Page 12. MAINE COASTAL NEWS June 2012
NOAA to Hold Public Scoping Meetings on Atlantic Bluefin Tuna; Requests Comments through July 15 NOAA Fisheries will hold public scoping meetings to determine the scope and significance of issues to be analyzed in a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on management measures for Atlantic bluefin tuna and a potential proposed amendment to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan based on that process. The public process will help NOAA Fisheries determine if existing mea- sures are the best means of achieving certain management objectives for Atlantic bluefin tuna and providing flexibility for future man- agement, consistent with the management plan, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Atlan- tic Tunas Convention Act, and other relevant Federal laws. Click here for a schedule of scoping meetings.
NOAA Fisheries is also announcing the availability of a scoping document describ- ing measures for potential inclusion in a pro- posed Amendment. NOAA Fisheries is re- questing comments on this notice, and the management of bluefin tuna, including, but not limited to, those described in the scoping document. Comments must be received by July 15, 2012.
Thirteen Cooperative Research Projects to be Funded through Atlantic Sea Scallop Research-Set Aside Program NOAA announces the selection of 13 new cooperative research projects between fishermen and scientists. This marks the 14th anniversary of a unique program, which was initiated by the scallop fishing industry. In 1998, the scallop industry opted to set
Commercial Fishing News MISCELLANEOUS COMMERCIAL FISHING NEWS
aside a portion of their total annual scallop catch in order to promote greater industry involvement in scientific research. Now, each year when the New England Fishery Man- agement Council sets the annual catch limits for the fishing industry, a portion is reserved for cooperative research projects. “In establishing this program, the scal- lop industry has shown a lot of initiative and sacrifice because rather than just taking this catch each year and fishing it, they are en- abling a subset of the industry to participate in research that benefits the entire group,” said John Hoey, “Cooperative research is really a win-win for everyone, NOAA and the Council provide a platform for fishermen and researchers to share their experience, knowl- edge and technical expertise - to learn form each other and work together to further en- hance our understanding of local resources.” The 2012 projects include research to survey the scallop resource, better under- stand and reduce unintended catch of yel- lowtail flounder, skates and sea turtles in the commercial scallop fishery, improve vessel fuel efficiency, and minimize effects on habi- tat. This year’s research set-aside is approxi- mately three percent of the total allowable scallop catch.
Approximately 60 vessels will partici- pate in the program this year, and share in the sale proceeds of an estimated 1.2 million pounds of scallops in 2012, worth an esti- mated $12 million.
The scallop fishery is at the forefront of developing research set-aside programs, which are unique to federal fisheries in the northeast. Cooperative research programs are also in place for other fisheries including Atlantic herring, monkfish, Atlantic mack-
erel, black sea bass, bluefish, butterfish, Illex squid, Loligo squid, scup, summer flounder, and tilefish fisheries. This cooperative re- search is done in part to support NOAA’s scientific stock assessments.
NOAA’s Northeast Cooperative Re- search Program manages these activities with funding provided by the sale of set- aside allocations. These allocations are de- termined by either the New England or Mid- Atlantic fishery management council, de- pending on the fishery.
“I am glad awards have been made,” said Bill Wells, a boat owner and fishery scallop advisor for the New England Fishery Man- agement Council. “A significant part of the success of this fishery has been the coopera- tion between the industry and the scientific community to identify what we need to learn, to craft the outline for the research, and to verify that the research has accomplished its objectives.”
Cooperative research projects are se- lected through a competitive grants process, with priorities established by the councils and input from scientists and fishermen. From 2000 through 2011, 119 research projects were supported by approximately $67.7 million in research-set aside alloca- tions. Vessel owners who took part in the cooperative research received an estimated $47 million for their work.
“It’s important that government agen- cies support partnerships between scientists and fishermen,” said Ron Smolowitz, owner and operator of Coonamesset Farm, a 20-acre farming and research operation on Cape Cod, who has received research grants this year to work with fishermen to study fishery effects on loggerhead sea turtles, real time bycatch reporting and ways to reduce bycatch. “It is through these efforts that we improve the quality of the science and ensure greater support from the fishing industry for the management decisions based on that sci- ence.”
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For more on research-set aside programs or other cooperative research efforts, please visit
http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/ coopresearch/
Annual NOAA Report Shows Record Number of Rebuilt Fisheries A record six fish populations were re- built to healthy levels in 2011, bringing the number of rebuilt U.S. marine fish popula- tions in the last 11 years to 27, according to a report to Congress out today from NOAA Fisheries. This report documents historic progress toward ending overfishing and re- building our nation’s fisheries, due to the commitment of fishermen, fishing communi- ties, non-governmental organizations, scien- tists, and managers.
NOAA’s Status of U.S. Fisheries report declares Bering Sea snow crab, Atlantic coast summer flounder, Gulf of Maine had- dock, northern California coast Chinook salmon, Washington coast coho salmon, and Pacific coast widow rockfish fully rebuilt to healthy levels.
Two indicators of stock health increased slightly over 2011: 86 percent of the popula- tions examined for fishing activity (222 of 258) were not subject to overfishing, or not fished at too high a level, compared to 84 percent in 2011; 79 percent of assessed populations (174 of 219) are not overfished, or were above levels that require a rebuilding plan, com- pared to 77 percent in 2011.
These data continue a long-term trend in rebuilding U.S. fisheries to sustainable and more productive levels that NOAA began tracking in 2000.
NOAA Seeks Comments on Potential Adjustments to the National Standard 1 Guidelines of the Magnuson-Stevens Act; Comments due August 1
NOAA Fisheries has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to provide background information and request public comment on potential adjustments to the National Standard 1 Guidelines, one of 10 national standards for fishery conservation and management contained in Section 301 of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conserva- tion and Management Act. Since the guide- lines were last updated in 2009, a number of issues regarding the application of the guide- lines were identified by stakeholders and managers that may warrant their revision. This action provides the public with a formal opportunity to comment on the specific ideas mentioned in this advance notice, as well as any additional ideas and solutions that could improve provisions of the National Standard 1 Guidelines. Written comments regarding these issues must be received by August 1, 2012.
NOAA Fisheries Service announces steps that may assist fishing industry facing Georges Bank yellowtail flounder quota reductions
NOAA will take several steps that may LOOKING FOR A FINE ROWING CRAFT?
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