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November 18, 2022 — The following was released by Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has extended the deadline for members of the public to submit written comments on the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment. Written comments can now be submitted until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. The Council is extending the deadline to accommodate individuals who may have been affected by the canceled public hearing on November 14th.
The Council developed the draft amendment to address the increased occurrence of mixed catches in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. Current regulations do not allow for surfclam and ocean quahog to be landed on the same trip or placed in the same cages. The draft amendment contains a range of management approaches (“alternatives”) that would modify current regulations to allow for mixed catches onboard vessels. Details about these management alternatives can be found in the Public Hearing Document and Public Hearing Presentation.
Written comments may be submitted by any of the methods listed below. Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 29, 2022.
November 9, 2022 — The following was released Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
At its 80th Annual Meeting in Long Branch, New Jersey, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission presented Douglas Grout, New Hampshire’s Governor Appointee, and Dr. Jason McNamee, Rhode Island Administrative Commissioner, the Captain David H. Hart Award for 2020 and 2022, respectively. The Commission instituted the Hart Award in 1991 to recognize individuals who have made outstanding efforts to improve Atlantic coast marine fisheries. The Hart Award is named for one of the Commission’s longest serving members, who dedicated himself to the advancement and protection of marine fishery resources, Captain David H. Hart, from the State of New Jersey.
November 8, 2022 — The following was released by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Long Branch, NJ – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board reviewed the results of the 2022 Atlantic Striped Bass Stock Assessment Update, which indicates the resource is no longer experiencing overfishing but remains overfished relative to the updated biological reference points. Female spawning stock biomass (SSB) in 2021 was estimated at 143 million pounds, which is below the SSB threshold of 188 million pounds and below the SSB target of 235 million pounds. Total fishing mortality in 2021 was estimated at 0.14, which is below the updated fishing mortality threshold of 0.20 and below the updated fishing mortality target of 0.17.
November 8, 2022 — The following was released by Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is requesting public comments on a draft amendment to modify the species separation requirements in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. Comments may be submitted at any of three public hearings to be held on November 10, 14, and 17. Written comments will also be accepted through November 23.
This action is intended to address the increased occurrence of mixed catches in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. Current regulations do not allow for surfclam and ocean quahog to be landed on the same trip or placed in the same cages. Industry has reported that it has become increasingly difficult to avoid mixed catches due to changes in the species’ distributions. The draft amendment contains a range of management approaches (“alternatives”) that would modify current regulations to allow for mixed catches onboard vessels. Details about these management alternatives can be found in the Public Hearing Document and Public Hearing Presentation.
Following a review of comments received, the Council will choose a preferred alternative and submit the amendment to the Secretary of Commerce for approval and publication of proposed and final rules, both of which have additional comment periods. The Council may consider final action at its December 12-15, 2022 meeting.
Public Hearings
Comments may be submitted at any of the following public hearings:
Written Comments
Written comments may be submitted by any of the methods listed below. Comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23, 2022.
For more information, contact Jessica Coakley (jcoakley@mafmc.org, 302-526-5252) or visit the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment page.
November 4, 2022 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Final supplemental materials for ASMFC’s 80th Annual Meeting are available for the Shad and River Herring Management Board and the Horseshoe Crab Management Board can be found in the below links or at http://www.asmfc.org/home/
As a reminder, the Commission’s Public Comment Guidelines are:
For issues that are not on the agenda, management boards will continue to provide an opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of each board meeting. Board chairs 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, board chairs will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. Chairs will have flexibility in deciding 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, board chairs have the discretion to decide what public comment to allow in these circumstances.
November 2, 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. The public is invited to listen live. Here are the details.
October 18, 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 to discuss issues related to monkfish and groundfish. The public is invited to listen live. Here are the details.
October 13, 2022 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking qualified candidates to serve on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). Individuals may nominate themselves or be nominated by other individuals or organizations. Appointments are for three years with the term beginning in January 2023 and ending December 2025. All relevant materials should be sent to the Council office and must be received by 8:00 a.m. on December 23, 2022.
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 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. Responsibilities are outlined in the solicitation announcement and in the Council’s Operations Handbook.
SSC members are reimbursed for travel expenses up to specified limits for attending official meetings at the Council’s request and receive a daily stipend subject to funding.
The duties and responsibilities of this position require nominees to file the Statement of Financial Interests to fulfill the requirements of the Magnuson‐Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The purpose of this report is to assist potential candidates and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in avoiding conflicts between official duties and private financial interests or affiliations. Please complete the form and include it with your application.
Nominations and supporting materials may be submitted by regular mail to the Council office or by email to Joan O’Leary at joleary@nefmc.org. All nominations must be received by 8:00 a.m. on December 23, 2022.
If you have questions or need further information about this process, please contact Council Deputy Director Chris Kellogg at (978) 465-0492 ext. 112; ckellogg@nefmc.org.
October 11, 2022 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council has scheduled seven in-person public information workshops to help fishermen and other stakeholders learn more about ecosystem-based fishery management (EBFM).
The workshops will run for three hours each and cover: (1) how EBFM can be used as a tool to assess and manage fisheries in general; and (2) more specifically, how EBFM potentially could be used to regulate fisheries on Georges Bank. The Council has developed a Draft Example Fishery Ecosystem Plan (eFEP) for Georges Bank in preparation for further discussion.