Saving Seafood

NOAA says watching for right whales during migrating season is more important than ever

November 19, 2018 — North Atlantic right whales are on the move along the Atlantic coast of the U.S.

20 right whale deaths were documented in 2017 and 2018. The NOAA is asking boaters to be cautious as the endangered whales migrate south.

Right whales are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and scientists estimate there are just over 400 remaining.

Officials are reminding boaters and coastal residents, right whale calving season begins in mid-November and runs through mid-April.

Every winter, many right whales travel more than 1,000 miles from their feeding grounds off Canada and New England to the warm coastal waters of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida’s east coast.

To reduce the risk of collisions between right whales and boats, federal law requires ships and aircraft to stay at least 500 yards away from right whales.

Vessels 65 feet and longer are also required to slow to speeds of 10 knots or less in Seasonal Management Areas along the East Coast, including the calving and nursery area.

“Right whales often swim and rest just below the surface, and are invisible to approaching boats and ships,” said wildlife biologist Clay George of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. “It’s important for ship operators to follow vessel speed rules, and for boaters to slow down whenever possible.”

NOAA and its partners conduct aerial and vessel surveys off the coast of Florida and Georgia throughout the calving season.

Read the full story at WTKR

 

SAFMC Recruitment Announcement for Grants & Meeting Coordinator/Office Assistant

November 5, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, headquartered in North Charleston, S.C.,is responsible for the conservation and management of fish stocks within the federal 200-mile limit of the Atlantic off the coast of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and east Florida to KeyWest. The Council is responsible for Coastal Migratory Pelagics from New York to Florida and for Dolphin/Wahoo, from Maine to Florida.

The Grants and Meeting Coordinator and Office Assistantisresponsiblefor all aspects of on-site support of various types of meetings, from public hearings to Council Meetings. Additionally, responsibilities include submission of grants and reports via the Federal Grants on-line system, assisting with the Council’s website, and general office support. 

Assists the Administrative Officer and Technical Staff with support including, but not limited to:

Selects, stages, loads, and transports recording and AV equipment to various meetings within our geographical area.

Sets up and operates the recording and AV equipment and troubleshoots as necessary. Takes roll of meeting participants for the record and ensures that Council Committee Chairs sign the certification pages of minutes.

Provides liaison between the meeting attendees and the hotel as necessary regarding billing.

Submits grant reports to the regional office via Grants On-line. Coordinates our four states with the submission and proper documentation for payments under their annual contracts and provides documentation to the executive director for certification.

Coordinates the maintenance of all equipment with appropriate vendors, to include the copiers, postage machines, and recording and AV equipment. Responsible for sending the landlord trouble tickets for repairs to the office as necessary.

Updates the Council website under the instruction of the Outreach Specialist.

Assists with running meetings via webinar.

Formats and tracks verbatim Council minutes to ensure that certification is documented.

Orders, tracks, and reconciles invoices and inventories for all purchases for the office.

Is available to travel an average of fourteen weeks per year to meetings in support of Council and SEDAR activities.

Performs other general office duties, such as distributing mail, answering and directing phones calls, copying, and filing.

Prepares and distributes official office correspondence.

Performs other duties as assigned by the Administrative Officer.

Knowledge, Ability, and Skills Required:

This position requires an AA degree or higher. Dependability, resourcefulness, and a work ethic dedicated to providing support to the Council and staff. The individual must have the ability to travel and operate independently. An excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook) is a must. The individual must have the ability to communicate with and successfully work with staff, Council members, and the public concerning support of the Council’s mission. This requires experience in supporting various constituencies in a fast-paced environment. The successful individual must have the ability to learn new things and successfully implement instructions. Additional requirements include a clean DMV report and the ability to lift 40 lbs.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None.

Supervision Received:

Works under the supervision of the Administrative Officer.

Starting Salary Range (ZA II -01): $41,365-55,175 negotiable depending on education and experience.

This is a permanent, non-federal position with benefits. Non-U.S. nationals are welcome to apply.

Closing Date: Open until filled

Send Cover Letter, Resume and 3 References to: 

Kelly Klasnick

Administrative Officer

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201

North Charleston, SC 29405

kelly.klasnick@safmc.net

 

Harris Teeter shoppers may have bought mislabeled and ‘distressed’ crabmeat for years

October 19, 2018 — Harris Teeter is contacting members of its VIC loyalty-card program this week to offer refunds involving crab meat sold between 2010 and 2015.

The crab, supplied by a Virginia company called Casey’s Seafood, is part of a massive federal fraud case over the mislabeling of seafood.

The Washington Post reported Sept. 26 that Casey’s owner James Casey, 74, pleaded guilty in September to relabeling and reselling “distressed” crab meat from other countries as fresh crab meat from the Chesapeake Bay. Distressed crab meat is crab that was recalled, returned or out of date. Casey will be sentenced in January and is facing up to five years in prison, according to the Post.

The charges involved more than 360,000 pounds of crab sold between 2012 and 2015, although prosecutors believe the crab meat switch may have dated to as early as 2010, the Post reported.

The crab meat was valued at millions of dollars, and was sold to stores and restaurants in multiple Southeastern states, including North and South Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia and Tennessee, according to the Associated Press.

Checks by The Observer of other supermarket chains, including Publix, Food Lion, Bi Lo, Earth Fare and Whole Foods, didn’t find other companies in North Carolina involved in the sales of the Casey’s crab meat.

Multiple news reports about the case say that federal agents were notified by a tip and did DNA tests on samples of the product in several states, including North Carolina.

Danna Robinson, communications manager for Harris Teeter, wouldn’t say how many customers were contacted or how much it is providing in refunds.

Read the full story at The Charlotte Observer

What happens to fish and other sea creatures underwater during a hurricane

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.

Read the full story at Business Insider

SCDNR Officer Hering Recognized as Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

October 9, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Law enforcement personnel have been working tirelessly along coastal Carolina as the floodwaters from Hurricane Florence continue to invade homes and property. Officer Randy Hering with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement Division knows this all to well as he and his fellow officers have worked around the clock conducting rescues, patrolling flooded areas, and assisting state and federal agencies to secure threatened areas along the Pee Dee River basin in Horry and Georgetown Counties.

Officer Hering was given a brief reprieve from working the flooded area as he received the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award during the Council’s meeting this week in Charleston, SC. The award, established by the Council in 2010, recognizes distinctive service, professionalism, and dedication to enforcing fisheries regulations in the South Atlantic. Nominees for the annual award may be submitted from each of the southeastern state law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Coast Guard, and NOAA Fisheries.

“This year’s award is especially timely,” said Council Chair Jessica McCawley. “It is truly an honor to present this award to Officer Hering during our meeting here in South Carolina, and to have the opportunity to reflect on the work and dedication of enforcement personnel throughout the region during times of natural disasters.”

In addition to his willingness to work long hours when needed, Officer Hering is known for his positive working relationship with the commercial fishing industry and knowledge of federal fishing regulations. He works closely with federal enforcement efforts through the Joint Enforcement Agreement and has assisted in joint investigations resulting in 11 Federal Fisheries cases. One such case involved Officer Hering working a commercial offload in Georgetown, SC where he discovered the fisherman was over his legal limit of Cobia and operating without a commercial license, resulting in $3243.00 of product being seized. Other cases have involved illegal possession of undersized sharks, possession of grouper during the spawning season closure, and a dockside patrol that resulted in a federal charge for an undersize blue marlin and failure to possess a recreational permit for Highly Migratory Species.

“Officer Hering shows compassion and understanding while enforcing fisheries regulations,” said Kevin Mitchell, Field Officer with NOAA Fisheries Enforcement. “He has developed a rapport with fishermen in the area, is extremely knowledgeable about federal fisheries regulations, and is proficient at enforcing these regulations.” Mitchell noted Officer Hering’s willingness to go the extra mile in working cases, often driving long hours to assist when needed, and collecting evidence such as fish fillets for DNA testing for successful prosecution.

In his four years as a conservation officer, Hering has become the “go to guy” for questions regarding federal regulations for both commercial and recreational fisheries and is known for sharing his knowledge with other officers. “Randy has been instrumental in the last year with training of new officers in all aspects of federal fisheries enforcement including navigating offshore, boarding shrimp trawlers, and fish identification,” explained Sgt. Ryan Williams with SCDNR Law Enforcement.

“Randy Hering is an outstanding officer and very deserving of recognition. He is quick to learn and always willing to go the extra mile,” said Captain Henry Stackhouse with SDCNR Law Enforcement and in attendance at the Law Enforcement of the Year presentation. “It is a joy to have an officer this young acknowledged for his work and we are honored on behalf of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division to be here today.”

“I love my job and enjoy working the various aspects of being a law enforcement officer with SCDNR,” said Officer Hering after receiving the award. “This award means more to me than I can put into words, but I couldn’t do my job without the help and guidance of my fellow officers. We all share in this honor.”

Officer Hering lives in Georgetown, SC with his wife Taylor, daughter Harper, another baby on the way, and two Golden Retrievers – Dillon and Dayne.

SAFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting – October 15-17, 2018

October 4, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee October 15-17, 2018 in Charleston, SC. The SSC assists the Council in the development, collection, evaluation, and peer review of information relevant to fishery management plans and amendments. The meetings are open to the public and may also be access remotely via webinar.

Meeting Dates: October 15-17, 2018

Meeting Location:
Town & Country Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29401

Agenda Highlights

  • Review of changes to the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) data
  • Review of stock assessment revisions using the newly calibrated MRIP numbers for Blueline Tilefish, Black Sea Bass, Red Grouper, and Vermilion Snapper
  • Review of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission’s Red Snapper Gear Selectivity Study

Additional Information:

Following Florence: Carolina fishing families assess damages, prepare for fall fishing

October 3, 2018 — “We may be bruised, but we are not broken.”

These words were posted on Facebook by staff at R.E. Mayo Seafood shortly after Hurricane Florence pounded coastal North Carolina. Owned by Birdie and Carroll Potter, the business is located on the Intracoastal Waterway in Hobucken, N.C., and has long been known as the hub for locally caught fish, crabs, scallops and shrimp.

A bit further down the coast in Oriental, Endurance Seafood took a devastating hit, putting the company out of business.

“We are wiped out. No dock, no cooler, no freezer, no ice – Florence took it all. This storm was bad, it actually beat my walk-in cooler and freezer into pieces,” said owner Keith Bruno. Despite the destruction, he is optimistic.

“The important part is we are all safe,” said Bruno. “The rest — not so good.”

“You’ve got to move forward, you’ve got to keep going… because that’s what we do. We every once in a while have to pay a price to live so close to beauty. There is no doubt we’ll be back and stronger than ever. We will live up to our name and then some.”

Pamlico County fishermen were hit the hardest, according to Glenn Skinner, executive director of the North Carolina Fisheries Association.

“Some fish packing operations in Oriental and Vandemere were completely destroyed. It’s going to be a real hard winter for the industry,” said Skinner.

“We are kind of like farmers, we have a fall crop,” he explained. “The fall fisheries are big. We use that money and put it away for the winter time. The fisheries are going to be gone after this strong blow for several days. It will be next spring before we can make that up.”

Jerry Schill, government affairs liaison for NCFA, says these types of storms have a big impact on the mental health of fishermen and other working class North Carolinians.

“If these guys don’t catch anything, they get nothing. It doesn’t matter how hard they work. That’s a lot of stress on a family,” said Schill.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

IMPORTANT: NC & GA/SC Revised Cobia PID Hearing Dates

September 17, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

North Carolina’s Public Hearing on Atlantic Cobia PID, which was scheduled for September 18th at 6 PM in Manteo, has been rescheduled for September 26th at 6 PM at the same location (Dare County Commissioners Office, 954 Marshall Collins Drive, Room 168, Manteo, NC). The Georgia/South Carolina Public Hearing on Atlantic Cobia PID, which was scheduled for September 12th at 6 PM, will be held on September 24th at 6 PM at the same location (National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, 175 Bourne Avenue, Pooler, GA).

Scientists discover hidden deep-sea coral reef off South Carolina Coast

August 28, 2018 — If you think Charleston, South Carolina, has plenty of history within its pre-Colonial grounds, just look at what’s been hiding 160 miles off the city’s coast for thousands of years: a giant deep-sea coral reef system. The chief scientist who helped make the discovery called it unbelievable.

Little is known about the natural resources of the deep ocean off the United States’ Southeast coast from Virginia to Georgia, so Deep Search 2018 was created to learn more by exploring the deep sea ecosystems. The project, consisting of scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and the US Geological Survey, is nearing the end of its 15-day voyage aboard the research vessel Atlantis.

Read the full story at CNN

NOAA to (briefly) reopen recreational red snapper fishing next month

July 27, 2018 –Recreational and commercial fishers will be able to catch red snapper off the South Carolina coast in limited amounts next month.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will allow South Atlantic anglers to keep their catch during the second and third weekends of August. The agency’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published the new regulation in the Federal Register on Thursday. Commercial fishing will be allowed starting Thursday.

Harvesting red snapper from the South Atlantic was prohibited in 2010 as NOAA worked to restore a population it said was depleted by overfishing. The agency allowed limited catches from 2012-2014, but halted the harvest as the resulting catch exceeded what it considered “acceptable.”

“It’s obvious from looking out in the field, that the stock is rebuilding,” South Carolina Office of Fisheries Management director Mel Bell said. “The stock’s rebuilding, but it’s just taking time.”

Read the full story at the South Carolina Radio Network