Page 12. MAINE COASTAL NEWS February 2010 Commercial Fishing News
NOAA is Soliciting Comments on Draft Catch Share Policy
On December 10th MISCELLANEOUS COMMERCIAL FISHING NEWS NOAA released for
public comment a draft national policy encouraging the use of catch shares, a fishery management tool that aims to end overfishing and rebuild and sustain fishing jobs and fishing communities. In doing so, NOAA recognized that catch shares are not a panacea or one-size-fits-all solution, but are a proven way to promote sustainable fishing when designed properly at the fishing community level.
Catch share programs, which include Limited Access Privilege Programs and Individual Fishing Quotas, have been used in the U.S. since 1990 and are now used in 13 different commercial fisheries. Four new programs will begin over the next year. NOAA estimates that rebuilding U.S. fish stocks would increase annual commercial dockside values by an estimated $2.2 billion, a 54-percent increase over current dockside values of $4.1 billion, and help support jobs in the seafood industry and across the broader economy.
NOAA Seeks Comments on Proposed Rule Revising National Standard 2 to the Magnuson-Stevens Act
NOAA Fisheries Service proposes revisions to the guidelines for National Standard 2 (NS2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) regarding scientific information. This action is necessary to provide guidance on the use of best scientific information available (BSIA) for the effective conservation and management of the nation’s living marine resources. NMFS proposes to modify the existing NS2
guidelines on BSIA and establish new guidelines for scientific peer review to ensure the reliability, credibility, and integrity of the scientific information used in fishery conservation and management measures.
In addition, NOAA Fisheries Service is proposing to add language to the guidelines regarding the role of the Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSCs) of the Regional Fishery Management Councils (Councils), and the relationship of SSCs to the peer review process. The proposed NS2 guidelines will also clarify the content and purpose of the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Report and related documents. These actions are necessary to ensure the use of BSIA in the development of fishery management plans and plan amendments, as required by NS2 of the MSA. The intended effect of these actions is to ensure that scientific information, including its collection and analysis, has been validated through formal peer review or other appropriate review, is transparent, and is used appropriately by SSCs, Councils, and NMFS in the conservation and management of marine fisheries. These guidelines are designed to provide quality standards for the collection and provision of biological, ecological, economic, and sociological information to fishery managers, Councils, and the public, while recognizing regional differences in fisheries and their management. For more information please see the proposed rule in the Federal Register. Comments on the proposed rule must be received by March 11, 2010.
U.S. Fishing Opportunities in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area The NOAA Fisheries Service announces that fish quotas and an effort allocation are available for harvest by U.S. fishermen in the NAFO Regulatory Area. These fishing opportunities are effective January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010 and expressions of interest regarding U.S. fish quota allocations for all species except NAFO Division 3L shrimp will be accepted throughout 2010. Note that expressions of interest regarding the U.S. 3L shrimp quota allocation, the 3M shrimp effort allocation, and the 3LNO yellowtail flounder to be transferred by Canada will be accepted through December 24, 2009.
NOAA Seeks Comments on Proposed Rule That Restricts Activities of, and with IUU Vessels
NOAA is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that would allow the assistant administrator of NOAA’s Fisheries Service to deny a vessel entry into a U.S. port or access to port services if that vessel has been listed for engaging in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by a regional fishery management organization (RFMO).
The rule would also prohibit persons and businesses from providing certain services to, and engaging in commercial transactions with, foreign, listed IUU vessels. Those services would include: transshipment; processing fish harvested or landed by a listed IUU vessel or processing fish using a listed IUU vessel; joint fishing operations; providing supplies, fuel, crew, or otherwise supporting a listed IUU vessel; and entering into a chartering arrangement with a listed IUU vessel.
In recent years, several RFMOs have adopted binding measures that establish both procedures for identifying vessels that engaged in IUU fishing activities and actions to be taken against such vessels. Such measures can act as a strong deterrent to engage in IUU fishing by reducing the profitability of such activities. Nations that are members of these RFMOs are required to take actions against the listed IUU vessels, such as denying port entry.
The full text of the proposed rule can be found in the Federal Register. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until February 25, 2010. Written comments on this action, identified by RIN 0648-AW09, may be submitted electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://
www.regulations.gov.
LOOKING FOR A FINE ROWING CRAFT? GO
NOAA Announces Proposed Northeast Groundfish Management Measures NOAA announced details of proposed measures developed by the New England Fishery Management Council intended to end overfishing and continue the rebuilding of Northeast groundfish. There will be a 30- day public comment period on the measures. The new rules, if approved, would be effective May 1.
The proposed measures would enable all limited access groundfish permit holders to create groups or “sectors” that would get a share of the year’s allowable catch, based on the historic landings of their members. They would also develop their own rules for allocating that catch among the sector members. Those not in a sector would continue to be able to fish a set number of days per year in a common pool. These sectors would be an integral part of a catch share program for Northeast groundfish.
“Catch share programs like the groundfish sectors proposed here have been shown to promote more profitable and stable fisheries, as well as healthy marine ecosystems,” said James Balsiger, acting NOAA assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “Sector management can help us achieve these goals for Northeast groundfish.”
Expanded annual catch limits for each sector and for those not participating in the catch shares program are intended to end overfishing and ensure enough fish are left in the ocean to promote the rebuilding of depleted stocks. Measures proposed to discourage over-harvesting by either commercial or recreational fisheries include automatic reductions in the next year’s allowable catch, fewer days-at-sea, or changes to size limits, seasons, and bag limits. Expanded reporting requirements and monitoring systems are being proposed for the commercial fishery to make sure annual catch limits are not exceeded.
For commercial fishing vessels not participating in catch shares, many of the rules currently in effect, like limits on the number of days of fishing and seasonal and area closures, would continue under the proposed rule. However, to end overfishing and promote rebuilding, days-at-sea would be reduced by 32 percent over 2009 levels. Also under consideration are modified trip limits on cod and yellowtail flounder in some areas, and a prohibition on landing of the stocks in the worst shape—windowpane flounder, ocean pout, wolffish, and southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder. “We are working closely with the fishing industry to ensure that the necessary
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