and then spent 13 years as the Council’s lead analyst for groundfish. In that role, he led the Groundfish Plan Development Team (PDT), as he did the Herring PDT beforehand. Tom also helped develop a standardized bycatch reporting methodology for Northeast fisheries. He became Executive Director in 2013.

Council Chair Eric Reid said, “The New England Fishery Management Council has had the rare privilege to have Tom at the helm of what can be, at times, a rather unwieldy ship. On every voyage, Tom’s tremendous work ethic and institutional knowledge have been unsurpassed assets not only to the Council members and “I’m fully committed to the Council process. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my job.” – Executive Director Tom Nies. staff but also to our stakeholders and the public.”

As Executive Director, Tom’s many responsibilities have included participating in: (1) the Council Coordination Committee (CCC), which includes leadership from all eight of the nation’s regional fishery management councils; and (2) the Northeast Region Coordinating Council (NRCC), which, among other tasks, determines the region’s stock assessment schedule.

Chair Reid said, “Tom has earned the respect of all of us in New England and nationwide from Gloucester to Guam. He is a true professional, and we’ll always be grateful for his strong leadership.”

Prior to joining the Council, Tom completed a 21-year career with the U.S. Coast Guard. He logged over 10 years of at-sea duty and served as the Commanding Officer of the Boston, MA-based USCG Cutter Spencer. His land-based assignments included a stint at the fisheries law enforcement branch at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He later served as the Admiral’s representative for the First Coast Guard District Law Enforcement Division at New England Council meetings, which was his introduction to the Council.

The Council will issue a vacancy announcement to solicit a new Executive Director. Tom will overlap with his successor to ensure a smooth transition. Additional information will be forthcoming.

Read the full release here