Saving Seafood

Boston Globe: What’s fair in breaking up Carlos Rafael’s empire?

December 18, 2017 — Randy Cushman, a fourth generation fisherman in Maine, knows what the crimes of Carlos Rafael cost him.

Cushman fishes out of the bucolic village of Port Clyde, population 307, the sort of place many New Englanders might still associate with the region’s storied, struggling fishing industry. Last season, he had to pay $49,000 for fishing quota, most of it for American plaice, a species of groundfish commonly known as dabs. Cushman’s own allowance on the fish ran out after only four days on the water, forcing him to bargain with other fishermen for more.

Up the coast, Rafael had been catching dabs in the Gulf of Maine too. But in an elaborate criminal scheme, the New Bedford fishing tycoon, owner of about 40 vessels, was directing his captains to report dabs as other kinds of fish, often haddock, which is subject to much higher limits. Breaking the rules let Rafael evade the kind of payments that Cushman made. It also depressed prices by flooding the market with black-market fish. Worst of all, the scheme also meant fishing regulators were getting inaccurate information about how many fish Rafael’s empire was scooping out of the Atlantic, bad data that fishermen suspect distorted how scientists analyzed ocean trends, and Cushman believes skewed the way regulators set the amount each fishermen can catch before having to start paying.

“He definitely hurt my business,” Cushman said. Bottom line: “I should have ended up with more allocation on dabs,” he said.

Rafael, whose downfall came after he boasted of his scheme to undercover IRS agents posing as Russian mobsters, is now serving a 46-month sentence in federal prison. The made-for-TV story, complete with an illicit cash buyer in New York, bank accounts in Portugal, allegations of corrupt sheriff deputies, and broad hints that other players on the waterfront must have been in the know, has transfixed New England’s close-knit fishery. Rafael’s arrest has thrust arcane fisheries policies into the spotlight, touched off a political battle between Massachusetts and Maine about the future of his businesses, and raised questions about how fishing regulators can provide justice for his victims and prevent a scheme like his from infecting the fishery again. The feds have already seized some of his permits and four of his boats, but more punishments are widely expected. A spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Jennifer Goebel, said the regulatory agency was considering further sanctions against Rafael but that “it’s longstanding NOAA policy not to discuss pending enforcement matters.”

Read the full editorial at the Boston Globe

MASSACHUSETTS: New Bedford City Council seeks action on Carlos Rafael’s fishermen

December 18, 2017 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The City Council took aim at former Mayor John Bullard and his decision to prevent Sector IX, the fishing division populated by Carlos Rafael vessels, from landing groundfish.

“It’s important that we get turn this around,” [Ward 4 Councilor Dana] Rebeiro said. “He’s a very reasonable man. He loves New Bedford. I know he’s very concerned about Carlos Rafael, as we all are, and the fact that he was able to do what he did for so long. But I think there has to be a way that we can make sure that justice is served but not at the expense of these families.”

The council agreed to send a letter to Bullard, the Northeast Regional Administrator for NOAA and the federal delegation asking for immediate reversal of the ban.

The ban took effect Nov. 20 as a result of Bullard believing the division still hadn’t addressed issues resulting from Rafael’s illegal behavior.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

Breeding North Atlantic right whales could be gone by mid-century

December 17, 2017 — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries top administrator in the Northeast has asked for more help from fishermen to save the North Atlantic right whale from extinction, along with receiving assurances from Canadian officials that the 12 whale deaths this year in the Gulf of St. Lawrence will not occur again.

“This is a crisis,” said John Bullard, the outgoing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator, last week at a New England Fishery Management Council meeting. “You do have to use the ‘extinction’ word. That’s what we’re looking at with the trend lines where they are.”

As scientists hone in on the future for the rare right whale, some consider the population likely to be “functionally extinct” in 20 to 25 years. Given that four or five adult females are killed each year by fishing gear entanglements and ship strikes, the estimated 100 adult breeding females left in the population would be gone by 2041, said Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution scientist Mark Baumgartner cq, who heads to North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium.

“There will still be females left, those that are juveniles today and those that are not yet born, but there will be too few of them to allow the species to recover,” Baumgartner said.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

 

Recreational and Commercial Harvest of Atlantic Cobia (Georgia through New York) to Open in Federal Waters in 2018

December 18, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

KEY MESSAGE:

Recreational and commercial harvest of Atlantic migratory group cobia (from Georgia through New York) will open at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2018, in federal waters.

For recreational fishermen:

  • The recreational bag limit is one cobia per person per day, or six cobia per vessel per day, whichever is more restrictive.
  • The recreational minimum size limit is 36 inches fork length.

For commercial fishermen:

  • The commercial trip limit is two cobia per person per day, or six cobia per vessel per day, whichever is more restrictive.
  • The commercial minimum size limit is 33 inches fork length.

WHY THIS OPENING IS HAPPENING:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission recently approved an Interstate Fishery Management Plan that includes changes to commercial and recreational regulations for Atlantic cobia in state waters. The states expect to implement this plan by April 2018. More information on the changes to cobia harvest in state waters may be found at www.asmfc.org

If the recreational and total catch limits are exceeded in 2017, NOAA Fisheries may take action to reduce the recreational vessel limit and, if necessary, the length of the recreational fishing season, by the amount necessary to ensure recreational landings do not exceed the 2018 recreational catch limit. The recreational vessel limit and the length of the recreational fishing season will not be reduced if NOAA Fisheries determines, based on the best scientific information available, that a recreational vessel limit and fishing season reduction are unnecessary.

Access this and other Fishery Bulletins from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office by clicking here.

 

Commercial fishing interests support Barry Myers to lead NOAA

December 14, 2017 — A consortium of commercial fishermen is calling on the U.S. Senate to confirm President Donald Trump’s pick to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The National Coalition for Fishing Communities wrote the letter in support of Barry Myers to U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota), Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee chairman, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Florida), the committee’s ranking minority member. The group represents 71 commercial fishing companies and organizations as well as 31 vessels.

Trump announced his selection of Myers back in October. Myers’ history differs from most who have been picked to head the organization in the past – whereas most have been scientists, Myers, the CEO of weather prediction service AccuWeather, comes from a business background.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

 

NOAA wants to fund more fish farming to offset trade gap

December 14, 2017 — PORTLAND, Maine — Federal marine regulators are making $450,000 available to try to foster more seafood farming on the East Coast.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says it’s providing $450,000 to expand aquaculture operations and production off the eastern states. The agency says it wants to offset the U.S.’s $14 billion seafood trade deficit.

NOAA saying it’s looking to fund pilot projects for fish, shellfish, seaweed and other facets of the domestic aquaculture industry that it considers “newcomers.” It also wants to help develop environmentally sustainable ocean farming.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at the Gloucester Times

‘It’s devastating’: Fishermen try to cope as NOAA shuts down groundfishing

December 13, 2017 — NEWPORT, R.I. — Cesar Verde only knows fishing.

The New Bedford resident learned the craft in his native Portugal. For the past 17 years, he’s worked in the fishing industry in his new home, and he’s been a captain for the past decade.

However, for the last two weeks, he’s been out of the water because NOAA prohibited Carlos Rafael’s vessels from groundfishing.

Verde captains fishing vessel Ilha do Corvo.

“So far, (I’m) pitching in on the little savings I have. Soon I’ll run out,” Verde said. “It will very soon become survival mode all the way up to putting food on the table.

“My hands and feet are totally tied up. This is what I do. This is the only thing I know how to do.”

The decision came as NOAA believed the executives who manage fishing Sector IX, which Rafael’s vessels populate, haven’t corrected some lingering issues associated with the fishing mogul’s illegal behavior including preventative measures and updated catch reports.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

 

Commercial Fishermen Across the Country Support Barry Myers to Lead NOAA

Fishermen Praise AccuWeather CEO for “Proven Record of Success”

December 13, 2017 — WASHINGTON — The following was released by Saving Seafood’s National Coalition for Fishing Communities:

Representatives of 71 commercial fishing companies and organizations and 31 fishing vessels from around the country have signed a letter urging the Senate to confirm Barry Myers’ appointment to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The letter of support, produced by Saving Seafood’s National Coalition for Fishing Communities, was delivered late last month to members of the Senate Commerce Committee and Senators representing the states of the letter’s signers.

Mr. Myers currently serves as chief executive officer of the weather forecasting company AccuWeather. He was nominated to serve as the next NOAA Administrator and Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere by President Donald Trump on October 11, and participated in a Senate confirmation hearing November 29.

“As CEO of AccuWeather, Mr. Myers has a proven record of success, working alongside scientists,” the fishing groups wrote. They praised his work as a fellow at the American Meteorological Society and a recipient of the prestigious AMS Leadership Award. They also complimented Mr. Myers for his service on an environmental working group of NOAA’s Science Advisory Board, under presidents from both parties.

The letter points out that, despite employing some of the nation’s best scientists, NOAA has been “plagued with ongoing mismanagement,” including abuse of power and misuse of funds at NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement; accuracy and credibility issues with NOAA’s collection and use of fisheries data; and long-running budget and hiring issues at the National Weather Service.

In light of these many issues, the fishing groups wrote, “While science remains one of the most vital elements of NOAA, new leadership with strong proven managerial experience is needed to right the ship after years of mismanagement.”

The groups also cited two experts in the field who have called for improved management at NOAA. David Titley, former NOAA COO under President Obama and a professor of meteorology at Penn State, said, “I think Barry would bring very practical, pragmatic expertise and management acumen to NOAA.” Cliff Mass, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Washington, said, “No NOAA Administrator has been willing to make the substantial, but necessary, changes,” and speculated that someone from the private sector might bring a “fresh approach.”

The letter was signed by fishing groups representing 15 coastal states: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington.

 

NOAA decision could trigger largest scallop harvest in 14 years

December 12, 2017 — What the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) decides next to do about areas off the coast of New England that’ve been closed to scallop fishing for a decade or more could be the difference between another good season and a 14-year record in terms of harvest volumes.

Based on earlier surveys and estimates made by staff at the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC), the 2018-19 scallop season, which starts April 1, will generate at least 51.5 million pounds worth of landings – a little better than the roughly 47.5m lbs expected this season.

But it could also generate as much as 60m lbs, which would be the biggest harvest since the 2004-05 season when 64.6m lbs of scallops were landed.

One of the most important factors will be whether NOAA follows NEFMC’s recommendations and opens the Closed Area 1 “sliver” of the Georges Bank and also an area described as Nantucket Lightship West.

Based on surveys reported in September, Closed Area 1 contains 19.8m lbs (9,016 metric tons) of exploitable scallop meat, meaning a lot of scallops were found with shells at the minimum 4 inch-wide diameter needed to be caught in dredging nets. Even better, as much as 45.6m lbs (20,670t) of exploitable scallop meat is projected to exist in the western portion of the Nantucket Lightship area.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

 

New Bedford mayor pushes Chris Oliver for help with Sector IX

December 12, 2017 — The mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts, traveled to Washington D.C. last week to ask Chris Oliver, the assistant administrator for Fisheries at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to help get the fishermen of Northeast Fishery Sector IX back on the water.

Sector IX, comprised of 22 vessels manned by 80 fishermen, was barred from fishing for groundfish when the National Marine Fisheries Service withdrew approval of its operations plan on 20 November. The sector is mostly composed of vessels belonging to Carlos “The Codfather” Rafael, the former fishing magnate who pleaded guilty to falsifying fish quotas, tax evasion, and bulk cash smuggling.

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell told South Coast Today that, in his meeting with Oliver on 5 December, he argued that NOAA’s action on Sector IX was harming fishermen and city businesses. The meeting was a follow-up to a letter sent to NOAA by Sector IX President Virginia Martins arguing for a reconsideration of NOAA”s action against the sector.

Read the full story at Seafood Source