Public Comment
Mar. 6
: NEFMC seeks public comment for a scoping document for Amendment 5 to the Northeast skate complex FMP. The purpose of this scoping document is to inform the public of the Council's intent to gather information necessary for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement that will analyze the impacts of this amendment on the affected biological, physical and human environments (
Find more information here
).
Mar. 10: NOAA Fisheries invites public comments on the information collection requirements mandated in the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. Specifically, (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize t
he burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology
(Find more information here).
Mar. 23:
NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on a proposed rule to implement Framework Amendment 4 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region (Framework Amendment 4).
Measures for Atlantic cobia in the proposed rule for Framework Amendment 4 would
increase the recreational minimum size limit,
reduce the recreational bag limit,
establish a recreational vessel limit,
establish a commercial trip limit and
modify the recreational accountability measure
(Find more information
here).
Mar. 31: ASMFC seeks public comment on Draft Addendum XXIX to the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan, The document, approved by the Board in early February, presents alternatives for shortening the length of the commercial scup summer period and extending the length of the winter period(s) to better allocate the commercial quota (Find more information here).
Mar. 31: NOAA Fisheries requests public comment on a proposed rule to remove the restriction on fishing for and retaining the recreational bag limit of king and Spanish mackerel in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), South Atlantic, and Mid-Atlantic on a vessel with a federal commercial permit for king or Spanish mackerel when the vessel is on a recreational trip and commercial harvest of king or Spanish mackerel in that zone or region is closed (Find more information here).
Apr. 3: The New England Fishery Management Council has scheduled a series of public scoping hearings from Maine to Connecticut to solicit ideas for potentially changing the region's groundfish monitoring and reporting system. The purpose of this initiative is to improve reliability and accountability of the monitoring program since successful management of the fishery depends on accurate and timely catch reporting. The changes are being considered under Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. The Council is encouraging fishermen and other stakeholders to participate in this very early stage of the amendment development process
(
Find more information here).
Apr. 7:
ASMFC seeks
public comment on Draft Addendum I to Amendment 3 of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring. Draft Addendum I includes management options to ensure the seasonal quota is distributed throughout Trimester 2, are applied consistently by the states adjacent to Area 1A, and address excessive capacity. The Draft Addendum presents six management options to improve
the performance of the Area 1A fishery, ranging from restricting a vessel from landing fish caught on days out of the fishery to
limiting transfers at sea a well as the amount
a vessel can land per week. The document also seeks input on a tiered weekly landing limit for future management consideration
(Find more information here).
Apr. 7: ASMFC seeks public comment on Draft Addendum XXV to Amendment 3 to the Interstate FMP
for American Lobster. The Draft Addendum seeks to address the
depleted condition of the Southern New England (SNE) stock while preserving a functional portion of the SNE lobster fishery. The document presents a suite of management measures
to increase egg production and lower fishing mortality through a combination of management tools including gauge size changes, season closures, and trap reductions (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 March 2
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ASMFC Releases 2016 Annual Report
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is pleased to present you with our 2016 Annual Report. It describes the
Commission's activities and progress in carrying out our public trust responsibilities for the valuable marine fisheries under Commission stewardship. Included in this report are figures displaying the historical trends in stock status or landings for each species managed by the Commission. Also provided is a summary of the significant management actions Commissioners took in 2016 to maintain and restore the abundance of Commission managed species.
This report reflects our Commissioners' commitment to accountability and transparency in all they do to manage and rebuild stocks under their care. We hope that you will find the information contained within this report useful and interesting.
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RI DEM: Portions of RI Sound and Lower Narragansett Bay and Sakonnet River Closed to Shellfishing
The Rhode Island Departments of Environmental Management (DEM) and Health (RIDOH) today announced that areas of Rhode Island Sound, lower Narragansett Bay south of the Newport Pell and Jamestown Verrazzano Bridges, and lower Sakonnet River will be closed to shellfish harvesting beginning at sunrise on Wednesday, March 1, until further notice. The closure is due to a confirmed harmful algae bloom (HAB) caused by the phytoplankton, Pseudo-nitzschia spp. The closures exclude carnivorous snails, such as whelk and moon snails.
Impacted waters include all RI waters north of a line from Point Judith to the southern tip of Gooseberry Neck, off Horseneck Beach in Westport MA, and south from the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge, south from the Newport Pell Bridge and south of an east/west line across the Sakonnet River lying one-quarter mile south of the pipeline found just south of Black Point. Shellfish harvested from the open portions of Harvester Tagging Areas 5B, 4A and 3W should temporarily be identified as 5B North, 4A North and 3W North.
The shellfishing closure stems from shellfish samples collected on Sunday, February 26 and Monday, February 27 from five lower Bay locations off Jamestown, Newport, and Little Compton. These samples were tested by the RI Department of Health Laboratories for the presence of domoic acid. Levels of concern were found in shellfish at four locations with domoic acid levels ranging from 14 - 32 parts per million; the action level for mandatory closure of shellfishing waters established by the Food and Drug Administration is 20 parts per million.
Find more information
here.
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FL FWCC: People Can Help Nesting Sea Turtles!
March is the beginning of Florida's sea turtle nesting season, when female sea turtles leave the ocean to dig nests and lay golf ball-size eggs in the sand.
People can help sea turtles that nest on Florida's beaches at night by leaving the beach as natural as possible. To do this, beachgoers should remove beach furniture and other obstacles before sunset each day.
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Image courtesy of FL FWCC |
"Anyone spending time on Florida's beaches can do something to help save Florida's threatened and endangered sea turtles. People's actions on the beach can have a positive impact on whether our loggerhead, leatherback and green sea turtles nest successfully," said Dr. Robbin Trindell, who leads the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) sea turtle management program.
"Whether you are a resident or a visitor, remember to take beach furniture, boats and canopies off Florida's sandy beaches at night so
these items won't block sea turtles attempting to nest," Trindell said. "When departing at the end of the day, beach visitors should fill any holes dug in the sand so nesting and hatchling turtles don't become trapped. Please be careful not to disturb nesting sea turtles by getting too close, shining lights on them or taking flash photos."
Find more information
here
.
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MD DNR: Annual Photo Contest Begins
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is accepting entries for its annual photo contest now through Aug. 31, 2017. Photographers - from novice to professional - can enter online or by mail for the chance to win cash and other prizes.
Winning entries will be posted online and featured in an issue of the quarterly Maryland Natural Resource magazine and adorn the 2018 wall calendar.
Entries can include images featuring birds, insects, flora, outdoor recreation, nature in action, scenic landscapes, and wildlife. Judges will choose first, second and third place winners by season. There will also be one "Fan Favorite" selected by popular vote on Facebook.
Find more information
here
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NC DMF: Acres of Coastal Waters will Close to Shellfish Harvest
MOREHEAD CITY - State fisheries authorities will close 2,450 acres of coastal waters to shellfish harvest tomorrow after they failed to meet required bacteriological standards.
Additionally, 50 acres in the Stump Sound area (
B-9) of Pender County that closed to shellfish harvest last year will reopen after 2016 sampling showed improved water quality.
The shellfish classification changes are based on water quality samples tested for the past five years for required sanitary surveys and annual reviews of the state's shellfish growing areas. Three of the past five years saw above average rainfall that causes stormwater runoff that, in turn, washes human and animal waste into the water.
The Division of Marine Fisheries will continue to monitor these areas and if conditions change, they could reopen in the future.
Find more information
here
.
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NOAA Fisheries: New Marine Mammal Stranding Response Implementation Plan Announced for New York
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Image courtesy of NOAA Fisheries
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Today, NOAA Fisheries, the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, and the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation announce the release of a new plan to increase and enhance marine mammal stranding response capacity on Long Island. This new plan is the result of months of discussion on capacity, resources, roles, and responsibilities.
"As marine mammal stranding trends increase and change in complexity in New York waters, it has become clear that we needed to re-evaluate and strengthen the capacity of the stranding response community in New York," says Mendy Garron, NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region's marine mammal stranding coordinator. "We are pleased to announce that a new organization, the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (ACMS), will be responding to live large whale strandings and collecting valuable data from dead marine mammals."
Find more information
here.
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NOAA Fisheries Declines to List Thorny Skate as Threatened or Endangered
In response to a petition from Defenders of Wildlife and Animal Welfare Institute to list thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) under the Endangered Species Act, we have now determined that listing is not warranted at this time.
The May 2015 petition requested that we list a "Northwest Atlantic Distinct Population Segment" or a "United States Distinct Population Segment" of thorny skate as threatened or endangered.
In making a determination as to whether distinct population segments of thorny skate exist, we considered the best available information on thorny skate distribution, genetics, and behavior. We considered whether the information supported the distinct population segments as identified in the petition or if other distinct population segments exist.
We determined that the information does not support the existence of any distinct population segments of thorny skate as they mix throughout the North Atlantic. Therefore, we also assessed whether listing the full species was warranted.
Find more information
here.
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info@accsp.org.
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Upcoming Meetings and Events
Apr. 11-13:
MAFMC (Avalon, NJ)
Apr. 18-20: NEFMC (Mystic, CT)
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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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Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR)
News Room
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Calendar of Events
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Twitter
District Department of the Environment (DC DOEE)
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Calendar of Events |
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Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC)
News Room |
Calendar of Events
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Twitter
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NC DMF)
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SC DNR)
Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Coastal Resources Division (GA CRD)
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC)
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