Regulations

This final rule implements approved measures in Framework Adjustment 1 to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan (Skate FMP).

Framework Adjustment 1 was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) to adjust the possession limits for the skate wing fishery in order to slow the rate of skate wing landings, so that the available Total Allowable Landings limit (TAL) is taken by the fishery over a longer duration in the fishing year (FY) than occurred in FY 2010, thus ensuring a steady market supply. The action would also allow vessels that process skate wings at sea to land skate carcasses for sale into the bait market, without counting the carcass landings against the TAL (skate wings are already converted to live weight for monitoring). Although recommended by the Council as part of Framework 1, this final rule announces that NMFS has disapproved a proposal to increase the incidental possession limit for skate wings that would apply after the skate wing possession limit trigger is reached. This final rule does not adjust the skate fishery specifications for FY 2011.

Read the new regulations.

 

 

 

 

 

April 28, 2011 – NOAA today proposed raising the catch limit for Atlantic sea scallop vessels from the current level of 47 million pounds to 51 million pounds in 2011 and to 55 million pounds in 2012.

"The sustainable and profitable scallop fishery has given Massachusetts the nation's top fishing port for landing values: the port of New Bedford," said Eric Schwaab, assistant administrator for NOAA's Fisheries Service. "Our goal is for all U.S. fisheries and the communities they support to experience similar success as we continue rebuilding our nation's fish stocks."

Another measure proposed would continue the successful scallop rotational area management scheme, which limits access in certain areas to allow small scallops to grow and replenish scallop stocks before they are caught. The rotational management scheme promotes higher catch with less fishing time in the areas that are open, an increase in efficiency that is a key goal of scallop fishery management.

The proposed rule would also limit scallop fishing in portions of the Mid-Atlantic during June through October, when scallop fishing activities overlap with the movements of endangered and threatened sea turtles.

Another measure would adjust days-at-sea allocations for some scallop fishermen only when the yellowtail flounder catch limit is reached in the Georges Bank access areas. The measure will allow yellowtail flounder to continue rebuilding while enabling scallop fishermen to harvest their full scallop allocations.

The proposed catch limits announced today are based on a recently proposed revision to the scallop fishery management plan. The revision brings the plan into compliance with new requirements under federal fisheries law, including annual catch limits and accountability measures to prevent overfishing for all federally managed fish species.

NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public.

Read this press release from NOAA.

 

 

 

 

 

NOAA Fisheries Service is seeking comments on measures to increase the previously implemented scup commercial and recreational landing allowances for 2011 and on management measures for the 2011 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries.

Read the notice from NOAA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACExchange has issued the following release:

4/15/2011 – A letter to Gary Locke, Secretary of the Department of Commerce was sent yesterday from Massachusetts Congressmen Barney Frank, John Tierney and Bill Keating addressing the need for more regulation of Allowable Catch Entitlement (ACE) transfers and entitlement exchanges for NE multispecies. ACExchange, the first marketplace for the buying, selling, and swapping of ACE fishing privileges, fully supports the need for more government regulation and oversight of the current ACE transfer system.
 
ACExchange is a fully-transparent, nonprofit marketplace that does not play a role in price establishment, take physical possession, or promote/allow for the consolidation or manipulation of ACE fishing privileges.  Similar to eBay, it is simply a free and open forum for permit holders/vessel owners (verified prior to account activation) to efficiently and directly express interest in buying, selling, or swapping ACE.
 
Due to growing concern from fishing communities regarding industry consolidation and manipulation within the new management system, ACExchange strongly feels that there is a distinct need for market regulation.  Issues such as quota (position) limits, speculation, market manipulation, fraud, and dispute resolution should be addressed.  In an effort to mitigate these problems, ACExchange has established a complete set of market rules that outline proper market participation on ACExchange.org.   In addition to this, ACExchange agrees that more government oversight and attention needs to be drawn to the current transfer system.
 
Co-founder Keith Flett stated, “The reason we developed ACExchange.org was to provide a solution to the inefficient marketplace for ACE transfers and serve as a hub of information for fishermen to make better decisions under the new regulations. Many permit owners have a difficult time finding the allocation they need to continue harvesting, while many ‘back-door’ deals allow for trades to occur on a who-you-know basis. I am happy to see that our nonprofit will help expedite the implementation of regulation and help provide needed solutions to the industry.”
 
It was also noted in the letter to Secretary Locke that fishermen were concerned as to how ACExchange developed its list of current permit holders. This information is made available to the public on the NOAA website.  It was the intention of ACExchange to notify these fishermen about the nonprofit organization.
 
ACExchange is extremely happy to see these issues brought to the table and fully supports the regulation of the ACE marketplace.  The nonprofit welcomes and encourages all industry professionals to directly contact them with any questions or concerns with the exchange.  For more information, please visitwww.ACExchange.org.

 

 

 

 

 

In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Duane Harris Chairman of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council says that  fisheries management in the South Atlantic region of the U.S. suffers from "a chronic, yet well-documented, lack of basic data which hampers scientists’ abilities to evaluate exploited populations and managers’ abilities to develop and ensure accountability with management measures. " He concludes that "the Council does not believe that a sufficient data delivery system is in place to properly implement the system of ACLs and AMs that the Council is establishing."

On October 27th, 2009, I testified on the implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act before the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife House Committee on Resources. My comments highlighted issues before the Council involving significant economic impacts based upon proposed closures and deficiencies in the current data collection system. I have attached my testimony and wish to make you aware of the Council’s belief that the current data delivery system is grossly inadequate to properly implement the system of annual catch limits (ACLs), accountability measures (AMs), and management measures that the Council is establishing in Snapper Grouper FMP Amendments 17A and 17B and the Comprehensive ACL Amendment.

Read the letter from the SAFMC.

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting Notice GROUNDFISH OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Monday, April 18, 2011
9:00 a.m. Holiday Inn 31 Hampshire Street, Mansfield, MA 02048 Phone: (508) 339-2200; Fax: (508) 339-1040

Agenda

The Groundfish Oversight Committee will review draft Framework Adjustment 46 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management plan (FW 46). FW 46 will consider adjustments to the haddock catch cap for the herring fishery. The Committee may choose preferred alternatives for this action that will be recommended to the Council. Continue planning for a workshop to be held this year that will review the first year of groundfish sector operations. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of allowing trading allocations of stocks managed under the US/Canada Resource Sharing Understanding.

Amendment 17 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP is in preparation. This amendment will authorize NOAA-funded, state-operated permit banks. Subject to the availability of the draft amendment, the Committee will provide an opportunity for public comment and may develop a Committee recommendation for the Council’s consideration.

Discuss concerns over recent cod catches by recreational fishermen in southern New England, and receive a brief update on the development of the MRIP recreation catch monitoring program. Other business may also be discussed.

The Committee’s recommendations will be delivered to the full Council at its meeting in Mystic, CT, April 26-28, 2011.

Note that if you are submitting comments for Council consideration at this meeting they must be received at the office by 12 p.m. EST on Wednesday, April 13, 2011.

This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. This schedule is subject to change. If you have questions, please call the Council office for final confirmation of meeting times, dates and locations.

Directions to hotel:
Take I-95 North or South to Exit 7 (Mansfield Route 140). At the second set of lights, take a right onto Forbes Boulevard. Continue straight on this road and it will change to Cabot Boulevard.
From 495 – take Exit 12 (Mansfield Route 140) to the 4th set of lights. Take a left onto Forbes Boulevard which turns into Cabot Boulevard. Stay in the right hand lane to the end of road.

 

 

 

 

NOAA Fisheries Service is holding an information session on proposed new measures for the 2011 groundfishing year through Framework 45 to the Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. There will be no opportunity for formal public comment.

New measures include:
– Creation of a Gulf of Maine Cod Spawning Protection Area just south of the Isles of Shoals; and
– Increased access to some closed areas and revised stock-specific trip limits for Hand Gear permit holders.

WHERE: Urban Forestry Center
45 Elwyn Road
Portsmouth, NH

WHEN: Wednesday, April 20, 2011
6:00 – 8:00 PM

For more information, contact Olivia Rugo at olivia.rugo@noaa.gov or 978-675-2167

 

See the flier from NOAA.

 

 

 

 

 

Size, season and bag limits for New Jersey's 2011 recreational summer flounder season will be set this Thursday at the New Jersey Fishery Management Council meeting in Absecon. The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Galloway Township Public Library, 306 E. Jimmie Leeds Road and is open to the public.

More relaxed regulations are expected this year as the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved a 33 percent increase in total allowable catch for summer flounder for the 2011 season. Anglers across the state can thank, in large part, the work done by the Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund for funding research that demonstrated that summer flounder stocks were not in the dire shape fishery managers had portrayed.

The question will be just how liberal will the regulations be.

There will be four options up for consideration this Thursday. All provide for a more relaxed season than 2010, which allowed for six fish at 18 inches and a season that ran from May 29 to Sept. 6, a total of 101 days.

Read the complete story from The Asbury Park Press.

 

 

 

 

 

NOAA’s Fisheries Service will require commercial fishermen who fish for yellowfin tuna, swordfish and other species with longlines in the Gulf of Mexico to use a new type of hook, called a weak hook, designed to reduce the incidental catch of Atlantic bluefin tuna. The hooks will be required starting May 5, 2011.

Directed fishing for bluefin tuna in the Gulf has been prohibited since the early 1980s, however bluefin are caught incidentally by longline fishermen who target other species. The Gulf of Mexico is the only known spawning area for the western stock of Atlantic bluefin tuna, a historically overfished species. Many bluefin die from the stress endured in this incidental capture in warm water even if fishermen release them.

“NOAA worked with longline fishermen from the Gulf to test the weak hook carefully over the last three years,” said Eric Schwaab, assistant NOAA administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “Our cooperative scientific research with fishermen is showing that this new technology can protect bluefin tuna in the Gulf while still allowing fishermen to target yellowfin tuna and swordfish.”

The weak hook is a circular hook constructed of thin gauge wire, and is  designed to straighten when a large fish, such as bluefin tuna, is hooked, releasing it but holding on to smaller fish. The average size of bluefin tuna landed in the Gulf of Mexico longline fishery is 485 pounds, while the average for yellowfin tuna is about 86 pounds.

Yellowfin tuna and swordfish are valuable commercial fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, supporting fishing jobs on approximately 50 vessels as well as jobs on shore. The two species bring longline fishermen annual dockside earnings of $7 million. Research showed that the weak hook could result in some reductions in target catch while some longline fishermen have reported weak hooks did not hurt their businesses.

“During our tests, we used regular hooks for half our hooks and half were the new weak hooks,” said Capt. Mike Carden, a longline fisherman from Panama City, Fla. who took part in the cooperative research. “We were so happy with the weak hooks we quit using the heavy hooks. The weak hook releases fish we don’t want to catch. Because it’s smaller and lighter, we catch more yellowfin tuna on the weak hook. There’s several of us who have gone to the weak hook.”

By putting the weak hook rule into effect during the spring 2011 bluefin tuna spawning season, NOAA is also following a recommendation by the scientific committee for the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. ICCAT, to which the U.S. is a member, manages Atlantic bluefin tuna. The scientific committee advised ICCAT to protect the western Atlantic bluefin tuna that were spawned in 2003 and will soon be reaching maturity and beginning to spawn themselves. Scientific data indicates that this is the largest year’s class of bluefin since 1974, and early estimates are that the number of fish born in subsequent years have been quite low.  Protecting these fish during spawning can help the long-term rebuilding of the depleted bluefin tuna population.

 

 

 

 

 

For common pool vessels fishing under a Northeast multispecies day-at-sea (DAS) permit, or fishing under a Northeast multispecies Small Vessel or Handgear A or B category permit:

Effective immediately, through April 30, 2011, the trip limits are increased for Georges Bank cod, Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder, and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder; and

Effective 0001 hours April 5, 2011, through April 30, 2011 the trip limits are reduced for Gulf of Maine cod and Gulf of Maine winter flounder.

To learn more about this click here