Page 20. MAINE COASTAL NEWS June 2014 MISCELLANEOUS COMMERCIAL FISHING NEWS Continued from Page 13.
habitats are highly productive because of their shallow depth, seasonally warm water temperatures, and proximity to the land and the nutrients that are derived from river runoff. They serve as nursery grounds for juvenile fi sh which, in turn, provide food for larger fi sh. Many fi sh and invertebrate spe- cies also mature and reproduce in shallow coastal waters. However since they are close to the coast, shallow-water habitats are also vulnerable to habitat degradation and loss resulting from a variety of human activities. In an effort to evaluate the importance of various types of shallow-water habitats in the Gulf of Maine, the Habitat Conserva- tion Division of NOAA’s Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Offi ce has recently com- pleted a report. The report summarizes what is known about the functional value (for sur- vival, growth to maturity, and reproduction) of eight different types of habitat for sixteen fi sh and invertebrate species.
The species that were selected included some federally-managed species, some spe- cies that are managed by the states, and some non-managed species that are important members of the inshore marine ecosystem. Habitat use was assessed for the various life stages of each species in the following ben- thic (bottom) habitats: mud, sand, gravel/ cobble, boulder, eelgrass, macroalgae, salt marsh channels, and shell beds.
Habitat use scores (1 = present, 2 = common) were assigned to each benthic life stage known to occur in depths less than 10 meters and then summarized for all species in each habitat type. The evaluation was based on a review of approximately 125 publications in scientifi c journals. In cases where information was lacking, scores
were based on best professional judgment. Detailed summaries for each species are presented in an appendix to the report. The results support the fact that shallow water habitats in the Gulf of Maine provide valuable ecological benefi ts for a variety of commercially-important species. The top ranking habitats – those where species were either “common” or “present,” were: 1) sand and gravel/cobble; 2) mud, eel- grass and macroalgae; 3) boulders and salt marsh channels; and 4) shell (mussel) beds. However, for species and life stages that were considered to be common, vegetated (eelgrass and macroalgae growing on rocky substrates), sand, and gravel habitats ranked higher than the other four types. Some species, like cod and lobsters, move into deeper water as they get older, while others like mussels, clams, window- pane and smooth fl ounders, and cunner are restricted to shallow water for their entire lives. Species like winter fl ounder, smooth fl ounder, sand lance, clams, cunner, mus- sels, and clams spawn in shallow water.
New England States Schedule Public Hearings on the Public Information Document for Atlantic Herring Draft Amendment 3 The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission’s Atlantic Herring Section is seeking comments on the Public Informa- tion Document (PID) for Draft Amendment 3 to the Interstate Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The New En- gland states of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on the PID; the dates, times, and locations of those hearings follow.
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Maine Department of Marine Resources June 5, 2014; 11:00 AM Rockland Terminal 517 Main Street Rockland, Maine Contact: Terry Stockwell at 207.624.6553
New Hampshire Fish and Game June 23, 2014; 7:00 PM Urban Forestry Center 45 Elwyn Road
Portsmouth, New Hampshire Contact: Doug Grout at 603.868.1095 NH will also conduct a public hearing
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Massachusetts Division of Marine Fish- eries
June 4, 2014; 5:00 PM MA DMF Annisquam River Station 30 Emerson Avenue Gloucester, Massachusetts Contact: David Pierce at 617.626.1532
The PID presents four issues the Com- mission is seeking public input on to inform the development of management measures for the Atlantic herring fi shery. The issues focus on (1) spawning area boundaries and closures in Area 1A, (2) a fi xed gear set-aside rollover provision, (3) declaration of fi shing gear prior to the beginning of a quota period in order to provide fi shery managers a more accurate estimate of effort to inform harvest control measures, and (4) requirement for a vessel’s hold to be emptied of fi sh before a fi shing trip departure in order to allow for full accounting of catch and to discourage dumping of unsold fi sh.
Atlantic Herring Management Area 1B Closure Effective 0001 Hours May 24, 2014
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The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) projected the Atlantic herring fi sh- ery has exceeded 92% of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) allocated to Management Area 1B (offshore Gulf of Maine) for the 2014 fi shing year (January-December). The di- rected fi shery will close effective 0001 hours on May 24 through 0001 hours on May 1, 2015. Federal and state plans have set multi- year specifi cations (2013-2015) for Area 1B with the season of May 1 through December 31 for each fi shing year. During the closure, vessels issued federal permits for Atlantic herring may not retain or land more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring from Area 1B per trip or calendar day. Vessels that have entered port before 0001 hours on May 24, 2014, may offl oad and sell, from that trip, more than 2,000 pounds of herring from Area 1B after the closure. During the directed fi shery closure, ves- sels may transit through Area 1B with more
than 2,000 pounds of herring on board, pro- vided the vessel did not catch those herring in Area 1B and stows all fi shing gear aboard, making it unavailable for immediate use. States are reminded that in accordance
with Amendment 2 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Herring, once a closure has been announced by the Regional Administrator of NMFS, states must prohibit the landing of herring from a closed area and prohibit directed fi shing for Atlantic herring in state waters of a closed area. During a closure, vessels participating in other fi sheries may retain and land an in- cidental catch of herring from a closed area that does not exceed 2,000 pounds per trip. If you have any questions please con-
tact Melissa Yuen at
myuen@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740. The PID is the fi rst step in the Commis-
sion’s amendment process. It is intended to gather information concerning the Atlantic herring fi shery and provide an opportunity for the public to identify and comment on major issues relative to the management of these species. A tentative schedule for the completion of Amendment 3 is included in the PID.
Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the PID for Draft Amendment 3 either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. The PID is available at http://
www.asmfc.org/fi les/AtlHerring/AtlHer- ringPID_Am3_2014.pdf or by contacting the Commission at 703.842.0740. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on July 10, 2014 and should be for- warded to Melissa Yuen, FMP Coordinator, at 1050 N. Highland St., Suite 200 A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703.842.0741 (FAX) (Subject line: Atlantic Herring PID).
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) projected the Atlantic herring fi sh- ery has exceeded 92% of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) allocated to Management Area 1B (offshore Gulf of Maine) for the 2014 fi shing year (January-December). The di- rected fi shery will close effective 0001 hours on May 24 through 0001 hours on May 1, 2015. Federal and state plans have set multi- year specifi cations (2013-2015) for Area 1B with the season of May 1 through December 31 for each fi shing year. During the closure, vessels issued federal permits for Atlantic herring may not retain or land more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring from Area 1B per trip or calendar day. Vessels that have entered port before 0001 hours on May 24, 2014, may offl oad and sell, from that trip, more than 2,000 pounds of herring from Area 1B after the closure. During the directed fi shery closure, ves-
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