April 2011 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 13. Commercial Fishing News MISCELLANEOUS COMMERCIAL FISHING NEWS


NOAA Proposes Measures to Increase Groundfish and Scallop Fishing Opportunities


NOAA proposed new measures for the 2011 groundfishing year that give fishermen greater opportunity to fish in Northeast wa- ters, assist small vessel owners, and continue important stock rebuilding.


The rule, called Framework 45, is based on recommendations by the New England Fish- ery Management Council and is open for comment March 3.


“As we prepare to enter a new fishing year, NOAA is working with the council and the fishing industry to increase fishing on healthy stocks and address economic chal- lenges faced by fishing communities,” said Eric Schwaab, assistant NOAA administra- tor for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “At the same time, we are continuing programs to rebuild groundfish stocks for the long-term benefits they provide.”


Two key measures being proposed in- clude extending the rebuilding period for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder, by two years to 2016, and a 2.5 million pound yellow- tail flounder catch limit increase for U.S. fish- ermen. The increase, which was recom- mended by U.S. and Canadian fishery manag- ers earlier this month, would represent a 44 percent increase over what was initially agreed to for this jointly managed stock for the 2011 fishing year, and an 18 percent increase over 2010 levels.


Catch limits for 2011 were set last year for 20 groundfish stocks. The measures an- nounced today propose changes to limits for five stocks. If all the changes are approved, catch limits will increase over the 2010 limits for 12 stocks, decrease for 3 stocks and stay the same for the remaining 5. Some of the largest increases would be for Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic yellowtail flounder, witch flounder and Southern New England winter flounder.


Another measure in Framework 45 will help small boat fishermen who practice a traditional form of fishing using a hand-held line to catch small amounts of groundfish. These fishermen would be allowed to fish in areas closer to shore when they are season- ally closed to most other groundfishing ves- sels. This would help these fishermen whose


smaller vessels cannot move into waters far- ther from shore to catch groundfish. Scallop fishermen would also benefit from a proposed measure that would lift a ban on some scallop vessels operating in part of the Great South Channel on Georges Bank during the spring. The ban was originally intended to protect spawning yellowtail flounder. This protection is now provided by strong limits on how much yellowtail floun- der can be caught by sea scallop vessels. To assist with the transition to sector fisheries management in the area, the mea- sures proposed today include a council rec- ommended temporary delay in the shifting of the costs of catch monitoring, which is cur- rently paid by NOAA, to fishing vessels. Under the proposal, industry would have two more years to prepare for covering these costs, beginning in 2013.


Another provision would close an area in the southern Gulf of Maine off to groundfishing in April and June to protect spawning cod. Commercial and recreational fishermen, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and scientists from the University of New Hampshire recommended the closure to boost the recovery of the Gulf of Maine cod stock.


Comments must be received by March 18, 2011. Electronic public comments can be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Por- tal: http://www.regulations.gov.; or faxed to (978) 281-9135, Attn: Douglas Christel or submitted by mail to Patricia A. Kurkul, Re- gional Administrator, National Marine Fish- eries Service, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, “Comments on the Proposed Rule for NE Multispecies Framework Adjust- ment 45.”


NOAA Begins National Survey of the Economic Contributions of Saltwater Angling


NOAA is again surveying saltwater an- glers across the nation to update and improve estimates of the overall economic contribu- tions of saltwater recreational fishing to the U.S. economy.


“The money that millions of recreational anglers spend on fishing trips each year produces tens of thousands of jobs and


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billions in sales revenue,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D, under secretary of com- merce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “This year’s survey is a chance for saltwater anglers to help NOAA get an updated, accurate picture of how rec- reational fishing translates into economic vitality and jobs for Americans.” NOAA and the saltwater angling com- munity need timely economic data to help evaluate the economic importance of recre- ational fishing activities. The data give a more accurate look at the economic effects of fish- ing regulations and changes in the ecosys- tem caused by natural or manmade events. The information gathered in the survey will contribute to more informed decisions on a variety of recreational fishing issues. “By surveying the recreational fishing com- munity, we are following through on one of the recreational fishing community’s top pri- orities identified at the 2010 sportfishing


summit,” said Eric Schwaab, assistant NOAA administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “The survey will ensure that NOAA and the fishery management councils have the best data when considering management actions that affect anglers.”


Throughout 2011, NOAA will survey a random sampling of the more than 15 million saltwater anglers in each of the 23 coastal states and Puerto Rico for the 2011 National Marine Recreational Fishing Expenditure Survey. The survey will include a random sampling of people who fish from shore, from docks, from party or charter boats and from privately owned boats. Field interviews have begun and will continue throughout the year. Surveying began in January in Florida, Ala- bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Caro- lina, California, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. It will begin in the remaining Atlantic states and


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