Category Archives: South Atlantic
Tomorrow! February 4-6, 2014 ASMFC Winter Meeting in Alexandria, VA – Attend via Webinar! It’s FREE
Board/Section meeting proceedings will be broadcast daily via webinar beginning at 8:00 a.m. on February 4th, continuing daily until the conclusion of the meeting (expected to be 5:15 p.m.) on February 6th. Agenda and info here Webinar registration here 10:25
You SAFMC guys don’t have to hook up the Huskies. Your Pooler, GA Meeting has been canceled!
Public Hearing/Scoping Meeting Scheduled for Pooler, GA on January 30, 2014 CANCELLED Due to Winter Storm – The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is cancelling the January 30, 2014 public hearing and scoping meeting in Pooler, GA. The recent winter storm that hit the Southeast region has provided conditions unsafe for travel to and from the scheduled meeting. Therefore, in the interest of public safety the meeting is being cancelled. SAFMC website 17:32
Important meetings in Florida and Georgia this week! – Council for Sustainable Fishing
This week, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will conduct public input meetings in Florida and Georgia on proposed fishery management plan amendments that will affect the black sea bass trap fishery, gray triggerfish, Spanish and king mackerel, and how Annual Catch Limits are calculated on some unassessed snapper-grouper species. Click here for the public meeting schedule, how to submit written comments and the amendment documents. 15:25 Click here for Council for Sustainable Fishing
Special hunt authorized in South Carolina for double crested cormorants
The awkward-looking seabirds are one of nature’s most capable fish catchers -– yet they never seem to garner the respect heaped upon other avian piscators. In China, they have been trained to dive and harvest fish for commercial markets for more than 1,000 years. Here in the U.S., however, Read [email protected] 11:40
Fishermen seek winter black bass pot fishing again
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of the interstate fishery management bodies with jurisdiction in the federal waters off North Carolina, held a hearing and scoping meeting for the public Wednesday at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. It was about several proposed amendments to fishery management plans. One of these is Amendment 16 to the Snapper-Grouper FMP for the South Atlantic region, which includes North Carolina. Read more@cataretcounty 10:52
It never end’s. Analysis targets commercial fishing’s role in manatee deaths and injuries
How many manatees can commercial fishermen in Florida injure or kill every year without affecting the future of a species that has been on the endangered list since 1967? The answer, according to an analysis the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service unveiled Thursday, is 14. The only problem: The agency says the annual average number of deaths and injuries due to commercial fishing is 99. And that calculation doesn’t include the record 829 manatees overall that died in 2013. Bob Jones, who has been executive director of the Southeastern Fisheries Association for four decades, said he had not seen the report yet but “I don’t believe it.” In his view, commercial fisherman play a negligible role in the future of manatees. Read [email protected] 21:0
South Carolina’s first jellyfish operation raises environmental concerns
The prospect of a new fishery is tantalizing to struggling shrimpers and entrepreneurs, including a Mount Pleasant man who’s spearheading the first South Carolina foray into the jellyfish industry. Assuming it gets the go-ahead from the Department of Health & Environmental Control and Beaufort County, Carolina Jelly Balls will begin harvesting Cannonball jellyfish in Seabrook next month. Read more@postandcourier 23:30
On Bluefin, Let’s Take The Best We Can Get – Charter Captain John McMurray
So I’m reading another press release about how anglers are getting screwed on bluefin with HMS Amendment 7 (which seeks to address bluefin bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery), and feel compelled to respond, or at least set the record straight. Sure, there are a few things I’d like to see happen with this amendment that likely won’t, but if you are at all concerned about bluefin stocks, or rather bluefin abundance, Read [email protected] 10:22
Three fishermen rescued from sinking F/V Christina Leigh Saturday in the vicinity of Calibogue Sound, S.C. – Video
CALIBOGUE SOUND, S.C. — The Coast Guard rescued three mariners from a sinking vessel Saturday in the vicinity of Calibogue Sound, S.C. Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Charleston command center received a report from Beaufort County Dispatch stating the 62-foot fishing vessel Christina Leigh was taking on water, at 3 p.m. The three mariners aboard had to place the call via cell phone since their VHF radio was damaged. Read more@uscgnews 01:29
Proposed rules call for more reporting by seafood dealers to help fisheries
Beaufort County seafood dealers may have to do more paperwork in 2014 due to proposed changes in federal reporting requirements. The biggest change would require dealers to report their purchases from fishermen every week instead of every two weeks. While not excited by more red tape, Beaufort County dealers have been largely receptive to the proposed changes, which could help the fish that provide their livelihood. Read more@islandpackett 11:49
“We were primed to make some money,” – Georgia’s shrimping season a disaster
Jim Page, a marine biologist with the DNR Coastal Resources Division, says sample trawls along the coast show shrimp catches had been well below average throughout the fall season. “Food shrimp is the most valuable component of Georgia’s seafood industry. Thus far, during the 2013 season, slightly over 1 million pounds has been reported, with a value of around $5 million,” Page said. Read more@albanyherald 11:19
“We really don’t know if the stock is rebuilt,” Roy Crabtree of the National Marine Fisheries Service – Goliath grouper could be placed back on the hook
The possible future of South Florida fishing rules, including the latest information on Goliath grouper populations, goes before combined panels of federal and state fishery experts convening Jan. 7-9 in Key Largo. “This is really interesting stuff,” said Robert Mahood, executive director of the federal South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Read [email protected]” 01:15
North Carolina could reap a great deal of both the potential rewards and costs if the Atlantic coastline were to be opened up to oil and gas exploration.
Offshore development would require the construction of a massive support infrastructure, which could certainly negatively affect the important inland waterways and wetlands across Eastern North Carolina. And oil spills and drilling rig accidents are a fact of life in the coastal waters where offshore drilling is allowed in other parts of the country. Read more@rockymounttelegram 01:03
Crew of the 73-foot F/V Carolina Girl 3 rescued after running aground in the St. Johns river entrance, Jacksonville, Fla.
Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville command center were notified of the incident via a “Mayday” call coming from the crew of the 73-foot fishing vessel Carolina Girl 3. The mariners stated the vessel had run aground on the north side of the jetties of the St. Johns River entrance and was taking on water. Read more@uscgnews 07:03
Local shrimper Rocky Magwood not sure if the Coast Guard will take his boat, F/V Lady Eva – Fundraiser set
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — Rocky Magwood says he has to wade through federal red tape before he can get back on his boat and work to salvage it. Read more@abcnews4 22:31
Fundraiser set for owner of sunken shrimp boat – Read more@live5news 22:37
F/V Lady Eva sank at the Wando Seafood Company dock in Shem Creek
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Members assigned to Coast Guard Sector Charleston are monitoring a sunken vessel Wednesday for potential pollution in Shem Creek, in Mount Pleasant, S.C. The owner of the Lady Eva informed the Coast Guard the vessel had little to no fuel aboard due to operations over the last few days. Soft sorbent padding and sausage boom has been placed around the vessel in an effort to capture any residual pollution. more@uscgnews 15:40
Why is the status for American eel considered depleted in U.S waters? ASMFC
Stock Status – From a biological perspective, much is still unknown about the species. Information is limited about their abundance, status at all life stages, and habitat requirements. According to the 2012 benchmark stock assessment, American eel population is depleted in U.S. waters. [email protected] 11:10
The EDF road to catch shares for charter and headboats
The road to “catch shares” for charter and headboat operators is being paved with an Environmental Defense Fund-backed pilot program approved by NOAA Fisheries this year for the Gulf of Mexico. [email protected] 10:30
Judge orders federal prison for illegally smuggling live fish and corals from Florida Keys waters
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Soliciting interstate sale of spotted eagle rays and lemon sharks illegally taken from the Keys “strikes to the very heart of this area and the economy of this area,” U.S. District Court Judge Jose Martinez said Monday as he sentenced Idaho residents Ammon Covino, 39, and co-defendant Christopher Conk, 40. The case involving the Idaho Aquarium was one of the biggest to emerge from what federal fisheries officers call Operation Rock Bottom, described as a “long-term investigation into the illegal harvesting and sale of marine life resources from the Florida Keys.” more@keysnet 08:37
Electronic fish data monitoring considered – Presentation at SAFMC Meeting
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is weighing the pros and cons of transitioning to an electronic monitoring system for federally managed fisheries, according to a presentation given Monday at a meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council at the Hilton Riverside in Wilmington. “There have been people looking at this for a while,” said George Lapointe, an independent consultant and former commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources. more@starnewsonline 22:13
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting December 2-6, 2013 – Wilmington, NC
Meeting Postcard Meeting Agenda Briefing Book Materials Webinar Registration: Watch the meeting LIVE as it happens – Sign up for daily Webinars below. Info here 16:21
CG medevacs injured F/V Sea Angels fisherman Clint Owens, 41, of Townsend, Ga.
Someone aboard the 105-foot fishing vessel Sea Angels, homeported in Beaufort, N.C., used a VHF-FM marine radio to notify Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, Fla., watchstanders at 7 a.m. Owens became injured after he was struck in the head with part of the vessel’s rigging equipment. The crewman reported Owens had short-term memory loss, a laceration, severe neck pain and a jaw injury. more@uscgnews 19:45
SC Fishermen William Collins, 55, and Josh Carter, 25 rescued after F/V Little D runs aground, begins taking on water
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Coast Guard crews rescued two fishermen early Saturday morning after their 55-foot boat ran aground and began taking on water at the south tip of Jekyll Island, Ga. Rescued are William Collins, 55, and Josh Carter, 25. The men used a VHF-FM marine radio to report to watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Charleston at 3:49 a.m. that the vessel, Little D, lost engine power before running aground in 3-foot breakers and was beginning to take on water. more@uscgnews 10:55
USCB, DNR to study toxic effects of rainfall in coastal SC waters
USCB and DNR have purchased equipment that will be stationed at various spots throughout the waterways for a year. The devices, to be deployed in about a week, will let researchers measure rainfall amounts, water temperature, water salinity and chemicals, Montie said. The study comes in the wake of a massive die-off of the county’s oyster population in recent weeks. Environmental officials and fishermen have said that as much as 75 to 90 percent of the oysters are dead. [email protected] 10:59
We Want Ours! Coastal Conservation Association – 500 recreational permits for the zone – Biscayne National Park
A move away from an initial proposal for a no-fishing area covering 16 square miles pleased board members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission when they met Thursday in Weston in Broward County. more@keysnet
Experts worry whales may have contracted dolphin disease
Overall, more than 800 dolphins have stranded along the coast, although officials fear far more have died offshore and never been discovered. And now, officials have a new worry: The virus causing the dolphins’ deaths may be jumping species. Among five other species tested, the virus has been detected in three humpback whales and two pygmy sperm whales that stranded in Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. [email protected] 08:23
Altamaha Riverkeeper to Sue Rayonier for Clean Water Violations
“They have just spent several hundred million dollars to update their mill, but they continue to discharge dark, chemical-laden water into the Altamaha,” said Deborah Sheppard, executive director of ARK. more@businesswire 20:45
Migrating dolphins found dead in NE Fla.
Wildlife officials say at least 16 dead dolphins have washed up on northeast Florida beaches. In addition, NOAA fisheries spokeswoman Allison Garrett says 11 other dolphins were recovered over the weekend. more@myfoxorlando 13:35
Commercial stone crab fishing is off to a horrendous start this year – Fewer crabs, higher prices for claws
“It has been a disastrous start,” Key Fisheries owner Gary Graves said. “It is the highest prices on record. But the catch has been horrible. I am not very confident that this going to be a good year.” more@keysnews 06:18
Changes to the rec and commercial management of swordfish in state waters approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Changes to state rules approved by the Commission will allow fishermen who participate in this new commercial fishery to land and sell their catch in Florida. Additional changes include, more@fosterfollynews 07:01
