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MASSACHUSETTS: Herring plan gets Gloucester airing this evening

April 6, 2017 โ€” Fishing regulators are hosting a public hearing tonight, April 5, in Gloucester on a plan to make the Atlantic herring fishery run more smoothly.

The hearing is at 6 p.m. at the  Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheriesโ€™ Annisquam River Station, 30 Emerson Ave., and is on the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring Draft Addendum I to Amendment 3 

Herring are a key fish on the East Coast because they are important bait for lucrative species, especially lobster. Last yearโ€™s lobster season was hindered for several weeks by a herring shortage.

Gloucester reigns as the stateโ€™s most prolific lobster port, both in terms of landings by weight and number of permitted lobstermen fishing here, followed by Plymouth and Rockport, according to the state Division of Marine Fisheries.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Times

ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Management Board to Meet November 14 to Consider Approval of Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan

April 5, 2017 โ€” The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commissionโ€™s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board will meet on November 14, 2017 (all day) to consider approval of Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden. The Commissionโ€™s Business Session will meet immediately following the conclusion of the Atlantic Menhaden Board meeting to consider final approval of Amendment 3. The meeting will take place in the Washington, DC/Baltimore, MD area. Additional details will be released well in advance of the meeting.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Northern Shrimp Advisory Panel Conference Call Scheduled for February 23

January 4, 2017 โ€” The following was released by the ASMFC:

 

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commissionโ€™s Northern Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP) will meet via conference call on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 3:30 P.M., to provide feedback on the development of Draft Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Northern Shrimp. The Northern Shrimp Section will meet Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. to review and consider approving Draft Amendment 3 for public comment. The details of the Section meeting will be released when they become available.
 
While the northern shrimp fishery is currently under a moratorium due to its depleted stock condition, the Northern Shrimp Section is moving forward on the development of Draft Amendment 3 to explore options to manage the fishery when and if the fishery reopens. Options include  state-by-state allocations and seasonal- and area-based management measures to better manage effort in the fishery, and the mandatory use of size sorting grate systems to minimize harvest of small shrimp to protect the stock. The Draft Amendment will also explore additional reporting measures to ensure all harvested shrimp are being reported.
 
To access the meeting, please dial 1.888.394.8197 and enter passcode 815277 when prompted. To access the webinar, type the following address in your web browser: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/710614109. Since this is a working meeting of the Panel, the Chair may allow limited public comment as time allows.
 
For more information, please contact Max Appelman, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at mappelman@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.  

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission South Atlantic Board Releases Cobia PID for Public Comment

November 3, 2016 โ€” The following was released by the ASMFC:

Arlington, VA โ€“ The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commissionโ€™s South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board releases for public comment the Public Information Document (PID) for the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Cobia. As the first step in the FMP development process, the PID provides stakeholders with an opportunity to inform the Commission about changes observed in the fishery and provide feedback on potential management measures as well as any additional issues that should be included in the Draft FMP. Specifically, the PID seeks comment on the management unit; goals and objectives of the plan; commercial and recreational measures; coastwide, regional or state-by-state measures; and other issues.

This action responds to a request by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) for the Commission to consider joint or complementary management of the resource in light of the significant overage of the 2015 recreational annual catch limit (ACL) and the impact of those overages to state management. Further, during most recent years, a majority of recreational landings of cobia along the Atlantic coast occurs in state waters. The Commission considered this request in August and agreed to move forward with the development of a complementary FMP.

Widely distributed throughout the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, cobia are managed as two distinct groups โ€“ the Gulf Migratory Group and the Atlantic Migratory Group. The Atlantic Migratory Group, which range from New York to Georgia, is managed by the SAFMC. The east coast of Florida falls under the Gulf Migratory Group. The SAFMC manages the east coast of Florida sub-ACL which is set by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Recreational landings of the Atlantic Migratory Group in 2015 were approximately 1.5 million pounds, 145% over the ACL, resulting in a June 20, 2016 closure of the fishery by NOAA Fisheries. Commercial cobia landings in 2015 were 83,148 pounds, 38% over the ACL. Late landings reports in 2015 precluded a timely closure of the commercial fishery.

Concerns were expressed by some states whose recreational seasons would have been significantly reduced by federal waters closure due to the 2015 quota overage. Instead of following the federal closure, several states developed alternate management strategies to reduce economic impacts to their state fisheries which resulted in differing regulations for federal and state water fishing. An intent of the complementary Cobia FMP is to provide the states the flexibility to respond to changes in the fishery and stock that meet their state fisheries needs without impacting federal fishermen while meeting the goals and objectives of the FMP.

Stakeholders are encouraged to provide input on the PID either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The PID can be obtained athttp://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/CobiaPID_PublicComment.pdf or via the Commissionโ€™s website,www.asmfc.org, under Public Input. Public comment will be accepted until 5 PM (EST) on January 6, 2017 and should be forwarded to Dr. Louis Daniel, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at ldaniel@asmfc.org (Subject line: Cobia PID).

It is anticipated states from Delaware through Florida will be conducting hearings over the next couple of months. The details of those hearings will be released in a subsequent press release. The Management Board will meet at the Commissionโ€™s 2017 Winter Meeting to review and consider public comment and provide direction to staff for items to be included in the Draft FMP.  For more information, please contact Louis Daniel at ldaniel@asmfc.org or 252-342-1478.

ASMFC Coastal Sharks Board Approves Addendum IV to the FMP

August 4, 2016 โ€” The following was released by NOAA:

Alexandria, VA โ€“ The Coastal Sharks Management Board approved Addendum IV to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The Addendum amends the FMP to allow smooth dogfish carcasses to be landed with corresponding fins removed from the carcass as long as the total retained catch on board at the time of landing is composed of at least 25 percent smooth dogfish. Trips that do not meet the 25 percent catch composition requirement can land smooth dogfish, but the fins must remain naturally attached to the carcass. Naturally attached is defined as attached to the corresponding shark through some portion of uncut skin.

Through the Boardโ€™s action, the Addendum maintains consistency between federal and state shark FMPs and better incorporates the intent of the smooth dogfish limited exception in the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 (SCA) into state regulations.  States are required to implement the Addendumโ€™s management measure by January 1, 2017.

ASMFC Releases Smooth Dogfish Draft Addendum IV for Public Comment

May 19, 2016 โ€” The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

ARLINGTON, Va. โ€” The states of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and North Carolina have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum IV to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The details of those hearings follow.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

June 28, 2016 at 7 PM

Marine Headquarters

Boating Education Center

333 Ferry Road

Old Lyme, Connecticut

Contact: Colleen Giannini at 860.447.4308

 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

June 28, 2016 at 6:30 PM

Bureau of Marine Resources

205 North Belle Mead Road

East Setauket, New York

Contact: Steve Heins at 631.444.0435

 

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

June 22, 2016 at 6:30 PM

Nacote Creek Marine Law Enforcement Office

360 North New York Road, Mile Marker 51

Port Republic, New Jersey

Contact: Russ Allen at 609.748.2037

 

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

June 21, 2016 at 3:30 โ€“ 5:00 PM

Ocean Pines Library Conference Room

11107 Cathell Road

Ocean Pines, Maryland

Contact: Michael Luisi at 410.260.8341

 

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

June 23, 2016 at 5:00 PM

Dare County Center

Courthouse Campus

950 Marshall C. Collins Dr.

Manteo, North Carolina

Contact: Holly White at 252.264.3911

The purpose of the Draft Addendum is to maintain consistency between federal and state FMPs, where possible, and to better incorporate the intent of the smooth dogfish limited exception  in the Shark Conservation Act of 2010 (SCA) into state regulations.

Under current regulations, commercial fishermen with only a state commercial fishing license can land smooth dogfish with corresponding fins removed from the carcass. The Draft Addendum proposes to amend the FMP to allow smooth dogfish carcasses to be landed with corresponding fins removed from the carcass as long as the total retained catch, by weight, is composed of at least 25 percent smooth dogfish. This option is consistent with the federal catch composition requirement, which was included in NOAA Fisheriesโ€™ final rule for Amendment 9.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The Draft Addendum can be obtained here or via the Commissionโ€™s website, www.asmfc.org, under Public Input. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on July 11, 2016 and should be forwarded to Ashton Harp, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at aharp@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Addendum IV).

ASMFC Releases Atlantic Menhaden Draft Addendum I for Public Comment

May 19, 2016 โ€” The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

ARLINGTON, Va. โ€” The states of Rhode Island through Delaware have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum I to Amendment 2 the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Menhaden. The details of those hearings follow.

Rhode Island Division of Fish & Wildlife

June 20, 2016 at 6:00 PM

University of Rhode Island Bay Campus

Corliss Auditorium

South Ferry Road

Narragansett, Rhode Island

Contact: Jason McNamee at 401.423.1943

 

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

June 28, 2016 at 7:00 PM

Marine Headquarters

Boating Education Center

333 Ferry Road

Old Lyme, Connecticut

Contact: David Simpson at 860.434.6043

 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

June 29, 2016 at 6:30 PM

Bureau of Marine Resources

205 North Belle Mead Road

East Setauket, New York

Contact: Jim Gilmore at 631.444.0430

 

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

July 7, 2016 at 6:30 PM

Atlantic County Library (Galloway Twp. Branch)

306 East Jimmie Leeds Road

Galloway, New Jersey

Contact: Russ Allen at 609.748.2037

 

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

June 23, 2016 at 6:00 PM

Easton High School

723 Mecklenburg Avenue

Easton, Maryland

Contact: Lynn Fegley at 410.260.8285

 

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

July 6, 2016; 6 PM

DNREC Auditorium

89 Kings Highway

Dover, Delaware

Contact: John Clark at 302.739.9914

The Draft Addendum proposes modifying the FMPโ€™s bycatch allowance provision. Specifically, it considers allowing two licensed individuals to harvest up to 12,000 pounds of menhaden bycatch when working from the same vessel fishing stationary, multi-species gear โ€“ limited to one vessel trip per day. Bycatch represents less than 2% of the total coastwide landings.

The practice of two permitted fishermen working together from the same vessel to harvest Atlantic menhaden primarily occurs in the Chesapeake Bay pound net fishery.  This practice enables the fishermen to pool resources for fuel and crew.  However, the practice is currently constrained by the FMPโ€™s bycatch allowance provision, which includes a 6,000 pound/vessel/day limit. The Draft Addendum seeks comment on whether the provision should be revised to accommodate the interests of fixed-gear fishermen who work together, as authorized by the states and jurisdictions in which they fish.

The intent of Draft Addendum I is to add flexibility to one element of the bycatch allowance provision while the Board prepares to address menhaden management more comprehensively through the development of Draft Amendment 3 to the FMP over the next two years. A subsequent press release on the public hearing schedule and Draft Addendum I availability will be distributed once state hearings have been scheduled.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The Draft Addendum can be obtained here or via the Commissionโ€™s website, www.asmfc.org, under Public Input. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on July 11, 2016and should be forwarded to Megan Ware, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at mware@asmfc.org(Subject line: Draft Addendum I).

NMFS Partially Approves Herring Framework Adjustment 4: Empty Fish Hold Provision Not Adopted

April 6, 2016 โ€” The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) partially approved Framework Adjustment 4 to the Federal Herring Fishery Management Planโ€”the final rule published today, April 4th. The empty fish hold provision, which was recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council and provisionally adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) in Amendment 3 to the Interstate FMP, was not approved. The justification for not approving this provision is provided in the following excerpts from the final rule. The final rule can be found at: https://federalregister.gov/a/2016-07583.

NMFS could not approve the empty fish hold provision because โ€œโ€ฆthere is insufficient support in the record to conclude that herring vessels are harvesting excess fish and discarding unsold fish at sea. The costs associated with a herring trip, including fuel, crew wages, and insurance, are substantial, so it is unlikely that vessel operators are making herring trips to harvest fish that will ultimately be discarded.โ€

In addition, NMFS determined โ€œFramework 4โ€™s proposed waiver provides no way of verifying the amount of fish reported relative to the amount of fish left in the hold. Therefore, NMFS does not believe that this measure contains a viable mechanism to verify whether harvested fish that are left in the hold were reported by the vessel.โ€

Ultimately, โ€œBecause the measure lacks a mechanism to verify or correct the amount of fish reported on the VTR, the measure is unlikely to improve catch monitoring in the herring fishery. In contrast, the compliance and enforcement costs associated with the measure may be high.โ€

As stated in Amendment 3, implementation of the empty fish hold provision is contingent on federal adoption. Since NMFS did not approve this provision, ASMFC will maintain status quo measures on this issue. Under status quo there is no requirement to empty vessel holds of fish prior to a fishing trip departure. Amendment 3 was updated to reflect this information and can be obtained at: http://www.asmfc.org/uploads/file//57042f26Amendment3_RevisedApril2016.pdf.

New England States Schedule Hearings on the Public Hearing Document for Draft Amendment 3 to the Atlantic Herring FMP

New England states of Maine through Massachusetts have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the Public Hearing Document for Draft Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring. The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled hearings follow.

Maine Department of Marine Resources

Wednesday, January 6th at 1 p.m.

Marquardt Building

Conference Room 118

32 Blossom Lane

Augusta, ME

Contact: Terry Stockwell at 207.624.6553

New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game

Tuesday, January 5th at 7 p.m.

Urban Forestry Center

45 Elwyn Road

Portsmouth, NH

Contact: Doug Grout at 603.868.1095

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

Tuesday, January 5th at 2 p.m.

Annisquam River Station

30 Emerson Avenue

Gloucester, MA

Contact: David Pierce at 617.626.1532 

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Monday, January 4th from 6 โ€“ 9 PM

University of Rhode Island Bay Campus

Corless Auditorium

South Ferry Road

Narragansett, RI

Contact: John Lake at 401.423.1942

Draft Amendment 3 was initiated to propose management measures in Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) which reflect changes in the stock structure, integrate recent data into management decisions, and respond to changes in the fishery. The Public Hearing Document proposes (1) alternatives to the spawning monitoring program (protocol, default start dates, area boundaries, and length of the closure period); (2) removing the fixed gear setโ€aside rollover provision, and (3) requiring a vesselโ€™s fish hold to be emptied before leaving on a fishing trip.

Todayโ€™s rebuilt herring population is comprised of a broader range of age classes with older and larger fish compared to the population during overfished conditions. Analysis of more than a decadeโ€™s worth of data suggests larger herring spawn first and the timing of the start of spawning varies from year-to-year. Proposed alternatives to the current spawning monitoring program address inter-annual differences and provide additional measures to more adequately protect spawning fish in the areas where they spawn.

At the request of the fishing industry, the Public Hearing Document includes an option to adjust the fixed gear set-aside rollover provision. Currently, the set-aside of 295 mt is available to fixed gear fishermen through November 1, after which the remaining set-aside becomes available to the rest of the Area 1A fishery. The November 1 date was set because, typically, herring have migrated out of the Gulf of Maine by that time. Anecdotal evidence suggests herring are in the Gulf of Maine after November 1, therefore, fixed gear fishermen requested the set-aside be made available to them for the remainder of the calendar year.

Members of industry also suggested a requirement for fish holds to be empty of fish prior to trip departures. This provision would allow for full accountability and encourage less wasteful fishing practices by creating an incentive to catch herring which meet market demands. The New England Fishery Management Council included a complementary provision in its Framework Adjustment 4 to the Federal Atlantic Herring FMP.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Public Hearing Document either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The document is available here and can also be accessed on the Commission website (www.asmfc.org) under Public Input. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on January 20, 2015 and should be forwarded to Ashton Harp, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St., Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at aharp@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Amendment 3). For more information, please contact Ashton Harp, at aharp@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

New England States Schedule Hearings on the Public Hearing Document for Draft Amendment 3 to the Atlantic Herring FMP

December 4, 2015 โ€” The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

New England states of Maine through Massachusetts have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the Public Hearing Document for Draft Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring. The dates, times, and locations of the scheduled hearings follow. 

Maine Department of Marine Resources

Wednesday, January 6th at 1 p.m.

Marquardt Building

Conference Room 118

32 Blossom Lane

Augusta, ME

Contact: Terry Stockwell at 207.624.6553

New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game

Tuesday, January 5th at 7 p.m.

Urban Forestry Center

45 Elwyn Road

Portsmouth, NH

Contact: Doug Grout at 603.868.1095

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries

Tuesday, January 5th at 2 p.m.

Annisquam River Station

30 Emerson Avenue

Gloucester, MA

Contact: David Pierce at 617.626.1532

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Monday, January 4th from 6 โ€“ 9 PM

University of Rhode Island Bay Campus

Corless Auditorium

South Ferry Road

Narragansett, RI

Contact: John Lake at 401.423.1942

 

Draft Amendment 3 was initiated to propose management measures in Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) which reflect changes in the stock structure, integrate recent data into management decisions, and respond to changes in the fishery. The Public Hearing Document proposes (1) alternatives to the spawning monitoring program (protocol, default start dates, area boundaries, and length of the closure period); (2) removing the fixed gear setโ€aside rollover provision, and (3) requiring a vesselโ€™s fish hold to be emptied before leaving on a fishing trip.

Todayโ€™s rebuilt herring population is comprised of a broader range of age classes with older and larger fish compared to the population during overfished conditions. Analysis of more than a decadeโ€™s worth of data suggests larger herring spawn first and the timing of the start of spawning varies from year-to-year. Proposed alternatives to the current spawning monitoring program address inter-annual differences and provide additional measures to more adequately protect spawning fish in the areas where they spawn.

At the request of the fishing industry, the Public Hearing Document includes an option to adjust the fixed gear set-aside rollover provision. Currently, the set-aside of 295 mt is available to fixed gear fishermen through November 1, after which the remaining set-aside becomes available to the rest of the Area 1A fishery. The November 1 date was set because, typically, herring have migrated out of the Gulf of Maine by that time. Anecdotal evidence suggests herring are in the Gulf of Maine after November 1, therefore, fixed gear fishermen requested the set-aside be made available to them for the remainder of the calendar year.

Members of industry also suggested a requirement for fish holds to be empty of fish prior to trip departures. This provision would allow for full accountability and encourage less wasteful fishing practices by creating an incentive to catch herring which meet market demands. The New England Fishery Management Council included a complementary provision in its Framework Adjustment 4 to the Federal Atlantic Herring FMP.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Public Hearing Document either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The document is available here and can also be accessed on the Commission website (www.asmfc.org) under Public Input. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on January 20, 2015 and should be forwarded to Ashton Harp, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St., Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at aharp@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Amendment 3). For more information, please contact Ashton Harp, at aharp@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

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