Virginia Saltwater Fishing

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has extended the survey and comment deadline for its Visioning Initiative. The initiative is an opportunity for anyone interested in fisheries managed by the Council to weigh in on the future of fisheries management in the Mid-Atlantic. Survey responses can now be submitted until February 29, 2012.

The Council is asking the public to take one or more online surveys to provide their ideas and comments on fisheries management policies and processes. This is an opportunity for stakeholders to share their varied perspectives and opinions with the Council.

In addition to the main survey, there are short species-specific surveys where anyone interested in a particular species can provide detailed input on the management of that fishery. Links to all surveys are posted on the Visioning website: http://www.mafmc.org/vision.

Organizations also have the opportunity to submit position letters that will be included in the Visioning data package. Any organization, including non-governmental organizations, recreational fishing clubs, and commercial fishing associations, can submit a letter addressing areas of particular concern or providing recommendations to the Council. Position letter guidelines are available on the Visioning website.

The deadline for submission of surveys and position letters is February 29, 2012. All input received will be presented at the April Council meeting, at which point the Council will begin crafting a vision and accompanying strategic plan designed to achieve that vision. For additional details about the project, or for survey links and position letter guidelines, visit http://www.mafmc.org/vision or contact Mary Clark at mclark@mafmc.org or (302) 526-5261.

source: MAFMC

NOAA recently announced the use of an improved method to estimate the amount of fish caught by saltwater anglers. Scientists expect the new method to result in more accurate estimates of recreational fishing catches.

NOAA will use the new method to calculate estimates for the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico for use in fishery management and stock assessment by NOAA, regional fishery management councils and states.

The method is part of an overall effort to improve the accuracy of recreational catch data collected by the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP). The improved estimation method was developed by a team of NOAA scientists and outside experts.

NOAA also released recalculated estimates going back to 2004 using the new method. The revised data will be used by the regional fishery management councils, the states, and other stakeholders in their fisheries science and management programs.

A major part of the Marine Recreational Information Program is the National Saltwater Angler Registry. Scientists hope the angler registry will improve the accuracy of fishing effort estimates by increasing the proportion of fishing households that are surveyed.

According to NOAA, additional improvements to increase the accuracy of the estimates are being developed, including revised dockside survey methods, testing of approaches to improving data timeliness, and use of electronic logbooks in the for-hire vessel sector.

To learn more about the Marine Recreational Information Program, go to: http://www.CountMyFish.noaa.gov

source: NOAA press release

NOAA has published quotas and other measures for bluefin tuna. The allocations divide the available 2011 U.S. bluefin tuna quota of 957 metric tons among commercial and recreational fishing sectors for the fishing season that began on June 1.

In addition, NOAA’s Fisheries Service announced it would begin a review of domestic bluefin tuna management to address allocation issues, discards of dead bluefin tuna and the best ways to reduce unintended catch of bluefin tuna.

The total U.S. quota was set by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas in November, the international body made up of 47 nations and the European Union that manages this highly migratory species.

The General category, which includes commercial fishermen who use rod and reel, will receive 435 metric tons, nearly half the 2011 U.S. quota. Allocations for the other categories are as follows: Angling category (which includes recreational fishermen),  182 metric tons; purse seine fishermen, 171.8 metric tons; longline fishermen, 61 metric tons; harpoon fishermen, 36 metric tons; trap fishermen, 0.9 metric tons; and a reserve of 70.6 metric tons. The reserve is set aside for scientific research and to account for landings and dead discards.

For more information on bluefin tuna go to: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2011/05/bluefin_tuna.html

source: NOAA press release

Virginia Marine Police will begin enforcing the Virginia Fisherman Identification Program registration requirement after the Fourth of July weekend.

The new registration program went into effect on Jan. 1, and requires adults who fishes in Virginia’s saltwaters, or for saltwater species in tidal freshwater, to register with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission if they are exempt from buying a saltwater fishing license. Registration is quick, easy and free.

Anglers who buy a Virginia saltwater fishing license of any type are automatically registered.

So far, only 27,600 anglers have registered this year. The National Marine Fisheries Service estimates 750,000 people a year fish in Virginia’s saltwaters.

VMRC has taken many steps to inform anglers of the registration requirements, including the expenditure of almost $40,000 of a federal grant on full-page color ads in a dozen different newspapers and fishing magazines, as well as placement of posters at public boat ramps.

“It’s time for anglers to sign up or risk getting a ticket” said Virginia Marine Police Chief Rick Lauderman.

Anglers who fail to register if required to do so could be charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor, which carries a fine up to $500 at the discretion of the judge.

Virginia anglers who must register each year with the Fisherman Identification Program include: Those who fish on a boat licensed to cover all anglers; from a commercial pier or private property; who are age 65 and older; and those who fish in tidal freshwater for anadromous species such as striped bass, shad or other marine species.

The intent of the program is to create a Virginia-wide “phone book” of saltwater anglers. Fishery managers will know who is fishing if a fishing license is purchased, but have no way of knowing who is fishing if an angler doesn’t need to buy a license. Registering those license-exempt anglers is the only way to create a comprehensive Virginia “phone book” of saltwater anglers.

This “phone book” will be given to the National Marine Fisheries Service in order to improve recreational fishing effort surveys (which will benefit species management and sustainable fisheries) and to continue to exempt anglers from having to sign up directly with the National Saltwater Angler Registry and pay an annual $15 federal registration fee.

“We need Virginia anglers who fish legally without a license to register with us or Virginia’s exemption from the national registry will be at risk,’’ said VMRC Fisheries Chief Jack Travelstead. “If we lose that exemption, that would mean all adult anglers would have to register with the federal government and pay a $15 a year registration fee. I don’t think anyone wants that to happen.”

Anglers may register annually in the Virginia Fisherman Identification Program by going to www.mrc.virginia.gov/FIP now or by calling toll-free 800-723-2728 at any time of the day, any day of the week.

Anglers with a valid Virginia saltwater fishing license or a Potomac River Fisheries Sport Fishing License do not have to register with the state FIP. Their contact information will be collected when they buy a license.

Anglers under the age of 16 also are exempt from registering. Also exempt from registration are paying customers of licensed charter boats or head boats.

source: VMRC

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board recently approved Addendum I to Amendment I to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Croaker.

The Addendum changes the management unit to one region (New Jersey through the east coast of Florida) and modifies the biological reference points used to assess stock condition.

The 2010 benchmark assessment indicates that Atlantic croaker is not experiencing overfishing. Atlantic croaker is now considered to be a single stock on the Atlantic coast.

Copies of Addendum I will be available on the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org

For more information, please contact Danielle Brzezinski, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at dbrzezinski@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740.

source: ASFMC

The ASMFC  Tautog Management Board recently approved Addendum VI to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Tautog. With the  latest assessment indicating that  the stock continues to be overfished with overfishing occurring, the plan is expected to mean cuts in fishing along Virginia’s coast and waters of the Chesapeake Bay.

According to the 2011 stock assessment update, spawning stock biomass (SSB) has remained at low levels for the last decade, with 2009 SSB estimated at 10,553 metric tons.

Overfishing is reported to have occurred since 2005. In order to end overfishing and initiate stock rebuilding, Addendum VI lowers the F target to 0.15 and requires states to implement measures to achieve a 56% reduction in exploitation by January 1, 2012.

Addendum VI also requires states to prohibit the possession of undersized tautog in excess of bag and possession limits. The measure is intended to deter illegal harvest of tautog for the live market.

The Addendum can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at 703/842-0740. For more information, please contact Chris Vonderweidt at cvonderweidt@asmfc.org.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment from boaters and other stakeholders to help develop proposed regulations, as required by the 2008 Clean Boating Act, to reduce water pollution and the spread of invasive species in the nation’s rivers, lakes and other water bodies. As an alternative to permits required for commercial vessels, the act directs EPA to develop and promulgate management practices for recreational vessels.

The important input received through this process will help guide the development of proposed regulations to mitigate adverse effects from recreational boat discharges, such as bilgewater, graywater and deck runoff, that may contain substances harmful to water quality or spread invasive species.

The Clean Boating Act directs EPA to take steps to limit the impact of pollution and the spread of invasive species associated with the discharge from boats. As part of the public input, EPA is also seeking information from states that already enact standards to limit the impacts of boat discharges on waterways.

Based on the important input received, EPA will seek to develop appropriate management practices and performance standards that protect waterways while also working with the U.S. Coast Guard, which will establish regulations governing the design, construction, installation and use of management practices. Implementation of these management practices will allow boaters and other water enthusiasts to continue enjoying our nation’s water bodies while protecting water quality.

EPA is holding listening sessions and conducting webinars to inform interested parties about the Clean Boating Act and receive public input. The listening sessions will be held in Annapolis, Md. on March 18 and April 29.

More information about the Clean Boating Act: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/vessel/CBA/about.cfm

In February, VMRC  voted to implement new flounder regulations for 2011. The minimum size for summer flounder will be 17.5 inches,  with a  4 fish creel limit, and no seasonal closures.

The new regulations decrease the minimum size from the 2010 level which was previously 18.5 inches.

NOAA Fisheries will hold a meeting of the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel on April 5-7, 2011, in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The intent of this meeting is to consider alternatives for the conservation and management of Atlantic tunas, swordfish, billfish, and sharks.

As of March 1, the agenda and venue had not been set. For more information, visit the Federal Register page:

http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/02/10/2011-2987/atlantic-highly-migratory-species-meeting-of-the-atlantic-highly-migratory-species-advisory-panel

source: NOAA Fish News?

Virginia has scheduled its hearing to gather public comment on Draft Addendum XXI to the Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. The date, time, and location of the scheduled Virginia meeting follows:

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
March 7, 2011; 6 PM
2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor
Newport News, Virginia
Contact: Jack Travelstead at (757) 247-2247

Draft Addendum XXI proposes to establish a program wherein the Commission’s Black Sea Bass Management Board could sub-divide the recreational black sea bass coastwide allocations into regional or state-by-state management for 2011 only. Since 1996, a uniform coastwide size, season, and bag limit has been set by the Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to constrain the recreational fishery to the annual harvest target.

The harvest target was exceeded five times over the last 15 years, most recently in 2009 and 2010 when the harvest target was the lowest in the time series. It is estimated that 2009 and 2010 harvest targets were exceeded by 1.18 and 1.15 million pounds, respectively.

The current management plan only allows for the implementation of measures to be applied coastwide and not on a regional or state-specific basis.  In 2010 all states, with the exception of Massachusetts, adopted coastwide regulations of 25 fish, 12.5 inches TL minimum fish size, and an open season from May 22 to October 11 and November 1 to December 31 in 2010.

Massachusetts opted for a more restrictive 20 fish possession limit, and adopted all other coastwide regulations in 2010. The 2010 regulations resulted in a preliminary estimated harvest of 2.98 million pounds, approximately 1.15 million pounds above the 2010 target.

Given that the 2010 regulations were not effective in staying within the target, harvest will need to be reduced by 40% to achieve, but not exceed, the 2011 target of 1.78 million pounds. In order to meet the required reduction using coastwide measures, the Board has proposed increasing the minimum size limit to 13 inches and contracting the season to July 1 to October 1 and November 1 to December 31.

However, analyses have shown that these proposed changes will impact states differently. The Board initiated the Draft Addendum to provide the necessary management flexibility to mitigate potential disproportionate impact on states that can result from coastwide measures.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum, either by attending public hearings or providing written comments. The Draft Addendum can be obtained via the Commission’s website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News or by contacting the Commission at (703) 842-0740.

Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM (EST) on March 18, 2011 and should be forwarded to Toni Kerns, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; (703) 842-0741 (FAX) or at tkerns@asmfc.org (Subject line: Black Sea Bass). For more information, please contact Toni Kerns at (703) 842-0740 or Tkerns@asmfc.org.