NOAA Fisheries: Summer Flounder Commercial Quota Harvested for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

NOAA Fisheries announces that the 2013 summer flounder commercial quota allocated to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been harvested.  Vessels issued a commercial Federal fisheries permit for the summer flounder fishery may not land summer flounder in Massachusetts for the remainder of calendar year 2013, unless additional quota becomes available through a transfer from another state.

2013 Bottlenose Dolphin Unusual Mortality Event

NOAA Fisheries has declared an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) for bottlenose dolphins in the Mid-Atlantic. Strandings of bottlenose dolphins in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia  were more than 7 times their historical average during the month of July and have remained elevated into mid-August.

NOAA Fisheries: ESA Listing for River Herring not Warranted At This Time

NOAA Fisheries announced today that listing is not warranted at this time for alewife and blueback herring, collectively known as river herring, as either threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.

South Atlantic Council to Hold Public Hearing at Mid-Atlantic Council Meeting

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public hearing at 4 p.m. on August 14 during the Mid-Atlantic Council's upcoming meeting in Wilmington, DE for the public to provide input on three proposed amendments affecting the fishery management plans for dolphin and wahoo, coral, and coastal migratory pelagics. Read more...

Public Listening Session: Offshore Wind Power and Mid-Atlantic Fisheries

The Council will hold its next listening session on Tuesday, August 13 in Wilmington, Delaware. The topic will be Offshore Wind Power and Mid-Atlantic Fisheries.  Dr. Jeremy Firestone, Professor of Marine Policy and Legal Studies at the University of Delaware, will discuss recent developments in wind power siting and construction and how they may affect fisheries and fishing communities.

2014/2015 Atlantic Herring RSA Federal Funding Opportunity

The National Marine Fisheries Service, with assistance from the New England Fishery Management Council (Council), is soliciting proposals for 2014 and 2015 that address Atlantic Herring Research Set-Aside (RSA) research priorities. Proposals must be received by 5 p.m., July 22, 2013. 

Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Public Comments on 5-Year Strategic Plan

The Council has released a draft of its 5-year strategic plan for public comment. Comments from the public will be accepted through July 19, 2013 and reviewed by the Council at its August 13-15 meeting in Wilmington, DE. Read more...