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.

2013 HMS SAFE Report

NOAA Fisheries recently released its 2013 HMS Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Report. The report includes a review of the current status of Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) stocks (tunas, swordfish, billfish, and sharks), describes the year's accomplishments in managing Atlantic HMS fisheries, and provides an assessment of short-term future management of Atlantic HMS fisheries.

The annual SAFE Report is required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

The 2013 HMS SAFE Report is available on the HMS Management Division website at:

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

source:  NOAA Fisheries

HMS Compliance Guides

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has released updated versions of Commercial and Recreational Compliance Guides for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, billfish, and sharks.

Thee guides have been updated based on recent regulatory changes made via Final Amendment 8 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan on Commercial Swordfish Management Measures and a final rule modifying Vessel Monitoring System requirements.

NMFS Commercial and Recreational Compliance Guides are intended to provide a plain-language summary of how to comply with the HMS regulations and can be found at:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/Compliance_Guide/index.htm

source: NOAA Fisheries

Delaware Online Shark Identification Guide

A new online shark identification guide is available on the Delaware DNREC website, according to the Division of Fish and Wildlife. The Delaware shark identification guide is was created to help increase awareness of sharks whose numbers are in decline.

Growing interest in shark fishing and conservation of shark species in recent years prompted the development of this easily-accessed and printable guide for use by anglers to aid in the identification of some of the most common sharks caught in the Delaware Bay and nearshore waters of the state.

The guide also includes some helpful tips on handling and releasing sharks. Shark conservation is important to maintain ecological diversity and balance in our coastal waters.

“To promote shark conservation, we ask anglers to quickly release any shark that they cannot readily identify, since many species of sharks found in Delaware waters are depleted,” said Fisheries Biologist Stewart Michels, adding that sharks are typically late to mature, and they reproduce only once every one or two years with few young produced, as compared to other fishes.

Anglers fishing offshore waters are encouraged to further become familiar with the numerous offshore shark species and federal permit requirements available from the National Marine Fisheries Service (www.nmfs.noaa.gov).

A summary of Delaware’s laws and regulations pertaining to sharks is included in the 2013 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide is available at tackle shops and license dealers statewide, or online at www.fw.delaware.gov/fisheries.

source:  DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel Meeting

NMFS plans to hold an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel Meeting on September 9-12, 2013, at the Sheraton Hotel, 8777 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

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

For more information, visit: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/Advisory%20Panels/Advisory_Panel.htm

source: NOAA Fisheries

NMFS Release Mako App

NMFS has launched a free app for iPhone and iPad that allows fishermen to share information about releasing North Atlantic shortfin mako sharks.

The "Release Mako" app enables fishermen to report live releases of shortfin mako sharks by using their iPhone or iPad. The new iPhone version of the Release Mako app complements the already developed Android version of the app.

The app gives fishermen the ability to report live releases of shortfin mako sharks with their mobile devices while still on the water, and both versions support the shortfin mako shark live release web page.

For more information, visit the NMFS Release Mako App Page:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/shortfinmako/app.htm

source: National Marine Fisheries Service

Draft Amendment 5 to the Consolidated HMS Plan for Management of Atlantic Sharks

The National Marine Fisheries Service recently introduced Draft Amendment 5 to the Consolidated HMS Plan for Management of Atlantic Sharks.

The amendment includes measures to prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks of several species, including Sandbar, dusky, Atlantic blacknose, and scalloped hammerhead sharks.

If approved, the amendment could impact fishermen who use pelagic or bottom longline gear, recreational fishermen who catch sharks of any species, and dealers who buy or sell sharks or shark products.

Comments on the amendment are being accepted through February 5, 2013.

For more information go to: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ or contact Peter Cooper at peter.cooper@noaa.gov  or 301-427-8503.

source: NOAA Fisheries

Maryland State Record Scalloped Hammerhead Shark

A new Maryland State record has been set for scalloped hammerhead shark by Scott Cusick of Jackson, NJ.

The record setting shark was caught on August 8 during the White Marlin Open tournament. Weighing in at 266 pounds, eight ounces, the fish won the tournament’s largest shark category, earning Cusick a prize of $5,150.

The fish was weighed at Harbor Island Marina. Tournament weigh-master Dale Timmons informed Cusick that he had won the shark division and that the fish could be a State record.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) fisheries biologist Chris Jones then certified the catch as a Maryland record scalloped hammerhead shark. The previous record was a 254-pound fish caught by Jamie Gill over Massey’s Canyon in 2009.

source: MD DNR

Thresher Shark Cooperative Research

NOAA scientists, anglers, and a variety of institutions are researching how to keep West Coast recreational thresher shark fishing and commercial fisheries sustainable. Projects will study fishing gear technology, the use of circle hooks, and other long term conservation efforts. To learn more about Southern California thresher shark research projects, visit:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2012/04/04_10_2012_thresher_shark.html

source: NOAA FishNews

Rewards for Tagged Spiny Dogfish

NOAA Fisheries Service’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center has launched a cooperative initiative to tag spiny dogfish (/Squalus acanthias/) in the Gulf of Maine, Southern New England, and Georges Bank. This project is an effort to answer long-standing questions about stock structure, movement patterns, and life history of the species in order to update and improve dogfish stock assessments.

Over a two-year period, a minimum of 33,000 dogfish will be tagged during the winter and summer months from three commercial vessels. Some of fish will be double tagged for a tag retention study, and some will be injected with oxytetracycline (OTC) for an age validation study.

Standard fin tags called rototags will be used during the project and will include a toll-free number for reporting required recapture information -- tag number, fork length, date, and location. Anyone who captures a tagged fish and returns complete information can earn either a $20 cash reward for one of the 27,000 white tags or a $100 cash reward for one of the 3,000 "high reward" orange tags.

Recaptures of fish injected with OTC and fish with two tag types -- a rototag and a dart tag -- will require return of the whole fish for a $100 cash reward (3,000 green tags). Whole fish to be returned should be iced or frozen. Shipping instructions will be provided upon contact.

To report the capture of tagged spiny dogfish, call toll free (877) 826-2612, report online at www.nefsc.noaa.gov/sharktagreport, or e-mail sharkrecap@noaa.gov

NOAA Catch and Release Guidelines for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species

NOAA Fisheries Service has developed a brochure that offers guidelines on how to increase the survival of  hook-and-line caught, large pelagic species.

The objectives of careful catch and release include reducing stress and minimizing injury to a fish caught on hook-and-line, and assisting in its recovery prior to release.  These objectives are especially challenging for large highly migratory species such as tuna, swordfish, and sharks, because of the size and potentially dangerous features (e.g., teeth and swords) of these species.

The brochure provides guidelines for careful catch and release in four topic areas: planning ahead, gear, play and handling, and release and revival.

 The information in this brochure will assist anglers in following NOAA Fisheries regulations, which require that any Atlantic highly migratory species that is caught and released, be released in a manner that maximizes its probability of survival.  The survival of a released fish today will help lead to healthy stocks for future harvest.

To obtain the document, visit http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ and click on the brochure to download it, or call 301-713-2347.

Documentary - The Shark Con

An upcoming documentary, The Shark Con, asks if sharks are overfished, or are the numbers exaggerated for fundraising?

According to the filmmaker, the conservation movement has rallied to discredit commercial fishermen by claiming that they have destroyed the oceans by fishing them to the point of extinction.

“They chose the shark because with sharks, they have leverage into virtually every fishery... My understanding of the shark academics is that marine environmentalists and government management agencies, have used the poster child approach as a motivation for domestic and international control of the oceanic resources as it has unfolded historically to date.” - Russell Hudson President Directed Shark Fisheries, INC.

“Hopefully "The Shark Con" will inspire the researchers and regulatory agencies to get the stats right...” - James Swan ESPN

The Shark Con takes viewers on a roller coaster ride into the big business of sharks, revealing the controversial truth about the industry, all the while trying to answer the central question…Are sharks really overfished? Or is this just an elaborate con?

For more information visit: www.thesharkcon.com

ASMFC Finds New Jersey Shark Regs Out of Compliance

Last week at its Winter Meeting, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission found the State of New Jersey out of compliance with the mandatory management measures contained in the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The Commission has notified the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior of its finding.  This action was taken pursuant to the provisions of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act of 1993.

The State of New Jersey has not implemented the regulations of the Interstate FMP for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The implementation of these regulations is necessary to rebuild depleted shark stocks, ensure sustainable harvest of others, and provide protection for sharks in state nursing and pupping grounds.  The Technical Committee has identified Delaware Bay as one of the most important nursing grounds for depleted sandbar sharks on the Atlantic Coast. Included in the 22 commercial and recreational regulations in the FMP is a seasonal closure from Virginia north through New Jersey to protect pupping sandbar sharks.

In order to come back into compliance the State of New Jersey must implement all measures contained in the FMP.  Upon notification by the Commission, the Secretary of Commerce has 30 days to review the recommendation and determine appropriate action, which may include a federal moratorium on fishing for all 40 species of coastal sharks managed under the FMP in New Jersey’s state waters.  For more information, please contact Robert Beal, Director, Interstate Fisheries Management Program, at (202) 289-6400.

source: ASMFC press release