Page 16. MAINE COASTAL NEWS March 2009
ASMFC 2009 WINTER MEETING SUMMARY
Program Policy Board met to address a num- The Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Part- all Atlantic coast fish species or successful
Continued from Page 15.
ber of issues. The Policy Board discussed the nership (ACFHP) informed the Policy Board restoration well in progress by the year 2015.”
years; Declines in mean length-at-age of ale- use of roll call votes during management that the Memorandum of Understanding Motions
wife and blueback herring; Contrasting board meetings to increase transparency and (MOU) has been completed. The MOU has Move to authorize the Policy Board to
trends over time for relative abundance indi- accountability. The Policy Board decided to 30 signatories and represents an important sign off on the MOU from the American Eel
ces of young-of-the-year (YOY) from state continue the current practice of conducting step toward having the ACFHP recognized Board.
seine surveys and for relative abundance a roll call vote upon request by any Board by the National Fish Habitat Initiative Board, Motion made by Mr. Carpenter, second by
indices of juvenile, adult, and all life stages member. possibly leading to future funding for Dr. Geiger. Motion carries.
from state and federal trawl surveys. This The Policy Board received an update on ACFHP. WEAKFISH MANAGEMENT BOARD
report is a prequel to the full stock assess- the Federal Recreational Registry Rule and The Northeast Area Monitoring and Meeting Summary
ment, which is scheduled to be completed in the progress on developing and implement- Assessment Program (NEAMAP) Trawl Sur- The Weakfish Management Board met
2012. ing the Marine Recreational Information Pro- vey was peer reviewed at the end of 2008. The to receive an update of the ongoing weakfish
The Board reviewed submitted public gram. The Registry Rule details the informa- peer review endorsed the design and execu- stock assessment. The Weakfish Technical
comment, as well as input from its Advisory tion that states will have to collect in order to tion of the Survey and agreed that it has Committee and Stock Assessment Subcom-
Panel comment and Technical Committee on be exempt; the Rule becomes effective on considerable value to support future stock mittee held data and assessment workshops
Draft Amendment 2 (River Herring). The January 1, 2010. assessments. in 2008, and also participated in the Northeast
Board delayed action on Draft Amendment 2 The Policy Board reviewed consensus An update on the environmental impact Science Center’s Data Poor Workshop held
(River Herring), Instead, it initiated the cre- statements from a meeting of Commission statement (EIS) for Chesapeake Bay oyster in December. At that workshop, a panel of
ation of a working group comprised of Board representatives with the New England Fish- restoration was presented to the Policy peers reviewed the work on the assessment
members, as well as members of the Plan ery Management Council, the Mid-Atlantic Board. The Commission submitted com- to date and provided suggested revisions. A
Development Team and Technical Commit- Fishery Management Council, and the Na- ments on the EIS to the Army Corps of Engi- report from the Technical Committee Chair at
tee, to develop practical monitoring mea- tional Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to neers (USACE) based on the input of the this meeting responded to the panel’s sug-
sures that will provide a basic level of re- discuss alignment between state and federal Interstate Shellfish Transport Committee and gestions, highlighting the areas that would
source protection that all states must adopt, fishery management. The Policy Board the Habitat Committee. The public comment be improved in the ongoing assessment. An
as well as to determine what constitutes a agreed that this is an important issue and will is currently being reviewed; Maryland, Vir- additional meeting to finalize the model runs
sustainable fishery and excessive bycatch. continue to monitor the alignment of the ginia, and USACE will decide on the course for the assessment has been added to the
The working group will present its recom- Commission with the NMFS and Councils. of future restoration efforts in the spring. The timeline for late March or early April. Regard-
mendations at the May Board meeting. The Policy Board may revisit this issue later final record of decision will be published in less, the weakfish stock assessment is on
The Board was presented an update on in the year. the summer. schedule to be formally reviewed by a Stock
Draft Amendment 3 (American Shad). The The Multispecies Technical Committee The Policy Board also discussed the Assessment Review Committee (SARC) in
Draft Amendment will be completed for provided an update on its progress in devel- future role of the Interstate Shellfish Trans- June 2009.
Board review at the May meeting. At that oping the multispecies stock assessment port Committee (ISTC). The Board agreed to ATLANTIC MENHADEN MANAGEMENT
time, the Board will consider approval of Draft model. The model has been updated to reflect review potential tasks for the Committee BOARD
Amendment 3 (American Shad) for public the most recent stock assessment informa- when developing the 2010 Action Plan, but Meeting Summary
comment. tion for striped bass and bluefish. The Com- wanted to ensure that there was not any The Board met to receive updates on
Motions mittee will continue to refine this model and overlap between the ISTC and other groups several items. Cooperative research, involv-
Move that the Chairman establish a sub- consider its usage for improving the working on shellfish issues. ing industry spotter pilots from Omega, Ark
committee to meet with the PDT for the pur- Commission’s single species assessment The Policy Board reviewed the most Bait, and state and federal scientists, was
pose of developing more detailed options and management. recent version of the Memorandum of Under- initiated during the 2008 season. Spotter pi-
including a basic level of resource protection The Habitat Committee reported that the standing on North American Eel Manage- lots submitted to scientists weekly logs that
that all states must adopt, and definitions of Diadromous Species Source Document has ment and agreed that Commission would be record observed number of schools and es-
what constitutes a sustainable fishery and been finalized. The Document will be distrib- a signatory to the document to improve eel timated number of fish per school. The scien-
excessive bycatch, to be reported on at the uted to the Commissioners, technical com- management throughout its range. tists in turn are developing indices to track
May Meeting Week. Motion made by Mr. mittees, and the Habitat Committee. Mem- The Policy Board asked that staff de- relative abundance over time. Improvements
Travelstead, second by Mr. Augustine. bers of the public can access the document velop a template for clearly conveying the in the research can be made for the 2009
Motion carries unanimously. through the Commission’s website. The status of ASMFC-managed stocks. The season with a modest investment of funds.
ISFMP POLICY BOARD Habitat Committee also provided an update purpose of this document will be to track the The Board confirmed the members and
Meeting Summary on the Commission’s artificial reef coordina- progress of achieving the ASMFC’s vision
Continued on Page 19.
The Interstate Fisheries Management tion activities. of “healthy, self-sustaining populations for
M A I N E M A R I T I M E A C A D E M Y N E W S
Port of Long Beach, she oversaw a $2.3 billion on Saturday, March 28, 2009, beginning at 6 p.m. with a social hour featuring a silent
Continued from Page 5. capital improvement program and spear- p.m., at the Holiday Inn By the Bay in down- auction. Bidding for silent auction items will
modate the port’s future growth as a premiere headed a number of environmental initia- town Portland. According to Tyler, guests at continue through the early part of the
Pacific gateway and national economic en- tives, including development of the Green the event may bid on a variety of exciting evening. Dinner will begin at 7 p.m. The
gine. Her prioritization of “green growth” at Port Policy. While her tenure at the Port of items and travel excursions ranging from Holiday Inn By the Bay will offer a variety of
the Port of Los Angeles was a central topic Long Beach spanned two decades, Dr. Knatz MMA memorabilia and a flat screen televi- culinary stations, ranging from a pasta sta-
chronicled in, America’s Port, the 2008 Na- began her maritime career as an environmen- sion, to a weekend stay aboard the schooner tion to a specialty meat carving station. The
tional Geographic Channel television series tal scientist at the Port of Los Angeles in 1977. BOWDOIN and a two week stay at a private live auction, featuring premier vacation
about the Port of Los Angeles. Dr. Knatz is the recipient of numerous home in the Hawaiian Islands. homes, golf outings, cruises, and a
In her position, Knatz oversees more awards and professional citations. She was “We’ve traditionally offered this event handcrafted dinghy built by MMA students,
than 850 employees and total operating rev- recently elected to serve as the chairman of as a summer celebration in Castine, but in will kick off at 8:30 p.m. “We hope that guests
enue in excess of $417 million. The largest the board of directors of the American Asso- response to the tremendous support we re- will have fun at this winter social outing and,
volume container port in America since 2000, ciation of Port Authorities (AAPA).As head ceive from alumni and friends in southern in the spirit of giving, will be inspired to bid
the port moves nearly 190 million metric rev- of the AAPA she represents 160 ports in the Maine, we’re taking the event on the road to on our fabulous auction packages to support
enue tons of cargo annually. Last year, the United States, Canada, Latin America, and encourage attendance and support from the the Academy.” said Tyler.
port moved 8.5 million TEUs (Twenty-foot the Caribbean. greater Portland area” said Tyler. “Our event Event organizers report that the auction
Equivalent Units), establishing a new na- An alumna of the University of Southern is timed to correspond with the winter blues item list is dynamic, with donations expand-
tional container record once again. California, where she presently teaches in the and it is our hope that it becomes a regular part ing daily. An online auction site was
Dr. Knatz was instrumental in the cre- Civil Engineering School, Dr. Knatz earned a of the charity events supported by our launched on February 27th, with online bid-
ation and implementation of the San Pedro doctorate in biological science and a master friends in the area.” ding encouraged for event guests and non-
Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan to reduce air of science in environmental engineering. She Coordinated by the college’s Advance- attendees alike. A preview of silent and live
emissions from port operations by roughly 50 also holds an undergraduate degree in zool- ment Office, the event is generously pre- auction items will be available at
percent over a period of five years. Her efforts ogy from Rutgers University. Born and raised sented by Cianbro Corporation, one of the www.mmaafa.cmarket.com.
facilitated the first joint meeting of the leaders in New Jersey, she resides in Long Beach with east coast’s largest construction and con- Tickets for the event are available by
of the two ports since the 1920s and the first her husband and two sons. struction service companies. advance reservation for $75.00 per person.
ever public meeting of the two Port Boards on According to event organizers, dress for Limited overnight accommodations are avail-
the day the Plan was approved. Since then, MMA- A Night by the Bay…An Evening of the event will be cocktail attire. Live music will able onsite and guests interested in exploring
the Plan has paved the way for the Los Dinner, Dancing and Celebrating be provided by The Blue Willow Band. The this option are asked to contact the Holiday
Angeles Harbor Commission to approve two MMA President Leonard Tyler has an- group’s repertoire, certain to appeal to all Inn directly while mentioning their atten-
major container terminal expansion projects nounced that the college will host its third tastes and generations, encompasses a wide dance at the Maine Maritime Academy char-
and a new deep-draft marine oil terminal on annual fundraising event to benefit student selection of light, classic rock and high-en- ity event. To donate an item for auction or to
Pier 400. scholarship, student services, and academic ergy swing, funk, and dance tunes. Boston- purchase tickets, contact Karen Cukierski at
Dr. Knatz previously served as manag- programs. The event, an evening of dinner, area comedian, Dave Rattigan, will serve as 207-326-2177 during weekday business
ing director of the neighboring Port of Long live music, comedic entertainment, and live auctioneer. hours.
Beach. As the number two executive at the and silent auctions, is scheduled to be held Plans call for the evening to begin at 6
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