Saving Seafood

Read the latest South Atlantic Update Newsletter – Now Available!

November 27, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Inside this issue:

Council Requests Changes to Red Snapper Annual Catch Limits for 2018

The Council approved an amendment to modify the catch limit for 2018 with the intent to allow a limited harvest next year as the red snapper stock continues to rebuild…

NOTE: As this issue of the SA Update Newsletter was sent to press – NOAA Fisheries announced the opening of an additional weekend for the recreational harvest of red snapper – December 8-10, 2017. Read more by clicking here.

Chair’s Column

Newly elected Council Chair Charlie Phillips shares his insight…

Cobia Management Update

Read the latest on proposed management changes for Atlantic cobia…

MyFishCount.com

Recreational anglers have the opportunity to report their red snapper fishing activities during 2017. See the results and how this pilot project may be used in the future….

And more!

Read the full newsletter here

Commercial Closure of the Golden Tilefish Hook-and-Line Component in South Atlantic Federal Waters on November 29, 2017

November 24, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

WHAT/WHEN:

The commercial hook-and-line component for golden tilefish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on November 29, 2017. During the commercial closure, harvest or possession of golden tilefish in or from federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits when the recreational sector is open.

WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:

The 2017 commercial catch limit for the golden tilefish hook-and-line component is 135,324 pounds gutted weight. Commercial landings are projected to reach the commercial catch limit on November 29, 2017.  According to the accountability measure, harvest must close to prevent the catch limit from being exceeded.

DURING AND AFTER THE CLOSURE:

  • The commercial hook-and-line component closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper permit.
  • The prohibition on sale or purchase during the closure does not apply to fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. on November 29, 2017, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
  • Harvest by the commercial hook-and-line component will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2018.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=383bc195ccbeab4fd6bec1c24905df34&node=sp50.12.622.i&rgn=div6.

Access this and other Fishery Bulletins from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office by clicking here.

ASMFC Approves Interstate FMP for the Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia

November 15, 2017 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Linthicum, MD – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Migratory Group (AMG). The FMP complements many of the aspects of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (SAFMC) cobia regulations for federal waters extending from Georgia through New York.  The FMP was initiated in response to recent overages of the federal annual catch limit (ACL) for AMG Cobia. 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. 

Under the Interstate FMP, the recreational fishery will be managed with a one fish bag limit and minimum size limit of 36” fork length (FL) or total length equivalent.  Vessel limits will be determined once individual states set their seasonal restrictions, but may not exceed six fish per vessel.  State-specific allocations of a coastwide recreational harvest limit that is equivalent to the federal AMG cobia ACL of 620,000 pounds result in the following state-specific soft targets:

 
·         Georgia: 58,311 pounds
·         South Carolina: 74,885 pounds
·         North Carolina: 236,316 pounds
·         Virginia: 244,292 pounds
 
Recreational harvest overages of specific-state allocations will be evaluated over a three-year time period. If overages occur, states will be required to adjust management measures to reduce harvest in the subsequent three-year period.
 
The commercial fishery will maintain the current management measures as implemented through the SAFMC FMP and continue to be managed with a 33” FL minimum size limit and two fish limit per person, with a six fish maximum vessel limit.  The federal ACL of 50,000 pounds is allocated to the entire commercial fishery from Georgia through New York.  The commercial AMG cobia fishery will close once the ACL is projected to be reached.
 
The FMP provides the opportunity for states to declare de minimis status for their recreational fishery if landings constitute less than 1% of the recreational AMG cobia harvest. States must submit implementation plans to the Commission by January 1, 2018 for Technical Committee review and Board approval at the February 2018 meeting in Alexandria, Virginia. Approved plans must be implemented by April 1, 2018. The FMP will be available on the Commission’s website, www.asmfc.org, in early December. For more information, please contact Dr. Louis Daniel, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at ldaniel@asmfc.org or 252.342.1478.
To learn more about the ASMFC visit their site here.

Changes may be coming in the snapper/grouper fishery

November 15, 2017 — Dr. Michelle Duval of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, chair of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, anticipates a few changes to how the snapper/grouper fishery is managed after fishermen brought up some issues during the SAFMC’s Visioning Project last year.

“One of the things fishermen asked for was simpler regulations that would be easier to understand,” Duval said. “One example of this is in the shallow-water grouper fishery, where the bag limit is aggregate and may contain only one fish of certain species and not one of every species and even includes golden tilefish. Minimum sizes vary even within the grouper family, plus, there are established closures, and some species are prohibited entirely.

Read the full story at Carolina Sportsman

 

Fishery Managers and Fishermen Team Up to Report Red Snapper Catch

November 9, 2017 — CHARLESTON, S.C. — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: 

Weather played a role for 42% of the fishermen that chose not to fish for red snapper during this past weekend’s mini-season. That’s according to fishermen that reported using the new pilot project MyFishCount.com, a voluntary recreational reporting program being developed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council in collaboration with the Snook and Gamefish Foundation and Elemental Methods. The pilot uses an online web portal that allows recreational fishermen to report about their red snapper fishing activities, including the length of the fish kept and of those released, catch location, depth fished, hook type, hooking location, release treatment, and reason for release. Fishermen may also report trips that are scheduled and not taken for various reasons, including weather. This pilot will only be available during the red snapper mini-season. Afterward, the site will be revamped based on suggestions from participating fishermen.

As of Wednesday, a total of 82 fishermen have signed up for the pilot program and 80 trips have been reported. To join, fishermen simply create an account and then log their fishing activities. Input from fishermen that use the MyFishCount.com reporting platform as part of the pilot project will be crucial to how the platform can be improved. The input may also help in the development of future electronic reporting tools and what fishermen want to see in the design and use of these tools. Recreational fishermen, including private anglers, charter fishermen, and headboat fishermen may report. The pilot project will be modified into a mobile app to improve ease of reporting and may be expanded to include other species, with a goal to be available in 2018.

“Fishermen from across the region have shown interest in using new platforms for reporting their catch in an effort to supplement existing recreational data collection programs,” explained Dr. Chip Collier, the Council staff member supervising the pilot program. “The limited 2017 season offers an opportunity for us to test the pilot project and allow anglers targeting red snapper to share their experience,” said Collier. “The information we’ve received thus far is preliminary but we are encouraged by the participation in the early stages of the pilot project.” Collier noted the numbers of fishermen reporting that they chose not to fish due to the weather during the first weekend of the mini-season. “This kind of information has not been readily available to the Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service.”

“We don’t know at this time exactly how data from this pilot project may be used,” said Dr. Collier. “Right now we are learning from fishermen using the program, and with their help we hope to make this type of reporting platform a potential data stream for future use in fisheries management.” Dr. Collier acknowledged the impacts of weather in determining fishing effort. Fishermen are encouraged to create an account on MyFishCount.com, create a trip and then log it as an abandoned trip due to weather when applicable. “Access to fishing days is important data for managers to consider and it strengthens the robustness of the platform,” explained Collier.

The red snapper recreational mini-season continues in federal waters in the South Atlantic this coming weekend, November 10th through 12th, with a one fish per person per day bag limit and no minimum size limit. Fishermen can report trips that are scheduled and not taken for various reasons, including weather. While the Council does not have the authority to set or change fishing dates – those decisions are made by NOAA Fisheries and the Secretary of Commerce – information about abandoned trips could be helpful when proposing future management decisions. Information reported at MyFishCount.com will be provided to NOAA Fisheries by Wednesday following the second weekend of the mini-season.

State marine resource agencies will continue to collect biological samples and other data from fishermen as they return from their fishing trips this coming weekend. “We want to thank our state partners for all of their hard work during the red snapper season and the support of the recreational fishing community thus far,” said Dr. Collier. “We encourage anglers to cooperate with the state agencies this weekend and to also do their part by participating in the MyFishCount.com pilot reporting program and encouraging others to do so.”

Two-weekend red snapper season opens Friday in South Carolina, Southeast

November 2, 2017 — After signs of recovery for the species, recreational offshore anglers will be able to catch tasty red snapper this weekend and next.

The South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council approved “an interim annual catch limit” running Friday through Sunday, and again Nov. 10-12. The U.S. Secretary of Commerce signed off on the mini seasons this week.

Boats will be able to keep one fish per person per day with no minimum size limit throughout the Southeast coastal states.

Snapper is one of the most sought-after catches by seafood customers and anglers, but the catch has been shut down since 2014 as the council worked to rebuild stock. Research data from commercial anglers suggests the species has turned the corner to recovery.

Read the full story at the Post and Courier

 

Red snapper anglers are sources for data

November 2, 2017 — Recreational anglers returning with catches of red snapper during this month’s back-to-back mini seasons will be greeted by researchers with clipboards and questions at the docks and ramps.

For the sake of some sound and reliable red snapper data, fishermen are urged to participate in the surveys and sample studies by representatives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The data seekers, including law enforcement personnel and volunteers, will be working at Port Canaveral and in the Sebastian Inlet vicinity, plus seven other Atlantic Coast sites among them Fort Pierce and St. Lucie inlets and Ponce Inlet at New Smyrna Beach.

The dates for the two mini seasons are this weekend, Nov. 3-5, and Nov. 10-12.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council announced the special seasons on Oct. 27 after it received approval from National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration officials.

A limited commercial season from Nov. 2 through Dec. 31 also was approved but it may not run to duration because of a commercial catch quota.

Read the full story at FloridaToday

Red snapper season could be too little, too late

November 2, 2017 — After three years of no allowable red snapper fishing off the South Atlantic coast, it opens back up today for the first in consecutive 3-day weekends for recreational fishermen. For a lot of charter fishermen, however, the chance to take advantage of the reopened fishery may have come and gone.

Scott Griffin of Goin’ Coastal Charters said he and his fellow captains really had less than a week to get the word out, and even then, years of atrophy to offshore charter business already had an impact.

“Most of the guys are concentrating inshore for trout and redfish right now,” Griffin said. “If it had been during the tourist season, it would have been a whole different story. We could’ve booked all six days. So, giving us one week’s notice in the middle of the fall, it basically does nothing for us. It’s a shame, too, because the fish are out there.”

The area covered goes from 3 miles out from the coast, to 200 miles, administered through federal regulatory bodies.

In the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meetings on Jekyll Island in March, discussion shifted between whether they were in a position to accurately know the health of the fishery, to the amount of by-catch — usually dead snapper thrown back into the water when caught during fishing for other species — to the continuing frustration of recreational anglers who maintain there are more than enough red snapper for both harvesting and maintaining the population.

Read the full story at the Brunswick News

 

Recreational Anglers Asked to Help with Red Snapper Reporting

November 1, 2017 — CHARLESTON, South Carolina — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Recreational fishermen gearing up to take advantage of the red snapper mini-season this year will also have the opportunity to voluntarily report their catches and releases of red snapper via a new pilot reporting website at MyFishCount.com. The recreational season will open in federal waters of the South Atlantic for two consecutive 3-day weekends, November 3rd through 5th and November 10th through 12th.

After hearing the requests of anglers across the region, the Council and the Snook and Gamefish Foundation in partnership with Elemental Methods, have teamed up to make recreational electronic reporting a possibility for the 2017 red snapper mini-season through MyFishCount.com. The type of catch information anglers can record on MyFishCount.com include fish length, photos, depth fished, release method, and more.

To log catches on MyFishCount.com, anglers need to first register for an account on the website. Once registered, the easy-to-use website will allow each user the opportunity to create a trip log, enter catch information, and view past trips from one convenient location. The website is accessible from any internetenabled device while in cellular range. To collect information while fishing offshore out of cellular range, anglers can download and print a log sheet to record catch information to later be entered into MyFishCount.com. The downloadable form will be available for the mini-season and available on the MyFishCount.com website and the Council’s website under the Red Snapper Reporting page.

Using MyFishCount.com during the mini-season is an opportunity to collect information about the current red snapper fishery and can provide information to inform the development of future recreational reporting platforms. “We saw a unique opportunity to involve anglers in testing this pilot program with this year’s red snapper mini-season,” explained Chester Brewer, recreational fisherman and member of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council from West Palm Beach, Florida. “Fishermen have been telling managers about the increasing numbers of red snapper as the stock continues to rebuild. This pilot project gives them the opportunity to help document what they are seeing.” Brewer noted that this type of data collection effort may be useful in the future management of red snapper.

“It is also imperative that anglers use best fishing practices as they take advantage of this opportunity to catch red snapper,” said Brewer. “The use of descending devices and other best fishing practices will be highly beneficial in reducing fishing mortality as this stock continues to rebuild.”

Additional information on the pilot program, best fishing practices, and other items of interest for the upcoming red snapper season is available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/electronic-reportingprojects/red-snapper-reporting.

To learn more about MyFishCount and to register for an account, visit MyFishCount.com or contact Kelsey Dick at the Council office at 843-725-7580 or kelsey.dick@safmc.net.

Request for Comments: Proposed Changes to Golden Tilefish Regulations in Federal Waters of the South Atlantic Region

October 31, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

KEY MESSAGE:

NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on a proposed interim rule for golden tilefish. The proposed actions in the interim rule would temporarily reduce golden tilefish catch limits for 2018 based on the most recent population assessment. The purpose of the action is to reduce overfishing (rate of removal is too high) of golden tilefish while management measures are being developed to end overfishing.

Comments are due by November 14, 2017.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES:

  • The proposed interim rule would temporarily reduce the total catch limit for golden tilefish from 558,036 to 323,000 poundsgutted weight. Using the existing allocations, the temporary catch limits would be 313,310 pounds gutted weight for the commercial fishery and 2,187 fish for the recreational fishery. For commercial fishermen, the hook-and-line catch limit would be 78,328 pounds gutted weight and the long-line catch limit would be 234,982 pounds gutted weight.
  • The interim measures would be effective for 180 days after the date of publication and may be extended for an additional 186 days while the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council develops Amendment 45 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery in the South Atlantic (Amendment 45).

HOW TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED INTERIM RULE:

There is a 15 day comment period associated with this proposed interim rule. The comment period is now open through November 14, 2017. We will address all comments specifically directed to the proposed interim rule in the final rule. You may submit comments by electronic submission or by postal mail. Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.

FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER:

82 FR 50101, published October 30, 2017

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
1. Go to https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0111-0001.

2. Click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields.

3.Enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Karla Gore, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Why is the temporary reduction in the catch limit being proposed?

  • These temporary regulations will reduce overfishing of golden tilefish while long term management measures are developed to end overfishing in Amendment 45.
  • In April 2016, a population assessment update for golden tilefish was completed using data through 2014 (SEDAR 25 Update 2016). The updated assessment indicated that the golden tilefish population is undergoing overfishing but is not overfished (population abundance is too low).
  • As mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries must end overfishing of golden tilefish.

What are the proposed actions in the interim rule?

  • Temporarily revise the commercial and recreational catch limits for golden tilefish for 2018 (See Table 1 below).

Table 1. Proposed commercial and recreational catch limits for golden tilefish

Total

catch limit

 Commercial catch limit Commercial Hook-and-Line catch limit Commercial Longline catch limit Recreational catch limit
(pounds gutted weight) (pounds gutted weight) (pounds gutted weight) (pounds gutted weight)  (numbers of fish)
 323,000  313,310  78,328  234,982  2,187

Where can I find more information on the environmental assessment and the interim rule?   

  • Contact NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office

By Mail:

Karla Gore
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505
By FAX: (727) 824-5308
By Phone: (727) 824-5305

Access this and other Fishery Bulletins from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office by clicking here