Sorry for the fisheries management spam but I went to the meeting last night and this whaleback closure thing is looking pretty ugly. We need comment from a bunch of fisherman on the subject otherwise very bad decisions are going to be made, simply due to a lack of sane input.
For whatever reason they are NOT following the model used in Mass Bay (a short closure limited to cod).
It sounds like they've gotten alot of wacky input from somebody (ie "Version 1" area I sent out previously was chosen so to follow LORAN because that's what they were told recreational fisherman navigate by!). They are leaning toward a COMPLETE BAN on fishing in the area, possibly year round.
On Wednesday the Groundfish Committee is meeting and one item on the agenda is finalizing something to vote on in November, which will probably end up being a go/no-go vote for a closure of the spawning area. Providing comment at this point will help prevent a decision to completely close the area (to fishing for other species like Tuna, Shark, and Mackerel), an overly long closure, or other unnecessary restrictions.
be labeled something like "whaleback closure". Comments received by Monday AM should make it to them before Wednesdays meeting, where they will be most helpful. Just state your name, interest in the fishery, where you are from, and give your 2 cents.
Please forward this to any interested parties you know.
The considerations include closure from April through June, to ALL recreational gear types (ie no Mackerel, Shark, or Tuna fishing). I'll include a summary from the Groundfish Oversight Meeting where this was discussed.
New England Fishery Management Council
5 Water Street, Mill2
Newburyport, MA 01950
Tel 978/465-0492 | Fax 978/465-3116
RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN - NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
Portsmouth, NH
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Urban Forestry Center
45 Elwyn Road
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 431-6774
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Newburyport, MA
Thursday, October 21, 2010
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Parker River Refuge
6 Plum Island Turnpike
Newburyport, MA 01950
(97Shades 465-5753
An area in the Gulf of Maine is being proposed to protect spawning aggregations of Gulf of Maine cod. The action is intended to protect cod by limiting fishing at times and areas when cod catch rates are high, by reducing opportunities to target large spawning fish and by preventing fishing from interfering with spawning activities.
The New England Fishery Management Council will conduct two public informational meetings to describe the measures being considered to limit commercial and recreational fishing activities in an area just south of the Isles of Shoals, referred to as “Whaleback”, where large cod are heavily targeted by both groups of fishermen. Council staff will provide details about the specific management measures proposed for inclusion in Framework Adjustment 45 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. The Council is intending to finalize this measure at its meeting on November 16-18 in Brewster, MA,
There will be a question and answer period. Anyone wishing to submit individual comments to the Council should provide them in writing or attend an upcoming Groundfish Committee meeting or the full Council meeting in November. See the Council’s website www.nefmc.org for further information about submitting comments and the meeting schedule.
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