Regulations

January 14, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA:

NOAA Fisheries has approved Framework Adjustment 52 to the Groundfish Fishery Management
Plan, which allows fishery managers to adjust accountability measures for southern and northern windowpane flounder if certain criteria are met.

As a result, effective immediately, we are reducing the size of the accountability measure restricted gear use area for the southern New England windowpane flounder stock. The stock meets certain health condition criteria.  This change remains in place through April 30, 2015 (the end of the 2014 fishing year).

Criteria were not met for the northern windowpane flounder stock, so no changes will be made to those accountability measures.

Click here to read more about this 

 

December 30, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries proposes regulations to implement Framework Adjustment 8 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan.

This action would allow the black sea bass recreational fishery to begin on May 15 of each year, instead of May 19, to provide additional fishing opportunities earlier in the year.
The deadline to submit public comments is 5 p.m. local time, on January 28, 2015.

Click here for more on the proposed measures.

December 23, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA:

NOAA Fisheries announces that a voluntary vessel speed restriction zone (Dynamic Management Area – DMA) has been established south of Nantucket to protect an aggregation of 7 right whales sighted in this area on December 22, 2014. This DMA is in effect immediately through January 6, 2015.  Mariners are requested to route around this area or transit through it at 10 knots or less.
 
Cape Cod Bay DMA — in effect through January 6, 2015
42 11N
41 26N
070 43W
069 46W

South of Nantucket DMA — in effect through December 28, 2014
41 35N
40 56N
069 56W
070 46W

ACTIVE SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREAS (SMAs)
Mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less (50 CFR 224.105) are in effect in the following areas:

Mid-Atlantic U.S. SMAs — in effect through April 30, 2015

Southeast U.S. SMA — in effect through April 15, 2015

FOR RECENT RIGHT WHALE SIGHTINGS, VISIT:
www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/surveys/

DOWNLOAD THE WHALE ALERT APP FOR iPAD AND iPHONE:
stellwagen.noaa.gov/protect/whalealert.html

DETAILS AND GRAPHICS OF ALL SHIP STRIKE MANAGEMENT ZONES CURRENTLY IN EFFECT:
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike
 
ACOUSTIC DETECTIONS IN CAPE COD BAY AND THE BOSTON TSS:
www.listenforwhales.org
 
APPROACHING A RIGHT WHALE CLOSER THAN 500 YARDS IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW. PLEASE REPORT ALL RIGHT WHALE SIGHTINGS TO:
866-755-NOAA (6622)

 

December 23, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA:

NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on the deterrence provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. To inform development of these national guidelines, NOAA Fisheries published a notice in the Federal Register on December 16, 2014 (79 FR 74710) to request input on which deterrents the public would like NMFS to evaluate and consider for approval. The comment period ends on January 15, 2015.
  
The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) allows for private citizens to employ measures to deter marine mammals from damaging fishing gear and catch, damaging personal or public property, or endangering personal safety, as long as these measures do not result in death or serious injury of marine mammals. The MMPA also directs the Secretary of Commerce, through NOAA Fisheries, to develop national guidelines on safely deterring marine mammals under NOAA Fisheries' jurisdiction (e.g., whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions). To inform development of these national guidelines, NMFS requests input on which deterrents the public would like NOAA Fisheries to evaluate and consider for approval. Any subsequent national guidelines for safely deterring marine mammals would then be released for public notice and comment as required by the MMPA. Such national guidelines would likely be tailored to each species group (pinnipeds, large cetaceans, and small cetaceans) as differences in physiology and behavior would affect whether a deterrent is appropriate for one or more species group. National guidelines would also address relevant implementation considerations. Deterrents could be considered ''passive'' or ''active'' in nature. Deterrents may include physical barriers, acoustic deterrent and harassment devices, visual repellents, boat hazing, noisemakers, and physical contact. For each deterrent device or technique submitted to NOAA Fisheries for consideration and evaluation, we request information on the specifications (e.g., source and frequency levels, pulse rate, type of fencing, size of flags, etc.) for each deterrent or technique, which marine mammal species or species group (large cetaceans, small cetaceans, pinnipeds) would be deterred, how a deterrent would be employed (e.g., attached to fishing gear, launched some distance from a marine mammal), any evidence that the deterrent will not result in mortality or serious injury, and any other implementation considerations. This information will help NOAA Fisheries determine which devices or techniques are appropriate for the development of guidelines and specific measures for safely deterring both non-ESA listed and ESA listed marine mammals.
 
Addresses
You may submit comments by the following methods:

Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0146, click the "Comment Now!" icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.

Mail: NOAA Fisheries Service
Southeast Regional Office
Protected Resources Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
 
All personal identifying information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA Fisheries will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. Comments received through means not specified in this bulletin may not be considered.

 

December 23, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA:

Effective December 29, 2014 through May 12, 2015, gillnet vessels can change category Gulf of Maine cod trip limits in Gulf of Maine Broad Stock Area.

Click here to read more about this and other minor changes to this rule.

 

December 24, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA:

As part of an ongoing initiative to improve our reporting processes, we've recently updated the Vessel Trip Reporting (VTR) reporting instructions. A letter (bulletin) is being sent to vessel owners with improved guidance on when and how to properly complete a trip report. Click here for more information.

 

December 17, 2014 — This data is a valuable tool for the fishermen, fishery managers and scientists who are grappling with the challenge of adapting fishing regulations to a changing climate.

Ever wonder why black sea bass quotas are so low, yet fishermen catch so many? Or why it’s easy for Rhode Island to overfish summer flounder quotas? Why cod have moved offshore or why cobia is now being caught in our waters more than ever before?

They all have to do with our oceans warming, which has caused fish populations to move north or into deeper, cooler water.

Now, you can track 80 Northeast native species (650 in total) on a new Rutgers University website called OceanAdapt.

How warm is the water? URI studies confirm that Narragansett Bay has warmed 2 to 2.5 degrees, depending on time of year, over the past 45 years.

Jonathan Hare, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Narragansett Laboratory, and Malin Pinsky, of Rutgers’ Institute of Marine and Coastal Science, have developed OceanAdapt as a collaboration between the Pinsky Lab at Rutgers and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The website provides information about the impacts of changing climate and other factors on the distribution of marine life. It hosts an annually updated database of fisheries surveys and provides tools for exploring changes in marine fish distribution.

Read the fulll story from the Providence Journal

 

December 16, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries announces that a voluntary vessel speed restriction zone (Dynamic Management Area – DMA) has been established south of Nantucket to protect an aggregation of 10 right whales sighted in this area on December 13, 2014.This DMA is in effect through December 28, 2014. Mariners are requested to route around this area or transit through it at 10 knots or less. COORDINATES: 41 35N;40 56N;069 56W;070 46W

FOR RECENT RIGHT WHALE SIGHTINGS, VISIT:
www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/surveys/

DOWNLOAD THE WHALE ALERT APP FOR iPAD AND iPHONE:
stellwagen.noaa.gov/protect/whalealert.html

FOR AN AUTOMATIC RETURN EMAIL LISTING ALL CURRENT U.S. DYNAMIC MANAGEMENT AREAS AND SEASONAL MANAGEMENT AREAS, PLEASE SEND A BLANK MESSAGE TO:
nmfs.gar.rightwhale@noaa.gov
 
ACOUSTIC DETECTIONS IN CAPE COD BAY AND THE BOSTON TSS:
www.listenforwhales.org
 
APPROACHING A RIGHT WHALE CLOSER THAN 500 YARDS IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW. PLEASE REPORT ALL RIGHT WHALE SIGHTINGS TO:
866-755-NOAA (6622)

 

December 11, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

On December 11, NOAA Fisheries announced final revisions to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan.

Based on input from the state of Massachusetts, lobster fishermen and other stakeholders, the size of an area scheduled to be closed in 2015 will be expanded by approximately 912 square miles. The closure start date will be shifted from January to February.

By expanding the area, whales will be protected. By shifting the start date to February 1, 2015, the fishing industry will be able to continue fishing through the lucrative holiday season. Other measures were implemented to ensure state and federal regulations were consistent.
 
Click here to read more about these plan revisions.

Previous webstory, which provides background on how the management measures were developed.

Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan

 

December 10, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA:

Effective January 1, 2015, the closures referred to as the Northern and Southern Temporary Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Closed Areas (see figure in the link below) are lifted for gastropod (whelks, conchs, snails) and whole and roe-on scallop harvesting.

However, overlapping Essential Fish Habitat Areas will remain closed to all bottom-tending mobile gear, including scallop dredge gear.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries will be coordinating regular testing of the area. If test results yield samples that exceed the threshold for public safety, they will inform us to that effect, and we would work to reinstate the closure if necessary.

Click here for more information