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March 2013 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 25A. ASMFC 2013 WINTER MEETING SUMMARY Continued from Page 13.


EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 21 February


The Executive Committee met to


discuss a number ofi ssuesincludingthepro- cessfordevelopingthe2014-2018 Strategic Plan; the potential impact ofsequestration on Commission funding; and funding options to support digitizinghistorical Atlantic men- haden data. Thestrategic planning process will begin with a facilitated Commissioner workshop at the ASMFC Spring Meeting. Following this workshop the Commis- sion will hold a series of public meetings throughout the summer to seek stakeholder input on the fi rst draft of the Strategic Plan. For more information, please contact Laura Leach, Director of Financeand Administra- tion, at lleach@asmfc.orgor 703.842.0740.


SUMMER FLOUNDER, SCUP AND BLACK SEA BASS MANAGEMENT BOARD 21 February ASMFCSummerFlounder,Scupand- BlackSeaBassBoardApprovesBlack- SeaBassAddendumXXIII&Initiates- DraftAddendum on2013SummerFloun- derRecreationalHarvestLimit The Commission’s Summer Flounder,


Scup and Black Sea Bass Management Board approved AddendumXXIII to the Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Addendum allows for the use of regional measures to manage the 2013 black sea bass recreational fi shery. The FMP, adopted in the 1996, only allowed for the use of coast-wide measures. However, the appli- cation of coast-wide measures (minimum size, possession limit, and seasons) given the wide geographic range of this species and its varying size composition and availability by state/region has the potential to effect states in different ways. The Addendumseeks to address this issue by providing the states with the necessary management fl exibility to implement regional measures for the 2013 fi shery.


The states of Delaware to North Caroli- na (North ofHatteras), which predominantly fi sh in federal waters, have indicated their intention toadopt the identical measures proposedfor federal waters (12.5” minimum size limit and a season of May 19 - October 14 and November 1 - December 31) which remain unchanged from2012 with the ex- ception ofa bag limit reduction from25 to 20 fi sh. The northern states (Massachusetts to New Jersey) will be developingregional regulations to achieve a 32% reduction in harvest, with the intention of implementing consistentregulationsthroughoutthe region. The Board will meet by conference call to fi nalizethe northern state measures; infor- mation on the meeting will be posted to the Commission’s website (www.asmfc.org) under Meetings when it becomes available. (12.5” minimum size limit, 20 fi sh bag limit, and open season); this fi shery predominantly occurs in federal waters. In a related action, the Board increased the 2013 black sea bass acceptable biolog- ical catch (ABC) from4.5 million pounds to 5.5 million pounds, with a recreational harvest limit (RHL) of 2.26 million pounds and a commercial quota of 2.17 million pounds. This action was based inpart on recent past fi shery performance and a favor- able stock response in terms of maintaining or increasing abundance. Based on the 2012 stock assessment update, black sea bass is rebuilt and is not subject tooverfi shing; spawning stock is currently at 102% of the management program’s target. The action is consistent with that ofthe Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. This increase in ABC helped to alleviate the required re-


ductions in the recreational fi shery. The Board also initiated the devel-


opment of Draft Addendum XXIV to the Summer Flounder FMP. The Draft Adden- dumwill propose a mechanismto allow sta- tesaccess to RHL that is projected to not be harvested in 2013. For example, following the implementation of each state’s measures, recreational harvest will be projected. This projected harvest will be compared to the total RHL (2.5 million fi sh) to determine the amount of fi sh available to the statesto allow for the more equitable distribution offi shing opportunities in the 2013 summer fl ounder recreational fi shery while accounting for regional differences in fi sh size and avail- ability.


Finally, the Board adopted use of the


following measures by states in the northern region(Massachusetts – New York) for the 2013 scup recreational fi shery: a 45fi sh bag limit for the party and charter boat bonus season for one Wave (two monthperiod); a 10” minimumsize limit for all anglers; a9” minimum size limit for shore-based anglers atapproved designated sites in Massachu- setts, RhodeIsland and Connecticut; a 30 fi sh bag limit for allanglers outside of party and charter boat bonusseason. The season remains at May 1to December 31. For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, ISFMP Director, at tkerns@asmfc.orgor 703.842.0740. Motions: Move to approve the 2013 state summer flounderrecreational proposals approved by the Technical Committee. Motion made by Dr. Pierce and seconded by Mr. Gibson.


Motion


passes unanimously. Move to initiate a fast-track addendum to allowfor the use of any unused quota by other states, for 2013 only. Motion made by Mr. Gilmore and seconded by Mr. Nowalsky. Motion passes unanimously (11 in favor). Move to adopt the northern regionscup option, providing the 35.5% liberalization. Party and Charter Bonus Season – all NR states with a bag limit of 45 fi sh for a full Wave (61 days). 10” min size for all anglers, 9” min size for shore mode in MA, RI, & CT, All anglers outside of Party and CharterBonus Season have a 30 fi sh bag limit, and Season remains May 1-Dec 31. Motion made by Dr. Pierce and seconded by Mr. Gilmore. Motion passes unanimously. Move to reconsider the 2013 black sea bass quotaof 4.5 million pounds and increase to 5.5 million pounds (Recre- ational Harvest Limit of 2.26 mil lbs, and a commercial quota of 2.17 mil pounds) consistent with the MAFMC decision. Motion made by Dr. Pierce and seconded by Mr. Augustine. Motion passes (Roll Call Vote: In favor – MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA, NC, NMFS). Move to approve Addendum XXIII using option 4 - ad hoc regional measures – with the southern states to set their regulations consistent with federal regulations. Motion made by Mr. Nowalsky and seconded by Mr. Augus- tine. Motion passes(9infavor,2 abstentions). Move to approve the fi nal Addendum XXIII to the FMP with changes and cor- rected agreed to today. Motion made by Mr. Augustine and seconded by Mr. Adler. Motion passes unanimously (Roll Call Vote: In favor – MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA, NC, USFWS; Abstentions – NMFS).


SPINYDOGFISH&COAST- ALSHARKS MANAGEMENT BOARD 21 February


ASMFCApprovesSmoothDogfi sh- DraftAddendumforPublicComment The Commission’s Spiny Dogfish and Coastal Sharks Management Board approved Draft Addendum II to the Inter-


state Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks for public comment. The Draft Addendum proposes measures to establish state shares for smooth dogfi sh and allow commercial fi shermen to process smooth dogfi sh at sea with a 12% maximum fin-to-carcass ratio, consistent with the Shark Conservation Act of 2010. The purpose of the Addendum is to pre- serve the historical distribution of smooth dogfi sh landings prior to the implementation of a federal quota for smooth dogfi sh (also known as smooth hound) and to ensure consistency between the state and federal plans. The National Marine Fisheries Ser- vice(NMFS) Offi ce of Highly Migratory Species Division (HMS) is working to amend the HMS Fishery Management Plan to include measures from the Shark Con- servation Act. This rule will also include a federal smooth hound shark quota. It is anticipated that several states will be conducting public hearings on the Draft Addendum; information on those hear- ings will be released when it is fi nalized. Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The Draft Addendum will be available on the Commission website (wwww.asmfc. org) under Breaking News by February 26, 2013. Public comment will be accepted un- til 5:00 PM (EST) on March 28, 2013 and should be forwarded to Marin Hawk, Fish- ery Management Plan Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200A-N, Arlington, VA 22201;703.842.0741 (FAX)ormhawk@ asmfc.org


Meeting Summary The Coastal Sharks Management Board


met to reviewDraft AddendumII to the Coastal Sharks FMP for Public Comment. The document was approved for public com- ment with the removal of an option in Issue 3: Quota Rollover. The Board also reviewed state compliance, de minimis requests and the spiny dogfi sh and coastal sharks FMP review. Delaware,South Carolina, Georgia and Florida were approved for de minimis status in the spiny dogfi sh fi shery. The FMP Reviews for both spiny dogfi sh and coastal sharks were also approved.


The Board


discussed the possibility ofbreaking the northern region into a trimester management system, in which 60% of spiny dogfi sh is al- located to the fi rst trimester, (May 1 through August 31) and 20% is allocated to the last two trimesters. For more information, please contact Marin Hawk, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at mhawk@asmfc.orgor 703.842.0740. Motions: Move that the Board ap-


prove Draft Addendum II to the Inter- state Coastal Sharks Fishery Manage- ment Plan for public comment with the changes agreed to today. Motion made by Mr. Augustine and seconded byMr. Him- chak. Motion carries unanimously. Move to approve de minimis status for DE, SC, GA, and FL and accept the FMP Review for Spiny Dogfi sh. Motion made by Mr. Au- gustine and seconded by Mr. Adler. Motion carries unanimously. Move to approve the FMP Review for Coastal Sharks. Motion made by Mr. Augustine and seconded by Mr. Adler. Motion carries unanimously.


NORTHEASTAREAMONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM BOARD 21 February


The NEAMAP Board met to review activities ofthe NEAMAP Surveys and NEAMAP Committees. The Board received presentations highlighting 2012 accom- plishments of the NEAMAP Southern New


England/Mid-Atlantic Near shore Trawl Survey, Maine-New Hampshire Inshore Trawl Survey, and the Massachusetts DMF BottomTrawl Survey. The Board discussed developing guidance to incorporateother fi shery-independent data collection efforts as part of NEAMAP and tasked the NEA- MAP Analytical Committee with reviewing fi xed gear surveys. The Board received a report fromthe NEAMAP Data Manage- ment Committee who will be working on several goals this year including convening a workshop to compare and share onboard data collection strategies as well as devel- oping a single data portal on the NEAMAP. net site to present abundance indices.The NEAMAP Operations Committee made severalrecommendations such as initiating steps to quantify changes in relative catch- ability of NEAMAP surveys and identifying data gaps and surveys which may be able to fi ll those gaps.These recommendations were refl ected in the 2013 NEAMAP Operations Plan which was approved as modifi ed by the Board. Finally the Board discussed efforts to secure long termfunding for the NEA- MAP surveys. For more information, please contact Melissa Paine, Scientifi cCommittee Coordinator, at mpaine@asmfc.org.


BUSINESS SESSION 21 February ASMFCApprovesResolutiontoBan- theImport andUseofAsianHorseshoe- CrabsasBait


The Atlantic States Marine Commis- sion approved a resolution to ban the import and use of Asian horseshoe crab as bait in state water fi sheries along the Atlantic Coast. The resolution responds to a report by the International Union for the Conservation ofNature (IUCN) regarding the importation of Asian horseshoe crabs in 2011 and 2012 intoNew York State and their reported use as bait in eel and whelk fi sheries. Further, there are reports of emerging interest on the part of bait dealers from the Mid-Atlantic to import Asian horseshoe crabs forthe eel and whelk markets,and of the willingness of Asian fi shermen to provide this supply. Both the IUCN and Commission be-


lieve the importation of Asian native horse- shoe crabs pose a signifi cant threat to the welfare andsurvival of the wildlife resources of the United States, even if theimported horseshoe crabs are not alive when they are placed into the marine environment due to the introduction of parasites, pathogensand non-native species into American waters. Following is the full resolution:


Resolution13-01


Resolution to Ban the Import and Use of Asian Horseshoe Crabs as Bait Whereas, the Atlantic States Marine


Fisheries Commission (Commission) is comprised of representatives of the fi fteen Atlantic coastal states and is charged with management of fi sheries resources, marine, shell, and anadromous; and Whereas, one of those fi sheries re-


sourcesis the Atlantic horseshoe crab (Lim- ulus polyphemus) which is managed forits ecological services, use asbait, and in the biomedical industry; and


Whereas, horseshoe crabs are used as-


bait in fi sheries for American eel andwhelk fi sheries; and


Whereas, bait shortages motivated sea- food dealers in the State ofNew York to im- port 2,000 non-native Asian horseshoe crabs in 2011, and 7,400 kilograms ofnon-native Asian horseshoe crabs in 2012 for use as bait in state waters; and


Whereas, three species of Asian horseshoe crabs (Tachypleusgigas, Carci-


Continued on Page 26A


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