Public Comment
Sept. 13:
NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on an incidental take permit for Atlantic sturgeon in the James River, Virginia that is currently under consideration. Dominion has requested the permit for activities associated with their Chesterfield Power Station along the James River in Chesterfield, VA.
(Find more information here.)
Sept. 21:
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces a proposed rule that would establish quota levels, opening dates, and retention limits for the 2018 Atlantic commercial shark fisheries. (Find more information
here
).
Oct. 6: ASMFC seeks public comment on the Draft Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Migratory Group (AMG) Cobia, The intent of the Draft FMP is to complement federal AMG cobia management actions and distribute catches among member states through a proposed allocation strategy. The Draft FMP was initiated in response to recent overages of the federal annual catch limit (ACL) for AMG Cobia.
(Find more information here).
Oct 16:
NOAA Fisheries is initiating a new status review of alewife and blueback herring
to determine whether listing under the Endangered Species Act is warranted. NOAA is
requesting submission of information on alewife and blueback herring rangewide, including any information on the status, threats, and recovery of the species that has become available since the previous listing determinations in 2013. (Find more information here.)
Oct. 20: ASMFC seeks public input on Draft Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Menhaden. The Draft Amendment seeks to manage the menhaden resource in a way that balances menhaden's ecological role as a prey species with the needs of all user groups. To this end, the Draft Amendment considers the use of ecosystem reference points (ERPs) to manage the resource and changes to the allocation method. In addition, it presents a suite of management options for quota transfers, quota rollovers, incidental catch, the episodic events set aside program, and the Chesapeake Bay reduction fishery cap.
(Find more information here).
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Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO)
Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)
Southeast Regional Office (SERO)
Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)
USFWS - Northeast Office (Region 5)
USFWS - Southeast Office (Region 4)
New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC)
Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC)
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC)
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC)
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Featured Stories for the Week of August 24
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ASMFC: Atlantic Herring Eastern Maine Spawning Closure in Effect Starting August 28, 2017 through September 24, 2017
The Atlantic herring Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) fishery regulations include seasonal spawning closures for portions of state and federal waters in Eastern Maine, Western Maine and Massachusetts/New Hampshire. The Commission's Atlantic Herring Section approved a forecasting method that relies upon at least three samples, each containing at least 25 female herring in gonadal states III-V, to trigger a spawning closure. However, if sufficient samples are not available then closures will begin on predetermined dates.
There is currently only one sample for the Eastern Maine spawning area to determine spawning condition; therefore, the Eastern Maine spawning area will be closed starting at 12:00 a.m. on August 28, 2017 extending through 11:59 p.m. on September 24, 2017. Vessels in the directed Atlantic herring fishery cannot take, land or possess Atlantic herring caught within the Eastern Maine spawning area during this time and must have all fishing gear stowed when transiting through the area. An incidental bycatch allowance of up to 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring per trip/calendar day applies to vessels in non-directed fisheries that are fishing within the Eastern Maine spawning area.
Find more information
here.
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ASMFC: Northern Shrimp Section to Meet August 31st in Portland, ME to Consider Approval of Amendment 3
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Northern Shrimp Section will meet on August 31st from 1 - 3:30 PM at the Westin Portland Harborview, Winslow Homer Ballroom, 157 High Street, Portland, ME (Tel: 207.775.2411). The Section will be reviewing submitted public comment and considering final action on Draft Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Northern Shrimp.
While the fishery is currently under a moratorium, the Amendment considers measures to improve management of the northern shrimp resource in the event the fishery reopens. Proposed options include state-by-state allocations and accountability measures to better manage effort in the fishery. The Draft Amendment also explores the mandatory use of size sorting grate systems to minimize harvest of small (presumably male) shrimp, as well as reporting measures to ensure all harvested shrimp are being reported.
Find more information
here.
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NH FGD: Recreational Fishing Rule Changes for Cod and Haddock in Effect for State Waters
New recreational fishing measures for cod and haddock are now in place for New Hampshire state waters. The rules issued by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department complement measures put in place in July of this year for federal waters in the Gulf of Maine (more than three miles from shore). The rules include the following changes:
Recreational possession of cod is prohibited year round. Last year anglers were allowed to keep 1 cod per day during the months of August and September. For haddock, the daily bag limit for anglers is reduced from 15 to 12. The minimum size required for haddock remains unchanged at 17 inches. In addition to the existing spring closure of March 1 through April 14, a fall closure for haddock will be in effect from September 17 through October 31.
Find more information
here .
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NYS DEC: Temporary Closure of Shellfish Lands in Suffolk County
Particular shellfish harvesting areas in the Town of Huntington and the Town of Southold, in Suffolk County, have been designated as uncertified (closed) for shellfish harvesting, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. These temporary closures have been implemented following extraordinarily heavy rainfall and stormwater runoff. Rainfall exceeded three inches in less than two hours in the affected areas.
Effective at 1 p.m. EDT on Friday August 18, 2017, and continuing until DEC determines that conditions no longer exist that may make shellfish hazardous for use as food, the following areas are designated as uncertified and the harvest of shellfish is temporarily prohibited:
- In the town of Huntington: All of Lloyd Harbor, Centerport Harbor, Duck Island Harbor, western Northport Bay and the southern portion of Huntington Bay.
- In the town of Southold: All of Cutchogue Harbor and its tributaries lying northerly of a line extending easterly from New Suffolk Point to Nassau Point.
Find more information
here
.
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MD DNR: Early August 2017 Hypoxia Report
The hypoxic water volume (areas with less than 2 mg/l oxygen) was 0.91 cubic miles, which is much smaller than the early August 1985-2016 average of 1.31 cubic miles. No anoxic zones (areas with less than 0.2 mg/l oxygen) were detected.
Crabs, fish, oysters and other creatures require oxygen to survive with levels above 5 mg/l considered optimal to support aquatic health.
The better-than-average conditions follow similar results from
early July
. While hypoxic volume estimation was not available for
late July
, conditions could be more favorable due, in part, to lower than average temperatures in the week leading up to sampling. Higher temperatures generally cause more stratification of the water column, which inhibits oxygen from mixing into deeper waters. Waters with higher temperatures also hold less oxygen.
Find more information
here
.
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NC DMF: Marine Fisheries Commission seeks Temporary Management Changes for Estuarine Striped Bass
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission wants to adopt temporary management measures for estuarine striped bass in most of the central and southern coastal areas of the state.
Last week, the commission voted to ask the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality secretary to authorize it to develop a supplement to the Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan to make temporary management changes in the Central-Southern Management Area, excluding the Cape Fear River system.
Specifically, the commission asked to:
- Reduce the annual commercial quota from 25,000 pounds to 2,500 pounds;
- Lower the recreational daily bag limit from 2 fish per day to 1 fish per day; and
- Increase the recreational size limit to a 24-inch to 26-inch slot. The current minimum size limit is 18 inches with no possession of fish between 22 inches and 27 inches.
Find more information
here.
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GA DNR: Enhances the High Point Inshore Artificial Reef
The Coastal Resources Division (CRD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) recently deployed 22 concrete culverts at the High Point Inshore Artificial Reef site in McIntosh County as a joint venture with the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) - Georgia and the Building Conservation Trust (BCT), CCA's National Habitat Program.
In 1999, a 19-acre area along the northwest shoreline of Sapelo Island was designated as the High Point Inshore Artificial Reef. In the past, concrete culverts and pilings have been deployed at the site, a portion of which is submerged at low tide and a portion of which is exposed at low tide. The site is marked with four wooden pilings and signage to alert anglers to its location and to warn mariners of the danger of submerged materials. This new addition of concrete culvert, donated by the City of Brunswick, will enhance the attractiveness of the site to spotted seatrout, red drum, and sheepshead.
Find more information here.
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FL FWCC: Help Hatchlings Home by Leaving them Alone
Help hatchlings home by leaving them alone. That's what beachgoers should remember if they encounter sea turtle hatchlings emerging from nests and clambering toward the water.
From now through the end of October, sea turtle hatchlings are breaking out of their eggs, digging out of nests and making their way across beaches to begin their lives in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. They usually emerge from their nests at night.
"Sea turtle hatchlings are small and appear helpless, so people may make the mistake of thinking they need assistance getting to the water. But you can help hatchlings home by leaving them alone," said Robbin Trindell, who heads the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) sea turtle management program.
Find more information
here.
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US FWS: Deputy Secretary Bernhardt Announces More than $52 Million in Federal Funding to Bolster Tribal, State Wildlife Conservation Projects
U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt today announced more than $52 million in funding to Native
American tribes and state wildlife agencies through the Tribal Wildlife Grant (TWG) program and the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program. The funds, which are provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, give critical support for a diverse array of
species
and habitats across the country.
Under the SWG program, more than $48 million will support imperiled
species
and habitats listed in approved state wildlife action plans. All 50 state and U.S. territorial wildlife agencies have these plans, which proactively protect
species
in greatest conservation need. Projects funded through SWG involve research, monitoring, wildlife surveys, species and
habitat
management and other activities.
Find more information
here .
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SERO: Commercial and Recreational Closures for Hogfish in Federal Waters off the Florida Keys/East Florida Beginning August 24, 2017
CLARIFICATION:
- The August 24, 2017, commercial closure for the Florida Keys/East Florida population of hogfish applies in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal commercial permit for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper and/or Gulf Reef Fish.
- The August 24, 2017, recreational closure for the Florida Keys/East Florida population of hogfish only applies to federal waters.
WHAT/WHEN:
- The commercial and recreational harvest for the Florida Keys/East Florida population of hogfish in federal waters of the South Atlantic and part of the Gulf of Mexico will close at 12:01 a.m. on August 24, 2017. The boundaries of the Florida Keys/East Florida population are from the 25°09 N. latitude line off the west coast of Florida (near Cape Sable, Florida), east around South Florida, to the Florida/Georgia border. During these closures, all sale, purchase, and possession of hogfish is prohibited.
Find more information
here.
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Upcoming Meetings and Events
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Maine Department of Marine Fisheries (ME DMR)
New Hampshire Fish & Game Department (NH FGD)
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF)
Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife (RI DFW)
Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP)
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC)
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC)
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (NJ DFW)
Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife (DE DFW)
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North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NC DMF)
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