Saving Seafood

Projects in the Field: Saving money and time with an EM Pilot Program in the U.S. sea scallop fishery

March 8, 2025 — Reprinted with permission of EM4Fish:

A project led by the Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF) and Saltwater, Inc (SWI). is testing the feasibility of voluntary, cost-shared electronic monitoring (EM) on six commercial sea scallop fishing vessels in Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Turbulent outlook for the fishery

After ranking among the most economically important fisheries in the United States (U.S.) over the last decade, accounting for more than $480 million of commercial landings in 2022 alone, the Atlantic sea scallop fishery is bracing for a few challenging years ahead. The total exploitable biomass of sea scallops appears to be on a downward trend, with climate change threatening the long-term health of the population. The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) estimated annual projected landings for the 2025 fishing year to generate only about $348.3 million (19.8 million pounds) in landings, a 28% reduction from 2024.

As the fishery looks for novel cost-cutting measures to weather the coming reductions in catch, the Industry-Funded Scallop (IFS) Program sticks out as large annual expenditure for all fishermen. Observers for the sea scallop fishery are managed though the IFS. In this program, vessels selected to carry an observer must pay for that coverage, equal to ~$800 each day of the trip. Although, the IFS sets aside 1% of the annual catch limit that is redistributed back to vessels to partially offset their costs for carrying an observer. In 2025, this 1% set aside would amount to about $3.5 million in landings.

In addition to observer costs, another systematic inefficiency associated with current sea scallop fishing management is the days-at-sea (DAS) calculation methodology. Currently it is not possible to determine whether a vessel is fishing or transiting from the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) alone, days-at-sea are currently calculated by transit time after a vessel crosses the VMS Demarcation Line, which runs parallel to the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Maine, and notifies the Coast Guard of its fishing activity. As a result of this rule, vessels that depart from ports closer to productive fishing regions are at an advantage. For example, a sea scallop vessel based in New Bedford, MA planning to fish on Georges Bank in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean could transit along an efficient, straight pathway. Whereas a vessel departing from Cape May, NJ might elect to transit along the U.S. coast to Nantucket before darting out of the VMS Demarcation Line to fish the same area.

By hugging the coast, vessels departing from the Mid-Atlantic consume more fuel and waste time. Furthermore, these vessels are not permitted to transit over several closed rotational sea scallop access areas, which further restricts their trajectories. If DAS could be determined based on the exact time a sea scallop dredge enters the water for the first time during a trip, individual vessels could save hundreds of thousands of dollars over a season, while spending fewer consecutive days away from their families.

Read the full article at EM4Fish

NEFMC Prepares for 2025 Scallop Framework Amidst Declining Biomass

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) announced that it received updates on Framework Adjustment 39 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan, which will set the specs for the 2025 scallop fishing season.

At its September meeting in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the council received an overview of the 2024 Atlantic sea scallop survey in addition to the Framework 39 updates.

Results from the 2024 scallop survey indicated that the species’ overall biomass remained low compared to its peak of 2016-2019. The population of harvestable scallops in 2025 is expected to remain low as well, which could lead to reduced allocations to the fishery.

The NEFMC said that recruitment showed positive signs, such as additional signs of seed and juvenile scallops, which could lead to better days for the fishery in the coming years.

Read the full article at Seafoodnews.com

Fishing regulators shoot down scallop leasing plan

September 28, 2022 — In a ballroom overlooking Gloucester Harbor, the council regulating New England’s fisheries rejected a controversial proposal on Tuesday to develop a leasing program in the region’s lucrative scallop fishery after failing to agree on the presented motions.

The New England Fishery Management Council deliberated on three motions for more than two hours, with all three failing. The final motion during the meeting failed with 15 votes against, one in favor and one abstention — with leasing supporters viewing it as too narrow.

The latest leasing push comes 12 years after a proposal to allow it was defeated in a close 9-to-7 council vote, with one member abstaining.

Current regulations in the limited access scallop fishery allow one permit per vessel, which entitles a vessel to a certain number of days at sea, as well as a given number of access area fishing trips. A leasing program would have enabled a permit-holder (and his or her vessel) to lease and fish additional days or trips from another permit.

The third motion, put forward by Michael Pentony, regional administrator for the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, proposed initiating an amendment to develop a days at sea leasing and access area trip transfer program with some specific features.

During discussion of this motion, Jeffrey Pike of the Scallopers Campaign (the group behind the latest leasing effort) communicated a late shift in stance. He told the council the campaign wanted to “take the word ‘leasing’ out of the lexicon” and promote only internal transfers of allocations — noted in the motion as transfers within a company — stating he took the advice of the New Bedford Port Authority.

He said it was a hard decision as it would not help single-vessel owners who would not have another vessel to internally transfer allocations to.

Pike said internal transfers would mean no lease fees or broker fees. Leasing critics — many of them crew members — said they believed crew would bear the brunt of a leasing program, just as crew in the groundfish fishery, for example, pay a leasing charge.

Read the full article at the New Bedford Light

NEFMC to decide next moves on scallop license allocation leasing in Gloucester Tuesday

September 26, 2022 — The New England Fishery Management Council said it plans to discuss a controversial limited access scallop fisher license allocation leasing plan at its September Council Meeting in Gloucester Tuesday. 

“The leasing discussion is not going to come up before lunch,” NEFMC spokeswoman Janice Plante said. “So if they’re only there for the leasing discussion, that’s in the afternoon.”

Scallop allocation leasing — the practice of boat owners selling days and tonnage from a fishing license to other vessel owners to harvest in restricted zones — has been at the center of debate in the Port of New Bedford since the NEFMC held two scoping meetings at the New Bedford Whaling Museum on May 11 and May 25 respectively.

Scoping process

During its three month-long scoping process, the NEFMC invited stakeholders to attend nine meetings in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, and two webinars.

The only state that saw multiple meetings was Massachusetts, with one in Gloucester on April 27, and the two New Bedford meetings.

The meetings in New Bedford were the most well attended by far, with 160 and 80 participants respectively, 60% of the total 397 attendees at all meetings recorded by the Council.

77 of the 305 comments submitted to the NEFMC were presented orally. 58% of those were given at the New Bedford meetings.

Read the full article at SouthCoastToday

NEFMC Upcoming August/September 2022 Meetings and Important Reminders

August 15, 2022 — The following was released by the The New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council has a busy schedule leading up to its September 26-29, 2022 meeting at the Beauport Hotel in Gloucester.  Here’s a rundown of upcoming advisory panel and committee meetings, as well as a few important reminders and items of interest.

ADVISORY PANEL APPLICANTS WANTED:  The Council is soliciting commercial and recreational fishermen, as well as other stakeholders, to serve on all of its advisory panels (APs).  The term runs January 2023 through December 2025.  The application deadline is August 31, 2022.  Habitat, monkfish, groundfish, herring, and recreational fishing stakeholders are highly encouraged to learn more about the Council’s special needs.  IMPORTANT REMINDER!  Current advisory panel members who wish to continue serving on a panel must REAPPLY to remain on the panel.

STAFF VACANCY:  The Council is accepting applications for a Fishery Specialist.  The specialist will assist in preparing fishery management plans, which requires a broad range of technical and communications skills.  The position also involves other work assignments.  The application deadline is Tuesday, August 23, 2022.  Learn more in the vacancy announcement.

ADVISORY PANEL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS:  The following AP and committee meetings have been posted on the Council’s calendar.  Click on the meeting date to access webinar and/or hotel information, agendas, and meeting materials as they become available.

EAST COAST CLIMATE CHANGE SCENARIO PLANNING:  All stakeholders are invited to participate in the next phase of the climate change scenario planning initiative.  The goals of this project are to assess how climate change might affect stock distribution and availability of East Coast marine fisheries over the next 20 years and to identify the implications for fishery management and governance.  Participants only need to attend one of the two available scenario deepening webinars.
OTHER MEETINGS OF INTEREST:  Fishermen and other New England Council stakeholders also may be interested in the following meetings.
When in doubt, check the Council’s website, and keep tabs on the calendar for more meeting updates.

East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning: Public Invitation to Attend Scenario Deepening Webinars

August 1, 2022 — The following was released by The New England Fishery Management Council

Over the past year, East Coast fishery management bodies have been collaborating on a climate change scenario planning initiative designed to prepare fishing communities and fishery managers for an era of climate change. The goals of this project are to: 

• Assess how climate change might affect stock distribution and availability of East Coast marine fisheries over the next 20 years; and 

• Identify the implications for fishery management and governance. 

In June 2022, roughly 70 stakeholders attended a workshop to develop an initial set of scenarios describing several different possible futures facing East Coast fisheries out to 2042. As the next step in the process, two Scenario Deepening webinars will be held in August 2022. These webinars will offer all interested stakeholders an opportunity to review, validate, and add details to the draft scenarios.

Read the full release here

NEFMC SSC – Listen Live – Thursday, August 4, 2022 – Groundfish and Herring Issues

July 29, 2022 — The following was released by The New England Fishery Management Council

The New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet by webinar to discuss issues related to groundfish and Atlantic herring.  The public is invited to listen live.  Here are the details.

 
 
START TIME:  9:00 a.m.
 
WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.  The Remote Participation Guide is posted here.
 
CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (631) 992-3221.  The access code is 484-371-473.  Please be aware that if you dial in using this number without joining the webinar at the link above, you will be unable to speak during opportunities for public comment.  This is a listen-only telephone option.  Your regular phone charges will apply.
 
AGENDA:  The SSC will meet to:
 
  • Provide feedback to the Council’s Groundfish Plan Development Team (PDT) on: (1) possible rebuilding approaches for Gulf of Maine cod, and (2) the basis for the range of alternative rebuilding strategies under development;
 
  • Receive an update on the development of acceptable biological catch (ABC) control rule alternatives under consideration for the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan;
 
  • Review information provided by the Council’s Herring PDT and results from the recent Atlantic herring management track stock assessment.  Then, using the Council’s ABC control rule and rebuilding plan, recommend the overfishing limits (OFLs) and ABCs for Atlantic herring for fishing years 2023, 2024, and 2025; and
 
  • Consider other business as necessary.
 
COMMENTS:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.  Address comments to Council Chair Eric Reid or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.  Additional information is available in the meeting notice.
 
MATERIALS:  All documents for this meeting will be posted on the SSC August 4, 2022 meeting webpage.
 
QUESTIONS:  Contact Joan O’Leary at (978) 465-0492, ext. 101, joleary@nefmc.org or Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.