Page 12. MAINE COASTAL NEWS July 2017 Commercial Fishing News
Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Man- agement Area to be Surveyed this Sum- mer through Scallop RSA Program At the request of the New England Fish-
M C F N
ery Management Council, NOAA Fisheries intends to take action to facilitate survey work this summer in the southern portion of the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area. The additional coverage will occur through the Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program. The agency is working to amend two previously approved RSA awards for 2017 scallop sur- veys on Georges Bank so that both surveys can be expanded to include coverage in the Gulf of Maine as follows. Coonamessett Farm Foundation will
receive an additional 12,000 pounds of scal- lop RSA allocation to: (1) survey portions of Stellwagen Bank and Jeff reys Ledge with HabCam, a habitat mapping camera system; and (2) conduct complimentary scallop dredge surveys to collect biological sam- ples. And, The School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will receive an additional 1,734 pounds of scallops to con- duct a high-resolution drop-camera survey of a portion of Stellwagen Bank. During its mid-April meeting, the
Council voted to send a letter to the North- east Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) asking the center to explore options for including the southern portion of the NGOM area in upcoming 2017 scallop surveys. A 2016 survey conducted by the Maine Department of Marine Resources and the University of Maine indicated that biomass in the NGOM had increased substantially since the last time the area was surveyed in 2012, but no additional survey work was scheduled for 2017. Fishing eff ort increased signifi cantly
in 2016 and 2017 in the area, especially off Cape Ann and the northeastern portion of Stellwagen Bank. Consequently, the Coun- cil determined it needed the most updated biomass estimates possible to help inform the management of the NGOM going for- ward. “We appreciate the science center’s
quick response to our request for additional survey work,” said New England Council Executive Director Tom Nies. “We’re es- pecially pleased the center was able to use the Scallop Research Set-Aside Program to make this possible.” Biomass estimates from this addi-
tional survey work will be provided to the New England Council and its Scallop Plan Development Team (PDT) to support po- tential management actions in Framework Adjustment 29 to the federal Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. The PDT and the Council’s Scallop Committee
and Scallop Advisory Panel will be working on Framework 29 throughout the summer and fall to develop specifi cations for the 2018 scallop fi shing year, default specifi ca- tions for 2019, and other actions, including proposals to address Northern Gulf of Maine Management Area issues. The Council is scheduled to take fi nal action on the frame- work in December. Back in March, the Council and NEFSC
jointly announced the 17 projects that were selected to receive awards through the 2017- 2018 Scallop RSA Program. These projects addressed the Council’s identifi ed 2017 and 2018 research needs. Coonamessett Farm Foundation and SMAST were among the initial award recipients, which is why NEFSC is able to amend their awards to include NGOM survey work. Research set-aside programs are indus-
try-funded and unique to the Greater Atlantic Region. In addition to scallops, RSA pro- grams are in place for Atlantic herring and monkfi sh. No federal money is provided to conduct RSA research. Instead, the sale of product harvested through RSA awards funds the research. For more information about the amend-
ed or initial 2017-2018 Scallop RSA Pro- gram awards, contact any of the following: Ryan Silva,
ryan.silva@
noaa.gov, (978) 281-9326; Cheryl Corbett,
cheryl.corbett@
noaa.gov, (508) 495-2070; and Jonathon Peros,
jperos@nefmc.org, (978) 465-0492, ext. 117
Comments sought on proposals for Atlantic geophysical survey interaction with marine mammals
NOAA Fisheries is seeking public
comment on proposals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act that would allow companies that are proposing to conduct geophysical surveys in the Atlantic Ocean using seismic air guns to incidentally, but not intentionally, harass marine mammals. The agency is proposing to issue
authorizations that prescribe monitoring, reporting, and mitigation measures to min- imize the impacts of the surveys to marine mammals. NOAA Fisheries reviewed fi ve sep-
arate requests from companies proposing to conduct geophysical surveys using seismic air gun arrays in the Atlantic Ocean. The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management recently resumed its permitting process for geophysical surveys in the Atlantic Ocean under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and as a result NOAA Fisheries is now moving forward with the related proposed incidental harassment authorizations. The proposed authorizations stipulate that any survey operation use mitigation
and monitoring measures in order to mini- mize harm to marine mammals, including: Observers on board seismic survey vessels to listen and watch for marine life and alert operators if a protected species comes within a certain distance. Operational restrictions designed to eliminate or reduce impacts to sensitive species in their preferred habitats. Acoustic monitoring to detect marine mam- mal vocalizations beneath the ocean surface. Gradual increases of seismic activity to alert animals in the area and reduce potential for exposure to intense noise. Required shutdowns when certain sensitive species or groups of animals are observed. Survey vessel strike avoidance procedures. The agency is accepting public com-
ments for 30 days on the proposed authori- zations until July 6. Continuing this process is consistent
with the goals of Presidential Executive Or- der 13795, Implementing an America-First Off shore Energy Strategy, which encourag- es energy exploration and production that fosters energy security and resilience for Americans, while ensuring those activities are safe and environmentally responsible.
MAINE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES NEWS Maine DMR Issues Shellfi sh Safety Reminder
As the summer tourist season begins,
the Maine Department of Marine Resources would like to remind residents and visitors of a red tide closure along the southern section of the coast.
Harvesting of mussels and European
oysters is currently prohibited from the Maine/New Hampshire border to Pemaquid Point, including all of the off shore islands. Harvesting all species of clams is pro-
hibited from the Spurwink River to the New Meadows River. DMR reminds recreational and com-
mercial harvesters to abide by biotoxin closures.
Clams and mussels should only be har-
vested from open areas or purchased from certifi ed shellfi sh dealers. Consumers should never soak clams or
mussels off a dock or a boat. The DMR Bureau of Public Health tests
clams and mussels continually and monitors the toxicity to ensure public health and safe- ty.
Marine Patrol and local shellfi sh war-
dens are actively enforcing the closures. If you are unsure whether an area is open or not, please contact a local Marine Patrol Of- fi cer or the local municipal shellfi sh warden.
New Marine Patrol Offi cers Assigned to Downeast and Southern Maine Patrols Two new Offi cers have recently joined the ranks of the Maine Marine Patrol. Taylor Shewokis, from Weymouth, Massachusetts, has been assigned to the
Biddeford/Saco area as a Seasonal Marine Patrol Offi cer for the summer. He will be patrolling the Saco River conducting recre- ational boating and fi shing checks. A recent graduate of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s Law Enforcement Pre-Service Course, he has also completed an intern- ship with the Massachusetts Environmental Police. Offi cer Shewokis is a senior at the University of New England majoring in Environmental Studies. Jonathan Varnum, from Oakland,
Maine will serve in the Gouldsboro area after completing Marine Patrol’s nine-week Full Time Offi cer Training Program and the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s 18 week Basic Law Enforcement Training Program. A graduate of Beal College’s Conservation Law program, and the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s Law Enforcement Pre-Service Course, Offi cer Varnum is an experienced outdoorsman, having worked for guide services in central and northern Maine.
CANADA FISHING NEWS
Minister LeBlanc heads delegation to UN Ocean Conference in New York to promote sustainable fi sheries and marine conservation
NEW YORK - Eff ective conservation of our oceans contributes to a healthy environ- ment and a sustainable economy for future generations. Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisher- ies, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, is leading a Canadian delegation to the fi rst ever UN Ocean Conference. Canada will be reiterating its commitment to the sustainable harvest of our fi sheries and highlighting the leadership role Canada is taking internation- ally on policies related to marine conserva- tion targets. The Minister will underscore Canada’s commitment to protecting 5% of our marine and coastal areas by the end of 2017 as a clear indicator of progress towards our ultimate goal of increasing the amount of protected marine areas to 10% by 2020. The overarching theme of this UN
Conference is “Our oceans, our future: part- nering for the implementation of Sustain- able Development Goal 14”. Sustainable Development Goal 14 contains all targets and indicators to conserve and sustainably use our oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Canada will also co-chair a partnership dialogue session on making fi sheries sustainable and will dis- cuss the role fi sheries can play in achieving marine conservation targets.
Minister LeBlanc will be joined by the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, Ambassador Marc-André Blanchard, as well as federal Members of Parliament, Canadian representatives from a National Indigenous organization, an envi- ronmental non-governmental organization and the fi shing industry.
JURISDICTION POUNDS REPORTED OVERALL QUOTA REMAINING QUOTA DMR
2017 Maine Elver Season Update as of 6 p.m., June 7, 2017 7,315.855
120 7530 Olympic View Dr. Unit 105, Edmonds, WA 98026 · (425) 774-7595
MALISEET MICMAC
85.639 Confi dential 1,261.628
PENOBSCOT 618.917 QUOTA TOTAL* 9,282.039
7,566.3 106.6 38.8
1,284.3 620
9,616
250.45 20.96 38.8
PASSAMAQUODDY - NOTE: Passamaquoddy tribal cards have been deactivated due to meeting their quota
22.67 1.08
333.96
*All 2017 data are extremely preliminary and subject to change without notice. Dealers reported buying a total of 9,282.039 pounds with a reported value of $12,089,766 for average price per pound of $1,302. The above pounds, value, and average price per pound, due to confi dentiality, do not include Micmac tribal data. MicMac tribal data are confi dential and cannot be made available to the public until
three or more harvesters have reported according to the confi dentiality provisions of Maine law.
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