FishNews
October 12, 2007
WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
National – NOAA Advisory Committee Seeks Comments on a Vision for the Future of U.S. Marine Fisheries
|
|
NOAA Fisheries Service has asked the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) to create a stakeholders’ prospectus on the desired future state of domestic and international fisheries. To meet this request, MAFAC members have prepared a draft document, Vision 2020  , which describes trends, their potential impact on marine fisheries, and a series of recommendations for NOAA. This report contains the views of MAFAC members with a wide range of expertise, including but not limited to commercial and recreational fishing, aquaculture, seafood processing, seafood marketing and sales, coastal communities, and environmental advocacy. MAFAC's major findings have been grouped into four theme areas: commercial fisheries, recreational fisheries, fisheries management, and aquaculture. For each theme, this document seeks to identify the following:
1) the strongest influences on the future of fisheries;
2) desired outcome;
3) recommended course of action;
4) critical success factors; and
5) necessary resources.
At this time, MAFAC is seeking additional stakeholder perspective on these issues. Public comments will be accepted for 45 days, and a series of trigger questions has been posted online to focus comments.
For more information, visit http://www.fish2020.org/ .
|
| |
Atlantic Coast – Large Whales Receive Additional Protection from Entanglements in Commercial Fisheries
|
|
A new final rule requires broad-based gear modifications that are designed to reduce accidental deaths and serious injuries for the Northern right whale, humpback whale, fin whale, and minke whales. Between 2001 and 2005, NOAA Fisheries Service confirmed 133 entanglement events for large whales along the Eastern seaboard of the United States and adjacent Canadian Maritimes. Entanglements were identified as the cause of 26 whale deaths.
This final rule affects fisheries currently covered by the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (the Northeast sink gillnet, Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot, Mid-Atlantic gillnet, Southeast Atlantic gillnet, and Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark gillnet fisheries). It also regulates some additional fisheries for the first time under the plan, including the following: Northeast anchored float gillnet, Northeast drift gillnet, Atlantic blue crab, and Atlantic mixed species trap/pot fisheries targeting crab (red, Jonah, and rock), hagfish, black sea bass, scup, tautog, cod, haddock, pollock, redfish (ocean perch), white hake, conch/whelk, and shrimp.
Expanded seasonal area management zones will apply for one year, and then affected fisheries will be required to use sinking groundline on a broad-scale basis. More trap/pot and gillnet fisheries are now included under the whale protection plan, and more markings will be required on fishing gear to improve understanding of how and where entanglements occur. The areas exempted from all or portions of the plan are expanded both in coastal waters and deep offshore waters. The short-duration management areas currently used to protect unexpected aggregations of Northern right whales will be eliminated in six months.
More information about the new requirements is available online, or contact Diane.Borggaard@noaa.gov.
|
| |
Atlantic -
Quotas Set for Swordfish; Anglers May Satisfy Reporting Requirement Online
|
|
NOAA Fisheries Service has amended the regulations for North and South Atlantic swordfish fisheries to implement two recommendations by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT). These binding recommendations establish baseline quotas for North and South Atlantic swordfish, and set caps on the carryover of underharvests. U.S. swordfish quotas have been adjusted in this rule to account for updated landings information from the 2004 and 2005 fishing years. In addition, new regulations facilitate the transfer of 15 percent of the North Atlantic swordfish baseline quota into the reserve category, which would allow it to be transferred to other ICCAT parties with quota allocations. Finally, a Website option is established as an additional method for complying with the 24 hour reporting requirement for the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Angling and Charter/Headboat categories. This final rule is effective on November 5, 2007.
For more information, contact Heather.Halter@noaa.gov.
|
| |
Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico– NOAA Proposes 2008 Seasonal Quotas for Sharks
|
|
NOAA Fisheries Service has proposed 2008 first trimester season quotas for large coastal sharks, small coastal sharks, and pelagic sharks based on overharvests and underharvests from the 2007 first trimester season. This proposed action is designed to provide advance notice of quotas and season dates for the Atlantic commercial shark fishery. It would also ensure the measures in this action are in place until they are replaced by those implemented under Amendment 2 to the Highly Migratory Species Fisheries Management Plan, even if Amendment 2 is finalized after the start of the second trimester season for sharks (May 1, 2008).
omments on this proposed rule may be submitted electronically through http://www.regulations.gov until October 31, 2007.
For more information, contact LeAnn Southward Hogan at (301) 713-2347.
|
| |
Mid-Atlantic -
Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Population Remains Low
|
|
The blue crab population in the Chesapeake Bay remained below the long-term average last year, according to an advisory report released by the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee. The annual Blue Crab Advisory Report provides information to help the states of Maryland and Virginia and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission decide how to manage the next season’s blue crab fishery. The 2007 report bases its findings primarily on data collected by the bay-wide winter dredge survey, which is the most comprehensive and robust annual blue crab survey conducted in the bay. The 2006 bay-wide crab harvest of 48.9 million pounds was among the lowest recorded since 1945, and the 2007 harvest is predicted to be about the same. Scientists reported low levels of both juvenile and female crabs.
For more information, visit http://chesapeakebay.noaa.gov. |
| |
Mid-Atlantic -
Coastwide Management Measures Set for Summer Flounder
|
|
NOAA Fisheries Service has proposed coastwide summer flounder recreational management measures to complete the rulemaking process initiated in March 2007. This administrative action is necessary to establish appropriate coastwide management measures by January 1, 2008, following the expiration of the current state-by-state conservation equivalency management measures on December 31, 2007. The intent of these measures is to prevent overfishing of the summer flounder resource during the interim between the expiration of the 2007 recreational measures and the implementation of measures for 2008.
This proposed action should not be confused with the upcoming process to develop the 2008 recreational management measures. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will begin development of the 2008 recreational management measures, based on updated assessment information and 2007 fishery information, through its Monitoring Committee meeting in November 2007. The Council will then consider the Monitoring Committee's recommendations for 2008 management measures during its December 2007 meeting in Secaucus, NJ.
Comments on this proposed rule may be sent to 0648-AV99@noaa.gov until 5pm on October 15, 2007.
For more information, contact Michael.Ruccio@noaa.gov.
|
| |
Mid-Atlantic -
New Stock Status Determination Criteria Set for Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass
|
|
NOAA Fisheries has published a final rule that modifies the stock status determination criteria for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass, while maintaining objective and measurable criteria for identifying when the stocks are overfished or approaching an overfished condition. This action also establishes acceptable categories of peer review for providing new or revised stock status determination criteria for the Mid-Atlantic Council to use in its annual management measures for each species. This action is necessary to ensure that changes or modification to the stock status determination criteria constituting the best available peer reviewed scientific information are accessible for the management of these three species in as timely a manner as possible.
These changes take effect October 31, 2007.
For more information, contact Michael.Ruccio@noaa.gov.
|
| |
New England -
New Conservation Measures Adopted for Lobster
|
|
NOAA Fisheries Service has amended Federal regulations for American lobster, consistent with recommendations for Federal action made by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and in support of the Commission's Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster. The new conservation measures include: 1) gauge size increases; 2) an escape vent size increase and a delay in the implementation of the escape vent size increase until 2010; and 3) trap reductions. These requirements apply in Area 3, off Southern New England, beginning November 4, 2007. Management measures for other areas will be addressed in future rulemaking actions.
This action is designed to address findings from the most recent stock assessment for lobster. The peer-reviewed 2005 stock assessment revealed a mixed picture, with stable abundance in some areas, but high fishing effort and high mortality rates overall. While the report noted the female proportion of the stock is increasing slightly, it also cautioned that further increases in effort are not advisable, thus the need for additional effort reduction and broodstock protection. In addition, this final rule will facilitate the cooperative state and Federal enforcement of lobster regulations by reducing the regulatory gap between the states and NOAA Fisheries Service.
More information is available online, or contact Peter.Burns@noaa.gov.
|
| |
New England -
Next Phase of Narragansett Bay Debris Cleanup Launched
|
|
NOAA officials, other federal agencies, and the State of Rhode Island recently joined with local organization Clean the Bay to celebrate the success of the first major sweep of some 1,000 tons of marine debris from Narragansett Bay. During 2007, Clean the Bay, an organization founded by two local charter boat captains, removed debris that littered 64 miles of shoreline and more than 300 acres of the bay. The first year’s efforts included removal of three barges, more than 18 derelict boats, over 100 lobster pots, yards of abandoned fishing gear, many telephone poles and tons of plastic bottles, caps and other debris. Participants recently launched “Clean Sweep II”, which features plans to expand the cleanup of marine debris to 86 additional miles or nearly a quarter of the shoreline of the Ocean State.
Removing debris – some that has clogged the bay for decades – helps restore the bay for the public and for the fish, birds and animals that depend on clean water and a healthy ecosystem.
More information about this project is available online.
|
| |
New England -
NOAA and Partners Celebrate New Fish Passages on the Acushnet River
|
|
The New Bedford Harbor Trustee Council, which includes NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is celebrating the completion of three fish passages. The $1.4 million project provided for the construction of fishways at Acushnet Sawmill Dam, Hamlin Street Dam and the New Bedford Reservoir. These fishways enable river herring, eels and other migratory fish to swim from Buzzards Bay up the Acushnet River and into the New Bedford Reservoir, an important spawning area for herring. Increasing the amount of habitat for fish helps restore their populations and improves the overall health of the ecosystem. River herring are important food for species such as striped bass and bluefish. Other partners involved in this project include the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the Coalition for Buzzards Bay and the town of Acushnet.
For more information, visit www.restorenbh.gov.
|
| |
Pacific Coast -
NOAA Rejects Petition to List Puget Sound Five Rockfish Species as Threatened or Endangered
|
|
NOAA Fisheries Service has decided not to initiate a review to determine if five species of rockfish in Puget Sound need protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), because there is insufficient evidence to support such a move. In April 2007, a Washington resident filed a formal petition asking NOAA to initiate ESA listings for bocaccio, canary rockfish, yelloweye rockfish, greenstripe rockfish and redstripe rockfish. Biologists with NOAA Fisheries Service said there is some evidence that catches for some of the five petitioned rockfish species have declined, but there was insufficient evidence that these catch data reflect populations that are threatened or endangered. Although these five species live along the entire West Coast and support commercial and sport fisheries, the petition pertained only to those found in Puget Sound.
For more information, read the Federal Register notice or contact Scott.Rumsey@noaa.gov. Copies of related materials are also available online. |
| |
Pacific Coast -
Inseason Management Changes Adopted for Whiting
|
|
NOAA Fisheries Service has announced inseason changes to management measures in the commercial and recreational Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries and the reopening of the 2007 Pacific whiting primary season. These actions, which are authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, are intended to allow fisheries to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks. Although the inseason changes are already in effect, public comments will be accepted through 5pm on November 5, 2007, at http://www.regulations.gov.
For a complete description of the changes, please read the final rule or contact Gretchen.Arentzen@noaa.gov with any questions.
|
| |
Pacific Coast -
Annual Harvest Guideline Proposed for Mackerel
|
|
NOAA Fisheries Service has proposed the annual harvest guideline for Pacific mackerel in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the Pacific coast for the fishing season of July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008. Based on the formula established in the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan and an estimated total stock biomass of 359,290 metric tons (mt), the allowable biological catch for the 2007/2008 management season would be 71,629 mt, both representing a significant increase over the 2006/2007 season. However, considering a new assessment for Pacific mackerel, and given uncertainty associated with recent changes to modeling parameters, the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee recommended that the 2007/2008 harvest guideline be set no higher than 40,000 mt.
Following this advice, the Pacific Council adopted a harvest guideline of 40,000 mt for the 2007-2008 fishing year. In the event that the 40,000 mt is attained by the fishery, Pacific mackerel fishing would be closed to directed harvest and only incidental harvest be allowed. The proposed incidental fishery would be constrained to a 45 percent by weight incidental catch rate when Pacific mackerel are landed with other coastal pelagic species, except that up to one metric ton of Pacific mackerel could be landed without landing any other coastal pelagics.
Comments on the proposed rule may be sent to 0648-XB01.SWR@noaa.gov through October 29, 2007.
For more information, contact Joshua.Lindsay@noaa.gov.
|
| |
Pacific Coast -
Comments Invited on 2007 In-Season Management of Ocean Salmon Fisheries
|
|
NOAA Fisheries is inviting public comments on several 2007 inseason actions in the ocean salmon fisheries. Inseason action 3 in the area from Leadbetter Point, WA, to the U.S.-Canada Border decreased the landing and possession limit from 60 to 50 Chinook per vessel per open period, and also closed commercial fishing in the area from the U.S.-Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR, on June 30. Inseason action 4 modified the landing and possession limit in the area from Leadbetter Point to the U.S.-Canada border for Chinook from 30 to 20 fish per vessel per open period, Saturday through Tuesday. Comments may be sent to 2007salmonIA3_4.nwr@noaa.gov through October 16, 2007. More information on these actions is provided in a Federal Register notice.
Inseason action 5 closed the commercial fishery in the area from the Humbug Mountain, OR, to the Oregon-California Border, effective August 14. Inseason action 6, in the recreational fishery in the area from the U.S.-Canada Border to Leadbetter Point (Neah Bay, La Push and Westport subareas), expanded fishing days from 2 to 7 days per week effective August 17, 2007. Inseason action 7, in the commercial fishery from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain, OR, closed the non-selective coho fishery effective 11:59pm on August 20. Comments may be sent to 2007salmonIA567.nwr@noaa.gov through October 16, 2007. For more information, read the Federal Register notice.
Inseason action 8 modified the recreational fishery from Queets River, WA, to Cape Falcon ( Westport and Columbia River subareas). It transferred 5,000 coho from the Westport subarea to the Columbia River subarea, with a resulting increase of 4,250 coho in the Columbia River subarea quota. Inseason action 9 modified the commercial fishery from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain, OR, reopening the non-selective coho fishery from August 25-28. Comments may be sent to 2007salmonIA89.nwr@noaa.gov through October 16, 2007.
Inseason action 10 modified the recreational fishery from Queets River to Cape Falcon, transferring 10,000 coho from the Westport subarea to the Columbia River subarea. Inseason action 11 closed the commercial fishery from the Oregon-California border to Humboldt South Jetty, CA, to ocean salmon fishing effective 11:59pm on September 12. Additional information is provided in the Federal Register notice.
Questions on any of these actions may be directed to Sarah.McAvinchey@noaa.gov.
|
| |
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Materials from Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Workshop Available Online
On September 25-26, 2007, NOAA Fisheries Service hosted a workshop: Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act: Working Together on Implementation. The workshop included brief panel presentations, followed by breakout sessions of small facilitated groups. Discussions focused on five issues:
1) Determining Optimum Yield under MSRA;
2) Ecosystem-Based Management – Next Steps under MSRA;
3) International Fisheries under MSRA;
4) Bycatch Management under MSRA; and
5) Aquaculture and MSRA.
Presentations and reports from the workshop are available online at http://msra.webexone.com . (Click on “Enter as Guest”; no username required.)
Pacific Council’s Habitat Committee to Meet; Oct 15 in Portland, OR
The Pacific Fishery Management Council's Habitat Committee will meet on October 15, 2007, at the Pacific Fishery Management Council Office, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, in Portland, OR.
For more information, contact Jennifer.Gilden@noaa.gov.
Pacific Council’s Klamath Subcommittee to Meet; Oct 18-19 in Arcata, CA
The Pacific Fishery Management Council's Salmon Technical Team Klamath Subcommittee will hold a meeting with members of the Yurok and Hoopa Tribes and additional agency personnel from the NOAA Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and California Department of Fish and Game regarding the development of an overfishing assessment for Klamath River fall Chinook. The meeting will take place October 18-19, 2007, at the California Department of Fish and Game office in Arcata, CA.
For more information, contact Chuck.Tracy@noaa.gov.
U.S ICCAT Advisory Committee to Meet; Oct 18-19 in Silver Spring, MD
In preparation for the 2007 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting, the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the ICCAT will meet on October 18-19, 2007, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Silver Spring, MD. There will be an open session on October 18, 2007, from 8:30am-12pm, with an opportunity for public comment. The remainder of the meeting will be closed to the public.
For more information, contact Kelly.Denit@noaa.gov.
Comment Period Extended on Proposed Rule for Atlantic Sharks ; New Deadline Nov 2
Following requests from the Regional Fishery Management Councils, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and members of the public, NOAA has extended the comment period for the proposed rule to implement Amendment 2 to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. Comments may be sent to ShkA2@noaa.gov through November 2, 2007.
Documents are available online, or contact Michael.Clark@noaa.gov with questions.
Appeals Filed on Behalf of Proposed Natural Gas Facilities in Fall River, MA
Mill River Pipeline, LLC, and Weaver's Cove Energy, LLC have filed administrative appeals with the Department of Commerce asking that the Secretary override the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' objections to a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal and pipelines in Fall River, MA. Materials from these appeal records will be available online.
For more information, contact Brett Grosko at (301) 713-7384.
Revised Management Plan Available for California National Estuarine Research Reserve at Elkhorn Slough
NOAA’s National Ocean Service has announced the availability of the updated Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan . The plan describes the Reserve's long-term conservation goals. It also provides an overview of the Reserve's research and monitoring, education, stewardship, coastal training, volunteer, and administration programs and describes the Reserve's plan for public access, acquisition, and facilities.
For more information, contact Alison.Krepp@noaa.gov.
Alaska Pollock Fishery Opening
NOAA Fisheries Service has opened the directed fishery for pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska.
For more information, contact Jennifer.Hogan@noaa.gov.
Golden Tilefish Closure off South Atlantic Coast
The commercial fishery for golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the South Atlantic coast is closed through December 31, 2007.
For more information, contact Susan.Gerhart@noaa.gov.
Pacific Cod Fishery Openings and Closures in Alaska
NOAA Fisheries Service has opened the directed fishery for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. Public comments on this action will be accepted until October 17, 2007. Directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear, and by catcher processor vessels using hook-and-line gear, is prohibited in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area.
For more information on these management actions, contact Jennifer.Hogan@noaa.gov.
Bluefish Quota Transfer
The State of Florida has transferred commercial bluefish quota to the State of New Jersey from its 2007 quota. NOAA has adjusted the quotas and announced the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
For more information, contact Emily.Bryant@noaa.gov.
FEDERAL REGISTER ACTIONS
For a list of only those actions open for public comment, try going to
http://www.regulations.gov and
scroll search for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For a list
of all daily actions, check the Federal register online at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
NOAA FISHERIES ACTIONS
September 25, 2007
|
|
Notice. Meetings; Pacific Fishery Management Council
Notice. Western Pacific Fishery Management Council
|
September 26, 2007
|
|
Rule. Alaska pollock; statistical area 630
Rule. Shallow-water species; opening to vessels using trawl gear in Gulf of Alaska
|
September 27, 2007
|
|
Notice. Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals
Notice. Elkhorn Slough, California National Estuarine Research Reserve; management plan
Notice. Marine mammal permit applications, determinations, etc.
|
September 28, 2007
|
|
Rule. Alaska pollock
Rule. Gulf of Mexico; Snapper-grouper
Proposed rule. Summer flounder
Proposed rule. Pacific; coastal pelagic species |
October 1, 2007
|
|
Rule. Atlantic bluefish
Rule. Summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass
Rule. Pacific salmon
Proposed rule. Atlantic commercial shark management measures
Notice. Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog
Notice. Meetings; Pacific Fishery Management Council
|
October 2, 2007
|
|
Rule. Pacific cod
Proposed rule. Atlantic bluefin tuna
Notice. Incidental taking of marine mammals
Notice. Meetings; Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
Notice. Meetings; Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
Notice. Meetings; New England Fishery Management Council
Notice. North Pacific Fishery Management Council
|
October 3, 2007
|
|
Rule. Alaska; Pacific cod
Rule. Alaska pollock
Proposed rule. Atlantic sharks
Notice. Environmental statements; Atlantic Large Whale reduction plan
|
October 4, 2007
|
|
Rule. Pacific Coast groundfish
|
October 5, 2007
|
|
Rule. Alaska; Pacific cod
Rule. American lobster
Rule. Atlantic swordfish
Rule. Atlantic Large Whale take reduction plan
Notice. Endangered and threatened species; Puget Sound rockfish species
Notice. Meetings; International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, U.S. Section Advisory Committee |
|
