May 16, 2013 — Today NOAA Fisheries announces the establishment of a control date (today) for the Longfin Squid/Butterfish fishery, at the request of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
What does this mean? By establishing a control date of May 16, 2013, NOAA Fisheries is notifying the public that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council may use this date to limit the number of participants in this fishery through a future management action.
For further information, click here.
WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) — May 8, 2013 — Today NOAA is announcing Atlantic sea scallop measures for 2013 that include tighter measures supported by the industry. The hallmark of the scallop fishery is extensive cooperative research conducted with fishermen and by scientists from both agency and independent universities and institutes. Unlike in many other northeastern fisheries, the industry has faith in this science, and is supportive of NOAA's regulations.
NOAA is approving new measures for the scallop fishery for the 2013 fishing year, including revised catch limits, adjustments to the time of year when scallop fishermen can fish in the Georges Bank scallop access areas, continuation of the current closures of the Elephant Trunk and Delmarva Access Areas to protect young scallops, refinements to the scallop fishery yellowtail flounder accountability measures, adjustments to the industry-funded observer program, and other changes that provide more flexibility for fishermen in the individual fishing quota program to transfer unused quota among vessels.
The scallop industry continues to support measures to protect young scallops and maximize future fishing potential. This will result in reduced quotas for 2013 and 2014 and the continued closure of two special access areas in the Mid-Atlantic.
Read the notice from the Federal Register
May 7, 2013 — NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels/persons in the commercial fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean.
Updates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data. The estimated number of vessels/persons participating in fisheries operating within U.S. waters is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, vessels, or persons licensed in a fishery, then the number from the most recent LOF is used for the estimated number of vessels/persons in the fishery. NMFS acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflations of actual effort. However, in these cases, the numbers represent the potential effort for each fishery, given the multiple gear types several state permits may allow.
Read the proposed rule at the Federal Register
May 2, 2013 — The following was realeased by NOAA Fisheries: On Tuesday we announced management measures for three groundfish actions for the 2013 Fishing Year (Framework 50, Framework 48 and the Sector Operations Plans Rule for 2013).
The management measures were implemented as "interim final rules" because based on comments received when measures were proposed in each of these actions, some changes were made to the final measures implemented.
To provide a further opportunity for the public to provide comment on these changes, each of the three rules were issued as "interim final measures."
For Framework 50 interim final rule, public comments will be accepted through June 17. Public comment is appreciated on the following two measures that were changed from the proposed rule: carryover measures for 2014 and beyond, and the re-estimation of the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder catch by scallop vessels. For further details on these measures please refer to the interim final rule. Comments will not be accepted on any other measures included in this action.
For the Framework 48 Interim Final Rule the deadline for public comments is June 3. Public comments are appreciated on the status determination criteria for white hake and the US/Canada monitoring measures. For further details on these measures please refer to the interim final rule.
On the Sector Operations Plans Interim Final Rule we are accepting additional public comment on the
revised explanation of at-sea monitoring (ASM) coverage for fishing year 2013 through June 3, and revisions to the exemption from the limits on the number of gillnets imposed on Day gillnet vessels through May 17. For further details on these measures please refer to the final interim rule.
Finally, to clarify, while most measures contained within these three rules were effective on May 1, one measure, changes in minimum size limits for groundfish stocks has a delayed implementation date of July 1, 2013 to provide time for states to consider and adopt consistent measures so that fishermen can land these smaller groundfish in local ports.
Should you have any questions, please contact our Sustainable Fisheries Division at 978-281-9315.
May 2, 2013 — The following was released by NOAA:
NOAA Fisheries announces that voluntary vessel speed restriction zones (Dynamic Management Areas – DMAs) have been established in the vicinity of Portsmouth, NH and Race Point to protect aggregations of 3 and 9 right whales, respectively, sighted in these areas on May 1, 2013. These DMAs are in effect immediately through May 16, 2013. Mariners are requested to route around these areas or transit through them at 10 knots or less.
Please visit www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike for a graphic depicting this and all other management areas currently in effect.
Lat/Long Coordinates for these new areas:
Race Point DMA — in effect through May 16, 2013
42 23N
41 42N
070 27W
069 32W
Portsmouth, NH DMA — in effect through May 16, 2013
43 04N
42 24N
070 46W
069 53W
Nantucket DMA — in effect through May 13, 2013
41 44N
41 02N
070 30W
069 36W
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May 1, 2013 — Today NOAA Fisheries announced that it has taken Emergency action to suspend, for at least 180 days, existing monkfish possession limits for vessels issued both a Federal limited access Northeast multispecies permit and a limited access monkfish Category C or D permit that are fishing under a monkfish day-at-sea in the monkfish Northern Fishery Management Area during FY 2013.
Comments on this Emergency Action are being accepted through May 30.
Read the full regulation at NOAA Fisheries
May 1, 2013 — The final rules implementing final fishing measures for the groundfish fishery filed with the federal register.
To view the regulations that go into effect tomorrow you can click on the links to each of the following rules.
Framework 50 implements catch limits for groundfish stocks for 2013 through 2015, as well as catch limits for the U.S./Canada stocks for 2013.
Framework 48 also contains measures to enhance fishing opportunities for groundfish vessels to mitigate potential negative economic impacts from reductions in catch limits for 2013.
The sector operations plans interim final rule partially approves operations plans and grants 23 regulatory exemptions for 17 fishing sectors for fishing year 2013.
April 30, 2013 — NOAA Fisheries is implementing the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s jointly-recommended increased commercial quotas for 2013-2015 for the spiny dogfish fishery.
Increases from 2012 levels: 40.842 million lb in 2013 (+14%), 41.784 million lb in 2014 (+17%), and 41.578 million lb in 2015 (+16%). The commercial possession limit is also increased from 3,000 lb to 4,000 lb per trip (+33%).
Based on estimates from the recent updated stock assessment model, the spiny dogfish stock is not overfished (~35% above Bmsy), and overfishing is not occurring. Spiny dogfish were fully rebuilt from an overfished condition as of 2010, allowing significantly increased harvest levels in recent years.
For more information:
WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) April 30, 2013 — NOAA Fisheries has advised Members of Congress of its intention to file in the Federal Register catch limits for 2013 to 2015 for Northeast groundfish stocks, including 2013 total allowable catch for both US and Canadian fishermen on Georges Bank. The Federal Register notice is expected at approximately 4:15 p.m. today. A press release (see below) was released by the NOAA Fisheries office in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
The following information was provided to Members of Congress at noon today:
Reductions
– Many of the catch limits are substantial reductions from 2012, and are necessary to ensure stocks are not subject to overfishing.
– Final Fishing Year 2013 catch limits for Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank cod are 78 percent and 61 percent lower than the FY 2012 catch limits, respectively. Substantial reductions in the FY 2013 catch limits for other key stocks including Gulf of Maine haddock, Georges Bank yellowtail flounder, American plaice, witch flounder, Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder, and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder. However, for 4 of these stocks, 2013 catch limits are higher than what has been caught so far by the fishery in 2012.
– We are implementing a quota of 500 mt for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder, which was recommended by the joint US/Canada management body for fishing year 2013 based on the most recent assessment.
– The New England Fishery Management Council recommended a 2013 catch limit of 1,150 mt for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder, which is inconsistent with scientific advice from US and Canadian scientists and is nearly twice the quota level recommended during joint discussions with Canada.
– We are also modifying recreational fishing measures to reduce recreational catch of Gulf of Maine haddock (i.e., increasing size limit from 18 to 21 inches).
Increases
– We are either increasing catch limits or catch limits will be the same in 2013 as they were in 2012 for several other stocks including healthy redfish, pollock and white hake.
– For white hake, knowing the challenges facing groundfish fishermen, when we received new science, we immediately took emergency action to increase the 2013 white hake quota.
– The 2013 quota is a 15 percent increase over what was initially proposed in Framework 50 (from 3,638 mt to 4,177 mt).
– We are revising the rebuilding program for Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder in 2013, which will allow more than a 150-percent increase to the catch limit compared to 2012.
– We are allocating Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder to sectors beginning in 2013, and allowing groundfish vessels to land this stock, which has been prohibited since 2009.
– According to Council analysis, this could generate an estimated $5.4 million in additional ex-vessel revenue for the fishery.
Mitigation and Other Measures contained within these three actions
– We are allowing sectors to continue to carryover up to 10 percent of their 2012 uncaught quota into the 2013 fishing year for all stocks except Gulf of Maine cod, for which we are only allowing a carryover of just under 2 percent.
– The reason for only allowing a 1.85 percent carryover for Gulf of Maine cod is because allowing a higher percentage would result in overfishing of this stock.
– We are reducing the minimum fish sizes for most fish stocks to turn fish that would have otherwise been discarded into landed revenue.
– We are revising the administration of recreational and common pool accountability measures, which gives the Northeast Regional Administrator the authority to adjust measures proactively to facilitate the recreational fishery catching but not exceeding its quota and to relieve in season common pool accountability measures for small vessels using handgear.
– We are eliminating the dockside monitoring program that would have otherwise returned in FY 2013. This will reduce operating costs for the commercial fishery.
– We have approved 23 regulatory exemption requests submitted by sectors for 2013. For some of these exemptions we will be requiring 100 percent industry-funded at-sea monitoring coverage to gather more data on the impacts of activities and enable us to respond quickly should adjustments need to be made in these exemptions.
– We denied a previously approved seasonal Gulf of Maine sink gillnet mesh exemption which was designed to target Gulf of Maine haddock, given that this stock is experiencing overfishing and is approaching an overfished condition.
– We also disapproved a measure to allow multiple mesh sizes to be fished on the same trip due to concerns for enforcing minimum fish sizes and mesh sizes.
– At the Council’s request we removed a prohibition so that now sectors can request through their annual sector operations plans access for their vessels to portions of year-round groundfish closed areas.
– With this prohibition now removed, we will be able to consider sector access requests on a case by case basis through a separate rule.
– We expect to complete our analysis on these requests and make available a proposed rule in June.
– During the Framework 48 proposed rule comment period, we received a substantial number of public comments (about 75,000) on the issue of granting access to closed areas, which we are currently reviewing.
– We share the concerns raised over the importance of protecting spawning and juvenile fish, sensitive habitats and protected species.
– That is why when the issue of potentially granting access was first raised during the council meeting last fall, we clearly stated that areas established for habitat protection would not be reopened and requests for access to other sensitive areas such as the western Gulf of Maine closure and Cashes Ledge would probably not be viable.
– Should access be granted to these areas, it will be done in a responsible and sustainable manner providing protections for spawning fish, vulnerable groundfish stocks, habitat and protected species.
– At the Council’s request we are also correcting and simplifying reporting requirements for Georges Bank groundfish stocks.
Other Important Mitigation Measures
– We intend to cover at-sea monitoring costs in 2013 for the groundfish fishery.
– We are allowing groundfish fishermen participating in sectors to use smaller mesh trawl gear to more effectively target redfish, a healthy groundfish stock in some areas.
– We are implementing emergency measures to temporarily suspend monkfish trip limits into the Northern Management Area to allow more fishing of this healthy stock.
– Potentially landings and revenue would increase as a result of this action. Projected landings in 2013 potentially could be up by nearly 542,000 lb. generating about $661,000 more revenue than under existing trip limits.
– If fishermen catch the entire annual monkfish allocation in 2013, revenue would increase by about $1.9 million. This assumes that recently observed landing rates and average ex-vessel prices continue throughout fishing year 2013.
– We are establishing a new exempted fishery so that sectors don't have to use a groundfish day-at-sea to target spiny dogfish in some areas where they only catch a small amount of groundfish.
– Proposed quota increases for dogfish will also provide more opportunity. Proposed quota increases over 2012 levels: 40.842 million lb. in 2013 (+14%), 41.784 million lb. in 2014 (+17%), and 41.578 million lb. in 2015 (+16%).
The following media advisory has been released by the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Regional Office:
NOAA Fisheries announces catch limits for 2013-2014 Northeast groundfish stocks; remains committed to mitigating effects on New England fishermen
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — April 30, 2013 — Based largely on advice from the New England Fisheries Management Council, NOAA Fisheries announced today final management measures for the Northeast groundfish fishery, including much lower quotas for some key groundfish stocks, and actions that will help fishermen better manage and adjust to these quotas. In anticipation of these cuts, the Department of Commerce pre-emptively declared a fishery disaster in the fall of 2012 and continues to work with Congress to help mitigate impacts to the region and maintain the long-standing culture of fishing in these communities.
"We know that for some fishing communities that have relied heavily on cod, haddock and flounder, the next several years are going to be a struggle," said John Bullard, NOAA Fisheries northeast regional administrator. "We've done everything we can to include measures that may help soften the blow of quota cuts, but it's going to take a collective effort to find more ways to keep both the fishery and the businesses that support it viable while these stocks recover."
Quotas will be reduced on nine stocks of cod, haddock, and flounder. For nearly half of these stocks however, the 2013 quotas are higher than what fishermen actually caught in the last fishing year. The majority of these management measures are in line with recommendations from the Council, a body comprising federal and state members, fishermen and other industry representatives. NOAA Fisheries is also pursuing one additional measure by using its emergency authority to set a lower quota for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder to prevent overfishing on this stock for 2013. This limit is in line with the recommended catch limit provided by a joint U.S. and Canadian working group.
NOAA Fisheries is taking a series of steps to help fishermen adjust to these measures, including:
– Implementing an increase in quota for healthier stocks such as redfish, white hake, and pollock. Knowing the challenges facing groundfish fishermen, NOAA Fisheries adjusted the 2013 white hake quota upward by about 15 percent over the proposed level, because recent analysis shows the stock condition has improved.
– Revising the rebuilding program for southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder, at the request of the council. As a result, the catch limit for this stock will be increased by more than 150 percent over 2012, and generate an estimated $5.4 million in additional ex-vessel revenue for the fishery.
– Allowing some uncaught quota from last year to be carried forward into this year, reducing minimum legal sizes to allow more of the fish that are caught to be landed, and reducing some requirements for reporting, monitoring, and on small handgear operations.
– Allowing sector vessels to submit requests to NOAA Fisheries to fish in portions of areas that otherwise have been closed to fishing.
"In considering requests from fishing vessels to access year-round groundfish closed areas, we also want to address public concerns," said Bullard. "That's why we've been clear that areas defined as essential to protect fish spawning, feeding and breeding will remain closed and that access to other sensitive areas such as the western Gulf of Maine closure and Cashes Ledge probably won't be viable. If we do grant access to any portion of these closed areas, we want to do it in a way that is both responsible and sustainable, so spawning fish, vulnerable groundfish stocks, habitat, and protected species are not put at risk."
The mitigation measures approved today build on a suite of management measures NOAA previously developed in coordination with the council and fishermen to help the industry adjust to lower catch limits. For instance, NOAA intends to continue to cover at-sea monitoring costs in 2013 for the groundfish fishery as the budget allows. Through cooperation with the council, NOAA Fisheries also is working to increase access to spiny dogfish and redfish – both healthy stocks and another source of revenue for the industry.
April 24, 2013 — Based on recommendations of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, NOAA Fisheries is proposing to increase the overall catch limits for the 2013 and 2014 black sea bass fishery by approximately 1 million pounds.
This results in an increase of approximately 0.41 million pounds for the recreational black sea bass fishery, and a 0.39 million pound increase for the commercial fishery.For summer flounder, the Council has recommended that states establish their own or region-specific recreational management measures (bag limit, minimum size, and season) to ensure that the 2013 harvest limit is not exceeded. For the scup recreational fishery, we are proposing a decrease in minimum fish size and increase in trip limits so that fishermen can catch more fish on each fishing trip.