Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Announces Changes to Observer Waivers for Longfin Squid Fishery

July 20, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:

Due to a change in one of the two observer programs (Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology or SBRM) that apply to the Longfin Squid Fishery, the observer waivers you receive through the Pre-Trip Notification System will no longer apply to SBRM observers when this change goes through.

The new waivers will say:

“You have been waived of observer requirements for [VESSEL NAME] departing [SAIL DATE and TIME], confirmation # [NUMBER] for your longfin squid trip notification through PTNS. However, you may be asked to take an observer through a selection notice or verbally by an approved observer service provider. If selected, you must carry an observer.”

The system will operate as usual after this change, but be aware that any waiver you get will only apply to observers from the butterfish mortality cap monitoring program. You may still be asked, either verbally or by a letter, to take an SBRM observer on a trip.

For more information on this change, please read our letter. Information about the Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Fishery Management Plan regulations is available on our website.

Pre-Trip Notification procedures remain the same. Notify us either by emailing nefsc.ptns@noaa.gov, logging into our website (https://fish.nefsc.noaa.gov/ptns/), or calling 855-FISHES-1 (855-347-4371).

Questions? 

Contact Amy Martins, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, at 508-495-2266 or Amy.Martins@noaa.gov.

Longfin squid

Independent coastal bait and tackle retailers contribute $2.3 billion to U.S. economy

July 27, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:

In 2014, NOAA Fisheries conducted our first-ever survey of independent retailers that sell saltwater bait and tackle in coastal communities. We found that bait and tackle shops generated an estimated $854 million in sales of saltwater bait, tackle, and other fishing-related equipment. Collectively, these sales support $2.3 billion in total sales output, nearly $800 million in income, and support over 16,000 full and part-time jobs.

Before this study, we lacked baseline data to help describe the role independent bait and tackle retailers play in local economies. These results will inform decision-making on how proposed fishing regulations changes might affect our society and economy Please take a moment to review the full results and share the findings with others who may be interested.

Please contact the report’s lead author, Cliff Hutt (cliff.hutt@noaa.gov), if you have questions or need additional information about the study.

NOAA Earmarks $88,000 in Funding to Study Massive West Coast Algal Bloom that Shut Dungeness Fishery

July 23, 2015 — SEATTLE (AP) — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is committing $88,000 to help Washington analyze a massive bloom of toxic algae off the coast that have closed some shellfish harvests.

The algae blooms have occurred along the West Coast from southern California to Alaska since May. Dangerous toxin levels prompted the closure of Dungeness crab fishing off the southern coast of Washington. Ocean beaches were also closed to recreational razor clamming.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at The Seattle Times

 

NOAA begins fence-mending with Northeast fishermen

July 23, 2015 —  NOAA Fisheries this week undertook an effort to build trust and cooperation from the New England fishing industry by including the industry in upcoming groundfish stock assessments.

NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center, based in Woods Hole, conducted meetings at five sites Wednesday, with web meeting access provided for several more sites up and down the New England coast.

The NOAA scientists made a presentation of the assessment process and some of the options that the New England Fishery Management Council’s Science Committee has for action on assessments.

According to the NOAA web site, those options range from the status quo to a complete review and rebuild of all the methods and computer models being used by the science center to guide NOAA’s annual quota decisions on 20 different groundfish stocks.

With very few fishermen fishing for groundfish, few were among the 20 or so participants, according to Don Cuddy, spokesman for the New Bedford-based Center for Sustainable Fisheries.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

 

Success of scallops gives hope to fisheries managers

July 20, 2015 — Now, as part of its scallop population survey to plan the rotating closure of dredging grounds, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service has found an underwater realm nearly the size of South Jersey with at least 10 billion sea scallops – and it’s just 50 miles off the Jersey Shore.

Scallop fishermen are hoping for a sustainable harvest of 50 million pounds a year for a decade. That would ensure one of the region’s most important non-tourism industries remains robust.

The management of the scallop fishery is a great example of what’s possible when public and private interests collaborate and natural resources cooperate. It should give fisheries managers the encouragement to persevere in restoring more challenged species such as summer flounder.

Read the full story at the Press of Atlantic City

 

Lobstering: Monitors more likely on boats with state, federal permits

July 16, 2015 — Federal plans to expand observer coverage on lobster boats from Maine to Maryland may have a hit a lull, but they are not going away, especially for lobstermen who hold both state lobster and federal access permits, according to the NOAA Fisheries official that oversees the program.

Amy Martins, manager of the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program, said Wednesday the number of calls to lobstermen to schedule observer trips have declined substantially in the past month primarily because of concerns lobstermen expressed at a contentious June 4 meeting at NOAA Fisheries’ regional headquarters in Gloucester.

“We heard concerns from the lobstermen that our observer program was calling too frequently and that we were perhaps overly aggressive,” Martins said. “We’ve also done quite a bit of work since that meeting that has allowed us to zone in a little more clearly on the specific parts of the fishery we want to monitor, the fleet-within-the-fleet, so to speak.”

Read the full story from the Gloucester Daily Times

NOAA Fisheries Reminds Commercial Fishermen that the Recreational Bag Limit Applies for Some Species After a Commercial Closure if the Recreational Season is Open

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

Atlantic Dolphin, Atlantic Wahoo, and Snapper-Grouper Species (Except for Wreckfish)

After the catch limit is met and the commercial sector is closed for Atlantic dolphin, Atlantic wahoo, or snapper-grouper species (except for wreckfish):

  • The recreational bag limit for these species applies to commercial vessels.
  • If a commercial vessel is on a trip that lasts longer than one day, each person onboard the commercial vessel is limited to only one day’s bag limit.
  • Sale and purchase of these species is prohibited.
  • The commercial closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels with a federal commercial permit.
  • The recreational bag limit for dolphin is 10 per person per day, not to exceed 60 per vessel, whichever is less, except on board a headboat, where the bag limit is 10 per paying passenger.
  • The recreational bag limit for wahoo is 2 fish per person per day.
  • Recreational bag limits for snapper-grouper species can be found at 50 CFR § 622.187.These measures apply from:
  • Maine through the east coast of Florida for dolphin and wahoo.
  • North Carolina/Virginia border through the east coast of Florida for snapper-grouper species (except black sea bass and scup).
  • Cape Hatteras, North Carolina through the east coast of Florida for black sea bass and scup.

Atlantic King and Spanish Mackerel

After the catch limit is met and the commercial sector is closed for Atlantic king or Spanish mackerel:

  • There is no recreational bag or possession limit that applies to commercial vessels, and commercial fishermen may NOT fish under the recreational bag limit of king mackerel and Spanish mackerel.
  • A person aboard a vessel that has both a valid charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic fish and a valid commercial vessel permit for king or Spanish mackerel, may continue to fish under a bag limit, provided the vessel is operating as a charter vessel or headboat.These measures apply from:
  • New York through the east coast of Florida.

New England Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries Seek Comments on Amendment 18 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan

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

The New England Fishery Management Council has been developing  Amendment 18 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan for several years.

The notice of availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Amendment 18 published today in the Federal Register. The DEIS is open for comments through August 31. More information, including dates and times of public meetings, is available on our website and on the Council’s website.

Amendment 18 provides a range of alternatives that could address the following issues:

  • Accumulation limits for Northeast multispecies permit holders;
  • A sub-allocation and other management measures for Handgear A permit holders;
  • Data confidentiality with regards to leasing of groundfish allocations;
  • An inshore/offshore boundary within the Gulf of Maine and potential associated management measures for Gulf of Maine cod; and,
  • Establishing a Redfish Exemption Area for vessels to target redfish.

The Council is expected to take final action on Amendment 18 at its September 2015 meeting.

Send your comments to:

Email: nmfs.gar.amendment18@noaa.gov

Mail:       John K. Bullard

Regional Administrator

Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office

55 Great Republic Drive

Gloucester, MA 01930

Fax: 978-281-9315

Please include “Amendment 18” in the subject line or on the outside of the envelope.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, at 978-281-6175 or Jennifer.Goebel@noaa.gov.

Haddock

NOAA Fisheries Announces Final Rule to Expand Boundaries of Habitat Areas of Particular Concern and to Modify Transit Provisions

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

On July 17, 2015, NOAA Fisheries published a final rule (80 FR 42423) to implement Amendment 8 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hardbottom Habitats of the South Atlantic Region (Coral Amendment 8). Regulations will be effective on August 17, 2015.

The amendment extends protections for deepwater coral ecosystems by expanding the boundaries of the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern, and the Stetson-Miami Terrace and Cape Lookout Coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern.

Within Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, the use of bottom longline, bottom trawl, dredge, pot or trap is prohibited. If aboard a fishing vessel, anchor, use of anchor and chain, and grapple and chain is prohibited. Mid-water trawls are also prohibited in Stetson-Miami Terrace and Cape Lookout Coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern.

Coral Amendment 8 also implements a transit provision through Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern for fishing vessels with rock shrimp onboard. When traveling through the area, vessels are required to have gear appropriately stowed and maintain a minimum speed of five knots. Vessel speed is determined by a vessel monitoring system registering a ping (signal) at a rate of 1 ping per 5 minutes.

More Information

For more information on Coral Amendment 8, please click on this link to the Frequently Asked Questions found at:

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/coral/2014/am8/index.html.

Maps of the revised Coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern can be found on our website at:

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/maps_gis_data/fisheries/s_atlantic/index.html. 

This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the information regarding the existing regulations. Any discrepancies between this bulletin and the regulations as published in the Federal Register will be resolved in favor of the Federal Register.

Consider signing up for fishery bulletins via email.

To receive fishery bulletins electronically, via email, you must sign up through Constant Contact. Constant Contact is an internet-based distribution service. This service allows you to subscribe or unsubscribe at any time. The electronic copy of the bulletin will be delivered to you faster than the paper copy, is in color, features informational links, and reduces paper use.

To receive fishery bulletins via email using Constant Contact, please sign up at http://bit.ly/HQDUEU. You may also sign up for Constant Contact by visiting our Web site http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov (sign-up option is located on the left side of the page).