Saving Seafood

NORTH CAROLINA: Sea Turtle Interactions Trigger Immediate Area B Closure

November 4, 2015 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

DMF staff observed nine sea turtle interactions in large mesh gill nets in Management Unit B this morning.  A proclamation closing large mesh gill nets in this management unit will be issued later today, effective at one hour after sunrise tomorrow.  The estimated takes are getting close to the allowed takes for Management Unit B, so we’re not sure if we’ll be able to reopen later in the fishing year (Sept. 1, 2015-Aug. 31, 2016).  This is the most sea turtle interactions the division has observed in November since the settlement agreement management measures were implemented in 2010.  

NORTH CAROLINA: Weekly Update for Oct. 19, 2015

October 19, 2015 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

DIVISION OF MARINE FISHERIES BEGINS MANAGING INCIDENTAL TAKE PERMITTED SPECIES AS A QUOTA

Going forward, proclamations issued to close management areas in accordance with incidental take permit requirements will be effective immediately as in other species managed under a quota.  

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 

As everyone knows, the North Carolina “long session” of the General Assembly is now history, and the legislators are finished until 2016. The “short session” begins at the end of April next year. We did OK at the state level with the revocation of Joint Enforcement Authority or JEA, between the state’s Division of Marine Fisheries and the National Marine Fisheries Service. There were other victories as well, but mainly in keeping bad things from happening. That took a tremendous amount of effort on our part in being vigilant at the Raleigh level. However, we did so at the expense of some of the federal issues.

Two weeks ago I had appointments in Washington, D.C. with some of our Congressional folks including legislators and staffs. At one of our meetings in Senator Tillis’s office, there were 3 employees of NMFS and staff members for Senator Burr, Senator Tillis and Congressman Walter B. Jones. The primary topics were Highly Migratory Species and Endangered Species Act issues, with the goal being bringing the staffers up to date on the issues from our perspective. That dialogue will continue.

I’m returning to  Washington tomorrow for a Wednesday meeting with our congressional folks about the H2B labor issue affecting our blue crab processors.

We have a very important Board of Directors meeting coming up next Tuesday, the 27th, to prepare for the upcoming Marine Fisheries Commission meeting in November. Please note that NCFA’s Board meetings are open to all commercial fishermen, whether you’re on the Board or not. If you have any concerns that you would like brought to the Board’s attention, contact any of the staff or Board members. We’re not mind readers!

God bless,

Jerry

MAFMC VOTES TO REDUCE SPINY DOGFISH QUOTA IN 2016

At last week’s meeting in Philadelphia, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council recommended a substantial cut in the spiny dogfish commercial quota for next year. Following a review of the most recent scientific information, public comments, and advice from the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel, the council voted to set the 2016 commercial quota at 25.3 million pounds, a 50% reduction from the 2015 quota of 50.6 million pounds. If approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service, the new measure will go into effect May 1, 2016.

The council’s decision was driven by the recent spiny dogfish stock assessment update, which estimated the stock’s biomass to be at 87% of the rebuilt target in 2015. Although the stock was found to be neither overfished nor subject to overfishing, the new estimate of stock biomass was a marked decrease from the 2013 update, which indicated that the stock’s biomass was at 135% of the target.  For more information see the news release.  

INDIVIDUAL BLUEFIN QUOTA AND PELAGIC LONGLINE OBSERVER REQUIREMENTS REMINDERS

NOAA Fisheries has released a document to highlight important aspects of the IBQ program and Electronic Monitoring requirements. This information may be of interest to people participating in these programs and can be found here.

NOAA Fisheries is also announcing increased mandatory observer coverage for pelagic longline vessels in the Mid-Atlantic Bight, including the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area, from December 1, 2015 through April 30, 2016. If you are making a trip using pelagic longline gear in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (including the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area) from December 1, 2015, through April 30, 2016, you must contact the Pelagic Observer Program at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center Miami Laboratory in writing (mail or e-mail) at least five business days prior to your departure, and provide information, as described in  this document.  More information on this can be found here. 

NCFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESCHEDULED

The NCFA board meeting scheduled for today was canceled due to inclement weather.  It has been rescheduled for Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. at the Washington Civic Center located at 110 Gladden St. in Washington.   As a reminder, members are welcomed and encouraged to attend, however, the board will be discussing the southern flounder management crisis at this meeting, and so we strongly urge all the fishery’s participants who are able to attend. We need your input on this critical issue.  

REGULATION AND RULE CHANGES:

–South Atlantic commercial gag daily trip limit decreased to 500 pounds effective Oct. 18

–Commercial Scup Winter II quota and possession limits increase effective Nov. 1

DEADLINES:

Oct. 19 – For-Hire Advisory Group Applications

Oct. 29 – NMFS Proposed Rules for Snapper-Grouper, Dolphin and Golden Crab Comments

Nov. 4 – Atlantic HMS SEDAR Pool Nominations

Nov. 9 – NMFS Proposed Rule on ICCAT Bluefin Electronic Documentation Comments

Nov. 19 – Derelict Fishing Gear Recovery Project Applications

Dec. 16 – NMFS Draft Ecosystem-based Fishery Management Policy Comments

MEETINGS:

If you are aware of ANY meetings that should be of interest to commercial fishing that is not on this list, please contact us so we can include it here.     

Oct. 20-22 – SAFMC Science and Statistical Committee Webinar 

Oct. 21 at 10:30 a.m. – Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Board Meeting, Department of Environmental Quality Regional Office, 127 N. Cardinal Dr. Ext., Wilmington, NC

Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. – Summer Flounder, Scup, Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel Meeting via webinar 

Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. – Marine Fisheries Commission Nominating Committee Meeting, Division of Marine Fisheries Headquarters, 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City 

Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. – NCFA Board of Directors Meeting, Washington Civic Center, 110 Gladden St., Washington, NC

PROCLAMATIONS: 

SNAPPER-GROUPER COMPLEX – COMMERCIAL PURPOSES (GAG GROUPER)

RULE SUSPENSION – GILL NET RESTRICTIONS: INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS – CLOSING MANAGEMENT UNIT B EXCEPT SUBUNIT MGNRA

GILL NETS – ALBEMARLE SOUND AREA – MANAGEMENT UNIT A – CLOSING

 View a PDF of the Weekly Update

NORTH CAROLINA: Weekly Update for Sept. 28, 2015

September 28, 2015 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

WEEKLY UPDATE: 9/28/2015

NORTH CAROLINA FISHERIES ASSOCIATION

“Serving the Commercial Fishing Families of North Carolina since 1952”

Phone: (252) 745-0225 – www.ncfish.org

Jerry Schill, President: jerryschill@ncfish.org Cell: 252-361-3015  

Lauren Morris, Membership/Operations Manager:  

laurenmorris@ncfish.org  Cell: 252-725-2468

NCFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MONDAY

The association’s board of directors will meet 2 p.m., Monday, Oct. 5 at the Washington Civic Center located at 110 Gladden Street in Washington.  As always all members are welcomed and encouraged to attend, however, the board will be discussing the southern flounder management crisis at this meeting, and so we strongly urge all the fishery’s participants who are able to attend.  We need your input on this critical issue.  

SAMFC MOVES FORWARD TO PROTECT SPAWNING AREAS

Members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council held lengthy discussions on the proposed designation of areas to help protect spawning fish and associated habitat during their meeting last week in Hilton Head, South Carolina. After reviewing both written and public comment received during a second round of public hearings, the Council narrowed their preferred alternatives to five Spawning Special Management Zones (SMZs) as proposed in Amendment 36 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. Of the eleven candidate sites included in the amendment, the Council selected the following sites as preferred: 1) a five square mile area off the coast of North Carolina known as the South Cape Lookout site; 2) a 3.1 square mile area off the coast of Georgetown, South Carolina called “Devil’s Hole” or “Georgetown Hole”; 3) a 2.99 square mile artificial reef site off the coast of South Carolina known as Area 51; 4) a 2.99 square mile artificial reef site off the coast of South Carolina known as Area 53; and 5) a one square mile area off the east coast of the Florida Keys referred to as the “Warsaw Hole”. For more information, see the news release. 

NMFS RELEASES DRAFT ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT POLICY 

NOAA Fisheries is developing an agency-wide ecosystem-based fishery management policy, which outlines a set of principles to guide its actions and decisions over the long-term.  The draft policy goals and framework are informed by NOAA Fisheries’ own practices and experience from that of its partners.  These ideas are intended to limit neither discussion nor consideration of other potential policy goals. Read the draft policy and learn more about how to comment here. Comments on the proposed policy are due Dec. 16, 2015. 

CONGRESSMEN JONES & YOUNG FILE BILL TO PREVENT MARINE MONUMENT DESIGNATIONS WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL CONSENT

Congressman Walter B. Jones (R-North Carolina) and Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) have cosponsored H.R. 330, the Marine Access and State Transparency (MAST) Act.  The bill would prevent President Barack Obama, or any future president, from unilaterally designating offshore areas as “national monuments” and restricting the public’s ability to fish there.  Instead, the bill would require a president to get the approval of Congress and the legislature of each state within 100 nautical miles of the monument before any “monument” designation could take effect.

The bill comes in response to increasing speculation that President Obama may follow the example of his predecessor George W. Bush and unilaterally designate large swaths of coastal America as “national monuments.”  In 2006, President Bush short circuited the established process of public consultation and input and unilaterally designated 84 million acres off the coast of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands as a national monument. The new monument, which is larger than 46 of America’s 50 states, was then closed to fishing.    

“Presidents from both parties have abused their monument designation authority for far too long,” said Congressman Jones.  “No president should be allowed to just lock up millions of acres of fishing grounds by fiat, with no public input whatsoever.  Frankly, it’s un-American, and it must be stopped.  I am proud to be the first member of Congress to join my friend Don Young in fighting for this legislation, and I urge the rest of my colleagues to get behind it.” 

For additional information, please contact Maria Jeffrey in Congressman Jones’ office at (202) 225-3415 or at maria.jeffrey@mail.house.gov.

UPCOMING MAFMC COUNCIL MEETING

The public is invited to attend the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s October 2015 meeting on Oct. 6 – 8, 2015 in Philadelphia, PA. The meeting will be held at the Doubletree Philadelphia Center City, 237 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, Telephone 215-893-1600. Additional details and briefing materials will be posted on the  October 2015 Council Meeting page.

INTERESTED CANDIDATES FOR SAFMC SEAT EXPIRING IN 2016

Members interested in serving in the obligatory seat for the South Atlantic Marine Fishery Commission, please let Lauren know.  You can email or give her a call at 252-725-2468.

REGULATION AND RULE CHANGES:

–Commercial Scup Winter II quota and possession limits increase effective Nov. 1

DEADLINES:

Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. – MFC Kingfish and Interjusdiction FMP Update Comments

Oct. 2 – MFC Proposed Rules Comments

Oct. 2 – MAFMC Unmanaged Forage Species Scoping Comments

Dec. 16 – NMFS Draft Ecosystem-based Fishery Management Policy Comments

MEETINGS:

If you are aware of ANY meetings that should be of interest to commercial fishing that is not on this list, please contact us so we can include it here.    

Sept. 28-29 – Southeast Data, Assessment and Review Steering Committee Meeting via Webinar

Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. – NCFA Board of Directors Meeting, Washington Civic Center, 110 Gladden St., Washington

Oct. 6-8 – MAFMC Meeting, Philadelphia, PA

PROCLAMATIONS: 

RULE SUSPENSION – GILL NET RESTRICTIONS: INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS

TRAWLING, SPECIAL SECONDARY NURSERY AREA (OPENING: Core Sound, West Bay, and Turnagain Bay) 

GILL NETS – ALBEMARLE SOUND AREA- MANAGEMENT UNIT A-OPENING EASTERN PORTION

RULE SUSPENSION – GILL NET RESTRICTIONS: INTERNAL COASTAL WATERS-OPENING MANAGEMENT UNIT B AND E

STOP NETS – MULLET BEACH SEINE FISHERY – ATLANTIC OCEAN – CARTERET COUNTY

GILL NETS – BOGUE BANKS

STRIPED BASS SEASON – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA

STRIPED BASS RECREATIONAL SEASON – ALBEMARLE SOUND MANAGEMENT AREA

STRIPED BASS RECREATIONAL SEASON – CENTRAL SOUTHERN MANAGEMENT AREA

View a PDF of the Weekly Update here

Weekly Update: 9/21/15 North Carolina Fisheries Association

September 21, 2015 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

INTERESTED CANDIDATES FOR SAFMC SEAT EXPIRING IN 2016
Members interested in serving in the obligatory seat for the South Atlantic Marine Fishery Commission, please let Lauren know. You can email or give her a call at 252-725-2468.

NEW ANALYSIS COMPARES COSTS OF ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND AT–SEA OBSERVERS
Earlier this year, NOAA Fisheries issued regional electronic technology implementation plans that lay out our vision for the implementation of this technology in U.S. fisheries. One key element missing from those plans and ongoing Council discussions regarding the use of electronic monitoring was cost information. To better inform the Council decision-making process with regard to fishery-dependent data collection, NMFS is issuing two reports comparing the projected costs of two different operational electronic monitoring programs with the costs of more traditional observer/at-sea monitoring programs, as well as an independent review of the groundfish electronic monitoring report. The costs in both reports are estimated for hypothetical programs and costs are based on agency spending and cost estimates provided by three electronic monitoring service
providers in the fall of 2014. Access the reports below:

Cost Comparison for Hypothetical Groundfish Sector
Independent Review of the Groundfish Cost Comparison
Cost Comparison for Hypothetical Herring/Mackerel Fishery

Read the full update from the North Carolina Fisheries Association

NORTH CAROLINA: Weekly Update for Sept. 14, 2015

September 14, 2015 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

JERRY’S LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS AND OBSERVER:

In response to your Sept. 1 editorial “Fishy business on fish rules“: The N&O claimed the General Assembly was considering budget language that would keep the Marine Fisheries Commission from doing an amendment on southern flounder. That is not true, and our position has been that an amendment is what the commission should be doing. The issue is the relatively recent authority that has been given to the commission to do a supplement. That process is supposed to be a quick way to get regulations in place if it’s determined that the species in question is in dire straits.

Although The N&O claims southern flounder is near collapse, there are no data to support such a claim. Further, the commission is using the supplement to ban gear, which can be done only through an amendment, as the supplement process does not allow for the more detailed public scrutiny.

We expect all fishermen to abide by the rules. Should not the regulatory body be held to the same standards or higher? Why does The N&O support an agency going outside the rules?

The Marine Fisheries Commission exists because it was created by the General Assembly. The commission is expected to abide by the rules that were adopted by the General Assembly. Why is it wrong for the General Assembly to provide oversight?

I have never heard anyone dispute the notion that commercial fishermen are some of the hardest working laborer’s in our country.

SIGN THE PETITION: SAY NO TO THE NEW ENGLAND MARINE NATIONAL MONUMENT

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION REGIONAL COMMITTEES TO MEET ON POTENTIAL SEA TURTLE INCIDENTAL TAKE PERMIT MODIFICATIONS

The purpose of the meetings is to review information from the division’s at-sea observer program, the number of large mesh gill net fishing days for each management unit, and to provide feedback on potential amendment items to the sea turtle and Atlantic sturgeon incidental take permits.  Protected Resources staff will present information on the draft issue paper: Potential Amendments to the Sea Turtle and Atlantic Sturgeon Incidental Take Permits.

Southern Regional Advisory Committee Briefing Materials

Northern Regional Advisory Committee Briefing Materials 

ATLANTIC SHARK IDENTIFICATION WORKSHOPS AND PROTECTED SPECIES SAFE HANDLING, RELEASE AND IDENTIFICATION WORKSHOPS

Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be held in October, November, and December of 2015. Certain fishermen and shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet regulatory requirements and to maintain valid permits. Specifically, the Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop is mandatory for all federally permitted Atlantic shark dealers. The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop is mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear, and who have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits. Additional free workshops will be conducted during 2016 and will be announced in a future notice.  For more information and schedules see the news release.  

ASMFC FISHERIES FOCUS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ISSUE

US CUTS DUMPING TAX ON SHRIMP

Cuts to anti-dumping tariffs are expected to accelerate shrimp exports to the US for the remaining part of the year after shrimp exports witnessed a hefty drop of more than 50 per cent.  The US Department of Commerce on Monday announced the final result of the 9th period of review on anti-dumping tariffs imposed on Vietnamese frozen shrimp products exported to the US market from Feb. 1, 2013 to Jan. 31, 2014, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.  Read the rest of the story.  

NOAA AWARDS $2.75 MILLION FOR MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE EFFORTS

NOAA Fisheries announced the award of $2.75 million in grant funding to partner organizations in 16 states to respond to and rehabilitate stranded marine mammals and collect data on their health. The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program provides funding to non-profit and for-profit organizations, academic institutions, and state agencies that are members of the National Marine Mammal Stranding Network.  For more information read the news release.  

REGULATION AND RULE CHANGES:

-USCG Mandatory Dockside Inspections Required Effective Oct. 15

DEADLINES:

Sept. 14 – NMFS Generic Amendment to Snapper-Grouper, Golden Crab and Dolphin-Wahoo FMPs Comments

Sept. 17 – 2016 Commercial Atlantic Shark Season Comments

Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. – 2016-2018 Atlantic Herring Research Set Aside Applications 

Sept. 25 – MAFMC Cooperative Research Proposals

Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. – MFC Kingfish and Interjusdiction FMP Update Comments

Oct. 2 – MFC Proposed Rules Comments

Oct. 2 – MAFMC Unmanaged Forage Species Scoping Comments

MEETINGS:

If you are aware of ANY meetings that should be of interest to commercial fishing that is not on this list, please contact us so we can include it here.    

 

Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. – NCFA Board of Directors Meeting, Washington Civic Center, 110 Gladden St., Washington

Sept. 14 at 6 p.m – Oyster and Hard Clam Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee Meeting, DENR Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington

Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. – MAFMC Scoping Hearing for Unmanaged Forage Species, 

DENR Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington

Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. – MFC Sea Turtle Advisory Committee Meeting, DENR Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington

PROCLAMATIONS: 

BLACK SEA BASS – COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS – ATLANTIC OCEAN – NORTH OF CAPE HATTERAS

RESEARCH SANCTUARY (RS-4-2015 RESCINDED)

Read the Weekly Update as a PDF

 

North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for 9/7/15

September 9, 2015 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

NCFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MONDAY SEPT. 14

The NC Fisheries Association Board of Directors will meet Monday, Sept. 14 at the Washington Civic Center located at 110 Gladden St., Washington, N.C.  Meetings are open to all members.

ASMFC 74TH ANNUAL MEETING PRELIMINARY AGENDA

MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION SEA TURTLE COMMITTEE TO MEET

The Sea Turtle Advisory Committee to the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington.  The committee is scheduled to review information from the division’s At-Sea Observer Program, including the number of large-mesh gill net fishing days in each management unit, and to give feedback on potential amendments to the state’s Sea Turtle and Atlantic Sturgeon incidental take permits.

For more information contact Chris Batsavage, Protected Resources Section chief, at 252-808-8009 or Chris.Batsavage@ncdenr.gov.

NMFS CUTS VERMILION SNAPPER COMMERCIAL DAILY TRIP LIMIT 

The daily trip limit for the commercial harvest of vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic is reduced from 1,000 pounds gutted weight to 500 pounds gutted weight, effective 12:01 a.m. (local time) Sept. 10, 2015. NOAA Fisheries has determined 75 percent of the July-December quota of 438,260 pounds whole weight will be landed by Sept. 10, 2015.  For more information see the news release.

PUBLIC INFORMATION DOCUMENT FOR AMENDMENT 1 TO THE INTERSTATE FMP FOR TAUTOG

REGULATION AND RULE CHANGES:

-South Atlantic Vermilion Snapper Commercial Trip Limits Change Effective Sept. 10

-South Atlantic Gag and Wreckfish Catch Limits Change Effective Sept. 11

-Atlantic Mackerel Slippage Consequences Measures Effective Sept. 11

-USCG Mandatory Dockside Inspections Required Effective Oct. 15

DEADLINES:

Sept. 10 – NMFS Updated Draft Acoustic Guidelines Comments

Sept. 14 – NMFS Generic Amendment to Snapper-Grouper, Golden Crab and Dolphin-Wahoo FMPs Comments

Sept. 17 – 2016 Commercial Atlantic Shark Season Comments

Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. – 2016-2018 Atlantic Herring Research Set Aside Applications

Sept. 25 – MAFMC Cooperative Research Proposals

Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. – MFC Kingfish and Interjusdiction FMP Update Comments

Oct. 2 – MFC Proposed Rules Comments

Oct. 2 – MAFMC Unmanaged Forage Species Scoping Comments

MEETINGS:

If you are aware of ANY meetings that should be of interest to commercial fishing that is not on this list, please contact us so we can include it here.

 

Sept. 9-10 – Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel Meeting, Sheraton Silver Spring Hotel, 8777 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD and via webinar

Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. – NCFA Board of Directors Meeting, Washington Civic Center, 110 Gladden St., Washington

Sept. 14 at 6 p.m – Oyster and Hard Clam Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee Meeting, DENR Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington

Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. – MAFMC Scoping Hearing for Unmanaged Forage Species,

DENR Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington

Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. – MFC Sea Turtle Advisory Committee Meeting, DENR Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington

PROCLAMATIONS: 

SNAPPER-GROUPER COMPLEX – COMMERCIAL PURPOSES (GRAY TRIGGERFISH, VERMILION SNAPPER)

View a PDF of the release here

 

North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for August 24, 2015

August 24, 2015 — JERRY’S UPDATE

Jerry’s comments will be sent separately later this week.

SOUTHERN FLOUNDER SUPPLEMENT VOTE POSTPONED

The Marine Fisheries Commission did not vote on the proposed supplement to the southern flounder plan at its business meeting last week as expected.  More information will be posted as it becomes available.

MAFMC AUGUST MEETING REPORT

ASMFC FINDS DELAWARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH AMERICAN EEL PLAN

The ASMFC has found the state of Delaware out of compliance with the mandatory management measures contained in Addendum III to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Eel. The commission has notified the secretaries of Commerce and the Interior of its finding.  This action was taken pursuant to the provisions of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act of 1993.  For more information see the news release.

NMFS MAINTAINS CURRENT BLUEFIN TUNA COMMERCIAL LIMIT

The National Marine Fisheries Service maintains the current Atlantic bluefin tuna general category (commercial handgear) daily retention limit of four large medium or giant bluefin (i.e., 73″ or greater) per vessel per day/trip for Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2015. This adjustment is intended to provide a reasonable opportunity to harvest the U.S. bluefin tuna quota without exceeding it, while maintaining an equitable distribution of fishing opportunities; help achieve optimum yield in the fishery; and collect a broad range of data for stock monitoring purposes. For more information see the news release.

REGULATION AND RULE CHANGES:

-South Atlantic Gag and Wreckfish Catch Limits Change Effective Sept. 11

-Atlantic Mackerel Slippage Consequences Measures Effective Sept. 11

-USCG Mandatory Dockside Inspections Required Effective Oct. 15

DEADLINES:

Aug. 26 – Green Sea Turtles ESA Uplisting Comments

Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. – Snapper-Grouper Regulatory Amendment 36 Comments

Sept. 1 – SAFMC Snapper-Grouper Draft Vision Blueprint Comments

Sept. 4 – Cape Fear River Restoration Scoping Document Comments

Sept. 10 – NMFS Updated Draft Acoustic Guidelines Comments

Sept. 14 – NMFS Generic Amendment to Snapper-Grouper, Golden Crab and Dolphin-Wahoo FMPs Comments

Sept. 17 – 2016 Commercial Atlantic Shark Season Comments

Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. – 2016-2018 Atlantic Herring Research Set Aside Applications

Oct. 2 – MFC Proposed Rules Comments

MEETINGS:

If you are aware of ANY meetings that should be of interest to commercial fishing that is not on this list, please contact us so we can include it here.

 

Aug. 31-Sept.1 – ASMFC Menhaden Ecosystem Management Workshop

Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. – MFC Rules Public Hearing, DMF Central District Office, 5285 Hwy 70 W, Morehead City

Sept. 9-10 – Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel Meeting, Sheraton Silver Spring Hotel, 8777 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD and via webinar

PROCLAMATIONS: 

COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL SHARK HARVEST

CRAB TRAWLING AND TAKING SHRIMP WITH NETS (OPENING CAPE FEAR RIVER)

SNAPPER-GROUPER COMPLEX – RECREATIONAL PURPOSES (HOGFISH)

NC lawsuit over sea turtles dismissed by federal judge

August 6, 2015 — Judge James C. Dever has dismissed a lawsuit by the N.C. Fisheries Association (NCFA) and Carteret County Fisherman’s Association (CCFA) to challenge how gill-net fishing is regulated in areas where sea turtles are present.

The NCFA and CCFA demanded in the suit, filed on March 6 in federal court in Raleigh, that Incidental Take Permits for sea turtles be removed or all recreational fishing closed while management plans are developed and applied to recreational, hook-and-line fishermen.

Named as defendants of the suit for the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of the Interior, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the N.C. Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

In dismissing the complaint that was brought by the NCFA and CCFA on behalf of all commercial fishermen in the state, Dever, the chief judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina, said in a 19-page dismissal order, the plaintiffs lacked jurisdiction to sue various state and federal agencies.

Read the full story from North Carolina Sportsman