Northeast Observer Waiver Extended Through May 30, 2020

NOAA Fisheries is extending the waiver granted to vessels with Greater Atlantic Region fishing permits to carry human observers or at-sea monitors for an additional two weeks, through May 30, 2020. This action is authorized by 50 CFR 648.11, which provides the Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator authority to waive observer requirements, and is also consistent with the criteria described in the agency's emergency rule on observer waivers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NOAA Fisheries will continue to monitor and evaluate this situation.  As we have done in other parts of the country, we will use this time to work with the observer service providers to implement adjustments to the logistics of deploying observers, ensuring qualified observers or at-sea monitors are available as soon as safely possible.

Observers and at-sea monitors are an essential component of commercial fishing operations and provide critical information that is necessary to keep fisheries open and to provide sustainable seafood to our nation during this time. We will continue to monitor all local public health notifications, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for updates. We are committed to protecting the public health and ensuring the safety of fishermen, observers, and others, while fulfilling our mission to maintain our nation's seafood supply and conserving marine life.

Questions? Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, 978-281-9103

NOAA Fisheries: Proposed Rule to Implement 2020-2021 Specifications and Recreational Management Measures for the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery

NOAA Fisheries proposes revised specifications for the 2020 Atlantic bluefish fishery and projected specifications for fishing year 2021, as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. These proposed catch limits are reduced to account for the results of the recent operational assessment and prevent overfishing on the now overfished bluefish stock.

The commercial total allowable landings would be reduced by 25 percent, from 3.71 to 2.77 million pounds. The recreational total allowable landings would be reduced by 39 percent, from 15.62 to 9.48 million pounds. The federal bluefish recreational fishery daily bag limit would remain reduced from 15 to 3 fish per person for private anglers and to 5 fish per person for for-hire (charter/party) vessels as set forth in the interim measures recently announced. All other recreational management measures and commercial management measures would remain unchanged.

This action is necessary to establish allowable harvest levels and other management measures to prevent overfishing, consistent with the most recent scientific information.

2020-2021 Sea Scallop and Monkfish Research Set-Aside Projects Selected

14 Projects Selected for 2020-21 Research Set-Aside Support

NOAA Fisheries has selected 12 sea scallop and 2 monkfish projects for 2020-2021 awards through two research set-aside (RSA) programs. The New England Fishery Management Council established the Sea Scallop RSA Program and the Monkfish RSA Program to address research questions that support management of commercial fisheries for these species. Projects will investigate scallop and monkfish research priorities to improve our knowledge and management of these species. For more information on these awards and the programs, please visit this page

Questions?

  • Ryan Silva, RSA Liaison, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 978-281-9326

  • Media: Teri Frady, Research Communications, 508-495-2239

NOAA Fisheries Proposes Atlantic Chub Mackerel Measures

NOAA Fisheries has announced proposed measures adopted by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council as part of Amendment 21 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan to manage chub mackerel.

Because a directed fishery for Atlantic chub mackerel recently emerged in the Mid-Atlantic, in 2017 the Mid-Atlantic Council implemented initial measures to maintain existing catch levels while it developed a long-term management approach. In the intervening three years, the Council has collected more detailed information on chub mackerel and has developed management measures to help achieve and maintain the sustainability of the chub mackerel resource.

This action would designate essential fish habitat; set catch limits for 2020-2022; and implement an annual catch limit, accountability measures, possession limits, permitting and reporting requirements, and other administrative measures for Atlantic chub mackerel caught from Maine through North Carolina.  

Proposed 2020 and Projected 2021-2022 Atlantic Chub Mackerel Specifications

chub-table.JPG

For more details, please read the rule as published in the Federal Register.  Supporting analysis for this rule is available on the Council’s website.

The comments due date is April 8, 2020. To submit comments, please use the Federal e-rulemaking portal, or send comments by regular mail to Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA, 01930. Please mark the outside of the envelope, "Comments on the Comments on Chub Mackerel Proposed Rule."

Questions?

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Seeks Input on Proposed Changes to Northern Zone Commercial Spanish Mackerel Trip Limits

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is currently seeking input on proposed commercial trip limit reductions for Spanish mackerel in the Atlantic Northern Zone (federal waters from the North Carolina/South Carolina line northward to the New York/Rhode Island/Connecticut line). The reductions are proposed to help extend the commercial season.

NOAA Fisheries Announces Final Rule for Framework Adjustment 13 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan

NOAA Fisheries has published a final rule that establishes a five-year rebuilding plan for Atlantic mackerel, sets 2019-2021 specifications, modifies closure triggers to slow the commercial fishery when harvest approaches the annual quota, and updates the river herring and shad catch cap in the Atlantic mackerel fishery. This rule, effective November 29, approves Framework Adjustment 13 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan.

Read the full announcement for more details.

SAFMC to Hold Scoping Webinars on Designation of Special Management Zones in NC and SC

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has scheduled scoping webinars and is soliciting public comments on potential designation of special management zones (SMZs) in federal waters off North Carolina and South Carolina (Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 34). The draft regulatory amendment contains actions to:

  • Designate 30 artificial reefs in federal waters off North Carolina as SMZs

    • Prohibit use of efficient gear (e.g., bandit, pots, sink nets, buoy gear) on those reefs

    • Restrict harvest of snapper grouper species with spear on those reefs to the recreational bag limit

  • Designate 4 artificial reefs in federal waters off South Carolina as SMZs

    • Prohibit use of efficient gear (e.g., bandit, pots, sink nets, buoy gear) on those reefs

    • All harvest of snapper grouper species on those reefs would be limited to the recreational bag limit

Three scoping webinars will be held on October 28, 29, and 30 at 6:00 p.m. Registration is required:

Individuals can also participate in the webinars in-person at designated listening stations in North Carolina. Details are available here.

The Scoping Summary Document, video presentation, and the Online Comment Form are now available from the Council's website at: https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/.  

Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Transitions to New Website

September 30, 2019 - The following was released by NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office:

We are very pleased to announce that as of today, we are formally launching a new website for the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, and our old website is offline.

What about my bookmarks to your website?

Everyone will be automatically redirected to our new homepage or associated topic page. We looked at our website analytics and created automatic redirects from frequently visited pages on our old website to the corresponding pages of our new website. For example, if you have our Atlantic spiny dogfish page bookmarked, you will automatically be sent to the Atlantic spiny dogfish species profile on our new site. However, be sure to update your bookmarks and links as you navigate through the new site.

Why are we making this transition?

NOAA Fisheries launched a new and improved website two years ago that was developed based upon feedback from our customers and taking a hard look at our website analytics. The goals of the new site are to captivate our visitors, make it easier for users to search for information and navigate through our website, make our website mobile friendly, and improve the quality of our content.

Not sure where to start? Check out this video tutorial.

Although the bulk of the work is done, we are still transitioning some lesser viewed pages. So please be patient with us! We appreciate continued feedback, and want to know if you have suggestions for improvement, find broken links, or simply can’t find something you’re looking for.

Comments or questions?

Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, 978-281-9175

Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program Seeks Research Proposals

August 1, 2019 - The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Competition for monkfish research support has opened under the Monkfish Research Set Aside Program. Projects selected through the competition are awarded fishing days rather than dollars, and the proceeds generated from those days are used to fund the research.

This year’s priorities include monkfish life history; stock structure; relative abundance; surveys; bycatch and discard mortality; interactions with other species; gear studies; ecological studies; and trophic research.

Monkfish are one of the highest valued finfish in the Northeast. This federal fishery is managed primarily by limiting the number of days and trips that the fleet can use to target this species. Under the monkfish management plan, 500 of the allowable days-at-sea are “set aside” annually by the councils and then awarded through this federal grant competition.

NOAA Fisheries and the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils have managed the Monkfish Research Set Aside Program since 2006. Since then, 27 projects have been conducted under this program.

In addition to the monkfish, there are active RSA programs for Atlantic sea scallop and Atlantic herring.  RSA programs support applied research that responds to priorities established by the fishery management councils, and are designed to inform resource management decisions and improve stock assessments.

To learn more and apply, visit grants.gov

Questions?

Media: Contact Cheryl Corbett, Cooperative Programs Specialist