November 9, 2018 — Wellfleet, Mass. – Cape Cod National Seashore Superintendent Brian Carlstrom invites the public to attend an information session on sharks, seals, and public safety on Wednesday, Nov. 14.
The meeting will take place at the Nauset Regional Middle School auditorium in Orleans, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will consist of speaker presentations followed by an expert-panel question and answer session.
October 25, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Coastal Sharks Management Board approved Addendum V to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The Addendum allows the Board to respond to changes in the stock status of coastal shark populations and adjust regulations through Board action rather than an addendum, ensuring greater consistency between state and federal shark regulations.
Previously, the FMP only allowed for commercial quotas, possession limits, and season dates to be set annually through specifications. All other changes to commercial or recreational management could only be accomplished through an addendum or emergency action. In instances when addenda were initiated, the timing of when the addenda were completed and state implementation resulted in inconsistencies between state and federal shark regulations, particularly when NOAA Fisheries adopted changes through interim emergency rules.
Moving forward, Addendum V will allow the Board to change a suite of commercial and recreational measures, such as recreational size and possession limits, season length, and area closures (recreational and commercial) in addition to the current specifications for just the commercial fishery, throughout the year when needed. Under this provision, if the Board chooses to adjust measures through Board action, the public will be able to provide comment prior to Board meetings, as well as at Board meetings at the discretion of the Board Chair. Additionally, the Board can still implement changes in shark regulations through an addendum.
In addition, the Board considered proposed federal 2019 Atlantic shark specifications. Similar to recent years, NOAA Fisheries is proposing a January 1 open date for all shark management groups, with an initial 25 shark possession limit for large coastal and hammerhead management groups, with the possibility of in-season adjustments. The Board will set the 2019 coastal shark specifications via an email vote after the final rule is published later this fall.
Addendum V will be available on the Commission’s website (www.asmfc.org) on the Coastal Sharks webpage by the end of October. For more information, please contact Kirby Rootes-Murdy, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at krootesmurdy@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.
October 18, 2018 — Hurricanes can be just as deadly for marine life, sometimes stranding them on land or far out at sea. But sometimes marine life benefits or even thrives after these extreme weather events.
Normally when a hurricane is headed for us, we run the other way. But not Isla. She’s a leatherback turtle who was meandering off the coast of Virginia when she accidentally swam straight into Hurricane Florence. Scientists were worried she’d get caught up in the worst of the storm but Isla managed to survive by swimming toward deeper waters.
Turns out, there’s a part of hurricanes we don’t often think about: What happens under the surface. And Isla is just one example.
Far out at sea, fish that live near the surface might feel some turbulence as a storm passes. But most sea creatures — including dolphins, whales, and sharks — avoid the rough surface water and swim to calmer seas. But it’s a different story near shore.
Changes in water temperature and salinity can be catastrophic for marine life. Hurricanes can generate massive waves. Which mix warm surface water with colder, saltier water below generating currents that extend up to 91 meters below the surface. These currents are so strong that they can sweep manatees inland to canals and ponds or away from the coastal waters they prefer, and out into the open ocean. Where they can become disorientated, and even die.
Hurricanes also bring heavy rain, so freshwater often floods coastal regions. And because freshwater is less dense than salt water, it sits on top of the sea water like oil on vinegar. Where it can prevent oxygen from reaching the salty layer below. And disrupt the salinity levels, which can lead to sores, lesions, and ultimately death in whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
Hurricanes also kick up dirt and sand in shallow seas. Which can kill fish by clogging their gills. Experts think this is probably one of the factors that killed an estimated 9.4 million saltwater fish in 1992, during Hurricane Andrew. The dirty, murky water also blocks sunlight from reaching corals and seagrass. In fact, scientists found that coral cover in the Caribbean decreases by 17% in just one year after a hurricane strikes. And that’s in addition to the stress coral already face from human interference.
But it’s not always so bad for sea life. After Hurricane Katrina damaged or destroyed almost 90% of fishing boats in the Mississippi Sound scientists observed a huge increase in dolphin births. Without the fishing boats, dolphins suddenly found themselves with more available prey which helped their populations thrive.
October 17, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Supplemental materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 77th Annual Meeting are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2018-annual-meeting for the following Boards/Committees (click on “Supplemental” following each relevant committee header to access the information). For ease of access, supplemental materials have been combined into one PDF – http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/77AnnualMeeting/2018AnnualMeetingCombined_Supplemental.pdf
American Lobster Management Board – Revised Agenda & Meeting Overview; ME DMR letter on NOAA Technical Memorandum on North Atlantic Right Whales—Evaluating Their Recovery Challenges in 2018; Memo on Recent Meeting of Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team; American Lobster FMP Review; and Report of the Electronic Reporting Subcommittee
Atlantic Herring Management Board – Memo on 2019 Specifications for Area 1A; Amendment 3 Spawning Re-Closure Protocol; and Public Comment
Strategic Planning Workshop – Draft Agenda & Summary of Strategic Planning Workgroup Meeting
Business Session – Draft 2019 Action Plan & Anticipated Board Activities for High Priority Species
Coastal Sharks Management Board – Advisory Panel Meeting Summary
Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board – Public Comment
Executive Committee – Draft Recommendations for Revising the Appeals Process & Awards Committee SOPPs
Weakfish Management Board – FMP Review
Horseshoe Crab Management Board – FMP Review & Public Comment
ISFMP Policy Board – Revised Draft Agenda & Meeting Overview; Public Comment; and Living Shorelines Factsheet
South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board – Public Comment Summary on Cobia PID (including hearing overviews and submitted comment); Black Drum, Spotted Seatrout and Spanish Mackerel FMP Reviews; Advisory Panel Nomination
As a reminder, Board proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning October 22nd at 8:30 a.m. and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 1 p.m.) on Thursday, October 25th. The webinar will allow registrants to listen to board/section deliberations and view presentations and motions as they occur. No comments or questions will be accepted via the webinar. Should technical difficulties arise while streaming the broadcast the boards/sections will continue their deliberations without interruption. We will attempt to resume the broadcast as soon as possible. Please go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4350173068754736387 to register.
October 12, 2018 — The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy is teaming with a Massachusetts coastal town to provide first aid training for shark attacks.
The “Stop the Bleed” program will begin Oct. 18 and taught for free by Orleans Fire Rescue officials. New England Cable News reports the program is meant to help people in life-threatening emergencies by teaching them the basic techniques of bleeding control.
On Sept. 15, 26-year-old Arthur Medici died after being attacked by a shark at Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet. He was the state’s first fatality from a shark attack in more than 80 years.
Read the full story from the Associated Press at the Gloucester Daily Times
October 10, 2018 — In the wake of the Cape’s first shark fatality, there have been increasing concerns about the seal population and its impact on tourism and the economy of fisheries, which leaves many people wondering — does Cape Cod have a seal problem?
Out at the Chatham Harbor fish pier, tourists gather on an observation deck to watch gray seals wait for scraps from nearby fishing boats. The spot is well-known amongst pinniped lovers like Debbie Hinds-Gale, a visitor from Syracuse, NY who returns to this place every year her family visits the Cape. She pointed out at a seal not far from the shore.
“There’s another one with its fins up, I think it’s fun when they lay on their backs like that and put their fins up in the air, it’s like they’re doing tricks for you,” she said, adding that she could watch them for hours. “To me it almost looks like a smaller manatee, but their faces, I think look like they’re between a dog and a horse face.”
But for others, the seals have become more than just adorable creatures to see on vacation. The Cape’s population of gray seals has grown dramatically in the past 20 years. For fisherman Mike Rathgeber who runs fishing tours out of Provincetown, the seals have become a nuisance.
October 1, 2018 — Commonwealth fisheries in Australia, the Southern Ocean and the south Pacific managed by Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) have been assessed as not subject to overfishing.
It is the fifth year in a row the fisheries, which include fisheries for southern bluefin tuna, toothfish, skipjack tuna, billfish, scale fish, squid and shark, have been been declared free from overfishing.
The assessments reported by Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) in its status reports 2018, assessed 95 species that are either solely or jointly managed by AFMA.
AFMA’s CEO, James Findlay, said the result is a credit to the Australian seafood industry, scientists and fisheries managers.
Read the full story at Undercurrent News
October 1, 2018 — Residents of Cape Cod are demanding city officials do more to protect beachgoers following two shark attacks this year, one of which was fatal.
Hundreds of concerned locals packed into the Wellfleet Elementary School gym on Thursday for a public forum with officials and experts to discuss possible ways to keep people safe from sharks.
One by one residents tossed out a number of suggestions on how to deter sharks, including demanding officials to look into reducing the growing seal population on Cape Cod beaches. Many believe increased numbers of seals are attracting sharks hunting for food.
‘The seal population on the Cape is way of our control. They’re eating all of our fish and now they’re eating all of our children,’ said resident Gail Sluis of Brewster.
‘No sharks or seals are worth a young man’s life — they’re just not,’ she added.
According to a 2017 report by Cape Cod Times, there are 30,000 to 50,000 seals living in the waters of Southern Massachusetts, primarily on and around Cape Cod.
City officials acknowledged the seal population has grown tremendously but told locals at the forum that there are federal laws preventing the removal of seals.
Read the full story at the Daily Mail
September 28, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 77th Annual Meeting will be held October 21-25, 2018 at The Roosevelt Hotel, Madison Avenue. The room block is now closed. Please notify Cindy Robertson (crobertson@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740) if you need assistance reserving a room.
Please note: The preliminary agenda has been revised with the following changes: (1) meeting times have changed on Monday, October 22 for the American Lobster Board, Atlantic Herring Section, and the American Eel Board; and (2) the Atlantic Menhaden Board, previously scheduled for October 23rd, and the Shad and River Herring Board, previously scheduled for October 25th, have both been cancelled. Meeting times on those days have shifted to reflect those cancellations. The revised agenda is attached and follows below.
All meetings throughout the week are open to the public, free of charge. However, if you are planning on attending any of the meeting events (Sunday and Monday Receptions, Tuesday Dinner, or Wednesday Hart Award Luncheon), please register as soon as possible; simply fill-in and submit the registration form to Lisa Hartman at lhartman@asmfc.org. Events are filling up quickly and we cannot guarantee you space unless you register. The meeting registration fee is $200/per participant and $150/per spouse or guest if you register by October 15, 2018. After October 15th and in New York the fees will be $225 and $175, respectively. The registration fee will be used to defray the cost of the Sunday and Monday night receptions, the Tuesday night dinner, and the Wednesday Hart Award Luncheon, as well as event materials. Payment is not required until you arrive at the meeting; however, we ask that you please assist us in planning for the meeting by registering as soon as possible.
If you are driving to the meeting, we strongly encourage you to park in New Jersey at the Port Imperial/Weehawken Terminal and take a short ferry to Midtown Manhattan since parking in NYC is exorbitant. Directions are attached and can also be found here.
The final agenda and meeting materials will be available on October 10th on the Commission website at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2018-annual-meeting.
ASMFC 77th Annual Meeting:
October 21 – 25, 2018
The Roosevelt Hotel
Madison Avenue @ 45th Street
New York, NY
Please note: The preliminary agenda has been revised with the following changes: (1) meeting times have changed on Monday, October 22 for the American Lobster Board, Atlantic Herring Section, and the American Eel Board; and (2) the Atlantic Menhaden Board, previously scheduled for October 23rd, and the Shad and River Herring Board, previously scheduled for October 25th, have both been cancelled. Meeting times on those days have shifted to reflect those cancellations.
The agenda is subject to change. Bulleted items represent the anticipated major issues to be discussed or acted upon at the meeting. The final agenda will include additional items and may revise the bulleted items provided below. The agenda reflects the current estimate of time required for scheduled Board meetings. The Commission may adjust this agenda in accordance with the actual duration of Board meetings. Interested parties should anticipate Boards starting earlier or later than indicated herein.
Sunday, October 21
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Hosts’ Reception
Monday, October 22
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. American Lobster Management Board:
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch (On Your Own)
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Atlantic Herring Section:
3:45 – 4:45 p.m. American Eel Management Board:
6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Welcome Reception
Tuesday, October 23
8:00 – 10:15 a.m. Strategic Planning Workshop
10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Business Session:
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Coastal Sharks Management Board:
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch (On Your Own)
12:30 – 5:00 p.m. Law Enforcement Committee:
(A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members only)
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Spiny Dogfish Management Board:
2:45 – 4:00 p.m. Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board:
6:15 – 9:00 p.m. Annual Dinner
Wednesday, October 24
8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Executive Committee: (A portion of this meeting may be a closed session for Committee members and Commissioners only)
8:30 a.m. – Noon Law Enforcement Committee (continued):
10:15 – 11:00 a.m. Weakfish Management Board:
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Horseshoe Crab Management Board:
12:15 – 1:30 p.m. Captain David H. Hart Award Luncheon
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board:
3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Coordinating Council:
Thursday, October 25
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Tautog Management Board:
9:15 – 11:00 a.m. Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board:
o Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership
o Law Enforcement Committee
11:00 – 11:15 a.m. Business Session (continued):
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board:
Public Comment Guidelines
With the intent of developing policies in the Commission’s procedures for public participation that result in a fair opportunity for public input, the ISFMP Policy Board has approved the following guidelines for use at management board meetings:
For issues that are not on the agenda, management boards will continue to provide opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of each board meeting. Board chairs will use a speaker sign-up list in deciding how to allocate the available time on the agenda (typically 10 minutes) to the number of people who want to speak.
For topics that are on the agenda, but have not gone out for public comment, board chairs will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. Chairs will have flexibility in deciding how to allocate comment opportunities; this could include hearing one comment in favor and one in opposition until the chair is satisfied further comment will not provide additional insight to the board.
For agenda action items that have already gone out for public comment, it is the Policy Board’s intent to end the occasional practice of allowing extensive and lengthy public comments. Currently, board chairs have the discretion to decide what public comment to allow in these circumstances.
In addition, the following timeline has been established for the submission of written comment for issues for which the Commission has NOT established a specific public comment period (i.e., in response to proposed management action).
1. Comments received 3 weeks prior to the start of a meeting week will be included in the briefing materials.
2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting and a limited number of copies will be provided at the meeting.
3. Following Tuesday, October 16, 2018 5:00 PM deadline, the commenter will be responsible for distributing the information to the management board prior to the board meeting or providing enough copies for the management board consideration at the meeting (a minimum of 50 copies).
The submitted comments must clearly indicate the commenter’s expectation from the ASMFC staff regarding distribution. As with other public comment, it will be accepted via mail, fax, and email.
September 28, 2018 — WELLFLEET, Mass. — Several of the hundreds of people who turned out here last night for a public forum on sharks in the wake of the first fatal attack in Massachusetts in more than 80 years urged officials to kill them or the seals that tend to attract them.
Laurie Voke of Eastham said this month’s death of Arthur Medici, a 26-year-old boogie-boarder from Revere, said shark attacks on seals swimming near people on outer Cape Cod have become “too numerous to count” in recent years, but officials have failed to lift the fishing ban on white sharks or to take steps to control the number of seals.
“Instead, certain government officials have given pet names to white sharks and prioritized the lives and safety of sharks and seals over that of those who swim in the cape water,” Voke, the mother of four lifeguards, told a panel of officials and experts on the animals.
Read the full story at the Boston Herald