Saving Seafood

Major Refresh Orients our Fishery Monitoring and Research Division Toward the Future

January 27, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Staff involved with cooperative research and fishery monitoring at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center interact daily with the fishing industry. It’s a challenging job, and an essential one: scientists and fishermen working together in areas of mutual interest improves fisheries science and management.

It’s little wonder that managing the many moving parts of this effort requires constant assessment and adaptation. The most recent effort is a major one that has resulted in a new internal structure to improve operations and maximize resources.

The ultimate goal is to ensure accurate representation of fishing activity.

“Improving integration of our efforts, modernizing our systems, and making the data we collect even more useful will enable us to have increased confidence in our science, take some of the burden off the industry, and make it easier for fishermen to access information,” said Amanda McCarty, chief of the center’s Fishery Monitoring and Research Division, which includes the fishery monitoring and cooperative research efforts.

Read the full release here

New Slow Zone East of Boston to Protect Right Whales

January 27, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

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

On January 25, 2021, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Stellwagen Bank Slocum buoy acoustically detected the presence of right whales 35nm East of Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Slow Zone is in effect through February 9, 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:

42 47 N
42 07 N
069 51 W
070 46 W

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

Read the full release here

Major Reorganization Improves NEFSC Fishery Monitoring and Research

January 27, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

A new internal structure within the NEFSC’s Fishery Monitoring and Research Division  is a major overhaul intended to improve operations and maximize resources.

The ultimate goal is to ensure accurate representation of fishing activity.

While the basic tasking is the same, separating work into four branches allows better accountability and expansion of existing capability.

Four organizational groups, rather than two, are now responsible for:

  • Fisheries observer program
  • Fisheries observer training and trip data
  • Data and information systems management and development
  • Cooperative research.

Read all about the “new” Fishery Monitoring and Research Division here.

Read the full release here

NOAA Fisheries Announces 2021 At-Sea Monitoring Coverage Levels for Groundfish Sector Fishery

January 26, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries announces that for fishing year 2021, the total target at-sea monitoring (ASM) coverage level is 40 percent of all groundfish sector trips subject to the ASM program.

Our annual analysis to determine the level of ASM coverage required to estimate discards for each northeast multispecies stock with no greater than a 30-percent coefficient of variation (CV30) calculated a minimum target coverage level of 33 percent of all groundfish sector trips, based on Georges Bank yellowtail flounder. For more information about that analysis, please read the Summary of Analyses Conducted to Determine At-Sea Monitoring Requirements for Multispecies Sectors FY 2021. In addition to the CV analysis, we also considered analyses of bias developed by the Groundfish Plan Development Team and the peer review by a sub-panel of the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee in 2019. Consistent with the regulations and the Court’s ruling in Oceana v. Pritzker, we have determined that coverage needs to be increased above the minimum coverage necessary to achieve a CV30 in order to address the peer review’s conclusions. Consistent with the requirement to monitor sector operations and to reliably estimate overall catch to the extent practicable, the coverage target level will be 40 percent.

Read the full release here

Southeast Regional Permits Office Will Start Issuing Operator Permits on Paper Effective Immediately

January 26, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

KEY MESSAGE:

  • An operator permit is required for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic, and for rock shrimp of the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic.
  • Effective immediately, the NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Region Permit Office will no longer be issuing an operator permit for these fisheries on a plastic card, but will be issuing the permit on paper.
  • In addition, beginning in February 2021, if an applicant selects the “Check here to receive your operator permit by email” box on the application, the operator permit will be emailed to the applicant upon approval and the applicant can print it. Otherwise, if the applicant does not select the “Check here to receive your operator permit by email” box on their application to the Southeast Region Permit Office, the operator permit will be printed out on paper and mailed to them from the Southeast Region Permit Office.

Who is required to have an operator permit?

  • An operator of a vessel that has, or is required to have, a commercial vessel permit or a charter vessel/headboat permit for Atlantic dolphin and wahoo.
  • An operator of a vessel that has, or is required to have, a commercial vessel permit for rock shrimp (Carolinas Zone) or a commercial vessel permit for rock shrimp (South Atlantic federal waters).
  • More information on operator permits can be found here for the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic, and here for rock shrimp of the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic.

How will I receive my approved operator permit?

Starting February 2021, if the applicant selects the “Check here to receive your operator permit by email” box on the paper application, the operator permit will be sent to the email address provided.

What if I still want my approved operator permit mailed to me instead of emailed?

While the email address is a required field on the application, unless the applicant selects the “Check here to receive your operator permit by email” box, we will print and mail the paper operator permit from the Southeast Region Permit Office.

Read the full release here

Paul Doremus takes over as acting head of NOAA Fisheries after Chris Oliver departs

January 25, 2021 — Paul Doremus has taken over as acting assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries following the departure of Chris Oliver, who had served as NOAA Fisheries’ assistant administrator since June 2017.

Doremus has worked at NOAA for the past 16 years, including as chief strategy officer from 2005 to 2011, assistant secretary for conservation and management from 2017 to 2018, and chief of strategy and operations, as well as lead for seafood production and aquaculture from 2011 until his recent promotion.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Seasonal Prohibition on Fishing for and Possession of Red, Black, Tiger, Yellowfin, and Yellowedge Grouper in U.S. Caribbean Federal Waters and Seasonal Closure of Grammanik Bank off St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

January 25, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

WHAT/WHEN:

Annual Seasonal Grouper Closure

NOAA Fisheries reminds fishermen and the public of the upcoming seasonal closure on fishing for or possession of red, black, tiger, yellowfin, and yellowedge grouper in U.S. Caribbean federal waters.

  • This closure begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on February 1, 2021, and extends through 11:59 p.m., local time, April 30, 2021.
  • This prohibition on possession does not apply to such grouper harvested and landed on shore prior to the closure.

Fishing Prohibitions in Grammanik Bank, U.S. Virgin Islands

NOAA Fisheries reminds fishermen and the public of the upcoming seasonal closure on fishing for or possession of any fish species, except highly migratory species, in the Grammanik Bank area off St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (Figure 1).

  • This closure begins at 12:01 a.m., local time, on February 1, 2021, and extends through 11:59 p.m., local time, April 30, 2021.
  • The term “fish” means finfish, molluscs, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds.

The Grammanik Bank area is located south of St. Thomas and bounded by the following coordinates:

A      18°11.898′ N         64°56.328′ W

B      18°11.645′ N         64°56.225′ W

C      18°11.058′ N         64°57.810′ W

D      18°11.311′ N         64°57.913′ W

Read the full release here

Fisheries Monitoring Operations in the Northeast

January 25, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Northeast Fisheries Observer Program

Our observers collect catch, gear, fishing effort, and biological data over a range of commercial fisheries. These data are widely used throughout the region for a variety of scientific and management analyses. It’s especially key for estimating the annual bycatch of all federally managed species in the region, including protected species. Each year the Northeast Fisheries Science Center uses this information to report on the estimated discards for the previous year. The results are then used to determine the observer sea-day schedule for the coming year. The process is governed by regulatory requirements commonly referred to as the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology

All federally permitted vessels are required to carry an observer when selected. Vessels operating in state water fisheries may be required to carry an observer if they have a high likelihood of interacting with marine mammals.

Learn more about this program

At-Sea Monitoring Program

At-sea monitoring is an integral part of quota monitoring for groundfish sectors vessels. All groundfish catch by these vessels—landed or discarded—counts toward the quota. Catch data collected on commercial groundfish vessels by at-sea monitors is a primary source information used to monitor quotas throughout the year. It is also critical for estimating total discards by sector, gear type, and stock area. This information is critical for a host of applications from assessment to evaluating fishery management measures and ensuring regulatory compliance. The region’s at-sea monitoring requirements are detailed under Amendment 16 of the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan

Learn more about this program

Industry-Funded Scallop Program

Industry-funded scallop observers monitor catch from dredge and trawl gear aboard commercial sea scallop vessels as specified by the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. Data collected by these observers are used to identify key characteristics of the commercial Atlantic sea scallop fishery in the region. The observer data inform stock assessments, monitor commercial gear selectivity, aid in spatial management, and help support a sustainable sea scallop fishery.

Learn more about this program

Read the full release here

NOAA report sides with right whale activists

January 22, 2021 — A federal report released Thursday largely agreed with the concerns expressed by animal rights activists and conservation groups that voluntary speed limits intended to protect highly endangered North Atlantic right whales were not working, and that even mandatory restricted speed zones needed to be expanded.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s vessel speed rule assessment recommended that the vessel strike rule that was implemented in 2008 be strengthened. They want increased enforcement of speed limits, expansion of mandatory no speed zones and a rethinking of areas that have only voluntary speed restrictions that are routinely violated and where an increase in vessel collisions with whales have been seen.

NOAA also wanted to consider mandatory speed restrictions or some other protections for an area just south of Nantucket where right whales have been found year-round in recent years.

Read the full story at the Cape Cod Times

Fishing Business Phone Survey Underway

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

NOAA Fisheries and the University of Florida are teaming up on a phone survey to continue assessing the impact of COVID-19 on commercial/for-hire fishing operations, and on seafood dealers and processors.

Phone survey participants were selected using carefully designed random sample. If you were selected, you will 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.

The phone survey is a follow-up to a survey conducted during July/August 2020 on economic impacts for the first half of 2020.  The upcoming survey will assist us in assessing  impacts on individual businesses over the entire calendar year.

The first reports using results from last summer’s survey as well as other data can be found here.

For more information on the phone survey, see this bulletin from NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Region.

Read the full release here