News Updates for The Week of June 29, 2021
Shell Recycling in NJ, an Atlantic Salmon Animation, and Squid in Space!
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Upcoming
Meetings
June 29-30: ACFHP Steering Committee Meeting
June 30: Atlantic Striped Bass Plan Development Team Webinar
July 8: Atlantic Striped Bass Plan Development Team Webinar
July 12: Atlantic Menhaden Work Group
August 12-13: GA DNR CRD Climate Conference Meeting
October 4-7: Red Drum Simulation Assessment Workshop Webinar
(Long Branch, NJ)
November 6-10: AFS Baltimore Annual Meeting
Abstract submission deadline extended to mid-summer
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Jobs
Deadline: July 1
Deadline: July 4
Deadline: July 6
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Public Comment
July 9: NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on Proposed Rule: Framework 61 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (Find more here).
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ACCSP: SAFIS eTRIPS/mobile Version 2 update released
On Monday, June 7, 2021 the ACCSP released the newest version of eTRIPS/mobile v2 to the stores. This update includes a number of new features and improvements and new features that improve flexibility for the partners and the user. The newest version of eTRIPS/mobile v2 is now available to download in the Google Play Store, the Apple Store and the Windows Store.
Find more information here. |
ME DMR: Menhaden Episodic Event Fishery Opens Friday, June 25, 2021
Maine DMR has been approved to participate in the Episodic Event Set Aside program (EESA) from ASMFC. DMR will re-open the commercial menhaden harvest under Chapter 41.20(2), with the following limitations:
- Harvest to resume on Friday, June 25, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.
- Harvest schedule limited to Tuesdays and Fridays, only
- Weekly vessel limit is 14,000 pounds or 40 barrels
- Limited to one landing per day
- Reporting of landings is SAME DAY as landing, electronically
Find more information here. |
NH FGD: Help Earn a Matching Grant for the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program
The Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program works with state and private partners to protect more than 400 species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as thousands of invertebrate species in New Hampshire. In order to reach its annual fundraising goal and actualize state-matching funds to support wildlife and habitat conservation, the program must raise $100,000 in private donations by June 30.
Find more information here. |
SC DNR: New flounder regulations take effect July 1
Following the regional study, biologists from the SC DNR confirmed similar trends in South Carolina waters: the overall abundance, number of young fish produced and average size of southern flounder were all down. A public survey showed similar observations and concerns among South Carolina anglers, who expressed a strong preference for quickly rebuilding the fishery.
Find more information here. |
MA DMF: Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates Completion of Deer Island Recreational Fishing Pier
Today, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides joined state and local officials, fishing advocates, and youth anglers in Winthrop for a ribbon cutting of the Commonwealth’s new Deer Island Recreational Fishing Pier. The pier will provide anglers from Winthrop, East Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Everett, and many other surrounding communities an easily accessible opportunity to fish from Massachusetts’ shoreline.
Find more information here. |
NJ DEP: Shell Recycling Program
Early in their life cycle, Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) larvae require a hard substrate to attach to and grow in order to build reefs. When oysters are harvested, not only is the individual oyster removed but also habitat (their shells) for future generations of oysters. Not having the necessary hard substrate available for larvae to settle on can stifle an oyster populations sustainability.
Traditionally, when oysters and clams are served at a restaurant, the discarded shell is placed in the trash and headed directly to the landfill. Several coastal states have developed programs to recycle shell from restaurants and enhance existing oyster beds by replanting it. This practice involves restaurants saving the discarded shells from their seafood dishes and making it available for oyster enhancement efforts. The benefits are multifaceted and include savings for restaurants on waste disposal costs, shell being kept out of area landfills, and alternatively used to directly benefit the ecological health of our coastal waters by rebuilding a critical habitat.
Find more information here. |
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NC DEQ: Fishermen win big in Tagging Program drawing
Fifteen lucky fishermen won $100 each in a recent NC DMFs’ Multi-Species Tagging Program yearly drawing. The tagging program randomly selected tag numbers from the over 970 fish tags that were turned in by fishermen in 2020. Three tag numbers were selected from each of the five species that are tagged by the program. The Multi-Species Tagging Program began in October 2014 and is funded by a Coastal Recreational Fishing License grant. Staff and volunteers place yellow or red tags on 15,000 fish each year.
Fishermen who catch the tagged fish and return the tags with required information to the division receive a letter and personalized certificate with information about the fish, as well as a reward. Those who return a yellow tag marked with “NCDMF” receive either $5, a tagging program hat, fish towel, or fish pin. Those who return a red tag marked with “NCDMF” and “$100 REWARD” receive a $100 monetary reward.
Find more information here.
NC DEQ: Flounder seasons adjusted for 2021 to meet approved sustainable harvest goal
NC DMF has adjusted the recreational and commercial flounder seasons for 2021 to ensure a sustainable fishery. In 2019 the DMF recommended and the Marine Fisheries Commission approved, substantial harvest reductions in the flounder fishery to rebuild the southern flounder stock. These season adjustments are necessary to meet that goal.
The recreational flounder season will open Sept. 1 and close Sept. 14 in internal and ocean waters of North Carolina. The minimum size limit will remain at 15 inches total length, and the creel limit will remain at four fish per person per day during the open recreational season.
Find more information here. |
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DNREC: Youth Fishing Tournament Results Announced
Young anglers statewide submitted their biggest catches for the DNREC’s 35th annual Youth Fishing Tournament, held June 5 at more than 30 public freshwater fishing ponds as a fish-on-your-own, semi-virtual event for children ages four through 15. Tournament participants measured and submitted the length of their catches through the Fishing Chaos app to compete for the title of overall state winner with the biggest fish. The title went to Kane Messina of Millsboro, who caught a bass measuring 21 inches long.
Find more information here. |
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NEFMC: Council Receives Updates on Cod Stock Structure Workshops & ABC Control Rule Review; Initiates Framework 63
The NEFMC covered three groundfish topics during its June 22-24, 2021 meeting that all addressed this year’s management priorities for Northeast multispecies. The Council:
- Received an update on work being done to evaluate alternative acceptable biological catch (ABC) control rules for groundfish, also referred to as harvest control rules;
- Initiated Framework Adjustment 63 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, which includes specifications and management measures for fishing years 2022 to 2024; and
- Received a progress report on a two-part series of workshops related to Atlantic cod stock structure
Find more information here. |
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NOAA Fisheries: As Marine Fish Shift With Climate Change, Scientists Work Across Borders to Ensure Sustainability
The cold waters of the eastern Bering Sea support some of the world’s largest and best-managed commercial fisheries. Sustainable management of these fisheries is founded on scientific information provided by Alaska Fisheries Science Center groundfish surveys. New collaborative research is providing information to ensure accurate local estimates of fish abundance in a changing Bering Sea. Recent rapid, large-scale movements of fish driven by unprecedented warming in the Bering Sea have created a challenge for survey scientists. As fish populations track their preferred conditions, they are shifting northward and westward, likely beyond historical survey boundaries.
Find more information here.
NOAA Fisheries: Explore Teaching about the Chesapeake Bay—Online
Online learning isn’t just for students. The Chesapeake Exploration website offers online courses designed for teachers and other educators. The courses focus on science topics related to the Chesapeake Bay, as well as different ways to teach about science—in and out of the classroom. Many of the online courses are self-paced, so educators can complete them whenever they want. Other moderated courses are offered throughout the year.
Find more information here. |
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NOAA Fisheries: New Atlantic Salmon Animation Released
NOAA Fisheries and Maine-based animation team, Puckerbrush Animation, recently partnered to create a new digital animation that talks about Atlantic salmon and the threats that have led to their endangered listing. Atlantic salmon are part of our Species in the Spotlight initiative, which highlights our most imperiled species to focus attention and resources towards actions that we and our partners can take to bring them back from the brink of extinction. Learn about the various threats facing Atlantic salmon, including climate change, and about what you can do to help protect and restore Atlantic salmon, and their ecosystems in this animated video.
Find more information here. |
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