Measures Proposed for 2006 Bluefish Fisheries NOAA Fisheries Service has proposed state-by-state commercial quotas, a recreational harvest limit, and recreational possession limits for Atlantic bluefish. The 2006 Total Allowable Landings (TAL) is 24.799 million lb, approximately 24 percent less than the 2005 TAL. As recommended by the Council, NOAA Fisheries is proposing to transfer 5.367 […]
NTSB CITES CAPTAIN’S POOR JUDGMENT AS CAUSE OF SYDNEY MAE II SINKINGWashington, D.C. – In a report made public today, the National Transportation Safety Board cited the captain’s decision to closely approach the Umpqua River bar during hazardous conditions as the cause of the September sinking of the Sydney Mae II off the coast of […]
NOAA Will Maintain Current Time/Area Closures to Protect Sharks On March 7, 2005, NOAA Fisheries Service received a petition for rulemaking from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Marine Fisheries, requesting changes to the current Mid-Atlantic shark closed area. The closed area boundary is set at 55 fathoms, from January […]
New Requirements Will Affect Shrimp Fishermen This final rule to implement Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP) includes the following provisions: (1) requires an owner or operator of a trawler that harvests or possesses penaeid shrimp (brown, pink, or white shrimp) in or from […]
New Members Appointed to Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Last week, Secretary Gutierrez appointed eight new individuals to serve on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC), the Committee established in 1971 to advise the Secretary of Commerce on all living marine resource matters under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce. Initiated in August, the solicitation […]
Commercial Landings of Bluefin tuna As of 12/19/05 fishing year landings of Atlantic bluefin tuna are as follows: The coast wide General category has landed 185.6 mt out of 708.3 mt to date. The Harpoon category closed at: 23.1 mt out of 90.0 mt. Longline North: 13.8 mt out of 116.3 mt to date. Longline […]
Prescribed Burns to be Conducted on Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges in North CarolinaAlligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges are preparing to begin winter prescribed burning season in an effort to reduce the build up of fuels and improve wildlife habitat on both refuges in Manteo, North Carolina . If […]
Senate Commerce Committee to Mark Up Magnuson-Stevens Bill The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (Chair Ted Stevens, R-AK) on December 15th, will mark up a six year reauthorization of the fundamental federal fishery management law that bears the name of Sen. Stevens (S 2012). The mark-up will likely be webcast beginning at 10 am […]
North Carolina Summer Flounder Commercial Quota Transferred to Virginia The State of North Carolina has agreed to transfer 4,975 lb of its 2005 commercial quota to the State of Virginia to cover a landing of a North Carolina vessel that was disabled at sea and subsequently granted safe harbor in Virginia. The revised summer flounder […]
Seafood & Health Conference Wraps Up; Overwhelming Scientific Evidence Shows Why Americans Should Eat Two Servings of Fish and Shellfish Every Week Many of the world’s leading scientists, academics and dietitians met in Washington, DC, this week to discuss the relationship between seafood and health. Sponsors of the conference included NOAA and the governments of […]
