Saving Seafood

Council Actions

South Atlantic Vermilion Snapper Commercial Trip Limit Reduced to 555 Pounds Whole Weight on October 26, 2018

October 23, 2018 — The following was released by NOAA:

WHAT/WHEN:
  • The daily trip limit for the commercial harvest of vermilion snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic is reduced from 1,110 to 555 pounds whole weight, or from 1,000 to 500 pounds gutted weight, effective 12:01 a.m., local time, on October 26, 2018.  
WHY THIS TRIP LIMIT REDUCTION IS HAPPENING:
  • When commercial landings of South Atlantic vermilion snapper reach or are projected to reach 75 percent of the quota, regulations are in place to reduce the daily trip limit.
  • The trip limit reduction is necessary to slow the rate of commercial harvest to avoid exceeding the quota.
AFTER THE TRIP LIMIT REDUCTION:
  • The 555-pound whole weight or 500-pound gutted weight trip limit will remain in effect until the end of the current fishing season on December 31, 2018, or when 100 percent of the quota is reached or projected to be reached, whichever occurs first.  The 2019 January through June vermilion snapper fishing season in the South Atlantic will open at 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2019, with a 1,110-pound whole weight or 1,000-pound gutted weight trip limit.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations.  Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at http://www.ecfr.gov.

NEFMC Seeks Contractor for Groundfish Catch Shares Program Review

October 22, 2018 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council is seeking the services of an independent contractor to assist the Council and its technical working group with conducting a review of the groundfish sector system, which is a catch share program under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Letters of interest and supporting materials must be received by November 30, 2018.

WHAT’S INVOLVED: The successful candidate’s primary role will be to support the technical working group conducting the Groundfish Catch Shares Program Review. The working group includes members from the Council, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, and Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office staff. The contractor will:

  • Facilitate working group meetings;
  • Research and summarize pertinent information and coordinate working group review documents;
  • Assist with developing and writing the draft Catch Shares Program Review document;
  • Present the draft document to the Groundfish Plan Development Team, Groundfish and Recreational Advisory Panels, Scientific and Statistical Committee, Groundfish Committee, and the full Council;
  • And, among other tasks, prepare the final review document and presentations.

FOCUS OF REVIEW: The evaluation period for this review is focused strictly on fishing years 2010 to 2015, spanning from May 1, 2010 through April 30, 2016. This period covers the first six years of the catch share program under Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. Information prior to program implementation also will be included for fishing years 2007 to 2009, covering May 1, 2007 through April 30, 2010.

TIMELINE: The contractor’s role is a short-term, temporary position that will begin on or about December 15, 2018 and end when the Council and the technical working group complete the review, tentatively in June 2019.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) catch share policy states that Councils periodically should review catch share programs to evaluate whether a program is meeting its goals and objectives. NOAA’s guidance is that “a formal and detailed review” should occur “no less frequently than once every seven years” for all limited access privilege programs (LAPPs) established after January 12, 2007. More information is available at NOAA Catch Share Policy.

APPLICATION DETAILS: Interested professionals are encouraged to submit a letter of interest, current resume or curriculum vitae, examples of similar work completed for other organizations or publications, and a budget with expected expenses by November 30, 2018.

  • Interested candidates also should describe the approach that would be used to meet the requirements of the project, including deliverables.
  • NOTE: Candidates employed by advocacy organizations or by organizations that are parties in fishery lawsuits will not be considered.

SOLICITATION NOTICE: Additional information and application mailing/email addresses are contained in the full solicitation notice, which is available here and at announcement.

QUESTIONS: For more information, contact New England Fishery Management Council Deputy Director Chris Kellogg at (978) 465-0492 ext. 112, ckellogg@nefmc.org.

Atlantic Herring Massachusetts/New Hampshire Spawning Closure in Effect October 26 through November 22, 2018

October 19, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic herring Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) fishery regulations include seasonal spawning closures for portions of state and federal waters in Eastern Maine, Western Maine, and Massachusetts/New Hampshire. The Atlantic States marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Herring Management Board (previously Atlantic Herring Section) approved a forecasting method that relies upon at least three samples, each containing at least 25 female herring in gonadal states III-V, to trigger a spawning closure.

Eight samples of female herring were collected to evaluate spawning condition. Based on the analysis of the samples, the Massachusetts/New Hampshire spawning area will be closed starting at 12:00 a.m. on October 26, 2018 extending through 11:59 p.m. on November 22, 2018. Vessels in the directed Atlantic herring fishery cannot take, land or possess Atlantic herring caught within the Massachusetts/New Hampshire spawning area during this time and must have all fishing gear stowed when transiting through the area. An incidental bycatch allowance of up to 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring per trip/calendar day applies to vessels in non-directed fisheries that are fishing within the Massachusetts/New Hampshire spawning area.

The Massachusetts/New Hampshire spawning area includes all waters bounded by the Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine coasts, and 43° 30’ N and 70° 00’ W.

Please contact Megan Ware at 703.842.0740 or mware@asmfc.org for more information.

A copy of the announcement can be found here – http://www.asmfc.org/files/AtlHerring/MA_NHSpawningClosure_Oct2018.pdf.

New England Council Seeks Scientific and Statistical Committee Nominees

October 19, 2018 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council is seeking qualified candidates to serve on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The three-year appointments begin January 1, 2019 and run through December 31, 2021. Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by others. All application materials must be received by 5 p.m. on December 20, 2018.

QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: The Council is seeking to fill several upcoming vacancies on the committee. In general, SSC nominees should have expertise in statistics, fisheries biology, marine ecology, economics, sociology, anthropology, or other social sciences as they apply to fisheries management.

SSC RESPONSIBILITIES: SSC members are expected to provide independent, scientific advice to the Council. The purpose of the SSC is to assist the Council in the development, collection, and evaluation of statistical, biological, economic, social, and other scientific information relevant to the development of fishery management plans.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: More information about SSC responsibilities, current committee composition, and upcoming/past meetings can be found at SSC activities. The notice requesting nominations, which contains application details, is available on that page under “Related News” or at announcement. Members with expiring terms who wish to continue serving on the SSC are encouraged to resubmit their curriculum vitae (CV) or resume with a letter expressing continued interest in remaining on the committee.

QUESTIONS: For more information contact Council Deputy Director Chris Kellogg at (978) 465-0492, ext. 112; ckellogg@nefmc.org.

Commerce Department Announces Appointments to 3 Regional Fishery Management Councils

October 18, 2018 — The following was released by NOAA:

The U.S. Commerce Department today announced the reappointment of one and appointment of two new members to three regional fishery management councils. The new members will fill at-large seats that were recently vacated on the Western Pacific and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. These seats became vacant in July 2018. The new members will serve through August 10, 2020. For the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the tribal member will fill an obligatory seat that was made vacant after the expiration of the term on August 11, 2018. The reappointed member will serve through August 10, 2021.

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act established the councils as stewards of the nation’s fisheries resources through the preparation of fishery management plans for their regions. NOAA Fisheries works closely with the councils through this process and then reviews, approves, and implements the plans. Council members represent diverse groups, including commercial and recreational fishing industries, environmental organizations and academia. They are vital to fulfilling the Act’s requirements to end overfishing, rebuild fish stocks, and manage them sustainably.

The Secretary selects members from nominations submitted by the governors of fishing states, territories, and tribal governments. Council members are appointed to both obligatory (state-specific) and at-large (regional) seats. Council members may be reappointed to serve three consecutive terms.

*Asterisks preceding a member’s name indicate a reappointment.
South Atlantic Council

The South Atlantic Council includes members from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The appointee will a vacant at-large seat.

At-Large seat:

Joseph D. Whitaker (South Carolina)

Pacific Council

The Pacific Council includes members from California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The Pacific Council also includes one Tribal seat. The appointee will fill a vacant Tribal seat.

Obligatory seat:

Joseph Y. Oatman* (Tribal)

Western Pacific Council

The Western Pacific Council includes members from American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The appointee will fill a vacant at-large seat.

At-Large seat:

Frederick McGrew Rice (Hawaii)

Read the full release here

ASMFC: 77th Annual Meeting Supplemental Materials Now Available

October 17, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Supplemental materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 77th Annual Meeting are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2018-annual-meeting for the following Boards/Committees (click on “Supplemental” following each relevant committee header to access the information). For ease of access, supplemental materials have been combined into one PDF – http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/77AnnualMeeting/2018AnnualMeetingCombined_Supplemental.pdf

American Lobster Management Board – Revised Agenda & Meeting Overview; ME DMR letter on NOAA Technical Memorandum on North Atlantic Right Whales—Evaluating Their Recovery Challenges in 2018; Memo on Recent Meeting of Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team; American Lobster FMP Review; and Report of the Electronic Reporting Subcommittee

Atlantic Herring Management Board – Memo on 2019 Specifications for Area 1A; Amendment 3 Spawning Re-Closure Protocol; and Public Comment

Strategic Planning Workshop – Draft Agenda & Summary of Strategic Planning Workgroup Meeting

Business Session – Draft 2019 Action Plan & Anticipated Board Activities for High Priority Species

Coastal Sharks Management Board – Advisory Panel Meeting Summary

Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board – Public Comment

Executive Committee – Draft Recommendations for Revising the Appeals Process & Awards Committee SOPPs

Weakfish Management Board – FMP Review

Horseshoe Crab Management Board – FMP Review & Public Comment

ISFMP Policy Board – Revised Draft Agenda & Meeting Overview; Public Comment; and Living Shorelines Factsheet

South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board – Public Comment Summary on Cobia PID (including hearing overviews and submitted comment); Black Drum, Spotted Seatrout and Spanish Mackerel FMP Reviews; Advisory Panel Nomination

As a reminder, Board proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning October 22nd at 8:30 a.m. and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 1 p.m.) on Thursday, October 25th. The webinar will allow registrants to listen to board/section deliberations and view presentations and motions as they occur. No comments or questions will be accepted via the webinar. Should technical difficulties arise while streaming the broadcast the boards/sections will continue their deliberations without interruption. We will attempt to resume the broadcast as soon as possible. Please go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4350173068754736387 to register.

 

Federal Fishery Advisors Scheduled to Meet

October 17, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has scheduled meetings of its Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel, System Management Plan Workgroup, and its Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel. These groups provide recommendations on a variety of federal fisheries issues for consideration by the Council as it develops fishery management plans and amendments.

Meetings are open to the public and available via webinar. Registration for the webinars is required.The Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel will meet to review amendments currently under development by the Council including those affecting red grouper rebuilding, yellowtail snapper accountability measures, and best practices. The AP will also receive updates on the Council’s Citizen Science efforts and provide input on Fishery Performance Reports for yellowtail snapper and golden tilefish. The meeting agenda, briefing book materials and webinar registration is available at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/current-advisory-panel-meetings/

System Management Plan (SMP) Work Group

The System Management Plan Workgroup, consisting of fishery scientists, agency personnel, and representatives from commercial and recreational sectors, was established by the Council in March 2018 to aid in the management and evaluations of protected areas recommended by the Council. The Workgroup will review the Council’s System Management Plan, with the focus on Spawning Special Management Zones implemented in July 2017. The Workgroup meeting agenda, briefing book material, and webinar registration information is available at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/other-meetings

Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel Meeting

The Council’s largest advisory panel will meet for three days to cover a long list of agenda items relative to fisheries including: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s energy development activities; predator/prey relationships supporting the dolphin wahoo fishery; updates on fishery independent research programs; and mapping and characterization of deepwater ecosystems by NOAA’s R/V Okeanos Explorer. The meeting will also include break-out sessions to address information and regional partnerships affecting Essential Fish Habitat. A complete agenda and overview, briefing book materials and registration information for this meeting will be available October 24th from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/current-advisory-panel-meetings

Northern Shrimp Draft Addendum I Public Hearings Scheduled

October 16, 2018 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Maine and New Hampshire have scheduled their hearings to gather public input on Draft Addendum I to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Northern Shrimp. The details of those hearings follow.

Maine Department of Marine Resources

Monday, November 5, 2018 at 4 PM

Maine Department of Marine Resources

Conference Room #118

32 Blossom Lane

Augusta, Maine

Contact: Nicholas Popoff at 207.624.6554

New Hampshire Fish and Game

Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 7 PM

Urban Forestry Center

45 Elwyn Road

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Contact: Doug Grout at 603.868.1095

The Draft Addendum proposes providing states the authority to allocate their state-specific quota between gear types in the event the fishery reopens. The Draft Addendum is available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/NShrimpDraftAddendumI_PublicComment.pdf and can also be accessed on the Commission website (www.asmfc.org ) under Public Input.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on Draft Addendum I either by attending a public hearing or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 5 PM on November 7, 2018 and should be forwarded to Megan Ware, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N, Arlington, VA, 22201; 703.842.07401 (fax); or comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Northern Shrimp).

The Section and its Advisory Panel will be meeting November 15-16, 2018. At this meeting, the Section will consider final action on Addendum I and set 2019 specifications. Information regarding the date and location of the November meeting will be provided, when available, in a subsequent press release.

For more information, please contact Megan Ware, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at mware@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council October 1-5, 2018 Meeting Summary

October 12, 2018 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council held their regularly scheduled September meeting October 1-5, 2018 in Charleston, SC. The meeting was postponed due to Hurricane Florence. Below are highlights from the Council’s weeklong meeting. Additional information from the meeting is available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/september-2018-council-meeting-details/, including a Meeting Report, Story Map, final committee reports, public comments, and briefing book materials.

Amendments Approved for Secretarial Review

The Council approved four amendments to fishery management plans for formal Secretarial review. NOAA Fisheries will solicit additional public input on the amendments as part of the review process. Regulatory actions in the amendments will be implemented following the review process, if approved by the Secretary of Commerce.

Spiny Lobster Amendment 13

The amendment includes actions to update federal regulations to align with the State of Florida and update the enhanced cooperative management procedure between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and NOAA Fisheries. The new regulations would apply to commercial harvesters using bully net gear and include permit requirements, vessel markings, and prohibitions on the use of trap pullers or underwater breathing apparatus (excluding dive masks or snorkels) when commercial bully net fishing. The amendment would also establish a daily vessel limit of 250 lobsters per day/vessel for the commercial bully net fishery and for the commercial dive fishery, in specified areas.

Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 27 (Commercial Visioning)

In response to input received as part of the Council’s Vision Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery addressing long-term management, the actions in this amendment are designed to address concerns over equitable access for commercial fishermen, minimize discards, and improve marketability. The amendment would: establish a commercial split season and modify trip limits for blueline tilefish, greater amberjack, and red porgy; establish a split season for snowy grouper, modify the trip limit for vermilion snapper; specify a minimum size limit for almaco jack and a trip limit for the Other Jacks Complex; remove the minimum size limit for queen snapper, silk snapper and blackfin snapper; and reduce the commercial minimum size limit for gray triggerfish in federal waters off east Florida.

Snapper Grouper Abbreviated Framework Amendment 2
(Vermilion Snapper and Black Sea Bass)
Based on results of the latest stock assessments, the framework amendment would adjust fishing levels for both vermilion snapper and black sea bass. Actions in the amendment would increase the overall annual catch limit (ACL) for vermilion snapper and decrease the annual catch limit for black sea bass. The ACL for vermilion snapper would increase from 1,269,000 pounds whole weight (ww) to 1,579,000 pounds (ww) beginning in 2019. For black sea bass, the ACL would be reduced from 1,756,450 pounds (ww) to 760,000 pounds beginning in 2019 with the recreational ACL effective at the start of the 2019/2020 fishing year (starting April 2019). The Council is considering the amendment an “interim adjustment” until new recreational estimates from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) are incorporated into the assessment. The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee will review the MRIP recalibrations and updated assessments using the new MRIP numbers for both species during its October 15-17, 2018 meeting and provide a report to the Council during its December 2018 meeting.

MAFMC to Host Workshop Addressing Law-Enforcement Issues in For-Hire Fisheries

October 11, 2018 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will host a workshop November 13-14 (Law Enforcement/ For-Hire Workshop) to identify issues related to law enforcement in for-hire fisheries and sale by recreational anglers of tilefish and tuna and to develop potential solutions. Specifically, the workshop will address:

  1. Operator versus angler (client) responsibility for fisheries violations that occur on for-hire vessels and law enforcement options for addressing these.
  2. Issues related to the sale of fish by private recreational anglers (particularly golden tilefish and tunas) focusing on the need for vessels selling fish to comply with U.S. Coast Guard requirements and/or Federal permits that allow for the sale of fish.

Recommendations coming from this workshop will be presented during the Council’s December meeting for formal discussion. Operators of for-hire vessels and private vessels fishing for tuna or tilefish along the Atlantic who may have encountered these issues may want to participate. State and federal fisheries law enforcement, as well as operators of for-hire vessels and private vessels fishing for tuna or tilefish along the Atlantic who may have encountered these issues, may want to participate.

The workshop is open to the public and free to attend but pre-registration is requested to ensure adequate meeting facilities. For more information and to register, visit http://www.mafmc.org/workshop/law-enforcement-for-hire-workshop.

Questions? Contact Andrew Loftus, (410) 295-5997, aloftus@andrewloftus.com.