Saving Seafood

Feds cut back herring fishing amid concerns about population

August 23, 2018 — Herring harvests are being cut by millions of pounds because of concerns about the important little fish’s population, the federal government announced on Wednesday.

Herring fishing is a major industry in New England and the mid-Atlantic states, where the schooling fish are harvested for use as bait, food, fish oil and other products. But a recent assessment shows the fish’s stock is in decline, officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.

The herring catch has been declining since 2013 and this year’s catch again appears lower than previous years, the agency said in a statement.

“We expect this reduction to reduce the probability of overfishing in 2018,” the NOAA said on its website.

Herring fishermen entered this year with a catch limit of more than 240 million pounds, but the regulatory New England Fishery Management Council recommended earlier this year that the number be cut back to a little more than 118 million pounds.

The NOAA announced on Wednesday that it is instead cutting the herring limit back to a little less than 110 million pounds, effective immediately. It stated on its website that “further reductions are necessary to lessen the risk of overfishing.” The herring fishing season ends on Dec. 31 and parts of it could close earlier if fishermen get close to the catch limit.

The agency said it hopes the cutback will allow the fishery to avoid even deeper cuts in the future.

Read the full story at the Associated Press

Scientists eye flu, pollution in spike in seal deaths

August 22, 2018 — As the number of dead or stranded live seals washing up along the coast from northern Massachusetts to southern Maine continues to increase dramatically, marine mammal experts are considering influenza or environmental pollution as potential explanations.

Although there is no definitive cause for the uptick in seal deaths — the count is more than 400 so far this year — the Seacoast Science Center, in Rye, New Hampshire, is continuing to test tissue from fresh seal carcasses to determine if there is a possibility of illness. Live seals have been found in poor condition with signs of lethargy, coughing, sneezing and having seizures, according to Jennifer Goebel, a spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration based in Gloucester.

NOAA, a scientific agency which focuses on the conditions of the oceans, major waterways and the atmosphere, released an updated number of seal strandings and deaths Tuesday morning, primarily gray and harbor seals.

In northern Massachusetts and New Hampshire, marine mammal specialists found 15 live and 26 dead seals in July. As of Aug. 20, they had found 14 live and 31 dead seals in the same region. As of the same date, 57 dead seals have been accounted for in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, according to NOAA statistics. Four seals, three babies and one adult, were reportedly found dead on Plum Island in the last week.

NOAA scientists totaled 404 dead and live seals when examining all seals found on the shoreline in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

Experts still haven’t found cause of southern Maine seal ‘die off’

August 21, 2018 — Even as volunteers for Marine Mammals of Maine responded to more dead seals in southern Maine on Monday — more than 125 since Aug. 12 — officials from various agencies were clear that no cause for the “die off” has been determined.

“There have been no results yet to say what’s going on,” Lynda Doughty of the Harpswell-based nonprofit organization said Monday. “Other media speculation is that pollution is causing the die-off [but] no conclusive tests have been returned on southern Maine seals.”

Friends of Casco Bay, a marine stewardship organization founded in 1989 to improve and protect the environmental health of Casco Bay, reported Monday that tests conducted last week “show good water quality with enough oxygen for marine life.”

On Thursday, NOAA Fisheries New England/Mid-Atlantic wrote on its Facebook page that while samples have been taken from the seals and are being tested, “we don’t have any results yet — and that may take a few weeks.”

Previous mass deaths of seals in Maine have been attributed to avian influenza, distemper and harmful algal blooms such as red tide, the organization said.

On Monday, Doughty said the number of mostly seals found dead or stranded in southern Maine was “out of the norm for what we normally see.”

Read the full story at the Bangor Daily News

NOAA Recognizes Companies for Slowing Down to Save Whales

August 20, 2018 — NOAA has presented awards to 13 global shipping firms for their commitment in helping prevent deadly ship collisions with whales. The companies participated in a Voluntary Speed Reduction initiative by slowing their ships to speeds of 10 knots (about 11.5 mph) or lower while transiting vessel traffic lanes outside the Golden Gate during whale feeding season, from May through mid-November.

The national marine sanctuaries of North-central California – Greater Farallones, Cordell Bank, and Monterey Bay sanctuaries – are prime foraging grounds for several endangered whale species, and through these same waters pass some of the heaviest shipping traffic in the world. In a spirit of “share the road,” the voluntary slowdown initiative is a collaboration between NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, the shipping firms, the Bay Area Air Quality Control District, and local NGOs.

The initiative program builds on decades of research by scientists and conservation groups who study the whales’ distribution patterns during their spring-through-fall foraging seasons along with vessel traffic patterns. It is modeled on similar efforts in Southern California and on the East Coast. In addition to providing whale protection benefits such as a reduction in risk of ship strike and a reduction in ocean noise, ships run more efficiently at slower speeds, which results in reduced greenhouse gas and particulate emissions and improves air quality for Bay Area residents.

This spring, five whales that had been killed by ship strike washed up on Bay Area beaches; three of these were endangered blue and fin whales. Several species are still recovering from whaling impacts, which had decimated most populations. But their recovery is not absolutely assured, since new threats have emerged in the meantime, primarily human-related.

Read the full story at The Maritime Executive

NOAA Fisheries approves Alabama snapper program

August 20, 2018 — The federal government has approved a system developed by the state of Alabama to count the number of red snapper caught in the Gulf of Mexico.

Gulf states, fishing groups and the NOAA Fisheries have disagreed for years about how many snapper can be caught. The decision means Alabama’s numbers can be used in the federal count.

The state’s Marine Resources director, Scott Bannon, says anglers are frustrated with short snapper seasons. He says the federal decision is a “huge step” toward managing gulf waters.

The state developed the Snapper Check program in 2014. It uses a combination of electronic reporting by anglers and dockside checks to verify the number of snapper that boats are keeping.

Read the full story at the Associated Press

Woods Hole Researchers Combine Fisheries and Acoustics for Sea Project

August 17, 2018 — A research project led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is underway off the coast of Alaska.

The Beaufort Shelf Break Ecology Cruise will combine oceanography, biology and fisheries science to learn more about the shelf’s nutrient rich waters.

Researchers will measure ocean temperatures and currents, collect plankton and fish and use sonar systems to look at fish distribution and what they are eating.

Read the full story at CapeCod.com

Quota Concerns Prompt Massachusetts Flounder Fishery to Shut Down

August 17, 2018 — Federal regulators are shutting down the fishery for a popular food fish in Massachusetts because of concerns about exceeding quota.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says vessels are prohibited from bringing summer flounder to the docks in Massachusetts for the remainder of the fishing year. The closure went into effect on Tuesday.

The NOAA says the closure is needed because Massachusetts fishermen had caught 85 percent of their quota by Aug. 4 and were projected to reach their limit by Tuesday.

Read the full story at NECN

THE EAGLE-TRIBUNE: Long-term solution needed for monitoring fishermen

August 17, 2018 — The New England fishing industry is enjoying a rare victory over federal regulators, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced earlier this week that it would pick up the cost of at-sea monitoring of boats this year. What’s more, NOAA will reimburse fishermen for some of their out-of-pocket expenses from 2017.

While that’s good news, there is still work to be done. There is no guarantee the new policy — less a promise of change than a one-time concession tucked in the federal budget — will continue past this year. And beyond the cost, the expensive, inefficient at-sea monitoring program, which spreads a limited amount of monitors among a large number of vessels for an undetermined number of trips, must be able to provide accurate information regulators and fishermen can trust.

First, credit where credit is due. It was New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen who tucked the $10.3 million into the federal budget to pay for the monitoring program, which is meant to ensure fishermen are adhering to regulations that limit how much and what type of fish they can catch. The boat is required to allow a NOAA monitor to tag along on trips and record what has been caught.

Read the full story at The Eagle-Tribune

NOAA to Fully Fund At-Sea Monitoring Program in New England for 2018, Reimburse More Costs for 2017

August 16, 2018 — SEAFOOD NEWS — NOAA announced on Tuesday that they will fund 100% of New England At-Sea Monitoring costs for 2018, as part of an additional $10.3 million added to the budget by New England congressmen, including NH Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

In addition, they will provide an additional 25% subsidy for 2017 costs, based on the money they saved from Carlos Rafael’s fleets not fishing. Since there was less need for monitoring, the overall program cost was lower.

The cost to vessels for an at-sea monitor is about $710 per day. This can have a significant impact on the profitability of smaller trips.

In 2016, NOAA supported 80% of this cost. In 2017 that dropped to 60%, with NOAA making the argument that the costs eventually had to be fully paid by fishermen. However, with the additional funds from 2017, the subsidies for that year will now be 85%.

For 2018 NOAA will cover 100% of the costs.

Part of the additional money will be used to further develop electronic monitoring and less costly systems.

“This is very welcome money and good news all the way around,” Jackie Odell, executive director of the Northeast Seafood Coalition told the Gloucester Times. “It’s a lot for groundfishermen to pay for, especially as quotas decline and they lose access to key stocks.”

Senator Jeanne Shaheen said “Our state’s commercial fishing industry is operating on razor-thin margins and urgently needs relief from these burdensome fees, which is why I’m thrilled that funding is now available to cover the costs of at-sea monitoring.”

“Relieving our fishermen of these fees has been a top priority for me since NOAA unfairly shifted the responsibility for at-sea monitoring costs on to the backs of our fishermen. The commercial fishing industry plays a role in New Hampshire’s economy, history and culture, so ensuring its longevity will always be important to me. Negotiating this federal funding was one of my top priorities in the government spending bill.”

This story originally appeared on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

Heather Brandon to Lead Alaska Sea Grant

August 15, 2018 — The University of Alaska Fairbanks has chosen Heather Brandon as Alaska Sea Grant’s new director.

Brandon is an environmental policy leader with experience in fisheries issues on a broad geographic scale, ranging from Alaska to the Arctic and Russian Far East. The Juneau resident was selected after a competitive national search.

“I am very pleased that Heather will take the helm at Alaska Sea Grant,” said Bradley Moran, dean of the UAF College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. “Heather has a solid working knowledge of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s programs, including Sea Grant, and brings a wealth of experience that will be an asset to the Alaska Sea Grant program.”

Before joining Alaska Sea Grant, Brandon was a foreign affairs specialist for NOAA’s Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection. Brandon has also worked for World Wildlife Fund, Juneau Economic Development Council, Pacific Fishery Management Council, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and served on the U.S. Department of Commerce Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. She has a master’s degree in marine affairs from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Oregon.

Read the full story at Alaska Business Monthly