Saving Seafood

Angling group calls for 10-year ban on harvesting striped bass

March 8, 2021 — An angling conservation organization is calling for 10-year moratorium on harvesting striped bass in an effort to help rebuild the depleted stock of the popular fish.

The call by Stripers Forever comes as the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission seeks to amend its Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Striped Bass for an area stretching from Maine to North Carolina.

According to the ASMFC, its 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessemnt indicates that the Atlantic striped bass stock is overfished and overfishing is occurring. In 2019,  87% of the estimated 5.4 million striped bass that were caught were landed by recreational anglers. Commercial catches are regulated on a coastwide quoata system. ASMFC is now seeking public comment through April 9 on regulating the striped bass fishery. Comments can be emailed to comments@asmfc.org.

After receiving public conment, ASMFC’s timetable calls for it to develop a draft amendment which it will send out for public comment from November 2021 to January 2022. It is then scheduled to approve the  amendment in February 2022.

Read the full story at The Day

North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission tackles circle hooks through fishery management plans

March 3, 2021 — Recreational and commercial fishermen may see new requirements for circle hooks on a species-by-species basis in the future.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission met online Feb. 25 via Webinar, during which the commission unanimously agreed to maintain current circle hook requirements while considering additional rules on a species-by-species basis through the fishery management plan process. Circle hooks are a type of gear recommended by conservationists and marine scientists to reduce dead discards.

N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Executive Assistant for Council Steve Poland delivered a report on a commission-requested study on the effectiveness of barbless circle hooks. According to the report, current scientific opinions support the use of hook modifications to reduce discard mortality.

“The general consensus is the science supports circle hooks,” Mr. Poland said. “However…science also suggests not all circle hooks are created equal.”

Existing state and interstate regulations require circle hooks for some fisheries, but not all. The DMF requires them in areas of Pamlico Sound when fishing for red drum. Meanwhile, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission requires non-offset circle hooks when fishing for sharks in state waters and when using natural bait to fish for striped bass in the Atlantic Ocean. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council also has some circle hook regulations, requiring the hooks when fishermen are in possession of snapper-grouper species in South Atlantic Ocean waters.

Read the full story at the Carteret County News-Times

ASMFC Sciaenid Board to Meet Via Webinar March 18 from 1–3 PM

March 3, 2021 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Sciaenid Management Board will meet via webinar on March 18, 2021 from 1 – 3 PM. The Board will consider approval of state implementation plans to reduce recreational and commercial harvest of Atlantic croaker and spot in response to declining trends in abundance and harvest identified in the latest Traffic Light Approach (TLA) report. In October 2020, based on the TLA, the Board initiated a management response as outlined in Addendum III for each species. Specifically, the Addendum requires states to implement a 50-fish bag limit for their recreational fisheries for each species and reduce commercial harvest by 1% of the average state commercial harvest from the previous 10 years. De minimis states, which have minimal commercial and/or recreational fisheries, are not required to change their measures. However, states with more restrictive measures in place are encouraged to maintain them. The Board will also review the Spot Fishery Management Plan Review and state compliance reports, and receive an update on the ongoing red drum simulation stock assessment.

Meeting materials are available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/Meetings/SciaenidBoardMaterials_March2021.pdf.

Webinar Instructions

To register for the webinar go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6403860697365421070, Webinar ID# 815-817-291. The webinar will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting so that people can troubleshoot any connectivity or audio issues they may encounter.  If you are having issues with the webinar (connecting to or audio related issues), please contact Chris Jacobs at 703.842.0790.

If you are joining the webinar but will not be using VoIP, you can may also call in at 877.309.2071 (a pin will be provided to you after joining the webinar); see webinar instructions for details on how to receive the pin. For those who will not be joining the webinar but would like to listen in to the audio portion only, you can do so by dialing 877 309 2071 (access code: 389-114-411).

Public Comment 

Submitting Comments Prior to the Meeting
Public comment may be provided in advance of the meeting by sending comments to comments@asmfc.org no later than March 15 (Subject line: Sciaenid Board). These will be distributed to the Board on March 16.
 
Providing Comments at the Meeting
For issues that are not on the agenda, the Board Chair will provide an opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the Board’s attention at the start of the meeting. The Board Chair will ask members of the public to raise their hands to let the chair know they would like to speak. Depending upon the number of commenters, the Board Chair will decide how to allocate the available time on the agenda (typically 10 minutes) to the number of people who want to speak. For topics that are on the agenda, the Board Chair will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. The Chair has the flexibility in deciding how to allocate comment opportunities; this could include hearing one comment in favor and one in opposition until the Chair is satisfied further comment will not provide additional insight to the Board.
 
For more information, please contact Savannah Lewis, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at slewis@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Board to Meet Via Webinar March 16 from 1–3 PM

March 3, 2021 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board will meet via webinar on March 16, 2021 from 1 – 3 PM. The Board will consider recommendations from the Circle Hook Ad Hoc Committee regarding a definition of bait and method of fishing that would require the use of circle hooks, as well as consider how to handle incidental catch. Addendum VI mandates the use of circle hooks when fishing with bait to reduce release mortality in recreational striped bass fisheries. The Commission recognized outreach and education would be necessary to garner industry support and provide the bait and tackle industry time to meet increased demand for circle hooks. Therefore, the implementation of the circle hook requirement was delayed a year. In October 2020, the Board approved state circle hook implementation plans with the caveat that no exemptions to the requirement would be permitted. Since then, the Commission and several states have received questions and comments from the public about differing interpretations of the circle hook requirement. Based on the guidance of the Ad Hoc Committee, the Board will consider changes to the circle hook regulations for state implementation.

Meeting materials will be available at http://www.asmfc.org/home/meeting-archive no later than March 10.

Webinar Instructions

To register for the webinar go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1442897219080155404, Webinar ID# 671-975-587. The webinar will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting so that people can troubleshoot any connectivity or audio issues they may encounter. If you are having issues with the webinar (connecting to or audio related issues), please contact Chris Jacobs at 703.842.0790.

If you are joining the webinar but will not be using VoIP, you can may also call in at 914.614.3221 (a pin will be provided to you after joining the webinar); see webinar instructions for details on how to receive the pin. For those who will not be joining the webinar but would like to listen in to the audio portion only, you can do so by dialing 914.614.3221 (access code: 187-843-855)

Public Comment

Submitting Comments Prior to the Meeting

Public comment may be provided in advance of the meeting by sending comments to comments@asmfc.org no later than March 14 (Subject line: ASB Board). These will be distributed to the Board on March 15.

Providing Comments at the Meeting

For issues that are not on the agenda, the Board Chair will provide an opportunity to the public to bring matters of concern to the board’s attention at the start of the meeting. The Board Chair will ask members of the public to raise their hands to let the Chair know they would like to speak. Depending upon the number of commenters, the Board Chair will decide how to allocate the available time on the agenda (typically 10 minutes) to the number of people who want to speak. For topics that are on the agenda, the Board Chair will provide limited opportunity for comment, taking into account the time allotted on the agenda for the topic. The Chair has the flexibility in deciding how to allocate comment opportunities; this could include hearing one comment in favor and one in opposition until the chair is satisfied further comment will not provide additional insight to the Board.

For more information, please contact Emilie Franke, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at efranke@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

States Schedule Public Hearings on Atlantic Striped Bass Draft Amendment 7 Public Information Document

February 24, 2021 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic coastal states of Maine through Virginia have scheduled their virtual hearings to gather public input on the Atlantic Striped Bass Draft Amendment 7 Public Information Document (PID). The details of those hearings follow:

As the first step in the amendment process, the PID seeks input from those interested in striped bass about changes observed in the fishery/resource and potential management measures. It has been 18 years since the last plan amendment to the Atlantic Striped Bass FMP was adopted (Amendment 6). Since then, the status and understanding of the striped bass stock and fishery has changed considerably which raises concern that the management program no longer reflects current fishery needs and priorities. The results of the 2018 Benchmark Stock Assessment in particular led the Board to discuss a number of prominent issues facing striped bass management. Consequently, the Board initiated the development of Amendment 7 in August 2020.

The purpose of the PID is to solicit stakeholder input on prioritizing the importance of each topic for continued development and potential inclusion in the Draft Amendment. The PID considers the following management topics: (1) fishery goals and objectives; (2) biological reference points; (3) management triggers; (4) stock rebuilding targets and schedule; (5) regional management; (6) management program equivalency (conservation equivalency); (7) recreational release mortality; (8) recreational accountability; (9) coastal commercial quota allocation; and (10) other issues raised in public comments.

Webinar Instructions

To register for a public hearing please click here: Public Hearing Registration and select the hearing(s) you plan to attend from the dropdown menu. Hearings will be held via GoToWebinar, which can be accessed using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. When connecting to audio, we strongly encourage participants to use computer voice over internet (VoIP) so you can ask questions and provide input. To attend the webinar in listen only mode, dial 1-213-929-4232 and enter access code 527-210-568. Those joining by phone only will be limited to listening to the presentation and will not be able to provide input at the hearing. For technical assistance setting up and logging into GoToWebinar, contact Toni Kerns at 703.842.0718.

If you are connected only by phone in listen only mode, you will not show up as a webinar attendee. In the event that there are no webinar attendees, the public hearing will be cancelled unless state staff request that the hearing content is presented.

The Commission will also post a recording of the hearing presentation on the Commission’s YouTube page so that stakeholders may watch the presentation and submit comment at any time during the comment process. This recording will be available by March 1, 2021.

Submitting Comments

Stakeholders are encouraged to provide input on the PID either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The PID is available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/StripedBassAm7PID_PublicComment_Feb2021.pdf or via the Commission’s website at http://www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input. Public comment will be accepted until 5 PM (EST) on April 9, 2021 and should be forwarded to Emilie Franke, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite 200A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Striped Bass PID). If your organization is planning to release an action alert in response to the PID, please contact Emilie Franke at 703.842.0740, so she can work with you to develop a unique subject line to enable us to better organize and summarize incoming comments for Board review.

The Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board will meet at the Commission’s 2021 Spring Meeting in May to consider public comment and provide direction to staff for items to be included in Draft Amendment 7. For more information, please contact Emilie Franke, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at efranke@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

MAFMC and ASMFC to Hold Public Hearings for Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment

February 22, 2021 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) are seeking public comment on management options under consideration in the Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment. This amendment contains alternatives to:

  • Revise the fishery management plan (FMP) goals and objectives;
  • Modify the bluefish allocations between the commercial and recreational sectors;
  • Modify the commercial allocations to the states;
  • Initiate a rebuilding plan;
  • Revise the quota transfer processes;
  • Revise how the FMP accounts for management uncertainty; and
  • Revise the de minimis provisions in the Commission’s FMP.

Comments may be provided at any of 5 virtual public hearings to be held between March 24 and April 8, 2021 or via written comment until April 23, 2021

We encourage you to visit the Council’s Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment web page or the Commission’s Public Input web page, where you can read the Public Hearing Document, the Draft Amendment, and watch the public hearing presentation (to be posted by March 12, 2021).

The Council’s Public Hearing Document is an abbreviated version of the amendment which summarizes proposed management options and impacts. The Commission’s Draft Amendment is a more comprehensive management document that will resemble the Commission’s final amendment once approved. Both documents contain identical options for public input, but each have been developed according to each management body’s differing requirements. Commenters need only to submit comment on one of the documents. We have also developed a Quick Reference Guide which provides an overview of the alternatives under consideration in the amendment.

Virtual Hearing Schedule

Interested members of the public are encouraged to provide oral comments at any of the following public hearings. While we encourage you to attend the hearing that is targeted toward your state or regional grouping, anyone is welcome to participate in any hearing. See the hearing announcement for a list of hearing contacts.

  • Wednesday, March 24, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida
  • Thursday, March 25, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Delaware, Maryland, Potomac River Fisheries Commission, and Virginia
  • Tuesday, March 30, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Connecticut and New York
  • Thursday, April 1, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island
  • Thursday, April 8, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: New Jersey

Webinar Connection Instructions

To register for a public hearing please click here: Public Hearing Registration and select the hearing(s) you plan to attend from the dropdown menu. Hearings will be held via GoToWebinar, which can be accessed using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. When connecting to audio, we strongly encourage participants to use computer voice over internet (VoIP) so you can ask questions and provide input. To attend the webinar in listen only mode, dial 1-866-901-6455 and enter access code 140-544-592. Those joining by phone only will be limited to listening to the presentation and will not be able to provide input. For technical assistance setting up and logging into GoToWebinar, contact Dustin Colson Leaning at 703-842-0714.

Please note that if you are connected only by phone in listen only mode, you will not show up as a webinar attendee. In the event that there are no webinar attendees, the public hearing will be cancelled unless state staff request that the hearing content is presented. 

Read the full release here

Reminder: Public Hearing Webinars for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment to Begin This Week

February 16, 2021 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The first two public hearing webinars for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment will be held this week, on Wednesday, February 17 and Thursday, February 18. Additional hearings will be held on February 24, March 1, and March 2. All hearings will begin at 6:00 p.m. Written comments may also be submitted through March 16, 2021.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) are developing this joint amendment to consider adjusting the allocations of catch or landings between the commercial and recreational fisheries for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. The amendment also considers options that would allow a portion of the allowable landings to be transferred between the commercial and recreational sectors each year.

Learn More

Complete details about the management alternatives being considered in this amendment are available in the Public Hearing Document. We have also developed a new Alternatives Quick Reference Guide which provides an overview of the alternatives under consideration in the amendment. This guide should be used in conjunction with the Public Hearing Document and is intended to help members of the public provide comments on specific alternatives.

Finally, we have posted a recording of the Public Hearing Presentation. If you are not planning to attend a public hearing, we encourage you to watch this video before submitting written comments.

Additional background information and related documents are available on the action page for this amendment.

Public Hearing Schedule

You are encouraged to attend any of the following five virtual public hearings and to provide oral or written comments at these hearings. While we encourage you to attend the hearing that is targeted toward your state, anyone is welcome to participate in any hearing.

  1. Wednesday, February 17, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Massachusetts and Rhode Island
  2. Thursday, February 18, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: New Jersey
  3. Wednesday, February 24, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Delaware and Maryland
  4. Monday, March 1, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Virginia and North Carolina
  5. Tuesday, March 2, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Connecticut and New York

To register for a public hearing please click here: Public Hearing Registration and select the hearing(s) you plan to attend from the dropdown menu. Hearings will be held via GoToWebinar, which can be accessed using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. When connecting to audio, we strongly encourage participants to use computer voice over internet (VoIP) so you can ask questions and provide input. To attend the webinar in listen only mode, dial 1-877-309-2074 and enter access code 128-060-916. Those joining by phone only will be limited to listening to the presentation and will not be able to provide input. For technical assistance setting up and logging into GoToWebinar, contact Savannah Lewis at 703-842-0715.

If you are connected only by phone in listen only mode, you will not show up as a webinar attendee. In the event that there are no webinar attendees, the public hearing will be cancelled unless state staff request that the hearing content is presented.

Written Comments

Written comments may be submitted through March 16, 2021 by any of the following methods:

1. ONLINE at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/sfsbsb-allocation-amendment

2. EMAIL to kdancy@mafmc.org

3. MAIL or FAX to Dr. Christopher Moore, Executive Director

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council

800 North State Street, Suite 201

Dover, DE 19901

FAX: 302.674.5399

Please include “Fluke/Scup/Sea Bass Allocation Amendment” in the subject line if using email or fax, or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments.

Tips for Providing Public Comment

We value your input. To be most effective, we request that your comment include specific details as to why you support or oppose a particular alternative. Specifically, please address the following:

  • Which proposed alternative(s) do you support, and which do you oppose?
  • Why do you support or oppose the alternative(s)?
  • Is there any additional information you think should be considered?

Contacts

For additional information and updates, please visit: https://www.mafmc.org/actions/sfsbsb-allocation-amendment. If you have any questions, please contact:

  • Kiley Dancy, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, kdancy@mafmc.org, 302-526-5257
  • Dustin Colson Leaning, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, dleaning@asmfc.org, 703-842-0714

Electronic Reporting and Online Permitting Information for Federally Permitted Lobstermen

February 12, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Below is information to answer some commonly asked questions as we shift to electronic reporting and online permitting in the future.

Do I Need to Submit Trip Reports?

  • We are implementing electronic reporting requirements for much of the commercial fishing industry in our region.
  • If you hold any GARFO fishing permit in addition to your lobster permit, you must report all of your fishing activity, including lobster fishing, in both state and federal waters.
  • We strongly recommend that you start reporting electronically as soon as possible. See our eVTR webpage for more information.
  • If you hold only a GARFO issued American lobster permit, you do not have to report your fishing trips to us; however, state agencies may have their own reporting requirements.
  • Following a recommendation by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, we may establish a vessel trip reporting requirement for lobster-only permit holders in future years.

How Do I Renew My Permit?

  • You may go online to renew your GARFO vessel permit for 2021.
  • Go to our Vessel Permitting webpage for instructions.
  • To renew your permit online, you will need a Fish Online account.
  • Instructions for creating an account are found on our How to Create an Account in Fish Online and Link to a Vessel webpage.
  • If you don’t apply online, we will mail a 2021 paper renewal application to you.

Read the full release here

New Jersey gets biggest cut of commercial sea bass harvest in new quota arrangement

February 12, 2021 — Regional fishery management bodies approved new commercial allocations in the black sea bass fishery based on the distribution of sea bass biomass found in the 2019 stock assessment.

As a result of the new allocations and a northern shift of the fish, New Jersey will see a slight increase to its percentage of the coastwide quota, from 20% to 20.10%. That’s enough to give the Garden State the largest share of the coastwide quota.

Virginia took the biggest hit as its commercial quota was trimmed down from 20% of the coastwide harvest to 16%.

Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press

PUBLIC COMMENT TO SHAPE FUTURE OF ROCKFISH HARVEST

February 11, 2021 — Managing rockfish (striped bass) is like managing the Orioles or Nationals: everybody has an opinion on how to do it. Even as we acknowledge the significant challenges that Major League Baseball managers face, the rockfish issue is a lot more complicated. After all, it concerns tens of millions of fish swimming the Atlantic coast past 13 jurisdictions from North Carolina to Canada. The most recent data indicate that our beloved rock are overfished, and that we are overfishing them. Worse yet, the current version of the management plan in effect along the coast dates from 2003.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), which has legal authority to coordinate and enforce each jurisdiction’s local management plans, seeks to develop a new coastwide plan, to be known as Amendment 7. At its winter meeting last week, ASMFC’s commissioners (made up of three representatives from each Atlantic state, plus the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and NOAA) approved a Public Information Document (PID), asking for written comment from “stakeholders” (that’s any of us concerned with the health of these iconic fish) through April 9. The commission will also conduct public hearings, probably by webinar with dates and information announced on its web site.

It reads, “The purpose of this document [the PID] is to inform the public of the commission’s intent to gather information concerning Atlantic striped bass and to provide an opportunity for the public to identify major issues and alternatives relative to the management of this species. Input received at the start of the amendment process can have a major influence in the final outcome of the amendment.”

Read the full story at the Chesapeake Bay Magazine