Saving Seafood

Captain Jimmy Ruhle Honored Posthumously with New Cooperative Research Award

February 15, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council named Captain Jimmy Ruhle as the first recipient and namesake of a new award that recognizes outstanding contributions to cooperative fisheries research in the Mid-Atlantic region. His son, Captain Robert Ruhle, accepted the award on his father’s behalf during the Council’s meeting last week in Arlington, Virginia. 

Jimmy Ruhle was a lifelong commercial fisherman, a former Council member, and a trailblazer in cooperative fisheries research. He had an instrumental role in the creation and success of the Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (NEAMAP) Mid-Atlantic/Southern New England trawl survey, a cooperative fishery-independent survey of coastal waters from Cape Hatteras north to Cape Cod. Since 2007, the survey has been conducted biannually aboard Jimmy’s vessel, the F/V Darana R, by a team of Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) researchers working in partnership with Jimmy and his crew. Data from the survey have improved the assessments of several Council-managed species, including black sea bass, butterfish, longfin squid, scup, and summer flounder.

“The NEAMAP survey not only helps to fill gaps in survey data for nearshore waters, but it has also raised industry confidence in the data used for management decisions,” said Council Executive Director Chris Moore. “These successes would not have been possible without Jimmy’s passion, hard work, and long-term commitment to cooperative research.”

After Jimmy’s death in 2023, the Council decided to create a new award to honor his legacy. The James A. Ruhle Cooperative Research Award will be given to individuals or groups who have demonstrated exceptional collaboration, dedication, or innovation in their research, or in recognition of cooperative research projects that have made significant contributions to the understanding or management of Mid-Atlantic fisheries.

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to Meet February 6-7, 2024

January 21, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, February 6 – Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at The Westin Arlington in Arlington, Virginia.

Please see the February 2024 Council Meeting Page for webinar details, briefing materials (as they become available), and other updates.

Public Comments: Public comments will be accepted from in-person and remote participants on all major agenda items. Written comments can be submitted through the comment portal or by email to cmoore@mafmc.org. The deadline for comments to be included in the briefing book is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, February 1, 2024 will be posted as supplemental materials on the meeting page. After the supplemental comment deadline, comments may only be submitted via the comment form (no email).

Live Stream: The meeting will be live streamed to the Council’s YouTube channel.

 

Meeting Agenda

Tuesday, February 6th

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Species Separation Requirements Amendment                       

  • Review and approve Public Hearing Document

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ———- LUNCH ———-

1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Business Session

  • Committee Reports: Scientific and Statistical Committee
  • Executive Director’s Report – Dr. Chris Moore
  • Organization Reports: NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Office of General Counsel, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, US Coast Guard
  • Liaison Reports: New England Council, South Atlantic Council
  • Other Business and General Public Comment

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.  Briefing Book Tutorial

4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Legal Review, Financial Disclosure and Recusal Training

Wednesday, February 7th

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Offshore Wind Updates

  • Updates from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
  • Updates from the state working group on a fisheries compensation fund administrator
  • Updates from offshore wind project developers (Ørsted, Vineyard Wind, Kitty Hawk Wind, Community Offshore Wind)

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Black Sea Bass Assessment Overview

  • Overview of recently completed Research Track stock assessment

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ———- LUNCH ———-

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Sturgeon Framework

  • Review progress on joint Mid-Atlantic/New England Council action to reduce Atlantic sturgeon interactions in the monkfish/dogfish gillnet fisheries
  • Approve final packages of alternatives

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) White Paper: “Draft Proposed Plan for a Novel Industry Based Multispecies Bottom Trawl Survey on the Northeast US Continental Shelf”

  • Overview of the Industry-based survey white paper
  • Consider next steps

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Awards Presentation

Reminder: Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Scientist for One Opening on Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel

January 2, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is seeking applications from qualified scientists to fill one open seat on the Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP). Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 5, 2024.

NTAP is a joint advisory panel of the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. The primary purpose of the panel is to provide advice and direction on the conduct of trawl research in the northeast region, with a focus on the multispecies bottom trawl survey conducted by NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). NTAP also discusses and recommends research priorities, and members frequently participate in recommended research projects. NTAP has guided multiple studies that have improved information used in stock assessments.

The twenty-member panel includes Mid-Atlantic and New England Council members, scientists and industry stakeholders appointed by each Council, representatives of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), and NEFSC staff.

The current vacancy is for one of two seats designated for academic or non-academic scientists appointed by the Mid-Atlantic Council. Individuals with expertise in any of the following areas are encouraged to apply: gear design and construction, trawl gear efficiency, trawl mensuration, fish behavior, fishery acoustics, survey statistics, and stock assessments.

Applications can be downloaded at the link below or on the NTAP web page. The completed application should be submitted to hhart@mafmc.org by 5:00 p.m. Friday, January 5, 2024.

 

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to Meet December 12-14, 2023

November 21, 2023 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, December 12 – Thursday, December 14, 2023 at the The Notary Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (21 N. Juniper Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107; 215-496-3200) and via webinar. Portions of the meeting will be conducted jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board and Interstate Fishery Management Program Policy Board.

Please see the December 2023 Council Meeting Page for webinar details, briefing materials (as they become available), and other updates.

Public Comments: Public comments will be accepted from in-person and remote participants on all major agenda items. Written comments can be submitted through the comment portal or by email to cmoore@mafmc.org. The deadline for comments to be included in the briefing book is 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Comments submitted after this deadline and before 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, December 7, 2023 will be posted as supplemental materials on the meeting page. After the supplemental comment deadline, comments may only be submitted via the comment form (no email).

Live Stream: The meeting will be live streamed to the Council’s YouTube channel.

 

Meeting Agenda

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Executive Committee Meeting (Closed Session)

  • 2023 Ricks E Savage Award discussion

10:00 a.m. Council Convenes with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Summer Flounder Commercial Mesh Size Regulations and Exemptions

  • Review industry and Monitoring Committee recommendations on summer flounder commercial minimum mesh size, Small Mesh Exemption Program, and flynet exemption
  • Consider any necessary changes to the regulations
  • Identify next steps and research priorities as needed

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ———- LUNCH ———-

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Recreational Demand Model Overview

  • Overview of Northeast Fishery Science Center (NEFSC) Recreational Demand Model and development of Decision Support Tool

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 2024-2025 Summer Flounder Recreational Measures

  • Review Advisory Panel and Monitoring Committee recommendations
  • Adopt target level of coastwide harvest based on the Percent Change Approach
  • Recommend conservation equivalency or coastwide management and associated measures for 2024-2025

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 2024-2025 Scup Recreational Measures

  • Review Advisory Panel and Monitoring Committee recommendations
  • Adopt target level of coastwide harvest based on the Percent Change Approach
  • Recommend 2024-2025 recreational management measures for federal waters, provide preliminary guidance to the Technical Committee on development of state measures proposals, and discuss the federal waters closure for January-April 2024

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 2024 Black Sea Bass Recreational Measures

  • Review Advisory Panel and Monitoring Committee recommendations
  • Adopt target level of coastwide harvest based on the Percent Change Approach
  • Recommend conservation equivalency or coastwide management and associated measures for 2024
  • Review and consider approval of Virginia’s proposal for February 2024 recreational fishery (Board only)

10:30 a.m. Council and Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board Adjourn / Council Convenes with the ASMFC Interstate Fishery Management Program Policy Board

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass and Bluefish Recreational Measures Setting Process Framework/Addenda

  • Update on progress
  • Consider refining range of preliminary alternatives based on recommendation of FMAT/PDT
  • Discuss next steps

11:00 a.m. Council and ASMFC Interstate Fishery Management Program Policy Board Adjourn / Council Convenes

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Guidance Document for Council Review of Exempted Fishing Permit Applications for Unmanaged Forage Amendment Ecosystem Component Species

  • Review revisions to the document
  • Review Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel and Committee input
  • Approve document

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA)

  • Review of ROSA’s Strategic Plan, activities, and steps to support the Council’s offshore wind efforts

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ———- LUNCH ———-

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. 2024-2026 Spiny Dogfish Specifications

  • Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff
  • Adopt specifications for 2024-2025
  • Review and revise 2024-2025 commercial measures if needed

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 2024-2025 Atlantic Mackerel Specifications

  • Review recommendations from the SSC, Monitoring Committee, Advisory Panel, and staff

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Golden Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota Program Twelve-Year Review

  • Presentation of final report (Northern Economics, Inc.)
  • Initiate public comment period

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. 2024 Implementation Plan

  • Review and approve 2024 Implementation Plan

Thursday, December 14, 2023

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Business Session

  • Committee Reports
  • Executive Director’s Report
  • Organization Reports
  • Liaison Reports
  • Other Business and General Public Comment

MREP Fisheries Science and Management Workshop: February 12-16, 2024

November 10, 2023 — The following was released by Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) is accepting applications for the next Greater Atlantic Fisheries Science and Management Workshop, to be held in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

MREP is designed to equip fishermen with tools to engage in shaping regulatory action and to participate in collaborative science. Created by fishermen, for fishermen, this workshop will bring commercial, charter, and recreational fishermen from North Carolina to Maine together with regional scientists and managers to learn the processes, share insights, and network.

The workshop is free and includes hotel lodging, meals, and travel reimbursement for accepted participants.

Space is limited, and preference will be given to applications received by November 13, 2023. The application takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. Accepted participants will be notified in early January 2024.

For more information about MREP, please visit https://mrep.gmri.org/faqs or contact Liz Moore, MREP Greater Atlantic Program Manager, (207) 228-1680 or emoore@gmri.org. Liz can also put you in contact with fishermen who have participated in past MREPs for their perspective on the program!

Mid-Atlantic Council to Host Public Webinar on NOAA Fisheries Climate Governance Policy

October 11, 2023 — The following was released by Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will host a public webinar on Monday, October 16, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., to collect public comments on NOAA Fisheries’ draft procedural directive titled “Guidance on Council Authority for Preparing Fishery Management Plans for Stocks that May Extend across the Geographic Areas of more than one Council, pursuant to MSA §304(f).” Any comments provided during the webinar or submitted to the Council in writing (see below for instructions) will be compiled and submitted to NOAA Fisheries.

The draft procedural directive, which has also been referred to as the “Climate Governance Policy,” is intended to provide guidance on when and how the Secretary will review and assign, or re-assign, management authority over fisheries found across more than one Council jurisdiction. NOAA Fisheries has stated that additional guidance is needed to address governance issues associated with climate-related shifts in stock distributions. Given the Mid-Atlantic Council’s shared regional boundaries with two other East coast Councils, as well as the number of Mid-Atlantic stocks that extend beyond the Council region boundaries, this policy has the potential to directly impact a number of Mid-Atlantic Council fishery management plans. 

NOAA Fisheries is accepting public comments on the draft procedural directive until November 17, 2023. The eight regional fishery management councils have submitted a joint comment letter which identifies a number of concerns regarding the draft procedural directive. The Mid-Atlantic Council is currently developing a separate letter which will include additional comments specific to the Mid-Atlantic region. The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee has also reviewed and provided comments on the draft procedural directive.

Although NOAA Fisheries is solely responsible for the development and potential revision of this procedural directive, the Council is conducting this supplemental outreach effort to ensure that all interested individuals have an opportunity to provide comment on this important issue.

Webinar Details and Comment Instructions

The webinar will be hosted by the Council on the Webex meeting platform. No pre-registration is required.

  • Date and Time: October 16, 2023, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
  • Webinar Link: Click here to join the webinar (if prompted, enter access code: 2341 187 1059 and password: uDYWF5pvq53). To join by phone only, dial 415-655-0001 and enter access code 2341 187 1059.

Written comments can be submitted to the Council using the Online Comment Form or by email to Mary Sabo at msabo@mafmc.org. Comments must be submitted to the Council by November 10 to be compiled and transmitted to NOAA Fisheries prior to the comment deadline. Comments may also be submitted directly to NOAA Fisheries by email to marian.macpherson@noaa.gov.

NORTH CAROLINA: North Carolina’s captain Jimmy Ruhle passes at age 75

October 3, 2023 — James A. Ruhle Sr., a well-known North Carolina captain and commercial fishing advocate, passed away Sept. 28 at age 75.

Ruhle was a 2004 recepient of National Fisherman’s Highliner award, recognizing his long dedication to responsible fisheries management and cooperative research. Ruhle served for nine years on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and participated in numerous research projects with scientists.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Dr. Mark Terceiro Receives Mid-Atlantic Council’s Ricks E Savage Award

August 31, 2023 — Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has named Dr. Mark Terceiro, long-time fisheries scientist with NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), as the recipient of the Council’s Ricks E Savage award. The award was established in 2006 and is given each year to an individual who has added value to the Council process and management goals through significant scientific, legislative, enforcement, or management activities.

The Council selected Dr. Terceiro for the award in recognition of his significant scientific contributions in his role as lead assessment biologist for several Council-managed species. The award was presented to Dr. Terceiro during the August 2023 Council Meeting held in Annapolis, Maryland.

Dr. Terceiro joined the NEFSC’s Population Dynamics Branch in 1986 after receiving his B.S. degree in zoology and Ph.D. in biological oceanography from the University of Rhode Island. For nearly his entire career, he has served as the lead assessment biologist for summer flounder, a species that supports economically and socially important commercial and recreational fisheries throughout the region. He also served as the lead assessment biologist for bluefish early in his career and as the lead assessment biologist for scup since the early 2000s.

“Mark has patiently, consistently, and effectively explained complex assessment results to Council members and the public,” said Mike Luisi, former Council Chair. “He has worked tirelessly to improve the science that supports the management process, and the Council has benefitted from his long tenure with the Science Center.”

Dr. Terceiro has been a member of the Council’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committee for much of his career. He captured his vast institutional knowledge of the history of science, management, and politics of this fishery in “The Summer Flounder Chronicles,” a three-part series published in the journal Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries.

NEFSC leadership also expressed appreciation for Dr. Terceiro’s scientific contributions. “Mark has been steadfast in his stock assessment duties, and his knowledge of Mid-Atlantic stock assessments is without equal,” said Jon Hare, NEFSC Science and Research Director. “This award is well-deserved.”

 

Mid-Atlantic Council Presents Award of Excellence to Dr. Lee Anderson

August 28, 2023 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has named Dr. Lee Anderson as the recipient of the Council’s prestigious Award of Excellence. The award was presented to Dr. Anderson during the August 2023 Council Meeting held in Annapolis, Maryland.

The Award of Excellence was established in 2016 to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to fisheries management, legislation, science, or law enforcement in the Mid-Atlantic region. The award is made on a periodic basis, subject to the identification and selection of outstanding individuals, and has only been given one other time.

Dr. Anderson has been a valued participant in the Mid-Atlantic Council process for almost the entirety of the Council’s 47-year history. He was one of three economists appointed to the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee when it was first formed in 1976. He was later appointed to the Council, holding Delaware’s obligatory seat from 1986 to 1995 and 2007 to 2016. He served for three years as Council Chair (1992-1995) and a total of ten years as Vice-Chair (1990-1992, 2008-2016). After his departure from the Council in 2016, Dr. Anderson was reappointed to the SSC and served until early 2023.

“Lee’s impact on fisheries management, economics, and policy has not only shaped the present but also paved the way for a more sustainable future,” said Chris Moore, Executive Director of the Council. “Throughout his years on the Council and SSC, he brought a wealth of knowledge that helped the Council understand and account for the economic forces that shape fisheries management decisions.”

Dr. Anderson’s expertise and leadership were particularly instrumental in the Council’s development of an individual transferable quota program system for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries, which was the first catch share program in the United States.

In addition to his contributions to the Council, Dr. Anderson has had a profound impact on the field of fisheries economics. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in economics from Brigham Young University in 1966, he earned his doctorate in economics from the University of Washington in 1970. In 1974 he joined the University of Delaware, where he would serve as Director of the Marine Policy Program in the College of Marine Studies from 1986 to 2004. His book The Economics of Fisheries Management has served as an important learning tool for fisheries economists nationally and internationally. He has written or edited six books and over sixty scientific papers and is recognized as a respected mentor and collaborator.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council proudly congratulates Dr. Anderson on this well-deserved recognition.

 

August 2023 Council Meeting

July 20, 2o23 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet Tuesday, August 8 – Friday, August 11, 2023 in Annapolis, Maryland. Council members, other meeting participants, and members of the public will have the option to participate in person at the Westin Annapolis or virtually via Webex webinar. Please see the August 2023 Council Meeting Page for webinar details, public comment deadlines, briefing materials (as they become available), and other updates.

A detailed agenda is available here. Below is an overview of the main topics to be addressed each day.

Please note that the agenda below has been corrected. The Council and Board will be adopting (not reviewing) 2024 black sea bass specifications. 

Tuesday, August 8, 2023 

Joint with ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Management Board

  • Summer Flounder 2024-2025 Specifications
  • Scup 2024-2025 Specifications
  • Scup Commercial Discards Report
  • Black Sea Bass 2024 Specifications

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

  • Recreational Harvest Control Rule Framework / Addenda 2.0 – Review progress and discuss next steps (Joint with ASMFC ISFMP Policy Board)
  • Bluefish 2024-2025 Specifications (Joint with ASMFC Bluefish Board)
  • East Coast Scenario Planning Initiative – Review outcomes and discuss MAFMC next steps
  • NOAA Fisheries Climate Governance Policy – Review policy and discuss Council comments
  • Award Presentations

Thursday, August 10, 2023

  • Atlantic Mackerel 2024-2025 Specifications
  • River Herring and Shad (RH/S) – Review update and adopt 2024-2025 RH/S cap
  • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program
  • Longfin Squid 2024-2026 Specifications
  • Illex Hold Baseline Framework (FW Meeting #1 – Review and approve range of alternatives)
  • Research Set-Aside Program Redevelopment – Update
  • Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: National Standard 4, 8, and 9 – Discuss Council comments

Friday, August 10, 2023

  • Business Session
  • Other Business and General Public Comment

Questions? Contact Mary Sabo, msabo@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5261.