Saving Seafood

MAFMC to Host Research Set-Aside Workshops

June 23, 2021 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will host a series of four workshops (three webinars and one in-person) to explore the possible redevelopment of the Research Set-Aside (RSA) program. The Mid-Atlantic Council’s RSA program was established in 2001 as a mechanism to generate funds for fisheries research through the sale of a portion of each species’ total allowable landings. In 2014, the Council voted to suspend the RSA program in response to enforcement violations and other concerns with the program.

The goal of these workshops is to develop recommendations regarding whether and how the RSA program should be redeveloped. The first three webinar workshops will each target a separate topic related to RSA: Research, Funding, and Enforcement. During the final in-person workshop, participants will review the outcomes from the first three webinars and develop final recommendations for RSA program redevelopment.

Workshop participants will include a core group of individuals who will be invited to attend all four workshops, along with additional participants with topic-specific expertise who will participate in individual workshops. All workshops will be open to the public, but registration is required.

Registration

Visit the registration page below to register for the first workshop on July 15 and to pre-register for the August, October, and November workshops.

RSA Workshop Registration

Workshop Details

  • RSA Workshop 1 (Webinar): Research – July 15, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • RSA Workshop 2 (Webinar): Funding – August 31, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • RSA Workshop 3 (Webinar): Enforcement – October 14, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • RSA Workshop 4 (In-Person, 1 Day): Final Recommendations – November 2021 (Exact Date and Location TBD)

Quick Links

Questions? Contact Matthew Seeley at mseeley@mafmc.org or 302-526-5262

Directed Atlantic Herring Fishery Closure for Management Area 1A

October 17th, 2016 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission: 

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) projects the Atlantic herring fishery will catch approximately 92% of the Area 1A sub-ACL by October 18, 2016. The Area 1A directed fishery will close effective 12:01 a.m. on October 18, 2016 and remain closed until further notice. Vessels that have entered port before 12:01 a.m. on October 18, 2016, may land and sell from that trip more than 2,000 pounds of herring from Area 1A.

Vessels participating in the herring Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program may continue to fish in Area 1A for the remainder of the fishing year, and land, subject to state landing restrictions, greater than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring provided they are on a declared herring RSA trip. 

During a closure, vessels participating in other fisheries may retain and land an incidental catch of herring that does not exceed 2,000 pounds per trip or calendar day. In addition, directed herring vessels traveling through Area 1A must have all fishing gear stowed.

In accordance with the Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring, the fixed gear set-aside of 295 metric tons will continue to be available to fixed gear fishermen operating in Area 1A west of Cutler, Maine through December 31, 2016.

If you have any questions please contact Ashton Harp at aharp@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.