Saving Seafood

Scallop Abundance Found off Southern New Jersey Coast

August 21, 2015 — There could be as much as 500 million dollars worth of scallops waiting to be harvested off the coast of New Jersey and Delaware.

“If they all grow up. It’s going to be worth a lot of money over several years,” said Dvora Hart, a mathematical biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Photo images taken by NOAA’s Habcam this spring revealed the high density of scallops located in the Elephant Trunk, a fishing ground offshore of the two states. Dvora estimates there could be as many as 7.9 billion scallops in a 1,200 square mile zone in the trunk.

Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press

No changes to monitors, Bullard says

August 18, 2015 — Who says no one writes letters anymore? The battle over at-sea monitoring and other issues within the Northeast multispecies groundfish fishery is just full of them.

On Tuesday, NOAA Regional Administrator John K. Bullard sent a letter to the New England Fishery Management Council declining two more requests the council made in June to modify the at-sea monitoring program, while saying the request for analyzing ways for streamlining the at-sea monitoring (ASM) program is underway.

On Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker, following up on his pledge made last Thursday during a trip to Gloucester, waded further into the at-sea monitoring fray with his own letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, whose department oversees the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Baker’s letter, signed by members of the state’s congressional delegation, sought Pritzker’s support for NOAA’s continued funding of ASM rather than following through with the federal agency’s plan to shift the cost of at-sea monitoring — estimated at $600 to $800 per observer trip — to the already-beleaguered permit holders when federal funds run out, projected now to be at end of October.

Baker’s letter also questioned the necessity of NOAA’s expansion of other forms of monitoring within the Massachusetts and New England lobster fleets.

Bullard’s letter on Tuesday to NEFMC Executive Director Tom Nies followed the same rejective tone as his letter about two weeks ago that rejected the council request — also made at its June meeting — for NOAA to use its administrative authority to suspend all groundfish at-sea monitoring for the remainder of the 2015 season.

 

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

 

 

Mass. Governor, Congressional Delegation to Obama Administration: Fund At-Sea Monitoring for New England Fishermen

WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) — August 20, 2015 — Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and all nine Members of Congress from Massachusetts have called upon the Obama Administration to reverse recent policy decisions and continue the funding of at-sea monitoring for Northeastern fishermen. While the agency currently funds at-sea monitors, fishermen will have to assume the full cost of the program beginning this year, which the industry contends they will be unable to afford.

In a letter to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Governor Baker and the Massachusetts Congressional delegation expressed “serious concern over recent actions taken by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.” The signatories are especially critical of the agency’s current at-sea monitoring policy, specifically its plan to shift funding of the program from NOAA onto fishermen, noting that such a move could potentially bankrupt the industry.

The Republican Governor and the all-Democratic Congressional delegation have joined forces to criticize the Administration decision and the heavy costs that individual fishermen are likely to incur as a result of this policy, especially in light of the fact that fishermen are still recovering from the federal economic disaster declared by the Commerce Department in 2012.

Citing a NOAA analysis of the transfer, the letter notes that monitors will cost the fishery $2.64 million in the first year alone, and would lead to an estimated 60 percent of the vessels in the fishery operating at a loss. According to the Governor and legislators, this amounts to an “unfunded mandate that could lead to the end of the Northeast Groundfishery as we know it.”

At its June meeting, the New England Fishery Management Council requested that NOAA take administrative actions to “improve the efficiency of the program,” as well as “reduce costs of the [at-sea monitoring program] without compromising compliance” with current laws. In its response to the Council, NOAA rejected these requests, stating that they were not “consistent with current regulatory requirements and statistical standards.”

The Gloucester, Massachusetts-based Northeast Seafood Coalition, which represents a significant percentage of the groundfish fleet, criticized NOAA’s decisions, while coming out in support of efforts by Gov. Baker and Congress to force a change in agency policy.

“The Council has questioned the benefits and the costs to the groundfish fishery of the at-sea monitoring program, and has given their clear directive to the Agency to either suspend or make the existing program more cost effective,” said Jackie Odell, Executive Director of the Northeast Seafood Coalition. “All requests made to date have received an astounding ‘no’ from NOAA. The Northeast Seafood Coalition strongly supports the requests made by the Council, Governor Baker and Members of Congress. When is enough, enough?”

In addition to Secretary Pritzker, the letter was sent to Sens. Thad Cochran and Barbara Mikulski, and Reps. Hal Rogers and Nita Lowey. Gov. Baker and Sens. Warren and Markey are joined by Reps. Richard Neal, Jim McGovern, Michael Capuano, Stephen Lynch, Niki Tsongas, William Keating, Joseph Kennedy, Katherine Clark, and Seth Moulton as signatories of the letter.

Read the letter from Gov. Baker and the Massachusetts Congressional delegation

Read the NEFMC’s request to NOAA on at-sea monitoring

Read NOAA’s rejection of the NEMFC’s at-sea monitoring request

 

ASMFC Finds Delaware Out of Compliance with Addendum III to the Interstate FMP for American Eel: Noncompliance Finding Forwarded to the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior

August 19, 2015 — ARLINGTON, VA – The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has found the State of Delaware out of compliance with the mandatory management measures contained in Addendum III to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for American Eel. The Commission has notified the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior of its finding.  This action was taken pursuant to the provisions of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act of 1993.

The State of Delaware has failed to effectively implement and enforce the provisions of Addendum III to the FMP for American Eel. Specifically, Delaware has not implemented the following regulations required by Addendum III:

•     9” minimum size for yellow eel recreational and commercial fisheries

•     ½” x ½” min mesh size for yellow eel pots

•     Allowance of 4”x4” escape panel in pots of ½” x ½” mesh for 3 years (beginning on January 1, 2014)

•     Recreational 25 fish bag limit per day per angler

•     Crew and Captain involved in for-hire are exempt and allowed 50 fish bag limit per day

The implementation of these measures is necessary to achieve the conservation goals and objectives of the FMP to rebuild the depleted American eel stock. In order to come back into compliance the State of Delaware must implement all of the above measures.  Upon notification by the Commission, the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior have 30 days to review the recommendation and determine appropriate action, which may include a federal moratorium on fishing for American eel in Delaware’s state waters.

For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, Director, Interstate Fisheries Management Program, at tkerns@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

NOAA Fisheries Announces 2nd Reduction in Northern Red Hake Possession Limit

August 19, 2015 — NOAA Fisheries announces that the possession limit for Northern red hake will be reduced from 1,500 lb per trip to 400 lb per trip effective on Monday, August 24. This revised possession limit will be in effect for the remainder of the 2015 fishing year (April 30, 2016) to ensure the total allowable landings will not be exceeded.

The northern red hake possession limit must be reduced from 1,500 lb to 400 lb when landings for the fishing year reach or are projected to reach 62.5 percent of the total allowable landings.
Read the rule as filed in the Federal Register, or read the permit holder bulletin on our website.
Questions? Contact Reid Lichwell, Regional Office, at 978-281-9112 or reid.lichwell@noaa.gov.

State leaders express concern about NOAAs “oppressive” observer funding decision

August 19, 2015 — NEW BEDFORD, MA — Public officials statewide are criticizing a recent decision by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association requiring fishermen in the groundfishing industry to pay for federally mandated observers.

The Baker-Polito administration sent an letter to federal partners Monday expressing “serious concern” about the requirement, and urging their support in covering the costs of the At-Sea-Monitoring (ASM) program for the Northeast fishery, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

“While we, too, respect the importance of proper fisheries management, we question the fiscal and programmatic decisions that the agency has made of late with regards to the Northeast Fishery,” states the letter, which was sent to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and members of the U.S. House and Senate appropriations committees.

Read the full story at South Coast Today

Message from Richard Merrick, Chief Science Advisor for NOAA Fisheries

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

Take a look at the August 6 op-ed in the Huffington Post by NOAA Chief Scientist Dr. Rick Spinrad et al. titled, “U.S. Can Remain Innovation Leader in Science’s ‘Endless Frontier”. In the spirit of this article, I would like all of us to recognize NOAA Fisheries’ clear commitment to maintaining the United States as a world leader in marine resource science and stewardship. Here are a few recent examples I’d like to highlight.

First, Fisheries’ annual science program reviews help maintain the quality of our science and also clearly show to our external partners the high caliber of our science. Last week’s review of West Coast marine mammal and turtles programs held at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center was another shining example of quality, with the external panelists heaping praise for our West Coast research teams.

I also see first-hand the incredible quality of our science at all of our 22+ labs, as I saw in my visits last week to Pasco and Point Adams, and as I expect to see in my upcoming visits to our labs in Panama City, Pascagoula, and Orono.

I also track the quality and volume of our scientific publications, and I am proud to provide NOAA Leadership a weekly report of our staff’s upcoming publications.  You should recognize that so far this year Fisheries researchers’ work accounts for 36 percent of NOAA’s journal publications (in 87+ different journals), which is similar to the output by NOAA Research staff.

The quality of our science is not lost on NOAA Leadership. Last week I presented to NOAA’s Science Advisory Board a review of NOAA Fisheries’ Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management program. By describing some of our ongoing research, including Integrated Ecosystem Assessments, I was able to show the SAB the incredible quality of our scientific contributions to EBFM.  Interestingly, much of the SAB’s discussion about EBFM focused on the economic and social science research necessary to understand community resilience, and it was easy for me to provide examples of how our folks are stepping up to meet this challenge.

In addition, the recent GAO review of our approach to stock assessment prioritization recognized that, not only do we do outstanding stock assessment science, but we also have the capability to organize and conduct this science in a fashion that meets both conservation and economic demands.

Finally, what distinguishes our science from much of that conducted by other NOAA offices is its direct connection to our conservation mandates.  Recovery of our trust species, whether they are managed fish stocks or protected resources, relies on sound science.  NOAA Fisheries has been incredibly successful in rebuilding and recovering our trust species. I am proud that our scientists and researchers are not content to rest on past successes but are looking ahead to the challenges of climate changes, and are developing ways to provide climate science advice to our management partners.

Keep it up folks, this is a great ride!

Tuna Fishermen and Boaters Advised to Watch Out for Whales

August 19, 2015 — NOAA Fisheries reminds all fishermen and boaters to keep a safe distance from whales. Whales can get hooked in tuna rigs or tangled in monofilament line. We recommend boaters keep a distance of at least 100 feet from all whales (and at least 500 yards from endangered North Atlantic right whales, as required by federal law).

 In recent years, we have received increasing numbers of reports of tuna fishermen trolling their gear too close to humpback whales. This can result in injuries to both the whales and the people.

 Humpbacks create bubble clouds to corral their prey, and then lunge through the center to swallow the small fish. Fishermen or boaters in these bubble patches run the risk of colliding with a massive 79,000-pound humpback whale as it rapidly approaches the surface. When a whale collides with a vessel, it can be gravely injured and die from its injuries. Collisions with whales have also thrown boaters from vessels, causing injuries and even death.

 In addition to the potential risk of a collision, the close proximity of a boat may cause a whale to stop feeding. All whales in U.S. waters are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes it illegal for people to harm, injure, kill, chase, or harass whales or any other marine mammal. Harassment includes any activity that results in changes to the whales’ natural behaviors, such as feeding. Penalties for Marine Mammal Protection Act violations are fines of up to $20,000 and up to one year in prison. In addition, some whales are protected under the Endangered Species Act, such as North Atlantic right whales, humpback whales, and fin whales.

 Get more information on safe boating near whales.

North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update: 8/17/15

August 17, 2015 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

JERRY’S UPDATE

Last week I attended the joint meeting of the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission in New York City. The primary issue was the quota setting for the next three years for summer flounder. There were about 40 council and commission members with staff sitting around the table and about twice that many in the audience, mostly commercial and recreational fishermen plus some reps of environmental groups. There was quite a bit of public comment on Tuesday and one of those rare times when commercial and recreational fishermen were on the same page. The original proposal was for a 43 percent quota reduction in 2016. Although what they agreed on was a 29 percent reduction for next year’s summer flounder quota, it will have tremendous impacts on both commercial and recreational fishermen. In addition, a motion passed by the council will take a look at the landings regulations which could have other very serious consequences for North Carolina.

At the state level, we have a very important Marine Fisheries Commission meeting coming up this week in Raleigh, with the commission addressing the southern flounder regulations. (For those not familiar with these terms, it can be confusing. Summer flounder is regulated jointly by the feds and states with southern flounder regulated by the state.)

See the schedule elsewhere in this update. We are strongly encouraging fishermen and their families to attend at least part of this very important meeting!

NCFA’s position from the start has been that the MFC should consider further management of southern flounder through the amendment process rather than the supplement course they’re on. We will continue to make that point this week in Raleigh. Based on previous actions by the MFC, it seems like it’s impossible to change their course. But should we roll over and give up? A couple of points here:

1.) At the time I write this, we have 2 new commissioners: Janet Rose of Currituck in a commercial seat and Keith Rhodes of Wilmington in an at-large seat. There is one more recreational fisherman yet to be named, but the point here is that we need to show up to talk to these new commissioners and make public comment as they can make all the difference in the decisions coming out of the MFC.

2.) Even if we know that the deck is stacked on this issue with the current commission, what kind of message are we sending if we don’t show up the way we usually do? That it’s over? That we’ve given up? I sincerely hope that isn’t the message we want to convey to the MFC, to the public and the media!

THE WORLD IS RUN BY THOSE WHO SHOW UP! SO LET’S SHOW UP!

Jerry

ANNUAL SPECS FOR SUMMER FLOUNDER, SCUP, BLACK SEA BASS AND BLUEFISH APPROVED BY MAFMC AND ASMFC

NMFS ANNOUNCES PROPOSED RULE TO SET QUOTAS AND OPENING DATES FOR 2016 ATLANTIC SHARK COMMERCIAL FISHING SEASON

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces a proposed rule that would establish quota levels and opening dates for the 2016 Atlantic commercial shark fisheries.

The proposed 2016 quotas, adjusted as appropriate to account for over- and underharvests, are summarized in Table 1 by management group.  Adjustments based on over- and underharvests depend on stock status.  The proposed rule uses landings data received as of June 19, 2015.  The final rule will be based on updated data received in dealer reports as of October or November 2015 based on the timing of the final rule.  Thus, the quotas in the proposed rule are subject to change in the final rule.  All dealer reports that are received after the date of the final rule will be used to adjust the 2017 quotas, as appropriate.

Specifically, NMFS proposes to:

* Open all shark management groups on the effective date for this action (i.e., on or about January 1, 2016).

* Start the 2016 commercial shark fishing season with a retention limit of 45 large coastal sharks (LCS) other than sandbar sharks per    vessel per trip.

* Adjust the commercial shark retention limit inseason to allow more equitable fishing opportunities across the fishery.

* Increase the Gulf of Mexico blacktip shark management group sub-regional quotas based on underharvests in 2014 and 2015.

* Decrease the Gulf of Mexico non-blacknose small coastal shark management group quota based on an overharvest in 2014.

* Decrease the Atlantic blacknose shark management group quota over a five-year timeframe based on an overharvest in 2012 and further decrease the quota over a three-year timeframe based on an additional overharvest in 2015.

Public hearings are currently not scheduled.  If you are interested in public hearings for the proposed rule, please contact Karyl Brewster-Geisz or Guý DuBeck by phone 301-427-8503 Written comments will be accepted until Sept. 17.  For more information and how to submit comments see the news release.

RECREATIONAL SECTOR EXCEEDS 2015 ACL FOR HOGFISH IN SOUTH ATLANTIC, FISHERY TO CLOSE AUG. 24

Recreational harvest of hogfish in South Atlantic federal waters will close, at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on Aug. 24, 2015. Federal waters will reopen to recreational harvest at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on Jan. 1, 2016. The recreational annual catch limit for hogfish is 85,355 pounds whole weight. Reports indicate that landings have exceeded the 2015 recreational annual catch limit for hogfish.

REGULATION AND RULE CHANGES:

–Coral Amendment 8 in the South Atlantic Effective Aug. 17

–Amendment 6 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Sharks Effective Aug. 18

–Snowy Grouper Season Re-opens Aug. 20

-South Atlantic Gag and Wreckfish Catch Limits Change Effective Sept. 11

-Atlantic Mackerel Slippage Consequences Measures Effective Sept. 11

-USCG Mandatory Dockside Inspections Required Effective Oct. 15

DEADLINES:

Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. – Snapper-Grouper Regulatory Amendment 16  Comments

Aug. 26 – Green Sea Turtles ESA Uplisting Comments

Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. – Snapper-Grouper Regulatory Amendment 36 Comments

Sept. 1 – SAFMC Snapper-Grouper Draft Vision Blueprint Comments

Sept. 4 – Cape Fear River Restoration Scoping Document Comments

Sept. 10 – NMFS Updated Draft Acoustic Guidelines Comments

Sept. 14 – NMFS Generic Amendment to Snapper-Grouper, Golden Crab and Dolphin-Wahoo FMPs Comments

Sept. 17 – 2016 Commercial Atlantic Shark Season Comments

Sept 21 at 5 p.m. – 2016-2018 Atlantic Herring Research Set Aside Applications

Oct. 2 – MFC Proposed Rules Comments

MEETINGS:

If you are aware of ANY meetings that should be of interest to commercial fishing that is not on this list, please contact us so we can include it here.     

Aug. 18  at 6 p.m.– Cape Fear River Restoration Public Meeting, Navassa Community Center, 338 Main St., Navassa

Aug. 19 at 1:30 p.m. – MAFMC Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel Meeting via webinar

Aug. 19-21 – Marine Fisheries Commission Meeting, Brownstone Hotel, Raleigh

Aug. 31-Sept.1 – ASMFC Menhaden Ecosystem Management Workshop

Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. – MFC Rules Public Hearing, DMF Central District Office, 5285 Hwy 70 W, Morehead City

PROCLAMATIONS: 

CRAB TRAWLING AND TAKING SHRIMP WITH NETS (OPENING: Outer Shallowbag Bay)

CRAB TRAWLING AND TAKING SHRIMP WITH NETS

SNAPPER-GROUPER COMPLEX – COMMERCIAL PURPOSES (SNOWY GROUPER)

SNAPPER-GROUPER COMPLEX – RECREATIONAL PURPOSES (SNOWY GROUPER)

 

NOAA Announces Final Amendment 6 to Atlantic Highly Migratory Species FMP

August 17, 2015 — The following was released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): 

Effective August 18, 2015

Final Amendment 6 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (Amendment 6) implements a range of management measures for the Atlantic commercial shark fisheries. 

Who is affected?

 Amendment 6 could affect:

  • Any commercial shark fisherman.
  • Any dealers who buy or sell sharks or shark products (information specific to dealers will be disseminated separately). 

What will it do?

The full range of alternatives considered can be found in the final environmental impact statement and/or final rule, which can be found at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/documents/fmp/am6/index.html

This action implements the following measures: 

  • Commercial Retention Limit: Increases the large coastal shark (LCS) retention limit for shark directed limited access permit holders to a maximum of 55 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip with a default of 45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip; 
  • Adjusts the sandbar shark research fishery quota to 90.7 mt dw (199,943 lb dw).

NMFS may adjust the commercial retention limit and sandbar shark research fishery quota before the next fishing season or mid-season based on various factors including the fishing rates from the current or previous years.  

  • Atlantic Regional Quotas (Figure 1): 

-Establishes a management boundary in the Atlantic region along 34° 00′ N. latitude (approximately at Wilmington, North Carolina) for the small coastal shark (SCS) fishery; maintains the non-blacknose SCS quota linkage with the blacknose shark quota south of the 34° 00′ N. latitude; and prohibits the retention and landings of blacknose sharks north of the 34° 00′ N. Latitude.

-Establishes a non-blacknose SCS Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 489.3 mt dw and increases the SCS commercial quota to 264.1 mt dw (582,333 lb dw).

Figure 1: Map depicting the modifications to the quota linkages for the non-blacknose SCS and blacknose quotas along the new management boundary in the Atlantic region

  • Gulf of Mexico Regional and Sub-Regional Quotas (Figure 2): 

-Splits the Gulf of Mexico regional commercial quotas for aggregated LCS, blacktip, and hammerhead sharks along 88° 00′ W. longitude;

-Establishes a non-blacknose SCS TAC of 999.0 mt dw and increases the non-blacknose SCS commercial quota to 112.6 mt dw (248,215 lb dw); and

-Prohibits the retention of blacknose sharks in the Gulf of Mexico.

Figure 2: Map depicting new Gulf of Mexico blacktip, aggregated LCS, and hammerhead shark sub-regions and sub-regional quotas

  • Commercial Vessel Upgrading Restrictions: Remove current upgrading restrictions for shark limited access permit holders.

The following fisheries will remain open or will re-open as a result of this action:

  • In the Atlantic Region:
    • The non-blacknose SCS fishery north of 34° 00′ N. Latitude will re-open with 63 percent (165.5 mt dw) of the 264.1 mt dw quota reminding.
    • The aggregated LCS (blacktip, bull, tiger, spinner, silky, nurse, and lemon) and hammerhead shark (scalloped, great, and smooth) fisheries have been open since July 1 and will remain open; the commercial retention limit for these fisheries will increase from 36 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip to 45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip. 
  • In the Gulf of Mexico Region:
    • The non-blacknose SCS fishery will re-open with 59 percent (66.4 mt dw) of the 112.6 mt dw quota remaining.