Saving Seafood

SAFMC Meeting – March 5-9, 2018 in Jekyll Island, GA

February 20, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: 

Agenda Highlights

  • Mackerel Cobia Committee

The committee will review public hearing comments and provide recommendations for any management jurisdictional changes for Atlantic cobia (GA to NY). The committee will also discuss possible changes to commercial trip limits for king mackerel. The Council will take public scoping comments during the meeting on options for changes to king mackerel trip limits.

  • Citizen Science Committee

Development of the Council’s Citizen Science Program continues as the committee receives recommendations from the 5 Action Teams: Communication/Outreach/Education; Finance & Infrastructure; Data Management; Projects/Topics Management; and Volunteers.

  • Snapper Grouper Committee

The committee will continue to discuss the Visioning Amendments (both recreational and commercial) and the Council could potentially approve them for public hearings. The committee will also continue work on Amendment 46 addressing recreational reporting and permitting. Options for a For-Hire Permit Moratorium will also be discussed. Dr. Kari MacLauchlin will give a presentation on the Socio-Economic profile of the South Atlantic snapper grouper commercial fishery.

  • Exempted Fishing Permit                                                                                                         

The Council will review a request for an Exempted Fishing Permit to conduct research and evaluate pelagic longline catch rates in a portion of the East Florida Coast pelagic longline closed area and provide recommendations. Learn more

Additional Meeting Information 

Can’t attend? Watch the meeting live via webinar at it occurs! Webinar registration is required for each day of the meeting. Registration information – along with meeting materials including committee agendas, overviews, presentations, and documents – is available from the March 2018 Council Meeting page.

Public Q& A and Comment Sessions

Tuesday, March 6 – 4:30 PM   

Informal Question & Answer Session

Join NOAA Fisheries Regional Administrator Dr. Roy Crabtree, Council Chair Charlie Phillips and others for an informal Q&A session to discuss topics relative to the meeting agenda.

Wednesday, March 7 – 4:30 PM  

Formal public comment

The Council will accept comments on meeting agenda items. The Council Chair, based on the number of individuals wishing to comment, will determine the amount of time provided to each commenter.

Learn more about the SAFMC by visiting their site here.

 

NOAA to end SIMP “informed consent” period in April

February 16, 2018 — The date when the United States will begin enforcing full compliance with a program designed to prevent illegally fished and counterfeit products has been set as 7 April, according to a statement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Seafood Import Monitoring Program officially took effect on 1 January, nearly 13 months after officials revealed its regulations that required importers to keep records on selected products. However, officials opted to begin the program with an “informed compliance” phase, choosing to allow shipments with missing or misconfigured data.

“NOAA Fisheries has observed an encouraging and steadily increasing rate of compliance with SIMP filings,” the agency said in a statement.

SIMP requires importers to maintain records for Atlantic cod, blue crab, dolphinfish, grouper, king crab, Pacific cod, red snapper, sea cucumber, sharks, swordfish, and tunas detailing how they were caught or harvested and tracking the products until they reach the U.S.

In January 2017, the National Fisheries Institute and a group of seafood companies sued the government, claiming SIMP violated federal law. However, a federal judge in August ruled against the plaintiffs, saying Congress gave the authority to agencies to issue regulations.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for the NFI said that programs like SIMP experience “growing pains” and that the industry will look for opportunities to help NOAA handle such issues as the April deadline draws closer.

“NFI members will work to ensure they are prepared for full implementation of SIMP,” said Gavin Gibbons, the NFI’s vice president of communications.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

 

GMFMC approves EFP applications

February 15, 2018 — Any review of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s recent meeting in New Orleans begins with the discussion of state recreational red snapper management, and its review of the five Gulf states’ application for exempted fishing permits for 2018 and 2019.

The GMFMC’s first step was to come up with a way to, as the council’s report stated, “to estimate red snapper biomass off each state, which will be used in one of the alternatives for allocating the red snapper quota among the states.”

Briefly, Louisiana has estimated its allocation in the neighborhood of 15 percent of the annual total allowable catch for the recreational sector, a figure state managers have set at slightly more than 1 million pounds.

The council voted to exclude the 2010 landings, the year of the BP-Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, a move which could help Louisiana, since most of the spill affected our offshore waters (and nearshore, too.)

There was debate about how to handle headboats and charterboats under this EFP. From reports, Louisiana’s delegation supports retaining these operations in the recreational sector. It appears two other states want to remove these operations from the recreational umbrella.

In the end, the GMFMC gave its approval for each state’s EFP, “with the condition that if federal for-hire vessels are included in any state’s EFP, it would not shorten the length of the federal for-hire season.”

The council also recommended National Marine Fisheries Service advance the Florida Keys Commercial Fishing Association’s Lionfish EFP request, which modified the sampling area for this invasive species.

Read the full story at the Acadiana Advocate

 

SAFMC Update: Winter 2018 Newsletter

February 7, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: 

Inside this issue:

Management of Atlantic Cobia (GA to NY) May Change Hands 

The Council will consider public input as it reviews management alternatives for the stock during its March 5-9, 2018 meeting in Jekyll Island, GA…     

Cold Weather Impacts Shrimp Fishery 

We’ve all felt the frigid temps this winter. See how overwintering shrimp are being protected and if the cold weather will impact your shrimp dinner this summer… 

New Regulations for Mutton Snapper 

New regulations go into place effective February 10, 2018 to help protect spawning aggregations and reduce harvest of mutton snapper…   

MyFishCount.com

See results from the 2017 recreational reporting pilot project and learn about future efforts to collect recreational data via mobile application….

Click here to view the complete update from the SAFMC

 

Gulf Council recommends new pilots to test state management of recreational red snapper fishing

February 6, 2018 — The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has recommended that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) approve pilots for all five Gulf States to test state management of recreational fishing for red snapper. The Council’s approval of the pilots, known as Exempted Fishing Permits or EFPs, came with the caveat that the decision by some states to include their federal charter/for-hire vessels (and the corresponding quota allocations that are associated with them) not result in shrinking the federal charter season for the rest of the states.

The following is a statement from Matt Tinning, Senior Director of Environmental Defense Fund’s US Oceans Program:

“EDF has long called for innovations in the way we manage recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, and we applaud those who are considering new approaches. We support this two-year opportunity for the states to show that they can manage their private red snapper anglers under the conservation tenets of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

“It is important that federal charter boats who do not wish to participate are treated fairly. These captains have worked for years to stabilize their seasons and are now close to finishing development of new federal fishery management plans.

Read the full story at the Orlando Political Observer

 

NOAA: Final Rule to Implement Mutton Snapper Regulations in Federal Waters of the South Atlantic Region

January 12, 2018 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

KEY MESSAGE:

NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule for Amendment 41 to the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan in the South Atlantic. This rule updates mutton snapper catch limits and fishing regulations based on the most recent population assessment.

WHEN RULE WILL TAKE EFFECT:

  • Regulations will be effective on February 10, 2018.

WHAT THIS MEANS:

For commercial fishermen, the final rule:

  • Revises the commercial catch limit.
  • Increases the commercial minimum size limit from 16 to 18 inches total length.
  • Establishes a commercial trip limit of 500 pounds whole weight during January through April and July through December.
  • Establishes a commercial trip limit, during the April through June spawning season, of five mutton snapper per person per day, or five mutton snapper per person per trip, whichever is more restrictive. The purpose of the trip limit is to protect fish that are aggregating to reproduce.

For recreational fishermen, the final rule:

  • Revises the recreational catch limit.
  • Increases the recreational minimum size limit from 16 to 18 inches total length.
  • Decreases the recreational bag limit within the ten-snapper aggregate bag limit to five mutton snapper per person per day.
  • Revises the recreational catch target.

For both sectors, Amendment 41:

  • Specifies the maximum sustainable yield (long-term average catch that can be taken from a population under prevailing ecological and environmental conditions).
  • Specifies the minimum stock size threshold (level below which a species is overfished [population abundance is too low]).

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions below for more information on these actions.

FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 83 FR 1305, published January 11, 2018

This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Why are the actions necessary? 

  • A population assessment for mutton snapper conducted in 2015 indicated that the population is not undergoing overfishing (rate of removal is too high) and is not overfished (population abundance is too low). However, the assessment update concluded that the mutton snapper population is smaller than estimated in the original mutton snapper stock assessment, completed in 2008. As a result, the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils’ Scientific and Statistical Committees recommended a lower acceptable biological catch (ABC).
  • This final rule modifies management measures and catch levels in the South Atlantic consistent with the lower ABC recommendation.
  • Furthermore, stakeholders and law enforcement personnel have stated their concerns to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council about overexploitation of mutton snapper when the species is aggregated to spawn. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has received similar comments. Therefore, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council coordinated with FWC to develop compatible regulations for mutton snapper on the Atlantic coast in Florida state waters and Federal waters that address stakeholder concerns and benefit the mutton snapper resource.

What are the proposed commercial and recreational catch limits?

Table 1.Commercial and recreational catch limits for 2018-2020 through Amendment 41.

 

 Year  Commercial Catch Limit

(pounds)

 Recreational Catch Limit

(numbers of fish)
 2018  104,231  121,318
 2019  107,981  124,766
 2020  111,354  127,115

Why is the catch limit for the recreational sector specified in numbers of fish instead of pounds? 

The recreational catch limit is specified in numbers of fish because recreational fishermen report landings in numbers, not by weight. In addition, the average weight per fish is expected to increase due to the minimum size limit increase to 18 inches total length. Therefore, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has concluded that the combination of increasing the minimum size limit and converting the catch limit from numbers to pounds for the recreational sector could increase the risk of exceeding the ABC.

Learn more about NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Region here.

 

Reduction in Golden Tilefish Catch Limits in Federal Waters of the South Atlantic Region

January 1, 2018 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

KEY MESSAGE:

In response to a request from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, NOAA Fisheries will publish a final interim rule on January 2, 2018, which will temporarily reduce golden tilefish catch limits for 2018 based on the most recent population assessment. The purpose of the action is to reduce overfishing (rate of removal is too high) of golden tilefish while management measures are being developed to end overfishing. The reductions in the catch limits are effective beginning January 2, 2018.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES:

  • The final interim rule will temporarily reduce the total catch limit for golden tilefish from 558,036 to 323,000 pounds gutted weight. Using the existing allocations, the temporary catch limits will be 313,310 pounds gutted weight for the commercial sector and 2,187 fish for the recreational sector. For commercial fishermen, the hook-and-line catch limit will be 78,328 pounds gutted weight and the long-line catch limit will be 234,982 pounds gutted weight.
  • The interim measures will be effective for 180 days after the date of publication and may be extended for an additional 186 days while the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council develops Regulatory Amendment 28 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery in the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 28).

This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Why is the temporary reduction in the catch limit needed? 

  • In April 2016, a population assessment update for golden tilefish was completed using data through 2014 (SEDAR 25 Update 2016). The updated assessment indicated that the golden tilefish population is undergoing overfishing but is not overfished (population abundance is too low).
  • As mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries must end overfishing of golden tilefish.
  • These temporary regulations reduce overfishing of golden tilefish while long term management measures are developed in Regulatory Amendment 28 to end overfishing.

What are the actions in the interim rule? 

  • Temporarily revise the commercial and recreational catch limits for golden tilefish for 2018 (See Table 1 below).Table 1. Commercial and recreational catch limits for golden tilefish.
Total catch 

limit

 Commercial 

catch limit

 Commercial Hook-and-Line catch limit Commercial

 Longline catch limit

 Recreational catch limit
(pounds gutted weight) (pounds gutted weight) (pounds gutted weight) (pounds gutted weight) (numbers of fish)**
323,000 313,310 78,328 234,982 2,187**

**An average weight conversion factor of 4.43 pounds gutted weight was used for converting

the recreational catch limit into numbers of fish.

Where can I find more information on the environmental assessment and the interim rule? 

  • Contact NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office

 

Access this and other Fishery Bulletins from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office by clicking here.

 

SAFMC: January 1, 2018 brings changes to federal fishing regulations in the South Atlantic!

December 21, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council reminds commercial and recreational fishermen about several fishery openings and closures in federal waters of the South Atlantic effective January 1, 2018. Below is a summary of the changes to regulations on January 1, 2018. Other regulatory openings and closures not listed here will occur later in the year. For detailed regulatory information including trip limits, size limits, and bag limits, please visit the Regulations & Fish ID page of the Council’s website.

Commercial Openings:

The following species REOPEN* to harvest on January 1, 2018:

• Golden tilefish • Gray triggerfish • Blueline tilefish • Jacks complex (includes almaco jack, banded rudderfish, and lesser amberjack) • Snowy grouper • Vermilion snapper • Hogfish (FL and FL Keys) • Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia (GA-NY)

Commercial Closures:

The following species are CLOSED to harvest effective January 1 through April 30, 2018. These fisheries will reopen May 1, 2018:

• Shallow water grouper, spawning season closure (includes gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind, yellowmouth grouper, yellowfin grouper, graysby, and coney) • Red porgy

Recreational Openings:

The following species REOPEN* to harvest on January 1, 2018:

• Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia (GA-NY)

Recreational Closures:

The following species are CLOSED to harvest effective January 1 through April 30, 2018. These fisheries will reopen May 1, 2018:

• Shallow water grouper, spawning season closure (includes gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind, yellowmouth grouper, yellowfin grouper, graysby, and coney) • Snowy grouper • Blueline tilefish

Additionally, harvest of wreckfish is CLOSED January 1 through June 30, 2018 and will reopen July 1, 2018.

Read the full release from the SAFMC here.

 

Reminder: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting December 4-8, 2017 in Atlantic Beach, NC

November 28, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: 

Agenda Highlights  

  • Snapper Grouper Committee

The Committee will address measures to reduce the annual catch limit for red grouper to end overfishing. Members will continue to work on long-term management measures for red snapper, improving recreational data, and the use of powerhead gear through actions currently in draft Amendment 46.  The Committee will also discuss a proposed moratorium on federal For-Hire/Charter permits in the snapper grouper fishery.

  • Citizen Science Committee

Program partner Rick Bonney (Cornell University, Lab of Ornithology) will provide an update on an upcoming pilot project addressing scampgrouper discards and other items of interest. Development of the program continues as the committee receives Action Team progress reports.

  • Data Collection Committee

The committee will receive an update on the status of an amendment approved by the Council in December 2016 to require federally permitted for-hire (6-pack) vessels to provide electronic reports. An update on outreach efforts for the proposed reporting requirement will also be provided.

Workshop: Recreational Reporting

Join Council members Tuesday, December 5th from 8:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon as they receive an update on the 2017 results of the red snapper recreational reporting pilot program MyFishCount.com and receive presentations relative to recreational reporting of red snapper and other reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as big game tagging.

Additional Meeting Information

Can’t attend? Watch the meeting live via webinar at it occurs! Webinar registration is required for each day of the meeting. Registration information – along with meeting materials including committee agendas, overviews, presentations, and documents – is available from the December 2017 Council Meeting page.

Public Comment Session

Wednesday, December 6 – 4:30 PM 

Formal public comment

The Council will be accept comments on meeting agenda items. The Council Chair, based on the number of individuals wishing to comment, will determine the amount of time provided to each commenter.

Learn more about the SAFMC at their site here.

 

Changes may be coming in the snapper/grouper fishery

November 15, 2017 — Dr. Michelle Duval of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, chair of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, anticipates a few changes to how the snapper/grouper fishery is managed after fishermen brought up some issues during the SAFMC’s Visioning Project last year.

“One of the things fishermen asked for was simpler regulations that would be easier to understand,” Duval said. “One example of this is in the shallow-water grouper fishery, where the bag limit is aggregate and may contain only one fish of certain species and not one of every species and even includes golden tilefish. Minimum sizes vary even within the grouper family, plus, there are established closures, and some species are prohibited entirely.

Read the full story at Carolina Sportsman