The comment period is open through April 17, 2023.
NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on a Proposed Rule to Implement 2023 Recreational Management Measures for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass
Comments Due April 14, 2023
NOAA Fisheries is seeking comments on proposed 2023 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fishery management measures.
Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass
We propose the conservation equivalency approach for the summer flounder and black sea bass recreational fisheries. Under conservation equivalency, states or regions develop minimum sizes, possession limits, and fishing seasons that will achieve the necessary level of conservation. Both the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission recommended conservation equivalency, for both species, in 2023.
The proposed rule contains additional details on conservation equivalency, including what measures would be put in place if the states or regions do not implement conservationally equivalent measures.
Scup
We are proposing a 10-inch minimum size limit, 40-fish possession limit, and May 1- December 31 open season for recreational scup measures in federal waters, with the states to further modify state measures through the Commission process.
Read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register today. The comment period is open through April 14. Submit your comments through the e-rulemaking portal.
Questions?
Fishermen: Contact Emily Keiley, Sustainable Fisheries, 978-281-9116
Media: Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, 978-281-9103
Scientific and Statistical Committee to Meet May 9-10, 2023
ACCSP, NOAA Fisheries Release Plan to Improve Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Data
The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) and NOAA Fisheries have jointly released the Marine Recreational Information Program Regional Implementation Plan for the Atlantic Coast. It highlights data needs and funding priorities over the next 5 years for improving recreational fisheries data collection on the Atlantic Coast.
“Our regional and state partners are essential to developing, executing and improving our national network of recreational fishing surveys that inform catch estimates,” said Evan Howell, NOAA Fisheries, director of the Office of Science and Technology. “We rely on partners like ACCSP to efficiently facilitate regional partnerships and joint data collection activities, as well as identify regional priorities through tools like our regional implementation plans. I want to thank all of our partners for their hard work to develop this plan together, and we look forward to our continued partnership as the plan is implemented.”
ACCSP is the state-federal partnership that collects, manages, and disseminates Atlantic commercial and recreational fisheries data and serves as the MRIP Regional Implementation Team for the Atlantic Coast. It also coordinates state conduct of the MRIP Access Point Angler Intercept Survey and For-Hire Survey from Maine to Georgia. Program partners include coastal resource agencies from 15 states and the District of Columbia, 2 interstate marine fisheries commissions, 3 regional fishery management councils, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and NOAA Fisheries. To provide better data for stock assessment and management, the ACCSP Coordinating Council and Recreational Technical Committee (RecTech) identified top priorities for improving recreational data collection on the Atlantic Coast through 2027.
Atlantic Coast Prioritized Activities
Improved precision and presentation of MRIP estimates
Comprehensive for-hire data collection and monitoring
Improved recreational fishery discard and release data
Improved timeliness of MRIP recreational catch and harvest estimates
Expanded biological sampling of recreational fisheries
Improved in-season monitoring
“Through the ACCSP, state, regional and federal partners are able to cooperatively identify and prioritize recreational fishery data needs for the entire Atlantic Coast and coordinate efforts to address these needs and improve recreational data collection,” said Angela Giuliano, ACCSP RecTech chair. RecTech is composed of ACCSP partner personnel who specialize in survey design, statistical estimation of fishing effort, catch, and participation, and the operation of recreational sampling programs.
The Atlantic Regional Implementation Plan will help guide NOAA Fisheries’ allocation of resources to best address the data needs of regional fishery stock assessors and managers.
“Working together, we have allocated targeted increases in sample size by month and mode to improve precision of MRIP estimates,” said Dawn Franco, RecTech vice-chair. “We are also working on methodology to improve for-hire data collection. Over the next 5 years, we can achieve even more by building on our momentum and nurturing the relationships that have been forged.”
National Perspective
NOAA Fisheries maintains a central role in developing data collection and estimation methods, administering recreational fishing surveys, implementing survey and data standards, and producing recreational fisheries statistics. Regional and state partners identify regional data collection priorities, coordinate survey operations and on-site data collection, and participate in quality assurance and quality control procedures.
Through Regional Implementation Plans, each region plays a critical role in identifying which survey methods are most suitable for its science, stock assessment, and management needs. NOAA Fisheries uses these plans to develop a national inventory of partner needs and associated costs, and to annually specify priority-setting criteria for supporting those needs. These plans inform MRIP decision-making for ongoing research priorities and budget allocation. The Regional Implementation Plans are adjusted at least every 5 years or as necessary based on changing science, management needs, and budget availability.
This collaborative approach is critical to addressing region-specific needs for improving recreational fishing data and supporting fishing opportunities for generations to come.
NOAA Fisheries: 2023 Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program Call for Proposals
April 2023 Council Meeting
NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comments on Proposed 2023 Atlantic Spiny Dogfish Specifications
NOAA Fisheries Approves the Council's Recreational Harvest Control Rule Framework
Effective March 9
Today, NOAA Fisheries issued a final rule implementing a new process to set recreational management measures (bag, size, and season limits) for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fisheries Management Program Policy Board. The approved changes also include modifications to the recreational accountability measures. The new approach is part of a broader long-term effort by both the Council and Commission to improve recreational management of these four species. The new management program aims to provide greater stability and predictability in recreational measures from year-to-year while accounting for scientific variability in stock assessment and management data, including recreational data.
The new process allows managers to consider two factors: 1) biomass compared to the target, and 2) estimated recent recreational harvest compared to future harvest limits, to determine if management measures need to change and, if so, by how much.
Additional information can be found on the Council’s webpage.
For more information read the final rule as filed in the Federal Register or our bulletin.
Questions?
Fishermen: Contact Emily Keiley, Sustainable Fisheries, 978-281-9116
Media: Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, 978-281-9103
New Web Page Highlights MAFMC Responses to Climate Change
The new Climate Change and Mid-Atlantic Fisheries page provides a comprehensive overview of actions the Council has taken to build resilient, climate-ready fisheries.