March 2009 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 15.
ASMFC 2009 WINTER MEETING SUMMARY
stock status.” Motion made by Dr. Daniel, second by Mr. ond by Mr. Ewing, motion carries. Move to carries unanimously (17 n favor).
The new black sea bass assessment uti- Travelstead. Motion carries. Move to main- nominate Donald Swanson and Erik Ander- Move to accept the 2008 FMP Review for
lizes a statistical catch at length model tain status quo regulations for the 2009 scup son to the Winter Flounder Advisory Panel. American Eel and grant de minimis to the
(SCALE) which incorporates data such as recreational fisheries in MA, RI, CT, NY, and Motion by Mr. Grout, second by Mr. Adler, states of NH, MA, PA, DC, SC, GA, and FL.
population size at age, growth rates, age at NJ. Motion made by Mr. Simpson, second by motion carries. Motion made by Mr. Grout, second by Mr.
maturity, reproductive potential and suc- Dr. Pierce. Motion carries. AMERICAN EEL MANAGEMENT Cole. Motion carries.
cess, life span, and removals by deaths. Both WINTER FLOUNDER MANAGEMENT BOARD BUSINESS SESSION
fishery-dependent (catch data from commer- BOARD Meeting Summary Meeting Summary
cial and recreational fisheries) and fishery- Winter Flounder Board Fast Tracks Develop- The American Eel Management Board The Commission reconfirmed George
independent (survey sample data) data were ment of Addendum to Initiate Stock Rebuild- received a report from the Technical Commit- Lapointe and Robert Boyles as its Chair and
used in the model. New information from a ing of Inshore Stocks tee Chair on the Terms of Reference (TOR), Vice-Chair, respectively, through the
tagging study and age data led to the conclu- Alexandria, VA – The Commission’s venue for peer review, and timeline for Commission’s 2009 Annual Meeting.
sion that natural mortality was higher than Winter Flounder Management Board ap- completion for the upcoming American eel Motions
previously modeled. Additionally, the inter- proved the development of Draft Addendum stock assessment. The Board accepted the Move to nominate George Lapointe as Chair-
pretation of historical landings concluded I to Amendment 1 the Interstate Fishery TORs that were presented and recommended man of the ASMFC. Motion made by Mr.
that landings taken in the 1950s were not at Management Plan for the Inshore Stocks of that the Stock Assessment Subcommittee Travelstead on behalf of the Nominating
sustainable levels. The peer review panel Winter Flounder. The Draft Addendum will move forward on an ASMFC external peer Committee. Motion carries. Move to nomi-
accepted the revised stock assessment as the propose a suite of management measures to review to be completed in early 2011. The nate Robert Boyles as the Vice- Chairman of
basis for biological reference points and sta- reduce fishing mortality on the inshore Board expressed an interest in increasing the ASMFC. Motion made by Mr.
tus determination for black sea bass. The new stocks of winter flounder (0 – 3 miles). The participation with Canadian scientists during Travelstead on behalf of the Nominating
reference points indicate that the stock in not range of management measures will include the stock assessment process. Committee. Motion carries.
overfished, but not yet rebuilt (the popula- zero possession limits; commercial trip limits; The Board reviewed a draft Memoran- SHAD & RIVER HERRING MANAGE-
tion is at about 92% of its biomass target) and recreational bag/size and seasonal limits; and dum of Understanding (MOU) between the MENT BOARD
overfishing is occurring. Managers should measures to prevent an influx of effort in state Commission and the Great Lakes Fishery Meeting Summary
use caution when setting specifications due waters for Southern New England/Mid-At- Commission. The MOU was further dis- The Shad and River Herring Manage-
to the uncertainty in the natural mortality lantic (SNE/MA) and Gulf of Maine (GOM) cussed during the Policy Board meeting. ment Board met to review the 2008 River
estimate, the model input parameters, re- stocks. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Penn- Herring Stock Status Report and consider
sidual patterns in model fit and uncertainty This action is taken in response to the sylvania, the District of Columbia, South final action on Draft Amendment 2. The Stock
associated with managing a species that findings of the 2008 Groundfish Assessment Carolina, Georgia and Florida requested and Assessment Subcommittee Chair provided
changes sex during its life span. The Techni- Report Meeting (GARM III), which estimates were granted de minimis status by the Board an overview of the 2008 River Herring Stock
cal Committee will review the assessment and that the SNE/MA stock is at 9% of the target for the 2008 commercial and recreational Status Report. Major report findings include:
peer review report for scup and black sea bass biomass (overfished) with overfishing oc- American eel fisheries. The de minimis re- A decline in commercial landings since 1969;
and will provide recommendations to the curring and that the GOM stock is likely to be quirement is met when state reported com- Historical and recent declines in abundance
Management Board. The Board will consider overfished with overfishing likely to be oc- mercial landings are less than 1% of the for alewife, blueback herring, and both spe-
approval of the recommended reference curring. coastwide commercial landings for American cies combined based on available run size
points and stock status after it receives rec- Another factor influencing the Board’s eel. estimates; A decline of mean lengths of male
ommendations from the Technical Commit- action is pending federal management mea- Motions and female alewife and blueback herring over
tee. sures on groundfish stocks, which will sig- Move to approve the stock assessment time by 13-45 mm TL; A decline in maximum
The Board reviewed state proposals to nificantly reduce fishing mortality on feder- time line and terms of reference for the Ameri- age of male and female alewife by one or two
manage the states’ 2009 summer flounder ally-managed groundfish stocks in offshore can eel stock assessment. Motion made by
recreational fishery. The Board approved all waters (3 – 200 miles). Options under the Draft Dr. Daniel, second by Dr. Kray. Motion
Continued on Page 16.
state proposals that met the previously ap- Addendum will seek to enhance stock re-
proved requirement that 50 percent of the building efforts throughout the species
state’s reduction come from a seasonal clo- range by reducing fishing related mortality
sure. States will choose which set of ap- on inshore spawning stocks.
DownEast Lobstermen's
proved regulations will be adopted for 2009. The Board will review and consider ap-
The Board delayed discussions of initiating proval of Draft Addendum 1 for public com-
Association
an addendum that would require mandatory ment in March. If approved, the draft adden-
regions until the Technical Committee has dum will be released for public comment and
completed an analysis on the use of slot limits review in March/April, with state public hear-
"By the Fishermen - for the Fishermen"
and trophy fish as potential management ings to be conducted in April. The Board will
tools. Dave Simpson from the State of Con- meet again in May, during the Commission’s
necticut was elected Vice –Chair of the Man- Spring Meeting, to review public comment
agement Board. and advisory panel input, and consider final
WHO'S ENDANGERED NOW?
Motions action on the Addendum.
Move to nominate Dave Simpson as the Vice- Motions
chair of the Board. Motion made by Mr. Move that the Board reconsider the ac-
Gilmore, second by Dr. Pierce. Motion car- tion taken at the Annual Meeting to initiate an
Don't Be Left on the Dock!
ries. Move to amend the scup TAL for 2009 emergency action for winter flounder man-
by increasing it from 7.34 million pounds to agement and instead initiate an addendum.
Join Today and Let Your Voice
11.18 million pounds. Motion made by Dr. Motion by Dr. Pierce, second by Mr. Gibson, Be Heard.
Pierce, second by Mr. Gibson. Motion carries motion fails. Move to establish an emergency
(11 in favor, 0 opposed). Move to amend the action to close the state water fishery for
Winter I landing limit of 30,000 pounds to a GOM winter flounder. Motion by Mr.
Float Rope Issue
possession limit, with no restriction on the Lapointe, second by Mr. Simpson, motion
amount of landings per two week period. postponed. Move to postpone until SNE/
Motion made by Mr. Simpson, second by Dr. MA discussion is complete. Motion by Mr.
Boat Insurance Discounts with
Pierce. Motion fails for the lack of a two-thirds Simpson, second by Mr. Lapointe, motion Membership
majority. Move to not implement the perfor- passed. Move to establish an emergency
mance measure requirement recommended action to implement a zero possession limit
by the Technical Committee for the 2009 for recreational and commercial fisheries for
Safety Courses
summer flounder recreational fishery. Mo- the SNE/MA stock in state waters. Motion by
tion made by Mr. Gilmore, second by Mr. Mr. Simpson, second by Dr. Pierce, motion
Fote. Motion carries (7 in favor, 2 opposed, 2 fails 3 in favor, 4 opposed, 0 abstentions, 2
abstentions). Move to substitute: that con- null. Move to reconsider the motion for to Call or e-mail for
servation measures in the fishery for 2009 initiate emergency action from the Annual
include performance measures based on av- Meeting. Motion by Mr. Lapointe, second by
membership informa-
erage historical performance as applied in Dr. Pierce, motion carries. Move to initiate a
tion
2008. Motion made by Mr. Simpson, second “fast track” addendum for winter flounder for
by Mr. Miller. Motion fails. Move to approve final action at the May 2009 Spring Meeting
all summer flounder recreational proposals Week. Included in the draft addendum will be
that achieve 50% of the required reduction a provision for zero possession limits, trip
DownEast Lobstermen's Association
through seasonal closures as approved by limit measures that reduce the fishery as low
P.O. Box 88
the Technical Committee. Motion made by as possible, options for bag/size limits, sea-
Belfast, Maine 04915
Mr. Adler, second by Mr. Culhane. Motion son limits, and measures to prevent an influx
(207) 338-1406
carries. Move to approve all summer flounder of effort in state waters for SNE/MA and
recreational proposals for liberalization. GOM stocks. Motion by Mr. Lapointe, sec-
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