Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Announces 2021 At-Sea Monitoring Coverage Levels for Groundfish Sector Fishery

January 26, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries announces that for fishing year 2021, the total target at-sea monitoring (ASM) coverage level is 40 percent of all groundfish sector trips subject to the ASM program.

Our annual analysis to determine the level of ASM coverage required to estimate discards for each northeast multispecies stock with no greater than a 30-percent coefficient of variation (CV30) calculated a minimum target coverage level of 33 percent of all groundfish sector trips, based on Georges Bank yellowtail flounder. For more information about that analysis, please read the Summary of Analyses Conducted to Determine At-Sea Monitoring Requirements for Multispecies Sectors FY 2021. In addition to the CV analysis, we also considered analyses of bias developed by the Groundfish Plan Development Team and the peer review by a sub-panel of the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee in 2019. Consistent with the regulations and the Court’s ruling in Oceana v. Pritzker, we have determined that coverage needs to be increased above the minimum coverage necessary to achieve a CV30 in order to address the peer review’s conclusions. Consistent with the requirement to monitor sector operations and to reliably estimate overall catch to the extent practicable, the coverage target level will be 40 percent.

Read the full release here

Fisheries Monitoring Operations in the Northeast

January 25, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Northeast Fisheries Observer Program

Our observers collect catch, gear, fishing effort, and biological data over a range of commercial fisheries. These data are widely used throughout the region for a variety of scientific and management analyses. It’s especially key for estimating the annual bycatch of all federally managed species in the region, including protected species. Each year the Northeast Fisheries Science Center uses this information to report on the estimated discards for the previous year. The results are then used to determine the observer sea-day schedule for the coming year. The process is governed by regulatory requirements commonly referred to as the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology

All federally permitted vessels are required to carry an observer when selected. Vessels operating in state water fisheries may be required to carry an observer if they have a high likelihood of interacting with marine mammals.

Learn more about this program

At-Sea Monitoring Program

At-sea monitoring is an integral part of quota monitoring for groundfish sectors vessels. All groundfish catch by these vessels—landed or discarded—counts toward the quota. Catch data collected on commercial groundfish vessels by at-sea monitors is a primary source information used to monitor quotas throughout the year. It is also critical for estimating total discards by sector, gear type, and stock area. This information is critical for a host of applications from assessment to evaluating fishery management measures and ensuring regulatory compliance. The region’s at-sea monitoring requirements are detailed under Amendment 16 of the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan

Learn more about this program

Industry-Funded Scallop Program

Industry-funded scallop observers monitor catch from dredge and trawl gear aboard commercial sea scallop vessels as specified by the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. Data collected by these observers are used to identify key characteristics of the commercial Atlantic sea scallop fishery in the region. The observer data inform stock assessments, monitor commercial gear selectivity, aid in spatial management, and help support a sustainable sea scallop fishery.

Learn more about this program

Read the full release here

NEFMC January 26-28, 2021 – By Webinar – Listen Live, View Documents

January 20, 2021 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council will hold a three-day meeting by webinar from Tuesday, January 26 through Thursday, January 28, 2021.  The public is invited to listen live and provide input during designated opportunities for public comment.  The Council still cannot hold a large, in-person meeting due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

GROUNDFISH FIRST:  The Council’s Groundfish Committee will meet in advance of the full Council on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Once the committee concludes its business and adjourns, the full Council will convene its January 2021 meeting.  Agenda items are listed in the detailed agenda.

PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES:  The Council wants to hear from you.  Here’s how you can let the Council know what you think.

  • WRITE A LETTER:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 8:00 a.m.
  • TALK TO THE COUNCIL:  You’ll be able to address the Council directly through two different avenues – one by commenting on motions at the discretion of the Council chair (raise your hand on the webinar and unmute yourself when called upon) and, second, you can speak during the open period for public comment.  Here are the Guidelines for Providing Public Comment.
  • OPEN PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:  On Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 10:45 a.m., the Council will offer the public an opportunity to provide comments on issues relevant to Council business but not listed on this agenda.  Given the Council’s busy meeting schedule, we ask that you limit remarks to 3-5 minutes.
    • SIGN UP NOW:  Interested in speaking?  Email Janice Plante at jplante@nefmc.org to get on the list.

START TIME:  9:00 a.m. on all three days.  The webinar will end shortly after the Council adjourns each day.

WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.

  • Here are instructions in the Remote Participation Guide for successfully joining and participating in the webinar.
  • THIS IS KEY!  If you want to speak during opportunities for public comment, you need to: (1) register for the webinar; and (2) actually “join” the webinar.  People who call in by telephone without joining the webinar will be in listen-only mode.  Those who take both steps – register and then join the webinar – will see the meeting screen and be able to click on a “raise hand” button, which will let the meeting organizer know you want to be unmuted to speak.
  • We have a Help Desk in case you get stuck joining the webinar or have trouble along the way.  Phone numbers are listed on the Help Desk Poster, or just email helpdesk@nefmc.org.  We’ll get right back to you.

WEBINAR CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (562) 247-8321.  The access code is 188-250-972.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.

AGENDA:  All meeting materials and the agenda are available on the Council’s website at NEFMC January 26-28, 2021 Webinar Meeting.  Additional documents will be posted as they become available.

THREE MEETING OUTLOOK:  A copy of the New England Council’s Three Meeting Outlook is availableHERE.

COUNCIL MEETING QUESTIONS:  Anyone with questions prior to or during the Council meeting should contact Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817,  jplante@nefmc.org.

Groundfish Advisory Subpanel to hold online meeting February 16, 2021

January 14, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Groundfish Advisory Subpanel (GAP) will hold an online meeting, which is open to the public.  The meeting will be held Tuesday, February 16, 2021, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, or until business for each day is completed.

Please see the meeting notice on the Council’s website for details.

For further information:

  • Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Brett Wiedoff at 503-820-2424;  toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

More management measures lead to healthier fish populations

January 12, 2021 — The study, led by Michael Melnychuk of the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, draws upon the expertise of more than two dozen researchers from 17 regions around the world. The research team analyzed the management practices of nearly 300 fish populations to tease out patterns that lead to healthier fisheries across different locations. Their findings confirmed, through extensive data analysis, what many researchers have argued for several years.

“In general, we found that more management attention devoted to fisheries is leading to better outcomes for fish and shellfish populations,” Melnychuk said. “While this won’t be surprising to some, the novelty of this work was in assembling the data required and then using statistical tools to reveal this pattern across hundreds of marine populations.”

The research team used an international database that is the go-to scientific resource on the status of more than 600 individual fish populations They chose to analyze 288 populations that generally are of value economically and represent a diversity of species and regions. They then looked over time at each fish population’s management practices and were able to draw these conclusions:

  • In regions of the world where fish and shellfish populations are well studied, overall fisheries management intensity has steadily increased over the past half century
  • As fisheries management measures are implemented, fishing pressure is usually reduced toward sustainable levels, and population abundance usually increases toward healthy targets
  • If fish populations become depleted as a result of overfishing, a rebuilding plan may be implemented. These plans tend to immediately decrease fishing pressure and allow populations to recover
  • If strong fisheries management systems are put in place early enough, then overfishing can be avoided and large, sustainable catches can be harvested annually, rendering emergency measures like rebuilding plans unnecessary

Read the full story at Science Daily

PFMC: Groundfish Management Team to hold online meeting February 17, 2021

January 6, 2021 — The following was released by the Pacific Fishery Management Council:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a webinar meeting of its Groundfish Management Team to discuss items on the Pacific Council’s March 2021 meeting agenda. This meeting is open to the public. The online meeting will be held Wednesday, February 17, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). The scheduled ending time for this GMT meeting is an estimate, the meeting will adjourn when business for the day is completed.

Please see the meeting notice on the Council’s website for details.

For further information:

  • Please contact Pacific Fishery Management Council staff officer Todd Phillips at 503-820-2426;  toll-free 1-866-806-7204.

Emergency Rule to Increase Carryover for NE Groundfish – Effective 12/31

December 30, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries is announcing a temporary rule for an emergency action that increases the maximum level of Annual Catch Entitlement allowed to be carried over in the Northeast groundfish fishery from fishing year 2019 into fishing year 2020.

On July 2, 2020, the New England Fishery Management Council requested that NOAA Fisheries implement an emergency action to mitigate significant adverse economic impacts to the groundfish fishery caused by the state health and travel restrictions, and market disruptions at the end of fishing year 2019.

This action, which is effective tomorrow (December 31, 2020), increases the maximum carryover of fishing year 2019 sector Annual Catch Entitlement for Gulf of Maine haddock, Georges Bank haddock, and American plaice. The action also allows for unused leased-in Days-At-Sea to be carried over from fishing year 2019 into fishing year 2020 by common pool vessels.

For more details, please read the rule as filed in the Federal Register, and our permit holder bulletin.

Read the full release here

NEFMC December 2020 Meeting Highlights – EBFM, Habitat, SBRM, Whiting, and More

December 22, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council met December 1-3, 2020 by webinar and covered a wide range of issues. In addition to its actions on scallops, groundfish, and skates, here are a few highlights.

EBFM: The Council reviewed the history of its work on ecosystem-based fishery management (EBFM) and thoroughly debated its next steps. Following this discussion, the Council voted to keep EBFM on its 2021 list of priorities and to:

  • Maintain its current approach toward EBFM; and
  • Conduct educational workshops to solicit stakeholder comments, recognizing that the workshops will not be scheduled until in-person gatherings can be held. These workshops will focus on the potential application of EBFM to a Georges Bank Ecosystem Production Unit. The Council has been referring to this as an example Fishery Management Plan for Georges Bank (eFEP).

Read the full release here

Fall Gulf of Maine Bottom Longline Survey Wraps Up

December 14, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The COVID-19 pandemic and typical fall weather conditions were challenges, but the Cooperative Gulf of Maine Bottom Longline Survey team and industry partners wrapped up a successful season in early November.

“Every single person on the bottom longline survey team worked incredibly hard to get the survey completed this fall,” said Anna Mercer, chief of the Cooperative Research Branch. “From building new software to installing new camera systems, from repeated COVID-19 testing to careful quarantining, from new work flows to new hardware, it was a true team effort.”

The survey targets groundfish at 45 stations across the Gulf of Maine using tub-trawl bottom longline gear. The survey plan focuses on rocky bottom habitat, where fish are difficult to sample with trawl gear.

Read the full release here

NEFMC Approves Most of Groundfish Framework 61; Final Vote on Redfish Universal Sector Exemption Slated for January

December 10, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

During its December 1-3, 2020 webinar meeting, the New England Fishery Management Council took final action on new groundfish catch limits and other measures as part of Framework Adjustment 61 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. The measures will apply to the 2021 fishing year and beyond. One additional provision is still under consideration – a possible universal exemption for groundfish sectors that would make it easier for fishermen to catch redfish. The Council will make a final determination on the proposed exemption during its January 26-28, 2021 webinar meeting and then vote to submit the framework to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS/NOAA Fisheries) for review and implementation.

Framework 61 includes:

  • Updated status determination criteria for Georges Bank winter flounder and Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder to reflect results from the 2020 Management Track Stock Assessments, which were recently conducted for 13 large- and smallmesh Northeast multispecies stocks and Atlantic sea scallops;
  • A revised rebuilding strategy for white hake, which has an 87.4% probability of rebuilding the stock to its maximum sustainable yield within 10 years;

Read the full release here