NOAA Fisheries - Massachusetts-Offshore.com

NOAA Fisheries Announces White Marlin ESA Biological Review Results

An assessment of the health of white marlin populations indicate that the species is not in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, nor is it likely to become so in the foreseeable future. NOAA Fisheries' White Marlin Biological Review Team have analyzed the best scientific and commercial data available and have concluded that Atlantic white marlin does not meet the ESA definition of an endangered or threatened species and that the listing of Atlantic white marlin under the ESA is not warranted. A copy of the status review document is available at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.  

A number of conservation measures have been implemented in recent years to improve white marlin conservation, including the required use of circle hooks in Atlantic billfish tournaments.

For additional information, please contact Stephania.Bolden@noaa.gov, phone (727) 824-5312 or Marta.Nammack@noaa.gov, phone (301) 713-1401.

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.

Public Comment Sought on Commercial Wahoo/Dolphin Fishery Access

NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on a proposal to control future access to the commercial dolphin/wahoo fishery operating in the exclusive economic zone of the South Atlantic. If changes to the management regime are developed and implemented under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), a control date could be used to limit the number of participants in the fishery. This announcement is intended, in part, to promote awareness of the potential eligibility criteria for future access so as to discourage speculative entry into the fishery while the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries consider whether and how access to the dolphin/wahoo commercial fishery should be controlled. Written comments must be received on or before 5 p.m., local time, January 4, 2008.

The public may submit comments electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov , by Fax to (727) 824-5308 Attn: Kate Michie, or by mail to Michie, NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

Measures for Recreational Summer Flounder Fisheries Announced

NOAA Fisheries is implementing interim coastwide summer flounder recreational management measures to prevent overfishing and improve the health of the summer flounder fishery. This action also ensures that appropriate management measures are in place on January 1, 2008, when the 2007 rules are longer effective. The rule implements a 4-fish bag limit, a minimum fish size of 18.5 inches, and a year-round season as the interim measures. The interim measures will remain effective until replaced by final 2008 measures. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will meet on December 11-13, 2007, in Secaucus, New Jersey, to review the updated 2007 recreational fishery information and to recommend measures to manage the 2008 summer flounder recreational fishery. The final measures once developed and implemented by NOAA Fisheries, will replace or revise this interim measure.

For more information, please contact Michael P. Ruccio, (978) 281-9104.

NOAA Fisheries Calls for Temporary Ban on Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna

The United States last week proposed a temporary fishing ban on eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna to allow these fisheries to begin to recover from severe overfishing and to allow countries to put monitoring measures in place. Despite strong support from Canada at the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the measure was not adopted by the members of the international body charged with conserving Atlantic tunas and tuna-like species. Instead, ICCAT adopted a proposal put forward by Japan requesting nations that fish for eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna to submit to the ICCAT Secretariat a detailed report on how their current regulations are being implemented to comply with a fishing plan adopted in 2006. The reports are to be submitted before next year’s annual ICCAT meeting where a new bluefin tuna stock assessment will also be presented. ICCAT also acted on an earlier U.S. initiative to track every Atlantic bluefin tuna from the moment it is caught until it reaches its final market. Providing ICCAT with a concrete account of how many fish are landed will be a crucial part of improving control over this fishery. In other issues, the Commission reduced total allowable catch for northern and southern Albacore, adopted its first measure to reduce the unintentional catch of seabirds in longline fishing gear, and agreed to reduce mortality on porbeagle and North Atlantic shortfin mako sharks. The annual ICCAT meeting concluded on November 18 in Antalya, Turkey.

For additional information, please contact Kelly Denit (301) 713-2276 x 202 or kelly.denit@noaa.gov.

Proposed Limits for Three Fisheries to End Overfishing

NOAA Fisheries proposed limits on fishing for three key species in order to end overfishing and promote rebuilding of the stocks. The proposal is based on scientific analysis and recommendations of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

The proposed 2008 total allowable landing limits are:

• Summer Flounder – 15.77 million pounds, 8 percent less than the 2007 limit of 17.11 million pounds;
• Scup – 7.34 million pounds, 39 percent less than the 2007 limit of 12 million pounds; and
• Black Sea Bass – 4.22 million pounds, 16 percent less than the 2007 limit of 5 million pounds.

While all three species support commercial and recreational fisheries, summer flounder is the most prevalent of the three throughout the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. The summer flounder stock has increased since 2000, when the rebuilding effort started. However, it is still subject to overfishing and still remains short of being rebuilt. Federal law requires that overfishing end and the stock stay on track with its new rebuilding schedule. The proposed rule, which includes recreational and commercial fishery and state allocations, may be viewed online at http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/com.htm.

Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted through December 3, 2007. NOAA will implement the 2008 annual landing limits in December.

For more information, please contact Susan Buchanan, susan.buchanan@noaa.gov.

NOAA Fisheries Names Top Research Priorities

NOAA Fisheries has published the top science and research priorities its scientists will follow for the next three years. Documented in the latest Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research, the agency places an increased emphasis on managing fish stocks not as isolated populations, but rather linked together and influenced by the marine ecosystems that they inhabit. Additionally, the plan stresses the need for continued development of advanced technologies such as acoustic techniques, remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, and submersible research to directly evaluate deepwater fisheries and their habitat. The plan depends on state-of-the-art research vessels to support data collection activities. The plan renews NOAA’s commitment to monitor climate change and its impact on sustainable fisheries as well as ways to proactively address seafood safety issues. Contact Stephan.K.Brown@noaa.gov