Saving Seafood

New England Fishery Management Council hears proposals to protect right whales

October 3, 2022 — During its four-day meeting at the Beauport Hotel last week, the Newburyport-based New England Fishery Management Council heard from NOAA Fisheries officials about ways to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale with a proposed 10-knot speed limit for vessels 35 to 65 feet long, expanded seasonal speed zones, and ropeless fishing gear to prevent whales getting entangled in lobster trap lines.

Speed rules

Caroline Good, a large whale ecologist with NOAA Fisheries, presented the proposed rules aimed at reducing right whales from being struck by vessels and killed or injured.

However, the council could not come to a consensus to comment on the proposed changes.

Good said the right whale population continues to decline and is approaching extinction due to death and serious injury from entanglement with fishing gear and vessel strikes. Fewer than 350 individuals remain.

Since 2017, scientists have documented 54 right whales killed or seriously injured in U.S. and Canadian waters. Of those, according to Good’s presentation, 11 were killed due to vessel strikes and nine from entanglements.

Right whales are present in U.S. waters year-round, but in greater numbers during the late fall through early summer, Good said. They are highly vulnerable to vessel strikes due to dense vessel traffic along the East Coast.

Read the full article at Gloucester Times

Atlantic Herring: Council Signs Off on 2023-2025 Specifications; Receives Stock Assessment Overview

September 30, 2022 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council voted on a 2023-2025 specifications package that will determine catch limits for the Atlantic herring fishery for the next three fishing years.

The Council took this step during its September 2022 hybrid meeting in Gloucester and based the decision on:

• The most recent stock assessment information available;

• The Scientific and Statistical Committee’s overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) recommendations for the resource; and

• The herring rebuilding plan in Framework Adjustment 9.

Read the full release here

New England council votes down scallop leasing

September 30, 2022 — Capping six months of intense debate among fishermen, the New England Fishery Management Council voted this week against considering changes to allow scallop leasing within the fleet.

Fishermen crowded the council’s Sept. 27 meeting at Gloucester, Mass., for a debate on whether to develop an amendment to the scallop plant that would allow limited access scallop leasing for both access area trips and days-at-sea allocations.

Proponents of leasing, organized as the Scallopers Campaign, contended it would increase efficiency, cut costs and help operators when they face a major problem that takes a vessel out of action.

Opponents saw leasing as another avenue for consolidation of the fishery under fewer owners – as has happened in the Northeast groundfish fleet – with crew members and smaller independent operators at a disadvantage compared to fleet owners.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Scallop leasing proponents consider appealing regulators’ decision

September 29, 2022 — Fisheries regulators denied a controversial proposal to develop a leasing program in New England’s scallop industry this week, but backers of the plan suggested they might appeal the decision to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

In a letter submitted to the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) before its vote on Tuesday, Jeffrey Pike, previously a registered lobbyist with the Scallopers Campaign, wrote that should the council not approve a leasing or internal transfer program, “we will be left with no recourse but to appeal to the Secretary of Commerce to use her authority to develop a secretarial amendment.”

Pete Janhunen, a representative with the campaign, said Wednesday that whether they will proceed with an appeal is not decided. He said those involved with the campaign will gather next week to consider next steps, but that he could not speak to what those will be at this time.

During last week’s scallop committee meeting, Pike had said they would look for “other options” should leasing not move forward.

Supporters of leasing, some with ownership interest in larger fleets, have said leasing of fishing allocations will improve efficiency, cut operational costs, minimize emissions amid climate change, ameliorate port congestion and increase flexibility in the event a vessel fails. Opponents have said it’s a means of furthering consolidation, with crew and independent shoreside businesses likely to bear the cost.

Pike’s letter was addressed to NEFMC Executive Director Thomas Nies two days before the council ultimately failed to pass three motions — ranging from narrow to broad — that would have initiated a process to develop a leasing program in the limited access fishery.

Nies, who was attending ongoing council meetings Wednesday, provided a written statement to The Light, saying the council “thoroughly” debated the leasing issue before voting not to proceed.

Read the full article at The New Bedford Light

Scallop Leasing Off the Table; Council Decides Against Initiating an Amendment

September 28, 2022 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council will not be developing an amendment to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan to analyze alternatives for scallop leasing.

The Council went out to scoping this spring and early summer to gauge support for limited access scallop leasing for both access area trips and days-at-sea allocations. From the start, the Council said it would review scoping comments and determine how to proceed at its September 2022 meeting in Gloucester.

Before beginning its debate, the Council received a presentation that summarized input provided by stakeholders during the scoping period. The Council also was provided with several documents prior to the meeting, including: (1) a combined summary of all scoping meetings; (2) all written comments submitted to the Council; and (3) a summary report.

The Council then considered three motions, two of which were extensively debated. Council Chair Eric Reid allowed all members of the public who were attending the meeting in person, as well as those on the webinar, to provide public comments.

Read the full release here

Scallops: Council Previews 2022 Survey Results; Receives Final Scallop Survey Working Group Report

September 28, 2022 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council received its first overview of 2022 scallop survey results when it met in Gloucester for its late September hybrid meeting. It also received the final report from the Scallop Survey Working Group (SSWG).

The most recent round of scallop surveys will help the Council develop 2023 fishing year specifications, which will be part of Framework Adjustment 36 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. The framework also will contain default specifications for 2024.

The Council was fortunate to have extensive scallop survey coverage in 2022 through the Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s survey on the R/V Hugh R. Sharp

The surveys found several areas with new sets of seed scallops, as well as beds with concentrations of smaller scallops that are continuing to grow. These are positive signs that bode well for the future.

However, the surveys also revealed that biomass overall was at its lowest observed level since 1999, largely due to minimal recruitment over the past several years. As a result, access area trip allocations for 2023 are expected to be reduced from 2022 levels.

Read the full release here

New England Fishery Management Council nixes proposed scallop license leasing program

September 28, 2022 — After months of efforts by proponents, the New England Fishery Management Council chose not to move forward with the development of a scallop license allocation leasing program for the limited access fishery at its September meeting.

Around 100 were in attendance Tuesday at the Beauport Hotel, mostly scallopers, many of whom were from New Bedford, including Justin Mello.

“I’m obviously happy,” Mello, who spoke against the leasing program before, said after the move died.

“The Council did its job,” said Tyler Miranda, another New Bedford scalloper. “I actually have faith in the process again.”

Leasing would have allowed owners of limited access scallop licenses to sell portions of their days at sea to other boat owners.

“This leasing would be great for me,” said Paul Weckesser, owner of six scallopers and multiple shoreside enterprises. “I’m pretty vertically integrated.”

Read the full article at South Coast Today

Council Elects Eric Reid as Chair, Rick Bellavance as Vice Chair; Welcomes Eric Hansen and Peter Whelan to the Table

September 27, 2022 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council opened the first day of its September 26-29, 2022 hybrid meeting in Gloucester, MA by holding its annual election of officers. For the second year in a row, the Council elected Eric Reid and Rick Bellavance, both of Rhode Island, to lead the Council as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, for the year ahead.

Eric is a fisheries consultant based in North Kingstown, RI. He was the Council’s Vice Chair for two years before taking over as Chair. Over his 48-year career in commercial and recreational fisheries, he has been actively engaged in all facets of the industry both at sea and shoreside. He previously owned and operated his own vertically integrated business for 11 years. Chair Reid is a founding member of several industry organizations and serves as the New England Council’s liaison to the Mid-Atlantic Council. He also is a U.S. Commissioner to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) and serves as Rhode Island State Senator Susan Sosnowski’s proxy on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC).

Rick Bellavance is the owner/operator of Priority Charters, LLC, a charter fishing business located in Point Judith. A lifelong Rhode Island resident, he has engaged in a variety of recreational and commercial fishing industries for over 30 years and currently Photo: Eric Reid (left) and Rick Bellavance (right) will lead the Council as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, for the 2022- 2023 Council year. Both are from Rhode Island. –NEFMC photo serves as the president of the Rhode Island Party and Charter Boat Association. Rick has worked steadily to help develop electronic reporting tools that can improve recreational catch estimates and strongly supports improvements to the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). He represents the Council on the NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section of ICCAT, as well as several MidAtlantic and South Atlantic Council committees. During this meeting, Vice Chair Bellavance was sworn in to serve his third consecutive term threeyear term on the Council.

Read the full release here

NEFMC September 26-29, 2022 Hybrid Meeting (Gloucester)

September 19, 2022 — The following was released by The New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council will hold a four-day hybrid meeting from Monday, September 26 through Thursday, September 29, 2022.  This will be an in-person meeting coupled with a webinar option for individuals who cannot or prefer not to attend in person.

COVID PROTOCOLS:  The Council continues to follow all public safety measures related to COVID-19 and intends to do so for this meeting.  Please participate remotely if you are experiencing COVID symptoms or do not feel well.  Updates will be posted on the meeting webpage as needed.

START TIME:  1:00 p.m. on Monday and 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  The webinar will end shortly after the Council adjourns each day.

OFFSHORE WIND INFORMATIONAL SESSION:  After the Council concludes its business onWednesday, September 28, 2022, fisheries liaisons from several offshore wind-energy development companies will host an informational meet-and-greet poster session.  All are welcome to attend. 

PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES:  The Council wants to hear from you.  Here’s how you can let the Council know what you think.

  • WRITE A LETTER:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2022.  Please note that written commentsmust address items listed on the agenda for this meeting.
  • TALK TO THE COUNCIL:  You’ll be able to address the Council directly through two different avenues:
  1. By commenting on motions at the discretion of the Council chair (if commenting remotely, raise your hand on the webinar and unmute yourself when called upon); and
  2. By speaking during the open period for public comment.  Here are the Guidelines for Providing Public Comment.
  • OPEN PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:  On Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 1:30 p.m., the Council will offer the public an opportunity to provide comments on issues relevant to Council business but not listed on this agenda.  Given the Council’s busy meeting schedule, we ask that you limit remarks to 3-5 minutes.
    • SIGN UP:  Interested in speaking?  If attending in person, fill out the sign-up sheet on the table at the entrance to the Council meeting room.  To speak remotely, email Janice Plante at jplante@nefmc.org to get on the list.

WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.

  • Here are instructions in the Remote Participation Guide for successfully joining and participating in the webinar.
  • THIS IS KEY!  If you want to speak during opportunities for public comment, you need to: (1) register for the webinar; and (2) actually “join” the webinar.  People who call in by telephone without joining the webinar will be in listen-only mode.  Those who take both steps – register and then join the webinar – will see the meeting screen and be able to click on a “raise hand” button, which will let the meeting organizer know you want to be unmuted to speak.
  • We have a Help Desk in case you get stuck joining the webinar or have trouble along the way.  Phone numbers are listed on the Help Desk Poster, or just email helpdesk@nefmc.org and we’ll get right back to you.

CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone without joining the webinar, dial +1 (415) 930-5321.  The access code is 796-424-723.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.  Remember, you will not be able to speak if you do not first join the webinar as described above.  This phone number provides a “listen-only” option without the webinar component.

AGENDA:  All meeting materials and the agenda are available on the Council’s website at NEFMC September 26-29, 2022 meeting.  Additional documents will be posted as they become available.

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

New England and Mid-Atlantic Councils and Partners Launch Habitat Data Explorer; One-Stop Tool Ready for Use

August 26, 2022 — The following article was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

What began five years ago as a commitment to improve fish habitat science has resulted in the creation of a revolutionary tool that allows users to explore information on fish distribution and survey abundance, species life history, essential fish habitat (EFH), fish vulnerability to climate change, and much more – all on one website. Welcome to the Northeast Regional Habitat Assessment Data Explorer.

The Data Explorer was developed as part of the Northeast Regional Marine Fish Habitat Assessment (NRHA), a collaborative, multi-disciplinary effort to describe and characterize estuarine, coastal, and offshore fish habitat distribution, abundance, and quality in the Northeast. Based on a plan approved by NRHA’s Steering Committee, a work team spent three years collecting and analyzing data and populating the Data Explorer with information for more than 65 finfish and shellfish species through 2019. New data will be added over time.

Who Should Use the Data Explorer?

Everyone! While stock assessment scientists, researchers, and fishery managers will be the primary users of this comprehensive collection of information, commercial and recreational fishermen will be able to call up maps showing key information about the species they catch. Other stakeholder groups interested in habitat issues, seasonal ocean conditions such as salinity, and fish survey information also should find the site helpful. For example, offshore wind and aquaculture developers can use the tool to identify habitat types and fish distribution within areas being considered for development.

Read the full release here