ML072060345
| ML072060345 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oyster Creek |
| Issue date: | 05/01/2006 |
| From: | Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Davis J NRR/DLR/REBB, 415-3835 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML072060321 | List:
|
| References | |
| Download: ML072060345 (12) | |
Text
A Volume 15, Issue 4 ASMFC May 2006 Z',
F%: I S<, H . IES o7Z Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 1444 Eye Street, N.
- Washington, D.C.
Working towards healthy,self-sus tainingpopulationsfor all Atlantic coast fish species or successful restoration welU in progress by the year 2015 American Lobster Board Approves Addendum VIII Addendum Establishes New Biological Reference Points and Enhances Data Collection Requirements On May 8, 2006, the Commission's American Lobster Management Board approved Addendum VIII to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for American Lobster. The Addendum establishes new biological reference points to determine the stock status of the American lobster resource. It also expands the mandatory coastwide monitoring and reporting requirements of the plan to improve the ability of scientists and managers to assess and manage the lobster fishery. These actions are based on recommendations from the 2006 peer-reviewed stock assessment.
The new biological reference points replace the F, 0 egg production goals contained in Amendment 3 and include fishing mortality and abundance targets and thresholds for the three stock assessmentrareas - Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank and Southern New England (SNE). Unlike the F10 Var..iabe ....- G-B-K criteria, the new reference points will allow sci-a t F*Fishing entists to distinguish, between a depleted and
-Treshold 0.76 . 034 082 overfished stock. They also are designed to make Target 0.67 0.31 0.74 Recent F (2001- 2003) 0.69 0.29 0.84 the measures by which the lobster resource is Recent F below threshold? Yes Yes No being assessed and managed more transparent.
Recent F.near or below target? Yes Yes No The new biological reference points as well as Abundance (Millinsof Lobst r)
Threshold 65.58 7.95 [ 22.31-1 current stock status (2001 - 2003) for each Target 69.62 8.61 23.90 American lobster stock unit is provided in the Recent Abundance (2001- 2003) 123.12 9,05 14.01 adjacent table.
Recent abundance above threshold? Yes Yes No The new reporting and data collection require-ments will mandate states to collect, at a mini-uInside ThisIssue um, catch and effort data summarized monthly by the National Marine Fisher-
.SpciesProfile: Bluefish ies Service's statistical areas and the Lobster Conservation Management .Areas in
, .Page an annual recall log format from each permit holder. The states will be required to orseshoeCrabBoard A collect trip-level catch and effort reports either as a census or a sample (at least proves Additional Restritions 10% of the fishery will be sampled). Dealers involved with primary purchases in the DE Bay Region Page 6 (first point of sale) will be required to report trip-level transaction data. The states Su me F!lounder Smmer londrBor :Board, will have until January 1, 2008 to implement these measures. These actions will Approves Addendum XVI advance the collection of accurate and comparable landings -- the principal data Page 7 needed to assess the impact of fishing on lobster populations.
A*SMFC Releases Coastal .
Sharks PID for Public InI response to poor stock conditions in SNE as indicated by the new reference Comment points, the Board has initiated the development of.Draft Addendum IX. Over ACCSPin Rev*ew Page 10 the next couple of months, the American Lobster Plan Development Team, work-
...... Employee of te ing with the Commission's American Lobster Advisory Panel and Lobster Conser-Quarter Named Pa vation Management Teams for Areas 2 through 6, will be developing a suite of Rmanagement options to rebuild the SNE stock. This document will be available P age1*2i for Board review and consideration in August; once approved, it will be made 4 .*!,, available for public review and comment.
CýA-LA~m-' -ooS5V-
Upcoming Meetings 6/12- 16:
A dAtv States Matr~t South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Wyndham Grand Bay Hotel, 2669 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut.
Fiszherie-f CvO*dU.siof ~wasform~sedby Grove Florida; 800/996-3426.
the, 15 Af,4t-Itic-coafstal stake iFt& 6/13- 15:
New England Fishery Management Council, Hyatt Regency, 1942/or tk proostiot Of ait4a Newport, Rhode Island.
't-otaio wof Oas af1ishery 6/19 - 23:
ASMFC Technical Committee Meeting Week, Hotel Provi-dence, 311 Westminster Street, Providence, Rhode Island (see page 11 for meeting schedule).
6/20- 22:
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Holiday Inn Se-lect, Claymont, Delaware.
6/26 (bheqiii, ai 9:00 AM) - 30 (enuotg 5 PM):
ASMFC Shad Stock Assessment Subcommittee, Albany Marriott, 189 Wolf Road, Albany, New York.
8/1 - 3:
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Sheraton Soci-ety Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
8/14- 17:
ASMFC Meeting Week, DoubleTree Hotel Crystal City, 300 Army Navy .Drive, Arlington, Virginia; 703/416-4100.
8/28 - 911:
ASMFC Technical Committee Meeting Week, location to be determined.
9/10 - 14:
American Fisheries Society 135th Annual Meeting, Lake Placid, New York.
9/18 - 22:
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Town & Coun-try Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, South Caro-lina; 800-334-6660.
9/19 - 21:
New England Fishery Management Council, Courtyard by Marriott, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
10/10- 12.:
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Hilton Garden Inn, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
10/22 - 26:
ASMFC 65th Annual Meeting, Sheraton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront Hotel, Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.
2 ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 15, Issue 4, May 2006
One of the great strengths of any organization is the member states. Prior to this effort, as long serving Chair care and attention it takes to recognize the contribu- of the American Sturgeon Technical Committee, he tions of individuals who support and promote its goals. developed an aggressive agenda leading to a coastwide The Commission does this each year through our An- stock assessment. Hle demonstrated that, even when nual Awards of Excellence, when we highlight the spe- there are gaps and uncertainty in scientific data, there cial accomplishments of those who have put forth ex- are creative and compelling analyses that scientists can traordinary efforts in support of managing and restor- provide managers to help them make decisions. As a ing Atlantic stocks. The contributions reflected by this result, the Commission is taking action to protect the year's recipients are truly impressive. few sturgeon that remain and, hopefully, help ensure the survival of an ancient fish that has been in exist-Susan Olsen was recognized in the area of manage- ence for 70 million years.
ment and policy for her effectiveness and efficiency in managing the various federal grants in support of fish- Bryon Young was recognized for his contributions in eries management. As Grants Team Leader with NOAA the scientific, technical, and advisory area for his work Fisheries Northeast Region's State-Federal and Con- over the past 30 years while a scientist with the New stituent Program Office, Susan serves as the primary York State Department of Environmental Conserva-contact in the administration of 10 grant programs, tion, particularly in the area of striped bass research encompassing 250 active awards of more than $15 and management. He initiated the Hudson River million. For nearly twenty years, Susan has helped en- young-of-year index that continues today. In fact, all sure delivery of critical federal funding to support the of New York's current striped bass monitoring projects, fisheries research and management activities of our which are essential components of the Commission's member states. science process, began under Bryon's supervision. In addition, he served as New York's first appointee to Robert Glenn was recognized for his accomplishments the Commission's Management and Science Commit-in the area of scientific, technical, and advisory, tee, a group that subsequently developed the through his work with American lobster., For the last Commission's first fisher), management plan in re-ten years, as a scientist with the Massachusetts Divi-sponse to the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act.
sion of Marine Fisheries, Bob Glenn has been dedi-Byron's many contributions to marine fisheries science cated to the study of the Commission's most economi-have been far reaching, providing ongoing benefits to cally valuable commercial species, American lobster.
coastal resources and fishermen of both New York as As Chair of the Lobster Technical Committee, Bob led well as those of our other coastal states.
a diverse group of scientists through the difficult pro-cess of producing an American lobster benchmark stock assessment that was rigorously reviewed and ac- We had the pleasure of hosting the Awards of Excel-cepted by a peer review panel of internationally recog- lence winners at a special reception held in their honor nized scientists. His technical expertise and calm de- during our Spring Meeting Week in Crystal City, Vir-meanor have enabled him to engage in a productive ginia (see page 12 for some pictures from the event).
and respectful manner with the full range of partici- Collectively, this year's winners represent more than pants in the lobster fishery, including managers, sci- 85 years of public service dedicated to the better un-entists, and fishermen. derstanding, protection, and sustainable management of marine fisheries. Although they were recognized for Andrew Kahnle was recognized- for his accomplish- their exceptional contributions, the award recipients ments in the scientific, technical, and advisory area are representative of the hundreds of dedicated profes-for his work over the past 25 years while serving on sionals who work tirelessly to support our Commis-the Striped Bass, American Shad, and Atlantic Stur- sion process and assist in the sustainable management geon Technical Committees. A scientist with the New of the public marine fisheries resources under the York State Department of Environmental Conserva- Commission's stewardship. We should all be grateful tion, Andy is currently leading a complex effort to com- for their dedication. Taking time out to say thanks to plete a benchmark stock assessment of American shad, all those who work so hard is important and, hope-a species that is present in the waters of each of our 15 fully, something all of us can agree to do.
ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 15, Issue 4, May2006 3
Species Profile: Bluefish Joint Plan Seeks to Restore Premier FightingFish Introduction Bluefish are one of the most sought after recreational species along the Atlantic coast.
In the late 1970s, anglers petitioned the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) to develop a' Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Bluefish to address con-cerns over the potential for harvest of bluefish by tuna purse seiners. Today, bluefish are jointly managed by the Council and the Atlantic StatesMarine Fisheries Com-mission (Commission). The Bluefish FMP developed in the late 80s, is the first management plan developed jointly by an interstate commission and regional fishery management council. As a result of harvest restrictions im-posed under Amendment 1 (1998), bluefish are rebuilding, with 2004 stock biomass estimated at 104 million pounds, above the current biomass threshold of 73.5 million pounds:
Life History Bluefish are a migratory, pelagic species found throughout the world in most temper-ate, coastal regions, except the eastern Pacific. Bluefish migrate seasonally, moving north in spring and summer as water temperatures rise and moving south in autumn and winter to waters in the South Atlantic Bight. During the summer, concentrations of bluefish are found in waters from Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. In winter they tend to be found offshore between Cape Hatteras and Florida. Bluefish generally school by size, with schools that can cover tens of square miles of ocean, equivalent to around 10,000 football fields.
Bluefish feed voraciously on their prey, eating almost anything they can catch and swallow. Over 70 species of fish have been found in their stomach contents, including butterfish, mackerel, and lobster. Razor sharp teeth and a shearing jaw movement allow bluefish to ingest large parts, which increases the maximum prey size bluefish catch. Bluefish live for up to 12 years and may exceed lengths of 39 inches and weights of 31 pounds.
Bluefish reach sexual maturity at age two and spawn offshore from Massachusetts through Florida. Discrete groups spawn at differ-ent times and are referred to by the season in which they spawn: the spring-spawned cohort and the summer-spawned cohort. Recent research has also identified a fall-spawned cohort, demonstrating an expansive and prolonged spawning season. The co-horts mix extensively on the fishing grounds and probably comprise a single genetic stock.
Recreational & Commercial Fisheries Bluefish are caught along the entire Atlantic coast.
Recreational anglers from New England to the upper part of the South Atlantic pursue blues, no doubt due to their aggressive feeding habits and the spirited fight. According to the Marine Recre-ational Fisheries Statistics Survey, recreational catch averaged 60 million pounds annually from 1981 Photo courtesy of NC Division of to 1993. Catch declined from 93 million pounds Marine Fisheries 4
4 ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 15, Issue , May 2006
in 1986 to I I million pounds in 2002. Since Figure 1. Total Bluefish Landings, with Estimated Fishing Mortality 2002, total catch has increased and reached Source: Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop, 2005 16 million pounds in 2005. 140 0.50 Landings 0.45 120 Commercially, bluefish are harvested using Fishing Mortality 0.40 C
a variety of fishing gear including crawls, S100 0,35 gillnets, haul seines, and pound nets. The "O0080 0.30 commercial fishery landed 5.9 million 00 0.25 .
pounds in 2005, down from eight million 0.20 40 pounds in 2000, and the peak of 16.5 mil- 0.15 "
20 lion pounds in 1981. 0.10 0.05 Stock Status 0.00 The most recent stock status information in- C4 n~ ýr to M0)o0)o0) to - 0) 0 a) ~ Ný 0)o0000Co0)o0)
)0 01 G)0
- 0) 0n C'
.~
) )0, M 'r 0) 04 M_ Tn "Tý_n aC, C, dicates that bluefish are not overfished and overfishing is riot occurring, based on the biological, reference points developed in the Figure 2. Estimated Bluefish Biomass, 1982 - 2004 2005 stock assessment (see sidebar opposite Source: Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop. 2005 page). Trends in state and Northeast Fisher- 250 ..
ies Science Center data show a decreasing - -Biomass Target trend in fishing mortality, an increasing - - - Biomass Threshold' 200 trend in population biomass, and an increas-ing trend in population numbers. Popula- o.150 0
tion abundance estimates show a general in-crease in overall abundance since 1997. :Amendment I Abundance peaked in 1982 at 176 million fish, declined to 57 million fish in the mid- 1 50 J1 i 50 1990s and has since increased to 92 million fish.
CN )C ~ )0 a~ -M -M 4' ) M 0) )
G0)- 01 ) 0 -NC- n While the 2005 stock assessment was ap- e of c ta di ra a proved for management purposes, a num-ber of research needs were identified including increased collection of age data, improved estimates of discard mortality, and initiation of tagging studies to improve understanding of migration and distribution.
Atlantic Coastal Management Considerations The Commission and Council approved Amendment 1 to the FMP in 1998. Amendment 1 allocates 83 percent of the resource to recreational fisheries and 17 percent to commercial fisheries. However, the commercial quota can be increased up to 10.5 million pounds if the recreational fishery is projected to not land its entire allocation for the upcoming year. The commercial fishery is controlled through state-by-state quotas based on historic landings from 1981-1989. The recreational fishery is managed using a 15 fish bag limit. The Commission and NOAA Fisheries approved a total allowable landings limit of 24.8 million pounds for 2006. Of that amount, the Commission allocated 9.5 million pounds to the commercial fishery.
Based on updated landings projections that suggest that recreational harvest levels could be exceeded, NOAA Fisheries allocated 7.9 million pounds to the commercial fishery.
Amendment 1 established a rebuilding schedule that sets a target fishing mortality (F) value to achieve a biomass that will support the maximum sustainable yield by year 2008, while providing the Commission and Council with the flexibility to modify the management program based on changes in. the fishery or the resource. For the first two years of the bluefish rebuilding schedule (1999-2000), F was set at 0.51, reduced to 0.41 in years 3-5 (2001-2003) and finally, to 0.31 in years 6-9 (2004-2007).
During the rebuilding period, the target F for the next fishing year will be set at the level specified in the schedule or the level estimated for the most recent year, whichever is lower. This strategy has allowed for re-building of the resource. For more information, please contact Julie Nygard, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, at <jnygard@asmfc.org>.
ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 15, Issue 4, May 2006 5
Horseshoe Crab Board Approves Additional Restrictions in Delaware Bay Region In an effort to balance the needs of migratory shorebirds and commercial watermen, the Commission's Horseshoe Crab Management Board has approved the implementation of a partial moratorium for horseshoe crab fishing in the Dela-ware Bay Region. The action is designed to maximize egg availability to migratory shorebirds in the Delaware Bay by prohibiting harvest of horseshoe crab prior to and during the peak spawning season for the crabs as well as the peak feeding period for shorebirds.
Addendum IV allows a delayed, male-only harvest in New Jersey and Delaware for two years. Specifically, it prohibits year round the harvest and landing of female horseshoe crabs in the Delaware Bay and restricts the annual harvest to 100,000 males per state from June 8 through December 31. This is a 33 percent reduction in available quota, for each state.
The Addendum also establishes a delayed harvest in Maryland, prohibiting horseshoe crab harvest and landings from January 1 through June 7 for two years. The Addendum further prohibits landing of horseshoe crabs in Virginia from federal waters from January "1through June 7 for two years. No more than forty percent of Virginia's quota may be landed from ocean waters and those landings must be comprised of a minimum male to female ratio of 2:1. As is the case with all ASMFC species management plans, the states have the option to impose more conservative regulations.
The Addendum intends to address the needs of the migratory shorebirds, particularly the red knot, while allowing a limited commer- Important Facts cial bait fishery. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife -
Service Shorebird Technical Committee has EIstimatclorseshd S o crab abundaneii n 2I0'04i*)tn the 1e1awar y
indicated that the red knot, one of many abs ,,<
shorebird species that feed upon horseshoe I fedIucedsesi gI' bmaIi percent crab eggs, is at low population levels. Red sn,Yc 1998,with, apreiminary, coasw1idc total of 730,890 crabs knots have shown no sign of recovery, de- landed in 2005,r spite a four-fold reduction in horseshoe crab ......Sufi. l 5nChM- a1on 1ohe psi epend rsesa'l landings since 1998. Population counts of #for f bait.
red knots in its Tierra del Fuego wintering ovrshe crbgg provide a , i.. ii f, .. ource for i ground have dropped from 51,255 in 2000 shorebik (Including the. red kt inIIe Delaware BaV.,
to 17,653 in 2005. Further evidence of the Rede kn>ot )ik ulationc1o0untCOIIW t D elaware B1 tre down..... t. 5,309.
red knot population decline are seen in the in 21 1 Delaware Bay counts that have decreased Tk-ASMFG's i Hmsesho 'limkd
(>Cab mmii tteýe indica ted that from 43,145 individuals in 2000 to 15,300 both-the partial and full mo),,rator;uiiii mo baIthrst in New.Jersey.
in 2005. ndIelaware; , prllovlde s m Insrease inegg, aaa Affected states are required to implement the >aThe Addendtfm does not 1i1111( from raking more restrictive provisions of Addendum IV by October 1, inInaIe'e1'
) ( me IIut-5,For example New Jrsey has imple*ented 2006. Copies of the final Addendum will tv'I inoAtorsuM Oil crab1)landintgs and I be available by mid-June via the Is igslar action Commission's website at www.asmfc.org or \' 11(hiIII I ru t avall holreh ca.)11b 1,11\ (,)I by contacting the Commission at (202) 289- qoti1y113*3% i w y lIiminate al 6400. For more information, please contact mi: ,s Braddock Spear, Fisheries Management Plan Tliý Addenmdu pride i prtction to horsehoie crabs Coordinator, at (202) 289-6400 or )I~elwr Ba ormign through retriction to 11)~s\nQMjV'
<bspear@asmfc.org>.(2land on a89-60igiia g, water(
4 ASMFC Fiiheries Focus, Vol. 15, Issue , May2006 6 ASMFC Fisheries F6cus, Vol. 15, Issue 4, May 2006
ASMFC Board Approves Addendum XVI to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Plan: Addendum Establishes Procedures to Address Delayed Implementation of Required Fisheries Management Measures The Commission's Summer Flounder, agement programs have been-given the son, in the following year the season Scup, and Black Sea Bass Management highest priority since these species FMPs would be closed for the first two weeks Board has approved Addendum XVI to have repeatedly been affected by delays of the season. In the recreational fish-the Fishery Management Plan. The Ad- in implementation of required regula- ery, season closures will be used to ad-dendum addresses issues of delayed tions. This has limited the effectiveness dress delays in implementing size lim-implementation of required manage- of the management program and ad- its, possession limits, and seasons. For ment measures for summer flounder, versely affected the timely conservation example, if a state does not implement scup, and black sea bass fisheries. It pro- efforts of other states. The Addendum appropriate possession limits for the first vides a species-specific mechanism of establishes a mechanism to ensure states two weeks of the fishing season, in the ensuring that states meet their- obliga- meet their obligations under the man- following year the season would be tions under the plan in a way that mini- agement program and provides disincen- closed for the first two weeks of the sea-mizes the probability that a delay in tives to minimize delayed implementa- son. The addendum also deals with the complying does not adversely affect other tion of required management measures. timeliness of the notification period for states' fisheries or the conservation of the .management changes..
resource. The measures promote the The Addendum addresses delayed long-term conservation of summer implementation of both commercial Copies of the Addendum will be avail-flounder, scup, and black sea bass. and recreational fishing measures. In the able by June 1 via the Commission's commercial fishery, season closures will. website at www.asmfc.org under Break-The Addendum responds to an ISFMP be used to address delays in implement- ing News or by contacting the Com-Policy Board directive to its manage- ing size and trip limits, while quota ad- mission at (202) 289-6400. For more ment boards to improve the states' justments will address harvest overages. information, please contact Toni Kerns, implementation of all interstate fishery For example, if a state does not imple- Fisheries Management Plan Coordina-management plans (FMPs). Summer ment appropriate minimum fish sizes tor, at (202) 289-6400 or flounder, scup, and black sea bass man- for the first two weeks of the fishing sea- tkerns@asmfc.org.
Atlantic Coastal States Schedule Public Meetings to Gather Input on Coastal Sharks PID Atlantic coastal states from Maine to Florida have scheduled their public meetings in order to gather public comment on the Public Information Document (PID) for the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Coastal Sharks. The dates, times, and locations of those meetings follow:
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Georgia Division of Coastal Resources Thursday, June 1, 2006; 6.00 pm Wednesday, June 7, 2006; 6:00 pm Crystal Coast Civic Center Holton's Restaurant 3505 Arendell Street 13711 E Oglethorpe Highway Morehead City, North Carolina Midway, Georgia
Contact:
Louis Daniel at (252) 726-7021
Contact:
Spud Woodward at (912) 264-7218 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Monday, June 5, 2006; 7:00 pm Thursday, June 8, 2006, 6.00 pm Marine Resources Division Office Public Water Works Reclaim Building 217 Fort Johnson Road 1600 Minuteman Causeway James Island/Charleston, South Carolina Cocoa Beach, Florida
Contact:
Mel Bell at (843) 953-9007
Contact:
Michelle Mitchell at (727) 896-8626 continuedon page 8 ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 15, Issue 4, May 2006 7
Atlantic Coastal States Schedule Public Meetings to Gather Input on Coastal Sharks PID (continued from page 7)
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Tuesday, June 13, 2006; 6.00 pm Wednesday, June 21, 2006; 6.00 pm Ocean Pines Library Plymouth Radisson 1 1107 Cathell Road 180 Water Street Berlin, Maryland Plymouth, Massachusetts
Contact:
Mike Luisi at (410) 260-8341
Contact:
Melanie Griffin at (617) 626-1528 New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife Rhode Island Division of Fish & Wildlife June 15, 2006; 7:00 pm Thursday, June 22, 2006; 6:00pm Nacote Creek Enforcement Office Fort Wetherill Marine Laboratory Route 9, 360 New York Road 3 Fort Wetherill Road Galloway, New Jersey Jamestown, Rhode Island
Contact:
Paul Scarlett at (609) 748-2020
Contact:
Chris Powell at (401) 423-1929 New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation Virginia Marine Resources Commission Monday, June 19, 2006; 7:00 pm Wednesday, June 28, 2006; 6:00 PM 205 North Belle Mead Road 2600 Washington Avenue East Setauket, New York Fourth Floor Conference Room
Contact:
Gordon Colvin at (631) 444-0433 Newport News, Virginia Maine Department of Marine Resources
Contact:
Jack Travelstead (757) 247-2247 June 19, 2006; 6:00 pm 194 McKown Point Road New Hampshire, Connecticut and Delaware have declined West Boothbay Harbor, Maine to hold public meetings.
Contact:
Terry Stockwell at (207) 624-6562 As the first step in the development of an interstate FMP, the PID presents a broad overview of the issues facing Atlantic coastal sharks and the fishing industry. It provides the public with the opportunity to tell the Commission about changes observed in the fishery, things that should or should not be done in terms of management, regulation, enforcement, re-search, development, and enhancement, and any other concerns about the resource or the fishery' as well as the reasons for those concerns.
Please note that the PID focuses entirely on Atlantic coastal sharks (see table below). This species complex does NOT include spiny dog-fish, as such, commenters are W'anagerent Unit.(6) . .Shark . Species Included.
Large Coastal Sharks Sandbar, silky, tiger, blacktip, bull, spinner, lemon, nurse, smooth hammerhead, input on those spe- (11) scalloped hammerhead, and great hammerhead sharks cies under consider- Small Coastal Sharks (4) Atlantic sharpnose, blacknose, finetooth, and bonnethead sharks ation for inclusion Pelagic Sharks (5) Shortfin mako, thresher, oceanic whitetip, porbeagle, and blue sharks in the PID. Prohibited Species (16) Whale, basking, sandtiger, bigeye sandtiger, white, dusky, night, bignose, narrowtooth, longfin mako, bigeye thresher, sevengill. sixgill, bigeye sixgill, The PID and sub- smalltail, and Atlantic angel sharks.
sequent FMP are being developed to help coordinate the conservation and management of coastal sharks among the Atlantic coastal states and between the states and the federal government. Currently, Atlantic coastal sharks are managed by individual states in inshore waters (0 - 3 miles from shore) and by the federal government through the 1999 Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks in offshore waters (3 to 200 miles from shore). Cooperation between federal and state governments in developing coordinated conservation measures is important to successful domestic management of coastal shark species because range, migrations, mating and pupping areas overlap state and federal jurisdictions. Many coastal species utilize highly. productive 8 ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 15, Issue 4, May 2006
bays and estuaries within state waters as nursery habitat. In addition, because the unique nature of shark biology (late matu-rity, low fecundity) makes shark species more susceptible to overfishing, traditional fisheries management methods become less ,
effective.
Following the initial phase of information- ( II gathering and public comment, the Com-mission will evaluate potential management alternatives and 'develop a draft FMP with preferred management measures identified for public review. Following that review and public comment, the Commission will specify the management measures to be included in the new FMP. A tentative schedule for the completion of the FMP for Atlantic Coastal Sharks is included in PID.
Fishermen and other interested groups are encouraged to provide input on the PID, either through attending public hearings or providing written comments. Copies can be obtained by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400 or via the Commission's website at www.asmfc.org under Breaking News. Public comment will be accepted until 5:00 PM on July 14, 2006 and should be forwarded to Ruth Christiansen, Fisheries Management Plan Coordinator, 1444 'Eye' Street, NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20005; 202-289-6051 (FAX) or at comments@asmfc.org (Subject line: Coastal Sharks).
For more information, please contact Ruth Christiansen at 202-289-6400.
9 ASMFC Focus, Vol.
ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Issue 4, 15, Issue Vol. 15, May 2006 4, May 2006 9
ACCSP in Review IT Prioritiesfor the Remaining Year, Surplus Funds,
& New Staff odD IT Priorities some of ACCSP's many IT projects that are currently under-The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) way in order to speed up their completion. Those projects Information Systems staff have been busy this year, working include (in no particular order) completing the deployment on a number of projects. These include: transitioning the and testing of SAFIS electronic reporting for vessel trip re-Data Warehouse from Business Objects to ORACLE Dis- ports (E-VTR) in New Hampshire and Connecticut and even-coverer, development of the SAFIS eVTR module, deploy- tually to all interested, partners, completing the transition ment of the SAFIS eDR auditing module, and working with from Business Objects to ORACLE Discoverer, starting the Northeast partners on the deployment a PC-based data col- New Jersey striped bass trophy fish reporting application, lection system that feeds the SAFIS database. deploying BioTarget, and building the next version of SAFIS electronic dealer reporting in ORACLE HTML-DB.
The recent IS Committee meeting resulted in changes in priority. These priorities include an effort to get the SAFIS The recommended use of the $134,000 surplus will benefit registration tracking module in place as soon as possible, all of ACCSP's partners and provide a diverse use of funds populating the Data Warehouse with commercial catch and over ACCSP modules.
effort legacy data (data from,1981-2003), and continuing to update and upgrade the SAFIS data auditing process. About the ACCSP The ACCSP is a cooperative state-federal program to design, In addition, work for the remaining year includes continued implement, and conduct marine fisheries statistics data col-migration of commnercial and recreational queries to ORACLE lection programs and to integrate those data into a single Discoverer, completion of the eVTR module (specifically the data management system that will meet the needs of fishery fisherman allocation and dealer reporting portions of the sys- managers, scientists, and fishermen. It is composed of repre-tem), continuing populating the InPort system with sentatives from natural resource management agencies metadata, and creating the New Jersey striped bass trophy coastwide, including the Commission, the three Atlantic fish-fish reporting application. ery management councils, the 15 Atlantic states, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, the DC Fisheries and Wildlife Surplus Funds Division, NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Ser-The negotiated contract with the Marine Recreational Fish- vice. For further information please visit www.accsp.org or ery Statistics Survey for 2006-2008 was recently completed call (202) 216-5690.
by the National Marine Fisheries Service, and unexpectedly, prices went down in several areas. This has resulted in a surplus of approximately $134,000 from two projects funded for FY06 through the Recreational Technical Committee. The ACCSP Director and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Op-erations Committee discussed options for the surplus and they recommend that the money fund the next two highest priority projects in line for funding. These projects are the consolidation of Maryland's biological sampling data for in-clusion in the ACCSP biological module (data warehouse) and the socioeconomic analysis of commercial fisheries of the Core Sound area of North Carolina.
However, funding these two projects would still leave ap-proximately $24,000, which is not enough to fund any of the other remaining projects that were submitted for FY06.
The recommendation was to add the remainder to the ACCSP Administrative Grant to pay for contract labor to assist with 10 ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 15, Issue 4, May 2006
Braddock Spear Awarded ASMFC Employee of the Quarter For more than three and a half years Braddock Spear has played a vital part in the management of a number of Atlan-tic coast fisheries, significantly contributing to the Commission's vision*of "healthy, self-sustaining populations for all Atlantic coast fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year 2015." In recognition of his efforts, Brad was awarded Employee of the Quarter (April - June 2006). The award is intended to recognize special contribu-tions and qualities in the areas of teamwork, initiative, re-sponsibility, quality of work, positive attitude, and results.
Since coming to the Commission in October 2002, Brad has made substantial contributions to the management of northern shrimp, horseshoe crab, Atlantic sturgeon, and weakfish. He spearheaded the completion of Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Northern Shrimp. The first plan revision in 20 years, the Amendment establishes biological reference points and provides new tools for management of the northern shrimp.fishery. The ben-efits of these measures are already being realized through a recovering stock that allows for expanded fishing seasons in 2006 and 2007.
tive input, the states have reduced coastwide landings by 76 Brad has also contributed to the development .of multiple percent since 1998, and have initiated further reductions in addenda for Atlantic sturgeon, weakfish, and horseshoe crab. the Delaware Bay region for 2006 and 2007.
Most notable are his efforts.working with the Commission's Horseshoe Crab Technical Committee and the U.S. Fish & Brad has played an important role in gathering necessary Wildlife's Shorebird Technical Committee to identify the eco- data for the management of northern shrimp and horseshoe logical interactions of horseshoe crabs and migratory shore- crab. For the last three years, he has participated in the Gulf birds in the Delaware Bay region. Guided by their collec- of Maine Northern Shrimp Summer Survey, which provides the foundation for this species' annual stock assessment. Ev-ery year he has also taken part in collaborative horse-
>* shoe crab tagging activities led by the U.S. Geo-logical Survey.
, Brad has a Bachelor of Science from the Univer-
! sity of Maryland (College Park) and a Master of Arts in. Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island. As Employee of the Quarter, he received a $500 cash award, an engraved pewter pencil cup, and a letter of appreciation for his per-sonnel record. In addition, his name will be en-
" graved on the Employee of Quarter Plaque dis-p*layed in the Commission's lobby. Congratula-tions, Brad!
ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 15, Issue 4, May 2006 I1I
AAE Award Recipients Celebrate!
The Massachusetts Contingent (from left): Mike Armstrong, Bob The New York Contingent (from left): Gordon Colvin, Byron Young (Award Recipient), Pat Augustine, Andy Kahnle and Brian Glenn (Award Recipient), Paul Diodati and Dan McKiernan Culhane Federal Partners from NMFS' Northeast Regional Office (from left): Pat Kurkul, Bob Ross, Susan Olsen (Award Recipient),
and Harry Mears Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 1444 Eye Street, N.W, 6th Floor Washington D.C. 20005 Return Service Requested