Regulations

October 24, 2012 — NOAA Fisheries Service extends the emergency closure of the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Delmarva Access Area which is scheduled to expire on November 10, 2012.

Specifically, this temporary rule extends the 180-day closure of the Delmarva Access Area in fishing year 2012 to scallop fishing for an additional 186 days, through May 14, 2013.   The Emergency Closure was first enacted on June 13, 2012 at the request of the scallop industry and the New England Fishery Management Council.

 

Read the full announcement from NOAA here

 

 

October 19, 2012 — Today NOAA announces a proposal to allow vessels to fish for spiny dogfish in an inshore portion of Georges Bank during specified times of year and using specific fishing gears and not be subject to Northeast multispecies regulations, such as the requirement to use a multispecies days-at-sea.

Specifically the proposal would allow vessels to fish for spiny dogfish with gillnet and longline gear from June through December, and handline gear from June through August. 

For a copy of the proposed rule and associated environmental assessment, click here.  Comments on this proposal will be accepted through 5 p.m. November 5, 2012.

 

 

October 15, 2012 — NOAA has released the following:

NOAA Fisheries announces that the software running on vessel monitoring system (VMS) units is being upgraded to comply with recent regulatory changes. Improvements have also been made that will make it easier for fishermen to use their VMS to report catch and fishing location information.  For example:

1. For groundfish and monkfish fishermen, they simplified the format and menu to make it easier to declare fishing trips, and they separated sector and common pool declarations;



2. For scallop fishermen, they have added new access area choices; and,



3. For all fishermen, there are now five Declare Out of Fishery selections to choose from.

Over the next few weeks, VMS service providers will be sending software updates and instructions for installing this software. These software updates will be provided on disk (Skymate), a thumb drive (Thrane and Thrane) or over the air (Boatracs). Vessel operators are reminded to make sure that the vessel’s VMS unit has the new software loaded and that they begin using it for trips on or after November 1, 2012.



If there are any questions about the new VMS software or about Northeast VMS changes and requirements, please call (978) 281-9213 and ask for a VMS team member.

 

 

 

October 3, 2012 — NOAA Fisheries is closing the directed herring fishery in Management Area 3, because 95 percent of the catch limit for that area has been caught.

Effective 0001 hr,October 7, 2012, federally permitted vessels may not fish for, catch, possess, transfer, or land more than 2,000 lb (907.2 kg) per calendar day of Atlantic herring in or from Area 3 until January 1, 2013, when the 2013 allocation for Area 3 becomes available. Click on link below for more information.

Read the full notice here

 

 

September 28, 2012 — The following was released by NOAA

In April 2012, we issued a notice announcing the implementation of the Coastal Gulf of Maine Closure Area beginning October 1, 2012 under the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan regulations. After reviewing a request to analyze updated harbor porpoise bycatch and fishing information, we have decided to temporarily shift, for one year, the dates of the Coastal Gulf of Maine Closure Area to February and March of 2013.

In August 2012, we received a request from a fishing industry representative to temporarily shift the dates of the Coastal Gulf of Maine Closure from October and November of 2012 to February 1 through March 31 of 2013, citing conservation benefits to harbor porpoises and economic benefits to the struggling groundfish industry. After careful review and consideration of the request and updated harbor porpoise bycatch and fishing effort data, we conclude that there is a benefit to harbor porpoises by shifting the timing of the closure to the entire month of February and March, and there may be economic benefits to the groundfish industry by allowing fishing to occur during October and November. This is a temporary shift that is only applicable to February and March of 2013. As a reminder, pinger requirements still apply when the area is not closed. You are responsible for ensuring that your nets are equipped with the proper number of functioning pingers.

We plan to convene the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Team in late October to review the most recent harbor porpoise abundance and bycatch information, as well as information related to changes in fishing effort and practices that may have resulted from the implementation of groundfish sectors in 2010. At that time, the Team may recommend an alternative conservation strategy for effectively reducing harbor porpoise bycatch in gillnet fisheries.

The two-year average bycatch rate in the Southern New England Management Area has not exceeded the target rate. Therefore, the Eastern Cape Cod and Cape Cod South Expansion Consequence Closure Areas will not be closed at this time. We will continue to monitor bycatch rates in these areas.

 

Read the notice here 

 

 

September 25, 2012 — NOAA Fisheries is adjusting the days-at-sea (DAS) counting rates for groundfish fishing vessels in the common pool for fishing year (FY) 2012 based on final FY 2011 sector and common pool catch information and preliminary FY 2011 catch estimates for other components of the groundfish fishery (i.e., exempted fisheries, non-groundfish vessels (e.g., scallop vessels)).

Why are the DAS counting rates being adjusted?

The groundfish sub-ACL for northern windowpane flounder was exceeded by 42 percent, despite a rate of 1.3 that was applied in FY 2011 due to an FY 2010 overage. As required, we are increasing the FY 2012 DAS rate to 1.8 (1.3 x 1.4) as a result of consecutive FY overages in the Offshore GB Differential DAS Area. The groundfish sub-ACL for Atlantic halibut was also exceeded by 29 percent, and therefore, we are increasing the FY 2012 DAS rate to 1.3 in the Offshore GOM and Inshore GB Differential DAS Areas. Finally, the total ACL for southern windowpane flounder was exceeded by 135 percent, and we are increasing the FY 2012 DAS rate to 2.4 in the SNE/MA Differential DAS Area.

Read the full notice here

 

 

September 21, 2012 — The following was released by NOAA

Applications for limited access permits due February 28, 2013

There is still time to apply for a limited access mackerel permit!

Applications must be submitted by February 28, 2013.  We can't consider applications that are postmarked after that date!  Applications and a full application guide are available online at www.nero.noaa.gov.

 

Read the full release here  

 

 

September 18, 2012 — Based on available information, NOAA Fisheries has determined that 90 percent of the total allowable landings for northern red hake has been landed. Therefore, effective 0001 hours, September 20, 2012, the northern red hake possession limit is reduced to 400 lb for the remainder of the fishing year. This possession limit reduction applies to the northern red hake stock area, which covers the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Exemption Area.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — September 17, 2012 — The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries announced this week that the 2012 commercial bluefish quota is approaching its limit. This year's commercial quota, 692,986 pounds, is projected to be harvested by the end of the day Sept. 18. The commercial bluefish fishery will then close at midnight, officials said.

From Sept. 19 through Dec. 31 it will be unlawful for commercial fishermen to land or possess bluefish, and for seafood dealers to purchase bluefish from Massachusetts commercial fishermen. The recreational bluefish fishery remains open with a limit of 10 fish per angler, the DMF said in a news release.

 

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard Times.

 

 

September 17, 2012 — NOAA today announced that effective 0001 hours on September 19, 2012, fishing vessels issued a Federal permit for the bluefish fishery may no longer land bluefish in Massachusetts for the remainder of the 2012 calendar year.

Read the full release from NOAA here.