Last week the Council approved an acceptable biological catch (ABC) limit of 5.5 million pounds for black sea bass for both 2013 and 2014. If approved by NMFS, the ABC would result in a recreational harvest limit of 2.26 million pounds and a commercial quota of 2.17 million pounds.
Bluefish- Proposed Rule for 2013 and 2014 Commercial Quota and Recreational Harvest Limit
SMAST Yellowtail Flounder Bycatch Avoidance Program
Fleet Communication System Aims to Reduce Butterfish Bycatch
CFRF Offers Mid-Atlantic Fishermen Bycatch Avoidance Gear Modification Vouchers
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation is currently administering a voucher program for fishing vessel owners to obtain financial assistance to install one or both promising gear modifications onboard their vessels for use in small mesh fisheries (including squid, whiting, and scup) to avoid unwanted bycatch of winter flounder.
ACCSP Seeks Fishing Industry's Input on Electronic Reporting
The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) has brought together fishermen, dealers, and fisheries managers to evaluate electronic reporting on the Atlantic coast. The first part of this project is a survey to collect attitudes and opinions from Atlantic coast fishermen and dealers about the current state of electronic reporting.
Northeast Regional Administrator to Hold Public Listening Sessions
Council Seeks Public Input on Deep Sea Coral Protection
Council to Hold Public Hearings on Special Management Zone Designation for Delaware Reefs
Council Passes Hurricane Sandy Resolution
During the most recent Council meeting, more than 40 members of the public turned out in person or online to ask questions and discuss the storm's impacts with Council members and National Marine Fisheries Service representatives. The next day, the Council unanimously approved a resolution of support for the federal fisheries disaster declaration in the Mid-Atlantic region following Hurricane Sandy (full text below). The resolution was introduced by Chairman Rick Robins and was passed unanimously by the full Council.
December News and Updates
Council Considers Black Sea Bass Overage and 2013 Management Measures
At last week’s meeting in Baltimore, MD, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council considered a number of issues related to the recreational black sea bass fishery. The fishery closed on November 1 after preliminary landings estimates indicated that the harvest limit had been exceeded. This closure prompted concerns related to the black sea bass stock assessment and the current accountability measures that could result in a recreational fishery closure in 2014.
Council to Discuss Sandy’s Impacts During Next Public Listening Session
Council to Hold Amendment 15 Scoping Hearings
Recreational Black Sea Bass Closure Effective November 1, 2012
Council Votes to Increase Commercial Quota and Trip Limits for Spiny Dogfish
Jack Travelstead to Represent Mid-Atlantic Council on Regional Planning Body
Council's SSC and MC recommend management measures for the 2013-2015 fishing years
The Council's SSC reviewed the latest stock status update and staff memorandum on spiny dogfish and determined the overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) for the 2013-2015 fishing years. Details of their recommendation are in their SSC Report.
Public Listening Session: Clean Ocean Zone Initiative
Council Recommends Higher Butterfish Catch for Remainder of 2012
Click here to download this press release as a PDF
Dover, DE – During a special meeting last week the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council voted to recommend that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) increase the acceptable biological catch (ABC) of butterfish for the remainder of 2012 to a total of 4,200 metric tons (mt). The recommendation was based on advice from the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC).
The proposed increase would have the most direct impact on participants in the longfin squid fishery. The Council has used a butterfish mortality cap to limit butterfish bycatch in the squid fishery since 2011. Under the existing ABC of 3,622 mt, the longfin squid fishery could be restricted toward the end of the year depending on butterfish catches. It is hoped that the increase will allow the squid fishery to stay open later in the year, allowing the squid fishery to utilize the full squid quota if squid are abundant and they continue to work to minimize butterfish bycatch.
“Butterfish and squid are some of the Council’s most unpredictable fisheries, and the recommendations of the SSC and Council are reasonable given the relatively high abundances of both butterfish and longfin squid indicated by the most recent data,” said Council Chairman Rick Robins. “This action allows us to avoid an unnecessary closure that would create hardships for the industry and families that depend on these fisheries, without compromising our statutory obligation to prevent overfishing.”
The impetus for an in-season adjustment was the Council’s June decision to increase the 2013 butterfish ABC to 8,400 mt. This increase more than doubles the existing 2012 ABC of 3,622 mt. At the August meeting, the Council discussed whether an in-season ABC adjustment was also appropriate and decided to have the SSC reconsider the 2012 butterfish ABC. The SSC met via webinar on September 13 and recommended that the ABC be increased to 4,200 mt for 2012, noting that the increase appeared likely to have no impact on the risk of overfishing the butterfish stock.