Tag Archives: new-england-fishery-management-council
Herring fishermen lose on higher haddock bycatch limit
Herring fishermen are struggling to avoid haddock because the stock on Georges Bank is increasing, said Tooley, who also is a council member but recused herself from Thursday’s vote. At the same time, federal regulators have lowered the cap for haddock bycatch from previous years, she said. “The biomass has gone up and the cap has gone down. That’s the problem,” she said. Read more here 11:12
Price of bait to rise? Herring Fishermen Denied More Haddock Bycatch
The council denied the request at a meeting Friday TODAY . Federal regulators say Atlantic herring fishermen who fish from mid-water trawl boats are on track this year to exceed their limit for incidental catch of haddock in Georges Bank. That would trigger rules that would effectively shut down the herring fishery. Read more here 16:35
Remapping of federal waters off New England moving forward – Some groups of fisherman will gain and others will lose
Not only do conservationists and fishermen disagree, Bachman said, but some groups of fishermen stand to benefit while other groups could suffer, depending on the gear they use and the fish they catch. “It’s a matter of perspective on where you are coming from,” she said. “It’s going to be a matter of finding out who the winners and losers should be.” Read more here 09:17
Herring and haddock fishermen at odds over bycatch
Fishermen in two of the most lucrative fisheries in the Northeast — Atlantic herring and haddock —are at odds over the management of fishing in Georges Bank, a key nerve center for both species. Atlantic herring fishermen who fish from mid-water trawl boats are on track this year to exceed their limit for incidental catch of haddock in Georges Bank, off the coast of New England, federal regulators said. That would trigger rules that would effectively shut down the herring fishery. Read more here 11:39
20 Years Ago: Commercial-Fishing Halt Is Urged for Georges Bank
While some fishing could continue, the council, the New England Fishery Management Council, directed its staff to come up with measures that would reduce the catch of cod, haddock and yellowtail flounder, the principal species sought on the Georges Bank, to as close to zero as practical. Read more here 08:06
After record lows, herring stock is now healthier, living longer
After years of lobbying and litigation by local fishermen and environmental groups, the fisheries service and the New England Fishery Management Council are considering regulations to make sure the offshore herring fleet isn’t also catching river herring, but the majority of their runs remain dammed or neglected. A 2001-2002 survey looked at 215 Massachusetts coastal waterways and found 380 blockages, including dams, that kept fish from spawning grounds. The same survey found that almost half the 175 structures intended to get fish past dams were not functioning. Read more here 09:13
Proposal targets herring trawlers
Herring trawlers will have to stop fishing and end the fishing trip if they lower their nets and dump bycatch, such as a haddock and alewife, according to new rules being recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council. portlandpress Read more here 11:07
New England Fishery Management Council Meeting April 22-24, 2014 Mystic, CT
Agenda information is here, LISTEN LIVE!!!! ( so they claim!, Webinar registration is here. 07:22
Judge’s Groundfishing Rulings Bring Mixed Reaction in Maine –
There was mixed reaction today from environmental advocates following a couple of recent decisions by a federal judge regarding New England’s groundfishing industry. Listen, and Read more here 18:17
Then, there’s this obligatory piece from CLF Shyster Peter Shelley, Court Issues Decisions on NOAA’s Fishing Rules here
Dogfish ‘everywhere’ (not just) in Gulf of Maine, but sales go nowhere
Regulators may raise catch limits on the voracious little shark, which competes with more valuable ocean species for food. And here’s the problem: Scientists say there are huge and growing numbers of dogfish in the Gulf of Maine competing for the same food as more commercially valuable species, such as cod and haddock. Read more here 08:10
Reopen historic, lucrative Georges Bank scalloping grounds – Tim Healy
ROCKLAND — In a region where years of harsh, inflexible regulations have led to a dwindling fishing fleet and shrinking dockside revenues, the scallop fishery stands out as one of the few success stories, producing one of the most valuable and sought-after seafood products in the country. Read more here 11:48
NOAA Regional Director John Bullard – NOAA sees ‘status quo’ on closed fish areas, ignoring climate affects on fisheries
NOAA Regional Director John Bullard, in a letter to the New England Fishery Management Council, indicated the federal agency will not stand with fishing advocates in their preference for opening up a greater portion of Stellwagen Bank as part of the new rules being drafted to determine where commercial fishermen will be allowed to fish beginning in the winter of 2015-16. Read more@GDT 00:24
New England Fishery Management Council Meeting – February 25 – 26, 2014 in Danvers , Ma. LISTEN LIVE!
February 25-26, 2014 – New England Fishery Management Council Meeting at Double Tree Hotel 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 01923 Phone: 978/777-2500 ; Fax: 978/750-7959 Read the agenda here Webinar Registration here 15:31
Letter: Time for New England Fishery Management Council to open closed areas – Peter Hughes, Cape May, N.J.
The New England Fishery Management Council has before it several scientifically-backed proposals for updating area closures off the coast of Massachusetts. These closures have been off-limits to fishermen for almost 20 years, but updated science indicates they may not be best suited for balancing the needs of industry and conservation. Read more@GDT 01:04
New fish fight for New England
The New England Fishery Management Council is looking at a plan to take 55 square miles of Stellwagen Bank, a section due east of Scituate and due north of Provincetown, where commercial fishing is already banned and put it off limits to recreational fishermen and charter boats. Read more@necn, Video Report 13:09
So how’s that “catch shares” revolution working out for groundfish?
“Recent scientific analyses show us that fisheries managed with catch share programs perform better than fisheries managed with traditional tools. Even in the first years after implementation, catch share fisheries are stable, and even increase their productivity. The scientific evidence is compelling that catch shares can also help restore the health of ecosystems and get fisheries on a path to profitability and sustainability. These results, … these scientific analyses, … are why moving forward to implement more catch share programs is a high priority for me. I see catch shares as the best way for many fisheries to both meet the Magnuson mandates and have healthy, profitable fisheries that are sustainable.” (Former NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco to the New England Fishery Management Council pressing for catch share management in the New England groundfish fishery in Boston on May 19, 2009) Read more@Fishosophy
Portsmouth: New England Fishery Management Council Meeting – January 28-30, 2014
Full council Meeting at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel, 250 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801 – NEFMC January Council Meeting Webinar Registration here Meeting Agenda here 13:38
New England Fishery Management Council Meeting Cancellations – Bad Weather
Dear Stakeholder and Interested Parties: The following meetings have been cancelled based on the poor weather conditions that are predicted for tonight and tomorrow. Updated notices will be sent out and we will update the NEFMC calendar accordingly. – The January 22 Herring Advisory Panel Meeting – will be rescheduled to February 13. – The January 22 Recreational Advisory Panel Meeting – new date TBD. Regards, Pat- Patricia M. Fiorelli Public Affairs Officer New England Fishery Management Council 50 Water Street, Mill 2 Newburyport, MA 01950 – 978.465.0492, ext. 106 – [email protected]<mailto:pfi
New Hampshire, Mass, Seek Applicant’s for New England Fishery Management Council
What has Changed? Published: October 27, 1994 – Commercial-Fishing Halt Is Urged for Georges Bank
Faced with a fishery on the verge of collapse, a Federal council today recommended virtually shutting down commercial fishing in the Georges Bank off Cape Code, once one of the world’s richest fishing grounds. While some fishing could continue, the council, the New England Fishery Management Council, directed its staff to come up with measures that would reduce the catch of cod, haddock and yellowtail flounder, the principal species sought on the Georges Bank, to as close to zero as practical. Read more@nyt 16:07
Habitat debate intensifies ahead of NEFMC vote; Many ask, “Do closures even work?”
WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) — December 16, 2013 — Georges Bank is home to some of the most important fishing grounds in New England. But large portions of it have been off-limits to commercial groundfishermen and scallopers for almost twenty years, with a network of closed areas in place intended to restore habitat and assist in the rebuilding of fish populations. Now that network is up for revision with the Omnibus Habitat Amendment, which is currently being considered by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC). The Amendment process has sparked a debate among fishermen, scientists, and environmental groups over these areas’ future. Questions have been raised over whether they are best left closed to facilitate conservation, or if the scallop and groundfish fleets should once again be allowed access to some of the most abundant fishery areas in the region. Added to that, is a discussion as to whether or not these closures have even benefited groundfish at all. more here 14:37
Tom Dempsey Fails to Shut down the Mid Water Fleet – Cape fishermen fail to get emergency haddock rules in place
“This is about haddock,” said Tom Dempsey, a member of the New England Fishery Management Council who is also the policy director for the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance in Chatham. (No it ain’t) more@capecodtimes Meet Tom Dempsey – “I think the Cape and Islands has a very different perspective on a lot of issues.” 10:49
Fisheries council balks at ban on herring trawling more@bostonglobe
November 20, 2013 New England Fishery Management Council meeting – Live Streaming Information
The public is invited to attend the November 20, 2013 New England Fishery Management Council meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Newport Marriott Hotel, 25 America’s Cup Boulevard, Newport, RI. The webinar will be activated beginning at 8:00 a.m. and end at approximately 5:00 p.m. each day. Webinar Registration: For online access to the meeting, please register by clicking here Once registered, you will receive an email confirmation with the information you will need to join the webinar. 11:12
Letter: Coalition keeps up fight for fishermen
For over the past five years, the Northeast Seafood Coalition has actively participated in the New England Fishery Management Council process surrounding the Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2 (commonly referred to as the Habitat Omnibus Amendment) to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. more@GDT 02:18
New England Fishery Management Council – Sept/Oct Council Report
Please contact Public Affairs Officer Patricia Fiorelli with any questions or concerns at (978) 465-0492 ext. 106 or [email protected]<mailto:pfi
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NEFMC – CouncilReport_10.2013.pdf 266K View Download |
Regulators in New England cap river herring catch
The caps proposed Thursday by the New England Fishery Management Council during their meeting on Cape Cod target so-called mid-water trawlers, which catch herring by pulling a large net between them. The caps limit the trawlers to a total of 500,000 pounds of river herring in three areas off New England. [email protected] 17:15
Fishermen host meeting about changes at Stellwagen Bank
Marshfield —Local fishermen are concerned about a Stellwagen Bank proposal that would eliminate a key fishing area from the region’s industry. According to the Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association (SBCBA), a proposed Sanctuary Environmental Research Area (SERA) would shut down all bottom fishing on 55 nautical square miles of Stellwagen Bank. more@marshfieldmariner 13:41
Suppose there was an important fishery that was the basis of a large part of the coastal economy as well as the cultural cement that held coastal communities together. – Towards rationality in fisheries management
Adding their interpretation to this, the people at NOAA/NMFS, with the enthusiastic support of the various and sundry anti-fishing activists who pull way too many of the strings in Washington, have added as an administrative guideline that “the most important limitation on the specification of OY (optimum yield) is that the choice of OY and the conservation and management measures proposed to achieve it must prevent overfishing.” More here
Insiders see changing dynamics in fisheries market
While the Bay State fishing fleet’s haul of cod has dropped precipitously, the waters now teem with others species that had not been present in such previously cool waters and several that are not common on American menus. more@wickedlocal 00:42
Fallout follows after New England plan for protecting herring is shelved after much ado
(AP) — A plan to protect the important Atlantic herring from what many believe is its biggest threat has been shelved indefinitely after years of work devising it – and even after winning support from the very vessels being targeted. Last month, federal regulators at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rejected a measure that would have required independent catch observers aboard every trip taken by mid-water trawlers, which can scoop herring out of sea hundreds of thousands of pounds at a time. read more here
