Saving Seafood

New Analysis Compares Costs of Electronic Monitoring and At-Sea Observers

September 9, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Earlier this year, NOAA Fisheries issued regional electronic technology implementation plans that lay out our vision for the implementation of electronic technology in U.S. fisheries. One key element missing from those plans and ongoing Fishery Management Council discussions was cost information. 

Today, NOAA Fisheries is releasing two reports comparing costs of actual at-sea monitors and observers against a proposed electronic monitoring system in hypothetical Northeast groundfish and Atlantic herring/mackerel fisheries.

We found that electronic technologies can be a cost-efficient monitoring option in some cases, but not always. Our findings suggest technology, such as on-board camera systems, may be most cost-effective for monitoring compliance, such as in the midwater trawl herring and mackerel fisheries. Our reports also show that human observers proved more cost-efficient than electronic technologies at catch accounting, such as required for groundfish sectors.

Any monitoring program must weigh many factors including data quality, feasibility, and cost. This analysis of relative costs fills an important information gap, and is a first step that will help inform the broader discussion taking place at the Fishery Management Councils about the most effective way to monitor fisheries.  

You can find the full reports, including details about factors driving program costs and our assumptions, as well as an independent peer review pf the report, online.

NOAA Fisheries unveils climate science strategy

September 4, 2015 — As ocean conditions continue to change, putting ocean ecosystems and the communities that rely upon them at risk, NOAA took a first step in providing regional fisheries managers and stakeholders with information they need to reduce the effects of climate change and build resilience.

“NOAA just announced that for the globe the month of July — and actually, the entire year so far — was the warmest ever recorded, driven largely by record warm ocean temperatures,” said Eileen Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for fisheries.

“Those warmer waters – along with rising seas, coastal droughts and ocean acidification – are already putting people, businesses, and communities at risk. With this strategy, we’re taking a proactive approach in providing information on current and future conditions to try and reduce impacts and increase our resilience,” pointed out Sobeck.

The NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy identifies seven key steps to increase production, delivery, and use of climate-related information to support the management of fish stocks, fisheries, and protected species. The steps focus on how a changing climate affects living marine resources, ecosystems, and the communities that depend on them, and how to respond to those changes.

Read the full story at IFFO

Edgartown Mass. commercial fishermen continue to adjust to new realities

September 2, 2015 — Edgartown’s commercial trap fishing industry is tough work. It is evident as much in the number of working boats and fishermen seeking conch and sea bass as it is anecdotally. Those fishermen who remain put in long days and work under strict quotas and regulations. However, fishing is all they’ve done for most of their lives, and they say they are committed to riding out what wave is left of the local industry.

Island landings of channeled whelk, commonly referred to as conch, the most lucrative species caught in Island waters, are valued at more than $2 million each year since 2011, according to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF).

Behind conch are oysters, with Martha’s Vineyard landings valued at $1.3 million in 2014. There is one important distinction. Unlike conch, which are  wild-caught, oysters are for the most part raised in the protected waters of Island bays and ponds. Bay scallops, which are propagated as part of an extensive taxpayer-supported program, accounted for just over $700,000.

Even as conch fishing holds steady, the number of commercial fishermen registered as Island residents has started to decline, according to the DMF. In 2008, there were 360 registered Vineyard commercial fishermen. As of 2015, there are 263.

“Conch fishing is tough fishing,” commercial fisherman Tom Turner of Edgartown said as he replaced lost or damaged sea bass traps aboard his boat, the Sea Raven, docked at Memorial Wharf in Edgartown on a hot and sunny August afternoon.

The commercial sea bass season is short. Fishermen can only go out three days a week: Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and each day they fish, they’re allowed to catch no more than 300 pounds of sea bass, Mr. Turner said. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sets quotas and updates fishermen as they change.

Read the full story at Martha’s Vineyard Times

 

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.