ML072060339

Asmfc Fisheries Focus: Atlantic Menhaden

ML072060339
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	03/01/2005
From:	Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Davis J NRR/DLR/REBB, 415-3835
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ASMFC Volume4s FISHERI ES/OCt/S Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission ' 1444 Eve Street, N.W. - Washington, D.C.

Working towuvards healthly, self-sust ainingpopmsLhtionis for all Atiantic coast fish species or successful restoration well in progress by the year 2015.

ASMFC Approves Winter Flounder Amendment 1 Plan Seeks to Rebuild Southern New England/Mid-Atiantic Stock and Sustain Gulf of Maine Stock The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved Amendment I to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for

[nshore Stocks of Winter Flounder. The Amendrment revises management goals, objectives, biological reference points, and rebuilding goals for winter flounder populations in the inshore portions of the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/

MA) and Gulf of Maine (GOM) stock areas. The Amendment also updates commercial and recreational management measures for both stock components.

Amendment I responds. to the latest stock assessment information and is the produict of extensive preparation, deliberation, and public comment. Scientific adv/ice indicates that the SNE/MA stock of winter flounder is overfished and overfishing is occurring. Further, a reduction in fishing mortality is needed to rebuild the spawning stock biomass to sustainable levels.

While the GOM stock is not overfished and overfishing is [not occurring, reports of localized depletion in inshore areas north of Massachusetts remain a concern.

Amendment I establishes the following biological reference points to restore the SNE/MA stock and maintain the status of the GOM stock:

Reference Points SNE/MA GOM F Target F,11,.=0.24 F_,_,,=0.32 F Threshold Fi,,, =0.32 F,__,_=0.43_ ,Inside This Issue SSB Target B,,ss=30, 100 mt Bsy=4, 100 mt Upcom*ing Meetings Page 2 SSB Threshold '/2 SSB,,.= 15,050 mt '/2SSB,*,,=2,050 mt Species Profile: Atlantic j Menhaden Page4 For the SNE/MA stock, recreational measures include a 12-inch minimum size American Lobster Addendum VI1 limit, a 10-fish creel limit, and a 60-day open season. Twenty days of March Approved , , Page 7 and April must be closed and the 60-day open season cannot be divided into ASMFC Comings & Goings more than two periods. For the GOM stock, recreational measures include a ~4 Page 7 12-inch minimum size limit, an eight-fish creel limit, and no requirements for ASMFC Revises Benchmark closed seasons. Stock Assessment & Peer Review Processes Page 8, Amendment I anticipates a large reduction in fishing mortality for the offshore commercial fishery with implementation of the New England Fishery Manage- ACCSP Explores Cost-effective Sampling of Recreational Fishing ment Council's Amendment 13 to Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Effort. Page 10~

Plan for Groundfish. To complement these actions In state waters, Amendment I establishes commercial management measures of a 12-inch minimum size ASMFC Employee of the Quarter limit and a minimum 6.5-inch diamond or square mesh size for the SNE/MA Namedo Page 11 stock. States in the region must also retain their existing commercial season Bottlenose Dolphin TRT~

closures. Additionally, states have the option to impose more conservative regu- Covnsto Review Proposed lations.

continued on page 6 C01~Z ASt"\V-C loDOýe.

m Upcoming Meetings 3128- 41.

L" he Atlantic States Marine

ASMFC Technical Committee Meeting Week (Atlantic Striped Bass Technical Committee, Stock Assessment Committee. and Fisherjes Commission was formed by Natural Mortality Workshop), Radisson Plaza Lord Balti-more, 20 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore. Maryland.

the 15 Atlantic coastal states in 3129- 31.

S1942 for the promotion and New England Fishery Management Council, Hotel Viking, Newport, Rhode Island.

protection*ofcoas taldfishery 4/1i.

r-esow-ces. The issio soerves eor as ASMFC Winter Flounder Technical Committee, Radisson Airport Hotel Providence, 2081 Post R, Warwick, Rhode Is-

.a deliberative body of the A t1antic* land.

coastal states,; coordin'alingthe:'  ; 4/26 & 27' ASMFC Habitat Committee. Chesapeake Bay Foundation, conservation and management of 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland.

nearshore fisheiery'resources, 5/3- 5.

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Princess Royale Sincluding mar/nie, s!ihell and ,

Oceanfront Hotel & Conference Center. 9100 Coastal High-Sanadromous species. The fifteen way, Ocean City, Maryland.

member s ta tes of the Comtnmission 5/9 - 12.

ASMFC Meeting \WVeek. Radisson Hotel Old Towii Alexan-are. Maineg~ dria, 901 North Fairfax, Alexancdria, Virginia.

flwHmpshir-e,,

t,

'Ma~~chsets1111' Island,~ 6/13- 17" South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Radisson Re-Connecticut, N/ew York, N~ew Jersej, sort at the Port. 8701 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral, Florida; 800-333-3333.

'Pennsilvan11iDlawareMa>i'land 6/14 - 16" Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Wyndham Wilmington Hotel, 700 King Street, Wilmington, Delaware.

6/21- 23:

New England Fishery Management Council, Radisson Eastland Hotel, Portland, Maine.

6/27- 7/1.

ASMFC Technical Committee Meeting Week, location to be determined.

8/8-10.:

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Sheraton Soci-ety Hill Hotel, One Dock Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

8/15 - 18:

ASMFC Meeting Week, Radisson Hotel Old Town Alexan-dria, 901 North Fairfax, Alexa.ndria, Virginia.

ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 14, Issue 2, March 2 2005

The reauthorization of. the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery The Commission's process can ,bring fishery manage-Conservation and Management Act is clearly a prior- ment plans and amendments on line significantly faster ity this year for Senator Stevens and other congres- than the federal system. Through the adaptive man-sional leaders. The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy agement process, addenda to fishery management plans and Pew Oceans Commission have both called for can be developed and implemented within about six changes to improve fisheries management. Their rec- mionths. Thus, Commission action can be based onl cur-ommenrdations will help frame the public policy de- rent information: making it highly responsive to detected bate in the upcoming months as Congress considers problems (provided the political will exists to act).

changes to the Act.

Sta~keholder Buy-ini The Commission's fishery management process, struIc- Stakeholders enhance natural resource management pro-tured to be effective and responsive, contains important cesses through their active participation anid input. The qualities that are worth noting by those promoting change, Commission holds public hearings in states affected 'by~

It is designed to produce results by incorporating three a proposed action. Such hearings promote two-way Important concepts: balance of power, timeliness of ac- communication by providing a forum to explain the tion, and stakeholder buy-in. Here ' s how... proposed action as well as to collect public comment.

The Commission also solicits advice from Advisory Pan-Balance of Power els, who represent diverse stakeholder groups coastwide.

Natural resource management seeks to strike a balance between professional management and stakeholder in- In taking action, the Commission typically establishes volvemrent. Decision-making processes heavily broad management policies, allowing states the flexibility grounded in stakeholder input create inherent con- to accommodate regional differences in the fishery and flicts of interest, disputes regarding scientific advice, stakeholder needs. These approaches. promote greater re-and reluctance to make short-term sacrifices to protect gional understanding and acceptance of both manage-and rebuild the resource. Some, but not all, of the ment actions anid thle Science Supporting these actions.

federal fishery councils where stakeholders domninate are perceived to have these characteristics. Overarching these principles is the concept of state-fed-eral cooperation, an essential element for successful fish-eries management. The federal governmerit provides re- 45 r%ý ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 14, Issue 2, March 2005 3

Species Profile: Atlantic Menhaden

... Stock Healthy Coastwide, But Questions

' Remain Regarding Localized Stock Conditions Introduction Atlantic menhaden are small, oily, schooling fish found froom northern Florida to Nova Scotia. They serve a major ecological role as both a forage fish to larger predators and as a filter feeder. Atlantic menhaden have supported one of the United States' largest fisheries since colonial times.

ý4' ? Life History Atlantic menhaden (Brevoorlia tyrannuA) are found in estuarine and coastal waters from northern Florida to Nova Scotia and serve as prey. (food) for many fish, sea birds and marine mammals. Adult and juvenile menhaden form large, near-sur-face schools, primarily in estuaries and nearshore ocean waters from early spring througll early winter. By summer, menhaden schools stratify by size and age along the coast, with older and larger menhaden found farther north. During fall-early*

>, winter, menhaden of all sizes and ages migrate south around the North Carolina capes to spawn.

• !!!Sexual Maturity begins julst before age three, with major spawning areas ftrom tlhc Caro-U*:&-c..

• linas to New Jersey. The majority of spawning occurs primarily offshore (20-30 miles) during winter. Buoyant eggs hatch at sea and larvae are carried into estuarine nursery areas by ocean currents. Juveniles spend most of their first year of life in estuaries, migrating tn the ocean in late fall. Adult and juvenile menhaden migrate sotth in fall-winter, and adult niihaden migrate north in spring.

Menhaden feed by straining plankton from the water, their gill rakers forming a special-ized basket to efficiently capture tiny food. Menhaden provide a link between primary production and higher organisms by consuming plankton and providing forage (food) for species such as striped bass, bluefish and weakfish, to name just a few.

Commercial Fishery The Atlantic menhaden commercial fishery consists of both a reduction fishery and a bait fishery. The reduction fishery first began in New England during the early 18 0 0 s and spread south after the Civil War. The purse seine was introduced after the Civil War allowing the fishery to expand. Major tech-nological innovations led to further expan-sion of the fishery coastwide. As a result, landings and fishing effort increased from 1940 through the late 1950s, declined pre-cipitously during the 1960s when the population was over-fished, and then in-creased significantly Photo courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Dept. of during the late 19 7 0s Commerce 4 ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 14, Issue 2, March 2005

9 80 and early 1 s. Currently, there are two reduc- I tion plants on the Atlantic coast processing men- Figure 1. Annual Estimates of Landings and Fishing Effort for the Atlantic Menhaden Reduction Fishery haden into fish meal and oil. The fish meal is used Source: National Marine Fisheries Service, 2005 as fertilizer and anim al feed. T he fish oil is used in 800.0 ......... ............ ......-...................... .............. 3500 3

many conmmercial products and in omega- supple- ...-

!-*--Landings ...

(1000 mt)l ......Effort (v-w)

B-}-

700.0 . . a.. .. s. ... 3 nients for hum an health. T hie coastw ide bait fish-ery supplies fishermen with bait for popular com- 600.0 mercial and sport fish. . . 2500

, 500.0 o -~2000 The 2004 harvest of Atlantic menhaden for redtuc-

• 400.0 tion was 184,450 metric tons, which was an in- 1500 crease from the 2003 season (166,097 tnot), and 300.0 1.1 percent above average landings for the previ- oo 1000 ous five years (182,475 mt). 200.0 100.05 reduction A slight increase from recent years, 13 purse-seine vessels landed Atlantic menhaden dur- 0.0

• 0 ing the 2004 season. Two redutctiorn plants oper- 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 ated in 2004 -- onein Reedville. V\irginia with ten vessels, and one in Beaufort, Nor'th Carolina with three vessels. The bait fishery for menhaden has become increasingly more important from North Carolina to New En-gland. The major portion of bait landings in recent years has been harvested from New Jersey and Virginia waters, followed by Maryland, North Carolina, Florida and the Potomac River.

Figure 2. Atlantic Menhaden Population Fecundity (no. of maturing ova) Status of the Stock Source: ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Technical Committee. 2003 The 2003 peer-reviewecl stock assessment found that on a coastwide basis Atlantic men-

- 1Target Fecundity haden are not overfishecl and overfishing is

.* 160,000 - - - - - occurring.

~ 10,00-dThreshold Fecundity n-ot occurring.

= 1[20,000 -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

>120000 In 2004, The Technical Committee reviewed I00,000- - - - -Addendum 1 triggers (i.e., catch-per-unit-

- 80,000 -------------------------------------------- effort index and ratio of ages 2-4 to the total

. 60,000 ----- - - catch of all ages) to evaluate whether a stock 40,000 - . . ........ assessment needed to be conducted before Z 20,000 22006. It concluded that neither trigger had been met. The Technical Committee will en r- meet again in 2005 to reexamine the trig-Z, Z* Z* Z* Z Z_ Eý  !. gers and other relevant indices and make an assessment recommendation based on the available data.

Currently, the stock assessment can only evaluate the status of menhaden on a coastwide basis. The Technical Committee has developed a list of research priorities to examine the possibility of localized depletion in the Chesapeake Bay.

Atlantic Coastal Management Considerations The Commission approved Amendment I to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Menhaden in 200. Management authority is vested in the states because the vast majority of landings come from state waters. The goal of Amendment I is "to manage the Atlantic menhaden fishery in a manner that is biologically, economically, socially and ecologically sound while protecting the resource and those who benefit from it." Amendment I established new overfishing/

overfished definitions based on fishing mortality and spawning stock biomass.

Addendum 1 to Amendment 1, approved in August 2004, revised the biological reference points, changed the frequency of stock assessments, and updated the habitat section. The new biomass target and threshold are based on fecundity (or the continued on page 6 ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 14, Issue 2, March 2005 5

Species Profile: Atlantic Menhaden (continued from page 5) number of mature or ripe eggs/ova) in- preparation of stead of spawning stock.biomass. A new Addendum 1[

fishing mortality target and threshold to Aniendlnent were also adopted. Stock assessments will I to the Atlan-now take place every third year instead tic Menhaden of annually. However, the Technical FMP The Draft Committee is required to meet annu- Addendum will ally to review the previous year's land- propose op-ings and indices. tions to limit the catch of Recent Activities menhaden, in-In October 2004, the Commission held cluding restrict-a workshop to examine the status of At- ing the Chesa-lantic menhaden with respect to its eco- peake Bay purse seine harvest to no more than 110,400 peake Bay, and coastal waters of Virginia logical role. This workshop was con-and North Carolina. The Board will vened in response to a motion made by nut annually in 2006 and 2007. The Board directed staff to identify a suite meet in May to review the Dra.ft Ad-the Atlantic Menhaden Management denduin. Upon its approval, the Adden-Board in May 2004. Representatives of management options for consider-dum will be released for public review from the environmental, recreational ation by the public, including various and comment. It is anticipated that fishery. and the commercial fishery conn- cap Ii its and tinefratnes. and gears to munities helped plan the details of the n any states will be conducting public be addressed. The Draft Addendum will hearings on the Addendum.

workshop. State, federal, and university also propose initiating a research pro-scientists were invited to participate in grain immediately to determine the sta-Please check the ASMFC website the workshop. A summary of the work- tus of menhaden populations in the shop presentations, discussions, and (www.asmfc.org) and future issues of Chesapeake Bay and assess whether lo-fisleries Focus to stay abreast of UpcoIl-findings is available on the Commission calized depletion is occurring in the Bay.

ing menhaden activities. For more in-website at http://wwxv.asmfc.org/atlantic In addition, the Addendum will include fornaiation, please contact Nancy Men haden.htri.. a review of current state rules and regu-Wallace, Fisheries Management Plan Co-lations for Atlantic menhaden and the roles these measures have played in lo- ordinator, at (202)289-6400 or In February 2005, the Atlantic Menha-

<nwa lace@asmfc.org>.

den Management Board initiated the calizing rnenha}den harvest to the Chesa-ASMFC Approves Winter Flounder Amendment 1 (continued from page 1)

For the GOM stock, the Amendment establishes a 12-inch minimum size limit, a mesh size consistent with that in the EEZ adjacent to state waters (currently 6.5-inch diamnond or square mesh), and maintenance of existing commercial season closures.

States have until March 15, 2005 to submit their proposals for plan imple-mentation. The Board will meet in May 2005 to review Technical Committee comments on the proposals and discuss their approval. Implementation of the

• iprovisions of Amendment 1 will be required by July 31, 2005. Annual com-pliance reports will be due on November 1 of each year, beginning in 2006.

Copies of Amendment I are available via the Commission's website at www.asmfc.org or by contacting the Commission at (202) 289-6400. For more Photo courtesy of Don McCusker. information, please contact Lydia Munger, FMP Coordinator, at (202) 289-6400 or lmunger@asmfc.org.

6 ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 14, Issue 2, March 2005

ASMFC Lobster Board Approves Addendum VI The Commission's American Lobster the plan and the initial trap allocation is to be developed for review .and ap-Management Board has approved Ad- scheine. Ain analysis of the inipacas of proval by tire American Lobster Man-dcncdum VI to the American Lobster the trap allocation scheme in Addendum agement Board by August 2005.

Plan. The Addendum directs Area 2 IV indicates it is ineffective at control-jurisdictions to work with their Lobster ling trap growth over current levels. Copies of Addendumn V[ are available Conservation Management Team Also, the number of traps allocated to via the Commission's website at (LCMT) to modily thie effort control qualified applicants substantially in- wwwv.asnifc.org under Breaking News or plan as specified under Addendum [V. creases compared to the number of traps by contacting the Commission at (202)

The effort control plan must be designed currently issued under Addendum IV 289-6400. For more information, please so that all jurisdictions are capable of effort control plan. contact Toni Kerns, Fisheries Maniage-implementation and effort will not in- mnent Plan Coordinator, at (202) 289-crease if and when the resource recovers Addendum VI withdraws the Adden- 6400 or <tkerns@asmfc.org>.

in Area 2. dum IV effort control plan except for two points - a prohibition on In December 2003, the Commission's issuance of any new permits for Area .>

American Lobster Board passed Adden- 2 and the eligibility period for par-dum IV, establishing an effort control ticipation in the fishery. It also di-plan for Area 2 (inshore southern New rects all jurisdictions with Area 2 England). The Addendum was initi- permit holders and the Area 2 ated to address significant stock declines LCMT to develop a new effort con-in lobsters of all sizes in Area 2. Since trol plan, capping effort at or near passage of the Addendum, the Board current levels with the potential to has outlined several concerns with the adjust the levels based on the out-plan, including the inability of several come of the upcoming stock assess-jurisdictions to implement portions of nient. The new effort control plan ASMFC Comings & Goings serve as the state's Governor's Appointee to the Commission.

Comrmnissioners: An active participant in the Commission's fisheries manage-Ralph Balkcom -- In January, Ralph Balkcom stepped down ment process since December 2003, Mr. Duren brings to as Georgia's Governor's Appointee to the Atlantic States Ma- the table substantial personal and professional experience in rine Fisheries Commission. Mr. Balkcom participated in the marine conservation and environmental management. He is Commission's programs in numerous capacities over the last an avid recreational fisherman and boater, both inshore and 15 years. He first became involved in the Commission in offshore. His public service includes participation in several 1989 as Georgia's Legislative representative. From 1989 - marine conservation panels. Professionally, he is a business 1992, as Chair of the state's House Game, Fish and Parks executive with experience in developing products and pro-Commission, Mr. Balkcom brought his knowledge of fisher- cesses for water and wastewater treatment; he is also founder ies legislation and management and chair of a successful environmental site remediation com-

• to the Commission's processes. pany. Mr. Duren's diverse background and commitment to In 1994, Mr. Balkcom be- marine fisheries conservation will be a great asset to the Coin-

• , came Georgia's Governor's Ap- mission. Welcome aboard, Mr. Duren!

N- pointee to the Commission.

We wish Mr. Balkcom and his Staff:

lovely wife Evelyn a healthy Ruth Christiansen -- This March, Ruth Christiansen joined and happy retirement. the Commission staff as a Fisheries Management Plan Coor-dinator. Ruth will be assuming coordination responsibilities John Duren -- This January, for Atlantic herring, spiny dogfish and coastal sharks, and Georgia Governor Sonny Per-due selected John W. Duren to continuedon paoe 11 ASMFC Fisheries Focus,.Vol. 14, Issue 2, March 2005 7

ASMFC Revises Benchmark Stock Assessment & Peer Review Processes Fisheries stock assessments form the ba- Assessmrient Workshop are to: (1) con-sis of the majority of the Commission's duct and tho0rroughly evaluate assessment SAW/SARC Explores 22 fisheries management programs. model runs, and (2) produce the comn- Ways to Strengthen They provide scientific advice to fisher- pleted Stock Assessment Report for Peer Separation of Science ies managers regarding the health and Review.

status of fish stocks. It is crucial that

& Management these stock assessments are credible and The ASMFC species technical commit-SAW/SARC is the federaIly,-con-of high quality in order to provide con- tee will comprise the base of the Data

ducted fisheries stock assessment &

fidence in the fisheries management pro- Workshop participants, and the species peer review processd fortheF North-~

cess. The Commission ensures the stock assessment subcommittee will be e*st. ,.ornally refeieto as the soundness of its stock assessments the base for Assessment Workshop par-Northeast( Iegio nal, Stock Assess, through a formal process for benchmark ticipants. Previously, much of the work menit Wor-kshop/Stod k Assessment stock assessments and by participation on a stock assessment has been per-Review Comrmiittee, SAW/SARC in external peer reviews. formed by a few people. By including reviews as~sess'ments for specie`s the entire technical committee and stock found in the US Noithw(,est Atlan Recently, the Commission reviewed and assessment subcommittee, the collective tolc 'wIt ssessmenrts generlIli, SI,-e adjusted its Benchmark Stock Assess- knowledge of the assessment group will sparedo)r federal or state scietis ii,,d ment and External Peer Review Pro- be enhanced and workload will be more

• The CuomIissns external peer re:

cesses. These actions were taken in light evenly distributed among the workshop view proctess servses as an iddiltioial, of the recent developments with two of participants. -.-venue tot,:peer review of stock -as'-.

the primary stock assessment peer re-

sessientsfor-Commissi0n iuanaged view processes on the East Coast (see With regards to stakeholder participa-species.

side-bars on SAW/SARC and SEDAR). tion, the Commission approved invit-The Comnmission considered two major ing nie to three stakeholders to fully In. 2004, SARC initiated a.apilot proposals: (1) the inclusion of stakehold- participate in the Data Workshops. This program for conductin gstock as-:

ers in Commission benchmark stock as- will provide a valuable mechanism for sessment peei reviews ,Te pilot,'

sessments and external peer reviews, and stakeholder input early in the assessment process was designed to strengthen >

(2) the implermentation of the Data and process. Stakeholders will not be allowed tihe separation of scince, and fmanlj Assessment Workshop process for con- to participate at Assessment Workshops, agernient and to increase the objechý clucting stock assessments for peer, re- since these meetings require advanced tivity of the peei, review piocess. The view. stock assessment'training. However, the S)ARC review hs now)"pefome byt[( r public is welcome to attend the work- a panelI of three to four indepenl Benchmark Stock Assessments shops, as all Commission meetings are -diet stock assessment modeling ex-.

Benchmark stock assessments require open to the public. By adopting an in- perts. These experts have' no ,inll-compiling and analyzing large quanti- clusive process, providing a framework, voly'emient inl either the deý"ielop-'

ties of data from several sources into a and clearly defining goals, Data and As- m::.ent of the stock assessnmrent of,:'

report detailing the statts of a fishery. sessment Workshops should improve ýhe muanagemeiit of the species heing re-To achieve this, the Commission devel- quality, credibility and public under- viewed. The anel a is charged -with oped a framework for conducting Data standing of ASMFC technical processes reviewving the assessmriet mpodel and and Assessment Workshops based upon in peer reviewed assessments. either approving o- rejectig :the :as:

the SEDAR model. The goals of the sessrment. SAIR*C provCdes:\1a'dwvenI Data Workshop are to: (1) compile rel- External Peer Review Process stock status anid I'll 11" I')fto evant species life history information, (2) The Commission evaluated the advan- *the, assessment, but ,no Ionger pro-develop a database of all available fish- tages and disadvantages of including vides managemenr advice This eries dependent and independent data, stakeholders in its External Peer Review modelv differs front the previous (3) conduct preliminary analyses of the Process. The Commission's existing SARC ini the ftoIng aspects 1) available data, (4) draft introductory sec- criteria for selecting external peer review panl embership dos not-includ e:?

tions of the stock assessment report, and panel members are based on expertise feer, 'ats*,ta te ;,auniviie rsi*,t*@

y aor-inusg (5) present initial ideas on applicable of fisheries stock assessment methods, ie(ypresentatives ,andt Z) no man modeling methods. Thegoals of the species life history, fisheries science, and mgena1r'l. will wkI,,be provided.

8 ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 14, Issue 2, March 2005

SEDAR Process Includes Stakeholder Participation The Southeast Data and Assessment .sessment Workshops. These include view Workshop, composed of scientists, Review (SEDAR) is managed by the data managers, specialists, data col- industry representatives and environmen-South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and lectors and stock assessment scientists tal representatives, critically reviews the Caribbean Fishery Management: from thie'states, NOAA Fisheries; In- stock' assessment.

Councils, in coordinatioin with terstate Commissi6ns, universities, in-NOAA Fisheries and the [nterstate, dependent laboratoriesand institu- The SEDAR process emphasizes stake-Fisheries Commissions of the Atlan- tions, and Council members., holder participation in assessment de-tic, and Gulf Coasts. [n the South- velopment, with stakeholders included east;nin all sm SEDAR peer.reviewed assess- The primary goal of the Data Work- in both Data: Workshops and Assess-(bthstaft'ý li"Te ld" -shop-, isto "assenhblI eall A4vailable fish- ment 'Workshops.- Data ,and Assess

,prepared through Data and -As' eries -dependent aind indepnj *dent', iment Workshops xrequire ýextensiveý ef sessmenit Workshops, with ,.Review data and life history infoiration ]ow fort from several individuals, but tIh Workshpops serving as tthe:peer review. useý, in the stock assessment, At the formal assessment process for data col-ve*ie*ufor: th'eassessments. Assessment Wor kshop pai ticipanst .lectio:h and analysis, with its'broad-conduct the species population assess esled scope ofdscientitic experience, is SEDAR draws'upon its Advissory Panel 11ilen an[d determinem [he ol he des'igned to p3roduce better stock as*-

(tatu

£sessmoenhts::L, -,.  : ,<*,,;.>:

for pa I^icýI, III to.-In its, % t: iA,l As sthck ()Rtclsil 1 r<Di professional olbjectiviry. Panel mnerobers must oot1be i ivolved in the stock assess-ment or the management process for the species in question. Scheduled 2005 Peer Review The Commission recognized that including stakeholders on the peer review panel would improve transparency of the peer review process (as in the SEDAR), but ASMFC External Peer Review concluded that the need for independent. expert advice on the science used to American eel" assess the stock was best addressed by selecting panelists using the Commission's ,.American shad current criteria (as in the pilot SARC). Stakeholders will be invited to attend - ,Tauto~g ,. . , *- j >.--*

ASMFC External Peer Reviews, but not as panel members. The Commission values the perspective of stakeholders at the peer review and recommends that the 'SAW/SARCNoN. 41 ý:-June- "

Chair of the peer review encourage public comrnment throughout the process. " American lobster Bluefish All of the approved changes to the Commission's Benchmark Assessment and Ex-ternal Peer Review processes will be incorporated into the Commission's Stock SAR k* No I,,; 4*2, No'venmber/!

Assessment Peer Review Process document. To obtain a copy of the final docu-ment or for more information, please contact Patrick Kilduff, Fisheries Research December SMultispeciesVPA Specialist, at (202)289-6400 or <pkilduff@asmfc.org>.

9 Fisheries Focus, ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. Issue 2, 14, Issue Vol. 14, March 2005 2, March 2005 9

l 4 ACCSP Explores Cost-effective Sampling of Recreational Fishing Effort Conducting a survey to account for the fishing effort of tens cial angler exemptions (senior citizens, children, disabled, of millions of anglers is an ambitious undertaking, and the etc.), but most Northbast states have no licensing of saltwa-Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Pro(gramn (ACCSP) is ter fishing, which leaves no immediate alternative to ran-exploring options for making that task more cost-effective. dom-digit dialing. Additionally, Florida, South Carolina, and Maryland exempt anglers fishing from shore and pier, which Tie state and federal partners of the ACCSP and the fishlin-g are critical modes for valid effort estimates.

constituents of the Atlantic coast have long recognized the need for cost-effective data collection for recreational fisher- For a state to implement new licensing regulations, it would ies. In 1998, the ACCSP Coordinating Council agrced that almost always require legislative action. In recent years, some the long-term goal of the programn would be to conduct fish- lawmakers have met resistance oil such bills, but there are ing effort interviews from "a un'iversal sampling frame" rather fishing organizations that support licensing. They include than random-digit dialing of coastal cotunty households. the American Sportfishing Association, the Coastal Conser-vation Association, the International Game Fish Association, However, a scientific sampling frame that includes all saltwa- and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation.

ter anglers on the Atlantic coast is not easily constructed.

The most likely option would be to get angler contact infor- Walter W. Fondren, III the Chairman of the Coastal Conser-mation from state license records. This information could be vation Association said "...The real value of a license is in the used to conduct telephone interviews with anglers on their data. Regardless of how much money is generated or where recent fishing activity. Some state license frames could ac- it goes in a state butldget, the most important function of a commodate such sampling with some adjustments for spe- license is to provide a simple count of recreational saltwater anglers in a given state...

Recreational fishing license frames that c outd The ACCSP staff will work with state partners be used for cost-effective effort sampling to communicate the benefits of a universal sam-pling frame to constituents. More informatioh on the statuIs of each state is available at

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www.accsp.org/rpstatus.htm.

For more information, please visit www.accsp.org or call Abbey Compton at (202) 216-5690.

.Upcoming Meetings U License. W~ith Reccreational Technical Commilttee Committee on EtEconomics" and Social Sciences Recreational Subdommittee t* Ant..

r , Meetings Ltobe held 1fn DC/Annapolis:

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10 ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 14, Issue 2, March 2005 10 ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 14, Issue 2, March 2005

Toni Kerns Awarded ASMFC Employee of the Quarter In a little over a year and a half, Toni Kerns Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management has become an invaluable akddition to the Council. [Her accomplishments are Commission staff, significantly contribut- the result of hard work as well as long irig to the Commission's vision of "lealthy, lhours in the office and on the road.

self-sustaining populations for all Atlan- Her outstanding efforts have enabled tic coast fish species or successful restora- Commissioners to make many difficult tion well in progress by the year 2015." decisions. In turn, these decisions have In recognition of her efforts, Toni was resulted in the rebuilding of summer awarded Employee of the Quarter (Janu- flounder and black sea bass stocks.

ary - March 2005). The award is intended to recognize special contributions and Recently, Toni volunteered for her qualities in the areas of teamwork, initia- newest challenge -- taking over the tive, responsibility, quality of work, posi- coordination of American lobster. Her tive attitude, and results. ability to consistently anticipate prob-lems before they arise, creatively seek so-Since her arrival at the Commission. lutions, and enthusiastically approach University. As an Employee of the Toni has made major contributions to complex issues will serve her well as she Quarter, she received a $500 cash award, the management of bluefish, summer coordinates management activities for the an engraved pewter pencil cup, and a flounder, scup and black sea bass -- the Commission's most valuable species. letter of appreciation for her personnel Commissions most corn plex souite of record. In addition, hier name will be species. She developed six addenda while Toni has Bachelor of Arts from Colgate engraved on the Employee of Quarter effectively coordinating the annual speci- University and a Master in Coastal En- Plaque displayed in the Commission's fication process for these species with the vironmental Management from Duke lobby. Congratulations, Toni!

ASMFC Comings & Goings (continued from page 7) winter flounder. Ruth recently received a Master of Marine Affairs from University of Washington, School of Marine Affairs. with a special focus in marine policy analysis and public education. She also has a Bachelor of Science in marine biology from Southampton College, Long Island University. Ruth's previous work experience is di-verse. While in Seattle, she worked for a nonprofit organization, assisting in the restora-tion of critical river and estuarine habitat areas in Puget Sound. Prior to that, she conducted population studies on critical prey species for the endangered Steller sea lion as part of the Fisheries Interaction Division of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. She has also been a fisheries observer aboard tuna longline vessels in Hawaii.

Ruth Christiansen Peter Mooreside -- In March, Peter Mooreside joined the Commission staff as a Fisheries Research Spe-cialist. Peter will be working on the American lobster database, as well as taking over coordination responsibilities for the Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Pro-gram (NEAMAP). Peter has a Master's in Environmental Management from Duke University, and a Bachelor of Science from Emorj' University. During graduate school, he studied the influence of nearshore ocean currents on sea turtle stranding patterns.

Other professional research experience includes work for the biology department of Emory University (forest ecology) and The Nature Conservancy (invertebrate popula-tion biology). Most recently, Peter served as an editor for the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, where the majority of his time was devoted to the newly adopted Coastal Habitat Protection Plan.

Please join us in welcoming Ruth and Peter to the Commission!

ASMFC Fisheries Focus, Vol. 14, Issue 2, March 2005 11t

I Bottlenose Dolphin TRT Convenes to Review Proposed Plan The National Marine Fisheries Service's let stop ret fishery. North Carolina long tory elerrents of the BDTRP (NMFS) Bottlenose Dolphin Take Re- haul seine fishery, Southeast Atlantic duction Team (BDTRT) was convened gillnet fishery, and the Southeastern Two public hearings were held after the in 2001 to reduce the incidental mnor- U.S. Atlantic shark gillnet fishery. Tihe publication of the proposed rule, the tality and serious in jury (bycatch) of the rule proposes to use effort reduction first on January 5th in New Bernr North western North Atlantic coastal bottle- measures, gear proximity rules, gear or Carolina and the second in Virginia nose dolphin stock (Tirviot)s hrumucatus) gear deployment rmodifications, fisher- Beach on January 13th ii conjunction in nine coastal fisheries operating within men training, and outreach and educa- with the TRT meeting. Written corn-the dolphin's distributional range. Af- tion measures to reduce dolphin bycatch nients closed on February 8th, with a ter a lengthy process. NN/tFS is propos- below the stock's potential biological submiitted 4.140 cornients iri response ing to implemnent nmanagement rneasures removal level (PBR). Additionally, the to this proposed rule. As riandated by based on the BDTRT's consensus recom- rule proposes time/area closures and size the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the mendations, as well seasonal restrictions restrictions on large mesh fisheries to re- final rule is issued 60 days after the com-on large mesh gillnet fisheries operating duce incidental takes of endangered and ment period closes with the rule going in the Mid-Atlantic region to reduce the threatened sea turtles, as well as to reduce into effect 30 days after the final rule is incidental take of sea turtles in North dolphin bycatch below the stock's PBR. publislhed. This nieans that the rule will Carolina and Virginia state waters. likely go into effect in early May. It is The seventh meeting of the BDTRT was possible that. implementation may be The nine fisheries affected by the dol- held in Virginia Beach, Virginia on delayed for specific portions of the rule phin portions of the rule are the Mid- January 13 & 14, 2005. The primary to allow fishermien additional time to Atlantic coastal gillnet fishery, Virginia purpose of this meeting was to provide obtaining new gear such as netting. For pound net fishery, Mid-Atlantic haul/ a forum for the BDTRT to discuss.the more inforimation, please contact Eliza-beach seine fishery, Atlantic blue crab proposed rule and provide comments to beth Griffin, Fisheries Research Special-trap/pot fishery, North Carolina inshore NMFS. NMFS also provided updates ist, at (202)289-6400 or gillnet fishery, North Carolina roe mul- on implementation of the non-regula- <egriffin@asmfc.org>

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