Saving Seafood

NORTH CAROLINA FISHERIES ASSOCIATION: NC Catch Summit 2016 Info

February 24, 2016 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

As you know, Carteret Catch is hosting this years NC Catch Seafood Summit March 7 – 8th.

I would like to pass along these details in particular to the membership: Monday, March 7th is the Kick-off Clam Bake-Frogmore Stew Dinner at the Core Sound Museum (5:30 – 8:30) with a special guest speaker or two and the Summit is the next day, Tuesday, March 8 at the Maritime Museum in Beaufort 9:00 – 4:00p.

The Dinner & the Summit are completely free but you have to register (for the head count) at: email:
rjohnson@hydecountync.gov
or call Rosemary Johnson at 252.926.4474.

Fishermen, restaurant, retail & wholesale folks who are able are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and attend part or all of it. There are accommodations available at Beaufort Inn (1.800.726.0321) at a very reasonable rate, if needed.

Learn more about the 5th Annual NC Catch Summit

North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for Feb 1, 2016

February 2, 2016 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

CARTERET COUNTY FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATION TO MEET

The Carteret County Fishermen’s Association has scheduled a meeting for Saturday, February 6, 2016 at the Marshallberg Community Center at 6:30pm.

SOUTHERN SHRIMP ALLIANCE & SHRIMP IMPORTS:

The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) is an organization of shrimp fishermen, shrimp processors, and other members of the domestic industry in the eight warmwater shrimp producing states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.

Founded in 2002, the SSA works to ensure the continued vitality and existence of the U.S. shrimp industry.  The livelihoods of U.S. shrimpers are threatened by cheap, unfairly traded imported shrimp.  The U.S market has become a dumping ground for shrimp that are turned away from other major seafood importing countries.  Proposed restrictions on shrimp fishing and rapidly increasing costs of doing business also loom over the industry.   The SSA is committed to preserving the long term viability of one of our nation’s most valuable fisheries, which for decades has been a foundation of the economy and social structure of countless coastal communities throughout the Gulf and Southeast regions. 

SSA is currently conducting a sunset review, which is required to determine if antidumping duties should remain for imported shrimp from certain countries. John distributed surveys for shrimpers and processors. It is very important for shrimpers and shrimp processors to participate in this survey! If not, the antidumping duties could be lifted.

We have copies at the office, so call if you want us to send you one or more. Or you can contact John Williams of the Southern Shrimp Alliance directly: john@shrimpalliance.com or call: 727-934-5090.

PROPOSED BOUNDARY EXPANSION TO MONITOR NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

After several years of scientific and archaeological assessment and in coordination with the public, NOAA is proposing to expand Monitor National Marine Sanctuary off North Carolina’s Outer Banks to include additional maritime heritage resources. The proposed expansion would protect a nationally significant collection of shipwrecks that currently have little or no legal protection, including one of America’s only World War II battlefields.

 For more details and maps see http://monitor.noaa.gov/management/expansion.html.  

This expansion could have significant impacts on fishermen off the Outer Banks.  Please plan to attend one of the following public meetings:

 

Raleigh, NC

Tues., Feb. 9 from 6-9 p.m.

North Carolina Museum of History

5 East Edenton Street

919-807-7900

Beaufort, NC

Wednesday, Feb. 10 from 6-9 p.m.

North Carolina Maritime Museum

315 Front Street

252-728-7317

Hatteras, NC

Thurs., Feb. 11 from 6-9 p.m.

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

9200 Museum Dr.

252-986-2995

Washington, D.C.

Tues., Feb. 16 from 6-9 p.m.

US Navy Memorial – Main Auditorium

701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

202-380-0710

Nags Head, NC

Wed., Feb. 17 from 6-9 p.m.

Jennette’s Pier – Oceanview Hall

7223 S. Virginia Dare Trail

252-255-1501

 

JERRY’S COMMENTS

Last fall WRAL aired a documentary that was not at all complimentary to our state’s commercial fishermen. I was interviewed for it and offered some suggestions for other interviews to the producer, Clay Johnson. After I watched it, I sent him a note and said it was the most subjective piece of fisheries journalism I’ve experienced. He didn’t agree with that statement, but I maintain that it’s a fact.

Since then, there are some fishermen who wonder why I would even consent to an interview. At the same time, we all seem to agree that we “need to get the word out”, and quit preaching to the choir. How do we do that by saying no to a request for an interview, when the question is, “would you be interested in being interviewed for a documentary about commercial fishing”? Before saying yes, I did some research on the producer. I watched several of his documentaries with one being about commercial fishing in 2008. The others were not about commercial fishing but all of them, in my opinion, were fair and objectively done.S

Below is the link to the video, “Net Loss”, produced by Clay Johnson in 2008. If you haven’t watched the other one that aired last year, let me know and I’ll forward to you.

http://www.wral.com/wral-tv/video/3599816/

CALENDAR

Feb 2-4     ASMFC Winter meeting; Alexandria VA

Feb 6        Carteret County Fishermen’s Association; 6:30pm;

Feb 9         Monitor National Marine Sanctuary hearing; 6-9pm; Raleigh

Feb 10     Monitor National Marine Sanctuary hearing; 6-9pm; Beaufort

Feb 11       Monitor National Marine Sanctuary hearing; 6-9pm; Hatteras

Feb 9-11   MAFMC meeting in New Bern NC

Feb 17     Monitor National Marine Sanctuary hearing; 6-9pm; Nags Head

Feb 17-19 NC MFC meeting in Wrightsville Beach, NC

Mar 7-11   SAFMC meeting in Jekyll Island, GA

View a PDF of the Weekly Update

NORTH CAROINA: Marine officials and fishermen exchange concerns about fishing risks

January 27, 2016 — SNEADS FERRY, Onslow County – Officials from Camp Lejeune met with dozens of commercial fishermen at the Sneads Ferry Community Center Wednesday evening to discuss and exchange concerns about possible risks in a part of the New River.

“We’re soliciting public feedback to determine the next steps ahead as we try to mitigate this hazard,” said Camp Lejeune Public Affairs Director Nat Fahy.

At issue is a 2012 to 2014 study that turned up more than 7,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance and debris from the waters alongside Camp Lejeune’s K-2 range.

For now, the base says it will put up signs warning against activities that would disturb the bottom of the river–activities like clam raking, crabbing, and anchoring.

Our position is very simple and that is that these are not federal waters, the waters don’t belong to the military, they are state waters,” said Jerry Schill, President of the North Carolina Fisheries Association.   “Camp Lejeune cannot enact restrictions in these waters.  That can only come from the Army Corps of Engineers.”

Read the full story at WCTI News

 

NORTH CAROLINA: Fisheries meetings this Monday in New Bern!

January 23, 2016 — The following was released by North Carolina Fisheries Association:

NCFA’s Annual Meeting is this coming Monday, January 25th, at the Riverfront Convention Center in New Bern.

The day’s agenda will include the Bycatch reduction workshop at 10:00, the Southern Shrimp Alliance at 2:00 and our Annual Meeting at 3:00.

At the very top of this note, you will see a link to print out a proxy form if you cannot attend. You can either email the form to David Bush, davidbush@ncfish.org, or fax it to us at 252-633-6233.

NCFA will celebrate its 64th anniversary this summer. I’ve been involved for almost 30 of those years. Every year since 1987, I have heard some fishermen and some dealers complain about what we do or what we don’t do. Some of those criticisms have been valid and some absolute bull. Regardless, there is no doubt that we can learn from those comments to make us more effective.

Some who criticize do it for the right reason and some are just chronic complainers. NCFA gives one vote to each member in good standing regardless of what they do. Our meetings are not closed but open to anyone, although only members in good standing can vote. If you are a regular member in good standing of one of our affiliates, you are automatically a member of NCFA.

We remain in a rebuilding mode at NCFA. We need your help to make that effort successful and once again, ask you to make a very strong attempt to attend the Annual Meeting this Monday. If you cannot, please send in your proxy.

View the Annual Meeting Proxy Form

NORTH CAROLINA: Fishermen meet to determine disbursement procedures

January 21, 2016 — Work will begin today to establish procedures for authorizing the disbursement of money collected through a new state fund created to meet requirements for the protection of sea turtles while also supporting projects that enhance the state’s commercial fishing industry.

The funding committee of the North Carolina Commercial Fishing Resource Fund and a corresponding committee of the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission will hold their first meeting today at 2 p.m. at the division headquarters, 3441 Arendell St. in Morehead City.

Jerry Schill of the North Carolina Fisheries Association said the meeting will be organizational as work begins to establish a Memorandum of Understanding.

“We’re getting together to initiate an MOU that will outline how we go about doing what we’re charged to do,” Schill said.

Specifically, the Memorandum of Understanding will set forth the procedure for authorizing the disbursement of funds from the Commercial Fishing Resource Fund.

Read the full story at Jacksonville Daily News

 

North Carolina Fisheries Association Annual Meeting, Monday, January 25th

January 19, 2016 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

Attached above is a pdf flyer for several meetings this coming Monday, January 25th, all to be held at the Riverfront Convention Center in New Bern.

Please print out the flyer and post it on your bulletin board if you have one, or distribute to encourage fishermen to attend the Annual Meeting!

10:00 – 2:00  Bycatch Reduction Workshop

2:00 – 3:00    Southern Shrimp Alliance Survey

3:00 – ?          NCFA’s Annual Meeting

Attendance at NCFA’s Annual Meeting is very important as critical issues will be discussed, including southern flounder and the election of the Board of Directors will be held. If you cannot attend, please send a proxy to davidbush@ncfish.org or call (252) 633-6232 ext 102. 

View a PDF of the agenda

North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for Dec. 7, 2015

December 8, 2015 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

MFC SEEKS COMMENTS ON DRAFT OYSTER AND HARD CLAM PLANS, 2015 COASTAL HABITAT PROTECTION PLAN 

Fishermen and others will get a chance to comment on future management of oysters and clams and coastal habitat at a series of public meetings to be held in the coming weeks.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will hold four meetings to receive public comments on draft amendments to the Oyster and Hard Clam fishery management plans and on the 2015 Coastal Habitat Protection Plan.

The meetings will be held in conjunction with Marine Fisheries Commission advisory committee meetings scheduled for:

Dec. 8, 5:30 p.m.

Shellfish/Crustacean AC

N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Central District Office

5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City 

Contacts: Anne Deaton

Phone: 252-808-8063

Email: Anne.Deaton@ncdenr.gov 

Trish Murphey

Phone: 252-808-8091

Email: Trish.Murphey@ncdenr.gov

Read agenda

Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m.

Southern Regional AC

Department of Environmental Quality Regional Office

127 Cardinal Drive Ext., Wilmington 

Contact: Trish Murphey

Phone: 252-808-8091

Email: Trish.Murphey@ncdenr.gov

Read agenda

Dec. 10, 5:30 p.m.

Northern Regional AC

Department of Environmental Quality Regional Office

943 Washington Square Mall, Washington 

Contacts: Katy West

Phone: 252-948-3884

Email: Katy.West@ncdenr.gov

Holly White

Phone: 252-473-5734

Email: Holly.White@ncdenr.gov

Read agenda

Dec. 14, 1:30 p.m.

Habitat and Water Quality AC

Department of Environmental Quality Regional Office

943 Washington Square Mall, Washington 

Contacts: Anne Deaton

Phone: 252-808-8063

Email: Anne.Deaton@ncdenr.gov

Katy West

Phone: 252-948-3884

Email: Katy.West@ncdenr.gov

Read agenda


Whether to re-open shallow bays (less than six feet deep) of Pamlico Sound to mechanical harvest.The draft oyster plan amendment looks at:

  • Whether to continue the monitoring trigger of 26 percent legal-sized live oysters to determine when to close mechanical harvest (adopted in Supplement A to Amendment 2 to the N.C. Oyster Fishery Management Plan).
  • Whether to make hand harvest limits the same statewide.
  • How to mitigate harvest effort impacts on oyster resources in the Southern region.

The draft clam plan amendment looks at:

  • Whether to increase the recreational maximum daily harvest limit for hard clams.
  • Whether to allow the use of power hauling equipment in the hand harvest of hard clams.
  • Whether to modify mechanical clam harvest lines to exclude areas no longer fished.
  • The draft amendments to the oyster and clam plans also consider multiple changes to the shellfish lease program, changes to the shellfish license, and shading requirements for shellfish.

The draft 2015 Coastal Habitat Protection Plan contains four goals and four priority issues:

  • Goal 1 – Improve effectiveness of existing rules and programs protecting coastal fish habitats — includes five recommendations to enhance permit compliance, monitoring, outreach, coordination across environmental commissions and management of invasive species.
  • Goal 2 – Identify and delineate strategic coastal habitats — includes two recommendations regarding mapping and monitoring fish habitat, assessing their condition and identifying priority areas for fish species.
  • Goal 3 – Enhance and protect habitats from adverse physical impacts – includes eight recommendations on expanding habitat restoration, managing ocean and estuarine shorelines, protecting habitat from destructive fishing gear and dredging and filling impacts.
  • Goal 4 – Enhance and protect water quality – includes eight recommendations to reduce point and non-point sources of pollution in surface waters through encouragement of best management practices, incentives, assistance, outreach and coordination. This applies not only to activities under the authority of the Department of Environmental Quality, such as development and fishing, but for all land use activities, including forestry, agriculture and road construction.

Priority issues for the plan’s implementation actions include oyster restoration, living shorelines, reducing sedimentation in tidal creeks and developing metrics to evaluate habitat trends. 

Find the draft amendments to the Oyster and Clam fishery management plans at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/fmps-under-development. Find the draft 2015 Coastal Habitat Protection Plan at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/habitat/chpp/downloads.

For more information, contact Catherine Blum, division fishery management plan coordinator, at 252-808-8014 or Catherine.Blum@ncdenr.gov.

NC MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION SEEKS ADVISERS

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for commercial and recreational fishermen and scientists to advise it on various fisheries issues.  For information on the types of committees, requirements and how to apply see the news release.  Applications are due by Dec. 15.  

REGULATION AND RULE CHANGES:

–South Atlantic Commercial Hook-and-Line Golden Tilefish Fishery will close Dec. 8

DEADLINES:

Dec. 15 – MFC Adviser Applications

Dec. 16 – NMFS Draft Ecosystem-based Fishery Management Policy 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.    

Dec. 7-10 – MAFMC Meeting, The Westin Annapolis, 100 Westgate Circle, Annapolis, MD

Dec. 7-11 – SAFMC Meeting, DoubleTree by Hilton Oceanfront Hotel, 2717 W. Fort Macon Rd., Atlantic Beach, NC

Dec. 16 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. – MAFMC Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel, Radisson Hotel Providence Airport, 2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI, 02886

PROCLAMATIONS: 

SNAPPER-GROUPER COMPLEX – COMMERCIAL PURPOSES (GOLDEN TILEFISH-HOOK & LINE)

POUND NET SET CLOSURE PERIOD

GILL NETS – ATLANTIC OCEAN SEASONAL MAXIMUM MESH SIZE EXCEPTIONS

GILL NETS – ALBEMARLE SOUND AREA- MANAGEMENT UNIT A- OPEN LARGE MESH GILL NETS IN WESTERN ALBEMARLE SOUND

 

Read a PDF of the Weekly Update here

Reps. Walter Jones, Patrick Murphy ‘Ask for Answers’ on Red Snapper

WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) — December 3, 2015 — Last week, Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC) and Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-FL) wrote to Dr. Roy Crabtree, Regional Administrator of NOAA’s Southeast Regional Office, requesting the Agency explain its decision to close the commercial and recreational red snapper fisheries for 2015.

The Congressmen question the data used by the Agency to close the red snapper fishery, noting that NOAA’s estimate for red snapper landings in an abbreviated 2014 fishing season was “nearly 3 times the estimate for a full fishing year in 2013; and similar to the average annual catch estimate for the period 1992 to 2009 when fishing occurred year-round.”

The letter raised several questions about the quality of scientific data available for fish stocks in the South Atlantic. It asked why the Agency has not conducted a stock assessment for red snapper since 2010, and why, despite the “controversial closure” of the fishery following that assessment, no follow-up has yet been conducted. Among other data issues, the letter also inquired on why most stocks in the South Atlantic are considered to be “data-poor,” and why requests for cooperative research with the regional fishing industry “have largely fallen on deaf ears.”

The Congressmen’s letter, and its requests for answers regarding the quality of scientific data on red snapper, was praised by regional fishery advocates.

“We are very pleased that Congressmen Jones and Murphy wrote the letter to Dr. Crabtree,” said Jerry Schill, President of the North Carolina Fisheries Association. “While their words address a huge concern with the red snapper fishery, it highlights the much larger issue of science in all of fisheries management. Industry knows the importance of basing fishery management decisions on science; however, with the lack of confidence in regulatory agencies to provide adequate science, including stock assessments, we are constantly faced with draconian measures due to these uncertainties. The negative effects are on fishermen and their communities. The cause, however, lies with the failure of the regulators to do their part, which is to provide adequate science and stock assessments.”

Bob Jones, Executive Director of the Southeastern Fisheries Association, was similarly positive about the letter.

“Congressmen Walter Jones Jr. and Patrick Murphy have been steadfast in their efforts to protect fisheries in Florida, North Carolina, and the entire Southeast for all users. They have worked to make certain the seafood industry is treated with respect and equity, and we are proud to support their efforts here.”

Read the letter to Regional Administrator Crabtree here

Read a release from Congressman Walter Jones regarding the letter here

NORTH CAROLINA: Fisheries division criticized for avoiding recommendations to regulators

November 12, 2015 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission is a nine-member regulatory body that was created by the North Carolina General Assembly to regulate fishing activity and conserve the marine and estuarine fishery resources in state waters. The General Assembly has stated in law that the Commission has the duty to provide fair regulation of fishing groups in the interest of the public. The Division of Marine Fisheries is the state agency that is charged to offer scientific support to the Commission and carry out the regulations adopted by the Commission.

Currently, the issue of most concern of the Commission and the Division is that of southern flounder. Since February, the Commission has been debating various proposals to reduce the catch of southern flounder, which is our state’s most important finfish fishery for commercial fishermen. The total economic impact of this fishery averages $17 million per year to North Carolina, just for those fish caught commercially. 

Remarkably, since the Commission started the process of debating the issue of southern flounder management over 9 months ago, the Division of Marine Fisheries has not offered any recommended actions to reduce the catch of southern flounder. Currently, only one of the nine Commission members has a scientific background in fisheries, and even that experience is not based on saltwater fisheries. Yet, the Division, who has the expertise on staff that could assist the Commissioners, has not made any formal recommendations on the options being considered by the Commission or offered any options of their own. 

“We wonder why the Division exists, if not to offer assistance and make recommendations to the members of the Marine Fisheries Commission in carrying out their conservation responsibilities”, said Brent Fulcher, Chairman of the Board of the North Carolina Fisheries Association, (NCFA). 

The MFC has put six options on the table for consideration under a fishery management plan “supplement”, and the issue will be decided at its meeting next week in Nags Head.

“In the 28 years I’ve been involved with this process, I cannot remember a time when the Commission has faced such a contentious and important issue such as this one, where the Division was silent in assisting the Commission with recommended actions from a scientific perspective”, said the President of NCFA, Jerry Schill. “This decision, which will have a huge effect on many commercial fishing families and many coastal communities, is on a track for a decision to be devoid of any science and based totally on politics. That is a sad day in fisheries management for our state. Our fishermen and consumers deserve better.”

The North Carolina Fisheries Association urges the Director of Marine Fisheries, Dr. Louis Daniel, to offer recommendations based upon science to the Marine Fisheries Commission, prior to its deliberations next week.

Schill concluded, “The angst over this measure was made much more contentious when the Commission adopted the draconian net ban language, which is clearly outside the scope of the supplement process. Add the Division’s failure to offer recommendations based upon science, and you have a recipe for a very combative atmosphere.”

The North Carolina Fisheries Association is a non-profit trade association representing the interests of North Carolina’s commercial fishing families.

NORTH CAROLINA: MFC to take action on southern flounder supplement

November 11, 2015 — NAGS HEAD, N.C. — State fishery managers are scheduled to take action on a controversial southern flounder management supplement next week.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission, the state’s marine fisheries rulemaking body, will hold its regular meeting Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 18-20, at Jennette’s Pier. According to a release from the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, the state agency that enforces marine fisheries rules and conducts fisheries research, the MFC is scheduled to select and approve management measures for supplement A to the southern flounder fishery management plan (FMP) Amendment 1.

The proposed supplement, and the MFC’s use of the supplement process, has drawn both support and opposition. A recent release from the N.C. Fisheries Association, a nonprofit supporting the seafood industry, criticizes the proposed supplement.

The current supplement draft includes management options to reduce southern flounder catch (both harvested flounder and dead discards) by 25-60 percent. The supplement has six management options, which include measures such as trip limits, size limits, closures and prohibiting large mesh gill nets from internal state waters.

These proposals, particularly the net ban, have been part of the reason for debate among fisheries managers, fishermen, environmentalists and legislators.

According to the NCFA release, the General Assembly has stated in law that the MFC has the duty to provide fair regulation of fishing groups in the interest of the public.

The association said the DMF is the state agency that is charged to offer scientific support to the commission and carry out the regulations adopted by the commission. The total economic impact of the southern flounder fishery averages $17 million per year to North Carolina, just for those fish caught commercially.

According to the NCFA, since the commission started the process of debating the issue of southern flounder management over nine months ago, the DMF has not offered any recommended actions to reduce the catch of southern flounder.

“Currently, only one of the nine MFC members has a scientific background in fisheries, and even that experience is not based on saltwater fisheries,” the association said. “Yet, the DMF, who has the expertise on staff that could assist the commissioners, has not made any formal recommendations on the options being considered by the commission or offered any options of their own.”

Brent Fulcher, NCFA chairman and owner of Beaufort Inlet Seafood, said the association wonders “why the division exists, if not to offer assistance and make recommendations to the members of the Marine Fisheries Commission in carrying out their conservation responsibilities.”

Read the full story at Carteret County News-Times