Saving Seafood

Council Actions

Come Join Us at the 49th Maine Fishermen’s Forum to Talk About Atlantic Cod, Atlantic Herring, Gulf of Maine Scallops

February 20, 2024 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council will be participating in four seminars at this year’s in-person Maine Fishermen’s Forum, which is taking place February 29-March 2, 2024 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine.

Come meet some of our Council members and staff at sessions about:  (1) Atlantic cod; (2) the Northern Gulf of Maine scallop fishery; (3) Atlantic herring; and (4) an open forum with federal fishery management leaders on topics of interest to fishermen. Council Chair Eric Reid and Executive Director Cate O’Keefe are participating in the leadership session along with NOAA Fisheries officials.

NOTE: All four of the Council-related seminars are scheduled for Friday, March 1, 2024 (see poster at right). Detailed descriptions can be found here. An all-day offshore wind seminar will be held on Thursday, February 29, 2024. Atlantic Cod Management Transition Planning: Learn about the Council’s work to address management questions associated with the new scientific understanding that Atlantic cod is made up of four biological units instead of two.

Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallops: This session will provide information about: (1) recent surveys in the NGOM Management Area; (2) the 2024 fishery in the federal waters portion of the NGOM area; (3) scallops on Stellwagen Bank; and (4) a proposed increase in vessel monitoring system ping rates, plus more.

Atlantic Herring Scoping Meeting: The Council will be conducting an official scoping meeting on Amendment 10 to the Atlantic herring plan. This action is intended to minimize user conflicts, support Atlantic herring rebuilding, address river herring/shad avoidance, and more. The Council is looking for early-stage public input.

SAVE THE DATE: ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board Meeting Scheduled for March 26, 1 – 3 PM

February 15, 2024 — Read the full article at the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board will be meeting via webinar on March 26 from 1 – 3 PM to review and consider approval of Addendum II state implementation plans. The webinar information, draft agenda, and meeting materials will be posted to https://asmfc.org/calendar/3/2024/Atlantic-Striped-Bass-Management-Board/2283 by March 12th.

 
Public Comment Guidelines
With the intent of developing policies in the Commission’s procedures for public participation that result in a fair opportunity for public input, the ISFMP Policy Board has approved the following guidelines for use at management board meetings:
For issues that are not on the agenda, management boards will continue to provide opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of each board meeting. The Board Chair will ask members of the public to raise their hands to let the chair know they would like to speak. Depending upon the number of commenters, the Board Chair will decide how to allocate the available time on the agenda (typically 10 minutes) to the number of people who want to speak.
For topics that are on the agenda, but have not gone out for public comment, the Board Chair will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. The Board Chair has the flexibility to decide how to allocate comment opportunities; this could include hearing one comment in favor and one in opposition until the chair is satisfied further comment will not provide additional insight to the board.
For agenda action items that have already gone out for public comment, it is the Policy Board’s intent to end the occasional practice of allowing extensive and lengthy public comments. Currently, the Board Chair has the discretion to decide what public comment to allow in these circumstances.
In addition, the following timeline has been established for the submission of written comment for issues for which the Commission has NOT established a specific public comment period (i.e., in response to proposed management action)
 
1.    Comments received three weeks prior to the meeting (March 5) will be included in the briefing materials.
2.    Comments received by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 18 will be included in supplemental materials.
3.    Comments received by 10 a.m. on Friday, March 22 will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting.
 
The submitted comments must clearly indicate the commenter’s expectation from the ASMFC staff regarding distribution.  As with other public comment, it will be accepted via mail and email.
 
For more information, please contact Emilie Franke, FMP Coordinator, at efranke@asmfc.org.

Meeting Summary, Motions and Presentations from the February 14th Meeting of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board Now Available

February 15, 2024 — The following was released the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The meeting summary, motions, and presentations from the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board’s February 14, 2024 meeting are now available athttps://asmfc.org/calendar/meeting-archive. Links to both files are also provided below. The recording of that meeting will be posted later today on the Meeting Archives page at http://www.asmfc.org/home/meeting-archive.

Captain Jimmy Ruhle Honored Posthumously with New Cooperative Research Award

February 15, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council named Captain Jimmy Ruhle as the first recipient and namesake of a new award that recognizes outstanding contributions to cooperative fisheries research in the Mid-Atlantic region. His son, Captain Robert Ruhle, accepted the award on his father’s behalf during the Council’s meeting last week in Arlington, Virginia. 

Jimmy Ruhle was a lifelong commercial fisherman, a former Council member, and a trailblazer in cooperative fisheries research. He had an instrumental role in the creation and success of the Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (NEAMAP) Mid-Atlantic/Southern New England trawl survey, a cooperative fishery-independent survey of coastal waters from Cape Hatteras north to Cape Cod. Since 2007, the survey has been conducted biannually aboard Jimmy’s vessel, the F/V Darana R, by a team of Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) researchers working in partnership with Jimmy and his crew. Data from the survey have improved the assessments of several Council-managed species, including black sea bass, butterfish, longfin squid, scup, and summer flounder.

“The NEAMAP survey not only helps to fill gaps in survey data for nearshore waters, but it has also raised industry confidence in the data used for management decisions,” said Council Executive Director Chris Moore. “These successes would not have been possible without Jimmy’s passion, hard work, and long-term commitment to cooperative research.”

After Jimmy’s death in 2023, the Council decided to create a new award to honor his legacy. The James A. Ruhle Cooperative Research Award will be given to individuals or groups who have demonstrated exceptional collaboration, dedication, or innovation in their research, or in recognition of cooperative research projects that have made significant contributions to the understanding or management of Mid-Atlantic fisheries.

NEFMC Seeks Contractor to Help Plan and Convene 8th National Scientific Coordination Subcommittee Workshop

February 13, 2024 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council is looking for an independent contractor to assist with planning and convening a national workshop and preparing the workshop proceedings.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: The application deadline is 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 11, 2024. This is a temporary contractor role, commencing on or about March 18, 2024. Work is expected to be completed by December 31, 2024.

 

WHAT IS THIS WORKSHOP ABOUT:  The Scientific Coordination Subcommittee (SCS) of the Council Coordination Committee is convening its 8th workshop, known as “SCS8.” The workshop is being organized by a steering committee that includes Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) members and staff from each of the eight U.S. Regional Fishery Management Councils and NOAA Fisheries. The workshop theme is: Applying ABC control rules in a changing environment.

 

WHEN AND WHERE: The New England Council is hosting this three-day public workshop August 26-28, 2024 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston, MA. About 70 people are expected to attend in person with additional participation through a listen-only webinar option.

 

WHAT IS THE CONTRACTOR’S ROLE: The contractor will: (1) assist with planning all phases of the workshop; (2) convene and attend the workshop in August 2024; and (3) draft a workshop proceedings report. The contractor will work closely with Dr. Rachel Feeney, coordinator of the New England Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee. Work will be conducted in collaboration with SSC Chair Dr. Lisa Kerr and Council staff.

 

  • Further details about the contractor’s responsibilities under the three distinct phases of this work are outlined in the request for proposals.

 

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND DEMONSTRATED SKILLS: The Council is seeking applicants with, among other skills:

 

  • Demonstrated experience in event planning or meeting convening with the ability to manage logistics for conferences or meetings with over 20 attendees;
  • Strong writing and speaking skills;
  • A demonstrated ability to summarize complex topics and recommendations in clear, easily read documents;
  • Familiarity with the use of scientific information in the fishery management process; and
  • A general knowledge and understanding of federal fisheries management, stock assessment, and catch advice recommendations (preferred but not required).

 

WHY IS THE WORKSHOP THEME ABOUT ABC CONTROL RULES: The SCS8 theme is of interest to all eight U.S. Regional Fishery Management Councils, SSCs, and NOAA Fisheries. It’s an appropriate follow-up to the 7th SCS workshop on Adapting Fisheries Management to a Changing Ecosystem. 

 

A core function of each Council’s SSC is to provide recommendations for setting acceptable biological catch (ABC) consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the ABC control rules established in fishery management plans. Applying ABC control rules in a manner that consistently achieves management goals has become increasingly difficult as climate change has influenced rapidly changing environments.

 

The SCS8 workshop will focus on exploring strategies to adapt ABC control rules given the highly variable and changing dynamics of climate, recruitment, and productivity.

 

APPLICATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Interested professionals are encouraged to submit a letter of interest, current resume or CV for all members who will work under the contract, and a proposed budget for this work.

 

Letters of interest and supporting materials should be addressed to Executive Director Cate O’Keefe, NEFMC, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. Email submissions should be sent to cokeefe@nefmc.org. Questions concerning this proposal should be directed to the same email address.

 

IMPORTANT REMINDER: All application materials must be received no later than 8:00 a.m. on March 11, 2024. Additional details are described in the request for proposals

NEFMC Seeks Candidates for Multiple Fishery Analyst and Fishery Specialist Staff Positions

February 12, 2024 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) seeks candidates for multiple fishery analyst and fishery specialist positions, focusing on the management of Atlantic sea scallops, groundfish, and habitat, as well as climate-resilient fisheries management.

 
APPLICATION DEADLINE: The application deadline is Saturday, March 16, 2024. The anticipated hiring date is in April/May 2024.
 
POSITION DESCRIPTION: These are highly visible positions that provide an opportunity to further develop professional skills and support fishery management actions to be implemented by federal agencies. Selected candidates will work closely with Council members, as well as other professionals from states and federal government, members of the fishing industry, stakeholder groups, and academic institutions.
 
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ANALYST / SPECIALIST:
 
  • Lead/Support the development of fishery management actions by the Council;
  • Lead/Assist in the preparation of documents, including National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) documentation, technical reports, meeting summaries, and public presentations;
  • Compile and analyze fisheries, environmental, biological, social, economic, or other technical data using databases and statistical analysis software;
  • Communicate technical concepts effectively to decision-makers and the public;
  • Work collaboratively with members of the fishing industry and fisheries and social scientists;
  • Assist in the preparation for and conduct of public meetings; and
  • Conduct other tasks as assigned.
 
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ANALYST:
 
In addition to listed items above, fishery analysts will:
 
  • Participate in regional stock assessment and scientific processes as a representative of the Council staff;
  • Convene and facilitate public meetings and workshops related to climate-resilient fisheries management;
  • Prepare technical reports on the Council’s advancements of climate-resilient management actions; and
  • Assist in development of a 5-year holistic strategic plan for the Council.
 
HOW TO APPLY: Applications will be accepted via email (preferred) to sgoutier@nefmc.org or by U.S. mail until the closing date of March 16, 2024.
 
Please send a cover letter indicating the position you are applying for (analyst or specialist), an example of your writing, and a resume or CV detailing education and experiences.
 
Further details about the work environment, professional qualifications, minimum educational requirements, analytical skills, communication skills, and the application process are available in the Vacancy Announcement.

American Eel Board Releases Draft Addendum VI for Public Comment Draft Addendum Considers Maine’s Glass Eel Quota for 2025 and Beyond

February 7, 2024 — The Commission’s American Eel Management Board has released Draft Addendum VI to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Eel for public comment. The Board initiated the addendum to address Maine’s glass eel fishery quota, which expires at the end of 2024. Draft Addendum VI presents options to set Maine’s quota as well as the number of years the quota would remain in place once it is implemented, and whether or not an additional addendum would be required to maintain the same quota for subsequent years.

 
Addendum V, approved in August 2018, maintained Maine’s glass/elver eel quota of 9,688 pounds, previously established by Addendum IV, and specified that the quota be set for three years (2019-2021). The quota was extended for an additional three years (2022-2024) through Board action in 2021. Since Maine’s current glass eel quota of 9,688 pounds expires after 2024, the Board initiated Draft Addendum VI to establish a quota for the 2025 fishing season and beyond.
 
One virtual public hearing has been scheduled to gather public input on Draft Addendum VI on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Details on how to register and attend the hearing are provided below.
 
Webinar Instructions
In order to provide comment at any virtual or hybrid hearings, you will need to use your computer (voice over internet protocol) or download the GoToWebinar app for your phone. Those joining by phone only will be limited to listening to the presentation and will not be able to provide input. In those cases, you can send your comments to staff via email or US mail at any time during the public comment period. To attend the webinar in listen only mode, dial 562.247.8422 and enter access code 960-376-742.
 
To register for the public hearing webinar, please click HERE. The hearing will be held via GoToWebinar, and you can join the webinar from your computer, tablet or smartphone. If you are new to GoToWebinar, you can download the software by (clicking here) or via the App store under GoToWebinar. We recommend you register for the hearing well in advance of the hearing since GoToWebinar will provide you with a link to test your device’s compatibility with the webinar. If you find your device is not compatible, please contact the Commission at info@asmfc.org (subject line: GoToWebinar help) and we will try to get you connected. We also strongly encourage participants to use the computer voice over internet protocol (VoIP) so you can ask questions and provide input at the hearing. 
Submitting Comments
The Draft Addendum is available athttps://asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/AmericanEelDraftAddVI_GlassEelQuota_PublicComment.pdf or via the Commission’s website at http://www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input. Public comment will be 
accepted until 11:59 PM (EST) on March 24, 2024 and should be sent to Caitlin Starks, Senior FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201; or at comments@asmfc.org(Subject line: Glass Eel Draft Addendum VI).
 
For more information, please contact Caitlin Starks, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, atcstarks@asmfc.org.

States Schedule Public Hearings on American Eel Draft Addendum VII Draft Addendum Considers Changes to Commercial Yellow Eel Coastwide Harvest Cap

February 7, 2024 — The majority of Atlantic coastal states from New Hampshire through Virginia have scheduled hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum VII to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Eel. Draft Addendum VII considers management measures to reduce the commercial yellow eel coastwide harvest cap in response to the 2023 benchmark stock assessment, which found the stock remains depleted. The Draft Addendum also considers options to modify monitoring requirements based on recommendations from the stock assessment and Technical Committee. Some hearings will be conducted in-person, and some hearings will be conducted via webinar, or in a hybrid format. If your state does not hold a hearing, or you are unable to participate in your state’s scheduled hearing, you are welcome to participate in any of the virtual or hybrid hearings. The public hearing details follow:

Date and Hearing Format
State/Agency
Contact
Tuesday, February 20
Webinar Hearing
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection
 
The webinar registration link is available here, and additional webinar instructions are below.  
Joe Cimino
609.748.2063
 
 
Tuesday, February 27
Webinar Hearing
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
 
New Hampshire Fish and Game Dept.
 
The webinar registration link is available here, and additional webinar instructions are below.  
Cheri Patterson
603.868.1095
Tuesday, March 5
Webinar Hearing
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
 
New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation
 
The webinar registration link is available here, and additional webinar instructions are below.  
Jesse Hornstein631.444.0714
Thursday, March 7
In-person Hearing
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
 
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
 
Hearing Location:
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
380 Fenwick Road, Building 96
Fort Monroe, VA, 23651
Shanna Madsen757.247.2247
Tuesday, March 12
In-person Hearing
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
 
Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources
 
Hearing Location:
Tawes State Office Building, C-1
580 Taylor Avenue 
Annapolis, MD 21401
443.758.6547
 
 
 
Wednesday, March 13
Hybrid Hearing
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
 
Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
 
The webinar registration link is available here, and additional webinar instructions are below.
 
Hearing Location:
Dover Public Library
35 Loockerman Plaza 
Dover, DE 19901 
John Clark302.739.9108
The Board initiated Draft Addendum VII in August 2023 in response to findings of the 2023 Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report. The results of the assessment indicate the stock is at or near historically low levels due to a combination of historical overfishing, habitat loss, food web alterations, predation, turbine mortality, environmental changes, and toxins, contaminants, and disease. The assessment and peer review recommend reducing fishing mortality on the yellow eel life stage, while also recognizing that stock status is affected by other factors. The benchmark assessment proposed a new index-based tool for setting the yellow eel coastwide cap, since there is no statistical model for estimating the population size of American eel. This tool, called ITARGET, is an index-based method that needs only catch and abundance data from surveys to provide management advice on coastwide landings.
 
Draft Addendum VII also proposes options to reduce the requirements for biological sampling during young-of-year surveys conducted by the states, based on the stock assessment finding that individual length and pigment stage data are not useful for evaluating population trends. In addition, it considers changing the requirements for the collection of trip-level harvester data on catch per unit effort, and the policy used to determine if a state qualifies for de minimis status and can be exempt from implementing fishery regulations and monitoring requirements.
 
Webinar Instructions
In order to provide comment at any virtual or hybrid hearings, you will need to use your computer (voice over internet protocol) or download the GoToWebinar app for your phone. Those joining by phone only will be limited to listening to the presentation and will not be able to provide input. In those cases, you can send your comments to staff via email or US mail at any time during the public comment period. To attend the webinar in listen only mode, dial 562.247.8422 and enter access code 796-096-508. If your state does not hold a hearing, or you are unable to participate in your state’s scheduled hearing, you are welcome to participate in any of the virtual or hybrid hearings.
 
For all virtual or hybrid hearings, please click HERE and select the hearing(s) you plan to attend from the dropdown menu to register for a public hearing webinar. Hearings will be held via GoToWebinar, and you can join the webinar from your computer, tablet or smartphone. If you are new to GoToWebinar, you can download the software by (clicking here) or via the App store under GoToWebinar. We recommend you register for the hearing well in advance of the hearing since GoToWebinar will provide you with a link to test your device’s compatibility with the webinar. If you find your device is not compatible, please contact the Commission at info@asmfc.org (subject line: GoToWebinar help) and we will try to get you connected. We also strongly encourage participants to use the computer voice over internet protocol (VoIP) so you can ask questions and provide input at the hearing. 
 
Hearing Presentation Recording
For those who cannot attend any in-person or virtual hearings, the Commission will also post a recording of the hearing presentation on the Commission’s YouTube page so that stakeholders may watch the presentation and submit comment at any time during the comment process. This recording will be available by mid-February.
Submitting Comments
The Draft Addendum is available athttps://asmfc.org/files/Science/AmEelDraftAddendumVII_YellowEelCap_PublicComment_Feb2024.pdf or via the Commission’s website at http://www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input. All those interested in the management of American eel are encouraged to provide input either by participating in public hearings, which may be conducted via webinar, or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 11:59 PM (EST) on March 24, 2024 and should be sent to Caitlin Starks, Senior FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, Virginia 22201; or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Yellow Eel Harvest Cap Draft Addendum).

Supplemental Materials Available for the February 14th Meeting of the ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board

February 7, 2024 — The following was Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Supplemental materials for the February 14th meeting of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board are available athttps://asmfc.org/files/Meetings/SFlounderScupBSB_BoardSuppMaterials_Feb2024.pdf. These include a revised memo to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board. The only change to the revised memo is the inclusion of an additional summer flounder option for the states of Delaware to Virginia. The revised summer flounder option is depicted in Table 4 Options 6-7 and includes a 4 fish bag limit, 17.5” size limit, year-round open season, and associated percent reduction in summer flounder harvest of -33.53%.

 

Council Recommends 2024 Recreational Measures for Cod and Haddock; Discusses Upcoming Atlantic Cod Transition Plan

February 7, 2024 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council voted on recreational fishing measures for three groundfish stocks when it met January 30-February 1, 2024 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The proposed measures, which are in the form of recommendations to NOAA Fisheries, include bag limits, fishing seasons, and minimum fish sizes for Gulf of Maine cod, Gulf of Maine haddock, and Georges Bank cod. NOAA Fisheries will strive to implement final measures by May 1, which is the start of the 2024 fishing year for groundfish.

The Council also received a presentation from NOAA Fisheries on its Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), which included a status update on the agency’s Fishing Effort Survey Pilot Study and next steps.

Additionally, the Council:

• Discussed the upcoming management track stock assessments for the four new Atlantic cod biological units and received an overview of what to expect next with the Atlantic Cod Transition Plan;

• Received a progress report on the Groundfish Plan Development Team’s work to develop metrics to evaluate the groundfish monitoring program in Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan; and • Reviewed a quarterly outlook for the year ahead.