New Report from NOAA Shows Increased Landings in 2013

NOAA recently released the 2013 Fisheries of the United States report.  For US commercial fisheries, a total of 9.9 billion pounds of seafood was harvested in 2013 at a value of $5.5 billion. This is up 2.5% from 2012.  For US recreational fisheries, 11 million recreational fishermen took 71 million trips.  For a quick look at the South Atlantic compared with other regions, reference the table on page 8 of the above report.

Can't get through a long report but want the highlights?  Click here for the infographics and the 4-page summary of the report's major findings.

Grant Opportunities for Fishermen

Did you know there are many funding opportunities available to fishermen through NOAA?  A recent grant opportunity that came to our attention is the Saltonstall-Kennedy Program.  The deadline for submission is December 15, 2014.  According to the NOAA website the priorities are as follows:

"Maximizing fishing opportunities and jobs, improving the cost effectiveness and capacity for observations, increase the supply, quality, and diversification of domestic seafood, and improve the quality and quantity of fishery information from the U.S. territories." – www.noaa.gov

You can search, apply for and track NOAA grants here.  Not interested in this grant or missed the deadline?  Keep an eye out for other grant opportunities here.

What's Your Vision: Upcoming SAFMC Snapper Grouper Visioning Session

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is holding a snapper grouper visioning session October 14-16, 2014 in Charleston, SC.  This follows a series of "port meetings" held throughout the region and is a part of the Council's visioning project.  There are opportunities for public input each day.  If you are in the area or can plan to come to Charleston during this time, please attend this meeting.  Click here to see the agenda and meeting materials.

Attention Commercial Fishermen: Be sure you know the regulations!

Vermilion snapper  is closing 12:01 am September 12, 2014.  In addition to vermilion snapper, the snapper grouper fishery has MANY species closed to commercial harvest.  The following species are closed to commercial fishing:  golden tilefish (longline and hook and line), snowy grouper, almaco, banded rudder fish, lesser amberjack, blueline tilefish, yellowedge grouper, silk snapper, misty grouper, queen snapper, sand tilefish, black snapper, blackfin snapper, gray triggerfish, and red snapper.  All species listed above will reopen January 1, 2015.  If you don't like these closures, please contact the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and let them know you want year-round fisheries.

SAFA Commends U.S. House of Representatives Vote

Last night, by a 223-185 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science,and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 that would have prohibited certain regional fishery management councils, including the South Atlantic, from considering catch shares. SAFA applauds the many Members of Congress that did not support this amendment.  We want to keep fishermen on the water and our fisheries healthy.  To do that we need all options, including catch shares, available to us.  Read more here.

SAFA Statement to Congress

SAFA CALLS IMPROVEMENTS IN DATA AND SCIENCE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIMITED ACCESS PRIVILEGE PROGRAMS CRUCIAL FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF FISHERIES IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC

 March 13, 2013.  Charleston, SC. — In connection with a House Natural Resources Committee hearing on the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the South Atlantic Fishermen's Association (SAFA) today filed a statement calling for Congress to improve data collection and science for fisheries by working more collaboratively with fishermen.

SAFA also encouraged Congress to maintain catch shares, which have proven successful in many fisheries around the country, as a management tool for use in federal fisheries.

"Much of the criticism of fisheries management relates to the quantity and quality of data and science used by managers," said Matt Ruby, a commercial fisherman that serves as president of SAFA.  "Science and data questions have led to mistrust of the regulators by fishermen, concerns about the reliability of established catch limits, and in many cases, these questions have led to bad management decisions."

According to SAFA, the reauthorization of the MSA provides an opportunity for Congress to address some of these data and science issues by leveraging the resources of fishermen.  SAFA also offered to work with the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration/National Marine Fisheries Service on methods to improve data collection in the region.

"Good data and good science are critical to ensuring a vibrant fishing industry and to conservation of the resource for the future," said Ruby.

Additionally, SAFA called on Congress to continue permitting regional fishery management councils to utilize limited access privilege programs, commonly referred to as catch shares, as a management tool for federal fisheries. 

"Catch shares have been in existence in U.S. fisheries for decades, and have proven to be an effective tool for managing many federal fisheries," said Ruby.  "Unfortunately, some in Congress have attempted to eliminate their use as a management tool.  SAFA is opposed to such efforts and urges Congress to maintain catch shares as a management tool in any reauthorization of the MSA."

SAFA believes that improvements in data and science and the development of limited access privilege programs for the commercial fisheries in the South Atlantic are needed to help ensure the sustainability and economic viability of fisheries in the region.

* * * * *

SAFA is comprised of fishermen and seafood lovers from North Carolina to the Florida Keys that are committed to strong fishing communities; fresh, local, sustainable seafood; and connecting seafood lovers and businesses with local fishermen.  The organization is working to protect the Southeast's fishing heritage by advocating for sustainable year-round fishing rules, collecting better fishery science, and connecting consumers and businesses with fishermen to improve the abundance and accessibility of local seafood.

A copy of the full statement for the record can be found here. 

Major Closures Taking Place in September

September is going to bring hardship to fishermen in the South Atlantic.  Our region is about to experience major closures in our fisheries, some that have never closed before. 

The National Marine Fisheries Service has announced the closures below, effective September 8th (Deepwater and Porgy Complexes) and 11th (Gray triggerfish and Yellowtail snapper):

Complex

Species

Deepwater

Yellowedge grouper, blueline tilefish, silk snapper, misty grouper, queen snapper, sand tilefish, black snapper, blackfin snapper

Gray triggerfish

Gray triggerfish

Porgy

Jolthead, knobbed, saucereye, whitebone, scup

Yellowtail snapper

Yellowtail snapper

These closures will impact fishermen up and down the South Atlantic coast and for some it could keep them off the water until May 1 of next year, a total of 6-7 months without a paycheck.   Fishermen in the South Atlantic need help and they need it fast.  The outdated management that the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council continues to use isn't working.  These closures are expected to result in the movement of South Atlantic fishing vessels to the Gulf of Mexico and other fisheries in an effort to stay in business. Others will look for employment outside the fishing industry. These fishermen may not return.

We need to explore new options for management like the ones being used by commercial snapper and grouper fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico.  The Council is meeting next week in Charleston, SC and we demand to hear Council members talking about new solutions, not the same old programs that continue to hurt the fishery. 

South Atlantic First Ever Closures for Commercial Harvest of Eighteen Snapper Grouper Species

National Marine Fisheries Service's Southeast Regional Office announced that the commercial harvest of the Snapper Grouper Deepwater Complex (8 species) and Porgies Complex (5 species) would be closed to vessels fishing in South Atlantic federal waters on September 8, 2012 through January 1, 2013. Gray Triggerfish and Yellowtail Snapper would be closed September 11 through January 1, 2013 (see Document FB12-063, available at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov). In addition, the Jacks Complex (3 species) closed July 2, 2012 (see Document FB12-044, available at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov). According to NMFS, the commercial harvest of these species will meet the annual catch limits by these dates. This is the first time ever that any of these species have been closed before the end of the calendar year.

The closures in September accelerate the recent trend of fewer and fewer days available for commercial fishing of Snapper Grouper species each year. Some of these species like greater amberjack, yellowtail snapper, spadefish, blueline tilefish and gray triggerfish have been increasingly targeted in recent years due to declines in Snowy grouper and other marketable snapper grouper species. All are popular food fish for local restaurants.

Tough Weather: Tough Job

By: Jack Cox of Morehead City, North Carolina

Hurricane Irene put a scare in a number of North Carolina fishermen.  We hoped for the best and prepared for the worst.  I had to tie up everything and hope I wouldn't be out of the water for too long.  Luckily, I was back fishing within the week.  That wasn't the case for every fisherman in the South Atlantic and with more than six weeks left in Hurricane season, I'll continue to hope for clear weather.  The physical damages from hurricanes, like Irene, can be devastating, but it the concerns about your business and the economic impact after the storm can be just as scary, especially for fishermen. 

When you're limited to short seasons, as we are in the South Atlantic, a few weeks or days off the water can have huge impacts on your bottom line.  While we were tied up in North Carolina during Hurricane Irene, vermillion fishermen in the rest of the South Atlantic were able to fish and make money.  The quota inched further toward its cap and those fishermen forced off the water lost money.   

Had "Irene" hit during the Black Sea Bass season there's no telling what some fishermen would have risked to make it through the season.  Fishing is a dangerous job and it's made even more dangerous by the derby-style fishing required under current fishery management systems.  When your chance to fish is limited to a matter of weeks (as in some cases), losing even the smallest amount of time on the water can be economically devastating. 

The race to fish makes a dangerous job even more dangerous.  Last month, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics released its list of most dangerous jobs:  Commercial fishermen faced the greatest risk of death compared any other profession in nation last year. 

It doesn't have to be this way.  If fisheries were allowed to explore other management options like catch shares, fishermen would work against their own quota instead of a racing against each other.  Catch shares would allow fishermen to fish year-round and avoid limiting seasons.

Not only could fishermen avoid fishing in harsh weather, but they could avoid the other traps of derby-style fishing.  The price of fish could stabilize year-round, rather than drop during the season as fishermen glut the market.  The costs of ice, gasoline and boat-repair wouldn't increase just in time for a season.  Fishermen could have a more stable and consistent business for themselves and future generations. 

As hurricane season continues here in the Atlantic, more and more tough decisions will have to be made and it doesn't have to be that way.   

Statement Regarding House Vote to Ban Catch Shares on the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico

"We are obviously disappointed by the outcome of the vote, but we will continue to aggressively educate Members of Congress on the potential adverse consequences of enacting a ban on catch shares. 

There is an opportunity to positively change South Atlantic commercial fisheries using tools like catch shares.  Members of Congress that don't believe current fisheries management is regulatory-intensive and putting fishermen out of business, should try fishing for a living in the South Atlantic.  Seasons for commercially important species such as golden tilefish, black sea bass and vermilion snapper have gone from near year-round to less than two months over a three year period.  Current management is costing the region jobs and economic opportunity, and this vote puts small fishing businesses and coastal communities in even more jeopardy.  And despite what has been suggested, catch share for commercial fisheries simply will not impact recreational fishermen's current access to the fishery.

The narrow vote margin on this amendment is evidence that Congress is hearing us.  We thank those Members of Congress that stand behind fisheries management decisions made on the local level not in Congress, as put forth in the Southerland-Grimm amendment. 

We will now focus our attention on the Senate and urge them to support fishermen and coastal communities by voting down any ban on catch share for the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico."

- Matt Ruby, President, South Atlantic Fishermen's Association