Saving Seafood

Obama Reverses Course on Drilling Off Southeast Coast

March 14, 2016 — The Obama administration is expected to withdraw its plan to permit oil and gas drilling off the southeast Atlantic coast, yielding to an outpouring of opposition from coastal communities from Virginia to Georgia but dashing the hopes and expectations of many of those states’ top leaders.

The announcement by the Interior Department, which is seen as surprising, could come as soon as Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the decision who was not authorized to speak on the record because the plan had not been publicly disclosed.

The decision represents a reversal of President Obama’s previous offshore drilling plans, and comes as he is trying to build an ambitious environmental legacy. It could also inject the issue into the 2016 presidential campaigns, as Republican candidates vow to expand drilling.

In January 2015, Mr. Obama drew the wrath of environmentalists and high praise from the oil industry and Southeastern governors after the Interior Department put forth a proposal that would have opened much of the southeastern Atlantic coast to offshore drilling for the first time.

The proposal came after governors, state legislators and senators from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia all expressed support for the drilling. Lawmakers in the state capitals saw new drilling as creating jobs and bolstering state revenue.

Read the full story at the New York Times

Climate change poses threat to fish stocks, study finds

February 3, 2016 — Over the coming decades, dozens of marine species from the Carolinas to New England will be threatened by the warming, changing currents and the increased acidity expected to alter the region’s waters, according to a new study by scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Atlantic salmon, winter flounder, bay scallops, ocean quahogs, and other species may face the kind of trouble from climate change that has been linked in previous research to the decline of Atlantic cod, which has lost an estimated 90 percent of its population over the past three decades, the study found.

The authors of the study, released Wednesday by the journal Plos One, found that half of the 82 species they evaluated along the northeastern coast are “highly” or “very highly” vulnerable to the effects of climate change, meaning their populations and ability to reproduce are likely to decline.

“The results show that climate change presents significant challenges to the region’s fishery management and to its ability to sustain fishing communities,” said Jonathan Hare, a NOAA oceanographer who was the lead author of study.

The study also found that 80 percent of the species studied are likely to move beyond their normal habitats.

Read the full story from the Boston Globe

 

Feds protecting South Carolina waters for endangered whales

January 26, 2016 — A stretch of the southern Atlantic coast needed by endangered right whales to survive will receive more federal oversight under a decision that’s expected to put greater government scrutiny on efforts to locate and drill for oil and gas off the South Carolina seashore.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Tuesday declared the entire South Carolina and Georgia coasts as “critical habitat’’ for North Atlantic right whales, rare sea mammals that migrate from New England to southern waters. Parts of north Florida, New England and southern North Carolina also fall under the designation for the first time.

Tuesday’s decision doesn’t necessarily preclude oil and gas drilling in South Carolina or other states and it won’t add new regulations that would impede shipping or commercial fishing, federal officials said.

But it “would definitely make it harder’’ for oil and gas exploration to occur, said David Gouveia, a marine mammal coordinator for NOAA’s fisheries division. The critical habitat designation allows the government to more carefully review the proposals to search or drill for fossil fuels that might be buried in the sea floor, federal officials said. If concerns arise, the government could recommend changes.

Not only will the agency look at the direct impact of oil and gas development on right whales, but it also would examine how that could affect habitat important to the species’ survival, Gouveia said during a conference call with reporters. The government unveiled the proposal about a year ago and finalized the rule Tuesday.

Robert Boyles new ACCSP Chair of the Coordinating Council

November 2, 2015 — ST. AUGUSTINE, Fl. — The following was released by the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program:

Today, Program partners of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program’s (ACCSP) Coordinating Council (the ACCSP’s governing body), acknowledged the many accomplishments of outgoing Chair, Cheri Patterson of New Hampshire and elected Robert H. Boyles, Jr. as its new Chair.

In assuming the chairmanship, Mr. Boyles spoke eagerly about his new position, “It is with much honor that I accept the position of Chair of the Coordinating Council. To be elected by my fellow colleagues is humbling and I pledge to continue to advance the ACCSP as the principle source of dependable fisheries data on the Atlantic coast. In order to achieve this goal, I plan on guiding ACCSP through a successful governance review process to ensure that the ultimate decision is in the best interest of the Program. I also commit to working with ACCSP staff and Council members committees to upgrade ACCSP applications to the standards that our partners deserve.”

“My predecessor, Cheri Patterson, has paved a smooth path for me as I take on Chairmanship through what I know was countless hours of dedication to this Program. In two short years, Cheri has guided ACCSP through 67 recommendations that were a result of an Independent Review of the Program, ensuring that all recommendations were addressed for implementation through seven different vehicles. Additionally, Cheri oversaw a historic meeting at our last annual meeting in Mystic, Connecticut where the ACCSP’s Coordinating Council met jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board to decide on whether both groups, working with the Atlantic states, should move forward on conducting the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS) portion of the Marine Recreational Information Program. The result was a unanimous vote to allow for state conduct of the APAIS beginning in 2016.

Mr. Boyles currently is the Deputy Director for Marine Resources with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. In this position, Mr. Boyles oversees the State of South Carolina’s marine resources research, management, and education operations. Mr. Boyles received his B.S. in Mathematical Economics from Wake Forest University and his M.S. in Marine Policy from the University of Delaware. In 1993, Robert was a Dean John A. Knauss Sea Grant Marine Policy Fellow, where he worked for the NOAA Coastal Ocean Program.

The Coordinating Council also elected Lynn Fegley from Maryland as its Vice-Chair. Ms. Fegley is the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service Deputy Director.

View a PDF of the release

Fisheries of the South Atlantic; South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

ACTION: Notice Of A Public Meeting.

SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting of its Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management (Habitat) Advisory Panel (AP) in N. Charleston, SC. The meeting is open to the public.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  • DATES:
  • ADDRESSES:
  • FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
  • SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    • Special Accommodations

DATES: The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2015, and from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 18, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Florida Fish and Wildlife and Resources Institute (FWRI), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 100 8th Ave. SE., 3370, St. Petersburg, FL; telephone: (727) 896-8626.Show citation box

Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405; phone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free: (866) SAFMC-10; fax: (843) 769-4520; email: kim.iverson@safmc.net.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Items to be addressed or sessions to be conducted during the Habitat AP meeting include but not limited to: The review and completion of a redrafted Council Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Policy Statement on Energy Exploration, Development and Transportation; a presentation on the Florida Artificial Reef Program and discussion on the developing Artificial Reef Policy Statement; a roundtable discussion on issues associated with South Atlantic Climate Variability and Fisheries and South Atlantic Food Webs and Connectivity for possible future policy statement development; and a Panel member working session highlighting regional research program activities and facilitating the update of Volume V of Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) II, Regional Programs and Data Needs and associated appendices presenting Council, State, Commission and partner research, monitoring and data needs. Other status reports will focus on regional ecosystem modelling, threats to EFH, and EFH updates associated with FEP II development.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the council office (seeADDRESSES) 5 days prior to the meeting.

The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject to change.

Reminder: SAFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting

Reminder: Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting Scheduled October 20-22, 2015  

Meeting available via webinar, briefing book materials available

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) on October 20-22, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4831 Tanger Outlet Boulevard, North Charleston, SC.   

The SSC will review projections and provide guidance on rebuilding strategies for the Florida Keys/East Florida hogfish stock, review measures for establishing Spawning Special Management Zones for snapper grouper species, the draft System Management Plan for Deepwater Marine Protected Areas, and proposed changes to the commercial black sea bass pot fishery.  The SSC will receive reports on recreational catch estimation for rarely encountered/intercepted species, landings of Council managed stocks, the NOAA Fisheries stock assessment prioritization approach, and address other issues.   

The SSC assists the Council in the development, collection, evaluation, and peer review of information relevant to fishery management plans and amendments. Additional information about the SSC is available from the Scientific and Statistical Committee page of the Council’s website.  

The meeting is open to the public and public comment will be accepted. The meeting is also accessible via webinar as it occurs. Registration for the webinar is required. Information on how to register for the webinar, along with the meeting agenda, overview, and briefing book materials is now available from the Council’s website.  For additional information contact John Carmichael, Science and Statistics Program Manager at john.carmichael@safmc.net.  

Reminder: SAFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting

October 15, 2015 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Reminder: Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting Scheduled October 20-22, 2015  

Meeting available via webinar, briefing book materials available

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) on October 20-22, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4831 Tanger Outlet Boulevard, North Charleston, SC.   

The SSC will review projections and provide guidance on rebuilding strategies for the Florida Keys/East Florida hogfish stock, review measures for establishing Spawning Special Management Zones for snapper grouper species, the draft System Management Plan for Deepwater Marine Protected Areas, and proposed changes to the commercial black sea bass pot fishery.  The SSC will receive reports on recreational catch estimation for rarely encountered/intercepted species, landings of Council managed stocks, the NOAA Fisheries stock assessment prioritization approach, and address other issues.   

The SSC assists the Council in the development, collection, evaluation, and peer review of information relevant to fishery management plans and amendments. Additional information about the SSC is available from the Scientific and Statistical Committee page of the Council’s website.  

The meeting is open to the public and public comment will be accepted. The meeting is also accessible via webinar as it occurs. Registration for the webinar is required. Information on how to register for the webinar, along with the meeting agenda, overview, and briefing book materials is now available from the Council’s website.  For additional information contact John Carmichael, Science and Statistics Program Manager at john.carmichael@safmc.net.

Directed Sustainable Fisheries, Inc. Distributes Fisheries Mgmt Events Calendar

October 13, 2015 — The following was released by Directed Sustainable Fisheries, Inc:

2015-2016 Fisheries Events Calendar Version 12

Commercial ACL Info http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/acl_monitoring/commercial_sa/index.html

Recreational ACL Info http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/acl_monitoring/recreational_sa/index.html

January 01, 2015

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Highly Migratory Species (HMS) shark quotas open, except Atlantic Large Coastal Shark quota opened July 01, 2015 and Porbeagle shark quota is closed in 2015

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/news/news_list/2014/12/120114_2015_final_shark_specs.html

January 01

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) Calendar and Closures

http://www.safmc.net/fish-id-and-regs/fishing-season-calendar-closures

January 01

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) Commercial Regulations Mixing Zones

http://www.gulfcouncil.org/fishing_regulations/CommercialRegulations.pdf See Page 3 (PDF Page 5)

October 13

Written Comments Due on ESA Petitions for Smooth Hammerhead and Bigeye Thresher sharks

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/08/11/2015-19550/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-90-day-finding-on-a-petition-to-list-the-smooth-hammerhead-shark

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/08/11/2015-19551/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-90-day-finding-on-a-petition-to-list-the-bigeye-thresher-shark-as

October 14-15

SAFMC Visioning Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina

http://safmc.net/Oct2015_VisioningWorkshop

October 20-22

SAFMC SSC Fall Meeting Date

http://www.safmc.net/Meetings/SSCMeetings

October 29

NMFS SERO Written Comment Due on Dolphin Allocation & Generic Amendment Proposed Rule

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/09/29/2015-24576/fisheries-of-the-caribbean-gulf-of-mexico-and-south-atlantic-snapper-grouper-fishery-and-golden-crab

November 03-04

SAFMC Snapper-Grouper Advisory Panel meeting in North Charleston, South Carolina

http://safmc.net/meetings/current-advisory-panel-meetings

November 04

Written Nominations for HMS Shark SEDAR Pool requested by this date

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/news/news_list/2015/10/100215_sedar_pool_nominations.html

November 17-20

SEDAR 41 Red Snapper/Gray Triggerfish Assessment Workshop in Morehead City, North Carolina

http://sedarweb.org/sedar-41

December 07-11

SAFMC Meeting, Hilton Oceanfront Hotel, 2717 W. Fort Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach NC

http://safmc.net/sites/default/files/meetings/pdf/Council/2015/2015_SAFMC_MeetingDates.pdf

January 01, 2016

Many SAFMC Snapper-Grouper Species Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) Open http://safmc.net/

Most HMS Shark, Swordfish and Tuna Quotas Open http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/

January 19-22

SAFMC Citizen Science Workshop in Charleston, South Carolina

http://safmc.net/sites/default/files/meetings/pdf/SSC/2015/10_2015_SSC/A9_SA_CitSci_one-pager_062615.pdf

March 07-11

SAFMC Meeting in Jekyll Island, Georgia

http://www.safmc.net/meetings/council-meetings

March 15-18

SEDAR 41 Review Workshop Red Snapper & Gray Triggerfish in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina http://sedarweb.org/sedar-41

June 13-17

SAFMC Meeting in Cocoa Beach, Florida

http://www.safmc.net/meetings/council-meetings

View a PDF of the DSF events calendar

Fisheries of the South Atlantic; South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

October 2, 2015 — The following notice was released by NOAA:

ACTION: Notice Of A Public Meeting.

SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting of its Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management (Habitat) Advisory Panel (AP) in N. Charleston, SC. The meeting is open to the public.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  • DATES:
  • ADDRESSES:
  • FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
  • SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    • Special Accommodations

DATES: The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2015, and from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 18, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Florida Fish and Wildlife and Resources Institute (FWRI), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 100 8th Ave. SE., 3370, St. Petersburg, FL; telephone: (727) 896-8626.

Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405.

Read the full notice from the Federal Register here

Atlantic Fishermen Frustrated by New Regulations

July 20, 2015 — The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is collecting feedback from dozens of fishing areas from Florida up to North Carolina about the snapper-grouper fishery.

At a public hearing at the Murrells Inlet Community Center Monday night, local fishermen spoke out against the proposed regulations.

A number of local commercial and some recreational fishermen said this council’s proposals are like Big Brother on the fishing industry.

They said fishermen should just be left alone to fish.

“We want some controversial items that are opposed by nearly all fishermen removed, like catch shares, which is an effort to privatize the fishery, electronic monitoring of a vessel, and more closed fishing areas,” said Tom Swatzel, a council member with Sustainable Fishing.  “We just don’t need those at this time.”

The Vision Project which was initially launched last year by SAFMC was blasted by local fishermen Monday night.

 

Read the full story at WPDE.com