Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Announces 2019 Bluefish Specifications

March 11, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today we filed a final rule approving and implementing the 2019 specifications for the Atlantic bluefish fishery recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council in cooperation with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

The final 2019 specifications are fundamentally the same as 2018, with only minor adjustments to the final commercial quota and recreational harvest limit to account for most recent full year of recreational catch data (2017), and a 4.0 million lb of quota transferred from the recreational to the commercial sector rather than 3.5 million lb in 2018.

Table 1 (below) provides the commercial fishery state allocations for 2019 based on the final 2019 coast-wide commercial quota, and the allocated percentages defined in the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan. No states exceeded their state-allocated quota in 2018; therefore, no accountability measures need to be implemented for the 2019 fishing year.

Table 1. 2019 Bluefish State Commercial Quota Allocations.

State Percent Share Quota Allocation (lb)
Maine 0.67 51,538
New Hampshire 0.41 31,956
Massachusetts 6.72 517,828
Rhode Island 6.81 524,874
Connecticut 1.27 97,626
New York 10.39 800,645
New Jersey 14.82 1,142,264
Delaware 1.88 144,801
Maryland 3.00 231,426
Virginia 11.88 915,857
North Carolina 32.06 2,471,746
South Carolina 0.04 2,714
Georgia 0.01 732
Florida 10.06 775,558
Total 100 7,709,565

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

Questions?
Fishermen: Contact Cynthia Ferrio, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 978-281-9180
Media: Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, 978-281-9175

ASMFC & MAFMC Set Summer Flounder 2019-2021 Specifications

March 11, 2019 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) approved revised specifications for the 2019 fishing season and set new specifications for 2020 and 2021. The revised specifications are based on the results of the 2018 benchmark stock assessment, which found the stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. The new limits are consistent with the recommendations of the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee. The Commission’s actions are final and apply to state waters (0‐3 miles from shore). The Council will forward its recommendations for federal waters (3 – 200 miles from shore) to NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Administrator for final approval. The Council and Commission decided to set commercial quotas and RHLs for all three years, with the intent to maintain regulatory stability. The revised commercial quota was approximately a 49% increase over the previously set 2019 quota.

While the revised RHL represents an approximate 49% increase over the previously set 2019 RHL, the Commission chose to maintain status quo recreational measures, which are projected to achieve a harvest level close to the revised RHL based on the calibrated recreational harvest data from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). As a result, regions established under Addendum XXXII may submit proposals to make minor adjustments to their 2019 recreational measures, such as adjusting the start and end dates of the season, but must hold projected 2019 harvest at 2018 levels. These proposals will require Technical Committee review and Board approval. Additionally, the Commission and Council approved the use of conservation equivalency, allowing state measures to be extended into federal waters, pending acceptance of final state measures by the Regional Administrator.

Based on the findings of the 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review, the stock was not overfished nor experiencing overfishing in 2017. Spawning stock biomass (SSB) in 2017 was estimated to be 98 million pounds, approximately 78% of the biomass target of 126 million pounds. The fishing mortality rate was estimated to be 0.334 in 2017, below the fishing mortality threshold of 0.448.

Recruitment in 2017 was estimated at 42 million fish at age 0, below the time series average of 53 million fish at age 0. Recruitment has been below average since 2011.

Data analyzed by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center for the assessment indicate increasing relative abundance of older fish and an expanding age structure. However, the data also indicate a decrease in relative total abundance since the late 2000s, as well as decreasing trends in average lengths and weights at age for both sexes, suggesting slower growth and delayed maturity which impacts the biological reference points. The assessment shows current mortality from all sources is greater than recent recruitment inputs to the stock, which has resulted in a declining stock trend. Additionally, the assessment found the spatial distribution of the resource is continuing to shift northward and eastward.

A key attribute of the assessment is the incorporation of revised recreational catch data. In July 2018, MRIP revised the previous recreational catch estimates with a calibrated 1982-2017 time series that corresponds to the new MRIP survey methods. For comparison with the previous estimates, the revised estimates of 2017 recreational landings and discards are over three times the previous estimates. The revised recreational catch estimates increased the 1982-2017 total annual catch by an average of 29 percent, ranging from 11 percent increase in 1989 to 43 percent increase in 2017. The increase in estimated removals resulted in an increased population estimate compared to previous assessments.

For more information about please contact Kirby Rootes-Murdy, Senior FMP Coordinator, at krootes-murdy@asmfc.org.

A PDF of the press release can be found here – http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file/5c868122pr11FlukeSpecs2019-2021andAssessment.pdf

2019 River Herring and Shad Catch Cap Harvested for Atlantic Mackerel Vessels

March 11, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

As of March 8, Atlantic mackerel vessels are projected to have harvested 95 percent of the 2019 river herring and shad catch cap.

Under the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan, once 95 percent of the river herring and shad catch cap is projected to be harvested, federal limited access Atlantic mackerel vessels are prohibited from fishing for or landing more than 20,000 lb of Atlantic mackerel per trip or landing more than once per calendar day for the remainder of the calendar year.

As of 00:01 local time on March 12, 2019, vessels issued federal Atlantic mackerel permits may not fish for, possess, transfer, receive, land, or sell more than 20,000 lb of mackerel per trip or calendar day through December 31, 2019.

Vessels that have entered port before 00:01 local time on March 12, 2019 may land and sell more than 20,000 lb of mackerel from that trip.

Read the rule as filed this afternoon in the Federal Register and the permit holder bulletin on our website.

Council Receives Red Snapper Update; Will Consider Flexibility for Seasonal Dates Beginning in 2020

March 8, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

A presentation by NOAA Fisheries on the 2019 red snapper season evoked questions and much discussion from members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council during their week-long meeting in Jekyll Island, Georgia. The meeting week began with a notification on Monday by NOAA Fisheries that there would be a 2019 season for red snapper. The Council received a presentation on how the 2019 red snapper season was determined and the rationale for the 5-day recreational season. NOAA Fisheries is responsible for determining if a red snapper season can be held each year and the number of days the season will last. The Council has the authority to determine when the season would occur, if harvest is allowed.

In 2013, the Council established protocol that, if a red snapper season were allowed, it would open during the same time period each year – the second weekend in July for the recreational sector (not to open for less than 3 days) and the second Monday in July for the commercial fishery. This year, the recreational red snapper season will open July 12-14, 2019, with an additional two days the following Friday and Saturday, July 19-20. The recreational bag limit is one per/person day with no minimum size limit. The commercial fishery will open Monday, July 8th and close once the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) is met or on January 1, 2020. The sector allocation for red snapper is 71.93% recreational and 28.07% commercial. Currently, the total ACL is 42,510 fish. A new stock assessment for red snapper will begin in 2020.

“We recognize that fishermen want a longer season for red snapper as the stock rebuilds, and we will continue to work toward that goal,” said Council Chair Jessica McCawley. “We appreciate NOAA Fisheries announcing this season early enough for fishermen to plan for the July opening and encourage anglers to exercise best fishing practices during the 2019 season – and throughout the year.”

The Council discussed the need for additional flexibility when determining what days (weekends/weekdays) and the time of the year the red snapper season would occur if an opening is allowed. “When these dates were originally established, I don’t think that fishermen believed this would be the new norm for red snapper fishing,” said Council member Spud Woodward. “Considering the input we received during recent recreational workshops, we need to reexamine when these limited number of red snapper fishing days should occur.” The Council will begin work on a framework amendment to allow modification of the seasonal dates and continue to address this at its June 2019 meeting. Public comments will be taken at the June meeting.

Best Practices

For red snapper, and many other species in the Snapper Grouper Management Complex, the use of best fishing practices can help fishermen avoid non-targeted species and increase the survivability of fish that are released. Fishermen can now take advantage of a new Best Fishing Practices online tutorial specifically designed for fishermen that bottom fish for snapper grouper species. Developed by the South Carolina Wildlife Federation with guidance from Council staff, the tutorial is easy to use and addresses issues of hook injury, handing, predation after release, and barotrauma. Fishermen completing the tutorial are eligible to receive a free SeaQualizer descending device. Learn more at: http://safmc.net/electronic-reporting-projects/myfishcount/.

Private recreational anglers are also encouraged to participate in MyFishCount, a voluntary reporting program that allows anglers to report their fishing activity, including fish landed and released, using a mobile application. Learn more at: http://safmc.net/electronic-reporting-projects/myfishcount/.

The Council is currently developing Regulatory Amendment 29 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan to address best fishing practices for snapper grouper species, including requirements for the use of descending devices and/or venting devices, modifying current requirements for non-stainless-steel circle hooks, and adjusting the prohibition on the use of powerhead gear by divers. Public hearings on the amendment will be scheduled prior to the Council’s June 2019 meeting.

Other Business

The Council continued work on management options to include in the Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10, narrowing down the number of options for the amendment. Options currently include: allowing bag limit sale of dolphin for dually-permitted for-hire and commercial federal permit holders, removal of the Operator Card requirement in the dolphin wahoo fishery, reducing the recreational vessel limit for dolphin, gear modifications and training requirements for the commercial longline fishery, allowing adaptive management of sector ACLs for dolphin, revising accountability measures for dolphin, allowing properly permitted vessels with gear onboard that are not authorized for use in the dolphin wahoo fishery to possess dolphin or wahoo, and modifications to biological parameters for dolphin. The Council will continue to develop the amendment at its June 2019 meeting.

The Council also received a report from the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), and Yamaha Marine Group on Exploring Approaches for Innovated Management of the Private Recreational Sector of the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Fishery. ASA, in conjunction with the CCA and Yamaha Marine Group recently launched a project to explore new ideas for management of the private recreational sector targeting snapper grouper species. A workshop with Council members was held in 2018, and subsequent regional meetings were held from November 2018 until January 2019 to get input from local representatives in the recreational community. The report includes input from the workshops on angler preferences, harvest rate management, harvest tags for certain species, use of a recreational stamp, electronic reporting, and reducing release mortality. The Council reviewed the report and will consider the recommendations in future management decisions.

Additional information for this week’s meeting, including an interactive Story Map and meeting report is available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/.

The next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is scheduled for June 10-14, 2019 at the Hutchinson Island Marriott in Stuart, Florida. Additional information for the meeting will be posted at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/.

NOAA Fisheries Proposes to Approve 20 Groundfish Sectors for Fishing Years 2019 and 2020, and Allocate Annual Catch Entitlements for Fishing Year 2019

March 7, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries received sector operations plans and contracts from 20 groundfish sectors for the 2019 and 2020 fishing years. We are proposing to approve these 20 operations plans and grant 19 regulatory exemptions to improve the efficiency and flexibility of sector vessels.

We are proposing to approve the formation of a new groundfish sector and to allocate annual catch entitlements for fishing year 2019 based on Framework 57. Annual catch entitlements may be modified by Framework 58, if approved, at a later date.

Read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register, and submit your comments through the online portal. Comments are due March 22, 2019.

Copies of each sector’s operations plan and contract are available from our office and online.

You may also submit comments through regular mail to: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Please mark the outside of the envelope: “Comments on the Proposed Rule to Approve 2019/2020 Sector Operations Plans and Allocate 2019 Sector ACE.”

NOAA looks to unjam fishing permit backlog

March 7, 2019 — The 35-day, partial shutdown of the federal government is forcing NOAA Fisheries to make some accommodations to the permitting process for the upcoming 2019 commercial fishing season.

The federal fishery manager, still digging out from the administrative backlog created by the shutdown in December and January, will accept fishing permit applications for the upcoming season even if they include expired or un-issued Coast Guard certificates of documentation.

Those applications will be accepted at the Gloucester-based Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) through May 1, the start-date for the new season.

Fishermen must meet at least one of several conditions to submit an application without a current certificate of documentation:

* The permit renewal application contains no changes in vessel ownership or only a change in the name of the vessel.

“We will accept expired certificates of documentation for fishing vessels that are renewing their fishing permits but are not changing ownership or are simply changing the vessel name on the certificate of documentation,” GARFO said in a statement. “Applicants must provide a copy of their most recent certificate of documentation.”

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

NOAA Fisheries Announces Atlantic Herring Management Area 2 Sub-ACL Harvested

March 7, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

At 00:01 hours on March 9, 2019, a 2,000-lb herring possession limit per trip or calendar day will become effective for Area 2 and will be in effect until the 2020 fishing year begins on January 1, 2020.

Under the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan, when 92% of the Herring Management Area 2 catch limit is projected to be harvested, no person may, or attempt to, fish for, possess, transfer, receive, land, or sell more than 2,000 lb of herring per trip or per calendar day in or from Area 2 for the remainder of the fishing year from a vessel issued and holding a valid herring permit.

For more information read the bulletin on our website or the rule as filed in the Federal Register this afternoon.

Please note: This action prohibits federally permitted dealers from purchasing, possessing, receiving, selling, bartering, trading or transferring, or attempting to purchase, possess, receive, sell, barter, trade, or transfer more than 2,000 lb of herring per trip or calendar day from Management Area 2 through 24:00 hr local time, December 31, 2019, unless it is from a vessel that enters port before 00:01 local time on March 9, 2019.

NOAA Announces Projects Recommended for S-K Funding

NOAA Fisheries announced recommendations to fund five projects for almost $1.3 million under the 2019 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Grants Program.

March 6, 2019 — Today, NOAA Fisheries announced recommendations to fund five projects for almost $1.3 million under the 2019 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Grants Program. The projects fall into the three priority categories for 2019:  Promotion, Development and Marketing; Marine Aquaculture; and Support of Science that Maximizes Fishing Opportunities, Revenue and Jobs in U.S. Fisheries While Ensuring the Long-Term Sustainability of Marine Resources. They are:

  • Alaska Region – Alaska Mariculture Initiative – Phase 2 ($287,646)
  • Greater Atlantic Region – Reducing risk for shellfish farmers through real-time, automated, harmful algal bloom monitoring and mitigation ($297,172)
  • Pacific Islands Region – Mark-recapture as a tool to assess Kona crab, Ranina ranina, post-release mortality and local population estimates for the Main Hawaiian Islands ($91,189)
  • Southeast Region – Development of a Fishermen Operated Pilot-Scale Queen Conch (Lobatus gigas) Hatchery and Nursery Facility for Sustainable Seafood Supply and Restoration of Wild Populations in Puerto Rico ($299,949)
  • West Coast Region – Developing an Alternative Model for Sustainable Commercial Salmon Fisheries of the Lower Columbia River Sub-basin. ($285,646)

Read the full story at NOAA Fisheries

 

Jacobs now leading NOAA as Gallaudet focuses on Blue Economy initiative

March 5, 2019 — U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has made a change in leadership for the agency that oversees NOAA Fisheries.

In a memo dated 25 February, Neil Jacobs told NOAA employees that Ross assigned him to the “nonexclusive” role of undersecretary and NOAA Administrator. He replaces retired Rear Admiral Timothy Gallaudet, who had served as the agency’s acting administrator.

The switch will not change NOAA’s mission or priorities, Jacobs said.

“This is a natural shift that occurs in agencies and departments over time,” a NOAA spokesperson told SeafoodSource in a prepared statement. “Both leaders are dedicated professionals who believe in the people, science, and missions at NOAA. The agency’s important work on behalf of the American people and businesses will occur seamlessly into the future.”

Jacobs said Gallaudet continues in his position as the assistant secretary for oceans and atmosphere in the Commerce Department. In this position, Gallaudet will work on the department’s Blue Economy initiative, which is looking to bolster how the U.S. can better leverage the resources in the world’s second-largest Exclusive Economic Zone.

One of the priorities for the Blue Economy initiative is to examine how the U.S. can increase the amount of seafood America produces. Currently, America imports roughly 90 percent of the fish and shellfish consumed annually. The initiative also calls for surveying for oil and gas exploration.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

NOAA Fisheries Announces Limited Openings of Recreational and Commercial Red Snapper Seasons in South Atlantic Federal Waters

March 4, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

WHAT/WHEN:

The recreational sector will open for harvest on the following days:

July 12, 13, and 14, 2019 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) – The recreational season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 12, 2019, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 15, 2019.

July 19 and 20, 2019 (Friday and Saturday) – The recreational season opens again at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 19, 2019, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 21, 2019.

The commercial sector will open for harvest at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 8, 2019, and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2020, unless the commercial annual catch limit is met or projected to be met before this date.

If the commercial sector needs to close before 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2020, NOAA Fisheries will announce it in the Federal Register and publish another Fishery Bulletin.

WHY THESE LIMITED OPENINGS ARE OCCURRING:

The limited openings are based on the final rule for Amendment 43 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 43) (83 FR 35428).

The final rule specified recreational and commercial annual catch limits for red snapper beginning in 2018 and subsequent years.

DURING THE LIMITED OPEN SEASONS:

The total annual catch limit will be 42,510 fish.

The recreational annual catch limit will be 29,656 fish.

The recreational bag limit will be one red snapper per person per day. This applies to private and charterboat/headboat vessels (the captain and crew on for-hire vessels may retain the recreational bag limit).

The commercial annual catch limit will be 124,815 pounds whole weight (12,854 fish).

The commercial trip limit will be 75 pounds gutted weight.

There will be no minimum or maximum size limits for the recreational or the commercial sectors.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

How did NOAA Fisheries determine the season length for the recreational sector?

NOAA Fisheries used 2018 recreational catch rate estimates to predict the recreational landings in 2019.

Catch rate estimates were available from the following data sources: (1) red snapper specific surveys for private recreational and charter vessel anglers conducted by all South Atlantic states, (2) Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), and (3) the Southeast Region Headboat Survey.

Why is the recreational season shorter than last year?

In 2018, the recreational season was open for 6 days.

Recreational landings exceeded the recreational annual catch limit during the 6-day fishing season in 2018.
Since NOAA Fisheries estimates the season length based upon catch rates from the previous year, this year is shorter by one day to reduce the likelihood that the recreational landings would exceed the recreational annual catch limit in 2019.

What are some Best Fishing Practices while fishing for red snapper?

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council identified the following best practices to reduce release mortality and further protect the population as it rebuilds:

Avoid areas likely to have red snapper if you already have met your recreational bag limit. If you are approaching your commercial vessel limit, move to a different area.

When red snapper are out of season, avoid areas where they are common.

Use single hook rigs since the recreational bag limit for red snapper during the proposed limited fishing seasons will be one per person per day. This will potentially reduce the number of red snapper that are caught on one drop.

Use non-offset circle hooks while fishing in areas where red snapper are common.

Use a dehooking device to remove the hook. Keep fish in the water if you plan to release them or return them to the water as quickly as possible.

Use descending devices when releasing fish with signs of barotrauma.