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MAFMC June 2017 Council Meeting in Norfolk, VA

May 16, 2017 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Meeting Materials: Briefing documents will be posted at http://www.mafmc.org/briefing/june-2017 as they become available.

Public Comments: Written comments must be received by Wednesday, May 24, 2017 to be included in the Council meeting briefing book. Comments received after this deadline but before close of business on Thursday, June 1, 2017 will be posted as “supplemental materials” on the Council meeting web page. After that date, all comments must be submitted using an online comment form available at available at http://www.mafmc.org/public-comment. Comments submitted via the online form will be automatically posted to the website and available for Council consideration. Late comments will no longer be distributed to Council members via email.

Webinar: For online access to the meeting, enter as a guest at: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/june2017.

Agenda

PDF Version

Tuesday, June 6th

9:00 a.m. Council Convenes

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. SARC Presentation – Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Assessments, Jim Weinberg – NEFSC

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Specifications

Develop recommendations for 2018- 2020 specifications

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Excessive Shares Amendment

Approve scoping document

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lobster Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology Framework, GARFO Staff

Discuss alternatives

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Risk Policy Framework – First Meeting

Review and approve options for potential revision to current MAFMC Risk Policy and ABC Control Rules

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Climate Velocity Over the 21st Century and Its Implications for Fisheries Management in the Northeast U.S., James Morley – Rutgers

Review climate-velocity-driven species distribution projections for 2020 through 2100.
Identify potential propriety species for adaptation of fisheries management to climate change

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Cooperative Research in the Mid-Atlantic

Review of NEFSC Cooperative Research and response to MAFMC request, Jon Hare – NEFSC
Mid-Atlantic Council approach to collaborative research

Wednesday, June 7th

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Committee, Meeting as a Committee of the Whole – Specifications

Review fishery performance and make recommendations for 2018-2020 specifications, including butterfish cap

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Shad/River Herring (RH/S) Committee, Meeting as a Committee of the Whole

Review RH/S cap operation and RH/S progress update
Make recommendations for RH/S cap amount modification if necessary

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Committee, Meeting as a Committee of the Whole – Squid Amendment

Review alternatives, public comments, and staff recommendations
Select preferred alternatives and adopt amendment

3:30 p.m. Council Convenes

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Law Enforcement Reports

NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
S. Coast Guard

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Data Modernization in the Northeast Region, Barry Clifford – NMFS and Mike Cahall – ACCSP

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Habitat Update

EFH review progress
Mid-Atlantic fish habitat assessment project

Thursday, June 8th

9:00 a.m. Council Convenes

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Business Session

Committee Report
- SSC Committee
Executive Director’s Report, Chris Moore
- Review and approve SOPP revision regarding paid parental leave
Science Report,Rich Seagraves
Organization Reports
- NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Office
- NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center
- NOAA Office of General Counsel
- Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
Liaison Reports
- New England Council
- South Atlantic Council
- Regional Planning Body
Continuing and New Business

NEW JERSEY: ‘Perfect Storm’ ship sunk, becomes part of artificial reef

May 12, 2017 — The ship made famous in the book and subsequent film “The Perfect Storm” has been intentionally sunk off the New Jersey and Delaware coasts so it can become part of an artificial reef.

The sinking of the Tamaroa, a 205-foot Coast Guard vessel, took place Wednesday morning. The sinking initially was scheduled to occur several months ago, but was repeatedly delayed by rough seas and other related issues.

The vessel was sent down about 33 nautical miles (61 kilometers) off the coast of Cape May, New Jersey. It was deployed in water more than 120 feet (36.5 meters) deep after patches were removed from holes that were pre-cut into its hull, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The pre-cut holes were part of the extensive work that had to be done before the ship could be sunk, including the removal of interior paneling and insulation as well as emptying and cleaning the vessel of all fuel and fluids.

The ship turned on its side as it slowly went down in the calm water, then turned straight up as the bulk of the vessel went under water. It then disappeared from view as a person on board a neighboring vessel thanked the Tamaroa for its long service.

A tugboat had started hauling the Tamaroa from a Norfolk, Virginia, shipyard on Monday afternoon and it slowly made its way up the Eastern Seaboard on Tuesday without any issues.

Read the full story at The Gloucester Daily Times

VIRGINIA: Fleet receives blessings

May 11, 2017 — This weekend’s dismal weather cleared up just in time for the 47th annual Blessing of the Fleet on Sunday, May 7 at the Reedville Stack. Though it was a bit windy the sun was shining brightly and the cooler weather gave way to warmth. There was an immense crowd of people in attendance including congressmen Rob Wittman and his family. The day began with a parade of boats including the Elva C., the Chesapeake Breeze, and Smith Point Sea Rescue I, other boaters from across the area representing both commercial fisherman and recreational boaters were in attendance as well. The air was filled with music as the Kilmarnock Pipe Band performed traditional bagpipe tunes.

To officially start the ceremony, American Legion Post 117 presented the colors and singer Courtney Kline dazzled the crowd with her flawless rendition of the National Anthem. The crowd then joined in singing America the Beautiful.

Vice president of operations at Omega protein, Monty Diehl was first to speak and welcomed and thanked the crowd and the speakers for attending the event.

Read the full story at the Northumberland Echo

VIRGINIA: Blessing of the Fleet slated May 7

April 26, 2017 — The community is invited to participate in the 47th annual Blessing of the Fleet at 4 p.m. May 7 at the Old Morris-Fisher Factory Tall Stack site, Omega Protein, 610 Menhaden Road, Reedville, rain or shine.

This is a time-honored tradition meant to recognize the Northern Neck’s sea-going heritage, reported committee member Janet Lewis. Sponsored by St. Mary’s Church-Fleeton, Omega Protein Inc. and the Reedville Fisherman’s Museum, the blessing marks the opening of the fishing season on the Chesapeake Bay.

The Rev. Sandi Mizirl, rector of St. Mary’s Church invites all boaters to participate in the parade and well-wishers to gather on shore at the old tall stack property at Omega Protein off Fleeton Road. Programs will be distributed on the water by the youth skiff patrol of Jessica and Sarah Haynie.

Commercial and pleasure boats will assemble at the mouth of Cockrell’s Creek at 3:30 p.m. to join the parade led by Capt. Linwood Bowis on the Chesapeake Breeze, followed by the Reedville Fisherman’s Museum buy boat Elva C. and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission patrol boat.

Other boats will follow. The menhaden F/V John S. Dempster Jr. will be docked across the creek.

The event has evolved to include the large menhaden fleet, crab potters, fish trappers and pleasure craft from all over the area, said Lewis.

Read the full story at the Rappahannock Record

States to host hearings on changes to squid fishery

VIMS turns to crowdsourcing to save bay scallops

April 24, 2017 — In the 1920s, the bay scallop fishery in Virginia was booming, hitting a peak harvest in 1929.

Then, in the course of a few short years, the bottom fell out of the fishery — almost literally.

A hemisphere-wide wasting disease began attacking eelgrass, a primary habitat for young scallops growing in high-salinity coastal bays. As a result, Virginia’s scallop harvest dropped in 1930. It dropped even more in 1931and even more in 1932.

Then, calamity struck in 1933 when a Category 1 hurricane slammed the state, wiping out what was left of ailing eelgrass beds in the coastal bays.

That year, Virginia watermen harvested no bay scallops at all. The species was wiped out in the state.

“The bay scallop was extinct locally,” said Mark Luckenbach, ecologist and associate dean of research and advisory services at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point. “Not reduced in numbers like oysters or eelgrass — it was extinct. The closest populations were in North Carolina to the south and New Jersey to the north.”

Read the full story at the Daily Press

Brooklyn Seafood Dealer Pleads Guilty for Illegally Trafficking American Eels

April 6, 2017 — The following was released by the U.S. Justice Department:

Today, Tommy Water Zhou pled guilty in federal district court in Norfolk, Virginia, to trafficking more than $150,361 worth of juvenile American eels, aka “elvers” or “glass eels,” in violation of the Lacey Act. As part of his guilty plea, Zhou admitted to illegally selling or purchasing elvers in interstate commerce, which had been harvested illegally in Virginia.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, in 2010, Zhou established a seafood distribution company known as Wilson Group Sea Trading LLC. The company’s principle place of business was Brooklyn, New York, and its operations included importing seafood for domestic consumption and exporting seafood to international markets. In 2013, the defendant obtained a Maine elver dealer license, authorizing him to purchase and resell elvers harvested in Maine. Thereafter, using his Maine dealer license to cover his illegal activity, the defendant began purchasing and exporting elvers that were actually harvested from Virginia waterways in violation of Virginia law.

This plea was the result of “Operation Broken Glass,” a multi-jurisdiction U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) investigation into the illegal trafficking of American eels. To date, the investigation has resulted in guilty pleas for eleven individuals whose combined conduct resulted in the illegal trafficking of more than $2.75 million worth of elvers.

The guilty plea was announced today by Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Acting Director Jim Kurth of the USFWS.

“We will not allow illegal wildlife traffickers to undermine managed fish species like the American eel,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Wood. “In this operation, we are actively partnering with states all along the East Coast to enforce the law and protect our nation’s waterways from further exploitation.”

Read the full release here

VIRGINIA: Proposed federal cuts could have severe local impact

April 6, 2017 — Proposed federal budget cuts now before Congress could have a severe impact on the local region.

Lewis Lawrence, executive director of the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission, reported to the commission during a meeting on March 22 in Saluda that his staff had done research and contacted a number of agencies to grasp how federal budget cuts might hurt the Middle Peninsula. They learned proposed budget reduction would affect many residents and might have a drastic effect on the commission.

The commission did not take a vote on the matter during the meeting at the MPPDC boardroom in Saluda.

One of the biggest losses in the region in terms of employment might be the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at Gloucester Point, which Lawrence stands to lose 45-55 highly-trained technical staff members, or 13-16 percent of its total workforce. “The rural coastal economy has no diversification to replace these lost jobs,” the MPPDC report said.

VIMS research might be affected in many areas, including oyster and clam aquaculture, an early flood warning system, the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and water quality monitoring, the report said.

Cuts to Virginia Sea Grant would lead to loss of public-private partnerships, loss of mobilizing university capacity to partner with community clients, and decrease capacity for support of Virginia’s shellfish aquaculture industry and the recreational and commercial boating industry. Elsewhere in the report it indicates that more than 11,500 commercial and recreational fishing licenses are held within the Middle Peninsula alone.

Read the full story at the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal

Sonar revealing more river herring in Choptank River than expected

March 31, 2017 — Scientists have a powerful new tool to help them “see” fish in the Chesapeake Bay’s murky tributaries, and it’s yielding some surprisingly good news about two of the estuary’s most troubled species. “Imaging sonar” uses sound to help them view, and count, passing fish in dark or cloudy water. For the past few years, scientists with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center have been deploying one of these underwater sound cameras in some of the Bay’s rivers to monitor spawning runs of alewife and blueback herring, collectively known as river herring.

No one knows for sure how many river herring are in the Bay, as fisheries managers lack the staff and resources to do a comprehensive assessment. But a SERC-led team of scientists deployed an imaging sonar device in the Choptank River in 2014 that captured images of the fish as they swam by. Based on the rate at which scientists saw the shadowy blips cross their computer screens, they estimated that as many as 1.3 million river herring swam upriver that spring to spawn. That’s more than expected, and way more than state biologists had figured were there in the early 1970s, the last time anyone looked intensively at the Choptank’s herring runs.

Read the full story at The Bay Journal

VIRGINIA: State cobia regulations to be set in late May

March 20, 2017 — The Poquoson Kiwanis Boating and Fishing Flea Market will be from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. on Saturday at Poquoson High School. It will be a great opportunity to stock up on fishing gear and fishing related arts and crafts, while helping raise money for a good cause.

Virginia cobia regulations will be set over the next two weeks. There will be two public meetings where anglers can voice their opinions prior to the final decision. Both will be held at the VMRC building, 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News.

The first will be the Finfish Management Advisory Committee meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 27. There will then be a public hearing after the noon hour at the March 28 Virginia Marine Resources Commission’s monthly meeting. Following public comments, the commission will establish the 2017 cobia regulations.

Read the full story at the Daily Press