NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) is raising awareness of the federal regulations governing striped bass in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and increasing targeted enforcement efforts to protect the species from illegal poaching activities.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting public input on measures affecting fishermen as far north as New England. Public hearings have been scheduled in November for interested stakeholders to provide comments on Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 25 and Dolphin Wahoo Regulatory Amendment 1.
October is National Seafood Month, and NOAA Fisheries has launched our first-ever mobile-friendly website to enable our users to access the nation’s database on sustainable seafood anywhere, anytime, on any device.
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is seeking qualified candidates to serve on its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). Nominations and relevant materials are due by November 18, 2015.
The following summary highlights actions taken and issues considered at the Council’s meeting on October 6 – 8, 2015 in Philadelphia, PA.
At last week’s meeting in Philadelphia, the Council recommended a 50% reduction in the commercial quota for spiny dogfish next year.
Monmouth University’s Urban Coast Institute (UCI) will hold its 11th Annual Future of the Ocean Symposium and Champion of the Ocean Awards Luncheon on October 29. The symposium, "A Revolution at Sea: Ocean Exploration, Technology & Discovery," will feature guest speakers and National Ocean Champion Honorees Dr. Sylvia Earl and Terry Garcia. During the luncheon, the Council's Chairman, Rick Robins, will be recognized as one of three recipients of the Regional Ocean Champion award.
The Council will host a public information webinar on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at 6 p.m. to gather public perspectives on spiny dogfish management.
The Council will meet on October 6 – 8, 2015 in Philadelphia, PA at the Doubletree Philadelphia Center City - 237 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, Telephone 215-893-1600.
The Northeast Fisheries Science Center is currently seeking SAW working group applicants for Monkfish, Black Sea Bass, Surfclam, Ocean Quahog, and Atlantic Mackerel. Application questionnaires are due by September 21, 2015 for black sea bass and September 30, 2015 for all other species.
The Council will hold scoping hearings between September 15 and October 1, 2015 to gather public input for a proposed action to protect unmanaged forage species. Written comments may also be submitted through October 2, 2015.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) is accepting proposals to manage a short-term (2015-2017) cooperative research program focusing on Mid-Atlantic fisheries. Closing Date: 9/25/15
The Mid-Atlantic Council and the ASMFC met jointly last week in New York, NY to establish specifications for the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish fisheries.
A recent study of global fish populations suggests that fast-growing species of fish are more vulnerable to population collapses than slow growing species when experiencing overfishing.
NOAA Fisheries has announced the following annual catch limits for the 2015 bluefish fishery:
- Commercial quota: 5.241 million lb.
- Recreational harvest limit: 12.951 million lb.
- Combined total allowable landings: 18.19 million lb.
The Council will meet August 10 - 13, 2015 in New York, NY at the Holiday Inn Midtown (440 West 57th St., New York, NY 10019: telephone 212-581-8100.)
The Council is accepting proposals to manage a short-term research program focusing on Mid-Atlantic habitat and fisheries productivity, as they relate to the Council’s managed fisheries.
NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) will host outreach meetings on July 22 in Portland, Gloucester, Woods Hole, and New Bedford for fishermen interested in the upcoming operational assessments for 20 stocks of Northeast groundfish.
