Garden State Seafood Association

Updates

3rd quarter update

Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs Oversight Hearing: On July 26, GSSA’s Executive Director was chosen to testify before the Subcommittee at the hearing entitled "NOAA's Fishery Science: Is the Lack of Basic Science Costing Jobs?" Our testimony focused on two major policy changes implemented via the 2006 MSA reauthorization that are impacting the U.S. fishing industry and ultimately our coastal economies. Those two policy changes are: (1) the enhanced role of the Science and Statistical Committee (SSC); and (2) the establishment of setting annual catch limits to prevent overfishing. As a result of the reauthorization, NOAA’s NMFS revised guidance for implementing National Standard 1 was adopted in February of 2009. The NS1 guidelines were revised to provide guidance to the Councils on how to implement certain provisions that are now required components of federal fishery management plans to address scientific and management uncertainty when setting quotas. The revisions were designed to prevent overfishing on the managed resources, rebuild overfished stocks, and achieve optimum yield (OY).

Unfortunately the new guidance was interpreted by some SSC members as overly precautious and risk averse and in the worst case as an acknowledgement that in the absence of information, we must reduce quotas. In addition, the Annual Catch Limit (ACL) and Accountability Measure (AM) requirements of the MSA created standards that are apparently beyond the capabilities of our current fisheries science program, resulting in several layers of uncertainty buffers that are reducing fishery yields and will continue to do so in the future unless our science drastically improves.

Magnuson – Stevens Act: New Jersey Representative Jon Runyan introduced the “Saving Fishing Jobs Act of 2011.” This legislation seeks to hold the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) accountable for fisheries management programs called catch shares that have been detrimental to fishermen throughout the Eastern and Gulf Coasts. The bill would require the Secretary of Commerce to terminate a catch share program if it reduces the total number of fishermen in the program by 15 percent or more. It also would prevent the government from imposing new catch share programs on fishing communities that oppose them. It would do so by requiring consideration of new programs to be initiated only via a petition signed by at least 50 percent of fishermen in the fishery, and by requiring a two-thirds vote of fishermen for approval of new programs. Finally, the bill includes language to protect taxpayers from shouldering the extra costs associated with implementing and managing new catch share programs. GSSA staff continues to work with Congressman Runyan and his staff on a variety of issues.

Magnuson – Stevens Act: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. introduced the “Flexibility and Access in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2011”, this legislation would help preserve the fishing industry that is so vital to the Jersey Shore. The proposed legislation has support from a broad coalition of commercial and recreational fishermen and in the small business community that relies heavily on the fishing industry.

Key provisions of the legislation make significant reforms to the fisheries management process including allowing for the extension of the timeframe for rebuilding a fish stock beyond 10 years under certain circumstances; increasing transparency in the process for developing annual maximum fishing levels by requiring a report describing the process and mandating public access to the report; and requiring that the economic and social impact statements be issued annually and include dollar amount estimates and look at projected impacts in addition to current impacts and be prepared in conjunction with a council’s fishing industry advisory committee. In addition it gives authority to the Secretary of Commerce to suspend the implementation of annual catch limits when a stock is healthy and the proposed restrictions are overly burdensome and not based on sound scientific information. GSSA staff has received support from Congressman Pallone’s staff on numerous issues.

2nd quarter summary

Magnuson – Stevens Act: New Jersey Rep. Jon Runyan (R-3rd) introduced the “American Angler Preservation Act” to address several concerns raised by sport and commercial fishing interests, including but not limited to: accurate and risk neutral scientific decisions; Science and Statistical Committee transparency; improved process for declaring fishery disasters; new catch share referendum requirements in the New England, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions; flexibility in rebuilding fish stocks; and preventing fishing closures which are being based on poor science. The bill was referred to the Natural Resources Committee and Mr. Runyan has requested a New Jersey field hearing.

Large Whale Conservation: NMFS is holding Atlantic Large Whale Conservation scoping meetings in Manahawkin (7/29) to discuss how to best protect whales from interactions with vertical lines and how to best mark vertical line gear. See http://www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/VerticalLineScoping/

Garden State Seafood Association Reviews Historical Fisheries: We have been looking at historical landings levels in New Jersey's commercial fisheries, and those which have provided the basis of New Jersey's "mixed trawl" fisheries have almost all be in a protracted decline for years. The species whose landings are declining (and the years for which they've been declining) are butterfish (60 years), cod (50 years), croaker (5 years), black sea bass (15 years), shad (20 years), scup (40 years), mackerel (5 years), silver hake (20 years), red hake (30 years), monkfish (5 years), yellowtail flounder (40 years), winter flounder (20 years), fluke (25 years) and lobster (20 years). The "traditional" mixed trawl fisheries that have increased are squid and skate. The declines can't be attributed to a single factor, but rather to overly cautious management in general and state-by-state allocations in which New Jersey comes out behind. However, there is one unequivocal fact; as our fish stocks continue to increase the harvest of those stocks by New Jersey's commercial fishing industry is being forced to catch less each year.

Cooperative research project finds threatened Atlantic sturgeon: Barnegat Light gillnetter and GSSA Board member Kevin Wark has been involved in a cooperative Atlantic sturgeon tagging program for the last three years. Working with Delaware State University researchers off the Delaware coast Kevin and crewman Mike Lohr have caught 300 plus large sturgeon. Meanwhile increased protection under the federal Endangered Species Act is being considered. The fish are measured, tagged and released. An article about this program will be in the next issue of Commercial Fisheries News.

Artificial Reefs in New Jersey: GSSA’s Legislative team met with Chairman Albano and representatives of the recreational fishing community in an attempt to find a compromise on the reef issues.  To date numerous concepts have been proposed but none seem to satisfy the recreational community and address the funding issue that stem from USFW position on funding except a complete ban.  The Chairman has opposed an all out ban, and we will continue to work with all those willing to develop a reasonable compromise.  It appears there will continue to be no legislative action until after the November elections.  

Squid, Mackerel and Butterfish Quotas: The Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council adopted a U.S. total mackerel Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) /Annual Catch Limit (ACL) = 43,781 metric tons. A commercial Annual Catch Target (ACT) of 34,907 mt and after discards, a Domestic Annual Harvest (DAH) of 33,821 mt. The MAFMC adopted a butterfish ABC/ACL of 3,622 mt and an ACT of 3,260 mt. This harvest level would be a 117% increase from the 2011quota, allowing the butterfish mortality cap on the Loligo fishery to increase by 70% in 2012. The Council adopted a DAH of 22,445 mt. for Loligo (a 13% increase) and 22,915 mt for Illex (a 2% decrease) consistent with the recommendations of its Scientific and Statistical Committee.

1st quarter summary

Emergency Rule Benefits Mid-Atlantic Fishing Fleet in 2011: The industry was facing a possible closure of the directed Loligo squid fishery during the Trimester I season due to the inclusion of a restrictive butterfish bycatch cap in Amendment 10 which was implemented on January 1, 2011.

To reduce the possibility of an early closure GSSA staff worked cooperatively with fishermen from New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island to increase the 2011 ABC for butterfish. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Science and Statistical Committee convened a meeting on February 7th to consider this issue.  The SSC, along with MAFMC and NMFS’ Northeast Regional Science Center staff,  re-examined historical landings of butterfish in the directed Loligo fishery. This analysis resulted in a recommendation for a 17% increase in the butterfish ABC which the Council promptly approved and NOAA/NMFS implemented as an emergency measure on March 17th. The success of this effort is a direct result of the effective working relationship between industry, Council members and staff, and the NMFS staff in the Northeast Region. Industry members feel that an ABC should be increased, which remains a long term goal of the GSSA.

New Jersey Congressional Delegation: GSSA staff are working on a number of issues with members and staff of the NJ Congressional Delegation and with key congressional committee/subcommittee staff in both the House and Senate. Among the issues being discussed are the proposed Endangered Species Act listings of Atlantic sturgeon and loggerhead sea turtle, the proliferation of catch share/sector programs in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions, the FY12 NOAA budget situation as it relates to best available science for improved management, funding for the next monkfish cooperative trawl survey, FY2012 funding for the Fisheries Finance Program, protecting the interests of NJ fishermen in the context of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team negotiations, and developing a suite of potential changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Act in an effort to improvement to the current management system.

Artificial Reef Bill: The Legislature took a step closure to passing legislation that would ban the use of commercial fishing gear on Artificial Reefs.  The bill was passed by the Senate and now the House would have to take action before the bill would head to the Governor's desk.  Unfortunately Senate President Sweeney was unwilling to keep his promise of a compromise on the legislation before moving the bill for a Senate floor vote. In the Assembly the bill is referenced to the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, where Assemblyman Nelson Albano form the 1st District is the Chairman. He too believes a compromise is necessary prior to moving the bill in the committee. Unfortunately the Speaker of the Assembly could also move the bill.  The GSSA has met with the Assembly staff and the Chairman to discuss the lack of merit around the legislation.   We will continue to work diligently on the issue, but need members to be reaching out to their local legislator of GSSA staff so we can show legislators our concern over this issue. 

Oyster Regulations: The NJDEP is revising the Oyster licensing regulations this spring.  It is our hope that they will address the unpacking provision in the current license consolidation regulations.  High level discussions have occurred in the Governor's policy office and within the NJDEP in hopes of obtaining these changes.  We expect to hear back in the next few weeks as the regulations will be released.

Meeting with Department of Agriculture Commissioner: Members of the GSSA leadership met with The Secretary of Agriculture Doug Fisher.  Secretary Fisher voiced his continued support for the commercial industry and went over the many promotional opportunities available under the Jersey Seafood promotion program.  Again this year they have poster, coloring books, and advertisements planned for the summer season to promote jersey seafood.  For a nominal fee ($20), GSSA fishermen can register with the Department of Ag and use the Jersey Fresh logo as they sell and promote their product.  For more information contact Joe Atchison, Agriculture Marketing Specialist at Joe.Atchison@ag.state.nj.us  or via phone at 609-984- 2223.

4th quarter summary

GSSA continues its work with Rutgers Staff to address butterfish bycatch:

Our research continues into its next phase in an effort to reduce the incidental catch of butterfish in the Loligo squid fishery. We are planning to continue interviews of fishermen to collect social data about the fishery and combine with environmental data during the next two months. This March we hope to have a draft model for by-catch reduction. The industry will be asked to cooperate by agreeing to interviews and sharing their experiences to determine fishery information on fishing grounds and anecdotal data regarding fishing effort. It is our hope that communication between the fishing industry and scientists will draw conceptual models of squid habitat and butterfish habitat. A small group of interviews will serve as a pilot for a survey instrument aimed at understanding how fishermen make decisions about when, where and under what conditions to trawl.  The final survey will include environmental scenarios to understand how fishermen make decisions on the water. Interviews will consist of questions about which boats communicate while fishing and how these interactions take place and under what conditions. Additionally, questions about preferred communication methods will give insight into a communication strategy that would be suitable for the vessels involved.

GSSA Attorney Comments on Draft Policy for the Assessment of Civil Administrative Penalties:

Attorney Kevin Thornton on behalf of GSSA provided written comments on the NOAA Draft Policy for the Assessment of Civil Administrative Penalties. He concluded that the Draft Policy does not address the issues outlined by the OIG investigation and indicates that the Agency has little understanding of its relationship to those it regulates. Furthermore, he believes that the Draft Policy does allow for smaller increments in setting penalties, but it does not address such basic issues such as transparency, excessive fines, cumulative fines, minor recordkeeping or reporting errors.

There is also nothing to indicate that this Draft Policy will be more uniformly implemented than prior penalty policies. The penalty policy seems intended to maximize collections, rather than to ensure compliance. In addition he expressed his belief that the resulting excessive penalties are inconsistent with a system of governance that derives its legitimacy from the consent of the governed. In the context of US commercial fisheries, particularly those heavily restricted and overregulated during rebuilding periods, the potential always exists for an unintentional violation which, under both the existing and draft policies can easily result in crippling fines and sanctions that destroy a legitimate business and results in a loss of jobs. His comments urge NOAA to develop a policy that ensures its regulatory process functions out of respect by the governed, rather than out of fear.

Protected Resources Challenges in 2011:

GSSA and our staff continues to be engaged in all aspects of our ingoing issues with protected resources. Over the past 5 years we have been focused on addressing our challenges with large whales, small cetaceans, harbor porpoise and bottlenose dolphins. While those issues remain a serious threat to the viability of the fisheries we participate in we have additional threats to contend with. The industry will be faced with a new set of Turtle Excluder Device regulations in some of our trawl fisheries and the possible endangered species listing of Atlantic sturgeon. GSSA has submitted extensive comments when we have had the opportunity and will continue to follow the progress of both these serious issues.

A Short Message to our Supporters:

The staff from GSSA greatly appreciates your support and looks forward to working for you all. On behalf of the industry we will put your hard earned money to good use and advocate for the best possible outcome. We have many challenges this year and beyond but we also have great resources to rely upon. We hope to work closely with all of you this year and consider you a great asset in our continued struggle.

 

Good Luck and best wishes for a safe and prosperous New Year.

Greg DiDomenico

Executive Director

Garden State Seafood Association
July 2010

Commercial Fisherman Retains 3 Year Appointment on Mid Atlantic Council

On July 23, the US Department of Commerce announced the 2010 appointments to the regional fishery management councils. We are pleased to report the reappointment of Mr. Erling Berg from Cape May, New Jersey for another 3-year term on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. GSSA staff worked diligently for many months to take the necessary steps to insure Erling’s reappointment.

We could not have been successful without the support of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and the leadership of members of the NJ Congressional Delegation -- specifically Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, Congressmen Frank Pallone and Frank LoBiondo. We extend our thanks to all of them for their continuing interest in and support of New Jersey’s fishing community, and we thank the many commercial, recreational and party/charter fishermen in and outside New Jersey who supported this critical reappointment.

Catch Shares in Mid Atlantic Fisheries
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council during their June Meeting agreed that it would undertake a “visioning process” prior to considering catch shares in the squid fisheries, or in any other MAFMC fishery. The “visioning process” will create a sub-committee to look at FMPs and engage stakeholders about the problems and successes they see in MAFMC-managed fisheries. This visioning process was an outcome of the Council’s March 16-18 Catch Share Workshop but addresses much more general goals to reach out to stakeholders, develop a vision of what successful fisheries look like, and plan how to get there. GSSA staff and industry members provided written comments in opposition of catch shares in these fisheries and will continue to play an active role in the “visioning process”.

Spiny Dogfish TAC increased
Following an assessment this past spring the National Marine Fisheries Service determined that the spiny dogfish stock was rebuilt and selected an intermediate harvest level of 15 million pounds for the next fishing year. This conservative quota represents a 25% increase over the current quota. The trip limits in the directed fishery will still be maintained at 3,000 pounds. GSSA staff members have been fully and effectively engaged in the dogfish assessment and management process and will continue their participation as the dogfish stock continues to flourish.
April 2010

February 24th Rally in Washington D.C.
Garden State Seafood Association played a pivotal role in the “Fix Magnuson Now” rally and web-based petition drive that brought thousands of disgruntled commercial, recreational and party/charter boat fishermen to the US Capitol in Washington on February 24. GSSA staff members were involved in organizing the rally, in developing and operating the web petition, and GSSA President Jeff Reichle, Executive Director Greg DiDomenico and Communications Director Nils Stolpe all addressed the assembled fishermen. Our colleagues in the Recreational Fishing Alliance handled the logistics seamlessly, over two dozen Senate and House Members spoke, and they all repeated the same message: fisheries management under the current regime was failing fishermen in every sector and drastic change was needed immediately. New Jersey's Congressmen Pallone and LoBiondo both spoke.
As a follow-up, GSSA and the other fishing organizations that were involved in the rally are in the process of forming a new national organization of fishermen, Keep Fishermen Fishing and Working, which will continue to work towards restoring the Magnuson Act to its original purpose; allowing US fishermen to sustainably harvest the rich bounty of our coastal and ocean waters. The Keep Fishermen Fishing website is at http://www.keepfishermenfishing.com/.

National Catch Shares Policy
NOAA released a draft national policy on December 10, 2009 encouraging the use of catch share programs around the country. GSSA staff is fully engaged in this process since the beginning and will continue to advocate for flexibility for the harvesters and protection of shore-based investment. We attended a workshop conducted by Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council and we were joined by several GSSA members. Our participation will continue at the MAFMC. The draft policy is available at http://www.nmfs.gov/catchshares and comments will be accepted through April 10, 2010. The GSSA will be submitting comments.

National Ocean Policy Initiative
The Administration’s efforts to implement a new National Ocean Policy are in full swing. The NOAA leadership is working on a two-pronged approach to the policy – creation of a broad national ocean policy and more targeted marine spatial planning component. GSSA staff are actively engaged in this process. The first component, an “Interim Report of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force” was published on September 10, 2009 and is now available at www.whitehouse.gov/oceans. The second issue regarding development of a national framework for marine spatial planning (MSP) is also under construction and GSSA filed comments with CEQ in February 2010 on the “Interim Framework for Effective Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning” which is available at www.whitehouse.gov/oceans.

The Garden State Seafood Association is awarded federal grant

The GSSA will be working with Rutgers University scientists to provide technical assistance in close coordination with the Northeast Fisheries Science Center Cooperative Research Program. The research will focus on bycatch issues in the directed Loligo squid fishery and assist with data analysis of the cooperative monkfish trawl survey. After research is completed GSSA will conduct constituent workshops held in Massachusetts and New Jersey. GSSA will organize the workshops and disseminate project results to the fishing industry in close coordination with the NEFSC Cooperative Research Program.

Appropriation Request for Fiscal Year 2010

GSSA submitted a FY2009 CJS appropriations request to several NJ Congressional offices for the Fisheries Finance Program (FFP). The FFP is a long-term, loan program managed by the NMFS and made available to US commercial fishing vessel owners, shore side seafood processors, and aquaculture operations. The Traditional Loan component of the FFP, funded at $59.0M for 2008, allows commercial participants to refurbish fishing vessels and improve shore side plant facilities and to finance aquaculture operations. Several NJ-based fishing operations utilize this loan program. The FFP is a successful loan program, not a subsidy, which generates money for the US Treasury.

NMFS opens federal waters to a limited spiny dogfish fishery

Following rapidly on the heels of a Dogfish Forum that GSSA members and other groups held in Philadelphia (the proceedings are linked to the Fishnet USA website at http://www.fishnet-usa.org), federal waters were once again opened to a limited directed dogfish fishery. The trip limit is 3,000 pounds and the commercial quota is 12 million pounds, divided into two seasons. While the stock could support a much larger fishery, these new regulations will once again allow fishermen and processors to profitably work on dogfish and reestablish the export markets. Additionally, any significant reduction in the size of the dogfish stock will benefit just about every other fishery in the mid-Atlantic and Southern New England.

GSSA Efforts on Summer Flounder

 

GSSA has been part of the collective efforts to address the stock assessment issues for fluke, attending numerous workshops leading up to the final stock assessment, giving written and public testimony and providing essential funds for the scientists we are working with. We were encouraged that our efforts produced positive results, including an increase in the overall quota resulting in an increase of over 200,000 pounds of quota for New Jersey commercial fishermen. We have received generous support from several fish houses. Our efforts could not have happened and cannot continue without your support. This year will require continued efforts on fluke and a completely new initiative for black sea bass. We are in the process of preparing to address these issues and will be asking all of you for your assistance and financial support.

1) Summer Flounder Assessment: GSSA's staff continues to play an important role in this issue and has organized the ongoing efforts of several scientists to participate and offer their individual expertise throughout the entire assessment review process. We have attended every stock assessment workshop thus far and will be at the May 20th workshop in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The assessment will be finalized in June and we will continue to advocate for adequate science, a sustainable fishery, realistic rebuilding goals and a stable fishery. A summary of the May workshop might provide with possible range of next years quota and preliminary status report for the fishery.

2) Squid, Mackerel and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan: GSSA has been following all management issue concerning these very important fisheries. On May 22nd we will be attending the Monitoring Committee Meeting that is being held in Providence RI. The Monitoring Committee will be setting the specifications for these fisheries for the 2009 fishing year.

Amendment 9 to the SMB Fishery Management Plan: Throughout the entire amendment process GSSA has provided written and public testimony on this issue and will be submitting final comments to the proposed rule. This amendment has been reduced from its original form and will implement a continued moratorium on illex pernits, designate Essential Fish Habitat for Loligo squid eggs, prohibit bottom trawling in Oceanographer and Lydonia Canyons, allow for the setting of multi-year specifications and revise the biological reference points. If you would like a copy of our comments please let me know and I can send them to you.

Amendment 10 the SMB Fishery Management Plan: This amendment will be addressing the bycatch issues that occur in the Loligo fishery, specifically butterfish discards. Many of the management actions contained in the amendment could have a serious negative impact on the Loligo fishery, including increased mesh size for the Loligo squid fisher, gear restricted areas, butterfish bycatch cap and industry funded observer coverage. As soon as I can I will provide you with the alternatives and obtain your advice on the specific options. Please be advised that a public hearing will take place on this issue on Monday, June 9th at 7:00 PM at the Sheraton Convention Center in Atlantic City. Before the hearing occurs will do my best to communicate the most important issues to all of you and formulate a position for those issues. It is very important that you all attend this meeting.

Squid, Mackerel and Butterfish Quotas for 2009: The Monitoring Committee recommended an 1800 metric ton increase in the Loligo quid quota. All other quotas will remain at the same level for 2009. The Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council will be discussing the specifications during its June meeting in Atlantic City. Here is a link to the MAFMC where you can find the Agenda for the meeting. http://www.mafmc.org/mid-atlantic/press/press.htm

3) Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008: Due to the efforts of NJ Senators Lautenberg and Menendez, Congress made available $1.339M in federal funding for the purposes of conducting an industry-NMFS cooperative trawl survey ($1.25M) targeting monkfish from Maine to North Carolina in 2008. The 2008 survey will be the 3rd and final cooperative survey conducted during the past 9. The information from these cooperative surveys provides estimates of total monkfish stock biomass and fishing mortality rates and is used directly in the stock assessment process. The remaining portion of the funding ($89,000) will be awarded to GSSA and Rutgers staff to assist the research efforts are to provide technical support to complete cruise analysis.

4) Dogfish: At a workshop held in at the University of New England in Beddeford, Maine on March 29, NMFS officials reportedly appeared to be fully committed to their course of continuing to “rebuild” the spiny dogfish stocks which are having severe negative impacts on the fish and the fisheries in New England and the Mid-Atlantic. At this point trying to address this situation through the severely compromised federal fisheries management process is futile. Therefore GSSA staff will be meeting with affected recreational and commercial fishermen to spearhead an effort to have legislation introduced in Washington that will increase the harvest - and decrease the numbers – of these voracious predators.

5) Monkfish: Representatives of the Garden State Seafood Association and the Monkfish Defense Fund have been deeply involved in monkfish management for the past six years. In that time, in very large part due to their efforts, the fishery has progressed from being poised on the brink of a total closure to the point where it is recognized today as not being overfished. It has taken a concerted effort on the art of the GSSA and the MDF, focused on a series of cooperative trawl surveys and working with the managers to complete a new stock assessment (in the summer of 2007) to accomplish this, but our efforts have been rewarded with an open fishery and with stocks which are now recognized to be in as good shape as the fishermen have been assuring the managers they were in initially. With our urging, both the Mid-Atlantic Council and the New England Council voted at their meetings last month to do away with the backstop provision in the Monkfish FMP that would have closed this year’s directed fishery if last year’s landings had exceeded the target TAC by over 30% (they did in the Southern Management Area.)

6) Abandoned Vessels: Both Houses of the NJ Legislature have passed legislation to address abandoned vessel in NJ waterways and marinas.The bill is head to the Governor's desk where he is expected to sign the legislation.

7) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permits (NPDES): GSSA staff has been working diligently to gain support from the New Jersey delegation and secure federal legislation that would provide exemptions for certain size vessels and provide for a two years study to determine if discharge permits are needed at all. We have been communicating with industry members from all coastal states for support and urging them to voice their concerns with elected officials from their regions. Unfortunately yesterday the Senate Committee approved a bill (2766) that would only exempt recreational vessels. As this issue develops we will keep you posted and will continue to pursue exemptions for commercial fishing vessels.
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