Saving Seafood

Cape Cod’s great white sharks head closer to shore

August 31, 2015 — July and the first week of August are often thought of as the dog days of summer, but if last year and this year are any indication, August and September could become the shark days of summer.

On Monday, researchers encountered 23 great white sharks from Chatham to Orleans, including three off Nauset Beach. The burgeoning population of sharks visiting the Cape has prompted local officials to rethink how they protect the swimming public from a potentially dangerous encounter.

While video footage of each shark seen Monday will still have to be analyzed to make sure they are 23 unique sharks and not repeats, it continues a trend in recent weeks, with 17 new sharks identified in one day three weeks ago and 19 in one day a week and a half ago.

More disturbing to beach managers is a pattern in recent weeks of great white sharks cruising in shallow water at swimming beaches along the coastline of the Outer Cape, prompting the temporary closing of some of the region’s most popular beaches.

Read the full story at the Cape Cod Times

 

NOAA Announces Final Amendment 6 to Atlantic Highly Migratory Species FMP

August 17, 2015 — The following was released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): 

Effective August 18, 2015

Final Amendment 6 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (Amendment 6) implements a range of management measures for the Atlantic commercial shark fisheries. 

Who is affected?

 Amendment 6 could affect:

  • Any commercial shark fisherman.
  • Any dealers who buy or sell sharks or shark products (information specific to dealers will be disseminated separately). 

What will it do?

The full range of alternatives considered can be found in the final environmental impact statement and/or final rule, which can be found at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/documents/fmp/am6/index.html

This action implements the following measures: 

  • Commercial Retention Limit: Increases the large coastal shark (LCS) retention limit for shark directed limited access permit holders to a maximum of 55 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip with a default of 45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip; 
  • Adjusts the sandbar shark research fishery quota to 90.7 mt dw (199,943 lb dw).

NMFS may adjust the commercial retention limit and sandbar shark research fishery quota before the next fishing season or mid-season based on various factors including the fishing rates from the current or previous years.  

  • Atlantic Regional Quotas (Figure 1): 

-Establishes a management boundary in the Atlantic region along 34° 00′ N. latitude (approximately at Wilmington, North Carolina) for the small coastal shark (SCS) fishery; maintains the non-blacknose SCS quota linkage with the blacknose shark quota south of the 34° 00′ N. latitude; and prohibits the retention and landings of blacknose sharks north of the 34° 00′ N. Latitude.

-Establishes a non-blacknose SCS Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 489.3 mt dw and increases the SCS commercial quota to 264.1 mt dw (582,333 lb dw).

Figure 1: Map depicting the modifications to the quota linkages for the non-blacknose SCS and blacknose quotas along the new management boundary in the Atlantic region

  • Gulf of Mexico Regional and Sub-Regional Quotas (Figure 2): 

-Splits the Gulf of Mexico regional commercial quotas for aggregated LCS, blacktip, and hammerhead sharks along 88° 00′ W. longitude;

-Establishes a non-blacknose SCS TAC of 999.0 mt dw and increases the non-blacknose SCS commercial quota to 112.6 mt dw (248,215 lb dw); and

-Prohibits the retention of blacknose sharks in the Gulf of Mexico.

Figure 2: Map depicting new Gulf of Mexico blacktip, aggregated LCS, and hammerhead shark sub-regions and sub-regional quotas

  • Commercial Vessel Upgrading Restrictions: Remove current upgrading restrictions for shark limited access permit holders.

The following fisheries will remain open or will re-open as a result of this action:

  • In the Atlantic Region:
    • The non-blacknose SCS fishery north of 34° 00′ N. Latitude will re-open with 63 percent (165.5 mt dw) of the 264.1 mt dw quota reminding.
    • The aggregated LCS (blacktip, bull, tiger, spinner, silky, nurse, and lemon) and hammerhead shark (scalloped, great, and smooth) fisheries have been open since July 1 and will remain open; the commercial retention limit for these fisheries will increase from 36 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip to 45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per trip. 
  • In the Gulf of Mexico Region:
    • The non-blacknose SCS fishery will re-open with 59 percent (66.4 mt dw) of the 112.6 mt dw quota remaining.

90-Day Findings to List the Smooth Hammerhead and Bigeye Thresher Shark as Threatened or Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act

August 11, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA:

NOAA Fisheries announces a 90-day finding on a petition to list the smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) range-wide or, in the alternative, any identified distinct population segments (DPSs), as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and to designate critical habitat concurrently with the listing. We find that the petition and information in our files present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted.

NOAA Fisheries also announces a 90-day finding on a petition to list the bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus) range-wide, or in the alternative, as one or more DPSs identified by the petitioners as endangered or threatened under the ESA. We find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted for the species worldwide.

Accordingly, in both instances we will conduct a status reviews of smooth hammerhead shark and bigeye thresher shark to determine if the petitioned actions are warranted.

Comments on the proposed rule for smooth hammerhead shark must be received by October 13, 2015. For more information see the proposed rule.

Comments on the proposed rule for bigeye thresher shark must be received by October 13, 2015. For more information see the proposed rule.

 

The Shark Fishermen of New England

August 6, 2015 — MARTHA’S VINEYARD, Mass. — Ever since Steven Spielberg set a shark fin gliding through the waters of a fictional New England town, Martha’s Vineyard has become irrevocably associated with the movie “Jaws.” The photographer Maggie Shannon was born more than a decade after the film was shot on the island, in 1974, but growing up on the Vineyard she had a “Jaws” poster hanging from her wall, and would attend the annual Monster Shark Tournament that took place each July. Since then, the Vineyard—its close-knit year-round community, the legacy of “Jaws,” and the island’s relationship to the many tourists who descend upon it each year—has become a central subject of her work.

For her new series, Shannon joined one of the fishing crews who participated in this year’s Monster Shark event, documenting the bait, the blood, and the physicality involved in hauling sharks from the ocean.

Read the full story at The New Yorker

Northwest Atlantic Shark Cooperative Research Fishery

July 16, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Sharks are vital to the health of the ecosystems they inhabit, and some represent an important resource for commercial and recreational fishing communities. While federal fisheries laws are designed to ensure sustainable shark populations, cooperative research by commercial fishermen is a key component for supporting sustainable fishery management of sharks in the Northwest Atlantic.

Each fall, commercial fishermen are given the opportunity to apply for, and if qualified, to be randomly selected to participate in the research fishery. Fishermen who are interested, can sign up for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) News to receive notice about how to apply along with other information about shark and HMS fisheries.

Learn more from our shark researchers about the science behind shark fishery management in the Northwest Atlantic. Watch our latest Youtube video!

And for more shark science videos, visit NOAA Fisheries YouTube channel.

 

 

SOUTH CAROLINA: Myrtle Beach considers ban on chumming from fishing piers

July 13, 2015 — MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — It’s not unusual for fishermen on the 2nd Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach to clean their catch right on the pier and then throw the fish remains back in the ocean.

But city officials worry that tossing that fish debris, or chum, into the water can attract sharks to the area, and shark bites have been a problem for swimmers on other beaches this summer.

“The idea here is to take away any accidental chance that somehow a fisherman could, by accident, draw a shark into the swim zone,” said city spokesman Mark Kruea.

At Tuesday’s regular meeting, city council will consider a ban on chumming from the city’s fishing piers.

Read the full story at WPDE.COM

 

SHARK-DETECTING BUOYS PUT IN PLACE OFF MASSACHUSETTS COAST

July 13, 2015 — MASSACHUSETTS — The South Shore’s first shark-detecting buoy was set afloat off Duxbury Wednesday, with three more placed along the Plymouth coastline Friday.

The buoys, attached to acoustic receivers, will track any tagged sharks swimming within a 200-yard radius.

“We’re trying to get a sense of local movements of white sharks and their behaviors for the purpose of public safety,” said Gregory Skomal, a senior biologist with the state Division of Marine Fisheries.

The receivers on the buoys detect sounds emitted by the transmitters on tagged sharks, Skomal said. The receivers will record the date and time when the shark swims by, he said, and scientists from the Division of Marine Fisheries will download information from the receiver every couple of weeks.

Tracking buoys have floated off Cape Cod since 2010, monitoring shark movements in Chatham, Orleans, and Truro, Skomal said, and additional receivers have been added each year.

Plymouth harbormaster Chad Hunter said Friday that officials are seeking information about the sharks’ behavior that might help keep residents safe.

Read the full story at The Boston Globe 

 

NORTH CAROLINA: Second Crystal Coast town enacts fishing restrictions because of shark attacks

July 10, 2015 — A second town along the Crystal Coast is enacting restrictions on fishing in light of recent shark attacks, while the state is giving them the green light.

Pine Knoll Shores says it will ban all fishing with 200 yards of 10 popular beach access locations in the town, effective Monday.

This comes after Emerald Isle put a temporary ban on shark fishing and “chumming” within the town limits until September 15th.

Experts have said that shark fishing can entice the sharks closer to the shore. Since June 11th, eight people in the state have been bitten by sharks.

The locations in Pine Knoll Shores are: Ocean Park, Iron Steam public beach access, Memorial Park public beach access, Hammer Park access, two public accesses at Beacons Reach, the Knollwood public beach access, as well as the lodges at The Atlantis, The Seahawk, and The Windjammer.

Read the full story and watch the video at WITN

 

North Carolina town bans shark fishing

July 7, 2015 — An Eastern North Carolina town has banned shark fishing until after Labor Day.

The Emerald Isle Board of Commissioners met in a special meeting on Monday and adopted a new ordinance that temporarily bans shark fishing and / or “chumming” activities on the beach and nearshore areas, effective immediately, according to information from the town.

Read the full story at the Jacksonville Daily News

 

RUSTY HUDSON: Shark Sanctuaries; The Unintended Consequence from Underfishing and Overregulation

June 06, 2015 — I am Rusty Hudson, a shark specialist and reasons provided below show the reality about the United States (US) federal shark fishing management. My personal US Atlantic shark fishing history exists since the 1960’s, while my Florida ancestors were watermen and date back generations on this Atlantic coast. The facts show why US shark attacks have increased.

During the late 1970’s the US federal government began a preliminary shark fishery management plan (FMP) by the US Department of Commerce (DOC), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through the agency called the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) that promoted ideas encouraging fishermen to use under-utilized marine species, (i.e. sharks), for food. The US commercial fishing interests followed the US government’s advice during the 1980’s to catch, land sharks and develop seafood marketing, domestically and internationally. The public demand for sharks increased in the US at this stage, but the NMFS failed to monitor the commercial coastal shark landings averaging up to fifteen millions pounds in the US exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In the last part of the 1980’s, China, during Deng Xiaoping’s reformation period the economic growth saw an increased demand from their new affluent populations for shark fin soup, one of eight traditional Chinese culinary treasures. Shark’s fin values, and shark harvests worldwide began to increase significantly into the 1990’s due to the publicity. Shark fishing began to be negatively publicized in the news, on television with science style documentaries, and with anti- shark fishing media campaigns by environmental non-governmental organizations seeking membership funding.

About 1989 the US DOC NOAA NMFS staff began an effort to develop an Atlantic Shark FMP involving the US exclusive economic zone (EEZ) area from Maine to Texas, and included the Caribbean Sea region around the US Territories of Puerto Rico, St. Croix and the US Virgin Islands. On April 26, 1993 the Atlantic Shark FMP final rule was published and the NMFS Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management Division closed US Atlantic shark fishing on May 15, 1993.

Around the early 1990’s some scientists influenced the state of Florida to consider a mercury warning about eating shark meat. Overnight, nationwide the sale of shark meat fell dramatically, (same as a similar mercury media scare over swordfish consumption during the 1970’s). After much media hype, the state of Florida and other states established mercury advisories to pregnant women, yet the damage was significant for the US fish markets as shark sales fell by over half. Then the Atlantic Shark FMP became effective causing even more reductions in shark landings.

Read the full opinion piece here