Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Announces an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Consider the Use of Turtle Excluder Devices by Skimmer Trawl Vessels Less than 40 feet in Length in the Southeastern U.S. Shrimp Fisheries

April 22, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

KEY MESSAGE:

  • NOAA Fisheries is publishing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to request comments on requiring Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) on skimmer trawl vessels less than 40 feet in length.
  • As part of our efforts to conserve and recover threatened and endangered sea turtle populations, an existing final rule that becomes effective August 1, 2021 will require TEDs that allow the release of small turtles to be used by skimmer trawl vessels 40 feet and greater in length in the Southeastern U.S. shrimp fisheries.
  • An abundance of small sea turtles in shallow, coastal waters is attributed to numerous ongoing conservation efforts, such as the protection of sea turtle nesting beaches and the required use of TEDs in otter trawls participating in the shrimp fisheries.
  • We have continued testing and analysis of TED designs and use on small skimmer trawls, and now have effective designs that would reduce sea turtle bycatch.
  • We are seeking comments on the potential expansion of TED requirements for skimmer trawl vessels less than 40 feet (12.2 meters) in length, the feasibility of employing these TEDs on smaller length vessels, input on the associated costs of any new TED requirements, and other potential environmental impacts. Comments are due by May 20, 2021.
  • Skimmer trawl operators are currently allowed to use tow times instead of turtle excluder devices, but tow times are not as effective at reducing sea turtle mortality and are difficult to enforce.

HOW TO COMMENT ON THIS ADVANCED NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING:

The Comment period is open now through May 20, 2021. You may submit comments by electronic submission (described below) or by postal mail. Comments received after the end of the comment period may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.

FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 86 FR 20475 published April 20, 2021.

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

  1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/search?filter=2021-08108
  2. Click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields.
  3. Enter or attach your comments.

Mail: Submit written comments to Michael Barnette, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. 

Where can I find more information on TEDs, the TED rules, and how to comply with them?

Collaboration Offers the Best Hope for Lasting Puget Sound Salmon Solution

April 22, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Lorraine Loomis and Kelly Susewind got it right. Their joint column called for collaboration as the state and tribal co-managers of Puget Sound salmon “struggle to share a shrinking resource.”

That commitment, along with collaboration, will be key to reaching an agreement for salmon fishing in Puget Sound. The agreement will fulfill tribal treaty rights, provide opportunity for recreational and non-tribal commercial fishing, and conserve salmon. The co-managers have reached agreement on plans to share the catch of available Puget Sound salmon in 33 of the last 34 years. I know it has never been easy.

The depressed status of many Puget Sound salmon stocks continue to make it even more challenging.

The answer is not about winning or losing, as the co-managers said. Rather, “it’s about working together to meet one another’s needs by carefully crafting conservative fisheries that protect the weakest salmon stocks while providing for harvest when possible.”

Everyone who depends on Puget Sound salmon knows just how restrictive the fisheries have become. Most Puget Sound Chinook migrate north as young fish and rear off the coasts of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia. The Pacific Salmon Treaty has reshaped salmon fisheries across those boundaries. This has led to agreements with harvest cutbacks of 20 to 45 percent in Alaskan and Canadian fisheries since the early 2000s.

Read the full release here

NOAA Fisheries Fact-Checks Orca Bycatch Photo Circulating on Social Media

April 22, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries would like to clear up the disinformation surrounding a photo being circulated on social media of two orca whales taken as bycatch by a trawler in Alaskan waters. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement has confirmed that the photo is from an April 2020 incident. In that case, there were two independent fisheries observers aboard the vessel. The orca takes were reported promptly by the observers and vessel owner/operator to NOAA Fisheries, as required.

We do not have any recent reports of bycatch involving orcas off Alaska.

The United States’ science-based fishery management process is designed to provide optimum yield while preventing overfishing, minimizing bycatch, and protecting habitats where fish live. Section 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act allows for the incidental, but not intentional, takes of marine mammals in commercial fisheries. “Take” includes harassment, hunting, capturing, collecting, or killing of marine mammals. However, a marine mammal take is not legal unless it is reported by the vessel owners or operators through the Marine Mammal Authorization Program.

Bycatch of orcas in Alaska fisheries by any gear is very low. While incidental take of any individual marine mammal is concerning, NOAA Fisheries does not consider the low level of interactions between orcas and commercial fisheries in Alaska to have an adverse impact on any orca stock at a population level. No orca stocks in the Alaska region are listed as endangered, threatened, and/or candidate species under the Endangered Species Act.

Through the North Pacific Observer Program, our agency has rigorous methods for tracking catch and bycatch. At least two fisheries observers are required aboard all trawl catcher-processor vessels fishing off Alaska, so every haul is observed.

In addition to information collected by observers, vessel owners or operators must report to NOAA Fisheries all incidental mortalities and injuries of marine mammals that occur during commercial fishing operations. They must be reported within 48 hours of the end of the fishing trip under the law.

Read the full release here

NOAA Fisheries Sets Fishing Year 2021 Management Measures for the Common Pool Groundfish Fishery

April 21, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Effective May 1

We are setting common pool possession and trip limits to ensure that the common pool groundfish fishery is able to fully utilize its available quotas. Effective on May 1, these possession and trip limits were developed based on the common pool sub-Annual Catch Limits set by Framework Adjustment 59 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. We also considered preliminary 2021 sector rosters, expected common pool participation, common pool fishing activity in previous fishing years, and that Framework 61 is still being considered for approval. During the fishing year, we will monitor common pool catches, and will adjust common pool management measures, as necessary.

Additionally, Northeast multispecies vessels may not target yellowtail flounder within the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock Special Access Program (SAP) in fishing year 2021. Northeast multispecies vessels are not allowed to fish in this SAP using flounder trawl nets, but may fish in this SAP to target haddock with a haddock separator trawl, a Ruhle trawl, or hook gear. This SAP is open from August 1, 2021, through January 31, 2022.

Lastly, the Regular B Days-at-Sea (DAS) program is closed for fishing year 2021. During this closure, Northeast multispecies vessels may not declare or use regular B DAS.

For more details, read the notice as filed in the Federal Register and the permit holder bulletin.

Read the full release here

Request for Comments: Proposed Rule to Increase the Gray Triggerfish Catch Limits in the Gulf of Mexico

April 21, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Key Message:

NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on a proposed rule for gray triggerfish in the Gulf of Mexico.  Comments are due by May 21, 2021.

Summary of Proposed Changes:

  • The proposed rule increases the gray triggerfish catch limits by 151,600 lbs whole weight (ww) going from 305,300 lbs ww to 456,900 lbs ww.
  • This proposed rule retains the current sector allocation of 79% recreational and 21% commercial.
  • The recreational annual catch limit would increase to 360,951 lbs ww and the commercial annual catch limit would increase to 95,949 lbs ww.
  • This proposed rule would increase the buffers between the sector annual catch limits and annual catch targets to 24% for the recreational sector and 8% for the commercial sector.
  • The resulting annual catch targets would increase to 274,323 lbs ww for the recreational sector and 88,273 lbs ww for the commercial sector.

How to Comment on the Proposed Rule:

The comment period is open now through May 21, 2021.  You may submit comments by electronic submission or by postal mail.  Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.

FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 86 FR 20649, published April 21, 2021

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

  1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2021-0030.
  2. Click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields.
  3. Enter or attach your comments.

Mail: Submit written comments to Kelli O’Donnell, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack Recreational Fishing Season Reopens May 1-31, 2021

April 21, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Key Message:

NOAA Fisheries reminds recreational fishermen that the Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack recreational fishing season reopens 12:01 a.m., local time, on May 1, 2021 and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2021.

What this Means:

  • Preliminary landings indicate the recreational greater amberjack quota has not been met or projected to be met allowing the recreational fishing season to reopen May 1, 2021.
  • The recreational fishing season for greater amberjack will close for the remainder of the fishing year during its second seasonal closure, starting June 1 through July 31.
  • The 2021/2022 recreational greater amberjack fishing year will start on August 1, 2021.

Greater Amberjack Recreational Management Measures:

  • Fishing Year: August 1 – July 31
  • Seasonal Closure: November 1 – April 30 and June 1 – July 31
  • Minimum Size Limit: 34 inch fork length
  • Accountability Measures: Inseason closure and payback of any overage of the annual catch limit
  • Bag Limit: 1 fish per person
  • 2020/2021 annual catch limit: 1,309,620 lbs whole weight
  • 2020/2021 annual catch target: 1,086,985 lbs whole weight

NOAA Fisheries Releases New Species in the Spotlight Priority Action Plans

April 21, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA Fisheries released nine new Species in the Spotlight Priority Action Plans, two of which are for species in the Greater Atlantic Region. These plans highlight the most vital actions that NOAA Fisheries and our partners can take to reverse the declining populations of nine endangered marine species that are most at risk of extinction. Building on the successes of the past five years, NOAA Fisheries is renewing the initiative through 2025 to sustain momentum toward recovery.

GARFO’s two Species in the Spotlight are:

  • Atlantic Salmon Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment (DPS)
  • North Atlantic Right Whale (added in 2019)

NOAA’s seven other Species in the Spotlight are:

  • Central California Coast Coho Salmon Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU)
  • Cook Inlet Beluga Whale DPS
  • Hawaiian Monk Seal
  • Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle
  • Sacramento River Winter-run Chinook Salmon ESU
  • Southern Resident Killer Whale DPS
  • White Abalone

Established in 2015, the Species in the Spotlight initiative has since helped us achieve important milestones toward recovery. Watch the video.

We invite you to review the Species in the Spotlight Action Plans for 2021-2025 and learn more about our partners and what we have accomplished in the past 5 years. We appreciate all of our current partners and collaborators, as the steps we need to take to stabilize these species would not be possible without them.

Read our webstory to learn more.

Read the full release here

Extended Slow Zone East of Boston to Protect Right Whales

April 19, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries announces the extension of a Slow Zone set to expire east of Boston, MA. On April 17, 2021, residents of Nahant, MA observed (and photographed) the presence of right whales east of Boston, MA. This Slow Zone is in effect through May 2, 2021.

Mariners are requested to route around this or transit through it at 10 knots or less.

Slow Zone Coordinates:

East of Boston, MA, April 8 – May 2, 2021 *Extended*

42 39 N
41 54 N
070 08 W
071 06 W

See the coordinates for all the slow zones currently in effect.

Active Seasonal Management Areas 

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

Cape Cod Bay, January 1 – May 15

Off Race Point, March 1 – April 30

Great South Channel, April 1 – July 31

November 1 – April 30

Block Island Sound

Ports of New York/New Jersey

Entrance to the Delaware Bay
(Ports of Philadelphia and Wilmington)

Entrance to the Chesapeake Bay
(Ports of Hampton Roads and Baltimore)

Ports of Morehead City and Beaufort, NC

Within a continuous area 20-nm from shore between Wilmington, North Carolina, to Brunswick, Georgia.

Find out more and get the coordinates for each mandatory slow speed zone.

Read the full release here

SAFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting April 27-29 and May 3, 2021

April 19, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee will hold a multi-day meeting via webinar later this month to review recent stock assessments for Red Snapper, Tilefish and Gag Grouper and provide recommendations for consideration by the Council. Each of the eight regional fishery management councils in the U.S. has a Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) responsible for developing fishing level recommendations and reviewing the scientific basis of council management plans and actions.

The latest stock assessment for South Atlantic Red Snapper was completed through the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment process and made available in March 2021. During its meeting, the SSC will review the assessment and consider whether the results are useful for providing management advice and developing fishing level recommendations for the Council.

An SSC may use the information from the Stock Assessment Report as the basis for providing fishing level recommendations or request additional analyses be conducted.

Fishing level recommendations include an Overfishing Limit and the Acceptable Biological Catch. An overview of the Red Snapper Stock Assessment will be provided to the SSC by NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center on Tuesday, April 27th.

In addition to Red Snapper, the SSC will review stock assessments and provide fishing level recommendations for Tilefish (golden Tilefish) and Gag Grouper. The SSC will also provide guidance on the Council’s “Decision Tree” approach to allocations, the South Atlantic Research and Monitoring Plan and other agenda items.

Recommendations from the SSC will be provided to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council during its June 14-18, 2021 meeting scheduled via webinar.

The briefing book materials for the April 27-29 and May 3, 2021 SSC meeting, including the meeting agenda and overview, presentations, reports, webinar registration information and an online public comment form are now available from the Council’s website.

Click here to register now for the meeting via webinar and receive email reminders as the meeting dates approach.

Rep. Graves Statement on Today’s Gulf Fishery Management Council Red Snapper Decision

April 16, 2021 — The following was released by The Office of Congressman Garret Graves (R-LA):

Congressman Garret Graves (R-South Louisiana) released the following statement today following the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s decision to ​delay implementing calibration of Gulf State’s allocation of red snapper until January 2023:

“The Gulf Council decision today is absolutely the right one and shows that they realize that it would be virtually impossible to explain to the public how in the world you could have the assessment that just came out – the latest assessment using the best science – showing that there is triple the Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico, then in the same breath go and cut the amount of fishing days available to our recreational fishers. I’m glad that they listened to the message of our letter urging them toward this correct and defendable resource management decision.”

Background:

In March, Congressman Graves sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, the NOAA Fisheries Acting Regional Administrator, and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to avoid an unnecessary recalibration. Read the letter.