Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Stock Assessment Workgroup Members

September 3, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

We are seeking members for regional stock assessment workshop working groups for upcoming assessments of monkfish, black sea bass, surfclam, ocean quahog, and mackerel. The Northeast Regional Coordinating Council, which oversees the stock assessment process in the region, recently revised the way members for working groups are selected. To be considered for a working group, please follow the instructions found here.  Deadline for application is September 30, 2015.

Questions? Contact Olivia Rugo, Regional Office, at 978-675-2167 or Olivia.Rugo@noaa.gov.

2016/2017 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program – Proposals Due October 31, 2015

September 2, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NMFS, in coordination with the New England Fishery Management Council, is soliciting Atlantic Sea Scallop research proposals to utilize scallop Total Allowable Catch that has been set-aside by the Council to fund scallop research endeavors through the 2016/2017 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Program. No federal funds are provided for research under this notification. Rather, proceeds generated from the sale of RSA quota will be used to fund research activities and compensate vessels that participate in research activities and/or harvest set-aside quota.

Click here for Information about this opportunity. To apply for this NOAA Federal Funding Opportunity, go to www.grants.gov, and use the following funding opportunity #: NOAA-NMFS-NEFSC-2016-2004548.

Questions? Contact Olivia Rugo, Regional Office, at 978-675-2167 or Olivia.Rugo@noaa.gov.

Atlantic Shark Commercial Fishery Landings Update, January 1 – August 21, 2015

August 31, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Below are the preliminary landings estimates in metric tons (mt) and pounds (lb) dressed weight (dw) for the Atlantic shark commercial fisheries; 1 mt is equal to 2,204.6 pounds.  These preliminary estimates are based on dealer reports and other information received from January 1 through August 21, 2015.  The estimates include landings by state-only permitted vessels, federally permitted vessels, and the 2015 shark research fishery participants.

Read the full release from NOAA Fisheries

Georgia Aquarium Battles Federal Government Over Belugas

August 14, 2015 — ATLANTA (AP) — The Georgia Aquarium says a government agency’s denial of its permit to import 18 beluga whales from Russia was arbitrary and capricious, but the government argues the aquarium failed to meet the requirements of a law meant to protect marine mammals.

The aquarium in September 2013 filed a lawsuit asking a judge to overturn the denial of its June 2012 application by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service, known as NOAA Fisheries. Lawyers for the two sides faced off Friday in federal court in Atlanta.

Each side accused the other of twisting the facts, with a lawyer for the aquarium saying the government had “cooked the books” on whale population numbers and a lawyer for NOAA Fisheries accusing the aquarium trying “to confuse the court.”

The two sides have asked U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg to make a decision on the merits of the case, based on court filings and oral arguments, without holding a trial. Totenberg asked questions of both sides and seemed troubled by “an extremity of data poverty” concerning beluga population numbers.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at The New York Times

NOAA Fisheries Announces Reduction in Northern Red Hake Possession Limit

August 12, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

As of today, NOAA Fisheries is reducing the possession limit of northern red hake for the remainder of the 2015 fishing year (April 30, 2016) to ensure the total allowable landings will not be exceeded.

The northern red hake possession limit must be reduced from 3,000 lb to 1,500 lb when landings for the fishing year reach or are projected to reach 45 percent of the total allowable landings. The northern red hake fishery was projected to have reached this level on August 10.

This limit goes into effect on Wednesday, August 12.  Vessels currently on a trip are allowed to retain northern red hake in accordance with the previous possession limit of 3,000 lb.

Read the rule as filed in the Federal Register, or read the permit holder bulletin on our website.

Questions? Contact Reid Lichwell, Regional Office, at 978-281-6112 or reid.lichwell@noaa.gov.

NOAA Fisheries Announces New 2015 Scallop Regs Story Map: New Way to See Information

August 12, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Office has posted our first Story Map, a new communication tool for complicated map-based information. Story Maps allow us to combine maps with explanations, images, and videos, to provide a new way for viewers to see and interact with information.

Our first test of the Story Map tool shows an overview of the existing 2015 Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery regulations. The Story Map allows users to easily find what they need. For example, users can locate open and closed areas at different times of year, see gear requirements by area, and get other regulatory information.

The Story Map is live on our Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery page. Also included is an instructional video on how to use a Story Map for those who want more information.

This Story Map is our first contribution to the growing number of map-based web applications on the NOAA GeoPortal. We hope to produce many more in the year to come.

Please tell us what you think!

Send your comments, suggestions, and questions on the Story Map concept to:
Dean-Lorenz Szumylo
GIS Specialist, Information Resource Management
Dean.Szumylo@noaa.gov
(978) 282-8479

If you have questions about the 2015 Atlantic Sea Scallop regulations, please contact:
Travis Ford
Fishery Policy Analyst, Sustainable Fisheries Division
Travis.Ford@noaa.gov
(978) 281-9233

Emily Gilbert
Fishery Policy Analyst, Sustainable Fisheries Division
Emily.Gilbert@noaa.gov
(978) 281-9244

NOAA Fisheries Announces Atlantic Mackerel Fishery Consequence Measures for Slippage Events

August 11, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries announces measures to enhance catch monitoring and address slippage (catch that is discarded before it has been sampled by observers) in the Atlantic mackerel fishery.

The slippage consequence measures for limited access mackerel vessels carrying an observer are:

  • If slippage occurs due to safety, mechanical failure, or excess catch of spiny dogfish, the vessel has to move and remain at least 15 nautical miles from the location of slippage; and
  • If slippage occurs for any other reason, the vessel must terminate its trip immediately and return to port.

We are also requiring that vessel operators report slippage events that occur on observed trips via the vessel monitoring system daily catch reports.

Read the final rule as filed in the Federal Register today, and the permit holder bulletin available on our website.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, at 978-281-9175 or email Jennifer.Goebel@noaa.gov.

MONEY FOR NEW ENGLAND GROUNDFISH MONITORS TO LAST THROUGH OCTOBER

August 5, 2015 — NOAA Fisheries now says it expects to continue paying for at-sea monitoring of Northeast multispecies groundfish vessels through Oct. 31, two months longer than the federal agency initially projected.

The news that that permit holders will have at least two more months before they have to absorb the responsibility for paying for at-sea observers on their boats certainly is welcome, even if the reason for it is not.

“Due to reduced effort (by fishermen), the money is lasting longer,” Jennifer Goebel, a spokeswoman at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Gloucester, said Wednesday.

NOAA initially projected the money allotted for at-sea monitoring would run out around Aug. 31, but shrinking catch quotas, area closures and the absence of any opportunity to land cod, which remains the elemental stock for Gloucester and the region’s groundfishermen, has left NOAA with fewer vessels to monitor on far fewer trips.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

 

 

NOAA Fisheries Releases Final Report on Stock Assessment Prioritization

August 5, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries announces the release of a new stock assessment prioritization system, which is described in the new report, Prioritizing Fish Stock Assessments.

This prioritization system will guide regional planning decisions for upcoming stock assessment cycles and will help managers make the best use of data and resources to manage stocks.

NOAA Fisheries, in partnership with the Councils and Commissions, manages approximately 500 fish stocks.  Resources available to assess these stocks are limited. This system relies on regional expertise from scientists and managers as well as quantitative data on each stock, much of which is already available in national/regional databases. 

Read the report on the NOAA Fisheries website, and find more information about stock assessment prioritization. Additional supporting information is available online through the Office of Science and Technology.

2887beb9-b516-4851-be4c-f7a66872c0db

Atlantic herring. Credit: NOAA

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on Proposed Rule to Modify Lobster Area 4 Seasonal Closure

August 5, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries is proposing a modification to the Lobster Conservation Management Area 4 seasonal closure at the recommendation of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which leads the management for American lobster.

Under the proposed rule, the Area 4 closure would be changed from February 1-March 31 to April 30-May 31.

This measure is designed to better reduce fishing effort on the Southern New England lobster stock, which is in poor condition. This area closure shift has already been implemented by states adjacent to Area 4.

Read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register.

The comment period is open through September 4. Submit your comments online through Regulations.gov or by mailing your comments to:

John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator
NMFS,Greater Atlantic Regional Office
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930

Please mark the outside of the envelope: Comments on American Lobster Proposed Rule.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, at 978-281-9175 or Jennifer.Goebel@noaa.gov.