Saving Seafood

New Rules to Protect Turtles From Shrimp Nets Postponed

March 31, 2021 — New rules designed to keep endangered and threatened sea turtles from drowning in some inshore shrimp nets are being postponed, and federal regulators are considering whether to expand the rules, officials said Tuesday.

Coronavirus pandemic restrictions over the past year have limited in-person workshops and training opportunities for fishermen to install escape hatches called turtle excluder devices, or TEDs, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. Therefore, the new rules announced in 2019 will take effect Aug. 1 instead of on Thursday.

“The delay … is to allow NOAA Fisheries additional time for training fishermen, ensuring TEDs are built and installed properly, and for responding to installation and maintenance problems when the regulations go in effect,” the statement said.

Six species of sea turtles, all of them endangered or threatened, are found in U.S. waters.

The rule requires the devices on skimmer trawls pulled by boats at least 40 feet (12 meters) long.

NOAA Fisheries is reconsidering whether to require the devices on boats shorter than 40 feet long, “and whether additional rulemaking is currently warranted,” the statement said.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at U.S. News

5 Things You Should Know About Sustainable Seafood

March 31, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

In the United States, sustainable seafood is not only a possibility, it’s our priority. Fish, shellfish, and marine algae are renewable resources—they can reproduce and replenish their populations naturally. That means we can sustainably harvest fish within certain limits without depleting their populations. Fishery management is the process of using science to determine these limits—catching some fish while leaving some to reproduce and replace the fish that are caught. The United States is a global leader in seafood sustainability.

Our global population is rising, but our global abundance of wild fish is not. Aquaculture, or farming in water, plays a critical role in ensuring that our need for seafood is met sustainably. It is a resource-efficient way of increasing and diversifying U.S. seafood production. The future of sustainable seafood must include both farm-raised and wild-capture seafood. Seafood farming, if done responsibly as it is in the United States, is increasingly recognized as one of the most environmentally sustainable ways to produce food and protein.

Read on to learn more about what sustainable seafood means in the United States and how we are working to support healthy fisheries and provide safe sources of seafood.

1. U.S. fishermen abide by some of the most rigorous environmental measures in the world.

The United States has a well-earned reputation as a global leader in sustainability. U.S. fisheries management is guided by several laws, including the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Endangered Species Act.

Learn more about the laws and policies that keep our ocean resources productive and sustainable

2. U.S. fisheries are managed under 10 national standards of sustainability.

These standards aim to prevent overfishing, protect other species and habitat, and minimize bycatch on non-target species. They ensure sustainable and responsible fishery management in the United States.

Learn more about the National Standards

3. Managing wild fish populations sustainably and keeping fishermen on the job is a dynamic process.

U.S. fisheries management is a transparent and robust process, based on strong science, responsive management, and enforced compliance. NOAA Fisheries works closely with eight regional fishery management councils, whose members represent commercial and recreational fishing, environmental, academic, and government interests.

Learn more about how we manage fisheries in the United States

4. Expanding aquaculture can stabilize and diversify seafood supply.

Aquaculture is a sustainable way to produce food, using fewer resources than other protein sources. This is especially important when considering the impacts of climate change on land-based farming and wild-capture fisheries.

Learn more about how aquaculture supports a sustainable Earth

5. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing leads to unsafe and unsustainable practices and harms law-abiding fishermen around the world.

Combating IUU fishing is a top priority for the United States. NOAA Fisheries is proud to be a leader in the nation’s comprehensive approach to this battle. We work with U.S. and state agencies to promote compliance with import requirements that help prevent IUU fish and fish products from entering our markets. We also work with foreign governments and regional fisheries management organizations to promote international cooperation to achieve effective, responsible marine stewardship and ensure sustainable fisheries management.​

Learn more about how NOAA is working to combat illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing globally

Sustainable seafood is a continuous journey and science is a big part of our success. Effective management for both wild-caught and farmed species starts with accurate scientific information about fish and fisheries. Be sure to visit our site regularly to learn even more about how we support safe sources of seafood by ensuring our fisheries are productive and sustainable.

NOAA Fisheries Announces Atlantic Herring Management Area 3 Sub-ACL Harvested

March 31, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Effective at 00:01 April 1

Under the New England Fishery Management Council’s Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan, no person may fish for, possess, transfer, receive, land, sell, or purchase more than 2,000 lb of herring per trip or calendar day from Area 3 for the remainder of the fishing season when 98 percent of the sub-annual catch limit is harvested. As of April 1, 2021, we project 98 percent of the Area 3 Atlantic herring catch limit will be harvested, requiring a closure of the directed fishery.

At 00:01 hours on April 1, 2021, a 2,000-lb herring possession limit per trip or calendar day will become effective for Management Area 3 (Figure 1) and will be in effect until December 31, 2021. This reduced possession limit does not apply to a vessel that enters port before 00:01 local time on April 1, 2021.

Also at 00:01 hours on April 1, 2021, no federally permitted dealer may purchase, possess, have custody or control of, sell, barter, trade or transfer, or attempt to sell, barter, trade, or transfer more than 2,000 lb of herring per trip or calendar day from Management Area 3 through 24:00 hr local time, December 31, 2021, unless it is from a vessel that enters port before 00:01 local time on April 1, 2021.

For additional information, please see the rule as filed in the Federal Register and our bulletin.

Questions?

Fishermen: Contact Lou Forristall, Sustainable Fisheries, 978-282-8457

Media: Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, 978-281-9175

NOAA Fisheries Announces the 2021-2022 Recreational Fishing Season for Black Sea Bass in the South Atlantic Region

March 31, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

KEY MESSAGE:

  • The 2021-2022 recreational fishing season for black sea bass in federal waters of the South Atlantic, south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (35°15.19′ N. latitude), will open April 1, 2021, at 12:01 a.m., local time, and will close April 1, 2022, at 12:01 a.m., local time.
  • The recreational fishing season for black sea bass in the South Atlantic region begins on April 1st and ends when the recreational catch limit is predicted to be met.
  • Estimates indicate recreational landings for the 2021-2022 fishing year will be below the 2021-2022 recreational catch limit. Therefore, black sea bass will be open for the entire 2021-2022 recreational fishing year.

WHY THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS HAPPENING:

  • NOAA Fisheries projects that the 2021-2022 recreational catch limit of 366,510 pounds whole weight will not be met as recreational landings in the past three fishing years with available data were substantially below this value.
  • This announcement is in compliance with the current regulations which require NOAA Fisheries to announce the length of the recreational season.

Read the full release here

NOAA Fisheries Proposes to Approve 16 Groundfish Sectors for Fishing Years 2021 and 2022 and Allocate Annual Catch Entitlements for Fishing Year 2021

March 31, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries received sector operations plans and contracts from 16 groundfish sectors for the 2021 and 2022 fishing years. We are proposing to approve these 16 operations plans and grant 19 regulatory exemptions to improve the efficiency and flexibility of sector vessels. We are also proposing to allocate annual catch entitlements for fishing year 2021 based on Framework 59 and default specifications. Annual catch entitlements may be modified based on the New England Fishery Management Council’s recommendations in Framework 61, if approved, at a later date.

This proposed rule announces our determination that the electronic monitoring audit model is sufficient for use in place of at-sea monitors for catch accounting. Sector vessels may choose to use either at-sea monitoring or electronic monitoring to meet monitoring requirements, provided that the vessel’s sector has a corresponding monitoring program approved as part of its fishing years 2021-22 sector operations plan.

The proposed rule is published in the Federal Register. Submit your comments through the online portal. The comment period is open through April 15, 2021.

Copies of each sector’s draft operations plan and contract are available online.

Questions?

Media: Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, 978-281-9175

Fishermen: Contact Claire Fitz-Gerald, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 978-281-9255

Reminder: Requirements for the Limited Access Atlantic Mackerel Fishery

March 31, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

In order to participate in the Atlantic mackerel fishery you must follow certain notification, reporting, and monitoring requirements.

General requirements are below:

For more information and additional requirements please read our bulletin.

Questions?

Industry: Contact Aly Pitts, Sustainable Fisheries, 978-281-9352

Media: Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, 978-281-9175

  • Submit weekly vessel trip reports (VTRs) for all permits.
  • Provide 48-hr pre-trip notification to retain more than 20,000 lb (9.07 mt) of mackerel.
  • Please call Sara Weeks at 508-642-6005 for a mackerel trip that will not be catching and retaining herring. For a trip that would be a herring or groundfish combination trip with mackerel, please notify NOAA Fisheries via PTNS at least 48 hours prior to beginning any trip to be considered for monitoring coverage.
    • Enter trips up to, but no more than, 10 days in advance.
    • Login with your vessel permit number and Fish Online PIN.
    • Call the Fish Online Help Desk at 978-281-9188 if you need a PIN.
    • Enter your fishery, trip type, sail date, port of departure, trip length, and gear type.
    • Call the PTNS Help Desk at 855-FISHES-1 if you need assistance or have questions.
  • Declare trips via VMS and submit daily catch reporting via VMS for limited access mackerel vessels
  • Provide 6-hr pre-landing notification via VMS to land over 20,000 lb (9.07 mt) of mackerel

$12.3 million available for Louisiana fisheries assistance

March 31, 2021 — Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced Tuesday $12,339,916 in funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries to assist fisheries across Louisiana. The funding is provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and will support activities that have been authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

“Commercial fisheries support one of 70 jobs in Louisiana, and the pandemic hit them hard. Louisiana fishermen are resilient, and these funds will help get our fisheries back on their feet,” said Kennedy.

The funding will directly support coastal states and territories, including Louisiana, whose fisheries have suffered under the pandemic.

Read the full story from WVUE at FOX 8

Climate Change Raises Risk of Prey Mismatch for Young Cod in Alaska

March 30, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

For a young Pacific cod, first feeding is a life-or-death moment. Cod larva are nourished by a yolk sac after they hatch. Once the yolk sac is depleted, they must find food within days in order to survive. If there is no prey available during that critical window for first feeding, young fish face starvation.

Warming Alaska waters are increasing the risk of prey mismatch and starvation for cod larvae, a new study finds.

NOAA Fisheries scientists collaborated with our partners to look at how temperature shifts affected first feeding Pacific cod larvae in two large ecosystems: the southeast Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. The models made predictions for 1998–2019, a period that encompassed warm and cool years, including a series of extreme heatwave events beginning in 2014.

“Warming can increase the metabolic demands of fish and shift the timing of their food production. So you have temperature unravelling the system, moving food around. And you have fish needing food now. When mismatched prey timing and increased metabolic demand line up, it can be pretty disastrous,” said Ben Laurel, NOAA Fisheries scientist at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, who led the study. “The better we can understand and predict these effects, the more effectively we can manage them now and in the future.”

Read the full release here

Tackling Tuna Conservation and Management Measures During the Global Pandemic

March 30, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The past year posed significant logistical challenges for multilateral organizations charged with the management and conservation of tunas and other highly migratory fish stocks. They had to adapt to new formats to make critical decisions on the sustainable management of these stocks. The shift to virtual meetings and email-based decision processes caused these organizations to streamline the number of issues they worked on. This allowed decisions to be made that ensured the continuity of management for key fish stocks, by extending many management measures set to expire in 2020.

The United States is a member of several regional fisheries management organizations. Three of them are responsible for the conservation and management of tuna and tuna-like stocks. These organizations are often where dozens of countries and fishing entities come together to discuss and develop international fisheries management measures. They set the rules for how, and how much, fish can be caught, frequently through challenging—and previously in-person–multilateral negotiations.

Through these organizations, the United States promotes the long-term sustainability of fish stocks through science-based management. We work to ensure that new measures are fair and equitable to U.S. stakeholders.

Read the full release here

Reminders for For-Hire Vessels and Tilefish Anglers

March 30, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Reporting

As the recreational fishing season gets going, we are reminding all GARFO permitted vessel operators about the current reporting requirements:

  • For-hire (party and charter) vessels that hold federal permits for species managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council must submit their Vessel Trip Reports (VTR) electronically.
  • Vessels issued only a Northeast multispecies (groundfish) charter/party permit may report on paper or electronic VTRs, until later this fall when e-VTRs will be required. You are encouraged to start reporting electronically as soon as possible.

Tilefish anglers on private vessels must submit their VTRs electronically for trips targeting or catching golden and blueline tilefish.

All fishermen can choose from several smart devices and web-based apps to report electronically. For more information and technical support, go to our Vessel Trip Reporting web page. You can also contact your local Port Agent

Upcoming Recreational Cod and Haddock Seasons

The recreational Gulf of Maine cod and haddock season opens on April 1. Read our notice for more information on these fisheries.

Slow Down for Whales

Endangered North Atlantic right whales have returned to Massachusetts waters. We encourage vessel operators to slow down to 10 knots or less to avoid deadly collisions with these whales. In some of these waters, speed restriction measures are in place and enforced. Learn more about federal and state speed restrictions and use the Whale Alert App to stay informed about right whale detections and Right Whale Slow Zones.

Questions?

Fishermen: Contact William Duffy,  Analysis and Program Support Division, 978-290-1723

Media: Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, 978-281-9175