Saving Seafood

Time tension line-cutter could offer lobstermen a whale entanglement solution

March 4, 2019 — A Maine lobsterman and machinist believes he could have the solution to North Atlantic right whale entanglement issues in the state’s lobster fishery.

Ben Brickett of Blue Water Concepts presented – or more accurately re-presented – his idea for a “Time Tension Line-Cutter” at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum on 1 March. The technology, which he invented over a decade ago, provides a solution for whale entanglements that doesn’t compromise rope strength or require any electronics.

“I got started in this in 2003. A good friend of mine who works on an offshore lobster boat came by and was very concerned with having to put weaker lines on his gear,” Brickett said. The friend in question was fishing in deep water, with hauling tensions that can approach 10,000 pounds on large lobster trawls. “They wanted to know if we could put in some kind of timed weak link.”

Currently, the lobster industry in the Northeast U.S. is facing pressure after a number of entanglement-related deaths of North Atlantic right whales – an endangered species with just over 400 individuals left – occurred in 2018. Both NOAA fisheries and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council have been investigating methods to prevent potential entanglements by the lobster industry.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Extended: Voluntary Vessel Speed Restriction Zone South of Nantucket to Protect Right Whales

March 4, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The voluntary vessel speed restriction zone (Dynamic Management Area – DMA) previously established south of Nantucket has been extended to protect an aggregation of 10 right whales sighted in this area on March 1.

This DMA is in effect through March 17, 2019.

Mariners are requested to route around this area or transit through it at 10 knots or less. Whales were spotted in or near shipping lanes so please be especially vigilant when traveling in these areas.

Nantucket DMA coordinates:

41 12 N
40 28 N
070 36 W
069 31 W

ACTIVE SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREAS (SMAs)

Mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less (50 CFR 224.105) are in effect in the following areas:

Cape Cod Bay SMA — in effect through May 15

Mid-Atlantic U.S. SMAs (includes Block Island) — in effect through April 30

Southeast U.S. SMA — in effect through April 15

More info on Seasonal Management Areas

Right Whales Are Migrating

North Atlantic right whales are on the move along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. With an unprecedented 20 right whale deaths documented in 2017 and 2018, NOAA is cautioning boaters to give these endangered whales plenty of room. We are also asking commercial fishermen to be vigilant when maneuvering to avoid accidental collisions with whales, remove unused gear from the ocean to help avoid entanglements, and use vertical lines with required markings, weak links, and breaking strengths.

Right Whales in Trouble

North Atlantic right whales are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Scientists estimate there are slightly more than 400 remaining, making them one of the rarest marine mammals in the world.

In August 2017, NOAA Fisheries declared the increase in right whale mortalities an “Unusual Mortality Event,” which helps the agency direct additional scientific and financial resources to investigating, understanding, and reducing the mortalities in partnership with the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and outside experts from the scientific research community.

NMFS bycatch report expands to include more fisheries

March 1, 2019 — NMFS recently released an update to the the U.S. National Bycatch Report, adding to the document overall bycatch trends for major U.S. fisheries for 2014 and 2015. Bycatch trends remain the same, but the agency continues to add fisheries data to enhance the scope of the project.

The report was first published in 2011 and has seen three updates. The report is designed to track overall bycatch trends and inform fishery monitoring priorities.

In 2014, the fisheries included in the national bycatch report landed approximately 6.78 billion pounds and discarded an estimated 840 million pounds. The fisheries included for 2015 landed approximately 6.54 billion pounds and discarded an estimated 814 million.

In each region, NMFS collects data used for bycatch estimation by collecting information from fishermen and through observer programs.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

2018 Alaska Fisheries Science Center Year in Review

March 1, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

More fish come through the Alaska fishing port of Dutch Harbor than anywhere else in the Nation. In fact, Dutch Harbor and Kodiak, Alaska, are the top two U.S. fishing ports in landed volume. These same two ports rank No. 2 and No. 3 in U.S. economic value.

We collect biological, ecological, and environmental data during long-term, standardized research surveys, from fishing catches, and through other research activities. In the laboratory and in the field we study what fish and crabs eat, where they live, and how fast they grow. We input these data into sophisticated computer models to generate estimates of fish abundance (number of fish in the population), determine the potential impacts of environmental change, and recommend sustainable fishing limits. We also collect socio-economic data on fisheries and coastal communities, and other ecosystem data. Resource managers use this information to develop sound management measures ensuring healthy fisheries over the long term with ecological, economic, and socio-cultural benefits for the nation.

Our primary responsibility is to provide scientific data, analyses, and expert technical advice to marine resource managers (i.e., the NOAA Fisheries’ Alaska Regional Office, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, the State of Alaska, the International Pacific Halibut Commission, and the Pacific Salmon Commission), Alaska tribal governments, public stakeholders, and U.S. representatives participating in international fishery and marine mammal negotiations. The work of monitoring and assessing fish, crab, and marine mammal populations, fisheries, and marine ecosystems is mandated by legislation, which includes the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the U.S Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act.

Read the full release here

2019 Maine Fishermen’s Forum: Together We Achieve More

February 28, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The Maine Fishermen’s Forum is an annual gathering of commercial fishermen, gear suppliers, scientists, government representatives, and other stakeholders to talk about Maine’s commercial fishing industry, markets, technology, safety, and more. Scientists from our Science Center and staff from the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office participate in the Forum to collaborate and share information about Maine’s marine resources and how things like fishing regulations, climate change, and other related factors might impact the day-to-day and long-term operations of the fishing industry. By attending the Forum and participating in its seminars and panel discussions, we continue to build and strengthen our relationships with Maine’s commercial fishing industry and its regional stakeholders.

Here’s where to find our staff in action during the Forum, which is held at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine. We’re speaking at the events listed here. We’re also at the Trade Show, where both the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office and the Center’s Northeast Fisheries Observer Program have booths and are ready to talk.

Read the full release here

GARFO Permits Office Accepting Expired or Un-issued Certificates of Documentation on Permit Applications Through May 1

February 28, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Due to the interruption of federal services during the recent government shutdown, the GARFO Permit Office will accept fishing permit applications with expired U.S. Coast Guard Certificates of Documentation or with the application for a Certificate of Documentation through May 1, 2019.

If you meet one of the following categories below, you may submit your application without a current Certificate of Documentation.

No Change to Vessel Ownership or Change in Vessel Name Only

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 their Certificate of Documentation. Applicants must provide a copy of their most recent Certificate of Documentation.

Change in Vessel Ownership

If the vessel will be changing ownership, we will accept the application for a Certificate of Documentation and require a copy of the bill of sale signed by both the buyer and seller.

New Vessel Without GARFO Permits

If the vessel is applying for GARFO permits for the first time, we will accept the application for Certificate of Documentation.

Please note that this policy does not include state registered vessels, as they were not affected by the government shutdown. If your vessel has state registration, you will need to include the current registration with your permit application.

Visit our website for forms and applications.

Questions? Contact our Permits Office at 978-282-8438.

NOAA Fisheries Announces Reduction of the Northern Red Hake Commercial Possession Limit

February 27, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Effective today, we are reducing the northern red hake commercial per-trip possession from 3,000 lb to 400 lb per day. Federally permitted vessels fishing for northern red hake may not exceed the incidental commercial possession limit of 400 lb per trip for the remainder of the 2018 fishing year, which ends on April 30, 2019.

This reduction is required by regulation because as of February 13, 2019, the northern red hake fishery is projected to reach or exceed 37.9 percent of the total allowable landings (TAL) on or around February 22, 2019.

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

Over a bait barrel: Cuts in herring quota fueling rise in lobstermen’s costs

February 27, 2019 — When, on Feb. 15, NOAA Fisheries finalized a rule that cut the 2019 Atlantic herring quota by more than half from the previous year, the reverberations were felt instantly from Maine to the mid-Atlantic and in at least two separate but interlocked fisheries.

In Gloucester, Gerry O’Neill of Cape Seafoods studied the numbers and blanched, knowing they represented a talisman of misery for the company’s associated mid-water trawlers that harvest herring and Cape Seafoods’ bait business that helps supply lobstermen in the state’s most lucrative lobstering port.

“These cuts are infrastructure killers,” O’Neill said. “Certainly, not everybody’s going to come out unscathed. We’ll keep going, but I’m not entirely sure how yet.”

Across the Everett R. Jodrey State Fish Pier, where Johnny “Doc” Herrick ties up his F/V Dog & I, the longtime lobsterman absorbed the numbers and came to a simple conclusion: Bait was going to start getting scarce and prices — even for alternatives from herring, such as the redfish heads and hide skins Herrick often uses — were about to head north.

“We’re going to have to catch a (loads) of lobsters just to pay for the bait,” Herrick said. “Who knows how high the prices will go.”

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

New National Bycatch Report Shows Unchanged Trend, but More Data

February 26, 2019 — SEAFOOD NEWS — National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recently released their latest national report on bycatch taken in hundreds of fisheries around the country in 2014 and 2015. Bycatch amounts were almost identical each year with a slight increase in 2015.

In 2014, the commercial fisheries included in the national bycatch report landed approximately 6,780.27 M lb and discarded an estimated 837.87 M lb. The fisheries included in this report for 2015 landed approximately 6,538.20 M lb and discarded an estimated 814.53 M lb.

Since 2011, NMFS has published an NBR and three online updates. These reports provide information on overall bycatch and, in addition to stock assessments or other data on individual stocks and fisheries.

The most recent report, called NBR Update 3, documents many improvements in bycatch monitoring and reductions in bycatch. For example, the Greater Atlantic section includes 2014 and 2015 fish bycatch estimates for 34 and 35 commercial fisheries, respectively, compared with 24 fisheries for 2013 in the previous NBR Update. In addition, for 2014 and 2015, the list of fish species considered for estimation by the Greater Atlantic Region was expanded to well over 140 species for 2014 and 151 species for 2015, compared to 34 species for 2013.

The Southeast Region section includes first-time fish bycatch estimates (in the NBR) for the Southeastern Atlantic Shrimp Trawl Fishery and bycatch numbers for the Southeastern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Shark Bottom Longline Research Fishery, which has 100% observer coverage. The Alaska Region section includes bycatch estimates for 10 crab fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. These fisheries are under joint federal and state management.

In the West Coast Region, the California Drift Gillnet Fishery for swordfish and thresher shark, which reports bycatch in terms of numbers, experienced bycatch decreases from 1,647 individuals in 2014 to 649 individuals in 2015. This reduction was due partly to lower fishing effort in 2015.

For purposes of the National Bycatch Report (NBR), NMFS defines bycatch as discarded catch of any living marine resource plus unobserved mortality1 due to a direct encounter with fishing gear. This definition is more expansive than the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) definition of bycatch because the purpose of the NBR is to provide estimates of fishery interactions with marine mammals and seabirds as well as fish bycatch.

The full report may be seen here.

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

California could be held liable for whale entanglements

February 25, 2019 — The Center for Biological Diversity is hopeful its lawsuit filed over whale and sea turtle entanglements is nearing its conclusion after a federal judge suggested she may find the California Department of Fish and Wildlife liable for the entanglements, a center spokesman said.

“The judge said she was inclined to grant our motion and find the department liable for allowing these illegal whale entanglements,” spokesman Steve Jones said Friday after the hearing in United States District Court for the Northern District of California. “So the department’s lawyer asked her to delay that ruling for two weeks to see if our settlement talks can arrive at a remedy to the problem.”

The two parties have until March 13 to work out their differences and report back to the judge. If no settlement is reached, the judge will issue a finding.

The Center for Biological Diversity sued the state Department of Fish and Wildlife in October 2017, when the number of whale entanglements was skyrocketing. The peak came in 2016 when there were 71 confirmed whale entanglements.

Preliminary 2018 numbers show there were 45 confirmed whale entanglements, according to NOAA Fisheries. The numbers reflect through Nov. 28, 2018, and are not final. Among the 2018 reports was an August 2018 humpback whale who was reported entangled off the coast of Eureka.

Read the full story at Mercury News