Today, NOAA Fisheries announced new management measures for the summer flounder, scup and black sea bass recreational fisheries, including minimum fish size, possession limit, and fishing seasons. Read more...
Council Recommends First-Ever Cap on River Herring and Shad Catch
Last week the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council approved a 236 metric ton (MT) cap on incidental catch of river herring and shad in the U.S. Atlantic mackerel fishery for 2014. Read more...
Council Approves Omnibus Recreational Accountability Measure Amendment
At last week's meeting the Council voted on final management measures to include in the Omnibus Recreational Accountability Measure Amendment and approved the amendment to be submitted for Secretarial review. Read more...
NOAA Fisheries: Fishing Vessel Crew Survey Effort Enters the Last Lap
Social scientists at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center are encouraging crew members to take advantage of the time remaining to respond to a new survey aimed at gathering data on broad social and economic conditions in the Northeast’s commercial fisheries. Read more...
June Council Meeting Briefing Book is Now Available
Meeting materials for the Council's meeting next week, June 10-13, in Eatontown, NJ are now available. June 2013 Briefing Book →
John Bullard to Discuss Themes of Stakeholder Feedback at June 11 Listening Session in Eatontown, NJ
During the Council's next listening session on June 12, NOAA Fisheries Northeast Regional Administrator John Bullard will discuss the main themes from a series of public listening sessions throughout the Northeast region. All members of the public are encouraged to attend. More Information...
Next Council Meeting: June 10-13, 2013
The Council has published an agenda for its upcoming meeting in Eatontown, NJ. Key agenda items include:
- Mackerel, squid, butterfish specifications
- Surfclam and ocean quahog specifications
- Review and approve omnibus recreational accountability amendment
- Review and approve draft strategic plan
View full agenda (PDF)
Webinar: http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/council2013/
NMFS Publishes Draft 7 Consultation on the Continued Implementation of Seven Northeast Fisheries
The Northeast Regional Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service has published a draft Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 Consultation on the Continued Implementation of Management Measures for seven Northeast fisheries. Download complete PDF/print version.
An Open Letter to Federal Fishery Permit Holders in the Northeast Regarding Observers and At-Sea Monitors
Today, leadership from NOAA Fisheries Northeast and the chairmen of the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils issued an open letter to the fishing industry urging cooperation and respect for fishery observers and at-sea monitors during what is a difficult fishing year for many. Read more...
2013 Scallop RSA Awards Announced
Fourteen research projects have been selected to receive 2013 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) awards. Read the full announcement.
Successful Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries Conference Brings Together Diverse Voices
The Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries 3 conference wrapped up today on a successful note, with conference participants developing 128 recommendations for improving fishery sustainability. The draft recommendations are online at http://tinyurl.com/cgugoef and will be further elaborated in the conference proceedings. The conference was coordinated by the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils and NOAA Fisheries, and was sponsored by both fishing industry and environmental groups.
NOAA Fisheries MRIP Update: Results from Electronic Logbook Pilot Study Are Now Available
This week the NOAA's Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) announced the completion of a pilot study that tested the feasibility of using electronic logbooks to collect landings and fishing effort data. The final project report, which provides results and recommendations for future work, is now available online at www.countmyfish.noaa.gov.
Council to Discuss Squid Management with Fishing Industry at Upcoming Meetings
The Council has scheduled two public meetings to talk with members of the fishing industry about options for improving management of the longfin and Illex squid fisheries. The meetings will build on input provided by fishermen, processors, scientists, and managers during a Squid Management Workshop held in January 2013.
NOAA Fisheries: New Spiny Dogfish Exemption Areas East and West of Cape Cod Effective Date: June 1, 2013
At the request of Northeast groundfish sectors, NOAA Fisheries is implementing an exempted fishery for spiny dogfish, which would exempt vessels from using a groundfish fishing day-at-sea. Click here for more information.
NOAA Fisheries: Atlantic Bluefish 2013 and 2014 Final Catch Limits Approved
Today, NOAA Fisheries announced approval of the final 2013 and 2014 catch limits for the Atlantic bluefish fishery. The Atlantic bluefish total allowable landings are 23.861 million lb for 2013 and 23.446 million lb for 2014. The 2013 catch limits go into effect on June 6. Click here for more information.
NOAA Fisheries: Atlantic Bluefish 2013 and 2014 Final Catch Limits Approved
Today, NOAA Fisheries announced approval of the final 2013 and 2014 catch limits for the Atlantic bluefish fishery. The Atlantic bluefish total allowable landings are 23.861 million lb for 2013 and 23.446 million lb for 2014. The 2013 catch limits go into effect on June 6.
Click here for more information.
NOAA Fisheries: New Spiny Dogfish Exemption Areas East and West of Cape Cod Effective Date: June 1, 2013
NOAA Fisheries: Monkfish Emergency Action Published Today -- Public Comments Appreciated
Today NOAA Fisheries announced that it has taken Emergency action to suspend, for at least 180 days, existing monkfish possession limits for vessels issued both a Federal limited access Northeast multispecies permit and a limited access monkfish Category C or D permit that are fishing under a monkfish day-at-sea in the monkfish Northern Fishery Management Area during FY 2013. Comments on this Emergency Action are being accepted through May 30.
NOAA Fisheries: Spiny Dogfish Quotas to be Increased for Commercial Fishermen
NOAA Fisheries is implementing the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s jointly-recommended increased commercial quotas for 2013-2015 for the spiny dogfish fishery. Increases from 2012 levels: 40.842 million lb in 2013 (+14%), 41.784 million lb in 2014 (+17%), and 41.578 million lb in 2015 (+16%). The commercial possession limit is also increased from 3,000 lb to 4,000 lb per trip (+33%).
NOAA Fisheries: Proposed Rule for 2013 Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Recreational Fisheries
Based on recommendations of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, NOAA Fisheries is proposing to increase the overall catch limits for the 2013 and 2014 black sea bass fishery by approximately 1 million pounds. This results in an increase of approximately 0.41 million pounds for the recreational black sea bass fishery, and a 0.39 million pound increase for the commercial fishery. For summer flounder, the Council has recommended that states establish their own or region-specific recreational management measures (bag limit, minimum size, and season) to ensure that the 2013 harvest limit is not exceeded. For the scup recreational fishery, we are proposing a decrease in minimum fish size and increase in trip limits so that fishermen can catch more fish on each fishing trip. Click here for more information.