ARLINGTON, Va. — August 14, 2014 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission: The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has scheduled its hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum V to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Spiny Dogfish. The details of those hearings follow.
September 2 at 6 PM
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Admiral’s Hall, 101 Academy Drive
Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Contact: Jared Silva at 617.626.1534
* MA DMF will also be seeking public comment on Striped Bass Draft Addendum IV at this hearing
September 3 at 6 PM
MA DMF Annisquam River Station
30 Emerson Avenue
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Contact: Jared Silva at 617.626.1534
* MA DMF will also be seeking public comment on Striped Bass Draft Addendum IV at this hearing
The Draft Addendum proposes requiring fins remain naturally attached to spiny dogfish through landing in order to ensure consistency with the Shark Conservation Act of 2010. The Act was signed into law to close loopholes in the U.S. shark finning regulations. Specifically, the Act prohibits the removal of any fins of the shark (including the tail) while at sea (with an exemption for smooth dogfish). Fins must remain naturally attached to the corresponding carcass through landing of the fish (including while aboard a fishing vessel or transferred at sea from one vessel to another).
Currently, the Interstate FMP allows removal of the fins of spiny dogfish at-sea as long as the corresponding carcass is retained. The wet weight of fins on-board may not exceed 5% of the dressed weight of carcasses on-board (a 5-to-95 fin-to-carcass ratio). Maine, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida already require fins to remain naturally attached to the fish through landing. The Board will review and consider final approval of the Draft Addendum at the Commission’s Annual Meeting in October 2014.
Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The Draft Addendum is available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/SpDogfishDraftAddendumV_PublicComment_Aug2014.pdf . Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on September 30, 2014 and should be forwarded to Marin Hawk, FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Spiny Dogfish Draft Addendum V).