Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Announces Continuation of Voluntary Speed Restriction Zone South of Nantucket to Protect Right Whales

July 18, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA:

The voluntary vessel speed restriction zone south of Nantucket, MA has been extended to protected an aggregation of three right whales sighted in this area on July 16, 2017.

Mariners, please avoid or transit at 10 knots or less inside the area (map below). 

Nantucket, MA zone coordinates:

41 32 N

40 53 N

070 29 W

069 36 W   

This voluntary speed restriction zone is in effect through July 30. 

Find out more about all the dynamic and seasonal management areas where speed is restricted.

Learn more about how to reduce vessels strikes of whales.

You can also get recent right whale sightings and the latest acoustic detections of right whales in Cape Cod Bay and the Boston shipping lanes. Or, download the Whale Alert app for iPad and iPhone.

Remember that approaching a right whale closer than 500 yards is a violation of federal and state law. Please report all right whale sightings to 866-755-NOAA (6622) 

Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel at 978-281-9175 or jennifer.goebel@noaa.gov

Head of Maine Aquaculture Association named to federal marine panel

July 14, 2017 — The head of the Maine Aquaculture Association has been named to a federal marine advisory panel.

Sebastian Belle, executive director of the aquaculture trade association, has been appointed to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. As a member of the advisory committee, Belle will advise the Secretary of Commerce and NOAA on issues related to living marine resources that fall under the purview of the Department of Commerce, according to a joint release from U.S. Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins announcing the apointment.

“Sebastian has established himself as a national leader in the aquaculture industry, and his expertise will help guide the Department of Commerce and NOAA as they shape important policy relating to our marine resources,” said the senators in the statement. “Sebastian brings with him a deep understanding of Maine’s diverse marine ecosystem that supports our state’s coastal communities, creates and sustains jobs, and helps drive the economy.”

Belle was formerly a lobsterman and state aquaculture coodinator. He helped found TAAG, which specializes in aquaculture investment and consulting, and is also the president of Econ-Aqua, a consultancy that focuses on farm management, financial due diligence, and risk and analysis control.

Read the full story at the Portland Press Herald

U.S. putting whale rescue efforts on hold after Canadian fisherman is killed

July 17, 2017 — The U.S. is suspending whale rescue efforts after a Canadian fisherman died last week during one such mission.

Joe Howlett, founder of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, was killed Monday while helping to free a North Atlantic right whale off the coast of New Brunswick. Mackie Green, captain of the rescue group, told the Canadian Press the team had actually succeeded in freeing the animal when “some kind of freak thing happened and the whale made a big flip,” striking Howlett.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is now “suspending all large whale entanglement response activities nationally until further notice, in order to review our own emergency response protocols in light of this event,” Chris Oliver, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries, said in a statement.

Read the full story at USA Today

Call for Nominations to U.S. Advisory Panel on Pacific Whiting Treaty

July 14, 2017 — SEAFOOD NEWS — The National Marine Fisheries Service is soliciting nominations for appointments to the United States Advisory Panel (AP) to the Pacific Hake/Whiting Treaty. The position is for a four year term beginning in 2018.

Nominations must be received by August 11, 2017.

The Pacific Whiting Act implements the 2003 agreement between the U.S. and Canada that provides for the establishment of an Advisory Panel (AP). The AP makes recommendations to the Joint Management Committee on bilateral Pacific whiting management issues.

AP members must be knowledgeable or experienced in the harvesting, processing, marketing, management, conservation, or research of the offshore Pacific whiting resource. Eight individuals represent the United States on the AP, and nominations for one of those positions are being solicited through this notice.

Nomination packages for appointments should include:

1. The name of the applicant or nominee, position they are being nominated for and a description of his/her interest in Pacific whiting; and

2. A statement of background and/or description of how the nominee is knowledgeable or experienced in the harvesting, processing, marketing, management, conservation, or research of the offshore Pacific whiting resource. Letters of support for nominees will also be considered.

Candidates may submit nominations by any of the following methods:

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

Fishermen will be allowed to catch more monkfish

July 17, 2017 — Federal fishing regulators will allow fishermen to catch a little bit more monkfish over the next three years.

The monkfish, also known as goosefish is a popular food fish that’s native to the East Coast. They’re a staple of displays in New England fish markets, where they often stick out because of their bizarre appearance.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says it’s increasing the monkfish quota in the northern fishery management area by 8 percent. The quota’s going up in the southern fishery area by 1 percent.

Monkfish are caught from Maine to Virginia, with most of the catch coming to shore in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The harvest was worth more than $19 million in 2015.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at the Portland Press Herald

Court documents suggest Carlos Rafael may sell all permits

July 17, 2017 — Documents filed in U.S. District Court on Thursday suggest that Carlos Rafael’s time as the New Bedford’s “codfather” may be coming to an end.

As part of a motion requesting a sentencing delay, Rafael’s attorney sought “additional time to resolve a critical component” in the case, specifically, “the possibility of a global settlement, which may involve Mr. Rafael exiting the commercial fishing business.”

The request suggests not only the 13 permits subject to forfeiture, but all of Rafael’s fishing permits may wind up with someone else before the sentencing.

″… The parties need additional time to resolve this issue — the result of which may be a critical component of the defendant’s argument to the court at sentencing and may obviate the need for briefing and hearing on the forfeiture issues left open in the plea agreement,” according to court documents.

The parties include Rafael’s defense and counsel for NOAA.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

House Committee Approves Harris Chesapeake Bay Amendment

July 17, 2017 — The following was released by the office of Representative Andy Harris (R-MD)

On July 13, the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment introduced by Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2018. This amendment prohibits the use of funds to implement or enforce the designation of any area of the Chesapeake Bay watershed as a “Critical Habitat” for the Atlantic Sturgeon. Congressman Harris issued the following statement praising the amendment’s passage:

“The Appropriations Committee’s adoption of this amendment is a victory for both the conservation of the Bay and the Eastern Shore’s economy. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) proposal to designate the Chesapeake Bay as a Critical Habitat for the Atlantic Sturgeon was crafted without adequate opportunity for input from the communities surrounding the Chesapeake Bay. Furthermore, NOAA has failed to document sufficient cause for the designation.

Designation of the Bay as a Critical Habitat for the Sturgeon is an unnecessary and burdensome regulation that could lead to restricted use of various regions of the Bay, stifling commercial activity in the Bay and inhibiting oyster restoration and other important conservation activities.”

Rep. Andy Harris amendment aims to stop Chesapeake sturgeon effort

July 17, 2017 — An amendment from Congressman Andy Harris (R-Md.-1st) to an appropriations bill would prohibit funds to implement a “Critical Habitat” designation for Atlantic Sturgeon anywhere in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

On Thursday, the House Appropriations Committee adopted Harris’ amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2018, according to a statement from Harris’ office.

Harris said a proposal from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to designate the Chesapeake Bay as a Critical Habitat for the Atlantic Sturgeon was created without adequate opportunity for input from the communities surrounding the bay, and that NOAA has not documented sufficient cause for the designation.

Read the full story at Delmarva Now

NOAA Announces $13.8 Million in Coastal Resilience Grants

July 17, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA:

NOAA announces approximately $13.8 million in recommended funding for 19 projects under our Coastal Resilience Grants Program. Competition was fierce – we received 167 proposals requesting more than $135 million in funding and committing $91 million of matching and in-kind support. We had 116 proposals under the Strengthening Coastal Communities category, of which we are recommending 8 for funding, and 51 under the Habitat Restoration category, of which we are recommending 11 for funding. 

These 19 projects will affect more than 500 coastal communities, bringing the total to well over 700 communities for the first three years of funding (2015-17).

Habitat Restoration projects will remove dams, enhance levees, restore channels, and promote natural barriers. They will also provide vital habitat for fish and protect communities from floods, both of which are essential to the nation’s economy.

Strengthening Coastal Communities projects will give decision-makers information to craft practical solutions to protect coastal infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and ports. 

Both categories of projects are expected to reduce the loss of lives and the costs of damages from weather, water, and climate events, which cause an average of approximately 650 deaths and $15 billion in damage per year in the United States.

See the full list of the 2017 projects.

Retention Limit of Aggregated Large Coastal Shark and Hammerhead Shark Management Groups Increased to 36 Sharks per Trip Effective July 16th

July 17, 2017 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has increased the retention limit for the commercial aggregated large coastal shark (LCS) and hammerhead shark management groups (Appendix 1) for directed shark limited access permit holders in the Atlantic region from 3 to 36 LCS (other than sandbar sharks) per vessel per trip effective July 16, 2017. The revised retention limit will remain in effect for the rest of the 2017 fishing season or until NMFS announces another adjustment to the retention limit.

This action is intended to promote equitable fishing opportunities in the region, while allowing quota to be harvested throughout the year. All other retention limits and shark fisheries remain unchanged in the Atlantic region.

As agreed upon by the Commission’s Coastal Sharks Management Board, the Commission will follow NMFS for in-season changes to the commercial retention limit. Therefore, no more than 36 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip may be retained from the aggregated LCS and hammerhead management groups by a state licensed fishermen effective July 16, 2017.

The Federal Register commercial retention limit notification can be found at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/species/sharks/news/shark_news_2017.html. 

Shark landings can be found at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/species/sharks/Landings/index.html.

Please contact Kirby Rootes-Murdy, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at (703) 842-0740 or krootes-murdy@asmfc.org if you have questions.

A PDF of the announcement can be found here.