VIMS turns to crowdsourcing to save bay scallops
April 24, 2017 — In the 1920s, the bay scallop fishery in Virginia was booming, hitting a peak harvest in 1929.
Then, in the course of a few short years, the bottom fell out of the fishery — almost literally.
A hemisphere-wide wasting disease began attacking eelgrass, a primary habitat for young scallops growing in high-salinity coastal bays. As a result, Virginia’s scallop harvest dropped in 1930. It dropped even more in 1931and even more in 1932.
Then, calamity struck in 1933 when a Category 1 hurricane slammed the state, wiping out what was left of ailing eelgrass beds in the coastal bays.
That year, Virginia watermen harvested no bay scallops at all. The species was wiped out in the state.
“The bay scallop was extinct locally,” said Mark Luckenbach, ecologist and associate dean of research and advisory services at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point. “Not reduced in numbers like oysters or eelgrass — it was extinct. The closest populations were in North Carolina to the south and New Jersey to the north.”
NOAA Fisheries Publishes Proposed Rule for Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment
April 24, 2017 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
NOAA Fisheries has published a proposed rule for the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Unmanaged Forage Fish Omnibus Amendment. This amendment would implement an annual landing limit, possession limits, and permitting and reporting requirements for certain previously unmanaged forage species and species groups within Mid-Atlantic Federal waters. The purpose of this action is to prevent the development of new, and the expansion of existing, commercial fisheries on certain forage species until the Council has adequate opportunity and information to evaluate the potential impacts of forage fish harvest on existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the marine ecosystem.
Comments will be accepted through May 30, 2017. Please see the Proposed Rule for details and instructions for submitting comments.
Additional background information about the amendment may be found on the Council’s website at http://www.mafmc.org/actions/unmanaged-forage.
For further information, contact Douglas Christel, NMFS Fishery Policy Analyst, 978-281-9141, douglas.christel@noaa.gov, fax 978-281-9135.
NOAA Fisheries Announces Proposed Rule for Unmanaged Forage Fish in the Mid-Atlantic
April 24, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA:
NOAA Fisheries announces a proposed rule to protect unmanaged forage fish. Forage fish are small schooling species that serve as prey for larger commercially and recreationally important fish, as well as for marine mammals and sea birds. Anchovies, herring, chub mackerel, and sardines are some common forage fish.
Commercial fisheries occasionally catch forage species, and we know little about the amount of forage species caught in Mid-Atlantic waters. Because of their importance to the food web, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council wants to keep current levels of forage species catch stable while it collects more information on these species. This new information will help inform future scientific assessments and management decisions.
This action would be the first action in the Atlantic to list 14 forage species and species groups as ecosystem component species. This action would set landing and possession limits to prevent the further expansion of commercial fisheries on forage species by federally permitted fishing vessels within Mid-Atlantic federal waters (see map below).
This action is part of an effort to integrate ecosystem-based management components into fishery management plans.
Read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register, as well as the supplemental documents on our website.
The comment period is open through May 30.
Submit your comments through the e-rulemaking portal or by mailing:
John Bullard, Regional Administrator
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930
Coast Guard Rescues Man From Fishing Ship Dozens of Miles off Montauk
April 24, 2017 — The Coast Guard rescued a man who was suffering a medical emergency on a ship 65 miles south of eastern Long Island.
The 47-year-old man was lifted from the deck of the Braedon Michael after the fishing vessel contacted the Coast Guard around 8:30 a.m. Friday for help with a crewmember who was experiencing flu-like symptoms and was in and out of consciousness.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter launched from an air station in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and arrived at the ship about an hour later, where it swooped in and rushed the man to a local medical center.
NEW JERSEY: Sea bass regs pass council, Tamaroa sinking delayed
April 21, 2017 — The black sea bass regulations were approved by the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council approved the measures at its April 13 meeting.
They are almost identical to last year, except the 13-inch size limit — which was in place last fall — is not returning.
The season’s first wave opens May 26 and extends through June 18 with a ten fish bag limit at 12 ½-inch size limit. It is then closed for two weeks.
The second wave opens July 1 through August 31 with a two fish bag and 12 ½-inch size limit. It will then close until Oct. 21.
The final wave of the season is Oct. 22 to Dec. 31. Fishermen will have a 15 fish bag limit and a 12 ½-inch size limit.
Bob Martin, head of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, has to sign off on them, a spokesperson from the department said.
Tamaroa sinking delayed
The sinking of he United States Coast Guard cutter Tamaroa, on an artificial reef was delayed this week by weather.
The vessel gained notoriety for its daunting rescue missions during the “Perfect Storm” of 1991, but she was originally the U.S. Navy’s Zuni, an ocean/salvage tug, commissioned in 1943. She is the last surviving vessel from the Battle of Iwo Jima.
She is destined for the DelJerseyLand artificial reef jointly shared by New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. At 205-feet long the vessel is expected to provide a lot of habitat for marine life that will make it a productive fishing and dive site.
Chub Mackerel Amendment Scoping Hearings: May 4–25, 2017
April 19, 2017 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold six public hearings in May 2017 to solicit public input on the Chub Mackerel Amendment to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Council is also soliciting written comments on the amendment through May 31, 2017.
The amendment considers measures to manage Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) as a stock in the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish FMP with catch limits, accountability measures, and other conservation and management measures required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Council is developing this action in response to the recent development of a directed chub mackerel commercial fishery in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England.
Hearing Schedule
- Thursday, May 4, 2017, 7:00-9:00 pm. Kingsborough Community College, room V-219. 2001 Oriental Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY, 11235. Telephone: 718-368-5000.
- Monday, May 15, 2017, 6:00-7:30 pm. Virginia Marine Resources Commission 4th Floor Meeting Room. 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, VA, 23607. Telephone: 757-247-2200.
- Tuesday May 16, 2017, 6:30-8:00 pm. Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort & Conference Center. 9100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD, 21842. Telephone: 410-524-7777.
- Tuesday May 23, 2017, 6:30-8:00 pm. Congress Hall Hotel. 200 Congress Place, Cape May, NJ, 08204. Telephone: 888-944-1816.
- Wednesday May 24, 2017, 6:30-8:00 pm. University of Rhode Island Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium. 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI, 02882. Telephone: 401-874-6222.
- Wednesday May 25, 2017, 6:00-7:30 pm. Audio and visual access available at http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/chubscoping/. The webinar can also be accessed via phone by calling 1-800-832-0736, room #5068871.
Written Comments
Written comments are due by Thursday, May 31, 2017 and may be submitted by any of the following methods:
- Mail or Fax to Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE, 19901; FAX: 302-674-5399.
- Email to jbeaty@mafmc.org.
- Onlineat http://www.mafmc.org/comments/chub-amendment-scoping.
Please include “chub mackerel scoping comments” in the subject line if using email or fax, or on the outside of the envelope if submitting written comments.
Additional information and relevant background documents are available on the Council’s website at http://www.mafmc.org/actions/chub-mackerel-amendment. The scoping document will be posted on this page as soon as it becomes available.
Questions? Please direct any questions about the amendment to Julia Beaty (jbeaty@mafmc.org, 302-526-5250).
Joint Council Meeting with ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board in Alexandria, VA: May 10, 2017
April 19, 2017 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
The public is invited to attend a joint meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Board to be held on May 10, 2017 in Alexandria, Virginia. The meeting will be held at The Westin Alexandria, 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA, 22314, Telephone (703) 253-8600.
Meeting Materials: Briefing documents will be posted at http://ww.mafmc.org/briefing/may-2017 as they become available.
Public Comments: Written comments received byThursday, April 27, 2017 will be included in the Council meeting briefing book. Comments received after this deadline but before close of business on Thursday, May 4, 2017 will be posted as “supplemental materials” on the Council meeting web page. After that date, all comments must be submitted using an online comment form. Comments submitted via the online form will be automatically posted to the website and available for Council consideration. A link to this form will be available at http://www.mafmc.org/public-comment. Late comments will no longer be distributed to Council members via email.
Webinar: Webinar connection information will be posted at http://ww.mafmc.org/briefing/may-2017 prior to the meeting.
Agenda
Wednesday, May 10th
1:00 p.m. Welcome/Call to Order
1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Scup Quota Period Framework (Framework 10 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP)
- Final action
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Comprehensive Summer Flounder Amendment
- Review draft range of alternatives for commercial issues
- Approve range of alternatives for further development and inclusion in a public hearing document
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Review Implementation of 2017 Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass Recreational Measures
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Black Sea Bass Wave 1 Fishery
- Review white paper on potential experimental recreational Wave 1 black sea bass fishery
- Consider postponed motion to allow experimental wave 1 for-hire fishery: Motion to allow an experimental 2018 January/February (wave one), recreational, federally permitted for-hire fishery for black sea bass with a 15 fish per person possession limit, a suspended minimum size limit, and a zero discard policy to allow for barotrauma, and a mandatory trip reporting requirement.
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Review Board White Paper on Summer Flounder Recreational Specifications
5:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Other Business/Adjourn
Council against Hudson Canyon sanctuary
April 18, 2017 — A Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary proposal got little to no support from the Mid-Atlantic Marine Fisheries Council.
In fact, the council voted 15-4 against it when it met in Avalon last week for its regular scheduled spring meeting.
The Wildlife Conservation Society, operators of the New York Aquarium, nominated the canyon under the marine sanctuary program, run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The aquarium’s goal is to advance marine conservation for the sensitive species and habitats in the canyon, including the permanent restriction oil, gas, and other mineral exploration and extraction.
However, fishermen have not been behind it because of the potential to be shut out of fishing the canyon. Advocates for fishermen said management of the canyon is best left to proven science-based management tools that include fishermen in the future.
They contend protections such as those that safe-guard deep sea corals, and regulations on fish are already in place.
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to Offer Training on Electronic Vessel Trip Reports for the For-Hire Community
April 17, 2017 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
This is the final call for registration to participate in the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (Council) workshops to help the for-hire community prepare for submitting Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) electronically.
The Council approved a measure last year that will phase out the current paper-based reports over the coming year. For-hire vessel operators/owners who must report VTRs for species managed by the Mid-Atlantic Council will need to report using their mobile device or personal computer in order to be in compliance. Such options are already available on a voluntary basis.
While all options for electronic reporting will be briefly discussed, the workshops will focus on hands-on training for the eTrips/mobile and eTrips/PC system, a free program developed by the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP). Instruction and guidance will be led by Rick Bellavance, Owner/Operator of Priority Fishing Charters in Point Judith, Rhode Island, and ACCSP staff.
April 25th, 2017, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 pm at the Hilton Mystic Hotel 20 Coogan Blvd., Mystic CT 06355. Phone: (860) 572-0731.
April 27th. 2017, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton Baltimore-BWI Airport, 890 Elkridge Landing Rd, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090. Phone: (410) 859-8400.
Participation is limited to 30 individuals per workshop!
Registration: To register for one of the workshops, visit http://www.mafmc.org/forms/evtr-workshop-registration.
What to Bring: It would be extremely helpful to bring an electronic tablet or laptop capable of connecting to the internet via W-Fi. For the mobile-based version, participants will need either a Google account (for Android systems) or an iTunes account (for Apple systems) to download the eTrips/mobile app. This will allow you to work along with the instructors and be set up and ready to begin electronic reporting once you leave the workshop.
Please direct any questions to workshop coordinator Andrew Loftus (aloftus@andrewloftus.com; 410-295-5997).
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