New England Fishery Management Council Archives - Page 80 of 101

Massachusetts: Cape and Islands Lawmakers Join Fight to Protect Offshore Herring

November 27, 2017 — CHATHAM, Mass. — The Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance is receiving support from the Cape and Islands legislative delegation in protecting offshore herring for local fishermen.

Earlier this month, the lawmakers called on the New England Fishery Management Council to create a buffer zone off the coast of the Cape and Islands from large-scale mid-water herring trawlers.

Current regulations allow the trawlers to fish three miles offshore from Provincetown past the Islands.

“The delegation has taken up a position that we staked out at the Fishermen’s Alliance years ago that we need a buffer zone,” said John Pappalardo, the alliance CEO.

“In other words, a zone off the Cape and Islands where these vessels cannot come in and intensively harvest sea herring.”

The alliance would like a 50 mile buffer zone.

Read the full story at CapeCod.com

Massachusetts: Despite Gloucester dialogue, Sector IX fishermen on ice

November 24, 2017 — In late October, about a month after the New England Fisheries Management Council insisted by vote that NOAA Fisheries hold Northeast Fishing Sector IX accountable for allowing the illegal actions of its most dominant member, Carlos Rafael, the Northeast Seafood Coalition brokered a meeting at the NOAA Fisheries office at Blackburn Industrial Park.

The Gloucester-based fishing advocate sought to bring together officials of the sector’s reconstituted board of directors with federal fishery regulators. It’s mission was to begin sifting through the rubble of the Rafael-induced damage to the fishery and begin focusing on future reforms to bring the sector into compliance with its operation plan to preclude widespread abuse from occurring again.

“We facilitated the meeting to open up a dialogue,” said Jackie Odell, executive director of the coalition. “That’s our role. We understood the severity of the charges and we certainly don’t condone Carlos’s actions. We just wanted to try communicating in a calm, reasonable manner.”

Read the full story at the Gloucester Times

New England Council: Massachusetts Offshore Wind Public Open Houses – November 27-30, 2017

November 22, 2017 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The following public open houses may be of interest to the New England Fishery Management Council’s stakeholders who are following offshore wind developments. Four events are scheduled for the week following Thanksgiving, all in Massachusetts. Here are the details.

WHAT’S GOING ON: Bay State Wind LLC is proposing to develop a new offshore wind farm 15-to-25 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard in the area known as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Lease OCS-A 0500.

WHO’S INVOLVED: The project is being developed as a 50/50 joint venture between Orstead (formerly DONG Energy) and Eversource Energy, which together make up Bay State Wind.

WHEN AND WHERE ARE THE OPEN HOUSES: The four public open houses will be held on the following dates in the following locations:

Monday, November 27 – Somerset Berkley Regional High School, 625 County Street, Somerset, MA, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, November 28 – The New Bedford Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, November 29 – The Barn Bowl & Bistro, 13 Uncas Avenue, Oak Bluffs, MA, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday, November 30 – The Sea Crest Beach Hotel, 350 Quaker Road, Falmouth, MA, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

PROJECT DETAILS: The developers stated, “In December 2017, Bay State Wind will participate in the first state-led procurement of offshore wind power in the United States in response to a solicitation led by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and the Electric Distribution Companies.” More information about the initiative is available at http://baystatewind.com/About-bay-state-wind#0.

QUESTIONS: For more information contact Bay State Wind Fishery Liaison Officer John Williamson at (207) 939-7055, john@seakeeper.net.

New England Council Program Review – take the survey; attend a port meeting

November 21, 2017 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council

The New England Fishery Management Council is reminding stakeholders of the opportunities available to provide input into the ongoing external review about how the Council conducts business.

The Council initiated this independent review to learn more about its strengths and weaknesses and, most importantly, to identify areas for improvement. As such, the Council is encouraging people who interact with the Council to take advantage of the different avenues for providing feedback.

Stakeholder input is critical to the success of the review and is confidential. Specific statements, ideas, and perspectives will not be attributed to individuals. Instead, feedback and insights will be summarized in a report that will be presented to the review panel members and posted on the New England Council’s website.

Here are more details about how you can provide input.

ONLINE SURVEY: The survey, which only takes 15-to-20 minutes to complete, is designed to solicit input about Council communications and the ability of stakeholders to participate in the Council process. Take the Survey Now!

PORT MEETINGS: Six of the Northern New England port meetings already have taken place. Eight more are still to come following the Thanksgiving holiday:

Tuesday, November 28, Gloucester, MA – Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Annisquam River Station, 30 Emerson Ave., 5 p.m.
Wednesday, November 29, Scituate, MA – Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Office, 175 Edward Foster Road, 5 p.m.
Thursday, November 30, New Bedford, MA – UMass Dartmouth SMAST-East, Room 101, 836 South Rodney French Boulevard, 5 p.m.
Friday, December 1, Chatham, MA – Chatham Community Center, 702 Main Street, 5 p.m.
Saturday, December 2, Plymouth, MA – Hotel 1620 Plymouth Harbor Amphitheater, 180 Water Street, 3 p.m.
Monday, December 4, Stonington, CT – La Grua Center, 32 Water Street, 5 p.m.
Monday, January 8, Montauk, NY – Montauk Playhouse Community Center, 240 Edgemere Street, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, January 9, Cape May, NJ – Rutgers University, 1636 Delaware Ave., 5 p.m.

WEBINAR OPTION: Anyone who cannot attend a port meeting in person or who simply wants to provide additional input is encouraged to take part in the webinar meeting, which will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, November 28. Register at Council Program Review Webinar or call in at +1 (213) 929-4212 and supply the access code 839-533-461.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: These meetings, as well as the online survey, are meant to focus on Council operations,not current management actions.

REVIEW PANEL: The review itself will be conducted by an external panel of managers and scientists from other regions and/or international fisheries entities who have a strong understanding of U.S. federal fisheries management but no recent involvement or affiliation with the New England Council. The review panel will meet for one week in early 2018 to discuss Council operations and conduct its work. The meeting will be open to the public. The Council has enlisted the help of two contractors to support this process. One of the contractors, the Fisheries Leadership & Sustainability Forum, is responsible for collecting stakeholder input for the review panel. The New England Council is not involved in collecting this confidential input.

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS: More information about the process that is being used to conduct the external review, as well as the terms of reference and other background documents, is available at Council Program Review.

QUESTIONS: Contact Fisheries Forum Co-Director Kim Gordon at (831) 641-7906, kim.gordon@duke.edu or Council Public Affairs Officer Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

NEFMC seeking candidates for its Scientific and Statistical Committee

November 9, 2017 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council is seeking qualified candidates to serve on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The three-year appointments begin January 1, 2018 and run through December 31, 2020. Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by others. All application materials must be received by 5 p.m. on December 15, 2017.

QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: The Council is seeking to fill several upcoming vacancies on the committee. In general, SSC nominees should have expertise in statistics, fisheries biology, marine ecology, economics, sociology, anthropology, or other social sciences as they apply to fisheries management.

SSC RESPONSIBILITIES: SSC members are expected to provide independent, scientific advice to the Council. The purpose of the SSC is to assist the Council in the development, collection, and evaluation of statistical, biological, economic, social, and other scientific information relevant to the development of fishery management plans.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: More information about SSC responsibilities, current committee composition, and upcoming/past meetings can be found at SSC activities. The notice requesting nominations, which contains application details, is available on that page under “Related News” or at announcement. Members with expiring terms who wish to continue serving on the SSC are encouraged to resubmit their curriculum vitae (CV) or resume with a letter expressing continued interest in remaining on the committee.

QUESTIONS: For more information contact Council Deputy Director Chris Kellogg at (978) 465-0492, ext. 112; ckellogg@nefmc.org.

Learn more about the NEFMC by visiting their site here.

Little hope in latest evaluations of codfish

October 23, 2017 — GLOUCESTER, Mass. — The completed operational assessments to help determine 2018-2020 groundfish quotas do not appear to be any more optimistic about the state of Gulf of Maine cod than those that effectively shuttered the fishery in the fall of 2014.

The New England Fishery Management Council’s science and statistical committee is set to meet Monday and Tuesday in Boston to review the assessments for 19 groundfish species and finalize its catch recommendations to the full council.

According to committee documents, the operational assessments show the respective stocks of eight species — Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank haddock, redfish, white hake, windowpane flounder, pollock, Georges Bank winter flounder and American plaice — to be abundant and healthy.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Times

Fish council awaits NOAA action on Rafael permits

October 20, 2017 — Federal authorities physically seized Carlos Rafael’s four fishing vessels on Wednesday, one of the final steps in the criminal proceedings against the New Bedford fishing mogul before he reports to jail on Nov. 5.

While Rafael readies himself to begin serving his 46-month sentence in federal prison, the focus of the rest of the Northeast multispecies groundfish fishery and environmentalists remains on what civil penalties NOAA Fisheries may impose on Rafael and his fishing sector, and how it will dispose of the forfeited vessels and ultimately distribute their fishing permits.

The New England Fishery Management Council, in a vote at its September meeting in Gloucester, urged NOAA Fisheries to take disciplinary action against Northeast Fishing Sector IX for allowing years of rampant misreportings of Rafael’s landings that was at the heart of his scam.

But the council refrained from voting on any specific measures on permit redistribution, saying it was waiting for the conclusion of the criminal case and a sense from NOAA Fisheries as to what comes next.

The council, according to Chairman John Quinn, remains in limbo.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

NEFMC SSC Meeting, October 23-24, 2017, Live Streaming Information

October 18, 2017 — 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 Monday and Tuesday, October 23-24, 2017. The public is invited to listen via webinar or telephone. Here are the details.

MEETING LOCATION: Hilton Garden Inn, Boston Logan Airport, 100 Boardman Street, Boston, MA. Hotel information is available here.

START TIME: 10:00 a.m. on Monday, 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

WEBINAR REGISTRATION: Online access to the meeting will be available at: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2947008207018884867.

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 913-207-938.

Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.

AGENDA: The SSC will (1) review recent stock assessment information from the 2017 Groundfish Operational Assessments, as well as information provided by the Council’s Groundfish Plan Development Team, and recommend overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) levels for all groundfish stocks managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan – except Georges Bank yellowtail flounder and Atlantic halibut – for fishing years 2018-2020; and (2) discuss other business as necessary.

MATERIALS: Meeting materials are available on the Council’s website at SSC October 23-24, 2017 documents.

QUESTIONS: Contact Joan O’Leary at (978) 465-0492 ext. 106, joleary@nefmc.org or Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

Nominations Sought for Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee

October 17, 2017 — The following was released by the NOAA Fisheries

Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee nominations accepted through November 27, 2017.

NOAA Fisheries is seeking nominations to fill current and pending vacancies on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) due to term limits. MAFAC advises the Secretary of Commerce on all living marine resource matters that are the responsibility of the Department of Commerce. The Committee draws on its members’ expertise and other sources to evaluate and make recommendations to the Secretary and NOAA on the development and implementation of agency regulations, policies, and programs critical to the mission and goals of NOAA Fisheries.

MAFAC members represent the wide spectrum of commercial, recreational, subsistence, and aquaculture fisheries interests; tribes; seafood industry; protected resources and habitat interests; environmental organizations; academic institutions; consumer groups; and other living marine resource interest groups.

Nominees should possess demonstrable expertise in one of these fields and be able to fulfill the time commitments required for two in-person annual meetings and between-meeting subcommittee work. Membership is balanced geographically across states and territories, ethnically, and on the basis of gender, in addition to the range of expertise and interests listed. Individuals serve for a term of three years. Members may serve a second consecutive term, if re-appointed.

A MAFAC member cannot be a federal employee, a member of a Regional Fishery Management Council, a registered federal lobbyist, or a state employee. Membership is voluntary, and except for reimbursable travel and related expenses, service is without pay. The committee functions solely as an advisory body (complying fully with the Federal Advisory Committee Act) that reports to the Secretary.

Full nomination instructions and guidelines are described in this Federal Register notice.

For questions or more information, please contact Jennifer Lukens, Executive Director of MAFAC, jennifer.lukens@noaa.gov or Heidi Lovett, heidi.lovett@noaa.gov.

ASMFC Spiny Dogfish Board Approves 2018 Fishery Specifications

October 17, 2017 — NORFOLK, Virginia — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

The Commission’s Spiny Dogfish Management Board approved a spiny dogfish commercial quota of 38,195,822 pounds for the 2018 fishing season (May 1, 2018 – April 30, 2019). The Board maintained a 6,000 pound commercial trip limit in state waters (0-3 miles from shore) in the northern region (Maine through Connecticut). The quota and northern region trip limit are consistent with the measures recommended to NOAA Fisheries by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. States in the southern region (New York to North Carolina) have the ability to set state-specific trip limits based on the needs of their fisheries.

2018 marks the third year of the current federal 3-year specifications cycle. It is anticipated the stock assessment will be updated in 2018 to inform development of fishery specification recommendations, including the commercial quota, for 2019 and beyond. Additionally, the Board intends to discuss issues raised by the Advisory Panel (and other fishery participants) in more detail prior to setting 2019 specifications. The timing of the next benchmark stock assessment for spiny dogfish is less certain, however, the Board supported the Council’s recommendations to conduct a benchmark stock assessment in 2019, or soon after.

The 2018 spiny dogfish commercial quota allocations (in pounds) for the northern region and the states of New York through North Carolina are provided below. Any overages from the 2017 season will be deducted from that region’s or state’s 2018 quota allocation. Similarly, any eligible roll overs from the 2017 season will be applied to that region’s or state’s 2018 quota allocation.

For more information, please contact Kirby Rootes-Murdy, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at krootes-murdy@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740