For further information on any of these issues, contact GSSA Executive Director Greg DiDomenico at gregdi@voicenet.com
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) Final Environmental Impact Statement
The Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) is available on the ALWTRP FEIS website (http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/hotnews/whalesfr/). The comment period on the ALWTRP will remain open through September 17, 2007. Comments on the FEIS must be received no later than September 17, 2007.
As a result of GSSA participation throughout this process, and our written comments over two years ago, some of the gillnet modifications will likely be implemented in the Final Rule. These modifications were developed by Kevin Wark. These changes will make the new regulations easier for you to comply with and save you time and money, but still provide adequate protection to marine mammals in the event of an accidental entanglement. If you are interested I can send you the summary of the Preferred Alternatives, which include proposed regulations for the trap/pot and gillnet fisheries for the Mid-Atlantic.
The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council
The New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council will hold the September council meeting on Thursday the 6th at 4:00 PM. The DEP Proposal to change the fishing regulations for New Jersey's artificial reefs will be discussed and made available for public comment. GSSA staff will be there to provide testimony and suggest alternative regulations.
New Jersey Bluefish / Gillnet Committee
Both committees met on Wednesday at the Nacote Creek office to discuss the bluefish quota monitoring situation that occurred this past season and determine ways to avoid overages next year. In addition the NJDEP staff is still pursuing the possibility of obtaining additional quota to be used for our fall fisheries.
The Gillnet Committee discussed several options to reduce potential bycatch of striped bass including regulations that would require any net above 4 inch mesh to be tended gear and a requirement for allowing only one net to be deployed.
The NEFMC Groundfish Committee
The Multispecies (Groundfish) Oversight Committee will meet September 6th in Peabody, Massachusetts, to continue develop of Amendment 16 and will continue development of sector policies, review draft measures text for previous Committee decisions, review specific sector proposals that are being considered for the amendment review proposals for adjustments to effort controls identified at earlier meetings and develop further recommendations for those measures.
GSSA staff will be attending to determine the possible impacts of Amendment 16 on fishermen in New Jersey who currently hold Multispecies permits and Groundfish Days at Sea.
Congressman Pallone meets with Belford and Point Pleasant Fishermen
During the week of August 20th Congressman Frank Pallone had a productive discussion with Jim Lovgren and Joe Brennan regarding the serious situation that the quota reductions of the summer flounder fishery. GSSA will continue to work with their office and staff to address the summer flounder issues.
Sea Turtle Conservation and Observer Requirements for Fisheries
Pursuant to its authority under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), NMFS issues this final regulation to require fishing vessels under it’s jurisdiction as identified in the annual determination process specified in the rule to take observers upon NMFS’ request. The purpose of this measure is to learn more about sea turtle interactions with fishing operations, to evaluate existing measures to reduce sea turtle takes, and to determine whether additional measures to address prohibited sea turtle takes may be necessary. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/fr/fr72-43176.pdf
GSSA submitted comments to this rule detailing our concerns. Please inform us if you are contacted to take observers as a result of this new rule and let us know about observer conduct.
Natural Gas Deepwater Port License Application
Atlantic Sea Island Group LLC (ASIG), proposes to own, construct, and operate a deepwater port, named Safe Harbor Energy, in the Federal waters of the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf in the area known as the New York Bight region in MMS lease area NK18-12 block 6655. The proposed location is approximately 13.5 miles south of the City of Long Beach on Long Island and 23 miles southeast of New York Harbor entrance, in an area between the Ambrose-to-Nantucket and Hudson Canyon-to-Ambrose shipping lanes, located at approximately 40[deg]23' N and 73[deg]36' E, in water depth of between 60 and 70 feet.
Please let us know if the approximate location given above is near areas where you currently fish or have fished in the past. We would like to submit comments and illustrate possible negative impacts to fisheries in the area.
Garden State Seafood Association website
The new website – which is still under construction – is at http://www.gardenstateseafood.org. One particularly useful feature should be the calendar, where we will list meetings and special events. If you have any comments or questions about the website, please contact Nils Stolpe at nilsstolpe@fishnet.com.
