Virginia Saltwater Fishing

Atlantic coastal states from Rhode Island through North Carolina have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum III to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Spiny Dogfish.

The date, time, and location of the scheduled VMRC meeting follows:

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
February 15, 2011; 6:00 PM
2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor
Newport News, Virginia
Contact: Jack Travelstead at (757) 247-2247

The Draft Addendum provides seven alternatives to allocate 42% of the annual quota to states from New York through North Carolina through state-specific shares. Other measures include quota transfer, quota payback, and possession limit options.  The proposed measures do not impact the quota allocation or possession limits for Maine through Connecticut.

Six of the quota allocation measures are based on a combination of historic and current landings and include a baseline allocation for states with insignificant landing history.  The other quota allocation option is based on 1994 – 2000 landings history, which are the years used to calculate North Carolina’s current 16% allocation.  In addition, the Draft Addendum proposes a three-year re-evaluation of final measures.

The Draft Addendum was initiated to provide the southern states greater flexibility in managing their quotas through state-specific quotas.  Some states have expressed interest in lowering daily possession limits when demand and value are low and increasing them when demand and value are greatest.  The current system does not allow an individual state (with the exception of North Carolina) to do so without having less access to the regional quota.

Under the current system if a state chose to lower its possession limit, other states could continue to harvest the regional quota under the 3,000 pound daily possession limit.  Individual state quotas could allow a state to set possession limits that maximize the return to its fishermen.

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 4, 2011 and should be forwarded to Chris Vonderweidt, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; (703) 842-0741 (FAX) or at cvonderweidt@asmfc.org (Subject line: Spiny Dogfish Addendum III). For more information, please contact Chris Vonderweidt at (703) 842-0740 or cvonderweidt@asmfc.org.

source: ASFMC

On February 22, 2011, the VMRC Commission will hold a public hearing on the 3 options that establish management measures for the 2011 recreational summer flounder fishery.

The options to be considered are:

A)  18-inch minimum size limit; 4 fish possession limit; and, no closed season

B)  17 1/2-inch minimum size limit; 4 fish possession limit; and, no closed
season

C)  17 1/2-inch minimum size limit; 3 fish possession limit; and, no closed
season

The ASMFC Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Board will meet via a web-based conference call on February 3, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting will be for the Board to consider approval of the 2011 state conservation equivalency proposals for summer flounder, as well as review possible options for recreational black sea bass management.

In December, the Board tasked staff with developing options for regional and state-by-state black sea bass measures. The Board may choose to move forward with including these options in a draft addendum for public comment to be approved on the conference call. The Board decided to meet via conference call in February to allow the necessary administrative time for the states to implement their summer flounder recreational measures before the start of the 2011 fishery.

To join the call, please go to the ASMFC website under meetings for instructions for the web and telephone portions of the call, http://www.asmfc.org/meetings.htm. For more information, please contact Toni Kerns, Senior FMP Coordinator for Management, at (703) 842-0740 or <tkerns@asmfc.org>.

source: ASFMC

Atlantic coastal states from Massachusetts through Virginia have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum VI to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Tautog.

The date, time, and location of the scheduled meeting for Virginia follows:

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
February 15, 2011; 6:00 PM
2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor
Newport News, Virginia
Contact: Jack Travelstead at (757) 247-2247

The Draft Addendum proposes two changes to the tautog management program:

(1) address the illegal trade of live tautog

(2) prevent increases in fishing mortality (F) prior to the completion of the next assessment.

The Draft Addendum was initiated in response to concern regarding the condition of the tautog stock and possible increased pressure on the stock due to illegal fishing activities and continued overfishing. Over the past couple of years, the Board has received reports from its Advisory Panel, Technical Committee, and the fishing public expressing concern about the illegal trade of live tautog and increased poaching. Options to address illegal live harvest include prohibiting recreational anglers from possessing live tautog and requiring recreational anglers to mark any live tautog.

Given that coastwide F continues to exceed the target established in Addendum IV, the Draft Addendum also proposes measures to prevent increases in F prior to the completion of the next assessment (spring/summer 2011).  Specific options include requiring states to implement additional restrictions to meet the F target, a reduction of the F target, a requirement that state regulations prohibit possession in excess of existing bag/possession limits, and recommendations for tautog management in federal waters. The Draft Addendum also contains several other management issues for public comment that may be developed and considered in a future addendum.

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 4, 2011 and should be forwarded to Chris Vonderweidt, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; (703) 842-0741 (FAX) or at cvonderweidt@asmfc.org (Subject line: Tautog Addendum VI). For more information, please contact Chris Vonderweidt at (703) 842-0740 or cvonderweidt@asmfc.org

source: ASFMC

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a series of public hearings and scoping meetings regarding fisheries management measure proposed for several federally managed species, including those within the snapper grouper management complex, dolphin (fish), wahoo, golden crab and octocorals within the South Atlantic region.

These measures will impact both commercial and recreational fishermen who fish in federal waters between 3 and 200 miles offshore ranging from the North Carolina/Virginia state line southward to the east coast of Florida and the Florida Keys.

Public Hearings will be held on three separate amendments:

Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit Amendment to establish Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for species not currently listed as undergoing overfishing as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Annual Catch Limits (pounds or number of fish) will be set for species in the snapper grouper management complex as well as dolphin, wahoo, and golden crab.

Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 9 includes commercial trip limit options for greater amberjack, vermilion snapper, black sea bass, and gag grouper.

Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 2 includes actions relative to the management of octocorals and non-regulatory actions that update existing Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) information. Also, modifications to the management of Special Management Zones in South Carolina, sea turtle release gear requirements for the commercial snapper grouper fishery, designation of new EFH areas and EFH-Habitat Areas of Particular Concern are being considered.

Informal Public Scoping comments will be taken on four amendments currently being considered by the Council:

A Comprehensive Catch Shares Amendment (Amendment 21) is being considered to look at options for catch share programs for species currently under management through quotas (except snowy grouper), effort and participation reduction, and endorsement actions.

Snapper Grouper Amendment 22 explores options for long-term management of red snapper as the stock begins to rebuild.

Amendment 24 addresses the mandates of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to end overfishing and rebuild the red grouper stock.

Scoping comments will also be taken on Golden Crab Amendment 5 to implement a catch share program for the
commercial golden crab fishery.

The hearings/meetings will be open from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Council staff will provide periodic presentations and be on hand to answer questions. Local Council representatives will take formal comments on the public hearing documents any time between those hours. Public testimony will be video-streamed live via a link from the Council’s website as they occur.

The Council is also accepting written and email comments from January 12, 2011 until 5:00 p.m. on February 14, 2011. Copies of the public hearing and scoping documents with details on how to submit written comments will be posted on the Council’s website and available by contacting the Council office at 843/571-4366 or Toll Free 866/SAFMC-10.

For more information and the public hearing/scoping meeting schedule and locations, visit:

http://www.safmc.net/Meetings/PublicHearingsandScoping/tabid/624/Default.aspx

source: NOAA Fish News

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) will implement a free state saltwater angler identification program in January of 2011 in order to exempt saltwater anglers from having to register yearly with the National Saltwater Angler Registry and pay an annual federal registration fee.

The Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) will require unlicensed saltwater anglers age 16 and older to register for free with the VMRC and receive an identification number annually. If someone plans to saltwater fish without needing to buy a license, they’ll need to register with VMRC.

Adult anglers who fish for anadromous or marine species in Virginia’s freshwaters will need to register as well.  Anglers that only fish on licensed charter boats you do not have to register.

Anglers can register online at www.mrc.virginia.gov/FIP or call toll-free 800-723-2728. Phone operators can only take registrations and cannot look up FIP information or answer program questions.

For more information on the FIP, visit www.mrc.virginia.gov or call the VMRC at 757-247-2200.

NOAA Fisheries Service reminds tournament operators to register their Atlantic HMS tournaments for 2011

NOAA Fisheries Service is again reminding tournament operators to register their Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) tournaments for 2011. This includes tournaments occurring on the U.S. East Coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the U.S. Caribbean.

According to NOAA. registering HMS tournaments help with the collection of important recreational catch and effort information which is used to analyze the impacts of potential fishery management actions, assess the status of Atlantic HMS, and to assist the United States in complying with international fishery management obligations.

Federal regulations require that all tournaments awarding points or prizes for Atlantic HMS, including tunas, sharks, swordfish, and/or billfish, register with NOAA Fisheries Service at least four weeks prior to the start of the fishing tournament.

For more information or to register tournaments, see:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/newslist/2010/12-09-10_2011_HMS_Tournament_Registration_Reminder.pdf

source: NOAA Fish News

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) met with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Board (Board) on December 15 in in Virginia Beach, VA to recommend and adopt recreational management measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass.

The Council and Board adopted the use of conservation equivalency to achieve the recreational harvest limit for summer flounder in 2011. This harvest limit (11.44 million pounds), approved in August by the Council and Board, represents a 33% increase relative to the limit implemented in 2010.  Conservation equivalency would require states to develop and implement state-specific management measures (i.e., possession limits, size limits, and seasons) to achieve the harvest limit for their state.

After considerable discussion of the proposed recreational harvest limit and the status of the scup stock, the Council and Board voted to increase the 2011 Total Allowable Landing Level (TAL) for scup to about 26 million pounds, an increase of 92% relative to the 2010 level. Although the Council and Board had agreed to a lower TAL in August, they agreed the revised TAL  recommendation would more effectively accommodate the region’s vibrant recreational scup fishery while staying within the maximum sustainable yield for this stock.

Based on the associated recreational harvest of 5.74 million pounds, the Council and Board adopted status quo (same as 2010) measures for federal and state waters in 2011 for scup.  These measures in federal waters would include a 10 fish possession limit, a 10.5-inch total length (TL) minimum fish size, and an open season July 6 to September 26.

The Council and Board adopted coastwide management measures for the 2011 recreational black sea bass fishery. These include a 13-inch TL minimum fish size, a 25 fish possession limit, and an open season from July 1 to October 1 and November 1 to December 31. The measures will remain in effect for 2011 until the ASMFC approves an addendum to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Plan that implements regional specifications for black sea bass that would achieve the necessary reduction in fishing mortality for 2011.

Once the addendum is in place, the Council and Board agreed that management measures in Federal waters would revert to the same measures in place for 2010 – a 12.5-inch TL minimum fish size, 25 fish possession limit, and an open season from May 22 to October 11 and November 1 to December 31.

Mid-Atlantic Council Chairman, Rick Robins, noted that “The Council and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission worked together very effectively to craft measures that would mitigate potentially disruptive impacts within the black sea bass fishery by developing a provisional motion that would enable the Commission to address the geographic variability of the performance in this important recreational fishery.  Additionally, our actions this week set the stage for significant and long awaited increases in recreational opportunities in the summer flounder fishery, following a decade of difficult but successful stock rebuilding.”

source: MAFMC press release

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s South Atlantic State/Federal Fisheries Management Board has approved Draft Addendum I to Amendment I to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Croaker for public comment. The Draft Addendum proposes two changes to the Atlantic croaker management program: (1) changing the management unit to one region (New Jersey to the east coast of Florida), and (2) modifying the biological reference points used to assess stock condition.

Both proposed measures stem from the recommendations of the 2010 benchmark assessment, which indicates that Atlantic croaker is not experiencing overfishing. Based on the findings of the assessment, Atlantic croaker is now considered to be a single stock on the Atlantic coast.

The previous stock assessment, which formed the basis of Amendment 1, divided the stock into Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic regions due to difficulty assessing the resource as a single unit. The 2010 assessment used data from both regions to produce a single, coastwide assessment. Draft Addendum I proposes adopting the single stock unit to be consistent with the current science on Atlantic croaker.

Draft Addendum I also proposes modifying the biological reference points (BRPs) used to assess stock condition since the results of the 2010 assessment cannot be compared to the Amendment 1 BRPs, which are specific to the Mid-Atlantic region only. The proposed BRPs are very similar to those in Amendment 1. They use the same definitions for the targets and thresholds (e.g., fishing mortality rate threshold = FMSY), but they differ in that absolute estimates of spawning stock biomass (SSB) and fishing mortality (F) are not estimated.

Estimates are not given because of uncertainty in the assessment resulting from inadequate data on the magnitude of croaker discards in the South Atlantic shrimp trawl fishery. The determination of stock status is thus based on the ratios of F and SSB to their respective target and threshold. The proposed targets and thresholds are:

F target = 0.75*FMSY                        SSB target = SSBMSY
F threshold = FMSY                        SSB threshold = 0.70*SSBMSY

Under the proposal, if F/FMSY is greater than 1, then overfishing is occurring. If SSB/(0.70*SSBMSY) is less than 1, the stock is overfished. In other words, F must be lower than its threshold, and SSB must be higher than its threshold, or the stock will be considered to be experiencing overfishing or be in an overfished condition, respectively. The targets would still represent the levels that management measures are designed to achieve.

Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Addendum through written comment. 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 January 31, 2011 and should be forwarded to Robert Beal, ISFMP Director, 1050 N. Highland Street, Suite 200A-N, Arlington, VA 22201-2196; 703.842.0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Atlantic Croaker).

source: ASMFC press release

NOAA has announced that the annual fee for registering with the National Saltwater Angler Registry will be $15.00 as of Jan. 1, 2011.

Virginia’s saltwater anglers, however, will not have to pay the fee or sign up with the national registry. Virginia has been exempted through the efforts of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

In order to maintain that exemption, the VMRC will collect contact information when anglers buy an annual saltwater fishing license as of Jan. 1.

Anglers who do not need to buy a license under state law must register with the new Virginia Fisherman Identification Program FOR FREE and supply their contact information before they fish every year.

The Virginia Fisherman Identification Program will begin Jan. 1, 2011. Anglers may register annually by going to www.mrc.virginia.gov/FIP or by calling toll-free 800-723-2728. Registration will be quick, easy, and without charge.

The intent is to create a Virginia-wide “phone book” of saltwater anglers, which will be given to NOAA in order to improve fishing effort surveys and to exempt Virginia anglers from having to sign up directly with the National Saltwater Angler Registry and pay the annual $15 federal registration fee.

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.

Virginia anglers who must register each year with the Fisherman Identification Program: Those who fish legally without a license (such as on a boat licensed to cover all anglers; from a commercial pier or private property; who are age 65 and older) or who fish in tidal freshwater for anadromous species such as striped bass or other marine species. They will be issued an identification number to keep with them while fishing to prove they have registered.

In effect, as of Jan. 1, 2011, all Virginia adult saltwater anglers will need either a valid saltwater fishing license or to register with the Fisherman Identification Program every year.
Virginia is one of 22 of the nation’s 24 coastal states that now have saltwater angler registries or licenses and have been exempted from the federal requirement because they are providing registry information to the National Saltwater Angler Registry.

The National Saltwater Angler Registry is an important tool that enables NOAA to better estimate the health of marine fisheries so that more effective regulations can be established to preserve recreational fishing for the anglers, fishing businesses, coastal communities and millions of Americans whose lives and livelihoods are connected to saltwater fishing. Congress created the registry, a national phone book of anglers, through the Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act of 2006 to improve surveys of fishermen used to assess the health of fish stocks and the economic contributions of anglers.

The law authorized NOAA’s Fisheries Service to charge a fee for the annual registration beginning in 2011.

The National Saltwater Angler Registry is part of a major initiative to improve how NOAA’s Fisheries Service gathers, analyzes and reports recreational fishing data. The goal of the Marine Recreational Information Program, or MRIP, is to ensure that the data scientists, managers, stock assessors and others need to effectively conserve our nation’s ocean resources is available, accessible, held to the most exacting scientific standards, and broadly trusted by our partners and stakeholders in the fishing community and others.  For more information or to register, visit www.CountMyFish.noaa.gov or call toll-free (888) MRIP-411.

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission manages Virginia’s saltwater fisheries, both recreational and commercial, and is based in Newport News, Va. The Fisherman Identification Program is authorized by state law, and annual registration of non-licensed saltwater anglers is required.

source: VMRC press release