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MAFMC News Roundup – 4/22/21

April 22, 2021 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

April Council Meeting Summary: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met via webinar April 6-8, 2021. Check out the April 2021 Council Meeting Summary for all the details, or watch the meeting recordings on YouTube. During this meeting, the Council:

  • Postponed final action on the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment during a joint meeting with the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board
  • Adopted status quo specifications for the Mid-Atlantic blueline tilefish fishery for 2022-2024
  • Reviewed a preliminary range of alternatives for the Tilefish Multi-Year Specifications Framework
  • Provided comments on E.O 14008 on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad
  • Received an update regarding several ongoing activities in support of the Council’s EAFM guidance document
  • Reviewed the 2021 Mid-Atlantic State of the Ecosystem Report and EAFM Risk Assessment
  • Received an update on the East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Initiative
  • Received a presentation on Climate Change Science Efforts Underway at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center

June Council Meeting to be Conducted by Webinar: The next Council meeting, scheduled for June 8-10, will be held virtually. Topics to be addressed in June include final action on the Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment; review of previously approved 2022 specifications for longfin squid, butterfish, Atlantic surfclam, and ocean quahog; approval of 2022 Illex squid specifications; review of the Illex incidental trip limit and butterfish mesh regulations; habitat updates; and more. An agenda will be available in early May.

Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment: Tomorrow, April 23, is the last day to submit comments on the Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment. Learn more and submit comments here.

Advisory Panel Application Deadline: Tomorrow is also the deadline to apply for the Council’s advisory panels. All current advisors must reapply to be considered for reappointment. Apply here.

May SSC Meeting: The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet via webinar May 11-12, 2021. During this meeting the SSC will review and consider changes to the 2021 Illex squid ABC, recommend a 2022 Illex ABC, and review the previously recommended ABCs for butterfish, longfin squid, Atlantic surfclam, and ocean quahog. The SSC will also discuss topics related to the Mid-Atlantic State of the Ecosystem Report and provide feedback on possible 2026 Research Track Assessment Priorities.

Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum: The Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean (MACO) will convene its Third Annual Mid-Atlantic Region Ocean Forum from May 3-6, 2021. This year’s all-virtual event will feature expert panel discussions on ocean planning issues including offshore wind energy in the Mid-Atlantic, climate-induced ocean changes, ocean justice, and emerging technologies for monitoring the ocean. The event will also feature opportunities for public participation, a virtual networking luncheon and a first-ever poster session highlighting the work of students and early career professionals.

For-Hire and Recreational Tilefish Reporting: As a reminder, for-hire vessels with permits for MAFMC-managed species are required to submit their Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) electronically within 48 hours of completing their trip. All recreational vessels targeting or retaining golden or blueline tilefish from Virginia to Maine are required to obtain a recreational tilefish permit and must submit an electronic VTR within 24 hours of completing a trip where tilefish were targeted and/or retained.

Commercial Electronic Reporting: Beginning November 10, 2021, commercial and some recreational fishermen in the Greater Atlantic Region will be required to start submitting VTRs electronically. Learn more about the reporting requirements and software options.

Offshore Wind Updates: The Council periodically sends out updates on offshore wind activities in the Mid-Atlantic region. Read the latest update sent on 4/13/21. Sign up to receive wind updates here. Recent notices to mariners and comment opportunities are also listed on our Offshore Wind Notices page.

ASMFC At-Sea Monitoring RFP: The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, in cooperation with the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center, has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to conduct components of the At-Sea Monitoring Training Program for the NEFSC.

ROSA Fisheries Resource Data Project RFP: The Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) is seeking a qualified contractor to conduct research and prepare a report with recommendations for standardizing and sharing fisheries resource data to support better understanding of the impacts of offshore wind development on ecosystems. Read the RFP for more details. Proposals are due May 11, 2021.

Upcoming Meetings

  • April 27: Butterfish Research Track Working Group Meeting
  • May 3-6: ASMFC Spring Meeting Webinar
  • May 3-6: MACO Ocean Forum
  • May 11-12: May 2021 SSC Meeting Webinar
  • June 8-10: June 2021 Council Meeting Webinar
  • June 15: Illex Research Track Working Group Meeting
  • June 28-July 2: June 2021 Management Track Assessments Peer Review Meeting

Questions? Contact Mary Sabo – msabo@mafmc.org, (302) 518-1143.

RODA statement on considerations for the Biden Administration from the fishing industry and coastal communities

January 28, 2021 — The following was released by the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance:

The United States commercial fishing industry is united around the common goals of protecting our traditional fishing communities, maintaining domestic food security, and leading with evidence-based decision making during an era of rapidly changing ocean use. We are encouraged by the new Administration’s commitment to inclusivity and environmental science. We look forward to improving partnerships between lawmakers, policymakers, and fisheries experts to protect and promote this low-environmental impact protein source, which leads the world in sustainability through the rigorous fisheries management and conservation requirements of the Magnuson Stevens Act.

It is imperative that our elected officials support and adopt policies to minimize and mitigate the effects of climate change; the strategies to do so must equally address the pressing issues of food production, ecosystem health, and preserving cultural heritage. As evidenced by his Agency nominations and recent Executive Order on “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” we are encouraged that the President is taking a measured approach. We applaud leadership and processes that underscore the value of science-based collaboration with members of small communities who are most impacted by natural resource management decisions.

Offshore Renewable Energy Development

The Administration has made clear its commitment to address climate change, which is a matter of critical importance to seafood harvesters adapting to the effects of ecosystem changes every day. The rapid advancement of large offshore wind energy facilities to meet climate goals places our nation at the dawn of a new era of ocean industrialization. While mitigating carbon emissions is urgent and necessary, so is protecting and prioritizing domestic sourcing of sustainable, affordable, and healthy protein. This necessitates evaluating the most efficient means of reducing atmospheric carbon while minimizing impacts to biodiversity and the economy.

Fishing communities stand ready and willing to incorporate their unique expertise in the country’s transition to renewable energy but there must be meaningful ways for them to do so. Three key topics must be addressed to ensure responsible planning for the unprecedented demands that are anticipated to be placed on our oceans.

1. Improving regional research efforts and scientific understanding of offshore infrastructure projects

Development of the Outer Continental Shelf should only be done in a purposeful planned manner utilizing the best available science. Our scientific understanding of impacts from offshore wind energy development is improving, but there is far more unknown about how development will alter the physical, biological, economic and social dimensions of the marine environment.

Evidence-based planning is necessary to understand and minimize impacts, and currently that does not exist for the proposed scale of development to proceed responsibly. For commercial fishermen, it is extremely worrisome to see the push for a new industry that jeopardizes a sustainable and historic one without rigorous scientific due diligence. Such diligence must apply to transparent information about the environmental and economic effects associated with the entire offshore renewable energy supply chain, from mining rare earth minerals for battery components to turbine production to maritime traffic to decommissioning.

Currently, there is no balancing of priorities in offshore renewable energy permitting decisions. Promises to achieve production targets for offshore wind energy based solely on climate goals will significantly impact other public needs such as food production, tourism, and national security. Such targets, if adopted, must be accompanied by a comprehensive roadmap for evaluating tradeoffs and should not be pursued before the creation of balanced multi-use ocean plans. These must include funding for environmental research and compensatory mitigation for impacted sectors.

2. Enhanced interstate coordination and a clear delineation of authorities within federal agencies

Some of the biggest challenges around offshore renewable energy development are due to a lack of consistency in the leasing and planning processes, nonexistent or inconsistent engagement opportunities, and poor integration between planning and permitting authorities.

Regional issues associated with environmental and fisheries impacts require appropriate federal oversight. The current approach results in widespread duplication of efforts, inconsistency and inequity, misplaced interstate competition, and overall unpredictability. To help address the lack of coordination of regional research, RODA co-founded the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance with federal and state entities, offshore wind energy developers, and expert fisheries scientists to serve as a trusted regional coordinating entity. The Administration should reward the collaboration on this innovative public-private partnership and utilize it as a resource for improved coordination.

Responsibilities for the various federal agencies involved is often unclear. A clarification of the roles for these entities is urgently needed and regulatory authority should be returned to agencies with most expertise in the relevant aspects of environmental review.

We look forward to an incoming Commerce Secretary who can bring her expertise and knowledge of coordinating numerous federal, state and local agencies, as well as community members and regional partners together through her experience with the Block Island Wind Farm. As governor, Ms. Raimondo witnessed first hand the time and dedication required for effective collaboration and the complex links of offshore wind energy with the U.S. economy.

3. Facilitation of industry to industry cooperation

As users who will inevitably share the ocean space, regulations, and potential workforce, it is paramount that industry to industry cooperation improves between offshore wind energy development and fishing. Currently this is very difficult to achieve and would benefit from regulatory incentives or direct federal involvement.

RODA has worked to bring industries together through its Joint Industry Task Force and fishing industry leaders are committed to direct engagement when assured those efforts can bear fruit. Small collaborative projects and communication have added value to the process, but not enough resources have been committed to truly catalyze the industries working together in a meaningful way. Absent resources and in a regulatory atmosphere that strongly favors one party, progress is difficult. To be effective, support must be directed to fisheries-driven efforts, not just wind-organized ones. Similarly, some wind developers have expended far more effort than others to work with affected communities in good faith. Incentives to do so must be greatly expanded.

“30×30”

The Presidential Memorandum on scientific integrity must extend to implementation of science-based recommendations for conservation and environmental protection. We are encouraged by the Administration’s commitment to collect input from stakeholders in the “30×30” provisions included in the Executive Order on climate change, which implements a goal of conserving at least 30% of U.S. waters by 2030. We echo the concern expressed by fishing communities and scientists across the country that arbitrary closures, or targets for the total area of closures, based on political negotiations rather than science could have greater negative impacts to ocean conservation than no closures at all.

For conservation measures to be beneficial, they must be carefully designed for specific outcomes such as enhancing ecosystem production, protecting sensitive habitat, or preserving fish spawning activity. The public and transparent fishery management council process is the appropriate way to ensure the best available science determines such design.  We must also be mindful that for a vast majority of Americans, the only access they have to the marine resources in U.S. oceans is a direct result of the U.S. fishing industry.  The Executive Order clearly states environmental and economic justice are important considerations in developing programs and policies. Reducing our abilities to provide U.S. seafood to disadvantaged communities would not further environmental and economic justice.

Support for the Buy American Initiative

The Biden Administration should champion the U.S. commercial fishing industry, which complies with a multitude of regulations to provide renewable protein to Americans across the country. U.S. fisheries are among the most sustainable around the world and constitute one of the lowest-carbon methods of food production. Too often we hear public misconceptions that wild harvest fisheries are on the verge of extinction or utilize destructive practices, but that is not true for U.S. based fisheries. Domestic fisheries are the most strictly regulated in the world and have rebounded extraordinarily from overfishing decades ago; failing to recognize their success only pushes consumers toward seafood from other markets with much looser environmental oversight. The coastal communities across the nation that support our fishing heritage must be protected and celebrated.

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic and staggering unemployment rates, efforts to promote jobs should be maximized across all maritime sectors and ensure that any new coastal uses benefit the U.S. economy and Americans. RODA calls on the Biden administration to work with fishing companies and crews, offshore wind supply chains, unions, and workforce development programs to create robust mechanisms that create and maintain jobs across all maritime trades.

Complementary to this, offshore wind energy development should be the poster industry for the President’s “Buy American” initiative. Current infrastructure in the U.S. does not support the manufacturing or installation of offshore wind turbine components and thus energy development companies are poised to purchase from foreign countries. For example, GE Renewable Energy, a main supplier of wind turbines and turbine parts, recently opened a new offshore wind and development center in China. The Administration should support American labor by requiring turbines, monopiles and blades be manufactured here in the U.S., ensuring that they meet our world-class environmental standards.

As small business owners reliant upon a healthy U.S. environment, our members look forward to working with the President’s appointments for the Secretaries of Commerce, Interior, and Labor. Their experience working with small communities, including coastal and fishing communities, will prove vital as we tackle some of the biggest issues facing our nation. We also look forward to working with the entire Administration on protecting and promoting sustainable U.S. seafood. RODA is committed to helping our members stay on the water and will continue to advocate for protecting the important heritage of the fishing industry and coastal communities across the country.

ROSA is Seeking Applications for Advisory Council Members

June 9, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) is seeking applications from recreational and commercial fishermen to join its Advisory Council, which provides substantive direction and strategic guidance to the alliance.

ROSA is a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance regional research and monitoring of fisheries and offshore wind interactions through collaboration and cooperation. ROSA’s work currently concentrates on the waters from Maine to North Carolina.

The background information and applications are listed below and can be found online. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2020.

Read the full release here

Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) Seeking Advisory Council Applications

June 8, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) is seeking applications from recreational and commercial fishermen to join its Advisory Council, which provides substantive direction and strategic guidance to the alliance. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2020.

ROSA is a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance regional research and monitoring of fisheries and offshore wind interactions through collaboration and cooperation. ROSA’s work currently concentrates on the waters from Maine to North Carolina.

The background information and applications are listed below and can be found at https://www.rosascience.org/. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2020.

  • Background Information for Commercial Fishermen
  • Application for Commercial Fishermen
  • Background Information for Recreational Fishermen
  • Application for Recreational Fishermen

ROSA Advisory Council – Commercial & Recreational Fishermen Applications

June 5, 2020 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Good Afternoon – The Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) is seeking applications from recreational and commercial fishermen to join its Advisory Council, which provides substantive direction and strategic guidance to the alliance. ROSA is a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance regional research and monitoring of fisheries and offshore wind interactions through collaboration and cooperation. ROSA’s work currently concentrates on the waters from Maine to North Carolina.

The background information and applications are attached and can also be found at https://www.rosascience.org/. The deadline for applications is July 15, 2020.

For more information, please contact:

Lyndie Hice-Dunton, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA)
M: (848) 863-3269
Lyndie@rosascience.org
https://www.rosascience.org/

For more background information, click here.

For the application, click here.

 

Four New Studies to Examine Fisheries, Offshore Wind

May 21, 2020 — With the future of offshore wind waiting on the outcome of a major federal study, Massachusetts and Rhode Island officials announced plans Wednesday to take a look at one of the topics at the center of some of the tension about shared ocean usage: the fisheries.

The two states and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced grants worth $1.1 million to four institutions to conduct research on recreational and commercial fisheries, seabed habitat, and offshore wind policies in Europe.

“The continued success of offshore industries in the United States requires strong coordination and consultation with our state partners,” BOEM Acting Director Walter Cruickshank said. “The studies announced today will help ensure BOEM has sufficient baseline information to support its environmental assessments of offshore wind projects on the Atlantic OCS.”

According to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the studies will “advance the assessment of the interactions between offshore wind development and fisheries in the northeast” and “will help establish baseline datasets on fisheries and seabed habitat.” The initiative will also support and inform a regional fisheries science and monitoring program being developed under the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA).

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

US Offshore Wind and Fisheries Alliance Names First Executive Director

March 3, 2020 — The Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) has appointed Lyndie Hice-Dunton as its first executive director.
Hice-Dunton officially assumed the role of Executive Director on 10 February.

According to ROSA, the new appointment has over a decade of experience in fisheries science and environmental policy as a specialist on projects focusing on coastal and offshore energy, offshore infrastructure development, and fisheries stakeholder engagement.

Her experience includes close work with state and federal regulatory agencies, fishing industry representatives, and offshore wind developers to identify best science-based approaches to responsible development.

Read the full story at Offshore Wind

ROSA Announces Hiring of First Executive Director

February 27, 2020 — The following was released by the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance:

Dr. Lyndie Hice-Dunton has been selected to lead the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) by ROSA’s board of directors.  Dr. Hice-Dunton officially assumed the role of Executive Director on February 10, 2020.

ROSA is an unprecedented partnership formed by fishermen and offshore wind leaders, in collaboration with federal and state management experts to enhance scientific understanding necessary to support the coexistence of wind energy development and sustainable fisheries. Formed in early 2019, ROSA will provide for and advance regional research and monitoring of fisheries and offshore wind interactions in US state and federal waters through coordination and cooperation.

“We are so enthusiastic for Lyndie’s leadership of ROSA and look forward to working collaboratively with the Fishing Industry, Offshore Wind Developers, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as we continue to build this exciting organization,” said Peter Hughes, Co-Chair of ROSA’s Board of Directors.  

“Dr. Hice-Dunton brings valuable organizing experience to her new role that will help ROSA bring together important stakeholders in a sustainable future for the ocean,” said Rachel Pachter, Co-Chair of ROSA’s Board of Directors. “We are thrilled to be moving forward and rolling up our sleeves on ROSA’s important mission of science, collaboration, and communication.”

Read the full release here

ROSA Executive Director Position Announcement

October 9, 2019 — The following was released by the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance:

The Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) seeks a strong leader with deep knowledge of marine resource science and management and excellent administrative and organizational skills to serve as its first Executive Director. ROSA is a new collaborative effort involving the fishing and offshore wind energy industries, federal and state government partners, and the ocean science community. Its goal is “To provide for and advance regional research and monitoring of fisheries and offshore wind interactions in federal waters through collaboration and cooperation in order to: (1) Increase salient and credible data on fisheries and wind development; and (2) Increase the understanding of the effects of wind energy development on fisheries and the ocean ecosystems on which they depend.”

The application and interview process will be conducted in October and November 2019 with a target decision date of November 22, 2019 and a target start date of the successful candidate in December 1, 2019. The position’s location is flexible but must be within the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S.A. ROSA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) will have overall strategic, financial and operational responsibility for ROSA’s implementation, growth, staff, programs, and execution of its mission. She or he will initially organize the Executive Council and other committees and in concern with them, refine ROSA’s institutional governance and operations structure.

Read the full release here

NEFMC Hosts Offshore Wind Session; Discusses EBFM, eVTRs, RSA Program

April 30, 2019 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council met April 16-18, 2019 in Mystic, CT and capped off its meeting with a Special Session on Offshore Wind in the Northeast Region. The session was organized and hosted by the Council to give Council members and stakeholders the opportunity to learn more about:

  • The total scope of planned offshore wind energy development in the region with emphasis on projects off New England and New York;
  • The players involved and their roles in the process with an emphasis on NOAA Fisheries consultations with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM);
  • Research and monitoring issues, including current federal, state, and developer-funded efforts, implications for the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s fishery independent surveys, and regional coordination initiatives through the newly formed Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA); and
  • Updates on the timing and status of specific Northeast Region projects.

Read the full release here

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