Page 12. MAINE COASTAL NEWS May 2015


Atlantic Herring Section (Section) members from the states of Maine, New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Mas- sachusetts will meet at 10:00 a.m. on April 30, 2015, to discuss “days out” measures for the 2015 Area 1A fi shing season from June 1 to September 30. This meeting will take place at the New Hampshire Urban Forestry Center at 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801.


The 2015 Area 1A sub-annual catch limit is 30,290 metric tons (mt) after ad- justing for the 2013 carryover, 3% Herring Research Set-Aside awarded in 2015, and 295 mt fi xed gear fi shery set-aside. The Section set the seasonal split as 72.8% allo- cated from June 1 – September 30 and 27.2% allocated from October 1 – December 31. Fishermen are prohibited from landing more than 2,000 pounds of Atlantic herring harvested from Area 1A until June 1, 2015. Please contact Melissa Yuen, Fish- ery Management Plan Coordinator, at 703.842.0740 or myuen@asmfc.org for more information.


U.S. fi sheries continue to rebuild;


overfi shing and overfi shed numbers at all-time lows


The number of domestic fi sh stocks listed as overfi shed or subject to overfi shing has dropped to an all-time low since 1997, when NOAA began tracking stock status, accord- ing to the 2014 Status of U.S. Fisheries report to Congress.


The report, produced annually since 1997, highlights the United States’ continued progress towards sustainably managing fi sh stocks. This progress is a result of the combined efforts of NOAA Fisheries, the regional fi shery management councils, the


Commercial Fishing News MISCELLANEOUS COMMERCIAL FISHING NEWS


fi shing industry, and other partners. Six stocks--snowy grouper on the southern Atlantic coast; North Atlantic albacore; haddock in the Gulf of Maine; gag grouper in the South Atlantic; the Jacks complex in the Gulf of Mexico; and, Bluefi n tuna in the western Atlantic--were removed from the overfi shing list. Two stocks were no longer listed as overfi shed--gag grouper in the Gulf of Mexico, and North Atlantic albacore, which was removed from both lists. Butterfi sh from Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras was rebuilt in 2014. (Credit: NOAA.)


A stock is on the overfi shing list when the annual catch rate is too high. A stock is on the overfi shed list when the population size of a stock is too low, whether because of fi shing or other causes.


“This report illustrates that the science-based management process under the Magnu- son-Stevens Act is working to end overfi sh- ing and rebuild stocks,” said Eileen Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for fi sheries. “While we have made tremendous progress, we know there’s more work to be done -- especially as we continue to document changes to our world’s oceans and eco- systems. We will continue to strive toward sustainable management of our nation’s fi sheries in order to preserve our oceans for future generations.” The report also fi nds that three more fi sh stocks: Gulf of Maine/Cape Hatteras but- terfi sh; Gulf of Mexico gag grouper; and, Mid-Atlantic Coast golden tilefi sh were rebuilt to target levels in 2014, bringing the total number of rebuilt U.S. marine fi sh stocks to 37 since 2000.


“Our agency wants to let consumers know that the United States’ global leadership in


responsible fi sheries and sustainable sea- food is paying off,” Sobeck said. “We are moving forward more than ever with efforts to replicate and export stewardship practices internationally. As a result of the combined efforts of NOAA Fisheries, the regional fi shery management councils, and all of our partners, the number of stocks listed as sub- ject to overfi shing or overfi shed continues to decline and is at an all-time low.” To read the full 2014 Status of U.S. Fisheries report, fi nd fi sh stock status information, and learn more about U.S. fi sheries man- agement, go to the NOAA Fisheries website.


Atlantic Salmon Federation Welcomes New Biologist and Program Director for New Brunswick


ST. ANDREWS, NB — The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) is pleased to welcome Nathan Wilbur of Fredericton and Jason Daniels of St. Andrews as new staff members. Nathan joins ASF as the Program Director for New Brunswick and Jason as a biologist with the Research and Environ- ment Department.


“I am so pleased to have both Nathan and Jason join the ASF team,” said Bill Taylor, President of ASF. “They both grew up alongside New Brunswick salmon rivers and have a true understanding and appreci- ation for our conservation and restoration work on behalf of wild Atlantic salmon.” Nathan Wilbur replaces Geoff Giffi n who was promoted to Director of Regional Pro- grams in 2014. Nathan’s new role is to en- gage with ASF’s salmon conservation part- ners, government and other organizations in New Brunswick that share ASF’s concern for the health of wild Atlantic salmon and their environment.


Jason Daniels joins a team of fi ve biol- ogists to conduct research and monitoring projects, liaise with watershed stakeholders and assist with building partnerships to ac- complish research goals and environmental interventions.


“These are crucial times for the resto-


ration of wild Atlantic salmon,” said Mr. Taylor. “Nathan and Jason will put their education and experience to work to meet the challenges of restoring wild Atlantic salmon.”


Nathan Wilbur has a Forest Engineering Degree from the University of New Bruns- wick, as well as a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering focused on cold water habitat for Atlantic salmon and brook trout on the Miramichi River system. Nathan grew up in Hampton, New Brunswick on the banks of the Kennebecasis River. An avid angler in New Brunswick since childhood, Nathan is also a traveler and spent a year in northern Sweden where he fi shed for Atlantic salmon in the Baltic rivers. After a trip to New Zea- land, he embarked on a career focusing on river restoration and Atlantic salmon which has led to his position as the Director of New Brunswick Programs for ASF.


Jason Daniels is currently completing 120


his Master’s Degree in Biology through the University of New Brunswick in Saint John. Most recently he worked with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Originally from Quispam- sis, Jason grew up on the Hammond River. He is an avid sea kayaker and spends a great deal of time outdoors.


CANADA


A new Wave of Scientifi c Transatlantic Cooperation


Brussels, 16 April 2015 The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney T.D. joined with Carlos Moedas, European Commis- sioner for Research, Science and Innova- tion, and Karmenu Vella, Commissioner


for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in Brussels, along with Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea, to announce the fi rst trans-Atlantic mapping survey to take place under the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance. The Irish research vessel, RV Celtic Ex- plorer will undertake a mapping expedition between St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada and Galway in Ireland in June of this year, as scientists from the Marine Institute, Ireland will be joined by a multi-national team made up of USA, Canadian and European ocean mapping experts. This is an important step following the agreement reached at Galway in May 2013 and is an example of scientifi c diplomacy in action.


Speaking from Brussels, Minister Cov- eney said “Information from the sea-fl oor is vital to the sustainable management of the Atlantic as well as to important industries such as fi sheries, aquaculture and tourism. Ireland has developed a world-leading rep- utation for sea-bed mapping and is also very committed to the implementation of the Gal- way Statement and so I am delighted to put at the disposal of the team, Ireland’ state-of the art research vessel-RV Celtic Explorer.” The announcement was made at the European Commission hosted event, “The Atlantic-Our Shared resource. Making the Vision Reality, which was a follow up to the May 2013 signing of the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Research Co- operation between the EU, Canada and the United States of America.


This event is the launch pad for all the Galway Statement follow-up projects fund- ed with the fi rst Horizon 2020 Blue Growth calls - the main fi nancial instrument on the EU side implementing the Galway State- ment commitments. With a view to translating commitments into investments, the European Commission has earmarked around € 70 million in calls under Horizon 2020, the EU Research and Innovation Programme for the period 2014- 2015.


The Galway Statement – The Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance In May 2013, an Atlantic Ocean


Research Alliance between Canada, the European Union and the United States of America was launched in Galway, Ireland, with the high level signature of the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation. The goals are to join forces to better understand the North Atlantic Ocean and to promote the sustainable management of its resources. Together we can build a capacity to understand and predict major Atlantic and Arctic processes, as well as the changes and risks they carry in relation to human activi- ties and climate change.


The Galway Statement contributes to the implementation of the EU’s Atlantic Strategy and its related Atlantic Action Plan. The Action Plan considers responses to the challenges of delivering growth, re- ducing the carbon footprint, using the sea’s natural resources sustainably, responding effectively to threats and emergencies and implementing an “ecosystem” management approach in Atlantic waters.


The lead on the side of the Commission for the Ocean Research Alliance lies with DG RTD – the Directorate-General for Re- search and Innovation, in close coordination with DG MARE -the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, which leads on the overall Atlantic Strategy. Areas identifi ed for cooperation under the agreement include: Ocean Stressors (e.g. ocean acidifi cation); Aquaculture; In- teroperability and coordination of observing systems and infrastructures, including ves- sels; Seabed and benthic habitat mapping;


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