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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 37 Number 2
October 2009
Herring ABC will result in gutted quotas
PLYMOUTH, MA – Herring, mackerel, and lobster fishermen were reeling in September at the news that the herring total allowable catch (TAC) almost certainly will be severely cut back starting next year. ...continued
True partnership yields landmark shark data
WOODS HOLE, MA – Ever since the blockbuster movie “Jaws” came out in 1975, reports of shark activity have created media frenzies on Cape Cod. And in early September, the Cape was buzzing with excitement over the confirmed sightings of at least five great whites just off Chatham’s Monomoy Island, which these days is carpeted by an exploding population of grey seals. ...continued
Monkfish ITQs bumped; ACLs drive priorities
PLYMOUTH, MA – Once again feeling pressured to meet a federal requirement to develop annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) for all fisheries, the New England Fishery Management Council has deferred consideration of any catch share or individual transferable quota (ITQ) proposals for monkfish. ...continued
NE council resumes work on whiting amendment
PLYMOUTH, MA – Following a long lull due to workload issues, the New England Fishery Management Council has turned its attention back to small-mesh multispecies and is now fully immersed in developing a major amendment to the groundfish plan to deal with whiting, red hake, and offshore whiting. ...continued
Grave future for groundfish common pool boats
PLYMOUTH, MA – The preliminary numbers are in, and now the New England Fishery Management Council is extremely concerned that, even though the vast majority of active groundfish vessels have enrolled in sectors, there may still be too much effort in the “common pool,” raising fears that those vessels will exceed their extremely small annual catch limits (ACLs) on numerous stocks, especially Gulf of Maine cod and pollock. ...continued
Maine lobster task force
Strategic plan urges marketing, research entity
AUGUSTA, ME – Following several meetings, three public hearings, and receipt of the Moseley Group’s analysis of the industry, the Governor’s Task Force on the Economic Sustainability of Maine’s Lobster Industry compiled a strategic plan “to advance the industry’s sustainability and profitability.” ...continued
No quick action on ME lobster task force ideas
AUGUSTA, ME – Intense rivalry among its own members is the Maine lobster industry’s biggest weakness. And the best way to fix the problem is for all components of the industry – harvesters, processors, buyers, and support organizations – to join forces to create a cooperative, comprehensive research and marketing body. ...continued
Pressure on for immediate herring monitoring
GLOUCESTER, MA – The Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association (CCCHFA) has petitioned Commerce Sec. Gary Locke for emergency action to impose stricter monitoring requirements on herring midwater trawl vessels fishing in Closed Area I. ...continued
ASMFC to consider herring options for small-mesh boats in Area 1A
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Small-mesh bottom trawl vessels fishing for herring in Area 1A may end up working under their own set of rules next summer if the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Atlantic Herring Section approves a new addendum to the interstate herring plan. ...continued
Safe Boat
Common hazards result from watch mistakes
How disturbing and distressing do you think it might be to have a crewman wake you out of a dead sleep to inform you that a steamer a half-mile away is bearing down on you? ...continued
ME adopts scallop plan, ponders next step
AUGUSTA, ME – After two years of often difficult debate between fishermen and state regulators, the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Advisory Council gave final approval to a complex area closure plan for the state’s scallop fishery on
Sept. 16. ...continued
Red crab fishery earns MSC certification
NEW BEDFORD, MA – The Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery earned the distinction on Sept. 3 of becoming the very first Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fishery on the US East Coast. ...continued
Red crabbers rocked by ABC that could drastically cut catch
PLYMOUTH, MA – Red crab fishermen, still riding high after obtaining MSC certification for being a sustainable and well managed fishery, were dealt a completely unexpected blow just weeks later when the New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) calculated an allowable biological catch (ABC) for the fishery that, if left to stand, could seriously curtail 2010 landings by this tight-knit, four-boat fleet. ...continued
ASMFC juggles complex lobster issues, including nontrap landings
ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) American Lobster Management Board took a number of actions during its Aug. 17 meeting here that covered everything from stock status concerns to potential increases in nontrap lobster landings. ...continued
CT, NY prep to raise lobster gauge, vent size in LIS – Area 6
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Lobstermen who fish in Long Island Sound (LIS) will be subject to a 1/16" gauge increase effective Jan. 1, 2010, bringing the minimum carapace length up to 3-3/8". ...continued
Lobster TC voices SNE, 514 stock concerns
ALEXANDRIA, VA – The American Lobster Technical Committee (TC) has expressed serious concerns over the status of two specific components of the lobster resource and has developed a list of potential alternatives to advance stock rebuilding. ...continued
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