Saving Seafood

North Carolina fishermen getting $11.6 million in Hurricane Florence relief funding

April 8, 2019 — North Carolina commercial fishermen will soon get a second round of checks as part of $11.6 million being distributed by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries under the Hurricane Florence Commercial Fishing Assistance Program.

For this round, 1,002 checks totaling $7,231,500 are going to fishermen to help compensate for October and November harvest reductions due to Hurricane Florence.

“When the storm hit, coastal communities suffered tremendous damage to homes, businesses, schools and their entire economy,” Governor Cooper said. “Helping the commercial fishing industry recover is critical for the people and places who rely on it for their livelihood, and these funds are an important boost.”

The program is designed to help make up for losses to the state’s nearly billion-dollar commercial fishing industry due to the storm and is part of a package of Hurricane Florence relief efforts Governor Cooper signed into law on December 3, 2018.

The first round of checks to fisherman went out in February and included 678 checks totaling more than $3.2 million to help compensate fishermen for reductions in the September harvest.

Distribution of the money is based on reported commercial fishing landings in September, October, and November 2018 as compared to the same months in 2015, 2016, 2017. The state collects records of all marine fish and shellfish sold at North Carolina docks.

Read the full story at WNCT

In Pictures and Words: Bringing back North Carolina oysters after Hurricane Florence

January 21, 2019 — Over the past three to four decades many of the areas that were open to wild oyster harvests have been closed due to water quality concerns, often near the headwaters of creeks and rivers hit by pollutants from farms and industrial developments.

But oyster farms along the North Carolina coast are on the rise, and even after the devastating impact of Hurricane Florence on the shellfish industry, aquaculture represents the state’s hope in catching up with states like Virginia.

Last week, Port City Daily spent the day with two oyster farmers from Three Little Spats Oyster Company, who discussed the role of aquaculture in an industry that has seen wild oyster populations drop over the years, and their hope for Stump Sound’s resurgence as one of the state’s best regions for oysters and commercial fishing.

Read the full story at Port City Daily

NORTH CAROLINA: Disaster declaration OK’d for fishing industry storm damage

December 11, 2018 — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Friday granted Gov. Roy Cooper’s request for a disaster declaration related to damage from Hurricane Florence to North Carolina’s fishing industry.

The storm destroyed boats, gear and buildings critical to fishing businesses.

Cooper requested the declaration in a letter dated Nov. 1, saying federal fisheries disaster assistance was needed for long-term recovery after initial relief from state appropriations. The declaration is a critical step for Congress to appropriate fishery disaster assistance, the governor’s office noted Friday.

“Recreational and commercial fishing are important economic drivers for our state and families along North Carolina’s coast. I appreciate Secretary Ross’s recognition of the damage to these vital industries caused by Hurricane Florence. We must rebuild smarter and stronger than ever and I will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to bring recovery funds to those who need them,” Cooper said in a statement.

Read the full story at The Outer Banks Voice

NORTH CAROLINA: Authorities surveying fishermen, others about hurricane damages

December 10, 2018 — Fishermen, for-hire boat captains and others associated with North Carolina’s marine fisheries may get a phone call from federal or state authorities asking about impacts from Hurricane Florence.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA-Fisheries) is working with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries to evaluate fisheries damages from the storm. The survey is in response to Gov. Roy Cooper’s request that the U.S. Department of Commerce declare a federal fishery resources disaster for North Carolina’s recreational and commercial fisheries.

The determination of a federal fishery resources disaster could provide federal financial relief to the state’s fishing industry.

Read the full story at The Coastland Times

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Cooper urges feds to help fisheries

November 12, 2018 —  Gov. Roy Cooper has requested help from the federal government to assist state fisheries hit by Hurricane Florence, and some local fishermen and seafood dealers are pleased with his actions.

According to a Nov. 2 press release from the governor’s office, Gov. Cooper has urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to help provide additional resources and funding to help North Carolina fisheries affected by Florence. This request follows a $1.6 million appropriation in September by the state, in response to a recommendation from Gov. Cooper to appropriate $12 million, which the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will use to compensate fishermen and shellfish harvesters for equipment and income loss.

In Beaufort, Cannon Seafood owner and operator Gary Cannon was pleased with the governor’s efforts to help restore the fisheries.

“There’s a lot of fishermen that have been put out of business by the storm,” he said. “We were put out of work two to three weeks.”

Mr. Cannon said his seafood dealership got four feet of water in its buildings, and he lost $30,000 in fishing gear.

What makes losses like this especially difficult for commercial fishermen is that they can’t get insurance for it.

“Farmers have crop insurance,” Mr. Cannon said, “but fishermen don’t have anything like that.”

Insurance for lost gear and income seems to be a significant concern for commercial fishermen.

Read the full story at the Carteret County News-Times

NORTH CAROLINA: Artificial Reef Program to Propose 4-Year Plan

July 26, 2018 –Meetings are planned in Raleigh, Ocracoke, Wilmington and Morehead City in August for the state Division of Marine Fisheries’ Artificial Reef Program representatives to share information and receive feedback on a proposed four-year artificial reef enhancement plan, the state agency announced Wednesday.

Artificial Reef Program representatives will be seeking partners during each meeting for regional reef enhancement projects.

In North Carolina, artificial reefs, which are a man-made underwater structures built to promote marine life in areas with a generally featureless bottom, serve as crucial spawning and foraging habitat for many commercially and recreationally important fish species, the release stated.

Read the full story at Coastal Review Online

Coastal fishing down in North Carolina last year

July 2, 2018 — There were fewer fishing trips and fewer fish caught along the North Carolina coast last year.

Information from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries shows those engaged in recreational fishing made about 4.5 million trips last year. That included shoreline or pier fishing, charter boats, private boats or in man-made ponds near the coast.

The agency says that’s down from 5.4 million fishing trips in 2016. Officials say Hurricanes Jose and Maria were part of the reason for last year’s decline.

The number of fish caught was also down in 2017. The number of fish caught dropped from 8.6 million in 2016 to 5.5 million last year.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at WITN

MAFMC: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Seeks Input on Proposed Changes for Atlantic Cobia Management

January 11, 2018 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are soliciting public input on proposed management changes for Atlantic cobia as they consider revising the current management system. Public hearings will be held via webinar with public listening stations beginning January 22, 2018. Information on the proposed changes is now available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/. Written comments are also being solicited using the online comment form available from the website page.

Atlantic cobia are managed in federal waters along the Atlantic coast from Georgia through New York in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; two voting seats are provided to the Mid-Atlantic Council on the South Atlantic Council’s Mackerel Cobia Committee. This arrangement provides an opportunity to include the views of constituents from Virginia northwards. Cobia in federal waters off the east coast of Florida are considered part of the Gulf of Mexico migratory stock.  The management boundary for the two stocks was modified following a 2013 stock assessment and annual catch limits for each stock were set.  NOAA Fisheries determined the recreational catch limit for Atlantic cobia was exceeded in 2015, leading to a shortened season in 2016. Cobia harvested in both state and federal waters count toward the annual catch limit.  Subsequent overages occurred during 2016 and the recreational fishery was closed in federal waters on January 24, 2017.

In order to provide for effective management and fair and equitable access to the Atlantic cobia fishery without reducing protection to the stock, the Council is considering a range of alternatives for managing Atlantic cobia, from complementary management with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to removal of Atlantic cobia from the federal management unit. The ASMFC recently approved an Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Cobia that will be implemented in April 2018.  Should the Council choose to remove Atlantic cobia from the current federal management unit, the ASMFC Interstate Plan would be applied to both state and federal waters, allowing for additional management flexibility.

Public Hearings for Atlantic Cobia Management

(Amendment 31 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan)

Public hearings will be conducted via webinar with listening stations as noted below. Attendance at the listening stations is encouraged but not required. During the public hearings, Council staff will present an overview of the amendment and will be available to answer questions via webinar. Area Council members or state agency representatives will be present at each of the listening stations. Members of the public will have an opportunity to go on record via webinar or at the listening stations to record their comments for consideration by the Council.

January 22, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Stations:

  1. Port Royal Sound Maritime Center: 310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie, SC 29909
  2. North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries’ Central District Office: 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City, NC 28557
  3. Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Division: One Conservation Way,Brunswick, GA 31523

January 23, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Station:

  1. Hatteras Community Center; 57689 NC Highway12,Hatteras, NC 27943

January 24, 2018 Webinar – begins at 6:00 PM

Listening Stations:

  1. Haddrell’s Point Tackle: 885 Ben Sawyer Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
  2. Virginia Marine Resources Commission (The Maritime Building); 2500 Washington Ave., 4th Floor, Newport News, VA23607 *Note: The VA location is a state-organized listening station and was arranged to provide the public in Virginia the opportunity to attend and provide comments in-person.

Registration for each webinar is required. Registration information, along with public hearing documents, video presentations, and other materials is now available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/. An online public comment form for written comments is also available. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. February 9, 2018 to be included in the briefing book materials for the Council’s March 5-9, 2018 meeting in Jekyll Island, GA.

The Council is also asking for public input on the timing of measures proposed in Amendment 31. A Stock Identification Workshop for Cobia is scheduled to begin in April 2018 as part of a benchmark stock assessment Atlantic cobia.

Learn more about the MAFMC by visiting their site here.

 

South Atlantic States Schedule Public Hearings on Draft FMP for Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia

August 17, 2017 — ARLINGTON, Va. — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission: 

September 20, 2017 — This press release modifies that of August 17. North Carolina’s September 19th hearing has been rescheduled to Thursday, September 21st at the same location and time. South Carolina and Georgia have also rescheduled their hearing dates to September 26th and 25th, respectively. Please note Georgia’s hearing will occur via webinar only. Please see below for the revised details of the three hearings.

The South Atlantic states of Virginia through Georgia have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Migratory Group (AMG) Cobia. The details of those hearings follow.

Virginia Marine Resources Commission

September 12, 2017 at 6 PM

2600 Washington Ave 4th floor

Newport News, VA

Contact: Joe Cimino at 757.247.2236

RESCHEDULED: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

September 21, 2017 at 7 PM

Hatteras Community Center

57689 NC Highway 12

Hatteras, NC

Contact: Michelle Duval at 252.808.8013

–

September 20, 2017 at 7 PM

Central District Office

5285 US Highway 70 West

Morehead City, NC

Contact: Michelle Duval at 252.808.8013

RESCHEDULED: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

September 26, 2017 at 7 PM

Town & Country Inn

2008 Savannah Highway

Charleston, SC

Contact: Mel Bell at 843.953.9007

RESCHEDULED: Georgia Department of Natural Resources

September 25, 2017 at 6 PM

This hearing will occur via webinar only

Call in for webinar audio at 1.888.394.8197 and enter Passcode: 815277 when prompted

Webinar Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4807279626897305603

Contact: Pat Geer at 912.264.7218

–

The intent of the Draft FMP is to complement federal AMG cobia management actions and distribute catches among member states through a proposed allocation strategy. The Draft FMP was initiated in response to recent overages of the federal annual catch limit (ACL) for AMG Cobia. The Draft FMP addresses immediate management and conservation goals in anticipation of a new benchmark AMG cobia stock assessment in 2018.  Management options include size, bag, and vessel limits to complement federal measures along with proposed de minimis options for Mid-Atlantic states (Maryland through New York) whose landings are minimal or episodic.

The most significant change may come in the form of state-specific recreational allocations.  The current ACL for AMG cobia is 670,000 pounds (620,000 pound recreational ACL and a 50,000 pound commercial quota). Managing the recreational ACL on a coastwide basis has resulted in federal closures and significant overages in 2015 and 2016, disrupting fishing opportunities and jeopardizing the health of the stock.  The Draft FMP contains a number of proposed options to allocate a recreational harvest limit (equal to the federal recreational ACL) to the four primary states (Georgia-Virginia) to allow those states more flexibility in developing seasonal options that best suit their specific state’s recreational and for-hire interests.

At this time, the options for the commercial AMG cobia fishery do not include state specific allocations and generally complement the proposed federal requirements. It is expected that the states from Georgia through Virginia will be conducting public hearings on the Draft FMP. The details of those hearings will be released in a subsequent press release.

The Draft FMP is available here or on the Commission’s website, www.asmfc.org, under Public Input. Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft FMP either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on October 6, 2017 and should be forwarded to Louis Daniel, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Cobia FMP). Final action on the Draft FMP is scheduled to occur in October 2017. For more information, please contact Louis Daniel, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at ldaniel@asmfc.org or 252.342.1478.

 

Sharks have been a major disruption for fishermen off the Outer Banks this year

June 24, 2017 — Sharks are chomping the catch of the day.

Fishing off the Outer Banks has been great this year, especially with big hauls of tuna. But boat captains are losing up to 20 fish a day to the opportunistic predators.

Able to smell, hear or sense the struggling fish from miles away, sharks come like a pack of wolves. In some cases, anglers are reeling in nothing but the head.

“You can’t even get a fish to the boat,” said Jack Graham, first mate on the Fintastic, a charter boat based at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. “You get a bite and look back and there’s just a big cloud of blood.”

Sharks are taking the catch along with thousands of dollars in fishing gear, he said.

Captains could bring in their boats with the tuna limit by midmorning if not for sharks gobbling the catch, said Carey Foster, mate on the Smoker, also docked at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.

“The last couple of weeks, they’ve been horrible,” he said.

State fishing summaries include reports of sharks preying almost exclusively on tuna catches.

“This is the highest bite rate I’ve seen in 27 years,” said Brian Melott, a port agent for the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. “These bites ain’t small either.”

Melott surveys anglers and collects catch measurements and other data as part of an ongoing fisheries census.

The two primary species attacking are dusky and sandbar sharks, Graham said. Dusky sharks grow up to 14 feet long and are known for their powerful jaws. Sandbar sharks can reach about 8 feet.

Read the full story at The Virginian-Pilot