Saving Seafood

Proposed 2021-2026 Specifications for the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries

February 17, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries seeks comments on a proposed rule that would set the commercial harvest quotas for Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs for the 2021 through 2026 fishing years based on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s recommendation.

The proposed quotas, which have remained unchanged since 2004, are:

  • Atlantic surfclams: 3.4 million bushels
  • Ocean quahogs: 5.36 million bushels
  • Maine ocean quahogs: 100,000 Maine bushels

In addition, the Atlantic surfclam minimum size limit would be suspended for 2021, as it has been every year since 2005. There is currently no minimum size for ocean quahogs.

For more details on the proposed specifications, read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register, and submit your comments through the online portal. The comment period is open through March 4, 2021.

Questions?

Industry: Contact Laura Hansen, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 978-281-9225

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

Celebrate Black History Month with NOAA Fisheries

February 16, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Black History Month is observed every February to recognize the history and achievements of African Americans and their central role in our nation’s history. As we celebrate this year, we’d like to highlight the extraordinary research and important contributions of African Americans at NOAA Fisheries. Trailblazers like Dr. Ambrose Jearld, one of NOAA’s first African American fisheries biologists, led the way for many young scientists and specialists to pursue their dreams and their passion for marine and environmental science. Check out these interviews with our colleagues to learn more about their contributions to NOAA.

Watch this video featuring Dr. Ambrose Jearld

Larry Alade, Research Fisheries Biologist

Larry’s primary role as research fisheries biologist is to investigate and develop scientific tools to assess the health of fish populations in the region to inform and advise the federal fishery management process. This involves studying and monitoring changes in fish abundance, distribution and demographics (i.e. size, age, sex etc.), measuring and quantifying impacts of fishing activity and understanding biological and physical processes within the ecosystem that contribute to the observed changes in the fishery resource.

He first came to the Northeast Fisheries Science Center as an intern after completing his master’s degree in applied computer science. He later returned to the Science Center while earning his doctoral degree. After finishing his Ph.D., the Science Center hired him in 2008 to work for the Population Dynamics Branch assessing groundfish stocks. Larry is a 2020 John Bullard Diversity Award winner.

Learn more about Larry Alade and his work

Read the full release here

Commercial Hook-and-Line Harvest of King Mackerel in Federal Waters of the Gulf of Mexico Southern Zone Will Close on February 22, 2021

February 16, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

WHAT/WHEN:

  • Commercial hook-and-line harvest of king mackerel in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) Southern Zone (depicted in map below) will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on February 22, 2021.
  • Commercial hook-and-line harvest will reopen at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 1, 2021.

WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:

  • The 2020/2021 commercial hook-and-line quota for the Gulf Southern Zone is 575,400 pounds.
  • Updated landings data indicate that commercial hook-and-line harvest of king mackerel in this zone is rapidly approaching the quota.
  • In accordance with the regulations NOAA Fisheries is required to close harvest for a species when the quota has been met or is projected to be met.  This closure is needed to constrain landings to commercial hook-and-line quota in the Southern Zone.

DURING THE CLOSURE:

  • No commercial hook-and-line fisherman may keep for sale king mackerel in or from the closed Southern Zone after 12:01 a.m., local time, on February 22, 2021.
  • The Southern Zone gillnet component closed on January 28, 2021.
  • Therefore, no king mackerel caught in this zone may be purchased, bartered, traded, or sold after 12:01 a.m., local time, on February 22, 2021.
  • The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to trade in hook-and-line king mackerel that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold before 12:01 a.m., local time, February 22, 2021, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
  • Persons aboard commercial vessels with a federal king mackerel permit may fish for and retain the recreational bag and possession limit of king mackerel during the open recreational season, even if commercial fishing for this species is closed in this zone or others.
Read the full release here

REMINDER: NOAA Fisheries reaches out to fishermen by phone; conducting surveys for scientists to assess impacts on commercial/for-hire fishing operations and seafood dealers/processors related to COVID-19

February 16, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

KEY MESSAGE:

NOAA Fisheries and our partner, the University of Florida, are teaming up on a phone survey to assess the impact of COVID-19 on commercial/for-hire fishing operations and on seafood dealers and processors. The phone survey is a follow-up to an earlier on-line survey conducted in July and August on economic impacts for the first half of 2020. The upcoming survey will assist us in assessing economic impacts over the entire calendar year.

Survey participants were randomly selected to participate. If you receive a phone call from the University of Florida with a 352 area code, your response is very important to the success of this survey. It will take less than 10 minutes, and the information you provide is strictly confidential.

URPOSE OF THE SURVEY:

We are using this multi-region survey to inform NOAA Fisheries, the Department of Commerce, Congress, fishery management councils, state fishery managers, and stakeholders about the economic and social impacts that the recent economic downturn has had on the fishing industry.

NOAA Fisheries will draft reports for the public detailing the revenue losses and recovery of fishing-dependent businesses over the past year. Here is a look at what we have already been able to capture and release in a series of snapshot reports. You helped make this information available to us.

Read the full release here

Increased whiting quota could boost revenues

February 12, 2021 — The New England Fishery Management Council has approved new measures for the region’s small-mesh multispecies fishery for the next three fishing years, including a significant increase in whiting possession limits for individual trips.

The council, at its meeting in late January, set the per-trip possession limits for whiting — northern silver hake and southern whiting — at 15,000 pounds per vessel to help reduce discards.

“The increase is expected to reduce discards by fishermen using less than 3-inch codend mesh trawls,” the council said. “This mesh size is often used to target other species such as herring and squid, and whiting bycatch in the squid fishery has increased in recent years.”

The 15,000-pound limit, according to the council, will allow fishermen to land more of their whiting catch as they target the other species. It is expected the new limit will help fishermen increase revenues without having a negative impact on the stock status.

The council also approved a 90% total allowable catch trigger for northern red hake. The trigger is used as an in-season adjustment to prevent overfishing.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

Gina Raimondo nomination rekindles fish vs. turbine fight

February 12, 2021 — In 2019, long-simmering differences between Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) and the state’s fishing industry boiled over.

The dispute concerned a plan to limit fishermen’s financial losses associated with a proposed $2 billion offshore wind project. Many boat captains felt the deal undervalued their catch, and they directed their ire at Raimondo, an outspoken offshore wind advocate, accusing her of freezing the fishing industry out of negotiations with Vineyard Wind, the project developer.

At a meeting of the state’s Coastal Resources Management Council that February, many lined up to blast the package. Council members, who are appointed by the governor, expressed sympathy for the concerns but argued that it represented the best offer. They ultimately signed off on the deal.

Fishing companies, incensed by the decision, turned their attention to NOAA Fisheries, the federal agency tasked with assessing the project’s impact on fish stocks. One outspoken critic wrote an email to NOAA staffers the next day calling the deal “an absolute roll over of the fishing industry” (Climatewire, Oct. 25, 2019).

A NOAA official wrote back a week later saying that many at the agency shared the concerns, foreshadowing a decision from the agency two months later not to sign off on a draft environmental study conducted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the lead federal permitting agency.

Read the full story at E&E News

Electronic Reporting and Online Permitting Information for Federally Permitted Lobstermen

February 12, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Below is information to answer some commonly asked questions as we shift to electronic reporting and online permitting in the future.

Do I Need to Submit Trip Reports?

  • We are implementing electronic reporting requirements for much of the commercial fishing industry in our region.
  • If you hold any GARFO fishing permit in addition to your lobster permit, you must report all of your fishing activity, including lobster fishing, in both state and federal waters.
  • We strongly recommend that you start reporting electronically as soon as possible. See our eVTR webpage for more information.
  • If you hold only a GARFO issued American lobster permit, you do not have to report your fishing trips to us; however, state agencies may have their own reporting requirements.
  • Following a recommendation by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, we may establish a vessel trip reporting requirement for lobster-only permit holders in future years.

How Do I Renew My Permit?

  • You may go online to renew your GARFO vessel permit for 2021.
  • Go to our Vessel Permitting webpage for instructions.
  • To renew your permit online, you will need a Fish Online account.
  • Instructions for creating an account are found on our How to Create an Account in Fish Online and Link to a Vessel webpage.
  • If you don’t apply online, we will mail a 2021 paper renewal application to you.

Read the full release here

Woods Hole, Massachusetts, Birthplace of NOAA Fisheries

February 10, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

When the U.S. Fish Commission was established in 1871, there was not much question as to who should lead the special investigation into a serious food fish decline off southern New England.

Spencer Baird ticked a number of boxes—prominent scientist, already in the government, willing to work in the job without additional pay—and he knew just about everyone in the field. He also  had a demonstrated track record for attracting Congressional interest and funding for his work. Much has been written about Baird’s subsequent accomplishments in the job. But what led to the decision to site the first permanent federal fisheries laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts?

For the initial work of the U.S. Fish Commission, Baird settled on Woods Hole as a base. Up to this point, the village was mostly a tourist location. People fished and farmed; whaling was nearly a thing of the past. The largest employer was a fertilizer factory that relied on guano shipped from Pacific islands.

Read the full release here

New Slow Zone Southeast of Atlantic City to Protect Right Whales

February 9, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries announces a new Slow Zone (voluntary vessel speed restriction) to protect right whales.

Today, February 9, 2021, a Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution acoustic buoy detected the presence of right whales 20nm southeast of Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Southeast of Atlantic City, New Jersey Slow Zone is in effect through February 24, 2021.

Mariners, please go around this slow zone or go slow (10 knots or less) inside this area where right whales have been detected.

Slow Zone Coordinates:

39 25 N
38 44 N
073 44 W
074 36 W

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

Read the full release here

NOAA FISHERIES: Now Accepting Entries for the 2021 Marine Endangered Species Art Contest

February 9, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Contest for Kids K-12: Entries Due Friday, April 23

Teachers: Celebrate Endangered Species Day (May 21) by having your classroom participate in the 2021 Marine Endangered Species Art Contest!

Endangered and threatened species need our help. Students’ artwork will showcase their knowledge and commitment to protecting these animals. We invite Massachusetts schools as well as schools from anywhere in the U.S. and beyond to submit entries.

Artwork should highlight one or more marine endangered or threatened species from the New England/Mid-Atlantic region. Text highlighting why the animals are important and what people can do to protect them may also be included. Younger students, in grades K-2, who may not understand the threats to endangered species (i.e., pollution, fishing, etc.) are encouraged to portray the animals in their natural habitat instead.

Get the details on entry requirements, entry submissions, prizes, and more.

Questions?

Contact Edith Carson-Supino, Regional Office, 978-282-8490