August 25, 2020 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Meeting materials for the upcoming webinar of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Tautog Management Board are now available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/
August 24, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.- Seminar on recent research into dolphin movements, migration patterns, and population dynamics in the North Atlantic, by Dr. Wessley Merten, Director of the Dolphinfish Research Program. The seminar is intended to inform interested Council members, Scientific and Statistical Committee members, and Dolphin Wahoo Advisory Panel members ahead of a summary presentation on the research topic that will take place at the September Council meeting. While the target audience is the Council, SSC and AP, the seminar is open to anyone interested in attending. Webinar registration link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/270467074706478349
NOAA Fisheries released two updates on U.S fisheries and the fishing industry – the 2019 Status of U.S. Fisheries Report and the 2017 Fisheries Economics of the U.S. Report. Read the agency’s web story and access both reports here. Information about stock status, management, assessment, and resource trends can be searched in the new Stock SMART web tool. NOAA also unveiled its 10-year roadmap for tackling ocean and Great Lakes acidification.
Kitty Hawk Offshore Project Update – A new meteorological buoy was deployed just above the Triple Zeros (~41033) in 16 fathoms east of Kitty Hawk on June 7, 2020 to collect wind and environmental data. Real-time sea state and wind data are now available to the fishing fleet. All of the fisheries information for the Kitty Hawk Offshore wind project, including the latest fisheries notices, notices to mariners, Fisheries FAQs, and the buoy data dashboard are available online at kittyhawkoffshore.com/fishing
NOAA Fisheries: Looking Back On 30 Years of Teachers at Sea – Since 1990, more than 850 teachers have sailed aboard NOAA research ships. They serve as valued crew members, conducting hands-on research and learning more about the science that informs conservation and management efforts. Teachers from around the country embark on a two to three-week expedition at sea. They gain invaluable on-the-job experience and communicate their journey through a series of blogs and lesson plans. Learn more
August 24, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
NOAA Fisheries recently implemented new permitting and reporting requirements for recreational tilefish fishermen. All recreational vessel operators (including for-hire operators using their vessels on recreational trips) targeting or retaining golden or blueline tilefish from Virginia to Maine are now required to obtain a free permit from NOAA Fisheries and submit electronic vessel trip reports (eVTRs) within 24 hours of returning to port.
A new app has been released to make the reporting process easy and convenient. Harbor Light Software’s eFin Logbook has received certification from NOAA Fisheries as an approved application through which anglers can report their trips. Funded by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, eFin Logbook is a user-friendly application designed specifically for recreational tilefish anglers. The app is available for use on all Apple and Android mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, Android phone, and Android tablet).
“During our initial outreach efforts, many anglers told us that the existing NOAA-approved reporting systems were too complicated for recreational reporting,” said Mid-Atlantic Council Executive Director Chris Moore. “Recreational stakeholders are generally supportive of the need for improved data collection on tilefish but have stressed the need for a simpler, more user-friendly interface. In response to this feedback, we collaborated with Harbor Light Software on the development of eFin Logbook, the first NOAA-approved electronic reporting system designed specifically for recreational fishermen.”
At present, eFin Logbook can only be used by tilefish recreational anglers to satisfy reporting requirements. Future modifications may expand its capabilities to other reporting and personal fishing log applications. For-hire operators, many of whom have other reporting requirements, are encouraged to choose different software. To learn more about other electronic reporting options and decide which one is right for you, visit the NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region Electronic Reporting Web Page.
August 24, 2020 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s American Shad Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Report, as well as the Assessment Overview are now available on the Commission’s Shad & River Herring webpage,http://www.asmfc.org/
American Shad Benchmark Stock Assessment and Peer Review Report (Aug 2020)
August 24, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:
The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Ad Hoc Southern Resident Killer Whale Workgroup will hold an online meeting, which is open to the public. The meeting will be held Tuesday, September 29 through Wednesday, September 30, 2020, starting at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) and ending at 5:00 p.m. daily, or until business for the day is complete.
Please see the September 29-30, 2020 Ad Hoc Southern Resident Killer Whale Workgroup meeting notice on the Pacific Council’s website for details.
For further information:
August 21, 2020 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:
The Briefing Book for the September 8-11 and 14-18, 2020 Council meeting has been posted to the Council’s website on the “September 2020 Briefing Book” webpage.
The Briefing Book contains the meeting agenda, “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and public comment submitted to our e-portal. Advisory body and committee agendas and memos are also available.
For further information:
August 20, 2020 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
Season 1 Landing Day Adjustment/Canceled Call
The Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) Atlantic herring fishery is projected to have harvested 92% of the Season 1 allocation by August 20, 2020. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2020, the Area 1A fishery will move to zero landing days through September 30, 2020, as specified in Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring. Therefore, the previously scheduled Days Out call on August 21, 2020, at 8:30 AM has been canceled.
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 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 2020 Area 1A fishery for Season 2 (October 1 – December 31). An announcement will be issued once the meeting is scheduled.
Eastern Maine Spawning Closure
Additionally, the Area 1A fishery regulations include seasonal spawning closures for portions of state and federal waters in Eastern Maine, Western Maine and Massachusetts/New Hampshire. The Commission’s Atlantic Herring Management 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. However, if sufficient samples are not available then closures will begin on predetermined dates.
There are currently no samples from the Eastern Maine spawning area to determine spawning condition. Therefore, per the Addendum II default closure dates, the Eastern Maine spawning area will be closed starting at 12:01 a.m. on August 28, 2020 extending through 11:59 p.m. on October 9, 2020. Eastern Maine spawning area includes all waters bounded by the following coordinates:
Maine coast 68° 20’ W
43° 48’ N 68° 20’ W
44° 25’ N 67° 03’ W
North along the US/Canada border
The same 2,000 pounds incidental bycatch allowance applies for non-directed fisheries that are fishing within the Eastern Maine spawning area during a spawning closure.
For more information, please contact Max Appelman, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at 703.842.0740 or mappelman@asmfc.org.
August 19, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council is soliciting applicants to fill one vacancy on its Whiting Advisory Panel and another vacancy on its Herring Advisory Panel (AP). The appointments will run through December 2022. The application deadline is Friday, September 4, 2020.
Advisory panel members reflect a wide range of expertise covering different gear types, user groups, geographic locations, and social and economic perspectives.
“We’re looking for applicants who understand the whiting and herring fisheries and are ready to commit to an active role on an AP,” said Council Executive Director Tom Nies. “We recognize that being an AP member can be challenging and sometimes time-demanding, but the Council benefits from the expertise of its AP members and genuinely appreciates their involvement in the development of our actions.”
August 19, 2020 — The following was released by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council:
Do you fish from a boat? Do you catch tunas, mahimahi, ono, or uku? Then we want to talk to YOU!
The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is hosting a virtual public meeting to get comments on options for mandatory permitting and reporting as well as the effectiveness of the longline prohibited area around Hawaii. Come to the meetings, talk story with us and let us know how YOUR fisheries should be managed!
Hawaii Small Boat Fishery Fact Sheet
Hawaii Fisheries Fact Sheet
Can’t make it to the public scoping meetings but want to provide comments? Fill-out a comment form online at: https://forms.gle/AoFMcMTP4axUvrKF6
Public comments will be accepted until September 7, 2020, C.O.B.
For more information, questions, etc. please contact Council staff Joshua DeMello at (808) 522-7493 or Joshua.DeMello@wpcouncil.org.
August 18, 2020 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is scheduled for September 14-17, 2020. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in Charleston, South Carolina. Due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19 and public safety, the Council meeting will be held via webinar.
The meeting will be available via webinar each day as it occurs. Registration is required and can be completed in advance by visiting the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/september-2020-council-meeting-details/.
A formal public comment session will be held on Wednesday, September 16th beginning at 4:00 PM. Meeting materials and an online comment form will be available beginning August 28, 2020 through the website.
Agenda Highlights:
Additional Information:
Information on the September 2020 meeting and other meetings of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is available from the Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/. For questions, please contact: Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer at kim.iverson@safmc.net or by phone at 843/302-8440.
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