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Page 20. MAINE COASTAL NEWS October 2009
SUMMARY OF ASMFC 2009 SUMMER MEETING
for public comment. Motion made by Mr. under Breaking News. For more information, and management measures to protect, en-
Continued from Page 19
Travelstead, seconded by Mr. Adler. Motion please contact Christopher Vonderweidt, hance, and restore American shad stocks to
lic comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM carries. Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at sustainable levels.
EST on October 1, 2009 and should be for- Move to approve the nomination of Jeff cvonderweidt@asmfc.org or (202) 289-6400. The Draft Amendment was developed in
warded to Braddock Spear, Senior FMP Co- Kaelin to the Menhaden Advisory Panel. Meeting Summary response to the findings of the 2007 bench-
ordinator for Policy, 1444 ‘Eye’ Street, NW, Motion made by Mr. Adler, seconded by Mr. In addition to approving Addendum I, mark stock assessment for American shad,
Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; (202) Augustine. Motion carries. the Spiny Dogfish & Coastal Sharks Man- which indicates that American shad stocks
289-6051 (FAX) or at bspear@asmfc.org SPINY DOGFISH & COASTAL SHARK agement Board agreed to send two letters are currently at all-time lows and do not
(Subject line: Draft Addendum IV). MANAGEMENT BOARD (20 August) opposing an Appendix II CITES listing for appear to be recovering. It identified the
Meeting Summary ASMFC Spiny Dogfish and Coastal Shark spiny dogfish. One letter will be sent to the primary causes for the continued stock de-
The benchmark stock assessment for Board Approves Addendum I to the Inter- US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) asking clines as a combination of excessive total
menhaden continues on schedule. The As- state Shark FMP Service not to recommend an Appendix II mortality, habitat loss and degradation, and
sessment Workshop is scheduled for Octo- The Spiny Dogfish and Coastal Sharks CITES listing for Spiny Dogfish and the other migration and habitat access impediments.
ber 19-22, the external peer review is set for Management Board approved Addendum I to the National Marine Fisheries Service ask- Although improvement has been seen in a
March 2010, and final delivery of the assess- to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan ing them to write a similar letter to the FWS. few stocks, many remain severely depressed
ment report and presentation to the Board is (FMP) for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. Adden- The Board agreed that an Appendix II listing compared to historic levels.
expected by May 2010. The Board tasked the dum I modifies the finning and identification is inappropriate for spiny dogfish because The Draft Amendment proposes modifi-
Menhaden Technical Committee, once the provision for the commercial smooth dogfish the Northwestern Atlantic population is not cation to current coastwide commercial and
assessment is completed and presented, to fishery and removes both the smooth dog- overfished and overfishing is not occurring, recreational management measures. Com-
continue investigation into ecological refer- fish recreational possession limits and 2- mature female biomass has reached and ex- mercial management options include reduc-
ence points. For more information, please hour net check requirement for commercial ceeded the biomass target, the resource is ing harvest, closing fisheries with exceptions
contact Braddock Spear, Senior Fisheries large mesh gillnet. being effectively managed in a sustainable for systems with a sustainable fishery, clos-
Management Plan Coordinator for Policy, at The FMP originally required that the fins way by the Commission in cooperation with ing fisheries on mixed stocks, and a
(202) 289-6400 or bspear@asmfc.org. of all sharks harvested in the commercial regional fishery management councils, and coastwide moratorium. Recreational fisher-
Motions fishery have fins attached naturally to the trade does not need to be controlled to avoid ies management options include reducing
Move to accept the Terms of Reference carcass through landing. The commercial utilization incompatible with spiny dogfish harvest, implementing a licensing or permit-
and timeline. Motion made by Mr. Adler, smooth dogfish fishery is high volume, labor survival. For more information, please con- ting program, closing fisheries with excep-
seconded by Mr. Augustine. Motion carries. intensive, and requires an extremely fresh tact Christopher Vonderweidt, Fishery Man- tions for fisheries with a sustainable system,
Main Motion Move to recommend that product in relation to other commercial shark agement Plan Coordinator, at allowing a catch and release fishery only, and
the Policy Board charge the Multispecies fisheries. Requiring commercial fishermen to cvonderweidt@asmfc.org or (202) 289-6400. a coastwide moratorium.
Technical Committee with the following partially cut the fins at sea (necessary to Motions To improve data collection, the Draft
tasks to be completed in time for discussion properly bleed each fish) and then finish Main Motion Move to adopt option B Amendment proposes increased fisheries-
at the February 2010 meeting: 1) Evaluate processing them back at the dock was con- for issue one, two, three, and four within independent and dependent monitoring.
methods for incorporating such external vari- sidered unnecessary and overly burden- Addendum I. Motion made by Mr. This includes monitoring of juvenile and
ables as predation, multispecies effects, and some. To address this, Addendum I allows Travelstead, seconded by Mr. Augustine. adult American shad stocks; hatchery pro-
environmental influence into the menhaden commercial fishermen to remove all fins, with Motion amended. duction; and commercial, recreational, and
management framework; 2) Develop alterna- a fin to carcass ratio of 5% to 95%, from March Motion to Amend Move to amend issue bycatch fisheries. Additionally, the Draft
tive/additional reference points that would through June. Fishermen are required to one to allow the removal of the head and all Amendment proposes increased coordina-
account for the ecological role of menhaden. leave the dorsal fins attached to smooth fins except two dorsal fins from July to Feb- tion of monitoring activities for river systems
Development of reference points must con- dogfish carcasses though landing from July ruary and from March to June adopt option B under shared jurisdiction, as well as between
sider information that is currently available; through February. This seasonal exemption (allow dressing at sea). Motion made by Dr. freshwater and marine agencies.
3) Based on alternative reference points de- is likely to minimize interactions between Pierce, seconded by Dr. Daniel. Motion Fishermen and other interested groups
veloped under charge #2, provide the man- smooth dogfish and depleted shark species passes (10, 2, 2, null 1). are encouraged to provide input on Draft
agement board a range of options for allocat- based on an analysis conducted by North Main Motion as Amended Move to Amendment 3, either through attending pub-
ing menhaden to ecological functions. Mo- Carolina Department of Environmental and adopt for issue one to allow the removal of the lic hearings or providing written comments (a
tion made by Ms. Fegley, seconded by Dr. Natural Resources. The analysis showed head and all fins except two dorsal fins from subsequent press release on scheduled pub-
Geiger. Motion substituted. that the majority of smooth dogfish landings July through February and from March lic hearings will be released once the hearings
Motion to Substitute Substitute motion usually occur from March through June while through June adopt option B (allow dressing have been finalized). Copies of Draft Amend-
to direct the Menhaden TC to complete the the majority of sandbars are landed from July at sea) and adopt option B for issue two, ment will be available by August 28th and can
benchmark assessment within the schedule through February. The Board required that three, and four within Addendum I. Motion be obtained by contacting the Commission at
presented today, and after its completion dorsal fins must remain attached from July made by Mr. Travelstead, seconded by Mr. (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission’s
have the Menhaden TC present another through February to make identification Augustine. Motion passes (12, 2, 1, null 0). website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking
schedule on how and what types of ERPs to easier during the seasons when smooth dog- Move to grant Maine and New Hamp- News. Public comment will be accepted until
recommend to the Board. fish and sandbar are found in the same areas. shire de minimis status for the 2010 coastal 5:00 PM on October 16, 2009 and should be
Motion made by Mr. Travelstead, sec- Addendum I removes smooth dogfish sharks fishing season contingent on full forwarded to Kate Taylor, FMP Coordinator,
onded by Mr. Lapointe. Motion carries (14 in recreational possession limits because there implementation of all regulations contained 1444 ‘Eye’ Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washing-
favor, 2 opposed, 1 null). Main Motion as is no evidence that possession limits are in their de minimis proposals. Motion made ton, DC 20005; (202) 289-6051 (FAX) or at
Substituted Move to direct the Menhaden necessary for a sustainable fishery. The two- by Mr. Stockwell, seconded by Mr. Gilmore. comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft
TC to complete the benchmark assessment hour net check requirement for large mesh Motion Passes without objection. Amendment 3).
within the schedule presented today, and gillnets was removed following recommen- Move to (1) advise the U.S. Fish & Wild- Motions
after its completion have the Menhaden TC dations of the Law Enforcement Committee life Service not to recommend an Appendix II Main Motion Move to approve Amend-
present another schedule on how and what that such a measure is unenforceable and CITES listing for Spiny Dogfish at the Confer- ment 3 to go out for public comment. Motion
types of ERPs to recommend to the Board. also concern that the requirement would im- ence of Parties to CITES meeting in March made by Mr. Augustine, seconded by Mr.
Motion made by Mr. Travelstead, sec- pact several state water gillnet fisheries. 2010 because spiny dogfish: (a) are not over- Cole. Motion amended.
onded by Mr. Lapointe. Motion carries (15 in Copies of the Addendum I will be avail- fished and overfishing is not occurring; (b) Motion to Amend Move to amend to
favor, 1 opposed, 1 null, 1 abstention). able by early September via the mature female biomass has reached and ex- include an alternative overfishing definition
Move to approve Draft Addendum IV Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org ceeded the biomass target; (c) is being effec- in Amendment 3 by adding the Amendment
tively managed in a sustainable way by 2 sustainable fishery definition which states
Buying a Boat?
ASMFC in cooperation with fishery manage- ‘the potential future stock reproduction and
ment councils; and (d) trade does not need to recruitment will not be diminished’. Motion
Be SURE Before You Buy!
be controlled to avoid utilization incompat- made by Mr. Simpson, seconded by Mr.
ible with spiny dogfish survival; and (2) re- Carpenter. Motion passes (15 in favor, 0
quest the National Marine Fisheries Service opposed).
Over 20 years of marine experience
to support this ASMFC advice and similarly Main Motion as Amended Move to ap-
advise the Fish & Wildlife Service not to prove Amendment 3 to go out for public
means you’ll know if it’s sound...
support an Appendix II listing. Motion made comment including an alternative overfish-
or NOT.
by Dr. Pierce, seconded by Mr. Augustine. ing definition in Amendment 3 by adding the
Motion passes (abstentions by NMFS and Amendment 2 sustainable fishery definition
USFWS). which states ‘the potential future stock re-
Reasonable Rates Power or Sail
SHAD & RIVER HERRING MANAGE- production and recruitment will not be dimin-
MENT BOARD (20 August) ished’. Motion made by Mr. Augustine, sec-

Wood & Fiberglass to 60 feet
The Commission’s Shad and River Her- onded by Mr. Cole. Motion passes (15 in
ring Management Board has approved for favor, 0 opposed).
public comment Draft Amendment 3 to the Move to approve Jeff Kaelin to the Shad
Kent Thurston ~ Marine Surveyor
Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and River Herring Advisory Panel. Motion
Phone/Fax - (207) 948-2654
for Shad and River Herring. The Draft made by Mr. McCloy, seconded by Mr. Au-
E-mail: marinesurveyor@thurstoncreative.com
Amendment proposes a suite of monitoring gustine. Motion passes.
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