Andy

WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS


National – Bill Hogarth Departs NOAA

Monday, December 31, 2007 was Bill Hogarth’s last day as Assistant Administrator for Fisheries after 7 years as leader of NOAA Fisheries and more than 13 years of Federal service to the Nation. He will continue to serve as the U.S. Commissioner and Chair of the International Whaling Commission through the end of the next annual meeting in June 2008. On January 15, 2008, he will begin his new job as the Interim Dean at the College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, in St. Pete FL. A reception to honor Bill will be held in Silver Spring, MD on January 9, 2008.
International - New Conservation and Management Measures and Resolutions for Antarctic Announced

NOAA Fisheries has published for public comment conservation and management measures and resolutions that were recently adopted by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Those measures pertain to fishing in the CCAMLR Convention Area and would restrict finfish, squid, krill and crab landings, impose new area closures, and restrict the use of certain fishing gear. The new measures would also specify implementation and inspection obligations supporting the Catch Documentation Scheme, and promote compliance with CCAMLR measures by non-Contracting Party vessels. After the 30-day public comment period and considering any public comments received, NOAA Fisheries will publish a final notice to implement management measures with immediate force and effect.
For additional information, please contact Robert.Gorrell@noaa.gov or phone (301) 713-2341.
National – Endangered Leatherback Turtle Habitat Designation

NOAA Fisheries has proposed changes to habitat designated as critical for the endangered Leatherback turtle. This proposal would add waters along the U.S. west coast to habitat listed as critically important for the endangered leatherback. The proposed area encompasses roughly 200,000 square miles of the EEZ from 100 miles south of the Washington/Oregon border to Pt. Conception, California. The leatherback turtle is currently listed as endangered throughout its range, and critical habitat currently consists of Sandy Point Beach and adjacent waters, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. NOAA Fisheries is seeking information and comments by February 26, 2008 on this species essential habitat needs from any interest party. Comments must be identified by “0648-XE13” may be sent via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, by Fax to (301) 427-2522, attention: Therese Conant; or by mail: addressed to the Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
For additional information, please contact therese.conant@noaa.gov, phone (301)713-2322.
National - Proposed Rule for Scientific Research Activities, Exempted Fishing Permits, and Exempted Educational Activities

NOA A Fisheries has published a proposed rule for a regulatory amendment to propose new and revised definitions for certain regulatory terms and procedural and technical changes to the regulations addressing scientific research activity, exempted fishing, and exempted educational activity under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). As part of the reauthorization of the MSA, a new Experimental Fishing Permit provision was included in section 318(d), which requires that the Secretary promulgate these regulations. An extended comment period of 90 days has been set to allow the Regional Fishery Management Councils time to consider the proposed rule during their upcoming meetings. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted through March 20, 2008. The public may submit comments, identified by “RIN 0648-AR78” via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov , by Fax to 301-713-1193, Attn: Jason Blackburn, or by mail to Alan Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Attn: EFP Comments.
For more information, please contact Jason Blackburn, 301-713-2341 x132, or jason.blackburn@noaa.gov
Alaska – NOAA and Partners Install Artificial Reefs in Southeast Alaska

NOAA, together with State of Alaska and University of Alaska Fairbanks partners cooperated to build two artificial reefs made of stone in the waters of Lynn Canal, in Southeast Alaska just north of Juneau. The reefs are in 18 to 25 feet of water and are designed to enhance near-shore marine habitat for fish and invertebrates. NOAA Fisheries initiated the project through discussions with the Alaska Department of Transportation, reviewed the research proposal and obtained all required state and federal permits. The University of Alaska Fairbanks designed the project and study plan and completed extensive surveys of the seafloor and existing local rocky reefs. The Alaska Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration provided engineering expertise, funding, and contracting services for the project as partial mitigation for the planned Juneau Access Improvement Project. The two structures, each 30 feet wide by 100 feet long, were placed on sandy bottom and incorporate about 30% open space between the rocks to provide habitat for fish and marine invertebrates such as juvenile rockfish, shrimp and eels. The depth and design are intended to support the settling and growth of kelp and other seaweeds that provide ideal spawning habitat for Pacific herring.
For additional information, please contact Christopher.M.Moore@noaa.gov, phone (301) 713-2379.
Alaska - Comments Sought on Pacific Halibut Charter Boat Limits by January 30, 2008

NOAA Fisheries has proposed regulations that would limit the harvest of Pacific halibut by guided sport charter vessel anglers in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Area 2C of Southeast Alaska. This proposal would comply with the guideline harvest level (GHL) for that area under two different scenarios. First, if the GHL remains unchanged in 2008, a suite of three management measures are proposed to be added to an existing two-halibut daily catch and size limit. These management measures include a prohibition on the harvest of halibut by charter vessel guides, operators, and crew; a limit on the number of fishing lines that may be used on a charter vessel of six or the number of charter vessel anglers onboard, whichever is less; and an annual catch limit of four halibut per charter vessel angler.
Second, if the GHL decreases in 2008, then a one-halibut daily catch limit is proposed to be substituted for the existing two-halibut daily catch limit. The prohibition of halibut harvest by charter vessel guides, operators, and crew, and the 6-line limit also are proposed under the second scenario. This proposed regulatory change is necessary to reduce the halibut harvest in the charter vessel sector to the GHL for Area 2C. The intended effect of this action is a reduction in the poundage of halibut harvested by the guided sport charter vessel sector in Area 2C to the GHL while minimizing adverse impacts on the charter fishery, its sport fishing clients, the coastal communities that serve as home ports for this fishery, and on fisheries for other species.
Comments on this proposed rule must be identified by “RIN-0648” and received no later than January 30, 2008. Comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at http://www.regulations.gov or through mail or fax to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, P. O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, fax (907) 586-7557.
For additional information, please contact Jay.Ginter@noaa.gov phone (907) 586-7228.
Northeast - NOAA Fisheries Extends Emergency Fishery Closure Due to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Threat

This emergency closure is being extended at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after samples of shellfish from the inshore and offshore waters off of the coasts of New Hampshire and Massachusetts tested positive for the toxins that cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). These toxins are produced by algae that can form blooms commonly referred to as red tides. Current oceanographic conditions and alga sampling data suggest that the northern section of an area known as the Temporary PSP Closure Area remain closed to the harvest of bivalve molluscan shellfish and that the southern area remain closed to the harvest of whole or roe-on scallops. Red tide blooms, also known as harmful algal blooms (HABs), can produce toxins that accumulate in filter-feeding shellfish. Shellfish contaminated with the toxin, if eaten in large enough quantity, can cause illness or death from PSP.
For additional information, please contact Brian.Hooker@noaa.gov, phone: (978) 281-9220.
East Coast - Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Limits Announced

NOAA Fisheries has issued rebuilding harvest limits for the 2008 commercial and recreational summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. These fisheries are currently overfished, and this final rule imposes strict measures to ensure sustainable management. Additionally, these measures will end overfishing in the summer flounder fishery. The total landings for summer flounder in 2008 will be 15.7 million pounds, 7.3 million pounds of scup, and 4.2 million pounds of black sea bass. The rule provides state allocations, recreational and commercial allocations, and details on measures to improve conservation of these three species.
For more information, please contact Michael.Ruccio@noaa.gov or phone(978) 281-9104.
Northeast - Final Rule for Atlantic Scallop Fisheries Announced

NOAA Fisheries has issued a final rule to approve and implement measures contained in Framework Adjustment 20 (Framework 20) to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This action maintains the trip allocations and possession limits enacted by NMFS on June 21, 2007, for the Elephant Trunk Access Area (ETAA) in 2007 to reduce the potential for overfishing the Atlantic sea scallop (scallop) resource and excessive scallop mortality. This action reduces the number of scallop trips to the ETAA, and prohibits the retention of more than 50 U.S. bushels (17.62 hL) of in-shell scallop outside of the boundaries of the ETAA (deckloading). The action also clarifies that the current restriction on landing no more than one scallop trip per calendar day for vessels fishing under general category rules does not prohibit a vessel from leaving on a scallop trip on the same calendar day that the vessel landed scallops.
For additional information, please contact Don.Frei@noaa.gov or phone (978) 281-9221.
West Coast - NOAA Fisheries Requests Comments on Reapportionment of Surplus Pacific Whiting Allocation by January 7, 2008

NOAA Fisheries has determined that 6,000 metric tons (mt) of the shore-based sectors allocation of Pacific Whiting was not used by December 31, 2007. Therefore, action was taken to reapportion the surplus whiting to the catcher/processor sector. You may submit comments, identified by the RIN number “0648-XE38”, via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov, by fax to (206)526-6736, Attn: Becky Renko, or mail to D. Robert Lohn, Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-0070, Attn: Becky Renko.

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http://cthuntingnshooting.com/

Scup

Andy, this is a very interesting article. What I became curious about is the 2008 reduction of summer flounder. The article states that the summer landing in 2008 will be 15.7 million pounds. A number this large goes right over my head as I have no feel for what it really means. Therefore, I went to a NOAA site and found the following graph which provides info on what the commercial landings of fluke were for the past several years. Apparently, the tally is not in yet for 2007, but in 2006 the commercial landings was just shy of 8000 metric tons. Since a metric ton is 2204.6 pounds, that means the commercial landing for 2006 was 17,636,800 pounds or 1,936,800 pounds more than what is going to be allowed in 2008. Now I can put these numbers into a percentage which can easily be understood. I divided 15.7 into 1.936,800 and multiplied by 100 and got 12.3 percent. Probably the real reduction is going to be more like 15% or maybe 20% because I did not include recreational landings for which I have no clue as to what the estimates will be. Since the only methods our regulators have to control landings are creel limits, fish size limits, and limited open seasons, it looks like the year 2008 is not going to be one of plenty for anyone going after summer flounder. No matter how our CT DEP changes the current regs to comply, there is going to be bitching all over the place. I think everyone knew it was coming to this, and in a way, I am glad that they are taking action before we lose it all.

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Andy

The reduction is going to hurt everyone no matter what the percentage is....

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http://cthuntingnshooting.com/

Scup

I hope this will not hurt everyone Andy,

Maybe this severe step this will help the summer flounder. They been taking on the chin for just too long, it is about time somebody did something about it.

Bob & Mag

I think the real term for recreational fluke catch should be "guesstimate" instead of "estimate".
They don't have a clue!

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of food, electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

Smoke free 16 Weeks!

Scup

I think most anglers, both commercial and recreational, are going to be watching just how our own CT DEP goes about dividing up the catch reductions for 2008. Because of internet forms like this one, the populous is no longer isolated and dumbed down as in the past. We can exchange views, and keep a correspondence going between members. The actions of the DEP is now going to be watched under a magnifying glass and everyone is going to see exactly what they do or not do. Lately, I have been finding that what goes on in this form to be far more interesting than the nonsense that seems to be flooding our TV sets about the happenings in New Hampshire. The only reason I am writing this is because I could not take sitting in front of the TV any longer; enough is enough already.