News Release Archives - Jan. 2015

Release: Immediate
Date: Jan. 26, 2015
Contact: Patricia Smith
Phone: 252-726-7021

MOREHEAD CITY — The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is asking the public to submit comments on issues they would like to see addressed in an upcoming Kingfish Fishery Management Plan.

The division has started a mandated review of the N.C. Kingfish Fishery Management Plan, adopted by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission in 2007. The agency is soliciting public feedback as part of an internal process to determine what procedural method to take in reviewing the plan.

If changes in management strategies or rules are needed, the division will pursue a plan amendment, where division staff and an advisory committee develop positions on specific issues that need to be addressed. If changes in management strategies are not required, the division will proceed with a revision, which is a more abbreviated process that involves updating data and fishery information contained in the plan.

Written comments will be accepted until Feb. 17 and should be addressed to Beth Egbert, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 1965, Manteo, N.C. 27954, or sent by email to Beth.Egbert@ncdenr.gov or to Kevin Brown, N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557 or sent by email to Kevin.H.Brown@ncdenr.gov.

State law requires the division to prepare a fishery management plan for adoption by the Marine Fisheries Commission for all commercially and recreationally significant species or fisheries that comprise state marine and estuarine resources. These plans provide management strategies designed to ensure long-term viability of the species.

Kingfish are species of fish, also known as sea mullet and whiting, which are found off the North Carolina coast and in its rivers and sounds.

nr-03-2015

Release: Immediate
Date: Jan. 22, 2015
Contact: Rick DeVictor
Phone: 727-824-5305

NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on Amendment 32 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Amendment 32). The proposed rule for Amendment 32 published in the Federal Register on Jan. 22, 2015 (80 FR 3207). The comment period ends on Feb. 23, 2015.

Amendment 32 would implement management measures to end overfishing (rate of fish removal too high) of blueline tilefish in the South Atlantic. A population assessment completed in 2013 determined that blueline tilefish is undergoing overfishing. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and NOAA Fisheries are required by law to prepare and implement a plan amendment and regulations to end overfishing by December 6, 2015.

Actions in Amendment 32 consider:

• Implementation of blueline tilefish annual catch limits and accountability measures for the commercial and recreational sectors. Accountability measures are management controls to prevent annual catch limits from being exceeded and to correct overages of the catch limits if they do occur.
• Implementation of a commercial trip limit of 100 pounds gutted weight for blueline tilefish.
• Implementation of a recreational vessel limit of one per vessel per day for the months of May through August each year.
• Recreational harvest of blueline tilefish would be prohibited September through April each year.
• Removal of blueline tilefish from the deep-water complex.
• Recalculation of the commercial and recreational annual catch limits for the deep-water complex.
• Revisions to the accountability measures for the commercial and recreational sectors for the deep-water complex.

Request for Comments
Comments on the amendment must be received no later than Feb. 23, 2015, to be considered by NOAA Fisheries. See the Addresses section for information on where and how to submit comments.

Electronic copies of Amendment 32 may be obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Web site
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/2014/am32/index.html, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, the Council's Web site at http://www.safmc.net.

Addresses
You may submit comments by the following methods:

• Electronic Submission:
  Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
  www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0145, click the "Comment Now!" icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
• Mail:
  NOAA Fisheries Service
  Southeast Regional Office
  Sustainable Fisheries Division
  c/o Rick DeVictor
  263 13th Avenue South
  St. Petersburg, FL 33701

All personal identifying information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA Fisheries will accept anonymous comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. Comments received through means not specified in this bulletin may not be considered.

More information, including Frequently Asked Questions for Amendment 32 can be found online at:
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/2014/am32/index.html

FB15-005