September 2012 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 13. Commercial Fishing News
from 1,000 lb). Will these potential changes happen
MISCELLANEOUS COMMERCIAL FISHING NEWS
before September 1, 2012, so that the Trimester 3 longfi n squid fi shery can open as scheduled? We have worked closely with the Council to develop these regulatory changes and we are making every effort to ensure our review is complete and we make a fi nal decision by September 1. However, if we do not approve Framework 6, or we cannot implement both of these rule changes by September 1, 2012, the longfi n squid fi shery will not open on September 1, 2012, for Trimester 3. If Framework 6 is approved, and the fi nal butterfi sh specifi cations are im- plemented before the end of the fi shing year, we would re-open the longfi n squid fi shery for Trimester 3 as soon as the rulemakings are effective.
Review of the Butterfi sh Mortality Cap Methodology: Is NMFS reviewing the way it estimates butterfi sh bycatch in the longfi n squid fi shery? Yes, we have reviewed whether the estimate of butterfi sh catch relative to the longfi n squid fi shery’s butterfi sh mortality cap to determine if it ad- equately captures the behavior of the longfi n squid fl eet. Are you going to account for different
catch rates in Trimester 2? If not, why? While we do see a change in the catch rate during different times of the 2012 fi shing year, we have more work to do in order to determine what the cause is, and whether it supports a change in the way we estimate butterfi sh bycatch. Any changes to the way we estimate butterfi sh bycatch in the longfi n squid fi shery must be appropriate to account for changes in where and how much butter- fi sh are found from year to year. In addition, any changes to the way we estimate bycatch must be consistent with the way we estimate bycatch in other Northeast fi sheries. Are you going to change the way you estimate butterfi sh bycatch for this
fi shing year? While we will continue to look into whether we can support changes to the way we estimate butterfi sh bycatch in the longfi n squid fi shery, we will not put changes in place before the start of the 2013 fi shing year, on January 1, 2013. However, we expect that if we increase the butterfi sh catch limits and butterfi sh mortality cap as described above, the current bycatch esti- mate method should allow the longfi n squid fi shery to remain open for the majority, if not all, of Trimester 3.
Whom can I call for more informa-
tion? We are aware that this information is confusing and apologize that the situation remains uncertain. Please call the Sustain- able Fisheries Division of NMFS at 978- 281-9315 for more information and ask to speak with someone who works on the longfi n squid fi shery.
2012 Northeast Vessel Cost Survey is in the Mail
The fi rst of three new or redesigned surveys designed to collect vital informa- tion on the operational costs and culture of commercial fi shing launches Friday August 10, when an annual vessel cost survey will hit the mail. Tammy Murphy of NOAA’s Social Sciences Branch at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center is the point person on the multi-year effort. “Telling us more about your situation will be voluntary and your responses are confi dential,” says Murphy, an economist. “Collecting this information is absolutely essential to showing how fi sh- eries, fi shermen, and fi shing communities are faring as management and fi shery stock conditions change.”
The annual vessel cost survey, last conducted in 2009, has been signifi cantly re- designed with the help of fi shermen. About 1700 vessel owners will receive a 2012 survey. Although that’s not every owner, the
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pool covers all the fi sheries, gear types, and vessel sizes in the Northeast, to capture how these costs may vary.
Collected over time, these economic data will be used to evaluate proposed changes to fi shery management plans, pro- vide a more complete picture of economic impacts from regulatory actions in the fi sh- eries.
Vessel owners can return the survey by postage paid envelope, or complete it online. The surveys are also available in Portuguese or Spanish. Survey responses are confi den- tial data, just like vessel trip, observer, and dealer reports.
The second survey effort will start this fall using two different approaches: for vessel owners and one for crew members. “We have limited information from vessel owners and really none from crew mem- bers on how fi shery regulations affect their everyday lives as individuals, as well as the lives of their family and communities,” says Murphy, “This effort is intended to start fi lling in those gaps.”
In early fall 2012, about 800 permit holders will get the owner’s survey, which will be sent by mail. It will be available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and may be returned by postage paid envelope or
fi lled out online. The crew survey will be conducted face-to-face on the docks in fi f- teen ports in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, with about 1300 willing participants. It will continue for a year, to capture seasonality and port diversity.
Much of the data collection is new, so Murphy is aiming for a high return rate. “The more responses we get, the more accurate our results can be. We want to capture dif- ferences across regions, fi sheries, gear types and vessel sizes, and that means we need to hear from every fi sherman that is asked to participate in these survey efforts” she said.
Underwater Noise Decreases Whale Com- munications in Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary According to a NOAA-led paper pub- lished today in the journal Conservation Biology, high levels of background noise, mainly due to ships, have reduced the ability of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales to communicate with each other by about two-thirds.
From 2007 until 2010, scientists from Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanc- tuary, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Cen-
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