In case you missed the news ... fisheries roundup,

[MakoMike]

This is a newsletter that I get from the NEFMC on a regular basis, I'll start posting them here for you information and edification:

In case you missed the news, here’s a recap of what’s happening.

1. NORTHEAST OCEAN DATA: The January 2019 issue of the Northeast Ocean Data Portal newsletter, which contains a roundup of management area updates, offshore energy planning areas, and other important information for the last quarter of 2018, is available at Data Updates.

1. ILLEX SQUID: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold four scoping hearings February 4-7, 2019 to solicit public input on an amendment to review and consider modifications to both the permitting system for Illex squid and the goals and objectives of the entire Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. The scoping guide and additional details can be found at squid permitting.

1. COUNCIL MEETINGS: The New England Fishery Management Council will hold its January 29-31, 2019 meeting in Portsmouth, NH on schedule. Take a look at Agenda Details and Webinar Registration. The Mid-Atlantic Council has cancelled its February meeting due to the government shutdown and is making tentative plans for a shorter March 6-7, 2019 meeting. However, the Mid-Atlantic Council noted that this, too, is “highly dependent on when the government reopens.” The latest information is available at Federal Shutdown Impacts on MAFMC Meetings.

1. NOAA FISHERIES: Just prior to the government shutdown, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) published several regulatory actions, including ones pertaining tosouthern red hake, LAGC IFQ scallops, river herring/shad catch caps, deep-sea red crab, and Atlantic mackerel. The agency also put out a Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program Funding Opportunity. As a reminder, NOAA websites are not being updated during the shutdown.

1. ASMFC: The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will meet February 5-7, 2019 in Arlington, VA. The final agenda and meeting materials are available at ASMFC Winter 2019 Meeting. Also, take a look at the 2018 annual issue of Habitat Hotline Atlantic.

1. RECREATIONAL MREP: The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) is hosting a Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) for Recreational Anglers in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. The workshop will be held March 26-28, 2019 in Hanover, MD and is free to selected participants. The package includes meals, travel, and accommodations. Visit apply here. Also, view the announcement.

1. RESEARCH PROPOSALS: New Hampshire (NH) Sea Grant is seeking pre-proposals for its 2020-2021 research funding cycle. Projects may be for one or two years in duration. The budget cannot exceed $100,000. For this current funding cycle, NH Sea Grant is encouraging submissions that focus on aquaculture research. The deadline for pre-proposals is February 22, 2019. An informational session is planned for Thursday, January 31 from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Durham, NH. Visit NH Sea Grant RFP for complete details.

1. OFFSHORE WIND: The Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) and Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind have partnered to improve communications between the commercial fishing industry and offshore wind energy developers. Learn more at Addressing Fisheries and Offshore Wind Coexistence. Vineyard Wind’s Winter 2019 newsletter is available here. All four of the January hearings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Vineyard Wind have been postponed. Don’t forget to regularly visit Offshore Wind in the Northeast Region, which is hosted by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils.

1. SOUTH ATLANTIC: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council recently outlined several steps taken regarding “management activities for the recreational fishery that align with items outlined in the Modern Fish Act as it was being developed.” The act was signed into law on December 31, 2018 by the President. Learn more at South Atlantic Council Prepared for Modern Fish Act of 2018. The Council also is holding two webinars on January 23 and January 24, both at 6 p.m., to seek public input on management options for recreational accountability measures and for an ABC Control Rule Amendment. Documents and webinar registration links are available at Scoping Meetings.

This message is part of the New England Fishery Management Council’s effort to keep you informed.

 

[MakoMike]

In case you missed the news, here’s a recap of what’s happening.

1. MID-ATLANTIC: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is working on its next strategic plan to guide management activities from 2020 through 2024. The process involves evaluating how the Council has performed under its 2014-2018 Strategic Plan and identifying new challenges, opportunities, and areas of focus for the next five years. As such, the Mid-Atlantic Council is asking all stakeholders to provide input by taking the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan Survey. The survey deadline is February 28, 2019.

1. SHUTDOWN IMPACTS: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, NOAA Fisheries) personnel are back at work following the 35-day partial government shutdown. Immediately following their return, Regional Administrator Mike Pentony of the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) sent out a message to all stakeholders saying, “While we are thankful the shutdown is over … we are now coming to grips with the effect and impact of the shutdown on the people, communities, industries, and resources we serve.” Read about GARFO’s priorities as it ramps up to normal operations at "We are in this together!"

1. CONGRESSIONAL HEARING: The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife will hold a February 7 hearing at 2 p.m. called “Healthy Oceans and Healthy Economies: The State of Our Oceans in the 21st Century.” Five majority and two minority witnesses will testify, including Beth Casoni, executive director of the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association, and Dr. Deborah Bronk, president and CEO of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, ME. Visit climate change impacts.

1. GROUNDFISH: NMFS made several routine adjustments to groundfish sector and common pool allocations for fishing year 2018, which ends on April 30, 2019. The changes include minor adjustments based on final 2017 catch information, carryover from 2017 into 2018, and final sector rosters. Details are available at updated annual catch limits.

1. CLOSED AREA I: The Closed Area I North seasonal closure went into effect on February 1 and will run through April 15, 2019. The closure applies to all vessels except those that are transiting, fishing with exempted gears, participating in the midwater trawl exempted fishery, or fishing with scallop dredges. View the coordinates at Closed Area I North.

1. VINEYARD WIND: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has rescheduled public hearings and reopened the public comment period for the Vineyard Wind Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Four hearings will be held in Massachusetts Monday through Thursday, February 11-14, 2019, and one hearing will be held in Narragansett, RI on Friday, February 15. The new comment deadline is February 22. Details are available atVineyard Wind EIS hearings.

1. NEW YORK OFFSHORE WIND: New York state is working with the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) to provide fishermen, wind energy developers, and maritime representatives an opportunity to submit input on how best to ensure fishing vessel transit routes through and around offshore wind project arrays in the vicinity of designated New York Bight Wind Energy Areas prior to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Proposed Sale Notice. The information gathered will culminate in a March 27, 2019 transit workshop in Port Jefferson, NY. Take the transit survey.

1. SCeMFiS FUNDING: The Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCeMFiS) announced that it has been awarded a Phase 2 grant by the National Science Foundation to continue its collaborative research with fishing industry and academic partners. Learn more at SCeMFiS finfish and shellfish research.

1. MASSACHUSETTS PENALTIES: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts recently increased marine fishery fines and penalties for non-criminal, criminal, and civil violations of marine fisheries laws and regulations. Read more at higher penalties in Massachusetts.

This message is part of the New England Fishery Management Council’s effort to keep you informed.