Saving Seafood

NEFMC Groundfish Summary from September 2019 Meeting

October 1, 2019 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council: 

The New England Fishery Management Council spent an entire day on groundfish-related issues during its late-September meeting in Gloucester, MA. In addition to receiving a progress report on the Council’s Groundfish Catch Share Program Review and an update on the Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel’s recent activities, the Council:

  • Discussed and approved comments on the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS/NOAA Fisheries) Draft Policy Directive on Electronic Monitoring Video Retention Periods;
  • Received recommendations from its Enforcement Committee on a variety of groundfish topics;
  • Received a report from the U.S. co-chair of the Transboundary Resources Assessment Committee (TRAC), which provided catch advice to the Transboundary Management Guidance Committee (TMGC) for three resources on Georges Bank that the U.S. shares with Canada (see table below);
  • Accepted the TMGC’s recommendations for 2020 U.S./Canada total allowable catches (TACs);
  • Reviewed the list of items under development for Framework Adjustment 59 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan; and
  • For several hours discussed the range of alternatives under development for Groundfish Monitoring Amendment 23 and provided further direction to the Groundfish Committee.

Read the full release here

MASSACHUSETTS: Cape herring fishery could rebound with new regs

October 1, 2019 — Fatter trophy fish, and a healthier ecosystem overall, are in the offing if the public supports recently approved regulations.

“After 10 years of debate, the New England Fishery Management Council has finally accepted the proposals favored by Cape communities and what would keep midwater trawls off our coast year round. It will have benefits for all our commercial and recreational fisheries and the nearshore ecosystem,” said John Pappalardo, chief executive officer of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance, in a press release.

The protections were vetted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and were recently published on the Federal Register for final comment.

“This is it,” said Pappalardo. “We need people to speak out for herring one more time to make sure these important rules become a reality.”

Read the full story at Wicked Local

Scallops: NEFMC Receives 2019 Survey Overview, Framework 32 Progress Report

September 30, 2019 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

During its late-September meeting in Gloucester, MA, the New England Fishery Management Council received a presentation on 2019 scallop survey results and a progress report on the alternatives that are under development for Framework Adjustment 32 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. The framework contains: (1) specifications for the 2020 fishing year; (2) default specifications for 2021; and (3) measures to mitigate impacts on Georges Bank yellowtail flounder. The 2019 surveys found noteworthy recruitment in the southern portion of Closed Area II and, to a lesser extent, directly south and to the west in areas known as the Closed Area II Extension and Southern Flank. The map above shows aggregations of small scallops with shell heights of less than 60 millimeters (mm).

Six institutions were involved in five different surveys in 2019 that collectively covered the range of the resource. Here are the key take-aways from the survey results.

Read the full release here

NEFMC Approves 2020-2023 Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Specs; TAL Increase by 12.7 Percent

September 27, 2019 — SEAFOOD NEWS — The New England Fishery Management Council voted on new specifications for the Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery. The total allowable catch landings will increase by 12.7 percent for the next four fishing years.

The typically stable fishery also saw a 225 metric ton increase, jumping to a TAL of 2,000 mt. Previously, the cap sat at 1,775 mt for the last three spec cycles.

The decision was supported due to recommendations from its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), which provided the best possible information for a stock that is considered, “data-poor.”

The SSC cited that the fishery, even under the previous catch limit was operating under quota and it has not hurt the population. It also found that economic performance of the fishery wouldn’t be impact and the increase should be accompanied by “precautionary monitoring for a negative response.”

Now, NOAA must review and approve the new specs before the landings limit can be implemented.

The red crab fishing season begins on March 1.

The council’s spec package said: “While the proposed 12.7% increase in the TAL is likely to increase landings, a review of recent fishery information and long-term trends point to a stable fishery. Further, this is a small, cooperative fishery with four active vessels … (that have) supported industry-funded research to improve data available for this fishery.”

This story was originally published on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

MASSACHUSETTS: Fleet: Increased monitoring would be final nail in coffin

September 26, 2019 — Regional groundfishermen delivered a unified and dire message to the New England Fishery Management Council on Wednesday, testifying that any radical increases to at-sea monitoring coverage will bankrupt the multispecies groundfish fleet beyond repair and without benefit.

The council, meeting for the third day at the Beauport Hotel Gloucester, dedicated much of Wednesday’s agenda to groundfish issues — including the highly contentious Amendment 23, which will set future monitoring coverage levels and — ultimately — define the economic ability of commercial groundfishermen to continue fishing.

The four alternatives included in the draft amendment call for monitoring coverage levels of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of all commercial groundfish trips.

Groundfishermen, speaking Wednesday afternoon during the public comment period, drew a straight line from the increased monitoring costs to the economic collapse of the fishery.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

NEFMC Approves 2020-2022 Monkfish Specifications

September 26, 2019 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council has approved new specifications for the 2020-2022 monkfish fishing years. The fishery operates within two areas – the Northern Fishery Management Area (NFMA) and the Southern Fishery Management Area (SFMA) – with a boundary line that roughly bisects Georges Bank. Landing limits and management measures vary by area, as do fishing practices.

The Council supported a 10% increase in the acceptable biological catch (ABC) for the northern area and status quo for the ABC in the southern area based on recommendations from its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), which worked with guidance from the Monkfish Plan Development Team (PDT). Under the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan, deductions are made from the ABC to account for management uncertainty and discards in order to determine the level of total allowable landings (TAL) for each area (see flowchart below).

Read the full release here

NEFMC Approves 2020-2021 Skate Specifications

September 25, 2019 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council has approved Framework Adjustment 8 to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The framework contains specifications for the 2020 and 2021 fishing years, including total allowable landings (TALs) for both the skate wing and skate bait fisheries that are slightly higher than current landing limits.

The Council adopted a 32,715 metric ton (mt) acceptable biological catch (ABC) for the skate complex based on advice from its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). This is 1,388 mt higher than what’s now in place. The Council supported the modest increase after the SSC determined it was scientifically justified and because the increase should allow the fishery to achieve optimum yield.

Under the skate plan, the annual catch limit (ACL) is equal to the ABC. Deductions from the ACL are made to account for: (1) management uncertainty; (2) projected dead discards; and (3) projected state landings, all to achieve the TAL for the overall federal fishery.

Read the full release here

NEFMC Elects Officers and Bids Farewell to Two Long-Time Members

September 25, 2019 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

At the start of its September 23-26, 2019 meeting in Gloucester, MA, the New England Fishery Management Council unanimously elected Dr. John Quinn of Massachusetts to serve a fourth consecutive term as Council chairman. The Council also elected Eric Reid of Rhode Island to serve as Council vice chair.

Dr. Quinn is Assistant Dean of Public Interest Law and External Relations at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) School of Law. He is a former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he spent 18 years serving on numerous important committees. He also represented many fishing interests while practicing law in private practice for over two decades in New Bedford before joining UMass. He is serving his third term on the Council.

Read the full release here

New England Fishery Management Council approves red crab fishery totals

September 24, 2019 — The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) decided on new specifications for the Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery a recent meeting on 24 September.

The council, which is meeting from 23 through 26 September, has increased the total allowable landings of the fishery by 12.7 percent for the next four fishing years. The proposed catch for the years 2020 to 2023 will now by 2,000 metric tons (MT), an increase of 225 MT over the 1,775 MT that the fishery has used for the last three specification cycles, according to a release from the NEFMC.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

NEFMC Approves 2020-2023 Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Specs

September 24, 2019 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council today voted on new specifications for the Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery that will increase total allowable landings (TAL) by 12.7% for the next four fishing years. The proposed TAL for 2020-2023 is 2,000 metric tons (mt), a 225-mt increase from the long-standing 1,775-mt landings cap that has guided this fishery for the past three specification cycles.

The Council supported the increase based on a recommendation from its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), which used the best information available for this “data poor” stock. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS/NOAA Fisheries) must review and approve the new specifications before the revised landing limit can be implemented. The red crab fishing year begins on March 1.

Read the full release here