The following are brief summaries of the many issues that all GSSA staff is currently working on as well as important fisheries topics. I urge all of you to read them and please provide some comments and feedback. Feel free to bring to our attention any new issue that you feel are important.

Please remember that I am available to meet with you at your convenience. We maintain an office in Cape May and I will travel to meet with you at your homeport or wherever is easiest for you.

The issues that face all of us, regardless of the fishery, gear, or size of your vessel have the potential to negatively impact your business and way of life. While these issues are complex and sometimes seem impossible to overcome, there is no doubt that we can manage them successfully.

GSSA, its staff and supporters remain committed to handling all fishery issues state and federal, big and small. Remember while there will always be priority issues that change from time to time we are involved in all aspects of fisheries management and need your input, involvement, support both financial and otherwise.

We would like to personally thank the many of you who already contribute financially to GSSA, it is this very support that allows us to represent commercial fishing industry on the local and federal level. GSSA hopes you will continue the support and confidence that you provide.

Sincerely,

Greg DiDomenico

Retired commercial fisherman named to New Jersey seat on the

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

Erling Berg, a resident of Cape May, was appointed to the ASMFC by Governor Codey. He has spent twenty-five years as a captain of commercial fishing vessels, fishing on Georges Bank, the Mid-Atlantic, Oregon and Alaska for scallops, surf clams, ocean quahogs and groundfish. He has also served as an industry advisor on fishing vessel safety to the Coast Guard and is currently a member of the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council. His extensive background in and insight into the fishing industry will greatly benefit the Commission.

Two – Week Moratorium Extension on Harvest of Horseshoe Crabs

Due to actions taken by Garden State Seafood Association staff in Trenton and the receptiveness of New Jersey Governor Codey's administration, an accommodation between fishermen and environmentalists was reached that will allow the continued controlled harvest of horseshoe crabs while protecting several species of migratory waterfowl.

A press release on June 9th announced "the emergency two-week moratorium takes effect immediately and temporarily halts New Jersey's horseshoe crab harvest season, which officially began yesterday. The season will reopen on June 23 and run through the normal closing date of August 15. Fishermen will still be permitted to catch up to the maximum 150,000-crab quota. Surveys of the Delaware Bay noted the arrival this week of more than 3,000 red.

This fishery is vital to baymen who work in Delaware Bay. It is also critical to the whelk fishery, horseshoe crabs being the only effective bait for these large - and delicious - mollusks. We commend Governor Codey and his administration for permitting the fishery to continue after a delayed start rather than acceding to unreasonable demands to shut the fishery down entirely.

Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish 2006 Quota Specifications

At the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in June the Council adopted measures for mackerel, Loligo and Illex squid and butterfish for the 2006 season and accepted the following motions:

• In the Loligo fishery, the Council adopted a motion to accept the 2005 specifications for 2006 setting a maximum optimum yield at 26,000 metric tons and an allowable biological catch at 17,000 metric tons.
• In the Illex fishery, the Council decided that the 2006 specifications would remain the same as those set in 2005. This would maintain both maximum optimum yield and allowable biological catch at 24,000 metric tons.
• The butterfish specifications for the 2006 fishing season were set as maximum optimum yield at 12,175 metric tons and a domestic annual harvest of 1,681 metric tons.
• Atlantic mackerel specifications were a domestic annual harvest of 150,000 metric tons, a DAP (commercial catch) of 100, 000 metric tons and an allowable biological catch is 335,000 metric tons.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission – Weakfish Assessment

I believe the ASMFC will be looking to reduce mortality from harvest as a precautionary measure, even thought the stock is in decline chielfy from sources of natural mortality. Fishing effort estimates are relatively low while some estimates of predation are cause for concern. The associated reductions might be in the 18% range and are likely to be imposed on both the commercial and recreational sector.

NEFMC Habitat/Ecosystem/MPA Committee / NEFMC

The Habitat Committee has decided to identify areas where impacts need to be minimized. In order to do so they are accepting proposals to identify and list Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC). During the meeting 9 proposals were discussed. Two are of particular concern for the Mid-Atlantic region, listing numerous canyons and recommending mobile gear closures. Included are Lydonia, Oceanographer, Baltimore, Toms, Carteret, Hendrickson, Alvin, Norfolk, Heezen, Corsair, Glibert, Hydrogropher, Veatch, Atlantis, Hudson, Wilmington and Washington.

Oceana and Ocean Conservancy submitted the proposals. They claim that no fishery for benthic or demersal species operate in these "deep sea canyons." While many of the areas they identified are deeper then 500 fathoms, some shallower areas were included.

Limited Access for the Atlantic Mackerel Fishery

The MAFMC is moving ahead with a of a limited access program for Atlantic mackerel, which will be contained Amendment 10 to the Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. The Council has decided to request the NMFS to publish a notice reaffirming the existing control date of July 5, 2002 for the mackerel fishery.  The intent is to notify the public that the MAFMC is developing an amendment to the mackerel FMP which will analyze a limited access program for the fishery, develop qualification dates for the fishery between 1983-2005, explore tiered levels of entry; and limitations on size and/or allowable levels of participation of U.S. at sea domestic processing.

Amendment 9 to the Squid, Mackerel Butterfish Plan

The proposed Public Hearing Document will be discussed at the October MAFMC Council Meeting. Topics in the Amendment will include:

• Multi-year specifications for all species managed under the FMP
• Expiration of moratorium on entry to the illex squid fishery
• Overfishing definition for loligo squid
• EFH for loligo squid eggs
• Measures to reduce gear impacts to EFH
• Loligo minimum mesh size requirements
• Exemptions from loligo minimum mesh requirements for illex vessels
• Implementation of seasonal gear restricted areas (GRAS)
• Alternative gears, gear modifications
• Loligo possession limit during closure of the directed loligo fishery

Amendment 14 to the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass FMP

Scoping Meetings on Amendment 14 to the FMP will probably be held this summer. We anticipate that the Council will publish a Notice of Intent for the Amendment in July. This Amendment will discuss all aspects of these fisheries, including both Commercial and Recreational allocations.

Amendment 14 will require serious input from all of you, as well as fishermen from other states.

Public Hearings for Proposed Gear Modification for the Mid-Atlantic Sea Scallop Dredge Fishery

NMFS will conduct public hearings in Massachusetts and New Jersey on the proposed gear modification for the mid-Atlantic sea scallop dredge fishery. All vessels with a Federal Atlantic sea scallop permit and using dredges would be required to use dredges modified to minimize sea turtle interactions when fishing south of 41o 9.0'N. Lat., from the shoreline to the outer boundary of the EEZ from May 1-November 30 each year. The public hearings will be held in Fairhaven, MA, on Thursday, June 16 from 7-9 p.m. at the Hampton Inn (1 Hampton Way, Fairhaven, MA ph, 508-990-8500) and in Cape May, NJ, on June 22, 2005 from 7-9 p.m. at the Cape May City Hall, (643 Washington St., Cape May, NJ, ph: 609-884-9525).

Real Time Data Collection for the Illex Fishery

Several vessels engaged in the illex fishery are currently collecting and reporting catch data through their Boatracs systems. It is very important that all vessels that can report their catch data do so; this valuable information could be used for stock assessments and in-season quota adjustments. Because it is difficult to accurately assess the abundance of Illex squid and so little of its biology is known, to maximize our harvest it is essential that we work with NMFS and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center.

License to sell fish in New Jersey

New Jersey is the only state on the Atlantic Coast without a license to sell fish.  Specifically, under current law a recreational fisherman could catch nearly any legal species of fish and sell it dock side or out of the back of their vehicle.  The problem arises if this fish goes bad.  Since the papers would only report “A Vacationing Child Ill from Seafood”, the entire industry’s sales could suffer.

Therefore, the purpose of this license to sell would help protect the consumer and insure the quality and safety of seafood harvested and handled by the commercial fishing industry of New Jersey. Furthermore, it would make it illegal to sell fish caught by anyone without a commercial license.

Discussions have been on going between the Garden State Seafood Association and the NJDEP. Specifically we want to insure a reasonable fee for the license and that no additionally reporting requirement would be required.  So far the fees associated with the license seem reasonable and would be assessed depending upon vessel size and the type of gear that is used.

We have also obtained a commitment form the NJDEP to earmark all funds raised by the license to sell for employees working on the coordination of our commercial catch.  What this means is that additional finfish quota could now be available to commercial fishermen.  There are numerous species, such as dogfish, where additional quota is available, but the NJDEP lacks the ability to sufficiently track the catch.  These additional employees could insure the release of this additional quota and increase our chances to obtain additional quota as the data dictates.

This issue will be watched closely and we want to insure there is a direct benefit to the industry before any action is taken that might increase cost to commercial fishermen if only nominally.

Deep Water Coral Protection

 Federal legislation has been drafted that would seek to protect deep-water coral and sponges from bottom trawling. Current language would set-aside no trawling areas in the Mid Atlantic/New England in what would be designated as Coral Management Areas. This legislation “protect” coral and sponges that the Councils are already taking action to protect, in effect circumventing the Federal fishery management process established by the Magnuson Act.

Garden State Seafood Association Listserve

We encourage those of you on the “listserve” to use it to discuss these issues as well as any others you feel are important.  Even if your comments or response are short, it would be helpful for all of us to have you input. If you are not currently on the “listserve” and would like to be added please contact our office 609-898-1100 or e-mail me at gregdi@voicenet.com. We are also making significant improvements to our website at www.fishingnj.org.