Saving Seafood

NEFMC SSC – Listen Live – Thursday, June 4, 2020 – Research Priorities

May 26, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet via webinar on Thursday, June 4, 2020.  The public is invited to listen live.  Here are the details.

START TIME:  10:00 a.m.
 
WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.
 
CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (415) 655-0060.  The access code is 374-434-055.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.
 
AGENDA:  The SSC will meet to:
  • Review the New England Council’s 2020-2024 research priorities, including updates identified by the Council’s committees and plan development teams, and provide recommendations on the suggested revisions;
  • Receive a presentation on the Atlantic Cod Stock Structure Peer Review report; and
  • Discuss other business as necessary.
COMMENTS:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2020.  Address comments to Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.  Additional information is available in the meeting notice.
 
MATERIALS:  All documents for this meeting will be posted on the SSC meeting webpage.
 
QUESTIONS:  Contact Joan O’Leary at (978) 465-0492 ext. 101, joleary@nefmc.org or Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

Atlantic Cod Stock Structure Peer Review Meeting, May 18-20, 2020 – Join the Webinar

May 11, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

An ad hoc sub-panel of the New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and outside scientists will meet May 18-20, 2020 via webinar to conduct a peer review of the Atlantic Cod Stock Structure Working Group’s report titled:  An Interdisciplinary Review of Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) Stock Structure in the Western North Atlantic Ocean.

START TIME:  9:00 a.m. daily.

WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Register for the webinar HERE.

CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (415) 655-0052. The access code is 805-785-106.

PEER REVIEW PANEL:  The panel is made up of the following reviewers.

  • Jake Kritzer – chair
  • Yong Chen (SSC member)
  • Jeremy Collie (SSC member)
  • Richard Merrick (SSC member)
  • Ike Wirgin

WORKING GROUP TERMS OF REFERENCE:  The Atlantic Cod Stock Structure Working Group was asked to inventory, summarize, and synthesize all relevant information to inform the most scientifically supported biological structure of Atlantic cod in U.S. waters using the following terms of reference (TORs).

  1. Inventory and summarize all relevant peer-review information about stock structure of Atlantic cod in NAFO Divisions 5 and 6 and interactions with 4X. Evaluate the relative importance of the information with respect to developing a holistic understanding of Atlantic cod stock structure.
  2. Identify and evaluate any new or existing data or information about the stock structure of Atlantic cod in NAFO Divisions 5 and 6 and interactions with 4X, and subject to a peer review by the working group. Integrate any additional information into the inventory developed in TOR 1.
  3. Using a holistic approach, synthesize all available information (TOR 1 and 2) and develop sets of possible biological stock structures and consider scientific support for each alternative. In developing alternative stock structures, consider the temporal stability of stock structure and how the available information can inform the knowledge of stock structure over time.
  4. Identify any major information gaps in data collection and the existing research with respect to cod stock structure. Develop a prioritized list of recommendations to address these gaps. Comment on the feasibility and time horizon (e.g., short-term, long-term) of the proposed research recommendations.

COMMENTS:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2020.  Address comments to Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.  The address for mailing comments is:  New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill #2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

 

MATERIALS:  Meeting materials are posted on the Council’s website at May 18-20, 2020 Atlantic Cod Stock Structure Peer Review.  Here is the primary Technical Memo.

QUESTIONS:  Contact Council Deputy Director Chris Kellogg at (978) 465-0492 ext. 112; ckellogg@nefmc.org, Joan O’Leary at (978) 465-0492 ext. 101, joleary@nefmc.org, or Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

Council may delay vote on at-sea monitor levels

April 13, 2020 — The final agenda for the New England Fishery Management Council’s webinar-only meeting Tuesday and Wednesday has several items of significant interest to local groundfishermen.

On Tuesday, the council will hear a recommendation from its Executive Committee that it postpone final action on the contentious groundfish Amendment 23 to set at-sea monitoring levels because of the impact of the spread of the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. That council had anticipated taking final action at its June meeting.

“While it is possible that restrictions on public gatherings may be lifted and in-person meetings may be allowed by late May, it is not unreasonable to expect interested parties can devote their attention to commenting on this amendment over the next two-three months,” Council Chairman John Quinn wrote in a memo to council members.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

NEFMC January 28-30, 2020 – Portsmouth, NH – Listen Live, View Documents

January 21, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council will hold a three-day meeting from Tuesday, January 28 through Thursday, January 30, 2020.  The public is invited to listen live via webinar or telephone.  Here are the details.

MEETING LOCATION:  Portsmouth Harbor Events and Conference Center, 100 Deer Street at 22 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth, NH 03801; Portsmouth Harbor Events Center.
 
START TIME:  The webinar will be activated at 8:00 a.m. each day.  However, please note that the meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 28 and 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, January 29 and 30.  The webinar will end at approximately 6:00 p.m. EST or 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.
 
CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (562) 247-8422.  The access code is 266-672-298.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.
 
AGENDA:  The agenda and meeting materials are available on the Council’s website at NEFMC January 28-30, 2020 Portsmouth, NH.  Additional documents will be posted as they become available.
 
COMMENTS:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2020.  Address comments to Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.  The address for mailing comments is:  New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill #2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
 
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.

NEFMC SSC – Listen Live – January 10, 2020 – Groundfish Related

January 6, 2020 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet on Friday, January 10, 2020.  The public is invited to listen live via webinar or telephone.  Here are the details.

 
START TIME:  9:30 a.m. on Friday, January 10, 2020.
 
WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting is available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.
 
CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (562) 247-8422.  The access code is 279-391-516.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.
 
AGENDA:  The SSC will meet to:
  • Consider the New England Fishery Management Council’s remand of the SSC’s acceptable biological catch (ABC) recommendations for American plaice, Gulf of Maine haddock, Georges Bank haddock, and Atlantic pollock for fishing years 2020-2022;
  • Discuss any issues concerning ABC control rules for groundfish and the lack of fish stock status determination criteria; and
  • Discuss other business as necessary.
COMMENTS:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2020.  Address comments to Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.  The address for mailing comments is:  New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill #2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
 
MATERIALS:  Meeting materials will be posted on the Council’s website at SSC January 10, 2020 documents.
 
QUESTIONS:  Contact Joan O’Leary at (978) 465-0492 ext. 101, joleary@nefmc.org or Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

NEFMC Elects Officers and Bids Farewell to Two Long-Time Members

September 25, 2019 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

At the start of its September 23-26, 2019 meeting in Gloucester, MA, the New England Fishery Management Council unanimously elected Dr. John Quinn of Massachusetts to serve a fourth consecutive term as Council chairman. The Council also elected Eric Reid of Rhode Island to serve as Council vice chair.

Dr. Quinn is Assistant Dean of Public Interest Law and External Relations at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) School of Law. He is a former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he spent 18 years serving on numerous important committees. He also represented many fishing interests while practicing law in private practice for over two decades in New Bedford before joining UMass. He is serving his third term on the Council.

Read the full release here

NEFMC SSC – Listen Live – Friday, March 29, 2019, Research Priorities

March 22, 2019 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet via webinar on Friday, March 29, 2019, to discuss the Council’s research priorities.  The public is invited to listen live via webinar or telephone.  Here are the details.

START TIME:  10:00 a.m.

WEBINAR REGISTRATION:  Online access to the meeting will be available at Listen Live.  There is no charge to access the meeting through this webinar.
CALL-IN OPTION:  To listen by telephone, dial +1 (562) 247-8422. The access code is 121-407-301.  Please be aware that if you dial in, your regular phone charges will apply.
 
AGENDA:  The SSC will:
  • Review research priority updates suggested by the Council’s committees and Plan Development Teams and provide the Council with recommendations about revisions to the Council’s research priorities that were developed in 2018;
  • Receive an informational briefing on the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s latest Ecosystem Status Report on the Northeast Continental Shelf ecosystem; and
  • Conduct other business as needed.
COMMENTS:  The deadline for submitting written comments for consideration at this meeting is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, 2019.  Address comments to Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn or Executive Director Tom Nies and email them to comments@nefmc.org.  The address for mailing comments via the U.S. Postal Service is:  New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill #2, Newburyport, MA  01950.
 
MATERIALS:  Meeting materials will be posted on the Council’s website at SSC March 29, 2019 documents. 
 
QUESTIONS:  Contact Joan O’Leary at (978) 465-0492 ext. 106, joleary@nefmc.org or Janice Plante at (607) 592-4817, jplante@nefmc.org.

NEFMC Reelects Dr. John Quinn as Chair and Terry Stockwell as Vice Chair

September 27, 2018 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

At the start of its September 24 -27, 2018 meeting in Plymouth, MA, the New England Fishery Management Council reelected Dr. John Quinn of Massachusetts and Terry Stockwell of Maine to serve as Council chair and vice chair for another term. The two ran unopposed and were ushered in unanimously.

This marks Dr. Quinn’s third consecutive year as chairman. Prior to that, he served three years as Council
vice chair under Stockwell. The two switched leadership positions during 2016 but continued to work
together as a team to direct the Council’s management and policy initiatives. “I appreciate the confidence the Council has shown in me over the past couple of years,” said Dr. Quinn. “I look forward to doing more good work with all of our Council members and stakeholders.”

Dr. Quinn recently was promoted to Assistant Dean of Public Interest Law and External Relations at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) School of Law. He is a former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he spent 18 years. He also represented many fishing interests while practicing law in private practice for over two decades in New Bedford before joining UMass.

Read the full release here

Dr. Bill DuPaul receives award from NEFMC

May 17, 2018 — Dr. Bill DuPaul, Professor Emeritus at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, is the recipient of the 2018 Janice M. Plante Award from the New England Fishery Management Council.

DuPaul, a resident of Ware Neck, was a pioneer of cooperative research in the Atlantic sea scallop fishery, according to a release from NEFMC.

“Dr. DuPaul is a man of great integrity,” NEFMC chairman Dr. John Quinn said “He intuitively knew that solutions to hard problems would come only when people on all sides worked together. He proved that cooperative research can break through seemingly insurmountable barriers and help resolve even the most challenging issues.”

Read the full story at the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal

 

SMAST Receives Scallop Awards to Fund Drop Camera Surveys

May 17, 2018 — The NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center and the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) are pleased to announce 15 projects have been selected for funding through the Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program, including three projects proposed by the UMass Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) in New Bedford.

“The Scallop RSA Program truly has become one of the flagships of the scallop fishery,” said New England Council Chairman Dr. John Quinn. “The collaborative efforts that take place at sea between fishermen and researchers go a long way toward enhancing our understanding of what’s happening with the resource. The results of this RSA work funnel back to the Council and support stock assessments. Without a doubt, the Scallop RSA Program helps us better manage our extremely valuable scallop fishery.”

Projects will address research priorities established by the NEFMC, with particular focus on resource surveys. The awards are expected to generate more than $12 million; $3 million to fund research, and $9 million to compensate industry partners that harvest set-aside quota.

Read the full story at WBSM