Saving Seafood

South Atlantic Bite – Newsworthy Notes – April 28, 2021

April 28, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

SAFMC Seminar Series
Dolphin Wahoo Participatory Workshops – Profile of the fishery
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
1 PM until 2:30 PM via webinar

The Council’s Seminar Series continues in May with a presentation on recent participatory workshops held in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida to get input from fishermen to better describe the Dolphin Wahoo fishery. Staff from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center will provide an overview of the project. The Seminar Series features presentations on scientific studies relevant to fisheries in federal waters of the South Atlantic. Register now for the May 11th seminar and receive reminders as the date approaches!

Public Hearings Scheduled for Shrimp Fishery Access Area Along Northern Extension of the Oculina Bank
Coral Amendment 10
May 12 and 13, 2021 at 5 PM via webinar

The Council will hold public hearings for a proposed action to establish a Rock Shrimp Fishery Access Area along the eastern edge of the northern extension of the Oculina Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern. The Coral HAPC is located off the east coast of Florida. Fishermen requested the eastern edge of the northern extension of the Oculina Bank be reviewed to determine if historic trawling areas could be reopened to rock shrimp fishing.

Learn more about what is being proposed and register now to attend a public hearing. Webinar registration: Wednesday, May 12 and Thursday, May 13

Reminder! Apply Now for Open Seats on the Council’s Advisory Panels
Applications due by Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Applications are currently being accepted for open seats on the Council’s Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel as well as the Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel, Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel and Law Enforcement Advisory Panel. The Council will consider applications during its June 14-18, 2021 meeting via webinar. Learn more about the important roll of the advisory panels and how to apply for open seats. Don’t delay! Apply before the May 5, 2021 deadline.

NOAA Fisheries Publishes 2020 Marine Recreational Catch Estimates

Each year, NOAA Fisheries provides marine recreational catch estimates for the Atlantic Coast, Gulf Coast and Hawaii. While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the survey that collects catch data from anglers, its overall impact on recreational fishing data collection was lower than first expected, and NOAA Fisheries was able to fill gaps in the 2020 catch data with data collected in 2018 and 2019.

The use of proxy, or replacement, catch data had minimal impact on the agency’s effort estimates, as the mail and telephone surveys that collect effort data continued largely uninterrupted. The estimates are available via the MRIP Query Tool. Estimates can also be found on the agency’s Recreational Fishing Data Downloads webpage.

Additional Snippets:

Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum – Addressing ocean planning issues
The Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean (MACO) will convene its Third Annual Mid-Atlantic Region Ocean Forum from May 3-6, 2021. This year’s all-virtual event will feature expert panel discussions on ocean planning issues including offshore wind energy in the Mid-Atlantic, climate-induced ocean changes, ocean justice, and emerging technologies for monitoring the ocean. The event will also feature opportunities for public participation, a virtual networking luncheon and a first-ever poster session highlighting the work of students and early career professionals.

SECOORA Funding Opportunity – K-12 online marine science curricula
The Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) is soliciting proposals to develop online or online accessible K-12 marine science curricula and/or activities that can be implemented by parents, teachers and other educators. Proposals must demonstrate how they will increase participation of underrepresented communities in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics educational activities. The award value is $8,500. Proposals are due by 5 PM ET on May 21, 2021. Learn more and share the word!

Call for Presentations: Does your research rely on collaboration with anglers?
The 151st Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society is scheduled for November 5-10, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. A symposium “Growing fisheries research and management through angler engagement” is being organized as part of this year’s meeting. The unique symposium will bring anglers and researchers together to learn how research in collaboration with anglers is coordinated, what science emerges, and what is needed to make them thrive. If you are interested in participating or want to learn more, contact Sean Simmons at sean@anglersatlas.com or Julia Byrd at julia.byrd@safmc.net.

Mark Your Calendar
There are several meetings being scheduled via webinar as the spring approaches. Keep track of meetings scheduled by the Council from the website and register for meeting webinars as information becomes available.

April 27-29 and May 3, 2021
SAFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting
Webinar Registration

May 11, 2021
1 PM – 2:30 PM
SAFMC Webinar Series: Dolphin Wahoo Participatory Workshop Presentation
Webinar Registration

May 12 and 13, 2021
5 PM each day
Public Hearings: Coral Amendment 10
Shrimp Fishery Access Area along Northern Extension of Oculina Bank CHAPC
Webinar Registration – Wednesday, May 12
Webinar Registration – Thursday, May 13

May 19, 2021
SAFMC Citizen Science Operations Committee Meeting

SAFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting April 27-29 and May 3, 2021

April 19, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee will hold a multi-day meeting via webinar later this month to review recent stock assessments for Red Snapper, Tilefish and Gag Grouper and provide recommendations for consideration by the Council. Each of the eight regional fishery management councils in the U.S. has a Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) responsible for developing fishing level recommendations and reviewing the scientific basis of council management plans and actions.

The latest stock assessment for South Atlantic Red Snapper was completed through the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment process and made available in March 2021. During its meeting, the SSC will review the assessment and consider whether the results are useful for providing management advice and developing fishing level recommendations for the Council.

An SSC may use the information from the Stock Assessment Report as the basis for providing fishing level recommendations or request additional analyses be conducted.

Fishing level recommendations include an Overfishing Limit and the Acceptable Biological Catch. An overview of the Red Snapper Stock Assessment will be provided to the SSC by NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center on Tuesday, April 27th.

In addition to Red Snapper, the SSC will review stock assessments and provide fishing level recommendations for Tilefish (golden Tilefish) and Gag Grouper. The SSC will also provide guidance on the Council’s “Decision Tree” approach to allocations, the South Atlantic Research and Monitoring Plan and other agenda items.

Recommendations from the SSC will be provided to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council during its June 14-18, 2021 meeting scheduled via webinar.

The briefing book materials for the April 27-29 and May 3, 2021 SSC meeting, including the meeting agenda and overview, presentations, reports, webinar registration information and an online public comment form are now available from the Council’s website.

Click here to register now for the meeting via webinar and receive email reminders as the meeting dates approach.

New study triples estimate of red snapper in Gulf of Mexico

March 24, 2021 — There are about three times as many red snapper as previously estimated in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a study released Wednesday about the popular game and table fish over which recreational anglers and federal regulators have fought for years.

The $12 million Great Red Snapper Count estimated that the Gulf holds about 110 million adult red snapper — those at least 2 years old. A 2018 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration marine fisheries’ estimate was about 36 million.

“This new information should translate into greater access and longer fishing seasons for families,” Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy said in a news release Wednesday.

Clay Porch, director of NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center Director in Miami, said peer reviewers will be going over the science for the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council, which is likely to consider revising quotas in April, Porch said Tuesday.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at the Star Tribune

Understanding the Impacts of Climate Change on Economically Important Fish Species

October 26, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Researchers at NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center and Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory are teaming up. They want to understand how changing ocean conditions might be influencing commercially important fish stocks. The project will identify key physical processes that affect the biology and chemistry of waters used by coastal migratory species. They will pool their modeling capacities to investigate factors influencing fish stocks in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Bight. These stocks are managed by NOAA Fisheries and the regional Fishery Management Councils.

Building on previous research collaborations, the scientists will continue advancing these modeling efforts to support marine resources management and conservation. “We have configured several high-resolution models for the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and South Atlantic Bight,” said Laboratory scientist Dr. Sang-Ki Lee. “Using these models, we have built close collaborations between our laboratory and the science center addressing key scientific questions, including the impacts of increasing ocean temperatures on coral bleaching and spawning of Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, impacts of El Niño and increased rainfall on plankton patterns in the Texas-Louisiana shelf, and seasonal variability in ocean carbon chemistry in the Gulf of Mexico.”

Coastal migratory species, such as king mackerel, greater amberjack, red porgy, and red grouper, are key commercial and recreational species that support a billion-dollar economy. The most recent stock assessments for these species indicated that the stocks began declining in the late 2000s. This indicates either reduced population reproductivity, migration out of the management area, or both.

A stock assessment is the process of collecting, analyzing, and reporting demographic information to determine changes in the abundance of fishery stocks in response to fishing. They are also used to predict future trends of stock abundance. The stock assessments track the age structure of the adult population to determine how many new fish are expected in the future. When the actual number does not match the expected number, it reflects that something other than stock abundance is affecting the population, such as the environment or a predator species.

Read the full release here

NMFS, SSA Report Poor Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Landings in July

August 29, 2019 — SEAFOOD NEWS — Shrimp landings in the Gulf of Mexico have been some of the worst in recent history, according to the Fishery Monitoring Branch of the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center and the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

NMFS reported shrimp landings in the Gulf for July were only 7 million pounds, well below the 7.9 million pounds in July 2018 and the 8 million pounds in July 2017. The July commercial shrimp landings were 37.8 percent below the prior 17-year historic average of 11.3 million pounds for July.

Only 1.6 million pounds of shrimp were reported as landed in Louisiana — the third lowest volume for the state for a July in the last 18 years. All told, Louisiana landings were 62.1 percent below the prior 17-year historic average of 4.2 million pounds in July.

In Mississippi, only 415,000 pounds of shrimp were reported as landed, the second lowest total reported for any July from that state in the last 18 years, according to a Southern Shrimp Alliance press release.

For the year, landings of shrimp in Louisiana and the west coast of Florida are at the lowest levels they have ever been through the first seven months. Outside of 2010, the landings reported in Mississippi for the year are the lowest they have been in the past 18 years.

Shrimp harvests at historical levels in Texas and significantly above historical levels in Alabama have somewhat offset the low numbers from the rest of the Gulf, but landings in the region, at 35.6 million pounds, are the second lowest volume reported in the last 18 years.

Last month, NMFS reported ex-vessel prices for four of six count sizes of shrimp landed in the eastern Gulf (west coast of Florida) and five of six count sizes of shrimp landed in the northern Gulf (Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi). In the northern Gulf and western Gulf, the ex-vessel prices showed a large divergence between prices for large shrimp, U15, and all other shrimp. In the western Gulf, prices for U15 size shrimp were the highest reported for any July (not adjusting for inflation) in the 19-year database maintained by the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

This story was originally published on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

Gulf of Mexico June Shrimp Landings Higher than in Previous Years; Overall Landings Still Down

July 26, 2019 — SEAFOOD NEWS — NMFS is reporting that shrimp landings in the Gulf of Mexico last month were slightly higher than in June last year and also in 2017 — but still below the 17-year historic average.

The Fishery Monitoring Branch of the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center released shrimp landings data from the Gulf of Mexico for June 2019 this week. The data showed June landings of 11.1 million pounds were higher than the 10.9 million pounds in June 2018 and June 2017, the Southern Shrimp Alliance said in a press release.

The 17-year historic average for June is 16.7 million pounds.

Although landings volumes appear to have recovered somewhat in June, the commercial shrimp harvest remains substantially below previous years for the year so far. Roughly 28.6 million pounds of shrimp have been landed in the Gulf of Mexico since January, 34 percent below the 17-year historic average of 43.4 million pounds. It is also the second lowest amount reported for a January-to-June time period since 2002.

For 2019 thus far, the landings in Louisiana,10.5 million pounds, and the west coast of Florida, 2.0 million pounds, are the lowest reported in the historic dataset maintained by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, while landings in Mississippi, 1.1 million pounds, are the second lowest total reported.

Last month, NOAA reported ex-vessel prices for just two count sizes of shrimp landed in the eastern Gulf (west coast of Florida) and just three count sizes of shrimp landed in the northern Gulf (Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi). The ex-vessel prices reported for shrimp landed in the western Gulf (Texas) were roughly in line with the ex-vessel prices reported for the same count sizes in June 2018.

NOAA’s monthly reporting of shrimp landings in the Gulf of Mexico continues to include the disclaimer that the summaries collected or estimated from federal port agents may not reflect individual states’ landings.

As noted, the numbers reported – and the ex-vessel prices that have not been reported – over the last several months by NMFS appear to indicate that port agents may have been unable to collect information in the same manner as they have done historically, the SSA said in the statement.

Ex-vessel prices for 26-30, headless/shell-on shrimp in June show prices roughly the same as the historical averages, but more than $2 a pound less than the high prices reported in June 2014. June ex-vessel prices for U15 shrimp show a general increasing trend for northern Gulf and west coast Florida shrimp but a roller coaster ride for shrimp from the western Gulf. Still, the average ex-vessel price for June for U15 shrimp was $9.52 a pound for both western and northern Gulf shrimp, according to the SSA report.

The full SSA shrimp landings and ex-vessel prices report can be found here:
http://www.shrimpalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/June-2019-Landings.pdf

This story was originally published on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

October was record low month for US wild-caught shrimp in Gulf of Mexico

November 23, 2018 — It’s no wonder US wild-caught shrimp have been a little harder to find of late.

The 10.4 million pounds of shrimp caught by US commercial harvesters in the Gulf of Mexico during the month of October was the lowest for that month since records have been maintained, going back to 2002, reports the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), a trade association that represents the harvesters.

Based on data provided Wednesday by the fishery monitoring branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center, total landings for the month were about 30% below the prior 16-year historical average (14.8m lbs).

In particular, the low volumes were driven by a lack of reporting of any shrimp landings from the west coast of Florida, as well as only 3.6m lbs reported as landed in Louisiana – by far the lowest total for any October going back to 2002 and less than half of the prior 16-year average (7.7m lbs) for the state, according to SSA.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News