June 2020 Council Meeting Report

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council met via webinar June 16-18, 2020. Presentations, briefing materials, and webinar recordings are available on the meeting page.

Summary of Actions Taken and Issues Considered

During this meeting, the Council:

  • Reviewed scoping comments and provided input on draft alternatives for the Black Sea Bass Commercial State Allocation Amendment*

  • Received preliminary results of an updated summer flounder commercial/recreational allocation model*

  • Provided input on the range of alternatives to be considered in the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Commercial/Recreational Allocation Amendment*

  • Reviewed a draft outline of topics under consideration through the Recreational Reform Initiative and directed staff to determine which items could be addressed through a framework/addendum and which would require an amendment*

  • Revised the range of alternatives to be considered in the Bluefish Allocation and Rebuilding Amendment and directed the Fishery Management Action Team to incorporate alternatives that would allow states to have a minimum default allocation*

  • Adopted Illex squid specifications for 2021, including an Acceptable Biological Catch of 30,000 metric tons and a quota of 28,644 metric tons, and recommended additional measures to help avoid overages

  • Received four presentations on habitat-related updates and activities within the region

  • Reviewed a report on commercial landings of unmanaged species from Maine through North Carolina and commercial landings of the species managed through the Council’s Unmanaged Forage Omnibus Amendment

  • Approved changes to the Overfishing Limit Coefficient of Variation guidance document as recommended by the Scientific and Statistical Committee

  • Received an update on planning for a Research Set-Aside Workshop and discussed the feasibility of holding an in-person workshop in the fall

  • Directed staff to draft a letter expressing concern about the redeployment of observers and at-sea monitors on fishing vessels beginning July 1 during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

  • Reviewed several hybrid meeting options and agreed to continue meeting via webinar for the near term to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19

  • Reviewed Executive Order 13921 on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth and briefly discussed next steps for developing a response

* Items denoted with an asterisk (*) were undertaken during joint meetings with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management Board and Bluefish Management Board.


New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife Launches Web Application to Promote Local Seafood

The following was released by the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts on New Jersey's local seafood industry, the Department of Environmental Protection has developed the Support NJ Seafood Web Map Application. The application provides locations of seafood markets that sell seafood products that have been landed, grown or harvested in New Jersey and are open to the public.

The current BETA version of the Support NJ Seafood web map can be launched here: www.nj.gov/dep/njseafood.

This is a prototype for what DEP and the NJ Department of Agriculture (NJDA) are working on for all of New Jersey's seafood industry. We look forward to adding more seafood businesses, retailers, and markets in the final version. Together NJDEP, NJDA and Rutgers Cooperative Extension will be using feedback we receive from this soft launch, as well as industry surveys, and responses through our contact lists to build a story map that will help connect many more businesses and seafood lovers in the very near future.

If you would like your business to be added to the story map please complete and submit the application:

Support NJ Seafood Application Form (pdf, 210kb)

For questions or assistance e-mail supportnjseafood@dep.nj.gov.

 

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.

Secretary of Commerce Announces Allocation of $300 Million in Fisheries Assistance Funding Under CARES Act

May 8, 2020 - The following was released today by NOAA Fisheries:

Yesterday, the Secretary of Commerce announced the allocation of $300 million in fisheries assistance funding provided by Sec. 12005 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also called the CARES Act, to states, Tribes, and territories with coastal and marine fishery participants who have been negatively affected by COVID–19.

As a next step, NOAA Fisheries will use these allocations to make awards to our partners, the interstate marine fisheries commissions, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to disburse funds to address direct or indirect fishery-related losses as well as subsistence, cultural, or ceremonial impacts related to COVID-19.

Fishery participants eligible for funding—including Tribes, commercial fishing businesses, charter/for-hire fishing businesses, qualified aquaculture operations, processors, and other fishery-related businesses—should work with their state marine fisheries management agencies, territories, or Tribe to understand the process for applying for these funds. 

For more information please read our webstory. 

Questions?

Media: John Ewald, NOAA Office of Communications, 240-429-6127

General Inquiries: Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, 978-281-9103