Saving Seafood

MAFMC Approves Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Amendment

December 18, 2024 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

During a meeting last week in Annapolis, Maryland, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council took final action on an amendment to modify the species separation requirements for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. If approved and implemented by the Secretary of Commerce, the amendment will allow vessels to land mixed catches of surfclam and ocean quahog during a declared mixed trip. The amendment also introduces enhanced monitoring and reporting procedures to ensure accurate tracking of catch and effective enforcement of regulations.

The Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries are managed under an individual transferable (ITQ) system. Current regulations prohibit landing the two species on the same trip or placing them together in the same cages. In recent years, industry has reported that it has become increasingly difficult to avoid mixed catches. This has created challenges related to catch monitoring, allocation tracking, and enforcement, as well as logistical and economic challenges for industry.

In 2021, the Council initiated an amendment to explore potential modifications to the species separation requirements. Although final action was originally scheduled for June 2024, the Council opted to postpone the decision to allow time for a workshop to explore additional implementation approaches and enforcement issues. The two-day workshop was held in October 2024, with participation from Council members, NOAA Fisheries staff, industry representatives, and others. Workshop discussions informed development of a revised alternative which was supported by the fishing industry and ultimately adopted by the Council.

Under the revised regulations, vessels intending to harvest both clam species would be required to declare a mixed trip through their Vessel Monitoring System prior to leaving port. Vessels declaring a single species trip would be subject to the current single species regulations. Any dealer or processing facility wishing to receive mixed catches would be responsible for developing a NOAA-approved catch monitoring plan that describes how their in-plant sorting and reporting of catch for both species will occur. In addition, third-party independent catch monitors would be randomly deployed to shoreside facilities to ensure accurate reporting of catch data.

Although the Council considered requiring full retention of both clam species, they ultimately agreed that this could be avoided if improvements are made to discard data via a combination of increased observer coverage and self-reported discards on vessel trip reports. Observer coverage would be increased in the first year to cover up to five percent of all clam fishing trips. Data collected in the first year would be used to determine the appropriate observer coverage level for future years.

The Council acknowledged that there will be additional costs associated with the increased observer coverage and development of a new shoreside catch monitoring program. Some of these costs could be recouped through the cost recovery program, which requires ITQ allocation holders to pay an annual fee to recover the costs of management, data collection and analysis, and enforcement activities involved with the program.

Secretarial review of the amendment will involve a thorough review of the proposed measures by NOAA Fisheries, including further opportunities for public comment. Additional information, updates, and background materials related to this amendment are available at https://www.mafmc.org/actions/scoq-species-separation.

Climate change impacting Atlantic shellfish, and scientists predict it will only get worse

July 25, 2022 —  A team of researchers form the Science Center for Marine Fisheries, an organization with a number of partners and collaborating scientists from universities like the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, is examining how warmer waters will impact shellfish species harvested in the United States.

The research, centering on ocean quahogs and surfclams, is examining how the two species will begin to interact as changing ocean conditions cause the species to shift habitats. Ocean quahog are one of the longest-lived marine species in the world and inhabit cold waters in the Mid-Atlantic, while surfclams typically inhabit warmer areas.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Climate Change Creating New Conflicts for Surfclam, Ocean Quahog Fisheries as Warming Forces Habitat Shifts

July 21, 2022 — The following was released by the Science Center for Marine Fisheries:

Climate change is now affecting long-standing patterns for marine life, with warmer waters pushing species out of their traditional habitats and into newer areas. As these changes become increasingly common, they will create challenges for fishermen, scientists, and regulators. A team at the Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS) is examining the extent of the problem on two key shellfish species: surfclams and ocean quahogs.

 

Ocean quahogs, one of the longest-lived marine species on Earth, inhabit cold waters in the Mid-Atlantic; surfclams, in contrast, have traditionally inhabited warmer areas. With climate change, surfclams’ traditional habitats have become some of the fastest-warming waters in the region, forcing them to move north into the colder waters traditionally occupied by quahogs.

“The area of overlap is getting potentially larger and larger as the Middle Atlantic warms, because one species is moving in, and the other one hasn’t quite got the message and moved out yet,” said Dr. Roger Mann of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, one of the lead scientists on the survey.

In the fall of 2021, a team from SCEMFIS partnered with an industry fishing vessel, the F/V Pursuit, to document the extent of this habitat overlap. They took samples in several areas, working through surfclam and ocean quahog habitats, as well as areas of intermingling in between. The team documented what was caught, its species, size, age, and location.

After analyzing the data, the team found significant habitat overlap and intermixing between surfclams and ocean quahogs, much more than was expected at the start of the survey.

“One of the surprises though was just how extensive the overlap is now,” said Dr. Eric Powell, of the University of Southern Mississippi, another one of the survey’s lead scientists. “This is a major community shift on the continental shelf and it’s something that the management agencies and the fishery are going to have to get their arms around and deal with.”

Intermixing of ocean quahogs and surfclams is just the latest example of how climate change is creating new problems for fishermen. Under current rules, fishermen are not allowed to harvest clams and quahogs at the same time. In an environment where these species inhabited separate parts of the ocean, these rules were easy for fishermen to comply with. But climate-influenced migration is making harvesting these species much more challenging, a problem that will only increase in importance as trends continue.

“As bad as it is, it’s going to be much worse in five years, in my opinion,” said Dr. Powell. “The challenge, both to the fishery and management, is to figure out how to revise the regulations so both of these species can be landed without causing a problem with the inherent stability of the fishery and management.”

“The information that we get is vitally important to us staying not only a sustainable fishery, but also a fishery in good stead with enforcement,” said Guy Simmons, Senior Vice President at Sea Watch International, which harvests clams and is a member of the SCEMFIS Industry Advisory Board.

New study offers improvements to estimating shellfish populations

March 14, 2022 — The following was released by the Science Center for Marine Fisheries: 

A new study, jointly conducted and funded by the Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), finds ways to reduce a source of uncertainty in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog population estimates: defining the efficiency of the survey gear. The study, published in Fishery Bulletin, is part of the Center’s long-running efforts to improve our understanding of shellfish.

The dredge efficiency issue, which dates to the early 1990s, is about how effective clam research survey vessels are at catching surfclams and ocean quahogs. The efficiency of a clam dredge—which is a measure of the proportion of Atlantic surfclams or ocean quahogs on the ocean floor that a dredge can catch—is one of the key variables in stock assessment population estimates. The efficiency of the dredge is a primary factor affecting the biomass estimate of the stock and therefore an important criterion determining how the assessment evaluates the status of the stock relative to management goals.

One way researchers measure efficiency is through field depletion experiments, where a dredge is run multiple times in a single area to measure the percentage of available shellfish it caught with each tow. These experiments are used in both the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog assessments to help estimate their dredge efficiencies. There is no way to know what true dredge efficiency is, but conducting many depletion experiments allows scientists to make a reasonable estimate.

The first depletion experiment was conducted in 1997 as a joint effort between NMFS, academic scientists, and the clam fishery. This team carried out many such studies over the following 15 years, making this one of the longest running successful collaborations of this type. This recent study addresses the remaining uncertainty surrounding dredge efficiency by looking at data from this large set of depletion experiments conducted over two decades and examines the quality of these experiments and the efficiency estimates they produced. Specifically, the study took a close look at simulated depletion experiments, where scientists know what the true dredge efficiency is, to identify common characteristics of studies that do a good job estimating dredge efficiency compared to those that do a poor job.

By focusing on the “best” experiments and identifying field experiments that potentially produced inaccurate efficiency estimates, scientists can refine the set of depletion studies used to help estimate efficiency in stock assessments. This refined set of depletion studies has particular influence on non-model-based biomass estimates, which play an important role in verifying the model-based results and are commonly used in management. Once identified, characteristics of good and bad depletion experiments can also inform methodology used in future experiments.

“Identifying field depletion experiments with accurate efficiency estimates helps confirm present stock assessment models’ gear efficiency estimates,” said Leanne Poussard, of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and the lead author of the study.

“Ms. Poussard’s work has rekindled interest in the cooperative depletion experiment dataset and produced important guidance for anyone undertaking similar experiments in the future”, said Dr. Dan Hennen of NMFS.

Mid-Atlantic Council Seeking Applications for Interim Advisory Panel Members

January 18, 2017 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting applications from qualified individuals to serve on several advisory panels that currently have vacancies.  Advisory panels provide information and recommendations to the Council during the development of fishery management actions. One of the chief responsibilities of advisory panels is the development of annual Fishery Performance Reports, which provide the Council and SSC with information on why catches may have fluctuated from year to year.

Advisory panels are composed of individuals with diverse experience and interest in Mid-Atlantic fisheries. Members include commercial fishermen, recreational anglers, for-hire operators, dealers, scientists, environmentalists, and other interested members of the public. Most advisory panels meet 1 – 2 times per year. Members are compensated for travel and per diem expenses for advisory panel meetings.  Individuals appointed under this notice would serve on an interim basis and could re-apply during the next general application window in early 2018.

The Council is accepting applications for the following advisory panels:

  • Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (1 vacancy)
  • Spiny Dogfish (2 vacancies)
  • Surfclam/Ocean Quahog (1 vacancy)

Anyone interested in serving on one of these advisory panels may apply online or download an application at www.mafmc.org/forms/advisory-panel-application. Applications can also be obtained by calling the Council office at (877) 446-2362 or emailing jsaunders@mafmc.org. Completed applications should be submitted using one of the following methods:

  • Online using the form at the web address above;
  • Mail to Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901;
  • Email to jsaunders@mafmc.org; or
  • Fax to (302) 674-5399.

Please include “ADVISORY PANEL” in the subject of your fax or email.

See the full release at the MAFMC

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on Proposed Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Rule

March 16, 2016 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries: 

Today, NOAA Fisheries announces that the proposed Amendment 17 to the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan is available for public review and comment.  

Amendment 17:

  • Establishes a cost recovery program for the individual transferable quota (ITQ) fisheries;
  • Makes administrative changes to how biological reference points are incorporated into the management plan; and 
  • Removes the optimum yield range from the plan

For more details, read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register, and the supporting documents available on our website.

Comments are due April 15, and may be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, or by regular mail to:

John K. Bullard

Regional Administrator

NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office

55 Great Republic Drive

Gloucester, MA  01930. 

Please mark the outside of the envelope: “Comments on Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Amendment 17.”

Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel at 978-281-9175 or email jennifer.goebel@noaa.gov.

First U.S. Clam Fishery Embarks on Sustainable Fishing Assessment

December 22, 2015 — The following was released by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC):

The Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog fishery has become the first clam fishery in the U.S. to step forward for assessment to the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) global standard for sustainable fishing. Working with scientists, the fishing industry and conservation groups, MSC has developed the world’s most credible and recognized standard for environmentally sustainable wild-caught seafood.

Iconic surfclams and ocean quahogs are important commercial species in the U.S, found in products such as breaded clam strips, minced clams, stuffed clams, chowders and bisques. In 2014, the surfclams and quahogs harvest was valued at approximately $30 million and $22 million, respectively.

If certified, these clams will be eligible to carry the internationally recognized blue MSC ecolabel, which provides consumers an easy way to choose seafood that can be traced back to a certified sustainable source.
 
Mike Kraft, Vice President of Sustainability, Bumble Bee Seafoods, one of the processors supporting this assessment said: “Our customers and consumers care about sustainability and want to contribute to healthy ocean ecosystems by enjoying sustainably harvested surfclams and quahogs now, and in the future. We are confident that the MSC process will validate the sustainability of these well-managed and healthy fisheries.”

Brian Perkins, MSC regional director – Americas, said: “The MSC’s vision is for oceans to be teeming with life for future generations. We welcome the U.S. Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog fishery’s decision to enter MSC assessment. This is an important milestone for the MSC and for fishing in the U.S.”

Landing ports for U.S. Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog are New Bedford, Gloucester, and Fairhaven, Massachusetts; Warren and Bristol, Rhode Island; Point Pleasant, Atlantic City, Cape May, and Port Norris, New Jersey; and on occasion, Ocean City, Maryland. The processors supporting this assessment include: Bumble Bee Seafoods; Sea Watch International Ltd; Lamonica Fine Foods; Atlantic Capes Fisheries Inc.; and Surfside Foods LLC.

The independent assessment will be conducted by SCS Global Services, an accredited third-party conformity assessment body. SCS Global Services will assemble a team of fishery science and policy experts to evaluate the fishery according to the three principles of the MSC Fisheries Standard: the health of the stock of surfclam and ocean quahog; the impact of fishing on the marine environment; and the management of the fishery. The process takes around 18 months and is open to stakeholders. All results are peer reviewed and no decision is made about a fishery’s sustainability until after the assessment is