Saving Seafood

Reopening of the Commercial Golden Tilefish Longline Component in South Atlantic Federal Waters on March 20, 2021, for 11 Days

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

WHAT/WHEN:

The commercial longline component for golden tilefish in South Atlantic federal waters will reopen for 11 days beginning on March 20, 2021.  Commercial harvest for the longline component will reopen at 12:01 a.m., local time, on March 20, 2021, and close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on March 31, 2021.  During the 11-day reopening, the commercial trip limit for the commercial longline component for golden tilefish is 4,000 pounds gutted weight or 4,480 pounds whole weight.

WHY THIS REOPENING IS HAPPENING:

The 2021 golden tilefish commercial catch limit for the longline component is 248,805 pounds gutted weight.  On February 10, 2021, the catch limit for the commercial longline component for the 2021 season was projected to be met, and NOAA Fisheries closed the season.  However, a subsequent landings update indicates that the golden tilefish longline component catch limit has not been met, and reopening will allow the commercial longline component to reach its catch limit.

AFTER THE REOPENING AND SUBSEQUENT CLOSURE:

  • Only golden tilefish longline endorsement holders are allowed to harvest golden tilefish with longline fishing gear.
  • Golden tilefish harvested with longline fishing gear may not be sold or purchased after the closure. The prohibition on sale or purchase during the subsequent closure does not apply to fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, on March 31, 2021, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
  • During the longline closure, a vessel with a golden tilefish longline endorsement may not commercially harvest golden tilefish using hook-and-line fishing gear, and is limited to the golden tilefish recreational bag and possession limits when the recreational sector is open, without regard to where the golden tilefish was harvested (i.e. in state or federal waters).
  • A vessel that does not have a longline endorsement, but has a commercial South Atlantic snapper-grouper unlimited permit, may commercially harvest golden tilefish with hook-and-line fishing gear until the hook-and-line catch limit is reached.
  • The 2022 fishing season for the golden tilefish commercial longline sector opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2022.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations.  Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at  https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=383bc195ccbeab4fd6bec1c24905df34&node=sp50.12.622.i&rgn=div6#_top.

NOAA Fisheries Approves Monkfish Quotas for 2021

March 11, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Effective May 1

NOAA Fisheries is implementing monkfish quotas for the 2021 fishing year based on specifications approved by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. There were no overages in 2020, and there is no new biological information, so we are now finalizing the 2021 quotas that were previously announced in September 2020. The quotas are the same as the 2020 quotas and are in place until April 30, 2022.

Table 1.  Monkfish Specifications for Fishing Year 2021

All other requirements remain the same.

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

Questions?

Industry: Contact Allison Murphy, Regional Office, 978-281-9122

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

OREGON: Crab fishery adapts following climate shock event

March 10, 2021 — An unprecedented marine heat wave that led to a massive harmful algal bloom and a lengthy closure of the West Coast Dungeness crab fishery significantly altered the use of ocean resources across seven California crab-fishing communities.

The delayed opening of the 2015-16 crab-fishing season followed the 2014-16 North Pacific marine heat wave and subsequent algal bloom. The bloom produced high levels of the biotoxin domoic acid, which can accumulate in crabs and render them hazardous for human consumption.

That event, which is considered a “climate shock” because of its severity and impact, tested the resilience of California’s fishing communities, researchers from Oregon State University, the University of Washington, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center found.

The study is the first to examine impacts from such delays across fisheries, providing insight into the response by the affected fishing communities, said James Watson, one of the study’s co-authors and an assistant professor in OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.

Read the full story at the Newport News Times

NOAA Fisheries Announces Adjustments to the Possession and Trip Limit for the Common Pool Groundfish Fishery

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

Effective on March 11, 2021, the new common pool possession and trip limits for Georges Bank (GB) cod, Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod, GOM haddock, Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) winter flounder, American plaice, and witch flounder are summarized in the tables below.  These increases are in effect through the end of the fishing year on April 30, 2021.

New FY 2020 Possession and Trip Limits

This action is intended to provide additional fishing opportunities and facilitate harvest of the common pool quotas.

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

Questions?

Industry: Contact Spencer Talmage, Regional Office, 978-281-9232

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

REMINDER: Emergency Rule to Increase the Vermilion Snapper Commercial Trip Limit in the South Atlantic and the King Mackerel Recreational Bag Limit in the Atlantic Ends on March 16, 2021

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

KEY MESSAGE:

  • The commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper will revert back to 1,000 pounds gutted weight in federal waters of the South Atlantic Region (Virginia/North Carolina boundary south to the Florida Keys in the Atlantic).
  • The recreational bag limit for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel (Atlantic king mackerel) will revert back to:
    • (1) 3-fish per person in federal waters from the Connecticut/Rhode Island/New York boundary to the Georgia/Florida boundary, and
    • (2) 2-fish per person in federal waters from the Georgia/Florida boundary south to the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, Florida boundary.

WHEN CHANGES WILL TAKE EFFECT:

  • The changes to the commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper and the recreational bag limit for Atlantic king mackerel will be effective 12:01 am local time, on March 17, 2021.

WHAT THIS MEANS: 

  • On September 16, 2020, NOAA Fisheries announced an emergency rule to increase:
    • The commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper from 1,000 pounds gutted weight to 1,500 pounds gutted weight in federal waters of the South Atlantic Region (Virginia/North Carolina boundary south to the Florida Keys in the Atlantic).
    • The recreational bag limit for Atlantic migratory group king mackerel (Atlantic king mackerel) from: (1) 3-fish per person to 4-fish per person in federal waters from the Connecticut/Rhode Island/New York boundary to the Georgia/Florida boundary, and (2) 2-fish per person to 4-fish per person in federal waters from the Georgia/Florida boundary south to the Miami-Dade/Monroe County, Florida boundary.
  • These changes were made in an emergency rule to address economic losses to the commercial and recreational fishing communities, and industries that have resulted from recent unforeseen events such as disruptions to market, restricted access to ports, closures of harbors and boat ramps, and disruptions to fishing supplies.
  • The emergency rule published on September 17, 2020, is effective for 180 days, and ends on March 16, 2021.

Read the full release here

Celebrate Women’s History Month with NOAA Fisheries

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

In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we are highlighting some of our colleagues who contribute to NOAA Fisheries’ core missions every day. Learn more about them and their careers in science and fisheries management below.

Uvi Ajavon, Fishery Information Specialist

Uvi is the point person for the data access agreement program for the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) in Gloucester, Massachusetts. She works to make sure our management partners and NOAA grantees have the necessary agreements in place to allow them to access fisheries information for their management and research.

The agreements are also essential to protect the confidentiality of fisheries information. She also plays a main role in implementing GARFO’s Limited Access Qualification and Landings History Programs. She researches ownership and permit changes and provides the landings information that accompany those changes and histories.

Learn more about Uvi Ajavon and her work

Stephanie Haynes, Microbiologist

As a microbiologist for NOAA Fisheries National Seafood Inspection Laboratory, Stephanie Haynes tests seafood byproducts for Salmonella and other disease-causing bacteria. The most common product she tests is fish meal, but the lab also gets samples of bone meal and krill meal through NOAA Fisheries’ Seafood Inspection Program.

Seafood byproducts are a good source of protein and other nutrients, so they are used in aquaculture and livestock feed, pet food, and fertilizer. Additionally, places like the European Union will only accept seafood byproduct imports if we certify that product meets import/export regulations.

Learn more about Stephanie Haynes and her work

Read the full release here

Public Now Has 30 More Days to Comment on Proposed Ringed and Bearded Seal Critical Habitat

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

NOAA Fisheries is extending the deadline for members of the public to submit comments on the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the threatened Beringia distinct population segment of the Pacific bearded seal subspecies under the Endangered Species Act. We have also extended the comment period for the revised proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the threatened Arctic subspecies of ringed seal . The end of the public comment period is extended from March 9, 2021, to April 8, 2021.

Both proposed rules were published in the Federal Register on January 8, 2021.

Read more.

Research Track Stock Assessments Seeking Working Group Members

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

Fisheries Stock Assessments: Research Track

We are soliciting working group members for our 2022 and 2023 research track stock assessments. These working groups will carry out the analytical work required for the species-specific or topic-based research track stock assessments. Peer reviews for American plaice and spiny dogfish will occur in spring of 2022. Peer reviews for black sea bass and bluefish will occur in fall of 2022. Peer reviews for Atlantic cod and Applying State Space Models will occur in 2023. If you are interested in being a member of any of these working groups, please fill out this google form by March 29th, 2021.

Questions?

Contact Michele Traver, Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Read the full release here

JULIE KUCHEPATOV: Northern Lights: The women behind our seafood

March 8, 2021 — Fifty percent of people involved in global seafood production are women. But you may not know it because few women occupy leadership positions in the sector and seldom participate in critical discussions and decision-making about precious fisheries resources.

Seafood and Gender Equality was founded in 2020 to address a critical need for gender equality in the seafood sector, build women’s empowerment, and encourage the industry to evolve into a more diverse, inclusive and equitable career choice for people of all genders. According to the U.S. Agency for International Development, gender equality means that the different behavior, aspirations, and needs of women and men are considered, valued and favored equally.

Women play a significant role in U.S. fisheries and can be found fishing from Alaska’s Bristol Bay to the Gulf of Maine, and they are particularly concentrated in pre- and post-harvest activities. Women in U.S. fisheries have been celebrated by organizations, such as the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute in its Strong at Sea campaign and in online publications like MarthaStewart.com.

While there is much to celebrate, the information on how many women make a career in this industry and how they participate is spotty, difficult to find, and not updated regularly. But we know that men continue to dominate.

“Knowing how women participate directly in fishing and within fishing families and communities is critical to predicting and understanding responses to fishery changes — from individuals, to families, all the way up to communities,” said Marysia Szymkowiak, lead author of a recent NOAA study on women’s participation in global fisheries.

Read the full opinion piece at National Fisherman

New Slow Zone (Martha’s Vineyard) and Extended Slow Zone (Nantucket) to Protect Right Whales

March 8, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

On March 7, 2021, the New England Aquarium survey team observed two aggregations of right whales. The new aggregation was observed south of Martha’s Vineyard, MA. The resighted whale aggregation was observed south of Nantucket, Island, MA. Both the Martha’s Vineyard, MA and Nantucket Island, MA Slow Zones are in effect through March 22, 2021.

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

Slow Zone Coordinates:

South of Martha’s Vineyard, MA, March 7-22, 2021

41 21 N
40 41 N
070 15 W
071 06 W

South of Nantucket, MA, March 7-22, 2021

41 23 N
40 40 N
069 39 W
070 35 W

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

Read the full release here