Saving Seafood

Gulf of Maine Research Institute Releases Information About FishTank Workshop

July 27, 2015 — The following was released by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute:

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute will be facilitating a FishTank Workshop entitled “Taking Stock: A Workshop to Collaboratively Improve Assessments”, taking place on November 9 & 10, 2015 at the Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor, 180 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360.

Registration starts, August 1 and can be done on-line at http://www.gmri.org/fisheries-convening/fish-tank/register 

A little background:

The most recent Fish Tank series (http://www.gmri.org/fisheries-convening/fish-tank/meeting-materials)  brought together commercial and recreational fishermen, scientists, and policy representatives from across the region to spark productive conversations and brainstorm ideas to improve the increasingly complex stock assessment process and data streams feeding into the assessment. The goals of these sessions included:

·         identifying potential data gaps in the Gulf of Maine cod stock assessment,

·         formulating industry-led research questions to address data gaps through collaborative research or the use of fishery-dependent data, 

·         sharing ideas with NOAA Fisheries on improving communications around stock assessments.

From these meetings, it is our intent through this workshop to develop plans to take action on industry recommendations, discuss how data from research projects can be integrated into the stock assessment process, and determine best approaches to obtain funding for project ideas. We also hope to have panel sessions to showcase other initiatives in the region around improving stock assessments, as well as results from relevant collaborative research projects in the region that may inform stock assessments.

For Fishermen – Industry Outreach Meetings Scheduled to Review Upcoming Groundfish Assessments

July 15, 2015 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC):

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT NOAA’S NORTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER (NEFSC) HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL HOST OUTREACH MEETINGS IN PORTLAND, GLOUCESTER, WOODS HOLE, AND NEW BEDFORD FOR FISHERMEN INTERESTED IN THE UPCOMING OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENTS FOR 20 STOCKS OF NORTHEAST GROUNDFISH.

THE MEETINGS IN PORTLAND, WOODS HOLE, AND NEW BEDFORD WILL BE HELD ON JULY 22, 2015 FROM 10 A.M. TO NOON. THE GLOUCESTER MEETING WILL BE HELD ON JULY 22, 2015 FROM 2-4 P.M. TWO FISHERY STOCK ASSESSMENT ANALYSTS WILL BE ON HAND TO MEET WITH INTERESTED FISHERMEN, AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RECENT OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FLEET THAT MIGHT HELP FOCUS FUTURE RESEARCH TO IMPROVE ASSESSMENTS. CHECK OUT THE MEETING DETAILS AT HTTP://1.USA.GOV/1MTZCK3, AS WELL THE TOPICS LISTED ON THE NAVIGATION BAR.

YOU CAN ALSO LISTEN TO A SHORT WEBINAR, ASSOCIATED INFO IS ALSO LOCATED ON THE WEBSITE LISTED ABOVE, TO LEARN ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR THE ASSESSMENTS, NEW INFORMATION TO BE CONSIDERED, AND HOW THE ASSESSMENT RESULTS WILL BE REVIEWED BEFORE THEY ARE USED IN THE FISHERY MANAGEMENT PROCESS.

THIS WEBSITE WILL BE UPDATED PERIODICALLY WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SO TAKE A LOOK AGAIN WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT TERI FRADY AT 508-495-2239 /TERI.FRADY@NOAA.GOV.

JERRY SCHILL: Facts about North Carolina fish stocks

July 13, 2015 — Regarding the June 27 Point of View “The dark side to North Carolina’s fishing heritage”: In 2012, the General Assembly banned the purse-seining of menhaden off our coast, in part due to a stock assessment that was less than ideal. Three years later, we find that the stock assessment was incorrect, and menhaden are not overfished. A 2009 stock assessment claimed speckled trout had been overfished, leading to drastic restrictions. In 2014, we found the assessment was incorrect, moving the fish from the bottom category of “depleted” to the best category of “viable” in this year’s stock status report.

Twice in the past few years through the recommendations of the Marine Fisheries Commission, we banned one type of commercial fishing and restricted the other based upon bad information. Now comes Southern flounder, the most economically important commercial finfish fishery in our state. Since 1979, 28 conservation measures have been put in place in that fishery, including increased size limits and numerous gear changes and closures. Yet the commercial landings have remained steady. Two of the three peer reviewers for the most recent flounder assessment stated it could not be used for management purposes. What is going on? After menhaden and speckled trout, is it any wonder that we question the efforts of the MFC to rush into draconian measures again?

Read the full opinion piece at The News & Observer