Saving Seafood

MASSACHUSETTS: Letter from Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken

WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) — September 24, 2015 — Gloucester, Mass. Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken has written to top officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in opposition to a recent proposal to designate Cashes Ledge, three deep sea canyons and four seamounts off the Atlantic Coast as national monuments. Gloucester, one of nation’s oldest fishing ports, is also noted for its relation to New England’s historic groundfish fishery.

Read the letter from Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken

 

DON CUDDY: ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help you’

September 24, 2105 — The Working Waterfront Festival takes place this weekend and features the traditional Blessing of the Fleet, to be held Sunday afternoon on the State Pier. This year, New Bedford welcomes NOAA’s Eileen Sobeck to the ceremony. Ms. Sobeck holds the title of Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, and in that capacity oversees the management and conservation of marine fisheries. According to the NOAA web site: “Her focus is on rebuilding the nation’s fisheries and the jobs and livelihoods that depend on them by promoting management approaches that will achieve both sustainable fisheries and vibrant coastal communities.”

It is difficult to reconcile such lofty goals with the harsh reality facing New England groundfishermen today. The National Marine Fisheries Service and its regional administrator John Bullard, in the face of widespread opposition, is intent on forcing fishing vessel owners to pick up the tab for the at-sea monitors that accompany them on fishing trips to estimate the catch and observe bycatch.

Last April, at the request of the New England Fishery Management Council, NOAA’s own social sciences branch conducted an evaluation of the impact the promotion of this particular management approach would have if industry funded. Here is a quote taken from the study’s findings: “Predictions for FY 2015 are that nearly 60% of the fleet could see negative returns to owner when full 2015 ASM costs are factored in.” The study also predicted that “industry funded ASM could result in restructuring of the fleet.”

Read the full story at New Bedford Standard-Times

Federal grants aim to help fishing industry businesses hurt by Sandy

September 22, 2015 — Local fishing industry businesses that took losses due to Super Storm Sandy will now have access to $3.6 million in grant funding being made available by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The grants are aimed at reimbursing sectors of New York’s fishing industry impacted by the October 2012 storm. Sectors include: bait and tackle; for-hire fishing boat operators; marinas; commercial harvesters; commercial seafood dealers, shippers or processors; and aquaculture facilities.

Fishing businesses in eligible counties must complete an application and provide documentation to demonstrate more than $5,000 in revenue or gross income loss as a result of Superstorm Sandy, and have at least $15,000 in annual earnings in one of the eligible fishery sectors. Businesses in Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties are eligible to apply.

Read the full story from Riverhead Local

NOAA Fisheries Announces Commercial Scup Quota Increase for 2015 Winter II (Nov 1-Dec 31)

September 18, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:

NOAA Fisheries announces that the commercial scup quota and the per trip possession limit for the 2015 Winter II quota period (November 1-December 31) is increased due to the rollover of unused quota from the Winter I period of 2,084,256 lbs.

The commercial scup possession limit for the upcoming Winter II season will be 18,000 lb, up from the initial 12,000 lbs, and is the maximum allowed in Winter II.

The commercial scup quota for Winter II has been revised up to 5,468,726 lbs from 3,384,700 lbs.

The commercial quota for scup is distributed through the coastal states from Maine to North Carolina, and is managed on a coastwide basis. Fishermen should keep in mind that when the state and Federal possession limits are different, you are required to abide by the more restrictive of the two.

Read the rule as filed in the Federal Register and the bulletin posted on our website.

Questions? Contact Reid Lichwell, Regional Office, at 978-281-9112 or Reid.Lichwell@noaa.gov.

 

Shaheen Presses Federal Agency Leader Not to Shift Burdensome Fees to NH Fishermen

WASHINGTON — September 17, 2015 — The following was released by the office of U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH):

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today advocated for New Hampshire fishermen in a phone call with Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Shaheen specifically urged the Administrator not to force New Hampshire fishermen to pay expensive new fees – more than $700 per trip – to cover the cost of the agency’s at-sea observer program, which monitors catch sizes and collects data in the region. NOAA announced last month that fishermen will be responsible for these fees starting October 31 of this year.

“New England’s fishing industry is in crisis, with many of New Hampshire’s remaining fishermen fighting for survival,” said Shaheen. “These fees will cut into incredibly thin margins and could be the tipping point for many of our fishermen. I’ve made it crystal clear to Administrator Sullivan that these fees threaten the very existence of New Hampshire’s fishing industry.”

As a Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen included provisions in Fiscal Year 2016 legislation directing NOAA to alleviate this problem and to develop new technology that would be more efficient and cost-effective. In the call with NOAA’s administrator today, Shaheen was asking for NOAA to continue funding the program while that work proceeds.

Today Shaheen also sent a letter with U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to the Inspector General of the Department of Commerce, calling for an investigation into the costs and operation of NOAA’s at-sea monitoring program.

Sens. Shaheen, Ayotte Dispute Fees for NH Fishermen

September 17, 2015 — The following was released by the office of Sen. Kelly Ayotte:

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) sent a letter to the Department of Commerce Acting Inspector General David Smith calling for a full investigation into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) at-sea monitoring program for the Northeast Multispecies Fishery, which includes New Hampshire’s coastal region. On August 4, 2015, NOAA announced it would end its funding the program on October 31, and will require individual fishermen to fund the ASM program instead.

“As you may know, the New England fishing industry has been devastated in recent years by severe cuts to catch quotas,” wrote the Senators. “In this moment when the fishery can least afford it, NOAA announced on August 4, 2015, that it would end its funding for the ASM program on October 31, 2015. This move will cost individual fishermen an estimated more than $700 per trip and will force many out of business entirely.”

Earlier this year, Senators Shaheen and Ayotte pushed for prompt action by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to deliver on New Hampshire’s request for federal fishery disaster funds. In April, OMB announced that NOAA had released $2.3 million in disaster relief funds to New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine. The Senators have also led bipartisan efforts to obtain similar funds for New Hampshire fishermen who had been negatively impacted by rigorous catch limit requirements.

The full text of the letter is below.

The Hon. David Smith
Acting Inspector General
Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC 20230

Dear Acting Inspector General Smith:

We write to request an investigation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) at-sea monitoring (ASM) program in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery.

As you may know, the New England fishing industry has been devastated in recent years by severe cuts to the fishery’s catch quotas. In this moment when the fishery can least afford it, NOAA announced on August 4, 2015, that it would end its funding for the ASM program on October 31, 2015.

This decision will cost individual fishermen an estimated $700 per trip and could force many out of business entirely. We have also heard disturbing reports of fishing sectors being told by NOAA that they are required to sign specific contracts by arbitrary deadlines, or they will lose their access to the fishery.
With New Hampshire’s commercial fishing industry already suffering due to onerous federal regulations, we are deeply concerned about the destructive impact that this new and sudden fee will have in our state. Based on concerns raised by our constituents, we are requesting an investigation into the ASM program that answers the following questions:

• How does NOAA determine with which companies to contract for fishery observers? Does the agency have to disclose potential conflicts of interest in this process?
• How are the costs of these fees and contracts determined? What percentage of the contract is a profit for observer companies?
• What legal basis enables NOAA to require fishing sectors to sign specific observer contracts and to set specific deadlines by which observer contracts must be signed?
• What options do fishermen have to negotiate the details of contracts they are required to sign?
• How do the ASM costs in the Northeast fishery compare with similar programs in other regions of the country?
• How do observer fees compare to per-trip revenue, particularly for fishermen with smaller vessels? How do these ratios in the Northeast compare with those for similar-sized vessels in other regions of the country?
• What is the estimated state-by-state economic impact of these new fees on the region’s fishing industry? How does this impact differ across vessel sizes?

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. The survival of New Hampshire’s 400-year-old fishing industry is at stake. We look forward to your timely response.

Read the legislation to terminate at-sea monitoring program

 

Experts, public discuss potential underwater marine monument

September 17, 2015 — There could soon be a national monument underwater off the coasts of Cape Cod and Maine.

President Obama has the authority to declare deepwater canyons and sea mounts a marine national monument.

Areas in the Pacific Ocean have been declared national monuments, but so far there are none in the Atlantic.

Representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, held a town hall meeting at the Providence Marriott Tuesday night to hear public comment.

Many at the meeting agreed that something has to be done to save and protect underwater canyons and coral reefs in New England.

But they did not agree on the best way to do that.

“Every one of these dives in a submarine canyon is kind of like a stroll through a Dr. Seuss-like garden,” Peter Auster, a marine ecologist, said.

Read the full story from TurnTo10

2016 Monkfish Research Set-Aside Proposals Due November 16, 2015

September 17, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:

NOAA Fisheries, in coordination with the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (Councils), is soliciting monkfish research proposals to utilize 500 Monkfish Days-at-Sea (DAS) per year that have been set-aside by the Councils to fund monkfish research through the 2016 Monkfish Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program.

Read the announcement summary or the full announcement on our website, or go to Grants.gov and use the following funding opportunity number: NOAA-NMFS-NEFSC-2016-2004598.

Questions? Contact Cheryl Corbett, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, by phone 508-495-2070, fax 508-495-2004, or email at cheryl.corbett@noaa.gov.

Monkfish

NOAA Seeking Input on deep sea canyon and seamount protection

September 16, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:

NOAA invites your input on possible permanent protections for three deep sea canyons — Oceanographer, Gilbert, and Lydonia — and four seamounts off of New England’s coast. Deep sea canyons, which plunge to depths greater than 7,000 feet, and sea mounts, which rise thousands of feet above the sea floor, create unique habitats supporting tremendous biodiversity and fragile ecosystems that are home to corals, fish, marine mammals, turtles, and more.

To ensure that we protect these unique places for future generations while recognizing the importance of sustainable ocean-based economies, we are seeking input from all interested parties in the region. 

Please send comments as soon as possible to atlanticconservation@noaa.gov 

Questions? Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, at 978-281-9103 or Allison.Ferreira@noaa.gov

Credit: NOAA

 

DAVE MONTI: Balancing fishing and marine conservation a delicate act

September 17, 2015 — NOAA is exploring permanent protections for three deep sea canyons — Oceanographer, Gilbert, and Lydonia Canyons — and four seamounts 130 to 200 miles off New England’s coast.

Deep sea canyons, which plunge to depths greater than 7,000 feet, and seamounts, which rise thousands of feet above the sea floor, create unique habitats supporting tremendous biodiversity and fragile ecosystems that are home to corals, fish, marine mammals, turtles, and more. These habitats are well worth preserving.

I thought the public meeting and proposed process was good, although many fishermen and fish policy makers felt it circumvented the New England Fishery Management Council’s authority. They believe the council is charged with regulating fishing via the Magnuson Stevens Act in this area.

I understand that it is not all about fishing, but I believe recreational and commercial fishermen should continue to be granted access to fishing grounds in and near the proposed monument areas, as long as they are not affecting the area in a negative way. For example, when recreational fishermen target tuna they are pretty much on the surface, not down to the sea floor where protections are needed.

I do believe drilling, mining, laying cable and certain types of fishing should be restricted.

If fishing can continue to be conducted respectfully in the proposed monument areas, and this is written into the law while restricting disruptive and harmful uses, I am all for designating national monument areas.

Read the full opinion piece at the Providence Journal