Saving Seafood

Council Actions

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).

ASMFC 2022 Summer Meeting Supplemental Materials Now Available

July 28, 2022 — The following was released by ASMFC
Supplemental materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Meeting are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2022-summer-meeting for the following Boards/Committees (click on “Supplemental” following each relevant committee header to access the information). For ease of access, supplemental meeting materials have been combined into one PDF – http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/2022SummerMeeting/ASMFC2022SummerMeeting_Supplemental.pdf.
 
This will be a hybrid meeting (both in-person and remote) to allow for remote participation by Commissioners and interested stakeholders (meeting process details are provided below). The agenda is subject to change. The agenda reflects the current estimate of time required for scheduled Board meetings. The Commission may adjust this agenda in accordance with the actual duration of Board meetings. Interested parties should anticipate Boards starting earlier or later than indicated herein.
 
Below is the list of documents included in the supplemental materials.
 
Revised Final Notice & Agenda
 
Atlantic Herring Management Board – Revised Draft Agenda and Meeting Overview; Review 2022 Atlantic Herring Management Track Assessment Draft Working Paper; and New England Fishery Management Council Update
 
American Lobster Management Board – Revised Draft Agenda and Meeting Overview; and Memo on Federal Rulemaking for LCMA 2 and 3 Fisheries and Coastwide Harvester Reporting
 
Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board – Fishery Management Plan Review for the 2021 Fishing Year; and Public Comment
 
Executive Committee – Revised Draft Agenda; Draft De Minimis Policy; Draft Investment Policy; ASMFC Support Letter: H.R. 7801 Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act; and Appeals Process Revisions
 
Horseshoe Crab Management Board – Revised Draft Agenda and Meeting Overview; Draft Addendum VIII to the Horseshoe Crab FMP; Advisory Panel Nominations; and Public Comment   
 
Atlantic Menhaden Management Board – Draft Fishery Management Plan Review for the 2021 Fishing Year; Draft Addendum I to Amendment 3 of the Fishery Management Plan; and Technical Committee Recommendations on Draft Addendum I
 
Sciaenids Management Board –  Revised Draft Agenda and Meeting Overview; 2021 Fishing Year Traffic Light Analysis of Spot and Atlantic Croaker; and Fishery Management Plan Reviews for Red Drum and Atlantic Croaker
 
ISFMP Policy Board – Draft Appeals Process Revision; Draft De Minimis Policy; Risk and Uncertainty Policy; Draft Atlantic Croaker Fish Habitats of Concern Designation; Assessment Science Committee Report; and NOAA Fisheries DRAFT Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy
 
Webinar Information
Board meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning Tuesday, August 2 at  9 a.m. and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 1:30 p.m.) on Thursday, August 4. The webinar will allow registrants to listen to board deliberations and view presentations and motions as they occur.  
 
Each day, the webinar will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of the first meeting so that people can troubleshoot any connectivity or audio issues they may encounter.  If you are having issues with the webinar (connecting to or audio-related issues), please contact Chris Jacobs at 703.842.0790. 
 
To register for the webinar, please go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7218217294868422923(Webinar ID:  822-004-851).  If you are joining the webinar but will not be using VoIP, you can may also call in at +1 (415) 655-0060, access code 636-403-362. A PIN will be provided to you after joining the webinar; see webinar instructions for details on how to receive the PIN. 
 
If you are joining the webinar but will not be using voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), you can may also call in at +1 (562) 247-8422, access code 616-672-938. A PIN will be provided to you after joining the webinar; see webinar instructions for details on how to receive the PIN. For those who will not be joining the webinar but would like to listen in to the audio portion only, press the # key when asked for a PIN.
 
Meeting Process
In terms of meeting process, Board chairs will ask both in-person and virtual Board members if they wish to speak. In-person members can simply raise their hands at the meeting without logging on to the webinar, while virtual members will raise their hands on the webinar. The Chair will work with staff to compile the list of speakers, balancing the flow of questions/comments between in-person and virtual attendees. The same process will be used for the public and interested stakeholders when the Board Chair provides an opportunity for public comment. 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.
 
Each day, the webinar will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of the first meeting so that people can troubleshoot any connectivity or audio issues they may encounter.  If you are having issues with the webinar (connecting to or audio related issues), please contact Chris Jacobs at 703.842.0790. 
 
Public Comment Guidelines
To provide 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 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.
 
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 start of a meeting week (July 11) have been included in the briefing materials.
2.    Comments received by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, July  26th will be included in supplemental materials.
3.    Comments received by 10:00 AM on Friday, July 29th 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.

Council Seeks Applicants for All 2023-2025 Advisory Panels; Wide Range of Monkfish, Groundfish, Rec Fishermen Needed

July 25, 2022 — The following was released by New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council is accepting applications from commercial and recreational fishermen, as well as other stakeholders, to serve on its advisory panels (APs) for the next three years. The term runs from January 2023 through December 2025. The application deadline is August 31, 2022.

The Council currently has nine active advisory panels that cover issues related to groundfish, recreational fishing for groundfish, Atlantic sea scallops, Atlantic herring, monkfish, habitat, skates, whiting, and enforcement.

The Council jointly manages monkfish and spiny dogfish with the Mid-Atlantic Council. The Mid-Atlantic Council has the administrative lead for spiny dogfish and handles the advisory panel solicitation for that fishery, while the New England Council has the administrative lead for monkfish and conducts the Monkfish AP solicitation.

The Council strives to populate its advisory panels with members who: (1) have different areas of expertise; (2) use different gear types; (3) come from the full geographic range of the fishery; and (4) have varied social and economic perspectives.

Read the full release here

ASMFC 2022 Summer Meeting Final Agenda and Materials Now Available

July 20, 2022 — The following was released by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

The final agenda and meeting materials for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Meeting (to be held August 2-4 at the Westin Crystal City, 1800 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA) are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/2022-summer-meeting; click on the relevant Board/Committee name to access the documents for that Board/Committee. For ease of access, all meeting materials have been combined into one document:  Main Meeting Materials. Please note that materials for the Law Enforcement Committee are not included in the combined materials. Supplemental materials will be posted to the website on Wednesday, July 27, 2022.

This will be a hybrid meeting (both in-person and remote) to allow for remote participation by Commissioners and interested stakeholders (meeting process details are provided below). The agenda is subject to change. The agenda reflects the current estimate of time required for scheduled Board meetings. The Commission may adjust this agenda in accordance with the actual duration of Board meetings. Interested parties should anticipate Boards starting earlier or later than indicated herein.
 
Webinar Information
Board meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning Tuesday, August 2 at  9 a.m. and continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 1:30 p.m.) on Thursday, August 4. The webinar will allow registrants to listen to board deliberations and view presentations and motions as they occur.  
 
Each day, the webinar will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of the first meeting so that people can troubleshoot any connectivity or audio issues they may encounter.  If you are having issues with the webinar (connecting to or audio-related issues), please contact Chris Jacobs at 703.842.0790. 
 
To register for the webinar, please go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7218217294868422923(Webinar ID:  822-004-851).  If you are joining the webinar but will not be using VoIP, you can may also call in at +1 (415) 655-0060, access code 636-403-362. A PIN will be provided to you after joining the webinar; see webinar instructions for details on how to receive the PIN. 
 
If you are joining the webinar but will not be using voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), you can may also call in at +1 (562) 247-8422, access code 616-672-938. A PIN will be provided to you after joining the webinar; see webinar instructions for details on how to receive the PIN. For those who will not be joining the webinar but would like to listen in to the audio portion only, press the # key when asked for a PIN.
 
Meeting Process
In terms of meeting process, Board chairs will ask both in-person and virtual Board members if they wish to speak. In-person members can simply raise their hands at the meeting without logging on to the webinar, while virtual members will raise their hands on the webinar. The Chair will work with staff to compile the list of speakers, balancing the flow of questions/comments between in-person and virtual attendees. The same process will be used for the public and interested stakeholders when the Board Chair provides an opportunity for public comment. 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.
 
Each day, the webinar will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of the first meeting so that people can troubleshoot any connectivity or audio issues they may encounter.  If you are having issues with the webinar (connecting to or audio related issues), please contact Chris Jacobs at 703.842.0790. 
 
Public Comment Guidelines
To provide 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 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.
 
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 start of a meeting week (July 11) have been included in the briefing materials.
2.    Comments received by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, July  26th will be included in supplemental materials.
3.    Comments received by 10:00 AM on Friday, July 29th will be distributed electronically to Commissioners/Board members prior to the meeting.

2023-2026 Council Advisory Panel Member Solicitation

July 20, 2022 — The following was released by Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council:

The Council invites you to apply for membership on one of its Advisory Panels!

Who is eligible to apply?

If you have an interest in keeping our fisheries sustainable, we want you to apply! However, you must be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident and at least 18 years old. We are looking for folks that can represent the fishing community, have experience in fishing, fisheries science or management, and can provide both information to the community and advice to the Council. We seek individuals that represent different fishing sectors (commercial, non-commercial, subsistence, charter), fishing methods (longline, bottomfish, trolling, spearfishing, etc.), and interests of the fishing community (indigenous, seafood/marketing, fishing supply, conservation, etc.).

What does an AP member do?

An AP member is the bridge between the fishing community and the fishery managers and scientists. An AP member’s role is to listen and share the community’s sentiments about its environment, fishing resources, and challenges to fishing and then share that with the Council. The second part is to be willing to go back out to the community and share what you have learned and what the Council is doing.

What is my commitment?

The Council is looking for AP members that will commit to being a member for four years. The positions are voluntary and meetings times may vary. While AP members are not paid, they may be reimbursed for expenses related to their participation in meetings and receive a small stipend. AP members should be willing to meet regularly and attend at least four AP meetings per year.

How do I apply?

If you are interested in becoming an AP member, applications are being accepted online at https://tinyurl.com/APMemberAppl. The Council must receive your completed application by August 19, 2022. If you need other arrangements, please call the Council office at (808) 522-8220 for assistance. The Council will select AP members in September and notify applicants by early October. If you have any questions, contact Zach Yamada at (808) 522-8227 or Zach.Yamada@wpcouncil.org.

August 2022 Hybrid Council Meeting

July 19, 2022 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management

August 2022 Hybrid Council Meeting

Monday, August 8 – Thursday, August 11, 2022

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet August 8-11, 2022 in Philadelphia, PA. This meeting will be conducted as a hybrid meeting, with options to participate in person at the The Notary Hotel (21 N. Juniper Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-496-3200) or virtually via Webex webinar. A portion of the meeting will be conducted jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Bluefish Management Board and Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Management Board.

Please see the August 2022 Council Meeting Page for webinar connection instructions, public comment deadlines, briefing materials (as they become available), and other updates.

A detailed agenda is available here. Below is an overview of the main topics to be covered each day.

Monday, August 8 (beginning at 3:00 p.m.)

Joint with ASMFC Bluefish Management Board

  • Bluefish 2023 Specifications Review
  • Bluefish FMP Review (Board Only)

Tuesday, August 9

Joint with ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board

  • EAFM Recreational Summer Flounder Management Strategy Evaluation
  • Summer Flounder 2023 Specifications Review
  • Scup 2023 Specifications Review
  • Black Sea Bass 2023 Specifications Review
  • Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery FMP Review (Board Only)

Wednesday, August 10

  • BOEM Guidance for Mitigating Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy Projects on Commercial and Recreational Fisheries
  • Presentation: Community Offshore Wind Project
  • East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning
  • Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee/Advisory Panel Report on Potential Designation of Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary
  • Update on New England Fishery Management Council Activities Affecting Mid-Atlantic
  • Butterfish 2023 – 2024 Specifications
  • Report on Illex Squid Research Track Assessment Process
  • Illex Preliminary 2023 Specifications
  • Update on Illex Permit Amendment (Amendment 22 to the Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish FMP)
  • Acknowledgement of Outgoing Council Members

Thursday, August 11

  • Swearing In of New and Reappointed Council Members
  • Election of Officers
  • Business Session

Read the full release here

Council Approves HAPC for Southern New England; Previews Northeast Regional Habitat Assessment Data Explorer

July 18, 2022 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council voted in late June to establish a new Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) that overlaps offshore wind-energy lease sites in Southern New England and includes a 10-kilometer buffer on all sides of the sites (see map below).

The Council selected this area to highlight its concerns over potential adverse impacts from offshore wind development on: (1) sensitive hard-bottom habitats; and (2) cod spawning activity. If approved by NOAA Fisheries, the HAPC designation would be applied during the essential fish habitat (EFH) consultation process for offshore wind projects in the area. Some projects are already permitted, while others are currently undergoing environmental review or are within the site assessment phase.

HAPCs are a subset of EFH. The proposed Southern New England HAPC overlaps designated EFH for several Council-managed species that rely on complex habitats. Furthermore, there has been recent evidence of cod spawning activity on Cox Ledge within the proposed HAPC. The boundaries cover the footprint of the wind-energy leases plus a buffer on all sides, recognizing that some aspects of offshore development may have impacts that extend out to at least 10 kilometers, such as acoustic impacts from pile driving.

The Council reviewed four other HAPC alternatives before selecting this fifth option, which combines the conservation objectives of the other alternatives and emphasizes the importance of complex habitat on the egg, juvenile, and adult life stages of species ranging from herring and scallops to monkfish, skates, winter flounder, and red hake in addition to cod. The Council initiated the framework for this HAPC in February 2022, postponed action in April pending further development, and took final action in June. View the latest HAPC presentation and other June meeting materials here.

Read the full release here