Tag Archives: Northern Red Hake

NEFMC – Whiting Amendment 22: Five Hearings to Consider Limited Access Program for Small-Mesh Multispecies

The New England Fishery Management Council has scheduled five public hearings on Draft Amendment 22 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. This amendment proposes to establish a limited access program for five stocks of small-mesh species: northern silver hake, southern silver hake, and offshore hake –collectively referred to as “whiting” –as well as northern red hake and southern red hake. The amendment contains three components: (1) limited access qualification criteria; (2) silver and offshore hake possession limit alternatives; and (3) permit “characteristics and conditions” that could apply if limited access is adopted. Although the Council voted in December 2017 to send Amendment 22 out to public hearing with “no action” as its preferred alternative,public input is highly encouraged on all options. Public Hearing Schedule, Gloucester, Tinton Falls, NJ, Montauk, Warwick, New Bedford  >click to read<17:08

Another Senseless Regulation! Northern Red Hake possession limit slashed to 400 Lbs per trip

To the Regulators. Northern  Red  Hake (known to fishermen as Mud Hake) is not a targeted specie of our fishermen, who mainly target Silver Hake (known as Whiting), which share the same ocean bottom. Red Hake live down in the mud, but Silver Hake do not live in the mud. Whiting are found in the upper water. All Gulf of Maine Fishermen must use a raised-foot rope net when fishing for Silver Hake. This net fishes 42 inches off the and up to 10 feet to avoid catching Red Hake if used responsibly by a knowledgeable Captain. Wondering what boats are catching all these Red Hake? Maybe they need help to regulate their fishing gear to leave the Red Hake in the mud! Red Hake, when caught in a net usually get the Bends as the net reaches the surface during the haul back, and die. This discarded dead Red Hake is perfect for lobster bait which is in high demand because of scarcity of other baits. The 400 lb Red Hake limit is a waste, and a disgrace to our ocean resources. In 2015, Fishermen targeting Silver Hake went over the Red Hake quota, so the NOAA decides to give Gulf of Maine Fishermen a little payback! I wonder if payback is mentioned in the Federal Register! Regulators, and managers, our ocean and fish stocks are changing. When will you guys change?!!! Captain Salvatore Novello, Gloucester, Ma.
RED HAKE:  Due to a landings overage in 2015, NMFS has reduced the northern red hake possession limit adjustment trigger for fishing year 2017 from 62.5% to 37.9% as required by Amendment 19 for small-mesh multispecies.  This means the possession limit for northern red hake will be reduced from 3,000 pounds per trip to the incidental limit of 400 pounds once the fleet in is projected to have landed 37.9% of total allowable landings, equivalent to 45.5 metric tons, in 2017.  NMFS also reinstated regulatory text that previously was omitted describing raised-footrope trawl gear specifications as required in certain small-mesh exemption areas.  Full details are available at red hake and final rule.