Page 12. MAINE COASTAL NEWS September 2011


Commercial Fishing News Secretary Locke certifies that Iceland’s


whaling undermines the International Whaling Commission


July 20, 2011


U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke certified to President Obama that Iceland’s commercial whaling and international trade in fin whale products is diminishing the effec- tiveness of the International Whaling Com- mission (IWC), and urged the Government of Iceland to cease permitting commercial whal- ing. Iceland killed 273 endangered fin whales in 2009 and 2010. Iceland has not harvested any fin whales so far in 2011, but the govern- ment continues to permit whaling and has issued a whale quota for the 2011 season. Iceland has continued to harvest minke whales in 2011. The IWC has in place a global moratorium on commercial whaling. “Iceland’s disregard for the Interna- tional Whaling Commission’s global morato- rium on commercial whaling is unaccept- able,” Locke said. “Iceland’s harvest of whales and export of fin whale meat threaten an endangered species and undermine worldwide efforts to protect whales. It’s criti- cal that the Government of Iceland take imme- diate action to comply with the moratorium.” Iceland has significantly increased its whaling activities in recent years and re- sumed international trade in whale products. Last November, Secretary Locke issued a statement on Iceland’s escalation of its com- mercial whaling and its resumption of interna- tional trade in whale products, stating that the United States strongly opposes Iceland’s defiance of the commercial whaling ban, and urges Iceland to cease international trade of whale meat.


In his letter today, Secretary Locke rec- ommended that the President take a number of actions, including: Direct relevant U.S. delegations attending meetings with Iceland and senior Administration officials visiting Iceland to raise U.S. concerns regarding com- mercial whaling by Icelandic companies and seek ways to halt such action; Direct Cabinet secretaries to evaluate the appropriateness of visits to Iceland depending on continua- tion of the current suspension of fin whaling; Direct the Department of State to examine Arctic cooperation projects, and where ap- propriate, link U.S. cooperation to the Icelan- dic government changing its whaling policy and abiding by the IWC moratorium on com- mercial whaling; Direct the Departments of Commerce and State to consult with other international actors on efforts to end Icelan- dic commercial whaling and have Iceland abide by IWC moratorium on commercial whaling; Direct the Department of State to inform the Government of Iceland that the United States will continue to monitor the


MISCELLANEOUS COMMERCIAL FISHING NEWS


activities of Icelandic companies that engage in commercial whaling; and Direct relevant U.S. agencies to continue to examine other options for responding to continued whaling by Iceland. Further, the letter directs the relevant Departments and offices to report to the President on their actions within six months, unless Icelandic nationals resume fin whaling prior to that time, in which case immediately upon resumption of fin whaling by Icelandic nationals.


The United States has strongly and re- peatedly objected to Iceland’s commercial whaling. Under the Pelly Amendment to the U.S. Fishermen’s Protective Act of 1967, the Secretary of Commerce certifies to the Presi- dent that “nationals of a foreign country . . . are conducting fishing operations in a man- ner or under circumstances which diminish the effectiveness of an international fishery conservation program.”


In 2004, then-Commerce Secretary Donald Evans certified Iceland as a country that is undermining the effectiveness of the whaling convention and the IWC through its scientific whaling. In 2006, then-Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez kept Iceland certi- fied for its commercial whaling. Secretary Locke recommended that the President direct U.S. officials and agencies to undertake a number of actions in response to Iceland’s commercial whaling activities, and evaluate further potential responses to Iceland’s har- vest of whales outside of IWC control.


NOAA approves Rhode Island plan for offshore energy development, job creation and ocean stewardship


On July 22, 2011, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco joined Rhode Island Gover- nor Lincoln Chafee, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and other national and state leaders to recognize the pioneering Rhode Island Ocean Special Area Manage- ment Plan (Ocean SAMP). This new, innova- tive ocean management plan improves state review processes and policies to facilitate the development of offshore projects that could lead to the creation of hundreds of wind energy jobs and balance energy develop- ment with transportation, fishing, recreation and environmental stewardship along the state’s coast and adjacent federal waters. The Ocean SAMP area spans approxi- mately 1,467 square miles over portions of Block Island Sound, Rhode Island Sound, and the Atlantic Ocean. It was developed over the course of two years by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council with the assistance of the University of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Sea Grant program and Roger Williams University, along with significant input from many other


state, federal, tribal and local agencies, as well as other interested parties and the public. With NOAA’s approval of the state’s Ocean SAMP under the federal Coastal Zone Man- agement Act, Rhode Island becomes the first state to have incorporated a comprehensive ocean special area management plan in its coastal zone management program. This ap- proval means that enforceable policies in the Ocean SAMP for protecting existing activi- ties such as fishing, important habitats and archaeological resources, and identifying areas suitable for energy projects, may be applied to federal actions in federal waters.


NOAA approves catch limit increases and other measures to provide greater flexibility to the sustainable Atlantic sea scallop fishery


July 20, 2011


NOAA has approved a suite of manage- ment measures for the Atlantic sea scallop fishery, developed by the New England Fish- ery Management Council with input from the fishing industry, which will increase fishing opportunities for fishermen. Among the measures being put into place, as a result of effective science-based management, are in- creased catch limits for the remainder of this fishing year and in 2012.


“These increases are possible because the Atlantic sea scallop resource is healthy and the fishery is operating sustainability,” said Patricia Kurkul, regional administrator, Northeast Region, NOAA Fisheries Service. “In 2010, the fishery had a catch target of 47 million pounds. We were able to raise 2011 catch limits to 51 million pounds and increase them again in 2012 to 54 million pounds.” Other measures increase operating effi- ciencies and flexibility for some scallop ves- sels with an individual fishing quota by in- creasing trip limits, improving the current quota transfer program, and providing the ability to carryover some unused quota into the next fishing year. However, to reduce the risk of exceeding overall annual catch limits, NOAA disapproved one measure that would have allocated additional pounds of scallops to these vessels if the larger scallop fleet exceeded its annual allocation, but did not ultimately trigger its accountability measure. Another change makes the current area closures to protect fish habitat consistent between groundfish and scallop regulations, which allows an increase in fishing access for scallop vessels in two of the previously closed areas while protecting vulnerable sea- bed habitats from the adverse effects of fish- ing.


Also approved were several measures to enhance opportunities for scallop fishermen and scientists to work cooperatively and partner in research. NOAA is allowing a


slightly larger portion of the annual scallop catch to be sold to cover the cost of this research to gather more information on scal- lop biology and habitat. Scallop vessels in- volved in research will also be exempt from some fishing regulations. The grant process associated with this cooperative research effort is being streamlined to allow for multi- year awards for federally funded research projects.


In addition to ensuring scallop fisher- men are able to harvest their entire allocation of scallops, this action will provide needed protections for rebuilding yellowtail floun- der, a bottom dwelling species caught by fishermen along with scallops in some areas. Because scallop vessels catch yellowtail flounder when fishing for scallops, they re- ceive an annual allocation of yellowtail floun- der. If the yellowtail catch is exceeded, NOAA will close areas where high catches of yellowtail have historically occurred for a portion of the next fishing year.


Groundfish Dockside Monitoring Funds Redirected to Defray Sector Costs NOAA announced that it plans to redi- rect roughly $1 million in federal funding for its groundfish dockside monitoring program to help sectors defray some of their costs. In the groundfish fishery, individual vessels can form groups called sectors and each sector is allocated a share of the year’s allowable catch. Individual sectors then man- age their respective harvests as a group, according to an annual plan.


By providing funds directly to sectors, managers and members can determine how best to use the money to develop their re- spective operations. Sectors may use funds for approved operating costs such as sector manager salaries, office space rental and communications costs.


Effective September 19 until the end of the 2011 fishing year and for the entire 2012 fishing year, there will be no centralized NOAA funded dockside monitoring pro- gram. Any sector that chooses to continue dockside monitoring, after September 19, may do so on a voluntary basis at their own cost.


To ensure a smooth transition for sec- tors and dockside monitoring providers, NOAA will provide funding for a 50 percent coverage rate for sector vessels through September 18.


While NOAA has decided not to cen- trally fund dockside monitoring for sectors during the 2011 and 2012 fishing years, as it did in 2010, the requirement for the fishing industry (both common pool and sectors) to pay for dockside monitoring beginning in 2013 technically remains in place. The New England Fishery Management Council can


LOOKING FOR A FINE ROWING CRAFT?


13-foot peapod ERIC DOW BOAT SHOP


Builder of Traditional Small Craft. Repair and Restoration. P.O. Box 7, Brooklin, Maine (207) 359-2277


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32