Saving Seafood

Scientists to Evaluate Prohibiting Wire Leaders in Hawaiʻi Longline Fishery, Consider Catch Limits

March 12, 2021 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:

Scientists from throughout the Pacific will meet March 16 to 18, 2021, to discuss fishery management issues and make management recommendations for fisheries in the Western Pacific Region. The meeting of the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will be held virtually and is open to the public. The full agenda, background documents and instructions for connecting to the meeting and providing oral public comments are available at www.wpcouncil.org/event/139th-scientific-and-statistical-committee-meeting. Among the agenda items are the following:

Wire Leader Regulatory Amendment for the Hawaiʻi Longline Fishery
Most vessels in the Hawai‘i deep-set longline fishery use wire leaders in the terminal portion of the branchline between the hook and the weighted swivel to reduce the risk of crew injuries resulting from flyback. Wire leaders make it difficult to remove the terminal portion of the branch line from sharks or other protected species that cannot be brought onboard. Switching to monofilament nylon leaders would allow crew to remove gear closer to the hook and may facilitate a shark’s ability to break free by biting through the line. Tagging studies show that shorter trailing gear gives sharks a better chance of survival.

The Hawaii Longline Association announced at the December 2020 Council meeting that their member vessels will voluntarily eliminate the use of wire leaders by July 1, 2021, and use monofilament nylon leaders or other similar materials. The Council is considering a regulatory change to prohibit the use of wire leaders that would be implemented after the fleet’s voluntary transition. The SSC will provide scientific advice to the Council on potential impacts to target and nontarget stocks, ESA-listed oceanic whitetip sharks and other protected species, fishery participants and the range of alternatives under consideration.

Main Hawaiian Islands Deep-Seven Bottomfish Catch Limits
The Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) released an update to the main Hawaiian Islands deep-seven bottomfish stock assessment with catch-and-effort data up to 2018 and fishery-independent survey data up to 2020 indicating the stock remains healthy. The assessment provided alternative catch levels at different risk levels of overfishing from 2021 to 2025 to specify new annual catch limits. The SSC will consider the new information to determine if a change in the current acceptable biological catch (508,000 pounds) is warranted.

Guam Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan
At the 184th meeting in December 2020, the Council received options to address the overfishing bottomfish stock condition in Guam based on a 2019 benchmark stock assessment. The Council selected a 31,000-pound ACL as its preliminary preferred alternative, which would rebuild the bottomfish stock within the required 10 years. Since then, Council staff received an updated biomass projection from PIFSC, which substantially changed the rebuilding timeframes of the options provided in December 2020. The SSC will review the new information, reconsider its preliminary preferred alternative and may provide recommendations to the Council regarding the rebuilding target as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

North Pacific Striped Marlin Catch Limits
The North Pacific striped marlin stock is overfished and experiencing overfishing, requiring the Council to take steps to reduce the United States’ impact on the stock. The SSC will review alternatives and may recommend to the Council appropriate U.S. catch and/or effort levels for North Pacific striped marlin and international recommendations to move towards ending overfishing. U.S. Pacific fisheries, including the Hawaiʻi longline fishery, landed approximately 19% (about 796,000 pounds per year) of reported North Pacific striped marlin catch from 2013 to 2017. Japanese fisheries landed three and a half times that amount (almost 2.8 million pounds) per year over that same period, accounting for 60% of the total catch. Since 1975, U.S. fisheries have accounted for 6% of the historical North Pacific striped marlin catch, while Japan and Taiwan fisheries landed 83% and 9%, respectively.

Recommendations made by the SSC on these and other matters will be considered by the Council when it meets March 23-25, 2021, virtually with host sites at Tedi of Samoa Building, Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa; BRI Building, Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI); and Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O’Brien Dr., Hagatña, Guam. Instructions on connecting to the web conference, agendas and briefing documents will be posted at www.wpcouncil.org/meetings-calendars. Host sites are subject to local and federal safety and health guidelines regarding COVID-19; check the Council website for updates.

NEFMC Approves Small-Mesh Multispecies Specifications for Fishing Years 2021-2023

February 11, 2021 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

During its late-January meeting, the New England Fishery Management Council approved new specifications for the small-mesh multispecies fishery for fishing years 2021-2023. These limits apply to whiting and red hake stocks and are based on recent stock assessment information and other data. The package contains:

  • Annual catch specifications for small-mesh stocks that follow overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) recommendations from the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) – except for southern red hake, where the Council went with a more conservative approach and selected an ABC that is 75% of the SSC’s recommendation in order to enhance stock rebuilding;
  • A provision to reset the total allowable landing (TAL) trigger for northern red hake from the current 38% to the original value of 90% so that in-season accountability measures don’t unnecessarily restrict the fishery at a very low level of landings; and
  • An adjustment to the whiting possession limit on trips using less than 3-inch mesh codend trawls so that fishermen can land up to 15,000 pounds of northern silver hake and southern whiting.

Read the full release here

NEFMC SSC – Listen Live – Monday, August 24, 2020 – Groundfish Issues

August 17, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet via webinar on Monday, August 24, 2020 to discuss two groundfish-related issues.  The public is invited to listen live.  Here are the details.

START TIME:  9:30 a.m.

WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.

CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (415) 930-5321.  The access code is 792-543-455.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.

AGENDA:  The SSC will meet to:

  • Review recent stock assessment information from the U.S/Canada Transboundary Resources Assessment Committee (TRAC), review information provided by the Council’s Groundfish Plan Development Team (PDT), and recommend the overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder for the 2021 and 2022 fishing years;
  • Review information provided by the Groundfish PDT on possible rebuilding approaches for white hake and review the basis for the range of alternative rebuilding strategies developed by the PDT; and
  • Discuss other business as necessary.

COMMENTS:  Written comments must be received by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2020 for consideration at this meeting.  Address comments to Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.  Additional information is available in the meeting notice.

MATERIALS:  All documents for this meeting will be posted on the SSC August 24, 2020 webpage.

QUESTIONS:  Contact Joan O’Leary at (978) 465-0492 ext. 101, joleary@nefmc.org or Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

REMINDER – SSC SUB-PANEL PEER REVIEW:  A sub-panel of the SSC will meet via webinar on Friday, August 21, 2020 to conduct a peer review of the report titled Evaluating the Impact of Inaccurate Catch Information on New England Groundfish Management.  The Gulf of Maine Research Institute and collaborators prepared the report specifically for the Council under a Council-issued contract.  Webinar information and all related documents can be found at peer review.

SSC Groundfish SubCommittee online meeting September 2, 2020

August 7, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Groundfish Subcommittee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold an online meeting to plan a later methodology review of elasmobranch harvest control rules and management reference points.  This online meeting is open to the public, and will be held Wednesday, September 2, 2020, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Pacific Time, or until business for the day has been completed.

Please see the SSC Groundfish Subcommittee meeting notice on the Council’s website for additional details.

For further information:

  • Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer John DeVore at 503-820-2413; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

NEFMC SSC – Listen Live – Wednesday, July 29, 2020 – Atlantic Herring Focus

July 22, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet via webinar on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 to discuss issues related to Atlantic herring.  The public is invited to listen live.  Here are the details.

START TIME:  9:00 a.m.

WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.

CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (631) 992-3221.  The access code is 187-045-964.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.

AGENDA:  The SSC will meet to:

  • Recommend the overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) for Atlantic herring for fishing years 2021, 2022, and 2023 using (1) information provided by the Council’s Herring Plan Development Team, (2) results from the recent Atlantic Herring Management Track Stock Assessment, and (3) the ABC control rule selected by the Council in Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan, which is expected to be implemented shortly; and
  • Discuss other business as necessary.
COMMENTS:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2020.  Address comments to Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.  Additional information is available in the meeting notice.

MATERIALS:  All documents for this meeting will be posted on the SSC July 29, 2020 webpage.

QUESTIONS:  Contact Joan O’Leary at (978) 465-0492 ext. 101, joleary@nefmc.org or Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

Coastal Pelagic Species Subcommittee of the SSC to hold online meeting July 15-16, 2020

June 23, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold an online meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Coastal Pelagic Species Subcommittee to review model specifications regarding the Pacific sardine rebuilding plan Rebuilder tool.  This meeting is open to the public. The online meeting will be held Wednesday, July 15, 2020 through Thursday, July 16, 2020.  The meeting will run 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time each day, or until business for the day has been completed.

Please see the SSC Coastal Pelagic Species Subcommittee online meeting notice on the Council’s website for participation details.

For further information:

  • Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Kerry Griffin at 503-820-2409; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

SAFMC Seeks Applicants for Scientific Advisors

March 23, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting scientists interested in serving on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). Membership is open to any qualified scientist, regardless of affiliation or geographic location. The Council will review applications at its June meeting. Applications received by April 27, 2020 will be submitted to the Council for consideration.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils in the country. Each council has an SSC responsible for reviewing the scientific basis of council management plans and actions, and developing fishing level recommendations in accordance with national fisheries management guidelines. The South Atlantic Council’s SSC meets at least twice a year to address a broad range of topics, including stock assessments, management action evaluations, social and economic analyses, habitat evaluations and ecosystem management issues. SSC members also play a key role in developing and reviewing stock assessments through participation in SEDAR, the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review stock assessment program. The Council’s SSC members serve 3-year terms and may be appointed to multiple terms.

Anyone with expertise and experience in the areas of fisheries biology, population dynamics, fisheries research and monitoring, and social and economic analyses of natural resources, especially as applied to fish species in the South Atlantic, is encouraged to apply by submitting a CV, NMFS Financial Disclosure Statement, and a cover letter. The cover letter should highlight qualifications and experience, and indicate receipt and acceptance of the Council’s SSC job description.

Application materials including the required financial disclosure form, SSC job description, and details on the application process, may be obtained by contacting Mike Errigo at Mike.Errigo@safmc.net or (843) 302-8441.

A copy of this announcement is available from the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/council-news/.

New England Council Seeks Contractor to Develop Groundfish ABC Control Rule Alternatives

February 19, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council is seeking the services of an independent contractor to develop alternatives for Northeast multispecies (groundfish) acceptable biological catch (ABC) control rules. This is a medium-term, temporary contractor role, commencing in late March 2020 and expected to be completed by November 2020. Letters of interest and supporting materials must be received by March 18, 2020.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING: Thirteen groundfish species – some with separate geographic stocks – are managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) is required by law to recommend ABCs for each stock based on an ABC control rule. The Council establishes control rules in consultation with the SSC. These control rules account for scientific uncertainty in the overfishing limit (OFL) and the Council’s risk policy. The current ABC control rules are contained in Amendment 16 to the FMP, which was implemented in 2010. Given developments over the past decade, these control rules may not reflect best practices, changes in policy, lessons learned from experience, and modifications to the law. Therefore, the Council is revisiting the control rules.

WHICH STOCKS ARE INVOLVED: This contract will focus on groundfish stocks with analytic assessments as of 2019, which are: Gulf of Maine cod, Gulf of Maine haddock, Georges Bank haddock, American plaice, pollock, Georges Bank winter flounder, white hake, Acadian redfish, Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder, Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder, and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder. The contract is limited to stocks with analytic assessments because a research track assessment in 2020 is expected to address stocks with empirical assessments.

WHAT’S EXPECTED: The contractor will work closely with representatives of the Council’s SSC, Groundfish Plan Development Team (PDT), and Groundfish Committee. Since the Council establishes ABC control rules in consultation with its SSC, the contractor will analyze and evaluate a suite of suitable control rules but not recommend a specific one. At present, standard ABC control rules are applied to groundfish stocks with analytic assessments – the rules are not tailored for each stock – and this should be the approach tested by the contractor.

  • The contractor will prepare a report that evaluates the performance of the control rules against a range of metrics that will be identified by Council representatives.
  • The contractor will be expected to identify possible ABC control rules and test their performance in a Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) framework. This should be a “desktop” MSE working closely with Council representatives.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS: The Council is looking for candidates that have familiarity with the U.S. federal fisheries management system, preferably in New England but this is not required. Additionally, among other skills, candidates should have: (1) extensive experience with analytic stock assessments and the use of simulation techniques to evaluate various ABC control rules and preferably be familiar with the stock assessment and projection models used for Northeast multispecies stocks; (2) a demonstrated ability to summarize complex policies and procedures in clear, easily read documents and through concise verbal discussions; (3) an advanced degree in a fisheries technical field, particularly in population dynamics, modeling, and stock assessment; and (4) a demonstrated ability to summarize conflicting information in an objective manner.

APPLICATION DETAILS: Interested professionals are encouraged to submit a letter of interest, current resume or curriculum vitae, examples of similar work completed for other organizations or publications, and a budget with expected expenses no later than March 18, 2020.

  • A complete list of desired experience and demonstrated skills can be found in the solicitation announcement, along with application mailing/email addresses and other information.
  • NOTE: Candidates employed by advocacy organizations or by organizations that are parties in fishery lawsuits will not be considered.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Interested candidates may want to review:

QUESTIONS: For more information, contact Executive Director Tom Nies at (978) 465-0492 ext. 113, tnies@asmfc.org.

MAFMC: Reminder: SSC Application Deadline January 24

January 16, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking four qualified candidates to serve on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). Successful candidates will serve a three-year appointment beginning in March of 2020. Applications must be received by 5:00 P.M. on Friday, January 24, 2020.

The SSC serves as the Council’s primary scientific/technical advisory body and provides independent scientific advice for fishery management decisions, including recommendations for acceptable biological catch and achieving rebuilding targets. The SSC also provides science advice and information on stock status, bycatch, habitat, social and economic impacts of management measures, and research priorities. The SSC typically meets 4-5 times per year, with meetings lasting from one to three days. In-person meetings are usually held in Baltimore, MD.

Membership is comprised of state and federal employees, academia, and independent experts with scientific and technical expertise in biology, statistics, economics, social science, and other relevant disciplines. The Council recently completed a comprehensive review of SSC membership in order to align new membership expertise with the future needs of the Council. Based on that review, the Council is seeking four candidates in the following areas:

  • One additional member with quantitative stock assessment expertise
  • One fisheries biologist/ecologist with experience and expertise in ecosystem science and approaches
  • One economist/social scientist with experience and expertise in ecosystem science and approaches
  • One economist and/or social scientist to help support Council priorities and actions that will have socioeconomic implications

Individuals interested in applying for nomination to the SSC must submit a current curriculum vitae (CV) or resume and a brief letter describing qualifications and relevant experience in priority areas identified above. All applications received will be reviewed by the Council and will require a nomination by a Council member in order to be considered for appointment.

Applications and materials may be submitted by email to Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, at cmoore@mafmc.org. All applications must be received by 5:00 P.M. on Friday, January 24, 2020. If you have any questions or need further information about the process, please contact Brandon Muffley at bmuffley@mafmc.org; 302-526-5260.

Web Version / PDF Version

PFMC: STT and the SSC’s Salmon Subcommittee to Hold Joint Meeting January 22 via Webinar

January 7, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Salmon Technical Team (STT) and Scientific and Statistical Committee’s Salmon Subcommittee (SSCSC) will hold a joint meeting via webinar on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, which is open to the public.  The webinar will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will continue until 12 p.m., or when business for the day has been completed.

Please see the STT and SSC’s Salmon Subcommittee January 22, 2020 webinar notice on the Council’s website for participation details.

For further information:

  • Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Ms. Robin Ehlke  at 503-820-2410; toll-free 1-866-806-7204.