"Imagine" (thoughts for a rainy day)

[Captain Greg Sears]

After reading a couple of post regarding progress with the herring and BFT industries. I have realized that for a long time I did nothing to curb our government from exploiting the fishing industries in the USA. These exploitations have been taking place since the revolution in the 1700's. In the short time that I have become involved with the issues, I realize that "I can do" something, even if it is only writing some letters to some influential people who might be interested in helping our fishermen. Today ( a rainy day) I will write five letters to people I think will help support the issues.

I would like to thank these organizations for doing their part for our American Fishermen.

The Choir Coalition http://www.choircoalition.org/

The American Bluefin Tuna Association http://www.theabta.com/

The "Sons and Daughter's of Liberty" ( who wish to remain anonymous)

The Recreational Fishing Alliance http://www.joinrfa.org/

Ralph, Chris, Steve, Rich, Brad, Tom and many, many more.

All of you SFC fishermen who get involved!

[backman]

imagine going back in time to 1959 when 2 hr's in a 10 knot boat would put you in fish beyond belief in all directions around New England.

In some cases it only took 1 hr!

[twofinbluna]

Good job, Greg! Hope others follow your lead! We can get a lot done if we speak up!

[Captain Greg Sears]

This is a summary of last weeks Council meeting in Portland ME.

From: TNies@NEFMC.ORG
Sent: 6/26/2009 12:17:20 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Council Groundfish Actions, June 24/25, 2009


Here is a summary of Council actions on groundfish at the June 24 – 25 meeting in Portland, ME. As always, this brief summary does not capture the entire discussion. This is even more the case in this summary given the number of actions taken and complexity of the discussions. Sound files should be available on our web page in a few days. Motions will be available in about a week. Please contact me if there are any questions or corrections.
1. Approval of Amendment 16: The Council reviewed public comments and selected a proposed action for the measures in Amendment 16. Key elements of their decisions are:
a. Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) were adopted. Included in this decision was the adoption of a Science and Statistical Committee (SSC) recommendation for modifying groundfish control rules. Actual ACLs will be set this fall, based on Acceptable Biological Catches (ABCs) that will be set by the SSC in early August.
b. The Council adopted extensive revisions to policies applicable to sectors. In addition to clarifying administrative requirements for sectors (how they are formed, what reports are needed, enforcement provisions, etc.), the Council modified how the potential sector contribution (i.e. PSC or permit history) is calculated for each permit. For almost all stocks, PSC will be based on landings history alone for the years FY 96-2006. For permits committed to the two existing sectors, the GB cod PSC will be as allocated when the sectors formed (history alone, 96-01). Dockside and at-sea monitoring requirements were established. The levels of dockside monitoring required begin at 50 pct of trips in FY 2010 and declines to 20 pct of trips in future years. Less than 100 pct at-sea monitoring is proposed with details to be coordinated between sectors and NMFS (NERO and NEFSC). Sectors will be allowed to transfer their annual catch entitlement, or ACE. Sector members will also be granted universal exemptions from some of the rolling closures in the inshore Gulf of Maine (but not all).
c. Seventeen new sectors were authorized, and modifications were made to the two existing sectors.
d. For vessels not entering sectors, effort control option 3A was selected. This option counts days-at-sea in 24 hour increments, reduces allocated Category A DAS by 50 percent from FW 42 allocations, removes differential DAS counting areas, and increases trip limits for many stocks.
e. GOM cod and GOM haddock will be allocated to the commercial and recreational components of the groundfish fishery. The allocation will be based on years 2001-2006.
f. For rec fishermen, the prohibition on the retention of GOM cod will be extended to April 15, two weeks (this may be modified after PDT review). This was required even though the allocation is based on 2001-2006 because the SSC advice on ABC control rules almost doubles the mortality reduction needed for GOM cod that was targeted in the draft amendment. Fillets from legal-sized fish can be landed with skin-off (a small amount of skin is kept on for ID purposes), and the limit on hooks is removed.
g. Accountability measures (AMs) were adopted for the commercial fishery. For non-sector vessels, the differential DAS option will be used in FY 2010 and FY 2011, but will be replaced by the hard TAC option in FY 2012. For sector vessels, the AM is the hard TAC components of the sector policies.
h. AMs were adopted for the recreational fishery. NMFS NERO will consult with the Council when selecting AMs (this is Option 3 for those familiar with the draft amendment document).
i. Atlantic wolffish was added to the management unit.
j. For both commercial and recreational vessels, the minimum size for haddock is reduced to 18 inches; the minimum size for halibut is increased to 41 inches; and the retention of wolffish is prohibited.
There were numerous other decisions. I should emphasize that none of these decisions will change regulations until reviewed, approved, and implemented by NMFS. The expectation is that the draft amendment will be submitted later this summer, a proposed rule will be published in fall or winter, and a final rule will be published in time for implementation on May 1, 2010.

2. The Council received a report from the SSC on setting groundfish ABCs. The SSC will set ABCs based on 75 pct of FMSY or Frebuild (if lower than 75 pct of FMSY ). The SSC also provided advice on setting ABCs when these values are unknown or projections are not recommended. As noted above, this advice was incorporated into Amendment 16.

3. In another action that may be of interest to groundfish industry members, the Council directed the Interspecies Committee to draft a proposal to combine and consolidate, to the extent possible, all current FMPs.

Please contact me if you have any questions or corrections.
Tom Nies
978-465-0492 ext 19

[Captain Greg Sears]

Originally Posted by Captain Greg Sears

This is a summary of last weeks Council meeting in Portland ME.

From: TNies@NEFMC.ORG
Sent: 6/26/2009 12:17:20 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Council Groundfish Actions, June 24/25, 2009


Here is a summary of Council actions on groundfish at the June 24 – 25 meeting in Portland, ME. As always, this brief summary does not capture the entire discussion. This is even more the case in this summary given the number of actions taken and complexity of the discussions. Sound files should be available on our web page in a few days. Motions will be available in about a week. Please contact me if there are any questions or corrections.
1. Approval of Amendment 16: The Council reviewed public comments and selected a proposed action for the measures in Amendment 16. Key elements of their decisions are:
a. Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) were adopted. Included in this decision was the adoption of a Science and Statistical Committee (SSC) recommendation for modifying groundfish control rules. Actual ACLs will be set this fall, based on Acceptable Biological Catches (ABCs) that will be set by the SSC in early August.
b. The Council adopted extensive revisions to policies applicable to sectors. In addition to clarifying administrative requirements for sectors (how they are formed, what reports are needed, enforcement provisions, etc.), the Council modified how the potential sector contribution (i.e. PSC or permit history) is calculated for each permit. For almost all stocks, PSC will be based on landings history alone for the years FY 96-2006. For permits committed to the two existing sectors, the GB cod PSC will be as allocated when the sectors formed (history alone, 96-01). Dockside and at-sea monitoring requirements were established. The levels of dockside monitoring required begin at 50 pct of trips in FY 2010 and declines to 20 pct of trips in future years. Less than 100 pct at-sea monitoring is proposed with details to be coordinated between sectors and NMFS (NERO and NEFSC). Sectors will be allowed to transfer their annual catch entitlement, or ACE. Sector members will also be granted universal exemptions from some of the rolling closures in the inshore Gulf of Maine (but not all).
c. Seventeen new sectors were authorized, and modifications were made to the two existing sectors.
d. For vessels not entering sectors, effort control option 3A was selected. This option counts days-at-sea in 24 hour increments, reduces allocated Category A DAS by 50 percent from FW 42 allocations, removes differential DAS counting areas, and increases trip limits for many stocks.
e. GOM cod and GOM haddock will be allocated to the commercial and recreational components of the groundfish fishery. The allocation will be based on years 2001-2006.
f. For rec fishermen, the prohibition on the retention of GOM cod will be extended to April 15, two weeks (this may be modified after PDT review). This was required even though the allocation is based on 2001-2006 because the SSC advice on ABC control rules almost doubles the mortality reduction needed for GOM cod that was targeted in the draft amendment. Fillets from legal-sized fish can be landed with skin-off (a small amount of skin is kept on for ID purposes), and the limit on hooks is removed.
g. Accountability measures (AMs) were adopted for the commercial fishery. For non-sector vessels, the differential DAS option will be used in FY 2010 and FY 2011, but will be replaced by the hard TAC option in FY 2012. For sector vessels, the AM is the hard TAC components of the sector policies.
h. AMs were adopted for the recreational fishery. NMFS NERO will consult with the Council when selecting AMs (this is Option 3 for those familiar with the draft amendment document).
i. Atlantic wolfish was added to the management unit.
j. For both commercial and recreational vessels, the minimum size for haddock is reduced to 18 inches; the minimum size for halibut is increased to 41 inches; and the retention of wolfish is prohibited.
There were numerous other decisions. I should emphasize that none of these decisions will change regulations until reviewed, approved, and implemented by NMFS. The expectation is that the draft amendment will be submitted later this summer, a proposed rule will be published in fall or winter, and a final rule will be published in time for implementation on May 1, 2010. (There are many other issues regarding this matter and others please keep your politicians and government officials informed of your concerns) " Sons and Daughters of Liberty"

2. The Council received a report from the SSC on setting groundfish ABCs. The SSC will set ABCs based on 75 pct of FMSY or Rebuild (if lower than 75 pct of FMSY ). The SSC also provided advice on setting ABCs when these values are unknown or projections are not recommended. As noted above, this advice was incorporated into Amendment 16.

3. In another action that may be of interest to groundfish industry members, the Council directed the Interspecies Committee to draft a proposal to combine and consolidate, to the extent possible, all current FMPs.

Please contact me if you have any questions or corrections.
Tom Nies
978-465-0492 ext 19

Speak your mind fight for what you believe !!

[Dogfish87]

I am always willing to help as much as i can, chris knows that. but can we add the focus on helping out the hook fisherman. We need to add the gilnetters and tub trawl fisherman. help us charter guys up her that have to sit throught dog after dog on bass trip. we need to start to eliminate the dog fish problem. we all know this. the question is how/ where do we start. I have taken a few looks around out there and its tough, if i could put baits in the water we could help catch even more of our quota.. duh.

we need a market for the dogs.
we need maximum allowable catch per day.
but nothing happens if the buyers cant dump the product.

[Hardtail Hunter]

i always try to help as much as I can through those organizations but the waters I mostly fish are south of the cape and was wondering if there are any organizations or attempts to protect the waters there ? I would love to see the inshore tuna waters to be nearly as productive as the stories i hear from old timers.
thanks
J

[Captain Greg Sears]

Originally Posted by Hardtail Hunter

i always try to help as much as I can through those organizations but the waters I mostly fish are south of the cape and was wondering if there are any organizations or attempts to protect the waters there ? I would love to see the inshore tuna waters to be nearly as productive as the stories i hear from old timers.
thanks
J

This is a problem J we need more organizations from RI south to get involved you yourself can start a group just get some friends go out to dinner and talk about what you can do. When the word spreads your group will grow and if you attend meetings with NMFS you can voice your concerns. Like SCBA started with just a couple of charter captains in the bar.

As a matter of fact we just attended a hearing tonight with NMFS regarding bluefin tuna. We have been very influential with persuading NMFS to change regulations. It was very apparent by the way the HMS committee welcomed us and put on a great presentation outlined in easy to read format. I will be posting some information on this soon.

[sushi42]

Greg, sorry I couldn't make tonights meeting. Just too much other crap that had to be attended to. I know, lame excuse, but in the future I am going to see about stepping it up a bit. Many of us old time tuna fisherman really appreciate your involvment and after hanging out with you Sunday and talking "shop" I realize the need for more voices.
Sushi42

[dunn6253]

Completely forgot about the meeting tonight, Plymouth isn't that far away from me either ............

How did it go? Are we making any progress?