Council Actions

June 29, 2012 — The Council Report summarizes major issues voted on or discussed at each regularly scheduled meeting of the NEFMC. The Council’s 18 members met most recently on June 19-21, 2012 in Portland, ME.

At its June meeting, the Council addressed issues related to Atlantic herring, groundfish, small mesh multispecies, monkfish and habitat.

A number of presentations were received on the following topics and are available on the Council’s website, www.nefmc.org:

    • An update on a new amendment to address Standard Bycatch Reporting Methodology in NEFMC fishery management plans (Doug Potts, NERO);

    • An overview of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s new social science data collection efforts (Dr. Tammy Murphy, NEFSC);

    • A review of issues and work completed to date concerning the “state of the science” as it relates to climate change and its impact on fisheries in the Northeast (Dr. Jon Hare, NEFSC); and

    • A summary of issues and a solicitation for comments as part of the scoping phase of the Amendment 7 (bluefin tuna management) to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species FMP; (Tom Warren, NERO).

 

Read the full report here 

 

 

July 27, 2012 – New York State doggedly held on to an additional at-large seat on the influential Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, after New Jersey fishermen did not agree to support charter fishing captain Paul Eidman’s nomination to the position.

Tony Dilernia, a New York charter captain with long experience on the council, will return to take the at-large seat, the Department of Commerce stated Monday in announcing final choices for the quasi-government panel that sets fishing limits in federal waters.

Eidman had been nominated by Gov. Chris Christie as a candidate for the at-large seat — a post in addition to the obligatory seats filled by state representatives. One of New Jersey’s members, Chris Zeman, was reappointed.

But the Garden State Seafood Association, a commercial fishing industry group, and the New Jersey-based Recreational Fishing Alliance lobbied members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation not to support Eidman.

Eidman aroused the alliance’s ire by his criticism of efforts to change federal fisheries law, while commercial groups focused on his outspoken support for new limits on menhaden and herring commercial fisheries.

Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press.

 

June 22, 2012 – The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC):

Atlantic Herring The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) took several actions this week that will significantly affect two major fisheries operating out of ports in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. Atlantic herring fishermen saw new rules approved that would institute a comprehensive monitoring program including 100 percent observer coverage on the full-time fleet of 46 vessels. The Council excluded smaller vessels that catch only small amounts of herring, choosing instead to focus on those boats that land about 97 percent of the herring quota.

Also supported in the herring package were measures to encourage avoidance of depleted river herring species that can swim with Atlantic herring and are incidentally taken as bycatch. The two-phase avoidance approach is based on a pilot program developed in cooperation with the fishing industry, represented by the Sustainable Fisheries Coalition, working in partnership with Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and UMASS Dartmouth School of Marine Science and Technology. Bycatch limits or caps were approved for consideration in a subsequent herring action.

Recent statistics indicate that about 143,666,000 pounds of Atlantic herring were sold by federally permitted dealers generating about $17.9 million for the boats. This represents a 22 percent decrease in revenues from the 2009 fishing year, primarily because the Council approved fishery specifications for 2010-2012 which lowered the herring catch limits for 2010-2012 to ensure sustainability.

The U.S. Atlantic herring fishery occurs over the Mid-Atlantic shelf region from Cape Hatteras to Maine, including an active fishery in the inshore Gulf of Maine and seasonally on Georges Bank. The Atlantic herring resource is healthy and is classified as “not overfished.” If the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the agency which acts on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce and is responsible for final approval of federal fishery rules, approves the Council’s actions, most of the new measures will be in place by early 2013.

Groundfish and Sea Scallops The Council moved ahead to propose proactive measures yesterday to address the very low quota of Georges Bank yellowtail flounder that will be available to groundfish fishermen in 2012. The allowable catch has and will continue to severely constrain New England boats that harvest cod, haddock, flounders and other bottom-dwelling species.
A clear majority of the 18-member Council voted to request that NMFS take action to re-apportion the amount of Georges Bank yellowtail allocated to the scallop fishery by reducing it to 156.9 metric tons or to about 346,185 pounds while increasing the groundfish fisheries’ allocation to 368.3 metric tons or 811,440 pounds. In addition, the Council asked the agency to approve a one-time measure through an emergency action that would allow the scallop fishery to continue its operations next year without any additional restrictions unless it exceeded its original yellowtail allocation of 307.5 metric tons (approximately 674,730 pounds).

 Read the release here.

 

 

Here is a summary of the major Council actions on groundfish at the June 19-21, 2012 Council meeting in Portland, ME. As always, this brief summary does not capture the entire discussion. Sound files are available on our web page, and motions will be available in about a week. Please contact me if there are any questions or corrections.

1. Amendment 18 Scoping Comments: Council staff presented a summary of comments received during the Amendment 18 scoping period. The purpose of this amendment is to consider accumulation caps and issues related to fleet diversity. The presentation and a written summary, as well as all comments are available on the Council web page. Progress on this amendment is likely to be delayed as the Council addresses other groundfish issues.

2. Georges Bank Yellowtail Flounder: The Council discussed measures to address the low quota in FY 2012 for GB yellowtail flounder. They also received an updated estimate of the amount of GB YTF the scallop fishery is expected to catch in FY 2012. The following steps were taken; please note that these actions have to be approved by NMFS before they will be effective.
       a. The Council agreed to request NMFS take action to reduce the scallop fishery sub-ACL for GB YTF to 156.9 mt and increase the groundfish fishery sub-ACL to 368.3 mt. In addition, the Council asked NMFS to adopt an emergency action that would keep the trigger for scallop fishery AMs for GB YTF at the original sub-ACL (307.5 mt). This is a one-time measure and only applies to FY 2012.
       b. The Council added a measure to the sector framework that would define an area within the GB YTF stock area where sector vessels could continue to fish if their sector’s ACE for GB YTF was caught.
       c. The Council requested that NMFS allow SAPS in CAII for haddock to open May 1 rather than August 1.
       d. Tasked US TMGC members to work with NERO to compare the advantages and disadvantages of readdressing the US/CA Resource Sharing Understanding.
       e. Fast track the Omnibus Habitat Amendment.

3. ABC/ACL/AM Issues: The Council addressed several issues related to specifications that will be adopted in a framework action later this year. This included adopting an option for a SNE/MAB windowpane flounder sub-ACL for the scallop fishery, consideration of the Mixed Stock Exception for this stock, and two options for allocating GB YTF to the scallop fishery. The Council will also send a letter to the MFAFMC and ASMFC advising them that it will consider SNEMAB windowpane flounder sub-ACLs for the fluke and scup fisheries. Modifications to the timing for the AMs for non-allocated stocks were also adopted.

4. Sector Framework: Several options for changes to the sector management measures were added for consideration.

5. The Council formally decided to combine the ABC and sector actions into one framework, to be approved in November. Draft measures text will be posted on the web page and updated frequently as the framework is developed over the course of the summer.

6. The Council also voted to send several letters to NMFS or the NEFSC. These will clarify the Council’s intent on electronic monitoring, request a discussion of the discard mortality assumptions for halibut and wolffish, request full funding of monitoring costs in FY 2013, and request advice from NMFS on whether it is possible to authorize up to 50 pct. carryover of GOM cod sector ACL to fishing year 2013.

 

  

June 20, 2012 — Council Approves Amendment 14 and Initiates Amendment 15

At last week’s meeting in New York City, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council recommended measures to improve catch monitoring and reduce bycatch of river herrings (blueback and alewife) and shads (American and hickory) in the Atlantic mackerel and longfin squid fisheries.  These recommendations, if approved by The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), will be implemented via Amendment 14 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan.
 
River herrings and shads are among a number of important forage species in the Northeast region.  Although they are not managed as directed fisheries, river herrings and shads are caught as incidental catch (bycatch) by trawlers fishing for mackerel and squid.
 
Concerns about bycatch of these species have escalated in recent months after an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) stock assessment indicated that 92% of the 24 assessed river herring stocks were depleted.  The Council initiated Amendment 14 in response to a request from the ASMFC to improve monitoring and reduce river herring interactions as part of a coordinated effort to address sources of river herring mortality.
 
The recommended measures for Amendment 14 include a catch cap for river herrings and shads in the mackerel fishery beginning in 2014 and increased vessel and dealer reporting requirements. The Council recommended that NMFS increase observer coverage in the mackerel fishery and require 100% coverage on mid-water trawlers.  A portion of the costs associated with these new requirements would be paid by fishery participants. More rigorous reporting and monitoring requirements are expected to result in more accurate and complete data on river herring and shad catches.
 
The Council discussed the feasibility of adding river herrings and/or shads as directly managed fisheries in Amendment 14, and they determined that a follow-up Amendment (15) would allow for a more complete consideration of the issue.  Amendment 15 could include provisions for setting Annual Catch Limits, identifying Essential Fish Habitat, and establishing joint management with management partners such as the New England Fishery Management Council and/or the ASMFC.
 
“The Council recommended a strong monitoring program that will substantially improve our understanding of river herring and shad interactions in these small-mesh trawl fisheries,” said Council Chairman Rick Robins. “A catch cap will enable the Council to directly limit river herring and shad bycatch in these fisheries, and it will encourage the fleet to utilize bycatch avoidance programs to target mackerel and longfin squid in areas with lower rates of river herring and shad interactions.”

This press release will be available on the MAFMC website in a downloadable PDF format in the coming days. 

June 18, 2012 – Please find below and attached the preliminary agenda and public comment guidelines for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's 2012 Summer Meeting in Alexandria, Virginia.

The agenda and guidelines are also available here.

A block of rooms is being held at the Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria, 901 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA  22314. Please call the  Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria at (888) 233-9527 or  (703) 683-6000 as soon as possible and specifically mention the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to obtain the group room rate of $155.00 plus tax single/dbl. Hotel reservations must be made before July 6, 2012.  Room availability will not be guaranteed beyond this date. If you have any problems at all regarding accommodations please contact Cindy at (703) 842-0710 or crobertson@asmfc.org.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

2012 Summer Meeting
August 7 – 9, 2012

Crowne Plaza Hotel Old Town
Alexandria, Virginia

August 7, 2012
8:30 – 11 AM                Atlantic Herring Section

11:15 AM – 12:45 PM        American Lobster Management Board
 
1:45 – 3:45 PM                Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board
 
4:00 – 5:30 PM                Shad & River Herring Management Board
 
August 8, 2012
7:30 – 9:30 AM                Executive Committee
     
9:45 AM – 12:45 PM        Atlantic Menhaden Management Board
& 1:45 – 2:45 PM

3:00 – 4:30 PM                Sturgeon Management Board
 
 4:45 – 6:15 PM                Interstate Fisheries Management Program (ISFMP) Policy Board
 
August 9, 2012
8:00 – 10:00 AM                American Eel Management Board
     
10:15 AM – 12:45 PM        Spiny Dogfish & Coastal Sharks Management Board
   
 1:15 – 2:45 PM                South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board
 
 2:45 – 3:15 PM                ISFMP Policy Board (continued)
 
 3:15 – 3:45 PM                   Business Session
 
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. Board chairs will use a speaker sign-up list in deciding 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.

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 3 weeks prior to the start of a meeting week will be included on the briefing CD.

2. Comments received by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday immediately preceding the scheduled ASMFC Meeting (in this case, the Tuesday deadline will be July 31, 2012 will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting and a limited number of copies will be provided at the meeting.

3. Following the Tuesday, July 31, 2012 5:00 PM deadline, the commenter will be responsible for distributing the information to the management board prior to the board meeting or providing enough copies for the management board consideration at the meeting (a minimum of 50 copies).

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, fax, and email.

Monday, June 18, 2012 — Portland, ME

 

Read about the meeting at the NEFMC webpage 

 

 

June 12, 2012 –  THe New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) has posted the discussion document for the upcomming meeting on June 19-21 on the Council website.

View the documents here.

 

 

June 12, 2012 – The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) announced that it is looking to fill the position of Executive Director. The following is an excerpt from their vacancy announcement:

Position Description: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is one of eight Regional Councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Council is charged with developing fishery management plans for fisheries in the New England region (Maine through Connecticut). It is comprised of 21 members from the sport and commercial fisheries and government. The Executive Director is responsible for the activities of 19 technical and administrative staff members and the management of Council operations. The Executive Director serves at the pleasure of the Council and reports directly to an elected Chairman and/or Executive Committee as appropriate. More background information about the Council is available at: http://www.nefmc.org/.

Read the full announcement here.

 

 

Arlington, VA – June 11, 2012 – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will begin work on the 2014 American lobster benchmark stock assessment this fall. The assessment will be used to evaluate the health of the lobster stocks. The Commission’s stock assessment process and meetings are open to the public (with the exception of discussions of confidential data when the public will be asked to leave the room). The Commission welcomes the submission of data sets that will improve the accuracy of the assessment. For data sets to be considered at the workshops, the data must be sent in the required format, with accompanying methods description, to the Commission at least one month prior to the meeting at which the data will be reviewed (see schedule of Life History and Data Workshops below). Those who are interested in submitting data should contact Genny Nesslage (gnesslage@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740) by July 6, 2012 to prepare for the August 6, 2012 Life History Workshop deadline and November 8, 2012 for the December 7, 2012 Data Workshop deadline in order to meet the submission requirements.

A list of the stock assessment meeting dates, topics, and submission deadlines is provided below.

September 5-7, 2012 Life History Workshop: This workshop will review all available data sources on lobster growth, maturation, migration, genetics, and natural mortality (including environmental data) and identify the data sets that will be incorporated in the assessment. Location: Maine DMR, West Boothbay Harbor Office.  Data submission deadline: August 6, 2012.

January 8-10, 2013 Data Workshop: This workshop will review all available indices of abundance, biosamples, and landings data and identify the data sets that will be incorporated in the assessment. Location to be determined.  Data submission deadline: December 7, 2012.

March 12-14, 2013 Modeling Workshop This workshop will include, but is not limited to, the development of catch-at-length matrices and model configuration and parameterization. Location to be determined.

June 25-27, 2013 Modeling Workshop: This workshop will include but is not limited to the development of catch-at-length matrices and model configuration and parameterization. Location to be determined.