News Release Archives: September 2017

Release: Immediate
Date: Sept. 28, 2017
Contact: Patricia Smith
Phone: 252-726-7021

Division of Marine Fisheries Standard Commercial
Fishing License Eligibility Board to meet

MOREHEAD CITY — The Standard Commercial Fishing License Eligibility Board to the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will meet at 10:30 a.m., Nov. 1 at the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Wilmington Regional Office, 127 N. Cardinal Drive Extension, Wilmington.

The board will consider applications deemed complete and submitted by Oct. 18.

The board meets two to three times a year to consider license applications. For directions on applying for a commercial fishing license, go to http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/commercial-fishing-license-information and click on the Eligibility Pool Application link.

For more information, contact division License Eligibility Clerk Ann Bordeaux-Nixon at 910-796-7261 or Ann.Bordeaux-Nixon @ncdenr.gov.

Release: Immediate
Date: Sept. 28, 2017
Contact: Patricia Smith
Phone: 252-726-7021

Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee to meet

MOREHEAD CITY — The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee will meet at 10 a.m. Oct. 3 at the Division of Marine Fisheries’ Central District Office, 5285 Highway 70 West, Morehead City.

The committee is expected to discuss the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan.

A full meeting agenda can be found here.

For more information, contact Jimmy Johnson, Coastal Habitats Coordinator with the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership, at 252-948-3952 or Jimmy.Johnson@ncdenr.gov.

nr-61-2017

Release: Immediate
Date: Sept. 28, 2017
Contact: Patricia Smith
Phone: 252-726-7021

Marine Fisheries Commission Nominating Committee meeting set

MOREHEAD CITY — The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission Nominating Committee will meet at 10 a.m. Oct. 4 at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Headquarters, 3441 Arendell St., Morehead City.

The committee will consider and select candidates for nomination to at-large seats on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

A full agenda can be found here.

For more information, contact Nancy Fish in the Marine Fisheries Commission office at 252-808-8021 or Nancy.Fish@ncdenr.gov.

nr-60-2017

Release: Immediate
Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: Sept. 27, 2017
Phone: 252-726-7021

New reef materials enhance fishing for Brunswick County anglers

MOREHEAD CITY — Anglers who fish in Brunswick County waters will find improvements at one of the offshore fishing sites this fall.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Artificial Reef Program, in partnership with the Long Bay Artificial Reef Association, recently sank a barge and more than 1,600 tons of concrete pipe on Artificial Reef-430.

The new material will enhance fishing opportunities for anglers from Oak Island, Southport, and Ocean Isle who target nearshore species such as flounder, Spanish mackerel and king mackerel.

The reef is about 2.6 nautical miles offshore of Oak Island in about 35 feet of water.

Contractors sank the 75-foot barge on July 19. In August, 1,606 tons of concrete pipe was deployed at several locations on the reef site.

The division plans to sink up to another 2,500 tons of concrete materials on the site this fall, more than doubling the amount of material on the reef. The division initially deployed 2,000 tons of concrete pipe on the site in 2013.

Approximate coordinates for the new materials are listed below and will be available on the division’s Interactive Reef Guide upon completion of the project.

Click here to go to the Interactive Reef Guide.

Additionally, hard copies of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Artificial Reef Guide are available at division offices in Morehead City, Wilmington, Washington, Manteo, and Elizabeth City.

The division maintains 43 ocean artificial reefs and 25 estuarine reefs, 15 of which serve as oyster sanctuaries. Ocean reefs are located from one-half mile to 38 miles from shore and are situated so that they can be reached from every maintained inlet in the state. The reefs serve as crucial spawning and foraging habitat for many commercially and recreationally important fish species in North Carolina.

Click here for photos of the reef material deployment.

For more information, contact Jason Peters, artificial reef coordinator, at 252-808-8063 or Jason.Peters@ncdenr.gov.

nr-59-2017

Release: Immediate
Contact: Tina Berger
Date: Sept. 19 2017
Phone: 703-842-0740

South Atlantic States Schedule Public Hearings on
Draft FMP for Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia
North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia Reschedule Hearings

This press release modifies that of September 8th. North Carolina’s September 19th hearing has been rescheduled to Thursday, September 21st at the same location and time. South Carolina and Georgia have also rescheduled their hearing dates to September 26th and 25th, respectively. Please note Georgia’s hearing will occur via webinar only. Please see below for the revised details of the three hearings.

Arlington, VA — The South Atlantic states of Virginia through Georgia have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Migratory Group (AMG) Cobia. The details of those hearings follow.

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
September 12, 2017 at 6 p.m.
2600 Washington Ave 4th floor
Newport News, VA
Contact: Joe Cimino at 757-247-2236

RESCHEDULED: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
September 21, 2017 at 7 p.m.
Hatteras Community Center
57689 NC Highway 12
Hatteras, NC
Contact: Michelle Duval at 252-808-8013

September 20, 2017 at 7 p.m.
Central District Office
5285 US Highway 70 West
Morehead City, NC
Contact: Michelle Duval at 252-808-8013

RESCHEDULED: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
September 26, 2017 at 7 p.m.
Town & Country Inn
2008 Savannah Highway
Charleston, SC
Contact: Mel Bell at 843-953-9007
 
RESCHEDULED: Georgia Department of Natural Resources
September 25, 2017 at 6 p.m.
This hearing will occur via webinar only
Call in for webinar audio at 888-394-8197 and enter Passcode: 815277 when prompted
Webinar Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8431746040563966466
Contact: Pat Geer at 912-264-7218
 
The intent of the Draft FMP is to complement federal AMG cobia management actions and distribute catches among member states through a proposed allocation strategy. The Draft FMP was initiated in response to recent overages of the federal annual catch limit (ACL) for AMG Cobia. The Draft FMP addresses immediate management and conservation goals in anticipation of a new benchmark AMG cobia stock assessment in 2018. Management options include size, bag, and vessel limits to complement federal measures along with proposed de minimis options for Mid-Atlantic states (Maryland through New York) whose landings are minimal or episodic.

The most significant change may come in the form of state-specific recreational allocations. The current ACL for AMG cobia is 670,000 pounds (620,000 pound recreational ACL and a 50,000 pound commercial quota). Managing the recreational ACL on a coastwide basis has resulted in federal closures and significant overages in 2015 and 2016, disrupting fishing opportunities and jeopardizing the health of the stock. The Draft FMP contains a number of proposed options to allocate a recreational harvest limit (equal to the federal recreational ACL) to the four primary states (Georgia-Virginia) to allow those states more flexibility in developing seasonal options that best suit their specific state’s recreational and for-hire interests.

At this time, the options for the commercial AMG cobia fishery do not include state specific allocations and generally complement the proposed federal requirements. The Draft FMP is available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/DraftCobiaFMP_PublicComment_Aug2017.pdf or on the Commission’s website, www.asmfc.org, under Public Input. Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft FMP either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. (EST) on October 6, 2017 and should be forwarded to Louis Daniel, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703-842-0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Cobia FMP). Final action on the Draft FMP is scheduled to occur in October 2017. For more information, please contact Louis Daniel, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at ldaniel@asmfc.org or 252-342-1478.

PR17-38rev2

Release: Immediate
Contact: Tina Berger
Date: Sept. 19 2017
Phone: 703-842-0740

States Schedule Hearings on Atlantic Menhaden Draft Amendment 3 Florida Hearing Moved to October 10th

This press release revises the release distributed on August 31st, rescheduling Florida’s hearing from September 26th to October 10th. Details on PRFC’s listen only webinar are also provided below.

Arlington, VA — The Atlantic coastal states of Maine through Florida have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden. The details of those hearings follow.

Maine Dept. of Marine Resources
October 5, 2017; 6 p.m.
Yarmouth Town Hall
200 Main Street
Yarmouth, ME
Contact: Pat Keliher at 207-624-6553

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
October 3, 2017; 7 p.m.
Urban Forestry Center
45 Elwyn Road
Portsmouth, NH
Contact: Cheri Patterson at 603-868-1095

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
October 2, 2017; 6 p.m.
Thayer Public Library, Logan Auditorium
798 Washington Street
Braintree, MA
Contact: Nichola Meserve at 617.626.1531

October 5, 2017; 6 p.m.
Bourne Community Center, Room 2
239 Main Street
Buzzards Bay, MA
Contact: Nichola Meserve at 617-626-1531

Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife
October 4, 2017; 6 p.m.
University of Rhode Island Bay Campus
Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road
Narragansett, RI
Contact: Robert Ballou at 401-222-4700 ext: 4420

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
September 11, 2017; 7 p.m.
CT DEEP Boating Education Center
333 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, CT
Contact: Mark Alexander at 860-447-4322

New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation
September 12, 2017; 6 p.m.
NYSDEC Division of Marine Resources
205 N. Belle Mead Road
East Setauket, NY
Contact: Jim Gilmore at 631-444-0430

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
September 13, 2017; 6 p.m.
Manahawkin (Stafford Township) Courtroom
260 East Bay Avenue
Manahawkin, NJ
Contact: Russ Allen at 609-748-2020

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
September 14, 2017; 6 p.m.
DNREC Auditorium
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE
Contact: John Clark at 302-739-9914

Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources
September 18, 2017; 6 p.m.
Anne Arundel Community College
Cade Center for the Fine Arts – Room 219
101 College Parkway
Arnold, MD
Contact: Lynn Fegley at 410-260-8285

Potomac River Fisheries Commission
September 19, 2017; 6 p.m.
Carpenter Building
222 Taylor Street
Colonial Beach, VA
Contact: Martin Gary at 804-456-6935
Note: PRFC has also set-up a listen only webinar to allow those that cannot physically attend the hearing the opportunity to listen in and view the slide show being presented by ASMFC staff. ASMFC staff will not be taking comments from webinar participants. Comments must be made via email or mail.
Webinar link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2118636146893542403

Virginia Marine Resources Commission
September 20, 2017; 6 p.m.
Northumberland High School
201 Academic Lane
Heathsville, VA
Contact: Rob O’Reilly at 757-247-2247

September 21, 2017; 6 p.m.
2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor
Newport News, VA
Contact: Rob O’Reilly at 757-247-2247

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
September 27, 2017; 6 p.m.
Central District Office
5285 US Highway 70 West
Morehead City, NC
Contact: Michelle Duval at 252-808-8013

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
October 10, 2017; 4 p.m.
Town of Melbourne Beach Community Center
507 Ocean Avenue
Melbourne Beach, FL
Contact: Jim Estes at 850-617-9622

Draft Amendment 3 seeks to manage the menhaden resource in a way that balances menhaden’s ecological role as a prey species with the needs of all user groups. To this end, the Draft Amendment considers the use of ecosystem reference points (ERPs) to manage the resource and changes to the allocation method. In addition, it presents a suite of management options for quota transfers, quota rollovers, incidental catch, the episodic events set aside program, and the Chesapeake Bay reduction fishery cap.

The 2015 Benchmark Stock Assessment Report identified the develop.m.ent of ERPs as a high priority for Atlantic menhaden management. Menhaden serve an important role in the marine ecosystem as prey for a variety of species including larger fish (e.g. weakfish, striped bass), birds (e.g. bald eagles, osprey), and marine mammals (e.g. humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins). As a result, changes in the abundance of menhaden may impact the abundance and diversity of predator populations, particularly if the availability of other prey is limited. ERPs provide a method to assess the status of menhaden within the broad ecosystem context. Draft Amendment 3 provides a variety of reference point options, including the continued develop.m.ent of menhaden-specific ERPs as well as the application of precautionary guidelines for forage fish species.

Draft Amendment 3 also considers changes to the allocation method given concerns that the current approach may not strike an appropriate balance between gear types and jurisdictions. Specifically, under the current allocation method, increases in the total allowable catch (TAC) result in limited benefits to small-scale fisheries, and to several states. Furthermore, the current method may not provide a balance between the present needs of the fishery and future growth opportunities. Draft Amendment 3 considers a range of allocation alternatives, including a dispositional quota (bait vs. reduction), fleet-capacity quota (quota divided by gear type), jurisdictional quota, including a fixed minimum quota for each state, and an allocation method based on the TAC. In addition, the document considers five allocation timeframes including 2009-2011, 2012-2016, 1985-2016, 1985-1995, and a weighted approached which considers both historic and recent landings.

The Draft Amendment is available at http://www.asmfc.org/files/PublicInput/AtlanticMenhadenDraftAmendment3_PublicComment.pdf or on the Commission website, www.asmfc.org, under Public Input. Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the Draft Amendment either by attending state public hearings or providing written comment. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. (EST) on October 24, 2017 and should be forwarded to Megan Ware, FMP Coordinator, 1050 N. Highland St, Suite A-N, Arlington, VA 22201; 703-842-0741 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Draft Amd. 3). If your organization is planning to release an action alert in response to Draft Amendment 3, please contact Megan Ware at 703-842-0740, so she can work with you to develop a unique subject line to enable us to better organize and summarize incoming comments for Board review.

Final action on the Amendment, as well as specification of the 2018 TAC, is scheduled to occur on November 13 and 14 at the BWI Airport Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Linthicum, MD. For more information, please contact Megan Ware, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at mware@asmfc.org or 703-842-0740.

PR17-37rev2