SAFMC Archives - Page 36 of 39

Recreational Harvest of Hogfish in Federal Waters of the South Atlantic Will Close on November 30, 2016

November 28th, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

SOUTHEAST FISHERY BULLETIN

(South Atlantic)

FB16-079

Sustainable Fisheries Division

727-824-5305

November 25, 2016

Recreational Harvest of Hogfish in Federal Waters of the South Atlantic Will Close on November 30, 2016

Recreational harvest of hogfish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on November 30, 2016. Recreational harvest of hogfish has reached the 2016 recreational catch limit of 85,355 pounds whole weight. As a result, recreational harvest of hogfish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will be closed for the remainder of 2016. Federal waters will reopen to recreational harvest of hogfish at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2017.

During the closure:

Recreational harvest or possession of hogfish is prohibited in or from federal waters in the South Atlantic.

This closure is necessary to protect the hogfish stock by limiting the amount of landings that exceed the recreational catch limit.

FLORIDA: FWC OKS hogfish changes, other measures at meeting

November 23, 2016 — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved several conservation measures that are consistent with federal rules and set a new state management boundary for hogfish at its November meeting in St. Petersburg.

“Hogfish is an economically important species that is popular with the diving and angling community,” said Chairman Brian Yablonski. “This was not an easy decision, but will help balance the species’ needs while still offering opportunities for anglers.”

Hogfish is over-fished and undergoing overfishing in the Florida Keys and east Florida. Federal law requires the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to end overfishing immediately and implement a 10-year rebuilding plan.

Because most hogfish off the Keys and east Florida are taken in Florida state waters, consistency with similar regulations pending approval in Atlantic federal waters is necessary to rebuild the stock.

Read the full story at Florida Weekly

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting December 5-9, 2016 in Atlantic Beach, NC

November 22, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Agenda Highlights

Mackerel Cobia Committee

Review public comment and take final action for changing the fishing year for Atlantic cobia (GA to NY); and take final action on Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendment 29 addressing king mackerel allocations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Snapper Grouper Committee

Take final action for measures to reduce the harvest of mutton snapper; continue discussion on options for red snapper and recreational reporting; receive the annual review of the Vision Blueprint and consider options to include in the Vision Blueprint amendments for commercial and recreational snapper grouper fisheries; and consider measures to reduce harvest of golden tilefish based on the most recent stock assessment

Data Collection Committee Take final action on the For-Hire Electronic Reporting Amendment that would require electronic reporting for federally permitted charter vessels and modify current reporting requirements for headboats.

Joint Dolphin Wahoo/Snapper Grouper/Mackerel Cobia Committees Continue work on alternatives to modify allocations for dolphin (mahi mahi) and yellowtail snapper and approve for public hearings to be held in Jan/Feb 2017; and continue discussion on options for limited entry for federally permitted for-hire (charter) vessels.

See more information at the SAFMC

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Update Newsletter; New Regulations for Atlantic Cobia, Mutton Snapper, Hogfish and MoreSA Update Newsletter; New Regulations for Atlantic Cobia, Mutton Snapper, Hogfish and More

November 21, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Managment Council:

Fall 2016 Issue Now Available

Inside this issue:

Atlantic Cobia – New measures designed to help extend 2017 season from GA to NY

Mutton Snapper and Hogfish – Measures to reduce harvest; rebuild hogfish in FL Keys/East FL approved by Council

Public Hearings and Scoping Meetings in Jan/Feb – Allocations for dolphin and yellowtail snapper; management options for red snapper; and options for Visioning amendments.

Limited Entry for Charter Vessels – Discussions continue in December

New Public Comment Process – Details for submitting comments defined as Council encourages using online comment form

December Council Meeting Agenda and more.

Read the full update at the South Atlantic Fishery Managment Council

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission South Atlantic Board Releases Cobia PID for Public Comment

November 3, 2016 — The following was released by the ASMFC:

Arlington, VA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board releases for public comment the Public Information Document (PID) for the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Cobia. As the first step in the FMP development process, the PID provides stakeholders with an opportunity to inform the Commission about changes observed in the fishery and provide feedback on potential management measures as well as any additional issues that should be included in the Draft FMP. Specifically, the PID seeks comment on the management unit; goals and objectives of the plan; commercial and recreational measures; coastwide, regional or state-by-state measures; and other issues.

This action responds to a request by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) for the Commission to consider joint or complementary management of the resource in light of the significant overage of the 2015 recreational annual catch limit (ACL) and the impact of those overages to state management. Further, during most recent years, a majority of recreational landings of cobia along the Atlantic coast occurs in state waters. The Commission considered this request in August and agreed to move forward with the development of a complementary FMP.

Widely distributed throughout the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, cobia are managed as two distinct groups – the Gulf Migratory Group and the Atlantic Migratory Group. The Atlantic Migratory Group, which range from New York to Georgia, is managed by the SAFMC. The east coast of Florida falls under the Gulf Migratory Group. The SAFMC manages the east coast of Florida sub-ACL which is set by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Recreational landings of the Atlantic Migratory Group in 2015 were approximately 1.5 million pounds, 145% over the ACL, resulting in a June 20, 2016 closure of the fishery by NOAA Fisheries. Commercial cobia landings in 2015 were 83,148 pounds, 38% over the ACL. Late landings reports in 2015 precluded a timely closure of the commercial fishery.

Concerns were expressed by some states whose recreational seasons would have been significantly reduced by federal waters closure due to the 2015 quota overage. Instead of following the federal closure, several states developed alternate management strategies to reduce economic impacts to their state fisheries which resulted in differing regulations for federal and state water fishing. An intent of the complementary Cobia FMP is to provide the states the flexibility to respond to changes in the fishery and stock that meet their state fisheries needs without impacting federal fishermen while meeting the goals and objectives of the FMP.

Stakeholders are encouraged to provide input on the PID either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The PID can be obtained athttp://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/CobiaPID_PublicComment.pdf or via the Commission’s website,www.asmfc.org, under Public Input. Public comment will be accepted until 5 PM (EST) on January 6, 2017 and should be forwarded to Dr. Louis Daniel, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at ldaniel@asmfc.org (Subject line: Cobia PID).

It is anticipated states from Delaware through Florida will be conducting hearings over the next couple of months. The details of those hearings will be released in a subsequent press release. The Management Board will meet at the Commission’s 2017 Winter Meeting to review and consider public comment and provide direction to staff for items to be included in the Draft FMP. For more information, please contact Louis Daniel at ldaniel@asmfc.org or 252-342-1478.

Commercial Harvest for Greater Amberjack in Federal Waters of the South Atlantic Will Close on October 4, 2016

September 29, 2016 — The following was released by NOAA:

The commercial harvest for greater amberjack in South Atlantic waters will close, at 12:01 a.m. (local time) October 4, 2016, and will reopen at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on March 1, 2017. The 2016-2017 commercial quota for greater amberjack is 769,388 pounds gutted weight. Commercial landings are approaching the commercial catch limit and should close to prevent the catch limit from being exceeded.

The operator of a vessel that has been issued a federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper and is landing greater amberjack for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such greater amberjack prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 4, 2016.

During the commercial closure:

Sale or purchase of greater amberjack is prohibited.
The closure applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal commercial permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper.
Harvest or possession of greater amberjack is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits when the recreational sector is open.
The prohibition on sale or purchase does not apply to the sale or purchase of greater amberjack that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, October 4, 2016, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.

This closure is necessary to protect the greater amberjack resources by preventing the commercial annual catch limit from being exceeded.

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on Proposed Rule to Modify the Current Seasonal Prohibition on Fishing with Black Sea Bass Pots and Enhance Gear Marking

August 12, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on the proposed rule for Regulatory Amendment 16 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 16). The proposed rule for Regulatory Amendment 16 published in the Federal Register on August 11, 2016 (81 FR 53109). The comment period ends on September 12, 2016.

Currently, fishermen may not fish with black sea bass pots from November 1 through April 30, each year, in the entire management area for black sea bass in the South Atlantic. The seasonal prohibition was established in 2013 as a precautionary measure to prevent interactions between black sea bass pot gear and whales during periods of large whale migrations, and during the right whale calving season off the U.S. southeastern coast. Regulatory Amendment 16 would retain a November 1 through April 30 seasonal prohibition but would reduce the size of the prohibited area. The goal is to reduce the adverse socioeconomic impacts to fishermen resulting from the current seasonal prohibition while continuing to provide the necessary protection to large whales in the South Atlantic region.

Regulatory Amendment 16 would also require an additional 12-inch wide purple band in three locations on black sea bass pot lines. The goal is to enhance current gear marking requirements for black sea bass pots to distinguish black sea bass pot lines from other fishing lines.

More information, including Frequently Asked Questions for Regulatory Amendment 16, can be found online here.

Request for Comments

Comments on the regulatory amendment must be received no later than September 12, 2016, to be considered by NOAA Fisheries. See the Addresses section for information on where and how to submit comments.

Electronic copies of Regulatory Amendment 16 may be obtained from the NOAA Fisheries website here, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal here, the Council’s Web site here.

Addresses

You may submit comments by the following methods:

Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go here, click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.

Mail:

NOAA Fisheries

Southeast Regional Office

Sustainable Fisheries Division

c/o Nikhil Mehta

263 13th Avenue South

St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

All personal identifying information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA Fisheries will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. Comments received through means not specified in this bulletin (such as e-mail), may not be considered.

NOAA Fisheries Southeast is pleased to announce the introduction of our Text Message Alert Program. The program will allow you to sign up to receive important fishery related alerts via text message.

Text alerts you may receive include:

Immediate fishery openings and closures

Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly

How to opt-in

South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts

Text SATLRECFISH to 888777

South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts

Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777

SAFMC Reminder: Public Hearing/Scoping Meeting Series Begins this Week

August 1, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Tonight (August 1)

Atlantic Cobia (GA to NY)
6:00 PM
Public Hearing and Q&A
via Webinar

Tuesday, August 2

Mutton Snapper
6:00 PM
Public Hearing and Q&A
via Webinar

Wednesday, August 3

Atlantic Cobia
6:00 PM
In-Person Public Hearing
Crowne Plaza Hotel
North Charleston, SC

Thursday, August 4

Public Scoping
Allocations for Dolphin and Yellowtail Snapper
6:00 PM
via Webinar

Registration required for webinars – it’s easy! Click here and scroll down the page for registration links.

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Public Hearing and Scoping Meetings

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is holding a series of public hearing/scoping meetings and webinars between August 1 and August 17 to collect public input on proposed management measures for several species managed by the Council. See below for an overview.

For details on meeting locations, webinar registration, amendment documents/presentations, new interactive story maps, and instructions on how to submit written comments, visit the Council’s website –

Public Hearing & Scoping Meetings

Written comments are due by 5:00 PM on August 19, 2016.

NOAA Fisheries Announces New Regulations for Blueline Tilefish, Black Sea Bass, and Yellowtail Snapper in Federal Waters of the South Atlantic

July 12, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The final rule for Regulatory Amendment 25 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 25) will publish on July 13, 2016.

The final rule for Regulatory Amendment 25 will implement the following changes:

Blueline Tilefish

Regulations for blueline tilefish will be effective on July 13, 2016.

Increase the annual catch limits for blueline tilefish from 26,766 to 87,521 pounds whole weight (commercial sector) and 26,691 to 87,277 pounds whole weight (recreational sector).
Reopen commercial harvest for blueline tilefish on July 13, 2016. Commercial harvest will close in 2016 if the commercial annual catch limit is met.
Increase the commercial trip limit from 100 to 300 pounds gutted weight.
Increase the recreational bag limit from one fish per vessel to three fish per person per day for the months of May through August within the aggregate bag limit. There will continue to be no recreational retention of blueline tilefish during the months of January through April and September through December, each year.
The increases in the commercial trip limit and the recreational bag limit are in response to the increase in the annual catch limit.

Black sea bass

Regulations for black sea bass will be effective on August 12, 2016.

Increase the recreational bag limit for black sea bass from five to seven fish per person per day.

Yellowtail Snapper

Regulations for yellowtail snapper will be effective on August 12, 2016.

Change the yellowtail snapper fishing year start date for both the commercial and recreational sectors from January 1 to August 1, each year. Changing the start of the fishing year to August 1 will benefit both sectors because it will ensure harvest is open during the winter months when yellowtail snapper obtains a higher price per pound commercially, and during peak tourist season in south Florida where the majority of yellowtail snapper harvest takes place.

More Information

For more information, including electronic copies of Amendment 25 and Frequently Asked Questions may be obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Web site.

U.S. Commerce Department announces 2016 regional fishery council appointments

June 28, 2016 — The following was released by NOAA:

The U.S. Commerce Department today announced the appointment of 19 new and returning members to the eight regional fishery management councils that partner with NOAA Fisheries to manage ocean fish stocks. One at-large seat on the Mid-Atlantic Council will be announced by the Secretary at a later date. The new and reappointed council members begin their three-year terms on August 11.

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act established the councils to prepare fishery management plans for their regions. NOAA Fisheries works closely with the councils through this process and then reviews, approves and implements the plans. Council members represent diverse groups, including commercial and recreational fishing industries, environmental organizations and academia. They are vital to fulfilling the act’s requirements to end overfishing, rebuild fish stocks and manage them sustainably.

“U.S. fisheries are among the most sustainable in the world, and NOAA Fisheries is grateful for the efforts these individuals devote to our nation’s fisheries management and to the resiliency of our oceans. We look forward to working with both new and returning council members,” said Eileen Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for fisheries. “Each council faces unique challenges, and their partnership with NOAA Fisheries is integral to the sustainability of the fisheries in their respective regions, as well as to the communities that rely on those fisheries.”

Each year, the Secretary of Commerce appoints approximately one-third of the total 72 appointed members to the eight regional councils. The Secretary selects members from nominations submitted by the governors of fishing states, territories and tribal governments.

Read the full release and list of council appointments