Saving Seafood

NEW JERSEY: Did a fishing crew catch the biggest shark in state history?

July 22, 2017 — A fishing boat named the Jenny Lee caught a 926-pound Mako shark Saturday morning and it could be the largest shark catch in New Jersey history.

The crew was fishing 100 miles off of the coast of New Jersey in an area known as Hudson Canyon. It took the crew a little over an hour to reel in the shark and hour and a half to get him into the boat, Kevin Gerrity, captain of the Jenny Lee, said.

“It’s a pretty awesome feeling,” Gerrity said. “We saw him swimming up to the boat. We didn’t think we were going to get him but we got him.”

“We were able to get him with a skipjack fillet with a squid combo as his last meal,” Gerrity added jokingly.

Read the full story at NJ.com

Retention Limit of Aggregated Large Coastal Shark and Hammerhead Shark Management Groups Increased to 36 Sharks per Trip Effective July 16th

July 17, 2017 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has increased the retention limit for the commercial aggregated large coastal shark (LCS) and hammerhead shark management groups (Appendix 1) for directed shark limited access permit holders in the Atlantic region from 3 to 36 LCS (other than sandbar sharks) per vessel per trip effective July 16, 2017. The revised retention limit will remain in effect for the rest of the 2017 fishing season or until NMFS announces another adjustment to the retention limit.

This action is intended to promote equitable fishing opportunities in the region, while allowing quota to be harvested throughout the year. All other retention limits and shark fisheries remain unchanged in the Atlantic region.

As agreed upon by the Commission’s Coastal Sharks Management Board, the Commission will follow NMFS for in-season changes to the commercial retention limit. Therefore, no more than 36 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip may be retained from the aggregated LCS and hammerhead management groups by a state licensed fishermen effective July 16, 2017.

The Federal Register commercial retention limit notification can be found at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/species/sharks/news/shark_news_2017.html. 

Shark landings can be found at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/species/sharks/Landings/index.html.

Please contact Kirby Rootes-Murdy, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at (703) 842-0740 or krootes-murdy@asmfc.org if you have questions.

A PDF of the announcement can be found here.

International Seafood Sustainability Foundation Releases Behind-the-Scenes Video of Bycatch Mitigation Tests on Silky Sharks in Honor of Shark Awareness Day

Tuna fisheries conservation group shares dynamic footage of scientists testing  a method to save sharks incidentally caught in a tuna purse seine net

July 14, 2017 — WASHINGTON — The following was released by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation: 

In honor of Shark Awareness Day 2017, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has released a new video that shows ISSF scientists testing a method to save sharks incidentally caught in a tuna purse seine net.  ISSF has a history of testing best practices for bycatch mitigation and sharing these findings through scientific reports, info-graphics and now video. The findings of this particular video were encouraging, with electronic tag data showing that 100 percent of tagged sharks survived past 21 days post-release. ISSF believes this could be a relatively simple way for fishers to prevent sharks from becoming entangled when they’re caught in nets, and to free them quickly without harm.

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I02yHtnSrDE

Florida wildlife officials won’t support federal shark fin ban

July 10, 2017 — State wildlife officials said Monday they are not supporting federal legislation that would ban the trade of shark fins.

Shark fins are valuable in Asian countries for a soup that is believed to increase sexual potency. Environmental groups support eliminating the trade to prevent shark finning, the illegal practice of cutting off fins and leaving sharks to die. Shark fins can be sold legally along with other shark meat.

In May, more than 100 Florida dive shops sent a letter to the state’s congressional delegation asking it to support a ban on the shark fin trade. H.R. 1456, which has eight Florida co-sponsors, would prohibit the possession or sale of shark fins.

But state officials told the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting in Orlando on Monday they don’t support the bill because of the impact it would have on commercial fisherman and because shark finning is illegal now.

“We don’t believe it will improve the sustainability of the shark fishery,” Brian McManus, the commission’s representative in Washington, said of the federal legislation.

In the recent state legislative session, S.B. 884 would have established a similar ban in state law.

Facing opposition from commercial fishermen, the bill was watered down by the Legislature to only increase fines for illegal shark finning. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott on May 23.

Robert Hueter of Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota told the commission to listen to its staff and not support a ban on the trade. He said a ban would not affect the international market in countries that do not promote sustainable shark fishing.

Read the full story at Politico

Atlantic Region Increased Large Coastal Shark Retention Limit to 36 Sharks per Trip and Regulation Reminders

July 12, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is increasing the retention limit for the commercial aggregated large coastal shark (LCS) and hammerhead shark management groups for directed shark limited access permit holders in the Atlantic region from 3 to 36 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip as of July 16, 2017.  This adjustment is intended to promote equitable fishing opportunities in the Atlantic region, while allowing quota to be harvested throughout the year.  All other retention limits and shark fisheries remain unchanged in the Atlantic region.

The retention limit will remain at 36 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip in the Atlantic region through the rest of the 2017 fishing season or until NOAA Fisheries announces via a notice in the Federal Register another adjustment to the retention limit or a fishery closure.  This retention limit adjustment affects anyone with a directed shark limited access permit fishing for LCS in the Atlantic region.

NOAA Fisheries wants to remind commercial shark fishermen of the following regulations:

  • Sharks must be landed with fins naturally attached, including dorsal, pectoral, pelvic, anal, and caudal fins (§635.30(c)(1)).
  • While on a vessel, the head and viscera of the shark may be removed, but the backbone cannot be removed, and the shark cannot be halved, quartered, filleted, or otherwise reduced (§635.30(c)(2)).  Additionally, once landed and offloaded, sharks that have been halved, quartered, filleted, cut up, or reduced in any manner may not be brought back on board a vessel (§635.30(c)(3)).  In other words, sharks cannot be cut up to be used as bait.
  • All federal permit holders must land sharks to federally-permitted dealers (§635.31(c)(1)).
  • All sharks that are not being retained must be released in the water in a manner that maximizes survival (§635.24(a)(6)).

This notice is a courtesy to the HMS fishery participants to help keep you informed about the fishery.  For further information on this retention limit adjustment, contact Lauren Latchford, Guý DuBeck, or Karyl Brewster-Geisz at 301-427-8503. The information will also be posted on the HMS website at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/species/sharks/news/shark_news_2017.html.

Dogfish — it’s what’s for dinner on the Cape

July 5, 2017 — “Dogfish, you want to try the dogfish?” queried my companion as we eyed the menu at Provincetown’s Far Land on the Beach. With just $20 between us, we were wavering between sharing one $19 lobster roll, or each ordering our own $9 dogfish sandwich.

Dogfish, a small shark, was on the Memorial Day menu courtesy of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance Pier to Plate Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative promoting local, sustainably caught but relatively unknown fish.

Hungry from biking, we opted for the dogfish sandwiches. We were not disappointed.

Dusted in cornmeal and deep-fried, the white fish patty was meaty and moist without strong flavor. It didn’t flake like cod, but it was piping hot, slightly crunchy, and served on a buttery brioche roll with lettuce, tomato, and a caper basil tartar sauce. It hit the spot.

Read the full story at the Boston Globe

A growing concern over great white sharks in Cape Cod

June 29, 2017 — An influx of great white shark sightings has residents and tourists worried about potential encounters in the water, especially during the heart of summer.

Senior Fisheries Biologist Dr. Greg Skomal told ABC News the increase in the great white shark population off the Massachusetts coastline is correlated to the gray seal population and that numbers are expected to rise even further.

“We’ve been studying sharks off the coast of Massachusetts for 30 years and our work with white sharks off Cape Cod is relatively recent,” Dr. Skomal said on “Good Morning America.” “The numbers we’re seeing on a relative scale are increasing, in 2014 we counted 80 individuals over the course of the summer and just last summer that went up to about 147. So there is a general increasing trend as more and more sharks recruit to the area.”

This season at least six great white shark sightings have already been reported, including a recent sighting off Wellfleet on May 9.

The National Park Service for Cape Cod has issued alerts to heed advisories at beaches to help ensure safety “particularly regarding white sharks.”

Skomal believes the influx of sharks is a direct result of the growing seal population. “We think it’s highly correlated with the growing presence of gray seals in the area. Big white sharks like to feed on gray seals. Over the course of the last 45 years, the gray seal population is a conservation success story. It has rebounded after protection was put in place in 1972 and that rebounding population now has reached levels that could be an excess of 20 to 30,000 animals in the area and white sharks are drawn to those areas to feed on them.”

Read the full story at WJBF

No unprovoked shark attacks in Maine. “Not one.”

June 28, 2017 — Days after there was a reported shark sighting on Wells Beach, a University of New England shark expert tells beachgoers the chances of being attacked by a shark, particularly in Maine, are astronomically low.

Police cleared Wells Beach of swimmers Sunday afternoon, after a reported sighting of a shark. Wells Police Sgt. Adam Shaw said it was a precautionary measure, taken when someone reported seeing a 12-foot shark in the water between Wells Beach and North Beach. He said the harbormaster searched the area and found no signs of a shark.

The initial report came from a paddleboarder who said the shark was as long or longer than his 12-foot board. A second report came from an individual who thought it was a harmless basking shark.

Dr. James Sulikowski, professor of marine science at University of New England in Biddeford, said beachgoers globally are concerned about sharks – but that needs to be put in some perspective.

“One of the biggest concerns people have when they go to the beach is being attacked and eaten by a shark,” Sulikowski said. “But if you look at it globally, there are 100 to 150 shark attacks per year – that’s across the world. And if you put it in perspective with how many billions of people there are, the chances are astronomically low. And then to bring it into further perspective, there’s never been an unprovoked shark attack in Maine. Not one.”

Sulikowski, a global expert in the study of sharks, said basking sharks are more common in Maine waters, and are often confused with great white sharks. He said they often come much close to shore and they can be 25 to 30 feet long. They have big wide mouths and no teeth, and they feed on plankton and small fish, he said.

Read the full story at the Portsmouth Herald

MASSACHUSETTS: Shark Expert Named Guest Conductor for 32nd Annual Citizens Bank Pops by the Sea

June 28, 2017 — Dr. Greg Skomal with the state Division of Marine Fisheries will be the guest conductor of this year’s Citizens Bank Pops by the Seas concert.

The 32nd annual event will be held on August 13 on the Hyannis Village Green.

Skomal will join Keith Lockhart and the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a show that celebrates the Cape and the music of film composer John Williams.

Coinciding with Williams’ 85th birthday, the concert will perform scores from “Harry Potter”, “Star Wars” and “Jaws”.

“We started thinking about how we could build upon this awesome music and the history and we were thinking about Cape Cod and then we were thinking about jaws, and sharks and Greg Skomal came to mind,” said Arts Foundation of Cape Cod Executive Director Julie Wake.

Read the full story at CapeCod.com

MASSACHUSETTS: Omar the shark back in Chatham

June 27, 2017 — An 11-foot great white shark known to researchers as Omar has returned to Cape Cod just in time for the summer season, according to local shark watchers.

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries scientist Gregory Skomal and his team of researchers tracked the tagged shark from their boat off the coast of Chatham early yesterday morning.

“It’s exciting,” Skomal said. “It’s like seeing somewhat of an old friend.”

As the Herald reported yesterday, 147 great white sharks were confirmed in Cape Cod waters last summer, and Skomal predicts at least that many will return this season. The sharks are largely drawn to the abundant grey seal population that lives off the Cape’s eastern seaboard.

Omar has a history in Cape waters. According to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, biologist John Chisholm first identified the great white in 2015. Skomal tagged the animal when he returned last summer, allowing his team to detect when Omar swims near one of their research receivers.

Read the full story at the Boston Herald