News Updates for The Week of October 26, 2021
Fall meeting highlights, new fishing records, and a scientific journal for kids!
Upcoming
Meetings

October 27: WHOI Webinar: Ocean Encounters: From the Sea to the Stars: Women engineering for ocean and space exploration

October 28: Atlantic Menhaden Plan Development Team Webinar

November 1: Atlantic Coast River Herring Collaborative Forum Webinar

November 3-4: Bluefish State Data Review Workshop Webinar

November 6-10: AFS Baltimore Annual Meeting

November 12: Weakfish Plan Review Team Webinar

November 16-18: Horseshoe Crab ARM Framework Peer Review Workshop Webinar

November 10: Atlantic Menhaden Technical Committee Webinar

December 7: Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Subcommittee Webinar

December 6-10: SAFMC Meeting

December 7-8: ACFHP Steering Committee Webinar

December 7-9: NEFMC Meeting

December 13-16: MAFMC Meeting
ASMFC: Spud Woodward Elected ASMFC Chair

Today, member states of the ASMFC thanked Patrick C. Keliher of Maine for an effective two-year term as Chair and elected Commissioner Spud Woodward of Georgia to succeed him.

“I’m honored to be chosen by my fellow Commissioners to lead our efforts for the next two years, during which I hope we’ll once again be meeting in person. I look forward to concluding our introspective examination of de minimis status and conservation equivalency so we’re confident that we have the proper balance between flexibility and accountability. Allocation will remain one of our most contentious and potentially divisive tasks. However, I know the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that’s the legacy of the Commission will lead us to decisions that are as fair and equitable as possible,” said Mr. Woodward.

Find more information here.
ASMFC: Tautog Regional Assessments Update Show Improvements in Stock Status 

The Commission’s Tautog Management Board reviewed the results of 2021 Regional Stock Assessments Update, which found improvements in most regions. Stocks within the Long Island Sound (LIS) and Delaware/ Maryland/Virginia (DelMarVa) regions are not overfished, with improved stock status for both regions from the last assessment in 2017. For LIS, New Jersey/New York Bight (NJ-NYB), and DelMarVa, fishing mortality also decreased with the stock not experiencing overfishing in any regions; also an improvement from the previous assessment. In the Massachusetts and Rhode Island (MARI) region, stock status remains unchanged with the stock not overfished nor experiencing overfishing.

Find more information here.
ME DMR: Updates to Aquaculture Leasing and Licensing Statutes

The First Special Session of the 130th Legislature approved several changes to the laws governing aquaculture licensing and leasing. This notice is intended to provide industry with an overview of the recent statutory changes that the Aquaculture Division is now implementing.

The statutory changes (unless otherwise noted) became effective on October 18, 2021.

Leases:

  • The fee for a lease transfer is now due with the application instead of at the time the transferred lease is executed.
  • Standard lease holders must now hold their lease for a minimum of two years before they can apply to expand the site. The two years is counted from the date the lease was executed.
  • Experimental leases held for commercial purposes can no longer be amended.
  • An application to renew a standard lease is now due 30 days prior to the expiration of the lease. Prior to this change, applications to renew were due 90 days prior to the expiration of the lease.
  • The reasons why DMR may initiate lease revocation proceedings have expanded to include operating a site in a manner that is substantially injurious to public health or violating minimum lease maintenance standards, which are contemplated in Chapter 2.75 of DMR's regulations.

Find more information here.
ME DMR: LMA 1 Restricted Area for Lobster and Jonah Crab Trap/Pot Fishing Remains Open Until Further Notice

On October 16, 2021, Maine Federal District Court Judge Lance E. Walker issued an Order on Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction. This Order is in response to a lawsuit brought by District 4 Lodge of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 207, et al., against Gina M Raimondo, in her Official Capacity as Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce, et al., No. 1:21-cv-00275-LEW, (D. Me.).

This Order states that NOAA Fisheries "may not enforce closure of the disputed area pending further order of the Court." The Court's action prevents the LMA 1 Restricted Area established in the recent amendments to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan from taking effect while the lawsuit proceeds. Lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fishermen may continue to fish with traditional surface markings in the LMA1 Restricted Area until further notice.

Find more information here.
NJ DEP: New Record Sheepshead Caught Spearfishing

The NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced that two new record fish were caught in September. The first was a sheepshead caught spearfishing and is the first record in that category for NJ. The second fish that came in was a landlocked salmon which broke a previous record.

Russ Griffin of Manahawkin made his way onto the state spearfishing record fish list by landing a new state record Sheepshead on September 20, while free diving off Long Beach Island. The fish weighed 12 pounds, 8 ounces and is the first record fish to be caught for this category. The record Sheepshead measured 26 inches in length and a girth of 22.5 inches.

Find more information here.
MD DNR: Chesapeake Bay 2021 Young-of-Year Survey Results Announced

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced results of this year’s juvenile striped bass survey, which tracks the reproductive success of the iconic fish in the Chesapeake Bay. The 2021 young-of-year index is 3.2 which is slightly higher than last year but still below the long-term average of 11.4.

The coastal striped bass population has decreased in size, but is still capable of strong reproduction with the right environmental conditions. Variable spawning success is a well-known characteristic of the species. The index is slightly higher than 2020 but consecutive below average indices are a concern, and biologists continue to examine factors that might limit spawning success.

Find more information here.
NC DEQ: Tips for a healthy oyster eating; Hand harvest from public bottom has begun

Nothing says fall on the coast of North Carolina like the beginning of oyster season, when people pull out the fire grates and steamer pots and get ready to slurp down a salty treat. But those pearls of delight need to be properly stored and chilled to ensure a healthy eating experience. The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries offers the following safety tips regarding oysters:

  • Only purchase oysters from licensed dealers. These dealers are inspected and required to keep oysters under refrigeration and otherwise handle the product in a sanitary manner.
  • If you harvest oysters for yourself, keep them shaded from the hot sun and refrigerate them as soon as possible.
  • Once you have harvested or purchased the oysters, keep them cold. Shell oysters need to be kept at or below 45 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent bacterial growth.
  • Thoroughly wash oysters prior to cooking. Remove all mud and dirt from the outside of the oyster, using a stiff brush and pressurized water.

Find more information here.

NC DEQ: State officials award more than $1.1 million to improve public beach and coastal waterfront access

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management has awarded more than $1.1 million to nine local governments to improve public access to coastal beaches and waters for the 2021-22 fiscal year.

“For 40 years, the Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access has helped fund key projects that enhance access and improve experiences for residents and visitors enjoying the natural beauty of our coastal waterways,” said Elizabeth S. Biser, Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality. “DEQ is honored to offer this support for our local partners and the coastal economy.”

Find more information here.
NEFMC: Council Endorses 2022 U.S./Canada TACs; Discusses Groundfish Framework 63, Focuses Options to Promote Stock Rebuilding

During its late-September 2021 meeting, the New England Fishery Management Council agreed by consensus to accept the U.S./Canada Transboundary Management Guidance Committee’s (TMGC) total allowable catch (TAC) recommendations for three shared groundfish resources on Georges Bank. These involve Eastern Georges Bank cod, Eastern Georges Bank haddock, and Georges Bank yellowtail flounder. The TMGC recommended the TACs based on advice from the U.S./Canada Transboundary Resources Assessment Committee (TRAC). The U.S. has members on both the TMGC and the TRAC. The TRAC deals with the science and assessment end of the process, while the TMGC focuses on management.

Find more information here.
GA CRD: Kingsland man shatters red grouper state record

A 49-year-old Kingsland man landed a record-breaking red grouper (Epinephelus morio) off the Georgia coast Oct. 4, 2021, and has been certified as the new state record holder for that species. Bruce C. Bartlett Jr. of Henrietta Drive caught the 26-pound, 6.4-ounce red grouper measuring 34.5 inches east of Navy Tower R4 aboard his boat Fishslaya Duece. The fish breaks the previous record of 19 pounds, 7 ounces set by John Wren in 2012.

Doug Haymans, director of DNR’s Coastal Resources Division, which oversees the state’s Saltwater Gamefish Record Program, said Bartlett’s catch is a credit to the years of experience he has as an angler.

Find more information here.

GA CRD: Division adds three vessels to offshore artificial reefs

Anglers and SCUBA divers now have three new fishing and recreation opportunities at Georgia offshore reefs. The Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Resources Division (CRD) recently sank three more vessels at artificial reefs off St. Catherines and Ossabaw islands as part of a partnership between CRD, the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) of Georgia and Biblia Inc., a contractor who sank the vessels.

“The addition of a tugboat, a barge and a dry dock to three different reefs will provide essential fish habitat and more recreational opportunities for the residents and visitors of Georgia,” said Cameron Brinton, a marine biologist with CRD’s Habitat Enhancement and Rehabilitation Unit. “In just a few months, natural corals, sponges and other sea life will inhabit these structures. Although the additions are artificial objects, the marine life that will flourish there is completely natural.”

Find more information here.
USFWS: Tribal Wildlife Grants Provide Opportunities for Partnerships in Conservation of Shared Natural Heritage, Cultural Priorities

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is awarding more than $6.6 million in Tribal Wildlife Grants to federally recognized Native American and Alaska Native Tribes in 17 states to bolster fish and wildlife conservation and key partnerships. The awards will support 37 projects that benefit a wide range of wildlife and habitats, including species of Native American cultural or traditional importance and species that are not hunted or fished.

“Respect for wildlife and their habitats is central to Indigenous communities’ relationships with our natural world. Since time immemorial, Native American and Alaska Native Tribes have engaged in conservation efforts that continue to inform our decision-making today,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. “This funding opportunity will help support our collaborative conservation efforts with Tribes to restore, conserve and protect Tribal resources, wildlife habitat and species – a main pillar of the America the Beautiful initiative.”

Find more information here.
NOAA Fisheries: Ravenna Ukeles Helped Write the Recipe for Successful Shellfish Aquaculture

Our Milford Laboratory became a leader in aquaculture research in large part because of the foundational studies on algal production by pioneering scientist Ravenna Ukeles. Her career as an algologist (a person who studies algae) spanned four decades.

While at the NOAA Fisheries Milford Laboratory, she made significant contributions to the development of modern shellfish aquaculture. Her methods for cultivating algae to feed oysters and other shellfish resolved a critical bottleneck in hatchery production. She also expanded the Milford Lab’s Microalgal Culture Collection, a key resource for the shellfish aquaculture industry and the research community. Ravenna approached her experiments with tenacity and attention to detail. She said of phytoplankton, “The bugs don’t lie, so it’s our job to figure out what they are trying to tell us.”

Ukeles’ microalgal mass culture room today. On the middle shelf, large, clear, bottle-like containers called “carboys” hold different algal strains. On the shelf above, smaller carboys contain a nutrient broth that will be used to replenish the algal carboys. On the bottom shelf are empty carboys that will be used to draw down the algae. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Mark Dixon

Find more information here.
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