2022 Shortfin Mako Shark Regulations - Atlantic HMS

Shortfin Mako Shark

Major changes have been implemented for shortfin mako sharks along the Atlantic coast for the 2022 fishing season. 

NOAA Fisheries recently announced a change to shortfin mako shark retention limits in Federal waters, effective on July 5, 2022.  According to NOAA, a public notice pertaining to state waters will follow soon. 

The final rule establishes a shortfin mako shark retention limit of zero in the commercial and recreational Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) fisheries, consistent with the management measure adopted in 2021 by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

If ICCAT provides for U.S. harvest in the future, NOAA Fisheries could increase the shortfin mako shark retention limit, based on regulatory criteria and the amount of retention allowed by ICCAT. Until that happens, the retention limit will remain at zero.

The rule affects:

Any commercial fishermen with HMS permits

Any recreational fishermen with HMS permits

Any dealers who buy or sell sharks or shark products

To comply with this rule, commercial and recreational fishermen (including those fishing in tournaments or on for-hire vessels) with HMS permits must release any shortfin mako sharks captured while the retention limit is zero, whether the shark is dead or alive at haulback.

NOAA Fisheries will notify the public of any change to the commercial and/or recreational shortfin mako shark retention limit via Federal Register notice and email. Fishermen must continue to follow other relevant fishery regulations, which are summarized in the Atlantic HMS compliance guides.

2019 Maine Fishermens Forum

2019 Maine Fishermen’s Forum
February 28th thru March 2nd
Samoset Resort - Rockland, ME

The largest event of its kind in New England, the 2019 Maine Fishermen’s Forum will be held from February 28th through March 2nd at the Samoset Resort in Rockland.

The event offers fishermen, clammers, lobstermen, aquaculturalists, and other seafood industry stakeholders opportunities to meet on neutral ground with fisheries managers, state representatives, Congressmen and Senators.

Information will be available on all things fishing: markets, resource status, regulations, technology, the environment, and other topics.

The Forum provides three days of free seminars for fishermen covering a wide range of topics such as the health of the lobster resource, commercial fishing safety, upcoming regulatory actions, and more.

Over 120 suppliers of commercial fishing equipment and services exhibit at the Forum. If it’s of interest to the fishing industry, chances are it will be on hand.

For more information, visit mainefishermensforum.org

Related Information

Maine Commercial Fishing

USA Fishing Statistics 2016 (commercial and recreational fisheries)

Commercial and recreational fisheries provide important economic impacts to the U.S economy, according to a recently released NOAA Fisheries report (Fisheries Economics of the United States, 2016).

In 2016, commercial and recreational fisheries throughout the United States generated approximately 1.7 million jobs in the U.S. economy.

In addition, commercial and recreational fishing together generated $212.2 billion in sales impacts, $64.2 billion in income impacts, and $99.5 billion in value-added impacts throughout the economy.

Florida had the largest employment impacts from the combined fishing industry, with approximately 173,000 jobs.

Florida also had the largest sales impacts from the combined fishing industry ($27.8 billion), the largest income impacts ($7.3 billion), and the largest value-added impacts ($12.2 billion).

Fisheries Economics of the United States 2016 is the 11th volume in an annual series designed to give the public accessible economic information on fishing and seafood in the U.S., and is a companion to Fisheries of the United States.

The annual Fisheries Economics of the United States report provides economic information related to U.S. commercial and recreational fishing activities and fishing-related industries on a state, regional, and national basis.

For more information, visit: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/content/fisheries-economics-united-states-2016

source: NOAA Fisheries

Related Information

2016 Saltwater Fishing Statistics (Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation)

2016 North Carolina Southern Flounder Regulations

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission recently announced it has adopted a supplement to the Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan.

New regulations will include a combination of size limit changes, modifications to fishing gear allowances, total allowable landings, and season closures.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, the commercial minimum size limit will go up from 14 inches to 15 inches, making it the same as the recreational fishery.

A 6-inch minimum mesh size will be in effect for anchored large-mesh gill nets. Starting in 2016, a statewide season closure of anchored, large-mesh gill nets will be put in place each year from Oct. 16-Dec. 31.

Also beginning in 2016, the recreational southern flounder season will close Oct. 16-Dec. 31 for the hook-and line and gig fisheries.

Flounder pound nets will be subject to a 5 ¾-inch escape panel requirement. Flounder pound nets will also be subject to total allowable landings for different water bodies that represent a 38 percent reduction compared to 2011-2015 pound net landings.

The commercial gig fishery will close when the pound net quota is met.

The Dec. 1-31 commercial southern flounder closure will remain in effect this year.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fishery plans to present information on what the quotas will be under these regulations at the commission’s February, 2016 meeting.

source: North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission

Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Quotas (Recreational)

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) met recently via webinar to review recommendations made by its scientific advisors regarding the red snapper quotas for 2015 and beyond.

If approved by the Department of Commerce, the action will increase the 2015 total quota by 3.3 million pounds (mp), resulting in a commercial quota of 7.26 million pounds, and a recreational quota of 7.04 million pounds. The total recreational annual catch target will be 5.632 million pounds.

Recreational red snapper quotas (by year):

2015    7.04 mp
2016    6.84 mp
2017+    6.73 mp

The 2017 quota will remain in effect until changed by the Council.

NOAA Fisheries is expected to determine and announce the 2015 Gulf of Mexico red snapper season in the coming weeks.

source: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council

New Jersey Artificial Reef Access Rules Proposed

In February, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection proposed new rules that will fully implement a compromise between recreational and commercial fishing interests over access to artificial reefs off the coast of New Jersey.

The plan will allow commercial interests to have continued access to portions of two reefs in state waters and calls for the construction of a new reef for recreational fishing, also in state waters. The compromise, reached in 2013 with commercial and recreational fishing groups, is now being proposed as a formal rule change and amendments to Fish and Wildlife regulations. The proposal appears in the Feb. 2 New Jersey Register.

“Recreational and commercial fishing are vital to New Jersey’s economy, providing more than $2.5 billion in economic benefits each year,” Commissioner Bob Martin said. “This compromise will address the needs of commercial fishermen and recreational anglers, and will result in restoration of federal funding that is vital to the development of artificial reefs that provide tremendous commercial and recreational benefits.”

The DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife holds permits for 15 artificial reef sites – 13 in federal waters and two in state waters. The reefs, encompassing a total of 25 square miles of ocean floor, are constructed from a variety of materials, such as rocks, concrete and steel, even old ships and barges. These materials provide surfaces for a wide diversity of marine organisms to grow, ultimately providing food and habitat for many species of fish and shellfish.

Under the rule proposal in the New Jersey Register, commercial and recreational fishermen utilizing lobster, fish and conch pots will be permitted to continue using portions of two existing reefs in state waters off Sandy Hook and Manasquan. State waters extend from the shoreline to three miles offshore.  Recreational hook-and-line fishermen will continue to have access to all portions of these reefs.

Commercial and recreational fishermen will be allowed the use of lobster, fish and conch pots on the Sandy Hook and Axel Carlson Reefs in specific “full access zones” within each reef.  Commercial and recreational anglers and sport/scuba divers will continue to have full access to all parts of the reefs including the full access zones.

In addition, commercial and recreational lobster potters setting and tending gear within the full access zones must do so only between the hours of sunrise and sunset, and they must call the Marine Law Enforcement Headquarters two hours prior to doing so. Individual pots set in these zones must be marked with a buoy and a string of pots must have a buoy attached to both ends.

A new reef, encompassing about a square mile of ocean floor, will be constructed in state waters in an area north of Barnegat Inlet to be used for recreational fishing. The Division of Fish and Wildlife is working with the DEP Division of Land Use Regulation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in securing the permit for this project.

The plan is expected to resolve federal concerns that commercial fishing is intruding on and hampering recreational fishing on artificial reefs in state waters, which are funded by excise taxes on recreational fishing gear and motor boat fuel. Costs to obtain, clean and deploy suitable material also is supported by private donations.

As the plan is implemented, the DEP will petition the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore nearly $250,000 in annual funding for artificial reef research, improvements and maintenance that has been withheld as a result of this issue.

Funding restored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would be used to pay for a significant portion of this project. Donations from both the commercial and recreational fishing communities will also help pay for construction. The DEP, in consultation with stakeholders and the Army Corps of Engineers, will finalize a site for the new reef.

The DEP will also work with the federal Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council for Special Management Zone designation which will allow the DEP to prohibit commercial gear on all 13 existing artificial reefs in federal waters. Federal waters begin three miles offshore.

A copy of the proposal is available at:  http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/notices.html

Written comments may be submitted electronically by April 2, 2015 at http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/comments

Written comments may be sent to:

    Gary J. Brower, Esq.
    ATTN: DEP Docket No. 14-14-12
    NJ Department of Environmental Protection
    Office of Legal Affairs
    Mail Code 401-04L; PO Box 402
    401 East State Street, 7th Floor
    Trenton, NJ 08625

source: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

2013 USA Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Landings

NOAA Fisheries recently released its final landings numbers for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna As of December 31, 2013.

U.S. fishermen landed a total of 5518 Atlantic bluefin tuna, weighing 518.3 metric tons (mt).

The following is a summary by category:

General        1801
Harpoon        121
Longline    299
Trap        0
Purse Seine    192
Angling        3105
Reserve        0

Dead discards totaled 205.8 mt. The United States accounts for dead discards annually in the quota specifications and reports them to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

According to NOAA Fisheries, the final 2012 dead discards estimate (205.8 mt) was used because 2013 dead discard estimates are not yet available.

The final 2013 Atlantic bluefin tuna specifications (78 FR 36685, June 19, 2013) adjusted the 2013 base quota and subquotas to account for 2012 underharvest and accounted for half of the estimated dead discards at the beginning of the year, with the remainder to be accounted for at year-end.

For more information, visit:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/hmsdocument_files/Tuna.htm

source: NOAA Fisheries

New York - New Jersey Fishermen to Receive Hurricane Sandy Relief

Commercial and recreational fisheries in New Jersey and New York will receive just over $3 million for relief effort to address the impacts following Hurricane/post-tropical cyclone Sandy.

NOAA Fisheries has already been working with the states of New York and New Jersey to distribute $5 million in economic assistance that was previously appropriated by Congress. It is expected that new funds will be used to augment existing efforts to assist impacted businesses in these two states.

According to NOAA Fisheries, recipients of the funding will have broad latitude to determine the best use of the funds to meet the unique needs of their local businesses and communities.

Funds can be used for activities that, “restore the fishery or prevent a similar failure in the future, and to assist a fishing community affected by such failure.”

There are a number of steps that have to take place before the money can be distributed. Funds are allocated out through the federal grant process. Once a spend plan is developed and the grant application is complete, there is generally a 2-3 month review process before the funds are made available to the recipient.

source: NOAA Fisheries

2014 Alaska Pacific Halibut Regulations

New Pacific halibut regulations are in effect in Alaska as a result of actions by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). The Alaska Pacific halibut commercial fishery season will run from March 8 through November 7, 2014.

At its annual meeting in January, the IPHC recommended to the governments of Canada and the United States catch limits for 2014 totaling 27,515,000 pounds. The IPHC adopted area-specific catch limits for 2014 that were lower than 2013 in all of its management areas except Area 2C (Southeast Alaska).

In 2014, advised by the Catch Sharing Plan recommended by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, the IPHC set combined charter and commercial catch limits for Areas 2C and 3A (Southcentral Alaska).

Voluntary annual transfers of commercial halibut individual fishing quota to charter halibut permit holders in Areas 2C and 3A will be available as “guided angler fish” for additional harvest opportunities in the charter fishery.

The charter fishery will fish under revised regulations which include:

Area 2C (Southeast Alaska)

The charter fishery will be subject to a one-fish daily bag limit with a “reverse slot limit.” Charter anglers may only keep a halibut that is less than 44 inches or greater than 76 inches in length.

If halibut are filleted at sea, the carcass must be retained onboard until landing.

Area 3A (Southcentral Alaska):

Charter fishery two-fish daily bag limit: one any size / one less than or equal to 29 inches total length

Trip limit for charter vessels: vessels are limited to one charter halibut fishing trip in which halibut are retained per calendar day (if no halibut retained, vessel may take an additional trip to catch and retain halibut that day). Applies to vessels only, not charter halibut permits.

If halibut are filleted at sea, the carcass of the halibut that is less than or equal to 29 inches must be retained onboard until landing.
Halibut operators must also observe other new regulations implemented this year under the CSP.

Unguided halibut fishers in Alaska will observe a daily bag limit of 2 fish any size per person per day.

For more information, visit NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional website: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/

source: NOAA Fisheries

Fraser River Sockeye Salmon Disaster

A commercial fishery failure (disaster) has been declared for the Fraser River sockeye salmon fishery in Washington State.

According to NOAA Fisheries, the fishery disaster was caused by the low return of sockeye salmon to the Fraser River, resulting in a subsequent closure of the fishery for the 2013 fishing season. The closure resulted in revenue losses of nearly 97 percent for tribal and non-tribal fishermen.

"The sockeye salmon fishery isn’t just economically significant for the state of Washington – it’s inextricably linked to its history and culture," said Secretary Pritzker. "Because returns of sockeye salmon were so low and caused significant losses of revenues, the fishery qualified as a resource disaster under the nation’s fishing law."

source: NOAA Fisheries

USA Pacific Bluefin Tuna Catches

The U.S. catch of Pacific bluefin tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) represents a relatively minor component of Pacific bluefin tuna landings within the area, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

Landings receipts of U.S. commercial vessels fishing in the EPO from 2007 to 2011 indicate that Pacific bluefin tuna catches  represent only two percent of the average annual landings for all fleets fishing in the EPO during the period. The average annual U.S. catch of Pacific bluefin tuna was 113 metric tons for 1999 through 2012.

Most of the landings are made by small coastal purse seine vessels operating in the Southern California Bight with limited additional landings made by the drift gillnet fleet that targets swordfish and thresher shark. Small numbers of Pacific bluefin tuna are also caught by surface hook and line and longline gear.

The number of purse seine vessels that have landed tuna in California averaged 197 annually from 1981 through 1990. However, from 2000 to 2013, six small purse seiners have been registered with the IATTC to target Pacific bluefin tuna in the Convention Area each year.

source: National Marine Fisheries Service

Alaska Halibut Catch Sharing Plan

NOAA Fisheries is implementing a halibut catch sharing plan for the commercial and charter halibut fisheries in Southeast Alaska (Area 2C) and the Central Gulf of Alaska (Area 3A).

Prior to the catch sharing plan, the charter sector was managed under a guideline harvest level—a management program that was not optimal in preventing fishing overages when harvest of halibut by recreational anglers on charter vessels increased in areas 2C and 3A beginning in the late 1990s.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended the catch sharing plan to replace the guideline harvest level with a clear allocation between the commercial and charter sectors in areas 2C and 3A. The Council urged NOAA Fisheries to implement the halibut catch sharing plan in time for the 2014 fishing season.

Under the catch sharing plan, commercial and charter halibut operations will have a combined catch limit determined by the International Pacific Halibut Commission each year prior to the fishing season. Allocations to the charter and commercial sectors will vary with changes in halibut abundance, according to NOAA Fisheries. 
 
One element of the plan that allows for flexibility is the “guided angler fish” program, which authorizes annual transfers of commercial halibut individual fishing quota to charter halibut permit holders to give charter anglers the opportunity to land halibut up to the limit in place for unguided anglers.

For example, if unguided anglers were allowed to retain two halibut of any size per person per day, and charter anglers were limited to one halibut of a specific size per person per day, charter halibut operators could use the guided angler fish program to permit a client to harvest up to two fish of any size per day.  

A copy of the final halibut catch sharing plan is available online at the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region website: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/

source: NOAA Fisheries

North Carolina Black Drum Regulations

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently announced new regulations on black drum which will become effective on January 1, 2014.

The new regulations include:
 * 14 to 25-inch total length slot size limit (except one fish longer than 25 inches total length may be kept)

 * 10-fish recreational bag limit

 * 500-pound commercial trip limit

For specific requirements, see Proclamation FF-73-2013 at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/proclamations.

An Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Interstate Fishery Management Plan requires states to implement black drum possession limits and a minimum size limit of at least 12 inches by Jan. 1, 2014 and at least 14 inches by Jan. 1, 2016.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission voted at its November business meeting to implement the more restrictive size limit to avoid confusion of another change in two years.

For more information, visit www.ncdenr.gov.

source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

North Carolina Sea Turtle Interaction Regulations

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) recently received clarification from the National Marine Fisheries Service concerning who will be required to report interactions with sea turtles under an incidental take permit received by DMF.

“The reporting requirement only applies to commercial and recreational gill netters,” said Louis Daniel, director of the Division of Marine Fisheries.

The division earlier reported that the requirement applied to all commercial and recreational gears.

Any gill net fisherman, using large or small mesh gill nets, must report any incidental capture of a sea turtle to the division at 252-726-7021 or 1-800-682-2632.

The incidental take permit for sea turtles in the estuarine large and small mesh gill net fisheries authorizes limited incidental takes of sea turtles in these fisheries.

The permit will allow the division to reopen many waters of the state that have been closed to large-mesh gill nets since July. However, the division is still waiting to reopen these waters due to the continued presence of sea turtles.

source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

North Carolina Sea Turtle Interactions

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries recently issued a statement urging both commercial and recreational fishermen to take steps to avoid interaction with sea turtles.

All species of sea turtles found in North Carolina waters are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. According to DMF, unpermitted sea turtle interactions illegal, including interactions involving commercial as well as recreational fishing gears.

Any fisherman that catches a sea turtle should release it unharmed, if possible. If the turtle is injured, lethargic or comatose, immediately call one of the following numbers:

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Sea Turtle Stranding Hotline 252-241-7367

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries 800-682-2632

For guidelines on how to avoid sea turtles while fishing and what to do if an accidental catch is made, visit: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/observer/fishing-guidelines

source: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

2013 New Jersey American Shad Regulations

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife recently announced new regulations regarding American shad fisheries.

Effective January 1, 2013, all American shad fisheries (both commercial and recreational), with the exception of the Delaware Bay, Delaware River and its tributaries, will be closed (no possession, take or harvest).

The recreational possession limit in the Delaware Bay, Delaware River and its tributaries will now be 3 fish with no minimum size and an open season all year.

Commercial net regulations for American shad in the Delaware Bay, Delaware River and its tributaries will remain the same.

The new regulations were implmented to comply with Amendment 3 to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) management plan for American shad and river herring.

Amendment 3 of the ASMFC fishery management plan for American shad prohibits both the recreational and commercial harvest of American shad in the waters of states that do not have an ASMFC-approved sustainable management plan.

Working in conjunction with state partners from the Delaware River Basin Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative (CO-OP), a sustainability plan for American shad was developed for the Delaware River estuary and subsequently approved by ASMFC's Shad and River Herring Board.

According to Division of Fish and Wildlife, insufficient information was available to develop sustainability plans for other American shad stocks along New Jersey's coast.

source: NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife

New York Blackfish Regulations

In July, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that the agency had formally adopted new recreational and commercial fishing rules for blackfish (tautog).

The rules have been in place since May 5, 2012. These changes were necessary in order for the state to comply with interstate management measures to assist in rebuilding blackfish populations. The changes are a revision of regulations that were originally put in place on December 30, 2011.

The following is a summary of the new regs:

Recreational:

The season has been shortened by 115 days and now runs from October 5 to December 14. In addition, the minimum size limit has been increased by 2 inches to 16 inches total length. The possession limit of four fish per day remains unchanged.
   
Commercial:

The minimum size limit has been increased by 1 inch to 15 inches total length. The season and trip limits for the commercial harvest of blackfish will not change in 2012.

As a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), New York is required to develop recreational and commercial fishing limits that prevent New York State fishers from harvesting more blackfish than the population can sustain.

The ASMFC mandated that most of its member states, including New York, significantly reduce their harvest of blackfish because the population was at a low level.

source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Menhaden Boats Prohibited in North Carolina

On June 21, 2012, the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission voted to deny consideration of a request for declaratory ruling regarding a proclamation related to menhaden purse seine fishing.

Omega Protein, a menhaden processing company in Reedville, Va., filed the request May 31, challenging the validity of a proclamation prohibiting the use of purse seines deployed from a mother ship for the harvest of menhaden in state waters.

The commission voted for this management measure at its May meeting, and N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Director Louis Daniel implemented the regulation by proclamation.

Omega Protein has the option to seek judicial review from the courts.

source: N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission

South Atlantic Red Grouper Regulations

NOAA Fisheries Service is launching a red grouper rebuilding plan. The initiative comes in response to a 2010 assessment by the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process. The assessment found red grouper to be overfished and undergoing overfishing.

Amendment 24 will include a variety of actions, including:

 * Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and Accountability Measures (AMs) for both the commercial and recreational sectors

 * An Annual Catch Target for the recreational sector

 * Elimination of aggregate ACLs and AMs for black grouper, gag and red grouper for both sectors

New regulations will become effective July 11, 2012

NOAA predicts that the plan has an 81% probability of rebuilding the stock in 10 years.

source: NOAA Fisheries Service

2011 North Carolina Fall Striped Bass Commercial Fishing Regulations

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission voted on striped bass (rockfish) and other issues at its meeting in Raleigh last week.

Among actions, the commission adopted a proposal for a limited entry system for the commercial Atlantic Ocean striped bass fishery, possibly for the 2012-2013 fishing season. The proposal adds hook-and-line as an allowable commercial gear in the fishery.

Approval of this proposal effectively directs the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries to develop a limited entry system for the fishery. The division will bring specifics of a proposal before commission for final approval in the coming months.

For the interim, the commission approved a short-term strategy to manage the commercial ocean striped bass fishery with seasons and trip limits under the same gear permit system used in previous years.

source: North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission