Saving Seafood

Briefing Book Materials Now Available for SAFMC Meeting June 14-18 , 2021

June 1, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Meeting materials for the June 14-18, 2021 meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council are now available from the Council’s website. The meeting will be held via webinar.

The briefing book materials include agendas and overviews for each committee meeting throughout the week along with meetings of the Full Council. Presentations and supporting documents are also included.

Council members will discuss federal management measures affecting:

  • Dolphin and Wahoo (along the entire Atlantic coast)
  • King Mackerel
  • Red Porgy
  • Stock assessments for Red Snapper, Gag, Tilefish and Yellowtail Snapper

The meeting agenda also includes continued review of a proposed Shrimp Fishery Access Area in the Oculina Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern off the east coast of Florida (Coral Amendment 10) and other management issues.

The meeting webinar begins Monday, June 14, 2021 with a meeting of the Full Council in open session at 1:30 p.m. Meetings of the Council’s committees will continue through the week, concluding with a meeting of the Full Council on Friday, June 18th.

Public Comment Session – Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
The Council will accept public comment on agenda items during this time. The Council is scheduled to approve Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan for Secretarial review during the meeting week. Snapper Grouper Amendment 10 (Red Porgy) and Coastal Migratory Pelagics Amendment 34 (Atlantic King Mackerel) are scheduled to be approved for public hearings. If approved, the hearings will be held later this summer.

Unless otherwise indicated, the meeting is open to the public via webinar. Registration is required. Register now and receive reminders as the meeting date approaches.

Meeting materials, the online public comment form and additional meeting information are all now available at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/.

Commercial Closure of the Golden Tilefish Hook-and-Line Component in South Atlantic Federal Waters on June 1, 2021

May 28, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

What/When:

The commercial hook-and-line component for golden tilefish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2021.

Why this Closure is Happening:

The 2021 commercial catch limit for the golden tilefish hook-and-line component is 82,935 pounds gutted weight. Commercial landings are projected to reach the commercial hook-and-line catch limit and harvest must close to prevent the catch limit from being exceeded.

During and After the Closure:

  • The closure prohibitions for the commercial hook-and-line component apply in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper permit.
  • The South Atlantic golden tilefish commercial longline component closed on February 10, 2021, and reopened for 11 days beginning March 20, 2021, and closed at 12:01 a.m., local time, on March 31, 2021, for the remainder of the fishing year. Therefore, all commercial harvest and sale of South Atlantic golden tilefish will be prohibited effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 2021. Harvest or possession is limited to the golden tilefish recreational bag and possession limits when the recreational sector is open, without regard to where the golden tilefish was harvested (i.e. in state or federal waters).
  • Golden tilefish bag and possession limits and the prohibition on sale/purchase apply in the South Atlantic on board a vessel for which a valid federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper has been issued, without regard to where such species were harvested, i.e., in state or federal waters.
  • The prohibitions on harvest or possession and sale or purchase during the closure do not apply to fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2021, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
  • The 2021 fishing season for golden tilefish commercial hook-and-line component in the South Atlantic will open on January 1, 2022, with a commercial catch limit of 82,935 pounds gutted weight.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations. The complete list of regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=383bc195ccbeab4fd6bec1c24905df34&node=sp50.12.622.i&rgn=div6.

SAFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting April 27-29 and May 3, 2021

April 19, 2021 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee will hold a multi-day meeting via webinar later this month to review recent stock assessments for Red Snapper, Tilefish and Gag Grouper and provide recommendations for consideration by the Council. Each of the eight regional fishery management councils in the U.S. has a Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) responsible for developing fishing level recommendations and reviewing the scientific basis of council management plans and actions.

The latest stock assessment for South Atlantic Red Snapper was completed through the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment process and made available in March 2021. During its meeting, the SSC will review the assessment and consider whether the results are useful for providing management advice and developing fishing level recommendations for the Council.

An SSC may use the information from the Stock Assessment Report as the basis for providing fishing level recommendations or request additional analyses be conducted.

Fishing level recommendations include an Overfishing Limit and the Acceptable Biological Catch. An overview of the Red Snapper Stock Assessment will be provided to the SSC by NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center on Tuesday, April 27th.

In addition to Red Snapper, the SSC will review stock assessments and provide fishing level recommendations for Tilefish (golden Tilefish) and Gag Grouper. The SSC will also provide guidance on the Council’s “Decision Tree” approach to allocations, the South Atlantic Research and Monitoring Plan and other agenda items.

Recommendations from the SSC will be provided to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council during its June 14-18, 2021 meeting scheduled via webinar.

The briefing book materials for the April 27-29 and May 3, 2021 SSC meeting, including the meeting agenda and overview, presentations, reports, webinar registration information and an online public comment form are now available from the Council’s website.

Click here to register now for the meeting via webinar and receive email reminders as the meeting dates approach.

For-hire Vessels and Tilefish Anglers: Reporting Requirements Reminder

April 14, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

As the recreational fishing season gets going, we remind all GARFO permitted vessel operators about the current reporting requirements:

  • For-hire (party and charter) vessels that hold federal permits for species managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council must submit their Vessel Trip Reports (VTR) electronically.

  • Vessels issued only a Northeast multispecies (groundfish) charter/party permit may report on paper or electronic VTRs, until later this fall when e-VTRs will be required. You are encouraged to start reporting electronically as soon as possible.

  • Tilefish anglers on private vessels must submit their VTRs electronically for trips targeting or catching golden and blueline tilefish.

All fishermen can choose from several smart devices and web-based apps to report electronically.

Read the full release here

NOAA FISHERIES: Stock Assessment 2021 Schedule

January 4, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The Northeast Region Coordinating Council has approved the 2021 fisheries stock assessment schedule for management and research track assessments.

The management track assessments scheduled for 2021 are: Atlantic mackerel, golden tilefish, summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, bluefish, Georges Bank cod, Gulf of Maine cod, Georges Bank haddock, and Gulf of Maine haddock. Management track assessments follow a routine schedule to provide the updated advice needed to inform fisheries management.

There are two research track assessments scheduled for 2021. Haddock (all stocks) will be peer reviewed in July in conjunction with the Transboundary Resource Assessment Committee, while Illex squid and butterfish will be peer reviewed in November. The Illex Research Track Working Group will have its kick-off meeting on Tuesday, January 5 at 1pm. The Haddock Working Group will meet on January 7 and 11, while the Butterfish Working Group is scheduled to meet on January 21. Research track assessments dive deeper into research topics needed to better understand the overall condition of one or more stocks.

Our fisheries stock assessments follow a robust, transparent and collaborative process that brings experts together to determine the overall health of a fishery. Stock assessments have many steps to ensure the best available science and information about the fishery are considered.

Read the full release here

NOAA Fisheries Announces Commercial Blueline Tilefish Fishery Closure

November 19, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries is closing the commercial blueline tilefish fishery through the end of the fishing year, December 31, 2020.

Effective at 0001 hour on November 21, 2020 no vessel may retain or land blueline tilefish in or from the Tilefish Management Unit through December 31, 2020.

Landings information analyzed by NOAA Fisheries projects the commercial blueline tilefish fishery will meet 100 percent of the total allowable landings for the 2020 fishing year on November 21, 2020.

For more information, please read the notice as filed in the Federal Register, and the permit holder bulletin.

Read the full release here

Reminder: New Permitting and Reporting Requirements for Recreational Blueline and Golden Tilefish

July 24, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Beginning August 17, all recreational vessels fishing for blueline or golden tilefish must have a permit and report catch within 24 hours of returning to port.

Who Does This Impact?

  • Vessels fishing for or retaining tilefish from Virginia to Maine.
  • For-hire vessels holding an existing GARFO permit who take private recreational tilefish trips.
  • States may have additional permitting or reporting requirements for recreational fishing.

What Do I Need To Do?

  • Obtain a Private Recreational Tilefish Permit from the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO).
  • Report your trip with one of the available reporting options.

How Do I Get a Permit?

  • Start by registering an account on GARFO Fish Online.
  • Create a user name and password.
  • Existing permit holders may apply through their current Fish Online account.
  • Click Initial Private Recreational Tilefish Permit.

How Do I Report?

More information on recreational tilefishing can be found on our recent Bulletin.

Questions?

Private Vessels Fishing for Tilefish in the Mid-Atlantic Must Now Get Permits and File Catch Reports

July 15, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries filed a rule today requiring private recreational tilefish vessels in the Mid-Atlantic to get permits and file catch reports. These changes were approved in Amendment 6 to the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan, and will be effective August 17, 2020. This action is being taken to better characterize and monitor the recreational fisheries for both blueline tilefish and golden tilefish.

Get your federal private recreational tilefish vessel permit through Fish Online.This new permit is required even if a vessel already holds a for-hire tilefish permit. Call our Permit Office at 978-282-8438 for questions about the permitting process.

Private recreational tilefish anglers must also fill out and submit an electronic vessel trip report within 24 hours of returning to port for trips where tilefish were targeted and/or retained. Reports can be submitted through any NOAA Fisheries approved electronic reporting system.

Read the final rule as filed in the Federal Register, and the permit holder bulletin on our website.

Reminder: Tilefish Recreational Reporting Webinar Tonight @ 5:30 p.m.

April 28, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/pr_private_tf/

Audio connection instructions will pop up automatically when you connect. For telephone-only access, dial 1-800-832-0736 and enter room number: 5068609#.

Recreational tilefish anglers may soon be subject to new permitting and reporting requirements. Under proposed regulations published by NOAA Fisheries, private recreational vessels (including for-hire operators using their vessels for non-charter, recreational trips) would be required to obtain a federal vessel permit to target or retain golden or blueline tilefish north of the Virginia/North Carolina border. These vessel operators would also be required to submit vessel trip reports (VTRs) electronically within 24 hours of returning to port for trips where tilefish were targeted or retained. For more information about the proposed requirements, check out our Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting FAQs.

NOAA Fisheries is encouraging anglers not already using another electronic VTR system to utilize NOAA Fish Online, which is available through a mobile app or a web-based portal. Other systems that may be suitable for recreational anglers include SAFIS eTrips/mobile and SAFIS eTrips Online. You can access information about approved applications and other aspects of electronic reporting on the NOAA Fisheries website.

Read the full release here

Recreational Tilefish Anglers: Learn How to Obtain a Permit and Report Your Catch

April 14, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Recreational tilefish anglers may soon be subject to new permitting and reporting requirements. Under proposed regulations published by NOAA Fisheries, private recreational vessels (including for-hire operators using their vessels for non-charter, recreational trips) would be required to obtain a federal vessel permit to target or retain golden or blueline tilefish north of the Virginia/North Carolina border. These vessel operators would also be required to submit vessel trip reports (VTRs) electronically within 24 hours of returning to port for trips where tilefish were targeted or retained. For more information about the proposed requirements, check out our Recreational Tilefish Permitting and Reporting FAQs.

NOAA Fisheries is encouraging anglers not already using another electronic VTR system to utilize NOAA Fish Online, which is available through a mobile app or a web-based portal. Other systems that may be suitable for recreational anglers include SAFIS eTrips/mobile and SAFIS eTrips Online. You can access information about approved applications and other aspects of electronic reporting on the NOAA Fisheries website.

Read the full release here