Saving Seafood

Council Actions

ASMFC 2022 Summer Meeting Press Release, Summaries, and Motions Now Available

August 5, 2022 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Press releases, meeting summaries and motions from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2022 Summer Meeting are now available athttp://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/2022SummerMeeting/2022SummerMeetingSummary.pdf. The document can also be obtained on the Commission website on the Meeting Archives page athttp://www.asmfc.org/home/meeting-archive.

 
The presentations and recordings from this week’s meetings will be available early next week athttp://www.asmfc.org/home/2022-summer-meeting (under the respective Board header).

Atlantic Menhaden Board Approves Draft Addendum I for Public Comment & Assessment Update Finds Resource is Not Overfished or Experiencing Overfishing

August 4, 2022 — The following was released by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Arlington, VA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board approved Draft Addendum I to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden for public comment. The Draft Addendum considers potential changes to Amendment 3 provisions for commercial allocations, the episodic event set aside (EESA) program, and the incidental catch and small-scale fisheries (IC/SSF) provision.

 
The Board initiated Draft Addendum I in August 2021 in response to the recommendations of a Board work group charged with evaluating provisions of the current management program and providing strategies to refine those provisions. Since Amendment 3 was adopted in 2017, the EESA and IC/SSF provisions have been impacted by recent trends in landings. The impacts have been most notable in New England, which has seen an increase in abundance of menhaden and demand for bait in recent years. New England states rely on the EESA to keep their commercial fisheries open while working to secure quota transfers. In addition the increases have led to a rise in landings under the IC/SSF provision once commercial quotas have been met. The options in the Draft Addendum aim to align state quotas with recent landings and resource availability while maintaining access to the resource for all states, reduce dependence on quota transfers, and minimize regulatory discards.


 
The Draft Addendum’s proposed options consider changes to the baseline quota of 0.5% and the time series that apportions the remaining quota to each jurisdiction, which is currently historic landings from 2009 to 2011. Furthermore, options within the Draft Addendum consider giving the Board the ability to change the proportion of the EESA from 1% up to 5%, with the option to make the potential change static with the approval of the Draft Addendum or dynamic such that the Board can reset it during the specification process. The Draft Addendum proposes a number of options to modify the IC/SSF provision in four major categories: the timing of the provision, permitted gear types, trip limits for permitted gear types, and catch accounting for the provision. 
 
The Draft Addendum will be posted to the website next week at http://www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input. A subsequent press release will provide the details on the public hearing schedule and how to submit written comments. The Board will meet to review submitted comment and consider final action on the addendum in November at the Commission’s Annual Meeting in New Jersey.
 
Stock Assessment Update
The Board also reviewed the results of the 2022 Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Update, which indicates the resource is not overfished nor experiencing overfishing relative to the current ecological reference points (ERPs). In 2021, population fecundity, a measure of reproductive capacity, is above both the ERP threshold and target and total fishing mortality is below both the ERP threshold and target. The stock assessment update extended the 2019 Atlantic Menhaden Single-Species Benchmark Stock Assessment model with additional years of data from 2018-2021 and made some changes to the model structure. Work is also underway for an Atlantic Menhaden-specific ERP Benchmark Assessment, which is scheduled for completion in 2025.

ASMFC Presents Annual Awards of Excellence for 2022

August 4, 2022 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Arlington, VA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission presented its Annual Awards of Excellence to an esteemed group of fishery managers, scientists, and law enforcement officers for their outstanding contributions to fisheries management, science, and law enforcement along the Atlantic coast. Specifically, the 2022 award recipients were Eric Reid and Peter Burns for management and policy contributions; Dr. Conor McManus, Jeff Kipp, Dr. Burton Shank, Dr. Bryan Nuse, Dr. Anna Tucker, and Caitlin Starks for technical and scientific contributions; and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Law Enforcement for law enforcement contributions.

 
“Every year a great many people contribute to the success of fisheries management along the Atlantic coast. The Commission’s Annual Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding efforts by professionals who have made a difference in the way we manage and conserve our fisheries,” said ASMFC Chair Spud Woodward of Georgia. “I am humbled by the breadth and extent of accomplishments of the recipients and am grateful for their dedication to Atlantic coast fisheries.”
 
Management and Policy Contributions
Eric Reid, Chair of the New England Fishery Management Council and Proxy for ASMFC Legislative Commissioner Senator Susan Sosnowski

 

For nearly a decade, Eric Reid has devoted countless hours to the fisheries management process at both the Commission and New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC), and increasingly at the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Currently Chair of the NEFMC and longstanding proxy for Rhode Island’s Legislative Commissioner to the ASMFC, Senator Susan Sosnowski, Mr. Reid has been a fervent advocate for the New England commercial fishing industry, consistently bringing the industry’s perspective to actions taken by the Commission and Councils. His ability to be objective and seek creative solutions has often allowed for compromise amongst differing viewpoints. Mr. Reid has been an integral and important voice in numerous high-level actions and discussions including Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument and offshore wind development. His expertise in the commercial fishing industry as well as the fisheries management system allows him to offer unique insights and facilitate management progress on a wide range of important topics. Mr. Reid has played a positive and impactful role in the fisheries management process as a result of his full engagement in the issues before him and his thoughtful consideration of the resource, as well as the economic impacts of proposed actions on the fishing industry. 
 
Peter Burns, NOAA Fisheries 
A valued federal partner to the Commission and its member states for over 15 years, Peter Burns has served as NOAA Fisheries’ lead on numerous Commission management boards and sections, including those for American lobster, northern shrimp, bluefish, spiny dogfish, and tautog, providing sound advice and guidance on the management of these species. He also has made tremendous contributions to federal lobster management, coordinating and leading the Lobster Trap Tag Program, which constituted a fundamental shift in interstate lobster management. His efforts ensured that state and federal trap allocations were aligned and future transfers were correctly implemented and tracked. Mr. Burns fostered productive relationships with the states and industry members on measures put forward by the industry at the Large Whale Take Reduction Team. This action helped to build trust and buy-in to Commission/Take Reduction Plan processes. He also attempted to negotiate alternative measures to the Area 4 (South of Long Island) seasonal closure, coordinating a meeting with industry members and bordering states, putting forward numerous solutions for equivalent measures in an attempt to eliminate the closure. While ultimately unsuccessful, these efforts highlight his commitment to the Commission process as well as his commitment to collaboration and innovation.
 
Scientific and Technical Contributions
Dr. Conor McManus, Jeff Kipp, and Dr. Burton Shank
Based on their significant contributions to the 2020 Benchmark Stock Assessment for American Lobster, Dr. Conor McManus, Jeff Kipp, and Dr. Burton Shank are being recognized for their exceptional work and initiative on the American Lobster Stock Assessment Subcommittee (SAS). As lead modelers for the assessment, Dr. McManus, Mr. Kipp, and Dr. Shank contributed improved and novel analyses to more effectively characterize stock status for Southern New England and the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stocks. Throughout the assessment’s development, these three individuals consistently brought innovative ideas and technical expertise to SAS discussions. Their contributions and resourcefulness kept the assessment moving forward despite the complex challenges posed by the incorporation of new data to address environmental impacts on the lobster stocks. The contributions of these three individuals were essential to the successful completion and peer review of the 2020 assessment, as well as the adoption of updated reference points by the Management Board.
 
Dr. Bryan Nuse, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, and Dr. Anna Tucker, Iowa Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
Dr. Bryan Nuse, a Research Scientist with the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, and Dr. Anna Tucker, Assistant Professor at Iowa Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, were instrumental in the development of the revised Adaptive Resource Management (ARM) Framework for the management of horseshoe crabs with consideration for the threatened red knot. In October 2019, the ARM Subcommittee was directed to revise the ARM Framework to incorporate more available data and update the software platform. The ARM Subcommittee recognized it would need expertise in adaptive management and quantitative ecology to successfully model the two species and revise the ARM Framework. Dr. Nuse was added to the committee as an ecologist with experience in bird conservation, adaptive management, and population models. Dr. Tucker joined the effort because she developed a state-of-the-science integrated population model for red knots as part of her PhD thesis with Auburn University and postdoctoral research with the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. While development of the ARM Framework was a lengthy process involving many collaborators, this substantial achievement would not have been possible without the contributions of Drs. Nuse and Tucker.
 
Caitlin Starks, Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission
Caitlin Starks, ASMFC Fishery Management Plan Coordinator for numerous species, is being recognized for her meticulous and thorough preparation prior to meetings, her command in leading the meetings in an effective and efficient manner, and her timely and detailed meeting follow-ups. In particular, Ms. Starks steady support and guidance in leading the Shad Technical Committee through many challenging meetings as they prepared the 2021 Benchmark Stock Assessment for American Shad. Disagreements between Committee members within a meeting routinely occurred and Ms. Starks would often offer reasonable solutions that allowed opposing sides to reach compromise and advance forward. During the assessment, Ms. Starks did a phenomenal job of keeping the Committee moving through the grind of completing what could have been a daunting task. She often went above the call of duty by having a multitude of meetings ensuring all states were well informed; all Committee members were engaged in and supportive of the assessment; all potential data sources had been identified and thoroughly vetted for potential use in the assessment; and all questions from members were answered before a final product was affirmed.
 
Law Enforcement Contributions
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Law Enforcement
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Law Enforcement is recognized for its outstanding efforts to control illegal harvest of Atlantic striped bass from Raritan Bay and its tributaries. New Jersey Conservation Police Officers from both the inland and marine regions throughout the state were involved with the operation across New Jersey’s portion of the watershed. In December 2021, more than 200 summonses were issued and more than 500 illegal striped bass were confiscated. Efforts continued throughout the spring of 2022. From early March to the middle of May 2022, approximately 4,000 inspections were conducted over the course of 650 patrol hours within Raritan Bay, Newark Bay, Arthur Kill, and the Hudson River. These efforts resulted in over 300 summonses being issued for violations including undersized fish, over the limit catch, fishing during the closed season, and interference with the duties of a conservation officer. When possible, some of the seized fish were donated to food banks, while others were submitted to New Jersey Bureau of Marine Fisheries for the collection of biological data. The dedication and commitment of the Bureau’s Conservation Police Officers to the enforcement of sustainable fisheries regulations is truly worthy of recognition.

Vacancy Announcement: NEFMC Seeks Fishery Specialist; Apply by August 23, 2022

August 3, 2022 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) seeks candidates for the position of Fishery Specialist. This is a highly visible, demanding position. The specialist will assist in the preparation of fishery management plans, which requires a broad range of technical and communications skills.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  The application deadline for this position is Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Assist in the preparation of documents, including Environmental Impact Statements for fishery management plans/amendments and other related documents.
  • Compile and objectively analyze fisheries, environmental, biological, socio-economic, or other technical data using appropriate database and statistical analysis software.
  • Prepare meeting summaries and assist in the conduct of public meetings.
  • Develop analyses of fishery management alternatives.
  • Communicate management concepts effectively to decision-makers and the public.
  • Work collaboratively with other fisheries scientists, economists, and social scientists.
  • Conduct other tasks as assigned.

IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTES FOR THE POSITION

  • Positivity
  • Leadership
  • Integrity
  • Ability to maintain healthy, positive working relationships with colleagues during times of pressure
  • Flexibility in dealing with unanticipated challenges
  • Ability to help manage multiple work streams simultaneously
  • Ability to continuously foster team cohesion and collaboration

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.

ASMFC Presents Steven G. Bowman Prestigious Captain David H. Hart Award

August 3, 2022 — The following was released by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Arlington, VA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission presented Steven G. Bowman, former Commissioner for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), with its highest annual honor, the Captain David H. Hart Award, at the Commission’s 2022 Summer Meeting. 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.

Mr. Bowman began his marine fisheries career at VMRC in 1992 as Deputy Chief of the Law Enforcement Division, was promoted to Chief of Law Enforcement in 1996, and in 2006 he was appointed Commissioner of Marine Resources by then Governor Timothy Kaine. He served as Commissioner under two subsequent governors. Throughout his long history with the Commission, Mr. Bowman served as a member of the Law Enforcement Committee (early in his career) and as Virginia’s Administrative Commissioner (latter in his career) on the Commission’s Executive Committee and Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board, along with several species management boards.
 
As Virginia’s Administrative Commissioner to the Commission, Mr. Bowman gained a reputation for his ability to successfully bring divergent viewpoints of stakeholders to a reasonable and agreeable compromise. When Virginia faced a non-compliance finding under the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act for exceeding the Atlantic menhaden Chesapeake Bay reduction fishery cap in 2019, Mr. Bowman was instrumental in transferring menhaden management authority from the Virginia General Assembly to the VMRC. At that time, Atlantic menhaden was the only marine species managed by the General Assembly. Mr. Bowman worked deftly with political parties, recreational anglers, conservationists, and the reduction industry to navigate a non-compliance finding. Once the management authority was transferred to VMRC, Mr. Bowman ensured that regulations were quickly prepared and approved to avoid a possible moratorium on menhaden fishing in Virginia waters.
 
This monumental accomplishment is a microcosm of Mr. Bowman’s skillset. It demonstrated the trust Mr. Bowman had from all corners of the marine fisheries management world: industry, anglers, conservationists, state and federal politicians, and his fellow Commissioners. Mr. Bowman’s efforts ultimately resulted in the protection of the Chesapeake Bay as a critical nursery area for many iconic species such as striped bass, bluefish, and summer flounder which will provide coastwide benefits for years to come.

Climate Change Scenario Planning Invitation to Attend Scenario Deepening Webinars

August 2, 2022 — Over the past year, East Coast fishery management bodies have been collaborating on a climate change scenario planning initiative designed to prepare fishing communities and fishery managers for an era of climate change. The goals of this project are to assess how climate change might affect stock distribution and availability of East Coast marine fisheries over the next 20 years and to identify the implications for fishery management and governance.

 

In June 2022, a group of about 70 stakeholders attended a workshop to develop an initial set of scenarios, describing several different possible futures facing East Coast fisheries out to 2042. As the next step in the scenario planning process, two Scenario Deepening webinars will be held in August 2022. These webinars will offer all interested stakeholders an opportunity to review, validate, and add details to the draft scenarios.

Webinar Details

Each 2-hour session will begin with an overview of the outputs and stories from the draft scenarios. Participants will then have an opportunity to add comments and suggestions to make the scenarios more plausible, challenging, relevant, memorable, and divergent. For each scenario, participants will be encouraged to imagine specific examples about impacts to particular species, regions, and communities. Participants only need to attend one of the two webinars. Please use the links below to register:

 

The scenario creation workshop summary, including a description of the draft scenarios, is being developed and will be posted here once available. Participants are encouraged to review this summary before the webinars and come prepared to share comments on the specific scenarios.

 

Once again, stakeholder involvement is key, and these webinars are open to the public. The outcome of the two webinars will be a more detailed set of scenarios that will be used as a platform for later stages of the process, looking specifically at how fishery management and governance must change to be prepared for a future of climate change.

Atlantic Herring Area 1A Fishery Moves to Zero Landing Days for Season 1 on August 2, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.

August 1, 2022 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) Atlantic herring fishery is projected to have harvested 92% of the Season 1 (June 1 – September 30) allocation by August 2, 2022. Beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, the Area 1A fishery will move to zero landing days through September 30, 2022, as specified in Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring.

Vessels participating in other fisheries may not possess more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring per trip per day harvested from Area 1A. In addition, all vessels traveling through Area 1A must have all seine and mid-water trawl gear stowed.
 
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Herring Management Board members from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts are expected to reconvene in September via conference call to set effort controls for the 2022 Area 1A fishery for Season 2 (October 1 – December 31). An announcement will be issued once the meeting is scheduled.

East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning: Public Invitation to Attend Scenario Deepening Webinars

August 1, 2022 — The following was released by The New England Fishery Management Council

Over the past year, East Coast fishery management bodies have been collaborating on a climate change scenario planning initiative designed to prepare fishing communities and fishery managers for an era of climate change. The goals of this project are to: 

• Assess how climate change might affect stock distribution and availability of East Coast marine fisheries over the next 20 years; and 

• Identify the implications for fishery management and governance. 

In June 2022, roughly 70 stakeholders attended a workshop to develop an initial set of scenarios describing several different possible futures facing East Coast fisheries out to 2042. As the next step in the process, two Scenario Deepening webinars will be held in August 2022. These webinars will offer all interested stakeholders an opportunity to review, validate, and add details to the draft scenarios.

Read the full release here

NEFMC SSC – Listen Live – Thursday, August 4, 2022 – Groundfish and Herring Issues

July 29, 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 and Atlantic herring.  The public is invited to listen live.  Here are the details.

 
 
START TIME:  9:00 a.m.
 
WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.  The Remote Participation Guide is posted here.
 
CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (631) 992-3221.  The access code is 484-371-473.  Please be aware that if you dial in using this number without joining the webinar at the link above, you will be unable to speak during opportunities for public comment.  This is a listen-only telephone option.  Your regular phone charges will apply.
 
AGENDA:  The SSC will meet to:
 
  • Provide feedback to the Council’s Groundfish Plan Development Team (PDT) on: (1) possible rebuilding approaches for Gulf of Maine cod, and (2) the basis for the range of alternative rebuilding strategies under development;
 
  • Receive an update on the development of acceptable biological catch (ABC) control rule alternatives under consideration for the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan;
 
  • Review information provided by the Council’s Herring PDT and results from the recent Atlantic herring management track stock assessment.  Then, using the Council’s ABC control rule and rebuilding plan, recommend the overfishing limits (OFLs) and ABCs for Atlantic herring for fishing years 2023, 2024, and 2025; and
 
  • Consider other business as necessary.
 
COMMENTS:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.  Address comments to Council Chair Eric Reid or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.  Additional information is available in the meeting notice.
 
MATERIALS:  All documents for this meeting will be posted on the SSC August 4, 2022 meeting webpage.
 
QUESTIONS:  Contact Joan O’Leary at (978) 465-0492, ext. 101, joleary@nefmc.org or Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

ASMFC 2022 Summer Meeting Supplemental Materials 2 Now Available

July 29, 2022 — The following was released by the The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

The final supplemental materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s 2022 Summer Meeting (August 2-4) are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2022-summer-meeting. The materials include public comment for the Atlantic Menhaden Management Board (click here) and the Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board (click here).