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Page 20. MAINE COASTAL NEWS May 2011 Commercial Fishing News ASMFC 2011 WINTER-SPRING MEETING SUMMARY Continued from Page 10.


Kate Taylor, Fishery Management Plan Co- ordinator, at ktaylor@asmfc.org or 703/842- 0740.


Motions


Main Motion: Move to remove the tabled motion “To approve the New Hamp- shire River Herring Sustainable Fisheries Plan with the addition of a fisheries-indepen- dent target that equates to a 50 percent aver- age of the river herring returns to the fish ladders in the Great Bay Indicator Stock from 1990-2009. This equates to 70,369 fish. If the three-year running average of the annual river herring returns to the fish ladders in the Great Bay Indicator Stock falls below this target, New Hampshire will take steps to prohibit harvest of river herring in state wa- ters. Motion made by Mr. Grout and sec- onded by Mr. Stockwell. Motion substituted. Motion to Substitute: Move to substi- tute to approve the New Hampshire Sustain- able Fishery Management Plan as recom- mended by the Technical Committee. Motion made by Mr. Grout and seconded by Mr. Stockwell. Substitute motion passes unani- mously.


Main Motion as Substituted: Move to approve the New Hampshire Sustainable Fishery Management Plan as recommended by the Technical Committee. Motion made by Mr. Grout and seconded by Mr. Stockwell. Motion passes unanimously.


Move that the Board send a letter via its Policy Board to the MAFMC expressing its preference regarding alternatives in Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish Amendment 14, includ- ing whether to continue to consider alterna- tives to federally manage river herring and shad. Motion made by Dr. Kray and sec- onded by Mr. Damon. Motion postponed until August 2011 meeting.


Move to postpone this motion until the August Meeting. Motion made by Mr. Fote and seconded by Mr. Meyers. Motion passes (8 in favor, 6 opposed, 3 abstentions, 1 null vote).


Main Motion: Move to accept the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the river herring as- sessment as presented. Motion by Dr. Kray and seconded by Mr. Cole. Motion amended Motion to Amend: Move to amend to remove the minority report as being a part of the TOR. Motion made by Mr. Augustine and seconded by Mr. Miller. Motion passes (15 in favor, 3 opposed).


Main Motion as Amended: Move to accept the TOR as amended (to include the bycatch TOR and without the minority re- port). Motion made by Dr. Kray and sec- onded by Mr. Cole. Motion passes (17 in favor, 0 opposed, 2 abstentions).


ATLANTIC MENHADEN MANAGEMENT BOARD, 22March ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Board Initiates Addendum to Increase Abun- dance and Spawning Stock Biomass The Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board initiated a draft adden- dum proposing an interim biological refer- ence point of 15% maximum spawning poten- tial (MSP) with the goal of increasing abun- dance, spawning stock biomass, and menha- den availability as a forage species. The MSP approach identifies the fishing mortality rate necessary to maintain a given level of stock fecundity (number of mature ova) relative to the potential maximum stock fecundity under unfished conditions. In this case, a 15% MSP would equate to a fishing mortality rate threshold required to maintain approximately 15% of virgin stock fecundity. The current MSP level is 9%. The draft addendum will also include a suite of management measures to achieve 15% MSP.


At the same time, the Board placed a high priority on continuing work on developing ecosystem reference points using a multispecies modeling approach (MSVPA). Ecosystem reference points are expected to address the forage needs of menhaden’s predator species such as striped bass, weak- fish, and bluefish. This work is anticipated to take a few years.


The Board received an update on the revised 2009 Atlantic menhaden stock as- sessment, which finds the stock is not over- fished but is experiencing overfishing in 2008. Given the current overfishing defini- tion, which sets the fishing mortality rate (F) target at 0.61 and the F threshold at 1.25, this is the first time overfishing has occurred since 1998 (see figure on next page). F in 2008 (the latest year in the assessment) is esti- mated at 1.26. This change in stock status is a result of a corrected error in the code of the stock assessment model. No other signifi- cant changes in estimated stock trends were identified in the stock assessment. The Board accepted the corrected stock assessment for management use.


The Board will review and consider ap- proval of the the draft addendum for public comment at the Commission’s Summer Meet- ing in August. If approved, the draft adden- dum will be released for public comment in late summer, with state public hearings oc- curring throughout early fall. Final Board approval of the addendum could happen in November at the Commission’s Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. Motions


Move to elect Robert Boyles as Vice- Chair of the Management Board. Motion made by Mr. Gibson and seconded by Mr. Augustine. Motion carries.


Move to accept the updated Benchmark Stock Assessment Report. Motion made by Mr. Augustine and seconded by Mr. Adler. Motion carries.


Tabled Motion from November 2010: Move to allow the Technical Committee to complete its work on the reference point alternatives and report to the Board at the August meeting, at which point an adden- dum could be initiated. Motion made by Mr. Travelstead and seconded by Mr. August- ine.


Main Motion: Move to recommend to the ISFMP Policy Board to task the Multispecies Technical Committee and the Atlantic Menhaden Technical Committee 1) to proceed with work on multispecies ap- proach as a priority and 2) have Menhaden Technical Committee prepare and present annual recruitment information to the Board. Motion made by Mr. Travelstead and sec- onded by Mr. Cole. Motion amended. Motion to Amend: Motion to amend to include 3) utilize the goal to increase abun- dance and SSB and initiate an addendum to implement an interim reference point of 15% MSP level and develop a suite of manage- ment measures the Board could use in man- aging the fishery. Motion made by Mr. Grout and seconded by Mr. Miller. Motion carries (Roll Call Vote: In favor – NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, DE, MD, NC, SC, GA, FL, NMFS, USFWS; Opposed – ME, VA; Null – PRFC). Motion to Amend: Motion to amend to include the current % MSP level (9%), 15%, 25% and 40%. Motion made by Mr. Augus- tine and seconded by Mr. Martens. Motion fails. (6 in favor, 8 opposed, 1 null, 2 absten- tions)


Main Motion as Amended: Move to recommend to the ISFMP Policy Board to task the Multispecies Technical Committee and the Atlantic Menhaden Technical Com- mittee 1) to proceed with work on multi- species approach as a priority and 2) have Menhaden Technical Committee prepare and


present annual recruitment information to the Board and 3) utilize the goal to increase abun- dance and SSB and initiate an addendum to implement an interim reference point of 15% MSP (maximum spawning potential) level and develop a suite of management measures the Board could use in managing the fishery. Motion made by Mr. Travelstead and sec- onded by Mr. Cole. Motion carries (15 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 null).


SPINY DOGFISH & COASTAL SHARKS MANAGEMENT BOARD, 22 March ASMFC Spiny Dogfish & Coastal Sharks Board Approves Addendum III State-Specific Spiny Dogfish Shares Established for Southern Region The Commission’s Spiny Dogfish and Coastal Sharks Management Board (Board) approved Addendum III to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Spiny Dogfish (Addendum III). The Addendum divides the southern region annual quota of 42% into state-specific shares (see table below). It also allows for quota transfer between states, rollovers of up to five percent and state- specified possession limits, and includes a three-year reevaluation of the measures. The Addendum’s provisions apply only to states in the southern region (New York through North Carolina) and do not modify the north- ern region allocation. The states of Maine to Connecticut will continue to share 58% of the annual quota as specified in Addendum II. Southern Region State Shares. Quota allocation differs slightly from specific op- tions presented in the draft addendum and are based on needs of states in the southern region with a consideration of historic land- ings.


Addendum III was initiated to give the southern states greater control of their spiny dogfish fisheries through state-specific quo- tas and to achieve consistent allocation for all states in the southern region. The southern region’s previous allocation was established in Addendum II, which set a regional alloca- tion with 26% of the annual quota to New York through Virginia and 16% to North Caro- lina. States were interested in lowering daily possession limits when demand and value are low and increasing them when demand and value are greatest—but the southern region allocation did not allow them (with the exception of North Carolina) to do so without having less access to the regional quota. Copies of Addendum III will be available on the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News by the end of March. For more information, please contact Chris Vonderweidt, FMP Coordina- tor, at cvonderweidt@asmfc.org or 703/842- 0740.


ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS MANAGEMENT BOARD, 23March ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Board Initiates Addendum to Reduce Fishing Mortality


The Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board has initiated devel- opment of Draft Addendum III with the goals of reducing striped bass fishing mortality (F) up to 40% and further protecting spawning stock when it is concentrated and vulnerable. The addendum was initiated in order to allow managers to promptly respond to the results of the stock assessment update in the fall if necessary. Provisions of the addendum, if passed, could be implemented prior to the start of the 2012 fishing year.


The Board’s action responds to recent trends in the fishery and resource, including a 66% decline in estimated recreational catch from 2006 to 2009; a 25% decline in estimated striped bass abundance from 2004 to 2008; and lowered recruitment in recent years.


Additionally, states in the northern extent of the fishery have expressed concern over decreased availability of striped bass as a result of the diminished water quality in the Chesapeake Bay during the summer months that may also contribute to increased preva- lence of mycobacteriosis in striped bass. Draft Addendum III will propose a range of fishing management measures including, but not limited to, adjustments to commercial and recreational minimum size (for jurisdic- tions outside Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River), reduc- tions in annual coastal commercial allocation, reductions in recreational bag limits, revi- sions to the target F rate (for Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River), and reductions on fishing for striped bass in known spawning areas during the spawning season by at least 50% (for jurisdictions bordering the Hudson River, Delaware River, Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound/ Roanoke River).


The commercial and recreational fishery is currently managed through Amendment 6 to the Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan. The Amendment, passed in 2003, allo- cates the coastal commercial quota and set a two fish bag limit and a 28 inch size minimum for the recreational fishery, with the excep- tion of the Chesapeake Bay fisheries, Albemarle Sound/Roanoke River fisheries, and states with approved alternative regula- tions.


The Draft Addendum will be developed for preliminary review by the Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board in August. For more information, please contact Kate Tay- lor, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at ktaylor@asmfc.org or 703/842-0740. Meeting Summary


The Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board met to consider a proposal for alterna- tive recreational management from Connecti- cut, review and discuss the recent illegal striped bass harvest events in Maryland and the striped bass discarding incidents in North Carolina, and consider initiation of an addendum to reduce fishing mortality. Connecticut submitted a proposal to implement the transfer of the annual commer- cial quota of 23,750 pounds to a “bonus” recreational fishery. The fishery would allow the harvest of 4,025 striped bass (sizes 22 - 27.9 inches) in the Connecticut River and provide marginal predator control to help rebuild blueback herring stocks. The Tech- nical Committee recommended approval of the proposed regulations. The Advisory Panel members were mostly supportive of the proposal, but did not reach a consensus agreement. The Management Board ap- proved the proposal.


The Board initiated the development of Draft Addendum III to Amendment 6 aimed at reducing striped bass fishing mortality (F) up to 40% and further protecting the spawning stock when it is concentrated and vulnerable. A preliminary draft will be reviewed by the Board in August.


The Board reviewed the recent striped bass illegal harvest events in Maryland and the striped bass discarding incidents in North Carolina. Maryland Natural Resources Police officers recovered 12.6 tons of striped bass in nine separate seizures throughout February. In response the commercial fishery was shut down on February 4th


over concerns


the state would exceed its monthly quota. The fishery was reopened for two days at the end of February after it was estimated that 200,000 pounds of the quota still remained. Poor weather conditions prevented fisher- men from harvesting the remainder of the quota.


Continued on Page 21.


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