Saving Seafood

SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL: Public Hearing and Scoping Meetings Continue

January 12, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Council is holding a series of public hearing/scoping meetings and webinars between January 12 and February 8, 2017 to collect public input on proposed management measures for yellowtail snapper, red snapper options and the Vision Blueprint for the snapper grouper fishery.

For details on meeting locations, webinar registration, amendment documents/presentations, and instructions on how to submit written comments, visit the Council’s website:

See more information at the SAFMC

SOUTH ATLANTIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL: Recruitment Announcement: Fishery Outreach Specialist

January 11, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Title: Fishery Outreach Specialist

Location:

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201

North Charleston, SC 29405  USA

Background:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is currently seeking applicants for the position of Fishery Outreach Specialist.

The Outreach Specialist is responsible for the development and implementation of appropriate outreach programs and activities as assigned by the Council, the Executive Director, or the Citizen Science Program Manager. The position is expected to communicate the Council’s management goals, strategies, and activities to the public as well as solicit the involvement of the fishing public in the development of these management goals, strategies, and activities.

Read the full release at the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Request for Comments: Proposed Actions to Implement Special Management Zones in Federal Waters of the South Atlantic Region

January 6, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

KEY MESSAGE:

NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on an amendment that considers implementation of spawning special management zones (SMZ) in federal waters of the South Atlantic region. The actions outlined in Amendment 36 to the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan of the South Atlantic region (Amendment 36) are intended to protect spawning, or reproducing, fish and their habitat. Comments are due by March 6, 2017.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ACTIONS:

  • Implement five spawning SMZs in federal waters of the South Atlantic region off North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida.
  • Inside of the spawning SMZs, fishing for, retention, and possession of fish species in the snapper-grouper complex would be prohibited year-round by all fishers.
  • Anchoring inside most of the spawning SMZs would not be allowed; however, transit with snapper-grouper species onboard would be allowed if gear is properly stowed in most spawning SMZs.
  • Most spawning SMZs would automatically go away in 10 years unless they are reauthorized.
  • Move the existing Charleston Deep Artificial Reef Marine Protected Area to match the boundaries of the permitted site.
  • Modify the SMZ procedure in the fishery management plan to allow for the designation of spawning SMZs and the framework procedure to allow spawning SMZs to be established or modified through the framework process, rather than through plan amendments.

HOW TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED ACTIONS:

The comment period on the amendment is open now through March 6, 2017.

You may submit comments by electronic submission or by postal mail. Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.

The comment period on the amendment will be followed by a comment period on the proposed rule. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted through the same method as used for the amendment as specified below.

FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 2016-31896, published Jan. 4, 2017

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

  1. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2016-0153.
  2. Click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields.
  3. Enter or attach your comments.

Mail: Submit written comments to Frank Helies, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

NOTE: Read the complete Fishery Bulletin with Frequently Asked Questions and Proposed SMZ Coordinates available from the NOAA Fisheries Website.

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: January/February 2017 Public Hearing & Scoping Meetings

January 4, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a series of public hearing/scoping meetings and webinars between January 12 and February 8, 2017 to collect public input on proposed management measures for yellowtail snapper, red snapper options and more.

For details on meeting locations, webinar registration, amendment documents/presentations, and instructions on how to submit written comments, visit the Council’s website:

Public Hearing & Scoping Meetings

NOAA Fisheries Announces Changes to the Current Seasonal Prohibition on Fishing with Black Sea Bass Pots and Gear Marking

December 29, 2016 — The following was released by NOAA:

The final rule for Regulatory Amendment 16 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 16) will publish in the Federal Register on December 29, 2016.  Regulations for the reduced size of the prohibited area for fishing for black sea bass with pots are effective December 29, 2016.  Regulations for the enhanced gear markings are effective January 30, 2017.

Currently, fishermen may not fish with black sea bass pots from November 1 through April 30, each year, in the entire management area for black sea bass in the South Atlantic.  The seasonal prohibition was established in 2013 as a precautionary measure to prevent interactions between black sea bass pot gear and whales during periods of large whale migrations, and during the right whale calving season off the U.S. southeastern coast.  Regulatory Amendment 16 would retain a November 1 through April 30 seasonal prohibition but would reduce the size of the prohibited area.  The goal is to reduce the adverse socioeconomic impacts to fishermen resulting from the current seasonal prohibition while continuing to provide the necessary protection to large whales in the South Atlantic region.

The new seasonal prohibitions are below.  The prohibition shown in Figure 1 will apply annually during November and April.  The prohibition shown in Figure 2 will apply annually from December 1 through March 31.  The coordinates for the new area seasonal prohibitions can be found here.

Regulatory Amendment 16 will also require an additional 12-inch wide purple band in three locations on black sea bass pot lines.  The goal is to enhance current gear marking requirements for black sea bass pots to distinguish black sea bass pot lines from other fishing lines.  Currently, three 12-inch color marks at the top, midway, and bottom sections of the buoy line are required.  Effective January 30, 2017, an additional 12-inch wide purple band must be added at the end of each 12-inch colored mark, making each of the three marks a total of 24 inches in length.  The new gear marking requirements are required in the following areas and during the following dates:  from September 1 through May 31 in the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) Offshore Trap/Pot Waters Area and Southern Nearshore Trap/Pot Waters Area, and from November 15 through May 31 in the ALWTRP Southeast U.S. Restricted Area North.  The areas and current gear marking requirements may be found here.

See the full release at NOAA

Coral plan threatens fishing grounds

December 21st, 2016 — Area lobstermen could lose valuable fishing grounds if a federal proposal to close four areas of Gulf of Maine waters comes to fruition.

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) has drafted a plan that would close a span of 161 square miles offshore to commercial fishing in an effort to conserve deep-sea coral there.

Two of those areas, Mount Desert Rock in Lobster Management Zone B and Outer Schoodic Ridge in Lobster Management Zone A, are preferred fishing grounds for local fishermen when lobster head further offshore in the winter. The other proposed offshore closure areas lie in Jordan Basin and Lindenkohl Knoll to the south.

The Mount Desert Rock and Outer Schoodic Ridge areas are prime for lobster fishing, while Jordan Basin and Lindenkohl Knoll see a mix of groundfish, monkfish, pollock and lobster.

The NEFMC is working with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to preserve deep-sea corals from the Canadian border to Virginia.

According to the NEFMC, the fragile and slow-growing corals are vulnerable to damage by fishing gear.

“While the extent of deep-sea coral habitat degradation has not been quantified in most areas, bottom tending fishing gear has been known to cause significant disturbance in many locations and is considered to be the major threat to deep-sea corals in areas where such fishing occurs,” read a recent NEFMC memorandum.

Fishermen must hold federal permits to fish in offshore waters. According to NEFMC data, 31 percent of Zone B fishermen hold federal permits.

Read the full story at Mount Desert Islander

Commercial Harvest of Gray Triggerfish in South Atlantic Waters Will Close on December 16, 2016

December 14th, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council: 

Commercial harvest of gray triggerfish in South Atlantic waters will close at 12:01 a.m. (local time) December 16, 2016. Landings data and projections indicate that commercial harvest of gray triggerfish is projected to reach the 2016 July through December quota.  As a result, commercial harvest of gray triggerfish in South Atlantic waters will be closed for the remainder of the fishing year.  The 2017 January through June fishing season reopens at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2017.

The operator of a vessel with a valid federal commercial permit for snapper-grouper who is landing gray triggerfish for sale must have landed and bartered, traded, or sold such gray triggerfish prior to 12:01 a.m., local time,

December 16, 2016. The prohibition on sale does not apply to sale or purchase of gray triggerfish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m. (local time) December 16, 2016, and held in cold storage by a dealer or processor. 

 During the commercial closure:

  • Harvest or possession of gray triggerfish in or from federal waters is limited to the recreational bag and possession limits when the recreational sector is open.
  • The bag and possession limits for gray triggerfish and the prohibition on sale/purchase apply in the South Atlantic on board a vessel for which a valid federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper has been issued, without regard to where such species were harvested, i.e., in state or federal waters.

This closure is necessary to protect the gray triggerfish resource by preventing the commercial quota from being exceeded. 

Commercial Harvest of Vermilion Snapper in South Atlantic Federal Waters will Open for Two Days on December 14 and 15

December 12, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Commercial harvest of vermilion snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic will reopen for two days on December 14 and December 15, 2016. Commercial harvest will reopen 12:01 a.m. (local time) on December 14 th and close 12:01 a.m. (local time) on December 16 th. During the two-day opening, the commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper is 555 pounds whole weight or 500 pounds gutted weight.

On October 11, 2016, the commercial quota for the July through December 2016 season was projected to be met, and NOAA Fisheries closed the season. However, a recent landings update indicates that the vermilion snapper quota was not met. The 2017 January through June fishing season opens at 12:01 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2017.

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Recognizes Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

December 9, 2016 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council awarded its annual Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award to Special Agent Richard Chesler during the Council’s meeting this week in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. The annual award recognizes distinctive service, professionalism, and dedication to enforcing fisheries regulations in the South Atlantic. Special Agent Chesler is a criminal investigator assigned to NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement Southeast Division in Port Orange, Florida.

“The Council recognizes the important role that law enforcement plays in effective fisheries management,” said Council Chair Dr. Michelle Duval. “We are fortunate to have dedicated men and women working tirelessly in the field and behind the scenes, at both the state and federal level to help protect our marine resources. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to present the award to Agent Chesler, who has exemplified these characteristics throughout his law enforcement career.”

Special Agent Chesler began his career nearly two decades ago as a U.S. Coast Guard recruit, working counter-drug and U.N. Sanction enforcement in the Caribbean, Eastern Pacific and Northern Arabian Gulf. His duties also included working as a boarding officer enforcing fisheries regulations in the frigid waters off the coast of Alaska, where he developed a passion for natural resources. After leaving active duty, Chesler pursued his interests in conservation by accepting a position as patrol officer for the National Park Service Park Police in the Washington DC area. Before becoming a Special Agent with NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement in 2003 he also worked as a deputy U.S. Marshal.

As a Special Agent for NOAA Fisheries Chesler conducts complex criminal and civil investigations of violations of federal fisheries law under the Magnuson-Stevens Act as well as those impacting endangered species, marine mammals, and regulations covered under the Lacey Act. He also works field enforcement including patrols and surveillance and provides liaison and training as part of the joint enforcement agreement (JEA) with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, working closely with the offshore patrol vessel program. Agent Chesler shares his subject matter expertise on fisheries with the U.S. Coast

Guard Sector Jacksonville operations and intelligence departments. With an outgoing personality, SA Chesler has coordinated or participated in numerous outreach events, presented to the Council on law enforcement issues, and authored the law enforcement component of the Oculina Evaluation Plan, outlining enforcement approaches for the managed area.

Since joining NOAA Enforcement he earned a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida and combines his education and unique field experience to provide high-level enforcement training at the state and federal level. Because of his reputation as an instructor, Agent Chesler was selected to participate in international enforcement capacity building for living marine resources, providing training in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Brazil.

“SA Chesler’s tireless work ethic, outstanding liaison with partner agencies, and willingness to take on additional leadership responsibilities has significantly contributed to the overall success of NOAA’s Southeast Office of Law Enforcement,” said Manny Antonaras, Deputy Special Agent in Charge. Chesler recently volunteered for and performed as an acting supervisor. He has also been instrumental in streamlining the processing time for case packages, leading to faster issuance of summary settlements.

“It is both an honor and privilege to join the elite group of fisheries enforcement professionals who have received this award,” said Chesler. “This award is a reflection of the outstanding partnerships I enjoy with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard.  For me, I see it as a team award, I’m just the person accepting it”.

The Council initiated the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award in 2010. Nominees may be submitted from each of the southeastern state law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Coast Guard, and NOAA Fisheries. The Council’s Law Enforcement Advisory Panel selected three of the nominees for 2015 consideration by the Council. The other nominees were Officer Amos Williams with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Marine Patrol and Officer Clay McDonough with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

WAYNE MERSHON: Don’t bite on risky lure of ‘catch shares’

December 6th, 2016 — A wolf in sheep’s clothing: something that seems to be good, but is actually not good at all.

I can’t think of a more appropriate saying to use than “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” to describe the reality of what the Seafood Harvesters of America want to do with our offshore fisheries.

The Post and Courier recently published an article and editorial that bought into the sheep’s clothing side. Year-round fishing and better fisheries data are touted.

Who could be against that?

But there’s a wolf: privatization of our fisheries through a scheme called “catch shares,” where fishermen and corporations are actually given ownership of our fisheries with shares that can be bought or sold like stock on Wall Street.

That’s the real reason for the Seafood Harvesters of America’s existence. They’re working hard to ensure commercial fishermen own our fisheries, and in this case it’s our snapper and grouper, starting with a pilot program that could be considered by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries next year.

The term “catch shares” does not appear in the article or editorial, but the innocuous sounding synonym “individual quotas” does. The Seafood Harvesters have been well coached by their public relations team to not use “catch shares” because it will draw intense fire from most commercial and recreational fishermen.

Last year, when the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council sought input on its long-range management plan for the snapper-grouper fishery, 97 percent of the responding stakeholders said they opposed catch shares.

Read the full op-ed at The Post and Courier