Making Waves - Spring 2017

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M A K I N G

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MakingWaves Waves Spring Summer 2016 Making 2017

The Official Publication of the Recreational Fishing Alliance

Has Government Mismanagement Resulted in the Sunset of the Summer Flounder Fishery?

CHANGE SUMMER FLOUNDER MANAGEMENT NOW! MID-ATLANTIC FIASCO

COBIA

CLOSURE

BARTA COMMENTS ON NEW ENGLAND MONUMENT CLOSURE HOW TO FIX THE GULF RED SNAPPER SITUATION MRIP UPDATE - STILL FLAWED AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! WIND FARMS ON YOUR FAVORITE FISHING SPOTS HOW TO FEATURES: TAKE BETTER FISHING PHOTOS FISHING BUCKTAILS IN SKINNY WATER FISHERIES NEWS & VIEWS FROM AROUND THE NATION

SPRING 2017

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Making Waves Spring 2017

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M A K I N G

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MakingWaves Waves Spring Summer 2016 Making 2017

The Official Publication of the Recreational Fishing Alliance

FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK

By Gary Caputi

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here is so much going on since the change of Administrations in D.C. it is impossible to keep up with it all in a quarterly publication so I hope you are following our emails and press releases. Just before I wrote this Wilbur Ross was sworn in as the new Secretary of Commerce and in his address to the assembled hierarchy at the DOC he stressed we would be managing U.S. fisheries for higher yields, something that has not been done well since before since the last reauthorization of the MSA. This is a major sea change for future management decisions and could have major positive repercussions for recreational fishing regulatory actions. It also will not be taken lightly by the NGO's that have fought so hard to take over and lock up the management process both legislatively and through NOAA and the Council system. The sparks are going to fly, my friends, and we better be ready to go to war when called!

We've got a lot to read here, too, and some additions to the newsletter you might find interesting. We will be running some articles that include fishing tips and ideas to enhance your time on the water as a respite from the constant drone of fisheries management information. In this issue there is a great short piece on fishing bucktails in skinny water and another with tips for taking better fishing photos. Watch for more to come in future issues.

With states going out of compliance, like New Jersey is doing over draconian summer flounder regulations and like Virginia is contemplating over the theft of their cobia season, the system is either going to be strengthened or break down. You'll find articles on both situations inside along with another great feature on the red snapper issue by Tom Hilton. So start reading and learn.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Publisher’s Desk

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Exec. Director's Report: Full Court Press on MSA

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Breaking News; Wilbur Ross Confirmed for DOC

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Case for a Change in Summer Flounder Manage-

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18 Defying Science & Logic: Mid-Atlantic Cobia Closure

Tred Barta on rescinding Monument Status in New England

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How to Fix Red Snapper Situation in Gulf

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New England Wind Turbine Fiasco

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MRIP Update: Still Essentially Flawed

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Take Better Fishing Photos 42 Tips on Fishing Skinny Water Bucktails

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News & Views: Breaking Fisheries News from around the Nation

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On the Cover:

Will we be able to fish for summer flounder at all after another year or two of government mismanagement?

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Making Waves Spring 2017

Executive Director’s Report

By Jim Donofrio

FULL COURT PRESS FOR MAGNUSON REFORM

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he time is now! We have worked hard to develop a coalition of organizations and industry members and establish common ground on MSA reform over the past two years knowing full well that even if we got a replacement bill through Congress Obama would not sign it. He was totally in the pocket of the environmental lobby and they would have none of it!

With the election of Donald Trump, the House and Senate controlled by the Republican majorities and the recent appointment of Wilbur Ross as Secretary of Commerce, the stars have been realigned and recreational fishermen and the industry must make the most of it .

As you know, the RFA threw its support behind Donald Trump's campaign for the presidency early on, well before the primaries were over actually. We were the only recreational fishing organization to do so. Even

after he became the chosen Republican candidate for president we were alone in our support. RFA representatives opened a dialog with his campaign staff to bring them our concerns with the MSA and the manner in which the NOAA was implementing it. While the legislation as revised in 1997 was showing success at rebuilding fisheries, it has been failing fishermen dramatically since the changes made in 2007. There is no reason recreational fishing and healthy, vibrant fish stocks cannot coexist, but the MSA was written in such a way as to assure that the healthier the stocks became the more angler access would be restricted. That is counter intuitive and totally unacceptable.

regulations that do not recognize the socioeconomic value of recreational fishing and its importance to job creation and the nation's economy. If we fail to work together for MSA reform now we will be permanently relegated to fishing under the yoke of a regulatory process that is not only broken, but purposely stacked against us.

Our coalition must remain united and strong in its goal to make Magnuson reform its top priority because we have the best shot at success in the coming months. Fishermen have had enough of

Working together at the national level we can have rebuilding, conservation and better access to fish stocks.

All those goals are within reach and can be achieved.

We can achieve and maintain healthy fisheries and protect the right of fishermen to have fair and equitable access to those fisheries.

It can be good for the fish, good for the fishermen and good for the country, and we have to do it NOW! Anything short of a united and cohesive approach to this strictly political situation is unacceptable.

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BREAKING NEWS: A NEW FISHERIES SHERIFF COMES TO TOWN The confirmation of Wilbur Ross as Commerce Secretary should represent a transition in federal fisheries management in the Trump White House and clears a fluke hurdle in New Jersey for the Christie administration.

by Jim Hutchinson, Jr.

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craft ways to rewrite the tax code; while the mainstream media focuses on trade ishe ongoing sues like NAFTA, the confirfluke fiasco mation of Ross as Comtook a critical turn on Mon- merce Secretary should repday night when the U.S. resent a transition in federal Senate confirmed Wilbur L. fisheries management under Ross as the nation’s new the Trump administration Secretary of Commerce. By and opens the next chapter a vote of 72 to 27, President in the 2017 fight for sumTrump’s cabinet selection mer flounder. was confirmed to a position Given the state of flux with that puts him ultimately in both fluke and sea bass charge of overseeing NOAA with NOAA Fisheries yet to Fisheries. approve the “option five”

ing in Virginia requiring New Jersey to adopt a three fluke at 19-inch size limit for 128 days - a meeting of the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council originally scheduled for this Thursday in Stafford Township has been postponed.

New Jersey governor Chris Christie has been defiantly hoping to gain Secretary Ross’s support for status quo measures which would leave the 2016 limits in place for another season unRoss has reportedly been vote at last month’s Atlantic til new data could be inteadvising the president on States Marine Fisheries grated into the NOAA Fisheconomic policy and helping Commission (ASMFC) meet- eries decision-making, and

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thus far refusing to accept the ASMFC vote.

Menendez, New Yorkers Charles Schumer and Kristen Gillbrand, as well as According to Jim Donofrio, Connecticut’s Richard Bluexecutive director at the Recreational Fishing Alliance menthal and Chris Murphy.

(RFA), the confirmation of The Senate Subcommittee President Trump’s new on Oceans, Atmosphere, Commerce Secretary clears Fisheries, and Coast Guard a major hurdle in helping is responsible for legislation get the recreational fishing and oversight of matters community’s concerns heard that impact our oceans and at the federal level. coasts including marine fisheries, ocean policy and NO“A great place to start AA. Just before the vote, draining some of that swamp is down in Maryland Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), the ranking minority member of at Silver Spring,” Donofrio the full committee urged felsaid, referencing the location of NOAA’s headquarters low lawmakers to vote for Ross; while all eight republioutside of Washington DC. can members of the sub“The ideological appointments of our last president, committee voted favorably flooding NOAA Fisheries for on the Ross nomination, eight years with anti-fishing four of the seven democrats policies, it was bad for fish- on the subcommittee voted against him, including Eding, and just shows the ward Markey (D-MA) and need for a major houseMaria Cantwell (D-WA), as cleaning operation this well as both Booker and spring.”

Blumenthal.

While the Christie adminIn 2015, a bill to amend the istration has been looking Magnuson-Stevens Fishery forward to working with Conservation and ManageRoss as Commerce Secrement Act, the primary law tary to remedy the more draconian fluke restrictions governing federal fisheries management, was approved being levied against the in the House of RepresentaNew York, New Jersey and tives by a vote of 237 to Connecticut region, all six 174. A Senate version of the Senate representatives in those afflicted states voted bill failed to pass out of the Senate Subcommittee on against Ross, including the Oceans, and with President New Jersey delegation of Obama pledging to veto the Cory Booker and Bob House version of the bill if it

Making Waves Spring 2017

reached his desk, the legislation eventually stalled.

The RFA said things had gotten very bad inside the Commerce Department early in the Obama administration with the selection of fisheries chief Jane Lubchenco in 2009, a move that led to the shutdown of black sea bass and the rollout of fleet-reducing catch share programs that harmed the New England cod fishery and shut anglers out of Gulf of Mexico red snapper.

“President Obama simply didn’t get it, which most of our recreational industry realized by 2010 when he was telling folks in a New Hampshire speech that times were indeed tougher in his administration, warning Americans against buying boats or going on vacation,” Donofrio said. “That pretty much sums up eight years of what became our anticommerce department in the United States.”

Ross was officially administered the oath of office on Tuesday and sworn in as the Secretary of Commerce by Vice President Mike Pence.

- See more at:

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MakingWaves Waves Spring Summer 2016 Making 2017

A Case for Change in Summer Flounder Management

By Tom Smith Efforts being made by National Marine Fisheries Service and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to save the summer flounder fishery may in fact be the primary contributing factor to its decline in recent years.

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ver the last thirty or so years, NMFS has mandated a series of regulatory changes governing management of summer flounder, most which have been focused solely on managing quotas and overall catch of both recreational and commercial fishermen. For the recreational community, the changes have been primarily in the form of reductions in possession limits and or increases in size limits intended to reduce overall harvest, in addition to seasonal closures. In reviewing NMFS’s own data, while it appears that ideology benefitted the fishery between the years 1988 to 2002 there’s strong evidence to suggest that same unwavering ideology has been the driving factor in a 30% decline in “spawning stock biomass” (SSB) from 2003 to 2015, the last year of reported statistics. All data on the following charts that were used in developing our assessment was derived from Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) report regarding Draft Addendum XXVlll presented to the public at the Galloway public meeting in February 2017.

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Making Waves Spring 2017

F rom reviewing this data it is clear that the overall harvest between the

years 1982 to 1988 appears to be the primary contributing factor leading to a precipitous decline in SSB experienced in the run up to a more restrictive management regime in the 1990s and beyond. SSB at the beginning of that period was ~26,000 metric tons declining to ~7,000 metric tons over the next seven years. Total catch during that time frame averaged ~20,000 metric tons or ~117% of SSB. In laymen’s terms, we were harvesting too high a percentage of the spawning stock and the root of the early problems in the fishery. The next graph illustrates exactly that point.

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Over the next fourteen-year period 1989 to 2002, total catch was reduced through management measures to an average of ~11,500 metric tons per year or a ~43% reduction in catch from the period 1982 to 1988 when SSB plummeted. The decision at the time to reduce annual harvest made sense and the spawning stock and overall stock responded favorably to the session of overfishing.

At the time this was all occurring, there was a simultaneous shift taking place that should have registered cause for concern, but was either overlooked or ignored. While SSB was indeed building at a rate never before experienced historically, relative recruitment strength was declining at an alarming rate due to the disproportionate increase in harvest of larger female breeders. Recruitment strength is defined using NMFS’s own data as annual recruitment (fish at age 0) divided by SSB metric tons. In other words, it is a reflection of how many new fish are coming into the fishery based on every metric ton of the SSB and is therefore a measurement of the reproductive strength of SSB. The following charts illustrate that trend over the last 30-year period.

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Making Waves Spring 2017

The above graph shows that the reproductive strength of the summer flounder SSB has been decimated over the last twenty or so years. The ratio peaked in 1993 at ~3,243 fish per metric ton of SSB and reached its low in 2015 of ~644 fish per metric ton. That constitutes an approximately 80% decrease in recruitment strength, the result of which has been a thirteen year decline in overall SSB because as recruitment strength declines the number of fish maturing to create a sustainable SSB declines as well.

While this development was taking place, NMFS continued to manage the fishery focusing only on total catch. Size limits continued to increase while possession limits continued to be cut. In doing so, the unintended consequences of those decisions has been a significant shift in the gender composition of SSB giving rise to a precarious and sustained drop in recruitment strength over the last twenty years. This is because larger summer flounder (fish in excess of 18�) are overwhelmingly egg bearing females and under the upward shift of recreational minimum size limits they have become a disproportionately higher percentage of the recreational landings. Additionally, larger summer flounder bring a significantly higher market price for commercial harvesters resulting in added pressure on female breeders.

The next graph compares the trend of increased size limit regulations to the decreased trend in SSB recruitment strength. It’s an alarming trend and relationship which should be the primary focal point of future regulations since it appears to be crippling the fishery.

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It is obvious from this graph that there is a strong inverse relationship between annual reproduction and size limit increases mandated by NMFS. If you correlate the above chart to the information provided in the latest Rutgers “Sex and Length of Summer Flounder” study funded by Save the Summer Flounder Fishery Fund (SSFFF) and the Science Center for Marine Fisheries, it’s difficult if not impossible to not conclude that size limit increases over the last twenty or more years put in place by NMFS and the ASMFC have been consistently removing too many female breeders from the SSB and that has had a devastating effect on the reproductive strength of the fishery and the SSB’s ability to repopulate and maintain itself. Considering it takes approximately two years for a fluke to become sexually mature, coupled with 2016 size limits and proposed one inch increases coastal wide under Option V for 2017, the decline in SSB will continue through at minimum 2019. The increase in size to 19 inches for the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut region will guarantee that between 90 to 95% of all fish harvested recreationally in 2017 will consist of female breeders. It’s is arguably the worst decision fisheries management could have made in a litany of bad decisions that have held back the continued expansion of the summer flounder stocks. While total catch continues to be the sole focus of their decision making process, it is the continued and accelerated gender imbalance their management decisions have caused that will eventually lead to a population collapse in this fishery.

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Making Waves Spring 2017

Total catch as mentioned earlier in the years 1989 to 2002 averaged ~11,500 metric tons a year. During that time frame SSB exploded by 600% to ~50,000 metric tons, the highest level recorded over the last thirty-three years. Catch for the years 2003 to 2015 averaged ~11,250 and for the last two years on record 2014 and 2015 averaged ~8,250 metric tons. If total catch, as NMFS would lead us to believe, is the primary problem causing the decline in SSB, then why did SSB experience a 600% increase during the years 1989 to 2002 when the catch was ~40% higher than it is today. The answer is catch alone is not the problem.

If we reviewed two years of data only, 1989 and 2014, the disparity could not be more compelling. !989 ended with a SSB of ~7,000 metric tons, the lowest level in the thirtythree years analyzed. 1990 recruitment, recruitment being a factor of the prior year SSB, was ~35,000,000 new fish. In 2014, SSB was reported at ~35,000 metric tons and 2015 recruitment was ~23,000,000 new fish. Translated, a 500% increase in SSB between those two years resulted in an almost 35% decline in absolute recruitment numbers. That is a statistic and relationship which is virtually incomprehensible. If recruitment as a ratio to SSB approximated the same strength it exhibited in the eighties through mid-nineties, SSB today would be well over 200,000 metric tons, well beyond the ~62,000 MSA mandated target.

Beyond the comparison of those two years, there’s a twenty-year trend that strongly suggests size limit increases mandated by NMFS are the root cause of declining recruitment and spawning stock. Wthout an immediate change in their thinking the imbalance in the gender composition within the SSB will result in a complete collapse of stock’s reproductive ability. Too many female breeders are being removed by both the recreational and commercial interests, and further reducing landings without addressing that imbalance will only exacerbate problems in the fishery. If measures aren’t adopted soon to protect what’s left of the female population, SSB decline will continue and the fishery will be on the brink of another major collapse, if we are not at that point already.

In my opinion there are three changes NMFS and ASMFC should consider making without delay to save the summer flounder fishery from collapse.

First, slot limits should be introduced immediately to insure a higher degree of the annual harvest consists of smaller male fish and provide protection for the large female breeders. Bear in mind, in the eighties and nineties when possession limits were significantly more liberal and size limits were in the 13” to 14” range, recruitment strength of SSB was 300 % to 400% greater than it is today and SSB rebounded to record levels.

Second, there should be a complete closure to the fishery during the primary spawn period when migration off shore to their wintering grounds occurs. This will insure at minimum one more season of egg reproduction by the entire SSB while eliminating any potentially adverse effects commercial netting has on egg reproduction or the spawning process in general.

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Third, the FMP has to address high grading. The higher market value of larger sushi grade females is an incentive for commercial trawlers to throw back dead smaller fluke caught in the net so the vessel can keep a higher percentage of larger fish. This is exacerbated by the current trip limits for commercial vessels, which limit the poundage of fluke they can bring to dock on a single trip. Simple economics make it advantageous for the vessel to maximize the landings of bigger fish, which could be a contributing factor to the decline in SSB. NMFS needs to change their ideology regarding management of this fishery and focus on the causes leading to a shrinking SSB and the decimated recruitment strength which has occurred under their governance. The decline in SSB is not a five-year trend as NMFS would lead you to believe. It has been declining since 2003 caused by a significantly more alarming collapse in SSB recruitment strength over a twenty-year period of time. These trends will continue their marked declines unless measures are taken to refocus management efforts on the real issues as opposed to the continued emphasis on managing catch totals, which is the reason we’re in this position to begin with. As I previously stated. NMFS current management strategy is pushing this fishery toward a complete collapse, and their own data and the associated trends they reflect couldn’t be any more revealing.

Editor's Note: The case is compelling, NMFS own data paints the picture as clear as day. The question is, "will NMFS, the Regional Councils and the ASMFC continue to keep their heads buried in the sands of denial and let the stock continue to decline, or will they show some real leadership and finally decide it's time to change their methodology." To do so would provide the fishery and the fishermen and businesses that depend on it, with an avenue for rebuilding success while maintaining what is arguably the most valuable fishery in the Mid-Atlantic.

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Making Waves Spring 2017

A Look Into the Mid-Atlantic Recreational Cobia Closure

By Bill Gorham & Capt. T.J. Cheek

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ast March as anglers along the East Coast were preparing for the 2016 cobia migration into near shore and inshore waters, they were stunned when NMFS announced a June 20th fishery closure date in federal waters. Thatwould have resulted in Virginia and North Eastern North Carolina’s stakeholders having little or no cobia season at all.

bia stock assessment (SEADAR 28), tagging studies, research papers, federal notices, SAFMC meeting minutes dating back to 2009, and other pertinent data.

We attended dozens of meeting from Cocoa Beach, Florida to ASMFC meetings in Alexandria, Virginia. What we uncovered was disturbing to say the least.

In 2015 as a result of the passage of Amendment 20b of the Within days of the announceCobia Fishery Management Plan ment a group of stakeholders the boundary that split cobia consistine of charter captains management between the Gulf and fishing guides, anglers, tack- Council and South Atlantic le shop owners, marinas ownCouncil was moved from the ers, lure manufactures, rod Florida Keys to the Florida Georbuilders, and politicians from gia border. This resulted in the both North Carolina and Virgin- lowering of the annual catch ia started a grass roots effort to limit (ACL) for Georgia, South determine how this closure Carolina, North Carolina and Vircould have come about and to ginia 1.4 million pounds to less start fighting to keep the season than half that amount and in 2017 it will be further reduced open.

The extent of the research that to 620,000 pounds, while just was required seemed daunting the East Coast of Florida was allocated over 850,000 pounds. at times. They reviewed over 2,500 pages of documents, The justification presented for which consisted of the latest co- the new zone split was that ge-

netics and tagging results proved there were two different stocks of cobia and that the boundary was at the FLA/GA line. After reviewing the entire SEDAR 28 document and researching the studies sited in the workshops, it became clear that neither genetics nor tagging results were enough to justify that location and the resulting ACL. In 2015 North Carolina and Virginia protected their stakeholders and kept their in-state waters open, but with the strictest regulations in history for cobia. In North Carolina private boat anglers were only allowed to fish three days a week with a two fish bag limit per person and a minimum 37 inch size, while charter captains, who due to the timing of the closure had already taken deposits for that spring’s fishery, were allowed to fish seven days a week but could only keep four fish per boat. Pier and shore based anglers were able to harvest one fish per day and allowed to fish seven days a week. However, as

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anyone who fishes for cobia knows, the fishery is very unpredictable from year to year. In 2016 the weather and fast moving warm water lead to a very short cobia season for anglers in North Carolina.

to prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks.

for the fisheries managers to compile because each commerAccording to the South Atlantic cial fisherman must report their Fisheries Management Council landing with catch tickets and (SAFMC) using highly questiona- electronic reporting. The recreational cobia catch is much more ble MRIP survey data, the the difficult to estimate, as very few states from Georgia north to intercepts of boats with cobia Virginia, which has the most New York caught almost three take place. SAFMC uses a formuconservative regulations of any times the annual cobia quota. la that estimates angler effort, South Atlantic state to begin Many fisheries managers exand multiplies it by the average with, went from a 1 fish per per- pressed concerns about using son bag limit to a 2 fish per boat MRIP to estimate cobia catches. size of the observed fish and a limit with only one allowed to be Commercial harvest data is easy grossly bloated estimate of fishover 50 inches total length.

Despite 2016 having the most restrictive regulations in history, MRIP estimated the catch for Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina was even higher than in 2015. Claiming MRIP is the best available science is an insult to honest scientists everywhere. The catch totals MRIP claimed would require over 500 boats targeting cobia every single day for 90-120 days in just one state.

On January 24, 2017, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced that it would close the recreational cobia season for all of 2017 in Federal Waters.

You may remember that the Federal Government did the same thing last year, and the 2016 cobia season in North Carolina and Virginia was in danger of never happening.

Here is the information that anglers should be aware of. The Magnuson Stevens Act (first passed in 1976) established regional fisheries management councils that are supposed to use the “best science available� to set quotas for saltwater fish harvests. In doing so the goal is

The annual cobia migration into Mid-Atlantic near shore waters and Chesapeake Bay is highly anticipated and an economic boost for coastal communities.

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ing pressure. In some cases, less than a dozen fish measured will be treated by SAFMC like thousands of fish caught.

Making Waves Spring 2017

according to the MRIP survey.

MRIP's credibility is questionable at best because, given the average weight fish and the estimated angler success rate, over 1000 anglers had to target cobia

management policies. SEDAR 28 claimed that cobia are genetically different in the Gulf versus the Atlantic, yet there are two peer reviewed academic studies pubAnother challenge is the much lished by Texas A&M and the lower ACL. SAFMC South Carolina Department claimed that they have geof Natural Resources netic information indicat(SCDNR) that refute that ing that there are two claim. Interestingly, stocks of cobia. One stock SEDAR28's research work occurs in the Gulf of Mexiwas done by the same scico and extends through entists that authored the the East Coast of Florida published SCDRN study.

(Gulf of Mexico Stock), and When their work was suba second extends from jected to peer review, they Georgia through New did not make the assertion York. They used this justifiof a genetic difference. The cation to split the old Atresults they claim and the lantic management zone. evidence they tout are The East Coast of Florida completely bogus. The total was removed from the cobia ACL and the newly South Atlantic zone and created East Florida region moved to the Gulf of Mexishould be returned to the co management zone. old South Atlantic region SAFMC also allocated aldesignation. If that hapmost 66% percent of the pens, any ACL overage in old Atlantic quota to east2015 and 2016 would be ern Florida, and it is now so minimal that the ACT part of the Gulf quota. The could be met using size limremaining 620,000 its without the need for a pounds are split between full blown closure .

Mature cobia are large, excellent table fare the rest of the Atlantic states, even though both and are accessible to anglers fishing from The stakeholders from Virginia and North Caroli- piers, boats and for-hire vessels.

Georgia to Virginia should na have landed more corequest an emergency inevery day from June 1 to August terim rule or action to correct bia than East Florida in the last 31 in Virginia to have produced the grossly misguided regulafive years. the landings numbers MRIP spit The allocation was horribly un- out. Fisheries managers and lo- tions that were imposed through the passage of Amendfairly and supposedly based on cal anglers knew it was utterly ment 20B. These States should historic catch data, but Virginia preposterous, especially when demand their representatives go and North Carolina alone have you factor in the bad weather out of compliance with the AScombined average annual land- that prevented fishing on many MFC as they have no power or ings of well over the 620,000 of the allowable fishing days . authority to increase ACLs or quota assigned to the entire reThe zone split itself also raised make federal zone splits. All they gion. Despite both states cutting eyebrows.

The MSA requires the can do is divide up the crumbs their daily creel by half and reducing the number of allowable regional councils to use the best the SAFMC left them in Amendfishing days, the catch went up available science in order to set ment 20B.

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NOAA Seeks Comment on Atlantic Cobia Rules February 24, 2017 Request for Comments: Proposed Rule to Modify Management of Atlantic Cobia (Georgia through New York) KEY MESSAGE: NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on a proposed rule to implement Framework Amendment 4 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region (Framework Amendment 4).

Measures for Atlantic cobia in the proposed rule for Framework Amendment 4 would: 

increase the recreational minimum size limit



reduce the recreational bag limit

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establish a recreational vessel limit

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establish a commercial trip limit

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modify the recreational accountability measure

The proposed actions are expected to reduce the likelihood of exceeding the recreational and commercial Atlantic cobia catch limits in future years.

The 2016 and 2017 recreational fishing seasons for Atlantic cobia were shortened due to the overage of the catch limits.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES: 

For the Atlantic cobia recreational fishery, the proposed actions include an increase to the minimum size limit from 33 inches fork length to 36 inches fork length. In addition, the proposed rule specifies a bag limit of one fish per person per day, or six fish per vessel per day, whichever is more restrictive.



For the Atlantic cobia commercial fishery, the proposed actions include a commercial trip limit of two fish per person per day or six fish per vessel per day, whichever is more restrictive.



The proposed rule would also modify the accountability measure for the recreational sector. If the recreational and total catch limits (commercial and recreational combined) are exceeded, NOAA Fisheries would reduce the vessel limit, and if necessary, shorten the following season.

HOW TO COMMENT ON

THE PROPOSED RULE:

The comment period is comments by electronic other method (such as eafter the end of the comeries.

open now through March 23, 2017. You may submit submission or by postal mail. Comments sent by any mail), to any other address or individual, or received ment period may not be considered by NOAA Fish-

FORMAL FEDERAL REGISary 21, 2017 Electronic Submissions: al E-Rulemaking Portal.

1. Go to https:// 2016-0167-0001.

TER NAME/NUMBER: 82 FR 11166, published FebruSubmit all electronic public comments via the Federwww.regulations.gov/document?D=NOAA-NMFS-

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BREAKING NEWS RFA'S Own Tred Barta Pens Guest Editorial for Breitbart News

Barta: President Trump Should Stop the Obama Attack on New England Fisherman

by Tred Barta

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n the waning days of his administration, Barack Obama decided to seriously cripple the American fishing industry.

By executive order, the former president designated a vast underwater expanse off the coast of New England as the nation’s first aquatic national monument.

This decision, driven by evidence -free environmental concerns, effectively banned all commercial fishing in the area.

will undermine the regional Some fishing companies had just economy and deprive countless 60 days to leave the area. families of their livelihoods.

This exodus will bring economic The monument, officially anruin all along the coast. Bill Palnounced in September, covers ombo, a Newport, Rhode Island about 5,000 square miles of lobsterman who runs three ocean located 130 miles from boats in the monument waters, Cape Cod. For over 40 years, says he expects to “just go out of commercial fishermen have har- business.” Jon Williams runs Atvested this area for crab, squid, lantic Red Crab, which employs swordfish, tuna, and other high- 150 workers in New Bedford, demand seafood. It’s particularly Massachusetts, and he says the rich in lobster, of which some drop in harvests will force him to It’s well within President Trump’s 800,000 pounds are caught eve- “maybe sell my business”. powers to modify this decision, ry year.

The central promise of the and he ought to do so immedi- This order ends all that activity. Trump White House is the proately. Left alone, this designation

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tection of solid jobs for working families. This order kills exactly those positions: stable, wellpaid, immune to outsourcing, and available to workers without a college degree. In the Maine lobster industry, which supports 6,300 local jobs, the average starting salary is over $50,000.

extractive activities.”

As a professional outdoorsman and nature show host, my livelihood depends on the conservation of the natural world. I fully support smart environmental rules that prevent commercial interests from damaging precious wildlife. So trust me when I say: the idea that fishing And the collapse of fishing com- threatens the monument ecopanies will send ripples through- system is pure fiction. out the rest of the regional An obvious fiction, in fact. The economy. A vast array of supmonument area has hosted port sectors depend on a robust commercial fishing since the seafood industry. Just consider 1970s and, by the government’s the fate of Seafreeze Shoreside, own account, it is still in pristine a fish processing plant in Rhode condition. In fact, the excellent Island. Seafreeze contracts with quality of the underseas canmore than 20 boats that operyons and mountains was one of ate in monument waters. As the main reasons the Obama bluntly explained by Eric Reid, administration issued the order the Seafreeze general manager, at all: it wanted to lock in the “If they can’t get fish, I’m not in status quo. The monument wathe processing business.” ters stand as proof positive that

sor’s misguided monument designation immediately.

Tred Barta is the author of Driven, outdoorsman, and former host of The Best and Worst of Tred Barta on the Versus Channel.

Do you think this is just a commercial fishing issue? Here's what Jim Donofrio, RFA executive director, has to say:

“Management of such areas by executive fiat is simply bad management.

Some groups and individuals mistakenly believe this designation is a win for recreational fishermen, since the current ban on fishing in this monument Overall, this designation will de- commercial fishing and environ- area only impacts commerstroy several million dollars in mental preservation can cocial fishing. But once an annual fishing industry reveexist. As Jon Williams, the New area is closed to one form nues, according to research Bedford crabber, puts it: “If from the law firm Kelley Drye & we’ve been in there for 40 years of fishing the next step is and they still consider it pristine, to close it to all. These cloWarren. sures offer no conservaThe chief justification for the or- where’s the emergency?” der is environmental. The monu- Protecting the New England tion benefits that could ment encompasses vast under- fishing industry does not require not have been achieved seas canyons and mountains, fully rescinding the order. The through less draconian prime habitat for coral, all man- Trump administration should management measures ner of fish, and large species simply allow commercial fishing and that would have consuch a squid, octopus, and in the area down to a depth of siderably less negative whale. Supposedly, fishing and 450 meters. That’s the way to other human activities such as prevent any possible seafloor economic impacts for fishenergy development can dam- damage while still preserving ermen and the coastal age these formations and com- the livelihoods of thousands of communities they support. promise animal populaNew Englanders.

That is why the RFA is options. The official White House If President Trump is serious posed to executive orders announcement claims that about making America great creating de facto MPAs. “these habitats are extremely sensitive to disturbance from

again, he needs to protect these jobs and modify his predeces-

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HOW TO FIX THE BROKEN GULF RED SNAPPER SITUATION It’s time to take a different course of action. Here are some steps that might be taken.

By Thomas J. Hilton

I

t’s time to take the blinders off and see what has actually happened to the red snapper fishery since the hijacking of fisheries management in the 2006 reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. You may be surprised at what has actually happened when compared to what you were, or are being, told.

In the years leading up to 2006, according to the scientific experts, the Gulf red snapper fishery was already on the rebound, even with a 194 day fishing season and a four-fish bag limit! Unfortunately, that was the same year that the Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF) Oceans Team was “instrumental in crafting and passing the 2006 Magnuson-Stevens Act, which introduced a market approach to protecting our oceans...the use of catch shares in the commercial red snapper fishery.”

Each year since then, federal fisheries managers have worked in collusion with EDF to reduce recreational seasons and bag limits (based on highly questionable data) in an attempt to justify the end game – the implementation of their so-called solution -- catch shares in not only the Gulf red snapper fishery, but eventually in all of our federally managed fisheries.

Fast forward to 2017, ten years after the hijacking, and take a look around. How has this push to privatize our fisheries worked for all the stakeholders in our Gulf fisheries? I submit that it has been a dismal failure. The commercial red snapper industry has been consolidated into the hands of just a few people, and many of these individual fishing quotas (IFQ) shareholders don’t even fish any more -- they just lease their quota out to other fishermen for the going rate of about $3.00 per pound. They have access to the fish 365 days per year, and enjoy the bounty of the profits made from the harvest of our public trust resources without paying one penny in resource rent to the nation, unlike other industries that profit from public property. And, they use these same profits to fund lawsuits against their perceived competition, Gulf of Mexico recreational red snapper fishermen, to disallow them access to the commercial’s perceived assets (everyone’s fish) for 97% of the year. The Gulf Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is allowing this to happen, and it’s a flagrant violation of our public trust.

The recreational fishing industry has literally been torn apart by EDF’s sector separation scheme, a scam deemed “necessary” by Gulf Council/EDF/

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NMFS in order to implement Phase 2 of the introduction of the “market approach to protecting our oceans,” which is basically catch shares for the for-hire sector. Even after all the scheming and plotting by the EDF front groups over the years, sector separation (recreational fishermen versus the for-hire fleet) is looking a lot worse than advertised. Charter and headboat captains are going to be locked into annual catch quotas that are but just a fraction of their historical landings, and could face even further reductions due to “payback” provisions if they exceed their artificially low quotas. Never mind that staying with seasons and bag limits would give their clients about three Recreational fishermen times the number of have had the fishery fishing days each year literally stolen right from versus going to IFQs under their noses by or personal fishing environmental front quotas (PFQs) -- the groups and government EDF groups believe bureaucrats. that is simply necessary collateral damage in order for there to be a transfer of ownership of the public’s fish into private hands. This is baloney.

Phase 3 of the “Plan” is to mandate fish tags for private recreational anglers even though we were only given an 11 day season in 2016, a staggering 97% decrease in access from 2006 levels. The Gulf Council recently even formed a Private Recreational Angler Advisory Panel specifically for fish tag implementation! If they had implemented fish tags for the private anglers during the 2016 red snapper season, we would have gotten 422,227 fish tags, not even enough to give each red snapper fisherman in Florida one tag per year, and the rest of us would be totally out of luck and shut out of the fishery completely. And this is happening when, due to

Making Waves Spring 2017

the unneeded draconian regulations and resulting drastic reduction in access to the fish over the last ten years, the red snapper populations are

literally exploding!

We have given the catch share scheme and associated management measures ten years, and they have failed the vast majority of stakeholders in the fishery and caused billions of dollars in needless damages to Gulf coastal communities and businesses.

Different Course of Action Needed It’s time to take a look at a different course of action. Here’s are some steps that should be taken: 1) Reauthorize the Magnu s on - S te vens Act to prohibit the implementation of catch shares in any recreational fishery. Remove management of the Gulf fisheries (recreational and commercial) from the control of NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) and give that management authority to the coastal states via HR 3094 or similar Congressional legislation.

2) Allow the states to manage the fish landed off their coastlines out to 200 miles, and give them the power to set their own seasons and bag limits based on what the ecosystems, fisheries biomass, and level of effort will allow on a sustainable basis. Currently, fishermen in Texas are being managed by events and catches off Florida, which is absurd. It’s analogous to Texas deer hunters being managed by what happens to deer populations in Alabama. There is no scientific, ecological, or economic rationale for managing the Gulf fisheries as a whole.

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3) We need to hit CTRL/ALT/DEL on our key- fish on the dock. Any state that wants to opt out boards and revert to tangible pre-hijack levels, of this mandatory requirement will be managed and start over for a three- year trial period. Tangi- by the above-mentioned (failed) federal fisheries ble pre-hijack levels means 4.65 million pounds management regime. for the commercial red snapper fishery and rein- 6) Each state would determine the amount of stating our 194-day recreational red snapper sea- commercial fishing allowed off its coastline. Curson, which is what we had in 2006 prior to the rently, there is a 48.5% commercial/51.5% recreahijack. The only difference would be that, instead tional allocation split across the Gulf, but there is of a four-red snapper limit per person, we would probably a 70% commercial/30% recreational stay at the current split off of Texas/ two-fish per person Louisiana. The deterper day bag limit, mination as to April 21st to October whether or not this 31st each year. This is in the best interlevel of harvest can ests of each state be sustained for a (and its ecosystem) three- year trial perishould be made at od (2018-2020) as we the state level, not gather the critically the federal level important biomass which has a bias assessment and efagainst recreational fort/landings data fishermen. essential to informed 7) Require that comfisheries managemercial IFQ holders ment decisions.

We have given the catch share scheme and associat(some would charac4) Each state would ed management measures ten years, and they have terize them as “sea be responsible for im- failed the vast majority of stakeholders in the fishery lords”) bid on leasing plementing a manda- and caused billions of dollars in needless damages to their quota directly tory recreational ef- Gulf coastal communities and businesses. from the state fisherfort/landings system ies commissions each year by fishermen actually during this three-year trial period that would doing the fishing. The nation deserves a return track how many anglers are actually fishing off- on its investment in our public trust resources. shore, what species they are targeting, and Enact a true 6% cap on allocation. how many fish they are landing. Any state that wants to opt out of this mandatory requirement Below is a proposed resource rent payment would be managed by the current (failed) fed- schedule which illustrates how this could provide millions of dollars each year that could be used to eral fisheries management regime. help the fisheries -- better data, habitat enhance5) Each state would be responsible for imple- ment, better enforcement, better management, menting a viable assessment program to deter- and such -- instead of being funneled into private mine how many fish are actually swimming off its bank accounts, which is currently the situation. coastlines. Unlike current assessment models, this would be required to include fish found congre- 8) Prohibit leasing between fishermen, which gating around oil platforms and artificial reefs. would take away the “legal defense fund” that Current federal fisheries managers claim that the current system promotes and enables by these fish are already accounted for, but there is providing “free money” through leasing their no realistic way to ascertain how many fish are shares. If there is any leasing to be done, it should actually swimming in the water by counting dead be between those commercial fisherman actually

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doing the fishing and the state fisheries commissions.

9) Enact accountability programs between the states to ensure that each state manages its fish properly by not allowing overfishing to occur, and by protecting fish stocks while providing reasonable access to ensure that the fisheries are sustainable now and for generations to come!

Here is a breakdown of how this could be funded:

Recreational: Require all recreational fishermen to purchase an annual $25 reef fish endorsement (or

$5 per day for out-of-state fishermen) to go towards a collaborative fund between the states to be used for better data collection, enforcement, management, and habitat protection/enhancement.

There would be no need for sector separation, as all recreational fishermen would be granted equal access to the fishery.

I’m not sure exactly how many recreational fishermen target reef fish, but I would venture to guess that there are probably around 1 million anglers here in the Gulf. This could raise $20-$25 million annually, but let’s say an average of $22.5 million.

Commercial: Here is an itemization of the species and poundage (gutted weight) in the 2017 Gulf IFQ program and the suggested price per pound resource rent to be paid by the commercial sector: IFQ Species

Poundage

Suggested price per pound

Total

Red Snapper

6,003,604

$2.00

$12,007,208

Gag Grouper

939,000

$1.00

$939,000

Red Grouper

7,780,000

$1.00

$7,780,000

525,000

$1.00

$525,000

1,024,000

$1.00

$1,024,000

582,000

$1.00

$582,000

Shallow Water Grouper Deep Water Grouper Tilefish

Estimated recreational reef fish endorsement: $22,857, 208.00.

Total commercial IFQ resource rent: $22, 857.208.00.

Total estimated monies raised annually: $45,357,208.00 This gives a whole new perspective (and energy) as to where we are currently, and where we are headed. Each sector (commercial/recreational) contributes roughly equally to the fund. Commercial fishermen would be allowed to fish year round like they do now which is best for the consumer.

Recreational fishermen who fish on private boats and for-hire boats have their seasons restored to levels that provide equal and adequate access, plus security for the for-hire businesses.

Gulf coastal communities and businesses will enjoy the economic benefits of the restoration of recreational access, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

At the end of the three- year trial period, results can be analyzed to determine what levels of harvest, season days, etc. that would be suitable in the waters off each state to provide long term, sustainable fisheries for their fishermen for years to come!

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PROPOSED WIND TURBINES TO BE LOCATED ON PRIME NEW ENGLAND FISHING GROUNDS Potential Sites off Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

By Capt. Mike Pierdinock, RFA Massachusetts Chairman

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here are thousands of acres of federal wa- tern encompassing prime fishing grounds. No ters off New England that have been one wants to see hundreds of super-large wind leased to various utility generation compa- turbines in their own back yard, so the feeling nies. These areas include seems to be “let’s place the prime fishing grounds rangmonster turbines well offing from Coxes Ledge to The shore where they are out of Claw and south to the Finsight.” However, there was no gers and north of The Dump, consideration of the impact to as indicated in the accomparecreational anglers, charter nying figure from the Bureau boat captains and the comof Ocean Energy Managemercial fishing fleet, as well as ment (BOEM). These areas the impact on spawning are subject to ongoing gegrounds, forage fish, game otechnical investigations by fish, turtles, whales and macommercial vessels that berine mammals that are found gan this past fishing season. in these areas. Many of the These locations are only in easterly areas are spawning the initial phases of the siting grounds for herring and squid. process, and require additionCoxes Ledge provides a mix of al geotechnical surveys as groundfish and pelagics, with well as other environmentally the other areas being hot related surveys in these comspots for sharks, tuna, mahi panies’ attempts to obtain apand billfish. proval to site the proposed Fishermen are being reassured turbine units. This will be a that they will not be denied long, drawn-out process with access to fish in these areas. several opportunities for pubBut logic would indicate that lic comment. the use of bottom-tending We are not talking about a few turbine units close to shore in state waters such as those off Block Island. Instead, we are talking about hundreds of multi-story units in a grid pat-

gear and nets typically associated with commercial fishing may not be safe, and thus deemed not feasible, and insurance coverage may not be possible for the commercial fleet that

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fishes within these areas. Is it possible that the same restrictions could be imposed on recreational anglers and charter boat fleet in the wind turbine areas? Is this the next surprise, the denial of recreational fishing in these areas?

Then we get into the issue in which some folks conclude that recreational fishermen and the charter boat fleet do not fish within these areas anyway, a supposition based upon flawed Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) data along with charter boat data provided by a select few captains that’s being used to justify siting the Block Island turbines.

However, it is well documented that both recreational anglers and charter boat captains from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York routinely fish these waters.

How about the impact to spawning grounds, forage fish, game fish, turtles, whales and marine mammals? Should we be concerned? The typical response is that the wind turbine units will create structure that results in habitat that attracts forage and game species, as observed around the oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Most of us

Making Waves Spring 2017

would agree that the base structures of the turbines will provide habitat favorable to forage fish and groundfish as well as striped bass and bluefish.

However, if recreational fishermen target large pelagics such as mako and thresher sharks, and bluefin tuna, how will one safely navigate around the base of the wind turbine structure to avoid lines becoming chaffed or tangled if one were to hook into a powerful game fish?

How far apart should the turbines be placed so we can safely navigate and land large pelagics in the turbine areas? A credible study assessing the adequate and safe distance to land large pelagic species is lacking, and is absolutely necessary, reasonable and appropriate in order to site the turbines.

The Block Island turbine project is located near shore, in state waters. The fish encountered in this area do not include the large pelagics found in the propose areas farther offshore in federal waters. The siting process for the Block Island tur-

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bines did not include an evaluation and assessment of an appropriate grid pattern or distance between each turbine in order for vessels to safely navigate and fish for large pelagics. The species found in this inshore area are significantly different than those that inhabit the offshore waters, so it makes no sense to simply use the inshore siting criteria when siting the offshore turbines. More study is needed.

And then we have navigational safety. Private recreational anglers, charter boats and the commercial fleet typically fish and transit the turbine sites during several months out of the year, sometimes in nasty winds and seas. Have any studies been completed for these waters that would assess what would be a safe distance between turbines platforms in order to safely navigate this area? Additionally, might Homeland Security implement “safety zones” and prohibit boating and fishing within the turbine fields?

Will the subsurface transmission cables and the vibrations of the devices have impacts on the local fish populations, whales, turtles, and other sea life? Will the electrolysis of the subsurface cables negatively affect sharks? Sharks have electro-receptors on their “nose” that can sense electrical charges. The sharks’ receptors are needed in order for them to successfully locate forage fish. Studies of great white sharks have shown that these sharks have had encounters with, and attacks on, underwater equipment as a result of the electrolytic signals emitted. We need to see credible scientific studies of the impact of electrolysis from the miles of proposed subsurface cable from the wind turbines to shore. Studies will be needed to assess potential impacts on the sea life that inhabits these areas.

On land there are siting restrictions regarding the safe distance of permitted activities from a turbine in the event of a turbine collapse. Will similar restrictions be implemented in the future on the high seas? Will we be prevented from navigating through, or fishing in, these areas in the event of ice/snow sheer as with land based wind turbines?

Then there is the noise and flicker effect of the whirling turbine blades. On land, people are suf-

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fering from negative or stressful effects that result from noise and shadowing flicker. Will there be a similar be a problem for mariners and fishermen in the offshore turbine fields?

There are many examples of successful wind turbine projects throughout the world, but none of these are located as far offshore as those being proposed in New England’s waters. The infrastructure needed, and the associated cost, is such that economics dictate that the turbines must be multi-story in height and situated in a tight grid pattern, by the hundreds, over a large area. Also, ongoing maintenance costs will be magnified by the proposed distance from shore, and environmental conditions. These offshore New England waters are known for strong winds and heavy seas, not to mention the highly corrosive saltwater environment.

Are we so eager to promote “green” energy that we cast a blind eye to the hidden costs and impacts to the environment and the people that rely on our natural resources for their livelihoods? Or will the public potentially be held responsible to pay for possible poor decisions just to promote “green” energy?

I have more questions than I do answers, and there are certainly a lot of questions about wind turbines. I am all for green energy that makes economic sense with manageable environmental impact. But we will see if this is actually the case, or if this is a clear instance of a “not in my back yard” environmental-group agenda that does not address the potential negative impacts on fishermen and the environment! We need some strong assurances, in writing, that we will not be denied access to fishing within these wind turbine areas once they are created, and that environmental damage and disruption will be negligible.

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MRIP UPDATE Reprinted from

IMPROVED, BUT STILL ESSENTIALLY "FLAWED" While corporate attorneys and environmentalists say the new MRIP review gives NMFS a clean bill of health, scientists believe anglers may still experience a sick, uneasy feeling.

By Jim Hutchinson, Jr.

A

ccording to the nation's preeminent source of objective scientific analysis and advice, the federal government’s recreational fishing harvest surveys have been gradually improving over the past 10 years.

completed their analysis of the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) and found “significant improvements in gathering information through redesigned surveys, strengthening the quality of data.”

However, the same independent scientific panel also finds the survey methodology itself may still be “incompatible” with the needs of in-season management of our recreational fisheries.

While “many of the major recommendations from the 2006 report have been addressed, the Academy also found that some challenges remain,” going so far as to call for a full evaluation of the current MRIP design to see if it’s even compatible with in-season management of the recreational

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (Academy) recently

fishery.

The independent scientific committee that wrote the report found the methodologies in the current Fishing Effort Survey, such as an addressbased mail survey, resolve many of the shortcomings associated with the random digit dialing approach used in previous phone surveys. To enhance the quality of this survey, the report also included several recommendations, like adding a specific question on fishing location, such as whether private or publicaccess sites are used.

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MRIP uses surveys that collect data regarding anglers' fishing trips and the quantity and species of fish caught to determine overall angler harvest. By using statistical analysis, the data collected provides fishery scientists with catch estimates which are used to assess marine fish stocks and in making management decisions.

Over the past decade, NMFS has been working to retool the survey methodology in response to recommendations made in a previous Academy report, with specific changes required by Congress.

Making Waves Spring 2017

(AM) when either the commercial or recreational sector failed to meet the ACL. While the Academy’s latest findings show that the overall “statistical soundness of the redesigned program” should lead to better estimates of fish caught, the independent board of scientists and researchers also found that statistical challenges still remain in the recreational fishery that need to be addressed.

“For example those related to missing data such as refusals to complete the interview during a survey, language barriers, or lack of response to the mail survey by some an30 YEARS AND COUNTING glers,” the Academy wrote in In 1979, the National Marine their report, adding “Such missing values may affect estiFisheries Service (NMFS) inimates if the behavior of nontially started a survey program called the Marine Recre- responding fishers is different ational Fisheries Statistics Sur- from those who participate in vey (MRFSS) which the Acad- the survey.”

The report further noted how emy found in 2006 to be “fatally flawed” in meeting its communications with anglers intended purpose. The proabout the role of the national program have not resolved cess of redesigning the program and transitioning to the the anglers' lack of confidence in the survey methodnew MRIP process was a requirement laid out in the con- ology. “The committee recomgressional reauthorization of mended that MRIP develop a the Magnuson Stevens Fisher- national communications strategy involving state and ies Conservation and Manfederal partners to educate agement Act in 2006. fishers and stakeholders on That same federal fisheries the role of MRIP,” the report law – which is again up for reauthorization - also includ- stated.

One of the major changes in ed new annual catch limit (ACL) requirements and puni- MRIP over MRFSS is through tive accountability measures survey distribution. In previ-

ous years, anglers might expect a random phone call at home by government contractors hired to cold-call household landlines using contacts in coastal phone books; today, that information is now being done through mail surveys to random households, in part using the federal angler registry database, but also those same phone books.

Mike Leonard, Conservation Director for the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) said the shift to “snail mail” can help improve the accuracy of catch estimates, but said anglers will still be left with a system incapable of providing information nearly as frequently or accurately as commercial-fishing harvest data, or to the degree necessary to meet current statutory requirements.

“No matter how many incremental improvements are made to MRIP, a huge gap will still exist between what management expects and what MRIP is capable of producing in terms of timeliness and accuracy,” Leonard said, adding “That needs to be addressed through a combination of rethinking management goals and exploring fundamentally different ways of collecting angler harvest data.”

Leonard pointed out the specific conclusion made by the

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Academy on page 84 of their report referencing how the management landscape has changed significantly with the Magnuson Stevens reauthorization mandating strict catch limits for all managed species.

“The implementation of annual catch limits together with accountability measures that are enforced if the catch limits are exceeded has created additional tension in many fisheries, but particularly in recreational fisheries,” the Academy report stated.

what’s expected by law.

from the initial 2006 report, “There's a fundamental issue that the MRFSS-style survey methodology isn’t capable of of whether MRIP is capable quota monitoring decisions in achieving the purpose for which it’s being used, which is the recreational sector. “I still contend that MRIP should still to manage recreational fishing to a hard catch limit in real not be used for enforcing the ACL requirements,” Depertime,” Leonard said, adding “While the report didn't come senaire noted. to a conclusion on that, likely RFA’s executive director Jim because it was outside the Donofrio said the only way to scope of the project, it did substantiate the latest review and eliminate confusion is raise the question.”

In their final recommendation, through a full congressional the Academy recommended hearing, which he hopes to see convened in early 2017 to evaluating whether the de“Concerns from analysts, man- sign of MRIP for the purposes specifically address the Acadeagers and stakeholders over of stock assessment and deter- my’s findings. the use of data from MRIP in mining management refer“As soon as the Trump adminestimating both catch limits ence points is even compatiistration is in and Congress is and in determining whether ble with the needs of insquared away for 2017, we’re they have been exceeded season management of annu- going to ask for a full hearing, have been expressed,” the re- al catch limits. “If these needs same as we did in 2006 when port noted. are incompatible, the evalua- Congressman Saxton was WHO’S ACCOUNTABLE NOW? In the summer flounder fishery, NMFS is requiring a 30% harvest reduction across the board in both the recreational and commercial fishing sectors; however, based on ACL and AM measures required under Magnuson, an 11% overage in the MRIP estimates for 2016 essentially requires that a pound-for-pound payback overage be made by anglers in 2017. Representatives of the fishing industry and the Academy scientists themselves seem to be in agreement on this particular disconnect between the MRIP survey and

tion should determine an alternative method for inseason management,” the report stated.

chair of the fisheries subcommittee,” said Donofrio, adding that he plans to reach out to the Chairman of the House Leonard said he believes a full Committee on Natural Reevaluation of this issue would sources, Rep. Rob Bishop (RUT), as well as key members almost certainly conclude of the House Subcommittee what anglers have long known - the inability of MRIP on Water, Power and Oceans. to allow for in-season adjust- “We in the recreational comments exposes one of the munity are being hurt most by core flaws of the federal salt- the data, so we really need to water-fisheries-management get to the bottom of this, and system. get it fixed,” Donofrio added.

John Depersenaire, research - See more at: scientist at the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) said the newest Academy report also fails to reference a key finding

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You Can Take Better Fishing Photos!

Making Waves Spring 2017

by Capt. Barry Gibson

These simple tips can help you capture better fish pictures and save fish to be released, too.

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When you plan to release a fish get ready to shoot before you take it out of the water and then get your shot fast!

T

he first thing I want to admit, right up front, is that I’m not a professional photographer. Not even close! Start talking about f-stops and shutter speeds and my eyes glaze over.

However, I have had hundreds of fishing photos published over the years, including a dozen or more magazine covers, but that’s mostly attributable to the fact that I take a lot of photos when I’m out fishing, and that the cameras I’ve owned have done all the thinking for me when using their built-in “auto” settings.

Outside of the technical aspects of outdoor photography, I’ve picked up a few guidelines from the pros that will likely help even a rank amateur capture some really nice pictures, and allow the photographed fish to swim away in reasonably good health.

Shoot Fast The number-one consideration when shooting a “grip ‘n grin” fish photo should be, if the fish is to

be released, get it done fast. Most fish can easily survive out of the water about the length of time you can hold your breath, so that’s a rule I try to stick to on my boat. If the photo can’t be taken within 30 seconds or so, that fish is headed back over the side no matter how big it is. That said, I won’t take it out of the water until everyone is ready to pose and shoot. A 38-inch striper or red drum simply can’t wait for someone to search through his or her bag and jacket pockets for a camera or phone. If you want to take photos, be prepared to fly into action quickly.

Along this same line, resist the temptation to try and have a child, or adult who has little or no experience, hold the fish he or she just caught in order to display it for the photo. Nine times out of ten the fish will get dropped onto the deck or ground, potentially injuring itself and burning up precious seconds out of the water. Instead, you or another experienced person should immediately grasp the fish, and sidle right up next to the catcher. Two-person fish photos are, in many cases, far more pleasing and fun than a solo shot of

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Using a fill flash brightens faces that would be in shadow under the bill of a cap and can really make the fish jump. a grimacing angler holding a fish for the first time!

How the fish is held is important, too. Many, but not all, can be gripped by the lower jaw, but do that with one hand while supporting the fish’s belly (or just behind it) with your other hand so that it’s more horizontal then vertical. This way there’s less stress on the internal organs, as well as the fish’s jaw. Forget those good-buddy freshwater bass pros on TV that always display a big ‘un by just gripping the lower jaw and yanking backwards on it – it’s no good for the fish.

Flash Me OK, so as far as taking the actual photo goes, my number-one guideline would be to always set

the camera (or phone if it has this feature) on “fill flash” regardless of time of day or light conditions. This setting will make the flash go off for every shot. Most of the time, this will eliminate the dark shadows obscuring people’s faces, especially on a cloudy day of if the sun is behind the person you are photographing.

Even with the fill flash, it’s usually best to try and position the subject and fish with the sun behind you, the photographer, and illuminating the subject. Yes, once in a while you’ll end up with a “blown out” photo (a shot that is over-exposed from too much light) from the added reflection of the flash bouncing back off the fish or person, particularly in bright sunlight, but in the majority of cases the flash will greatly improve the quality of the picture.

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Making Waves Spring 2017

Get Sideways and Smile!

Another rule of thumb I go by, especially when there’s just one person in the photo, is to “shoot vertical.” A lot of grip ‘n grin shots lend themselves better to a vertical format photo rather than the standard horizontal format. Easy, just turn the camera or phone on its side, and click away.

You’ll be less likely to crop the top of the person’s head off, and the subject and fish being held will often fill out the photo better. Try it.

And, get your subjects to smile for the camera!

Smiles and grins make all the difference. If the subject is a young person, I’ll usually say something like “Your girlfriend (or boyfriend) is going to be so proud of you!” just before I click the shutter. That usually elicits a grin. For older males and females I simply tell them “Think sexy thoughts!”

Same reaction. Works every time.

Finally, be sure you have followed all the fishing regulations before you post that photo on Facebook.

There have been cases where people have caught and photographed a fish taken out of season and posted it on social media, complete with a

description of the event for all to see … which has resulted in a visit from a Marine Patrol Officer or Game Warden!

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Making Waves Spring 2017

The Skinny on fishing back bays and beaches with bucktails

By Stanley Gola

Stanley Gola is an avid saltwater fisherman with years of experience fishing artificial lures and his favorite is the bucktail. Along with his son Stanley Jr. they started S&S Bucktails and in just five years their lures are found in over 100 tackle shops from Rhode Island to Delaware. He currently offers 30 variations for every fishing situation from back bays and beach fishing to offshore.

MakingWaves Waves Spring Summer 2016 Making 2017

W

hen fishing back bays or beaches, most of the same principles apply when using bucktails in either area. First and foremost, it is necessary to know the depth of the water and the location. Once that is established, types of structures that are in the area such as sandbars, troughs, holes, cuts, submerged points, riptides, current, and tidal flow, are crucial to angler success. The knowledge of these occurrences along any shoreline will enable the fisherman to keep their bucktail in the strike zone to ensure the greatest chance of success.

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When fishing in daylight use bucktails that are lighter in color such as white. When fishing after dark or in low light conditions use dark colors such as wine or black. Water clarity is also a factor in bucktail selection. When fishing in water that has a tinge or is murky I prefer to change over to a chartreuse or yellow bucktail so it will be easier for fish to see it. Over the years I have seen my fishing production increase in these types of water conditions when others were having limited or no success.

Finally, when fishing a bucktail it comes down to the presentation finding the color that matches light and water In order to be succlarity and the fishcessful, the aning it so it looks like gler must also dethe real thing to termine which fish. Once the bucktail to use. bucktail hits the Selection should water and sinks be based on four down I like to get extremely imin touch with the portant details: lure right away the time of day, and give it two the clarity of the quick hard twitchwater, tidal flow, es of the rod to see and current. if I can garner any When fishing attention. Over shallow waters the years I have with minimal curgotten a lot of inrent and tidal flow One of Stanley's favorite bucktails for skinny water features a stantaneous strikes use a lighter buckand hook-ups dotail. This will pre- light-weight tin head for a slower sink rate and greater action. ing this. Should vent the lure from dragging on the bottom. The that not induce an immediate strike I’ll start my aim is to create a bouncing motion by allowing retrieve. Typically, I’ll start retrieving the bucktail the lure to move up and down while making in a slow manner and will give my rod tip two contact with the bottom. Avoid the “snow plow” subtle twitches at the completion of five turns of which occurs when the bucktail is too heavy for the reel. If giving that technique time to work if I conditions and it’s being dragged across the bot- am not getting any strikes I’ll vary the cadence of tom. S&S Bucktails Surf Master Series manufacthe twitches and the speed of the retrieve. The tures a bucktail with the head made of tin instead most important point no matter what you decide of lead. It provides a larger profile with a lighter to do with the speed and tempo of the retrieve is weight and is perfect for shallow water condimake sure you keep the same consistency tions. When fishing stronger tidal flows and throughout each cast. The art of bucktailing is deeper water you should increase the weight of like anything else, the more experience you gain the bucktail to keep it down in the water column the greater the success you’ll experience. and in the strike zone.

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Making Waves Spring 2017

RFA NEWS & VIEWS News Briefs from our Allies at the Alaska Charterboat Association FPFMC Passes Motion addressing "Mixing of Guided and Unguided Halibut on the Same Vessel" The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is considering new regulations to address the "problem" of "mixing guided and unguided halibut on the same vessel." The Council issued a discussion paper on the topic, a scenario where multi -day boats, floating lodges, and boat rental operations are under different regulations and bag limits. No data is given to measure the extent of this alleged problem, which looks to us like another way to decrease the share of recreational fish. At the February North Council meeting, a motion passed to consider options to address the problem through more regulations.

The measures will be voted on at a future Council meeting.

Wild Strawberry Lodge, dba Alaska Premier Charters, Inc. holds Raffle Benefit for ACA

tion is grateful for this support and thanks Theresa Weiser for her tremendous efforts! To buy a raffle ticket visit the ACA blog and view the details here.

ACA Board member Theresa Weiser has launched a raffle for several fishing/lodging packages at her family's lodge in Sitka, AK - Wild Strawberry Lodge DBA Alaska Premier Charters, Inc. In the first month, she raised $10,000 through raffle ticket sales from her own customer base mailing list! While membership dues provide a substantial contribution to ACA's annual budget, we're hoping the use of our new state gaming permit will allow us to do even more in the future to provide representation for our industry at all the important decisionmaking meetings that affect our recreational fisheries.

For example, it typically costs about $1500 to send one rep to a week-long North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting, depending on the location. Because of family and business obligations, Theresa says she is unable to attend the meetings herself, and she wanted to contribute funds through a raffle to support the people who can.

The Alaska Charter Associa-

Learn More About How Fishing Regulations are Developed The University of Washington holds an annual seminar with fishery managers, elected officials, key stakeholders and fishermen to discuss fishery management topics, including the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) - the federal "constitution" that sets the framework for fishing regulations in the U.S. We've collected a selection of short videos of some of the presentations at the 2014 "Bevan Series" of talks and panel discussions, with some very knowledgable speakers and decision makers who give an inside-baseball look at fish politics.

Many members of our industry lack sufficient knowledge about how fishing regulations are decided, and this limits the effectiveness of public participation in the process.

With the MSA scheduled for Congressional review, revision and update legislation, it is a great time to familiarize our-

MakingWaves Waves Spring Summer 2016 Making 2017

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selves with the key issues (and Economic study shows News Briefs From problems) with federal fisheries RFA-New England law. Alaska's congressional dele- 10X more economic gation always takes a keen interest in value for fish landed in the MSA discussions, and the chang- recreational fishery New England Groundes being considered can make a [Streamed live on Feb 8, 2017] huge difference to recreational fishfish Anglers Face More ing in the U.S. and will affect regula- "Gordon Gislason, a fisheries Cuts tions of all federally-managed species economist from Vancouver, Britof fish. ish Columbia, talks about a The bag limit for Gulf of Maine Visit the ACA Blog for a quick view of some short videos.

Charter Halibut Committee Seeks More Representation The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is seeking nominations for seats to be filled on the Charter Halibut Committee to include a 3A representative from a community that is not on the road system, and a 2C representative from one of the smaller communities to complement representation from Juneau and Sitka. Nominations are open until March 31. Representatives will be named at the April Council meeting.

Please send a letter of interest to steve.maclean@noaa.gov.

Please forward this announcement to anyone you think may be interested in serving on the Charter Halibut Committee.

-Steve A. MacLean Protected Species Coordinator / Fishery Analyst North Pacific Fishery Management Council 907-271-2809

cod is likely to be zero for the 2017 season, and the haddock limit is expected to drop from 15 fish per person to 12, with a couple of closure periods as well.

At a meeting of the New England Fishery Management Council’s Recreational Advisory Panel (RAP) in Freeport back on January 18th, panel members (including this writer) were delivered some sobering news about last season’s cod and hadframework he has developed for dock catches in the Gulf of analyzing and comparing the Maine. economic value of the two kinds of fisheries. As a case study, he It appears that the recreational estimated the commercial and sector exceeded its allocation of recreational values of Chinook cod by 192%, and haddock by salmon in Pacific Canada. 115%, in 2016. The cod overage included not only the fish "Commercial and recreational caught and retained by anglers fisheries are very different: the (one fish per person was alcommercial fishery is a resource lowed in August and Septemextraction, processing, and re- ber), but also the number of fish tailing industry; the recreational that were calculated to die after fishery is a form of outdoor rec- being released. It is assumed by reation, influenced not only by fishery managers that 15% of the availability of fish but by the cod die after release, so even environmental setting and other though there weren’t a whole factors aside from fish. How can lot of cod actually kept and takwe make a fair comparison of en home, the recreational quota was quickly surpassed by the their economic value?" “release mortality.”

The haddock picture was similar, but in this case the liberal 15-fish -per-person bag limit was largely responsible for the recreational

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overage (although there’s a 30% mortality figure assigned to released haddock). The haddock situation isn’t quite as dire, however, because stocks in the Gulf of Maine are now rebuilt and the recreational haddock quota will bump up from 928 metric tons (mt) in 2016 to 1,160 mt this year.

The small recreational cod quota, however, is scheduled to stay the same (157 mt) as it was last year, as stocks are still considered to be in relatively tough shape.

Making Waves Spring 2017

that the proposed new rules will ing that it is not the goal of be approved and implemented. the National Marine Sanctuaries to deny access to the Capt. Barry Gibson, RFA NE Regional fishery now or into the fuDirector ture.

National Marine Sanctuary Recreational Fishing Summit This past December I attended a meeting in Ft Lauderdale for the first 2016 National Marine Sanc-

tuaries Recreational Fishing Summit. I was asked to attend

as the recreational/charter boat representative of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary So, after much discussion with (SBNMS) Advisory Council. federal fishery analysts, and a careful review of the options for Other recreational/charter boat 2017 that would keep sport fish- captains that serve on Sanctuary ermen under their quotas, RAP Advisory Councils from the Atmembers voted to recommend lantic, Pacific and the Gulf of zero retention of cod for 2017, Mexico attended the summit. since the small quota will pretty The purpose of the summit was much get eaten up anyway just to provide an opportunity to speak on behalf of our constituin release mortality. ency.

For haddock, the RAP chose a 12-fish-per-person bag limit (17” We all shared the same conminimum), with a fall closed sea- cern that the existing sanctuaries and proposed future son of September 17 through st October 31 , and a spring 2018 sanctuaries were going to restrict or deny us our right closed season of March 1st to to access the fish. Examples April 15th. The combination of ranged from Marine Protecthe reduced bag limit and clotion Areas (MPA) that were sure periods is projected to reestablished and continue to sult in the recreational catch reaching the quota but not ex- expand off the coast of California that deny access to ceeding it. the fisheries there, to continThe full New England Council ued attempts to shut down accepted the RAP’s recommenSBNMS by creating MPAs, dations and has forwarded Sanctuary Research areas them on to the National Marine (SERA1 and SERA2) and DesFisheries Service, which will ignated Habitat Research Armake the final decision. We eas (DHRA) within the sancshould know one way or the tuary boundaries. We were other in April, but my guess is reassured during the meet-

The other common theme was that several sanctuaries lacked transparency and the decisions were being made by the sanctuary Superintendent without adequate input from the recreational anglers and/or charter boat representatives serving on a Sanctuary Advisory Council.

Input was recommended to be provided well before a plan is presented before a Sanctuary Advisory Council or regional fishery management council. There were too many examples that I could point to of actions by the SBNMS where the recreational anglers and/or charter boat representatives serving on the Advisory Council had little or no input on such plans or actions, and the same could be said of many other sanctuary Superintendents at other locations.

One final item that we concluded is that to apply measures universally to all sanctuaries was neither reasonable nor appropriate, since each sanctuary is unique. Each sanctuary has specific fishery and habitat issues, and use by various constituents from subsistence fishing to recreational anglers, charter boat captains to commercial fisherman. To require that an action at one sanctuary be ap-

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MakingWaves Waves Spring Summer 2016 Making 2017

plied and mandatory to all  sanctuaries is not appropriate. Needless to say I was pleased by this first step, and hope that further meetings periodically take place in the future and that our ongoing  concerns are addressed.

Capt. Mike Pierdenock, RFA-MA Director

HMS AP Meeting: Pending Recreational Shark Measures The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recently published the proposed measures to be implemented when recreationally shark fishing in all federal waters.

The proposed measures are to address the protection of the dusky shark stock. At the December 2016 Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP) meeting, a select few representatives and I pointed out the issues with many of the drastic measures proposed to ostensibly protect the dusky stock.

The following measures are proposed by NMFS when recreationally shark fishing in federal waters, although they may not be implemented until 2018. 

An online shark identification and fishing regulation training course and  test will be required to be completed in order to obtain an HMS Permit.

There will be mandatory use of non-offset, nonstainless steel circle hooks when recreationally fishing for sharks south of the 41 0 43’ N latitude line (demarcation line) except when fishing with flies or artificial lures. The north/ south demarcation line is slightly north of Chatham, MA. Flies and artificial lures typically consist of J hooks when trolling or vertical jigging for other pelagics that may result in hooking into a shark as bycatch.

The vast majority of the New England/North Atlantic recreational anglers, including myself, have never seen or landed a dusky shark (ridgeback shark) in our northern waters. They are not found north of Cape Cod  and are a rare occurrence between Cape Cod and southeast of Montauk (south of “The Dump”) and prefer warmer water temperatures (66-82 degrees F). We averted many of the other proA vessel will be required posed measures that were to obtain a separate shark discussed at the Advisory endorsement on its HMS Panel meeting, which are Permit when recreationalsummarized below. ly fishing for sharks. The HMS Permit is required by  No additional fee will be charged for the HMS Per-  all vessels fishing in federmit shark endorsement al waters when targeting that was being recomsharks, tunas, billfish and swordfish (pelagics).

mended by a select group at the meeting HMS Permitted vessels can target other pelagics at the same time and are not restricted to shark fishing only. NMFS initially proposed measures that if an HMS Permitted vessel was shark fishing no other regulated pelagics could be retained or landed by the vessel on that trip. This was problematic, for the vast majority of anglers that target other non-shark related pelagics in many instances hook into makos or thresher sharks as bycatch. The initial NMFS proposal would have required that the bycatch sharks be released when other pelagics were targeted. Fortunately the impact on recreational anglers and the charter boat fleet was recognized and this proposed measure was dropped.

Both J and circle hooks can be present and utilized on the boat when targeting other nonshark pelagics consistent with a vessel’s HMS Permit. However, if sharks are the target species then the use of nonoffset, non-stainless steel circle hooks will be mandatory unless flies or artificial lures are employed.

The use of wire and monofilament leaders (over 200 lb. test) was removed from the proposal due to

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the need for utilizing such leaders to land other non-shark related species of fish.

Making Waves Spring 2017

line noted above where dusky sharks are not found.

As recreational anglers we promote conservation I was able to point out that measures that hopefully rethere is little credible science sult in protecting fishery or recreational shark fishing stocks of concern and susstudies comparing gut tainable levels of fish. Many hookup rates utilizing J recreational fisherman are hooks and circle hooks on disappointed in the prothe shark species we target posed measures that add in our waters. Personally, I burdensome requirements to observe no difference in the obtain a shark endorsement gut hook rate when recrea- just to spend a day on the tionally shark fishing for ma- water trying to catch a kos, porbeagles, threshers shark. and blue sharks while using Capt. Mike Pierdenock, RFA-MA J hooks, barbless J hooks Director and circle hooks. Studies have shown and experience dictates that hook type does Commercial Squid have an impact on other Fishing In Nantucknon-shark related species. A et Waters circle hook can prevent the Now, to change gears, there potential for a gut hookup is ongoing controversy conbut this depends upon the cerning the use of mobile means and method utilized gear (mid and bottom trawlto land a fish as well as the species’ physiology, feeding ing and dragging) by the commercial fleet to harvest and flight behavior when squid in state and federal hooked. waters off Nantucket. RecThe recreational shark fishreational anglers report that ing measures were originally the squid move into state proposed in all federal wawaters in the spring and lay ters from Maine to Texas. their eggs, known as “squid We were able to establish mops,” on the floor of the that there are no duskies ocean. For many years they north of Cape Cod and a rahave observed fewer young re encounter south of there. squid hatchlings or “squidos” The proposed mandatory and more detached squid use of circle hooks is being mops in the water column. implemented to protect the They suspect that the squid dusky shark stock, since the mops observed in the water science exists that circle column are a result of the hooks reduce dusky shars commercial mobile gear conmortality. This is why circle tacting the ocean floor rehooks are not mandatory sulting in the detachment of north of the demarcation

the squid mops and subsequently killing the egg mass.

Squid have a life cycle less than one year and serve as a critical forage fish for the fish and mammals found in state as well as federal waters. Ecosystem-based management is in its infancy and the science is yet to be assembled to implement appropriate action. As a result, the recreational community observes the impact of this localized depletion on this critical forage on the fish they target in Nantucket waters and elsewhere. Unfortunately any restrictions on commercial squid fishing in state or federal waters, if any, is likely one to two years away while the state and federal fishery regulatory agencies continue to compile and evaluate the science concerning the life cycle of squid, importance as a critical forage fish and impact by the commercial mobile gear, if any on squid mops.

Capt. Mike Pierdenock, RFA-MA Director

Fluke and/or Summer flounder & Black Sea Bass The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) held public meetings at locations up and down the east coast concerning the proposed 2017 fluke and/or summer flounder (fluke) and black sea bass season closures and

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MakingWaves Waves Spring Summer 2016 Making 2017

bag limits. I attended the meetings in Buzzards Bay and Plymouth that included ASMFC and Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MDMF) representatives and a room full of outspoken, frustrated recreational anglers and charter boat captains.

limits?

ing is based on statistically flawed Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) recreational fluke landing data. NOAA continues to use outdated modeling techniques and flawed MRIP data to make fishery management decisions, and as a result we are now faced with a significant reduction in the 2017 recreational fluke quota while we observe no lack of fish in our waters. Use of statistically flawed MRIP data with such drastic reductions may not be warranted and could potentially prevent anglers from leaving the dock and put many fore hire captains out of business, resulting in a significant negative economic impact on all those who rely on this fishery to make a living.

Based upon preliminary stock assessments and recreational fluke landings, several states significantly exceeded their permitted recreational fluke quota for 2016. Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina did not exceed their 2016 quotas, and in some cases fell below Let’s start with black sea bass their allowable limits. Rhode Isbased on stock assessment data. land, Connecticut, New York, The black sea bass stock is two New Jersey and Delaware all times larger than originally esti- exceeded their limits. This conmated. That’s the good news, tinued increasing trend in fluke the bad news is that based on landings from these states may recreational and charter boat be a result of the climatic shift landing data, many states land- and/or the warming of mided more black sea bass then per- Atlantic waters moving the fluke mitted, so as a result reductions and other species farther north, and cuts in bag limits are prowhile they are finding less fluke posed. There is no lack of black in the southern waters of Marysea bass in our waters yet we land, Virginia and North Caroliare faced with reduction in bag na. The recreational fluke land- Capt. Barry Gibson, RFA NE Regional Director

waves

M A K I N G

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Making Waves Spring 2017

The Official Publication of the Recreational Fishing Alliance

The RFA Mission Safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers Protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs Ensure the long-term sustainability of our nation’s fisheries.

Anti-fishing groups and radical environmentalists are pushing their agenda on marine fisheries issues affecting you. The Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) is in the trenches too, lobbying, educating decision makers and ensuring that the interests of America’s coastal fishermen are being heard loud and clear. Incorporated in 1996 as a 501c4 national, grassroots political action organization, RFA represents recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine fisheries issues on every coast, with state chapters established to spearhead the regional issues while building local support.

“The biggest challenge we face is the fight to reform and bring common sense and sound science into the fisheries management process, says James Donofrio, RFA founder and Executive Director. “Antifishing and extreme environmental groups are working everyday to get us off the water.” Despite the threats to diminish access to our nation’s resources, Donofrio says that RFA offers members hope in an organization that’s designed from the ground up to fight back. “As individuals, our concerns will simply not be heard; but as a united group, we can and do stand up to anyone who threatens the sport we enjoy so much – fishing!”

After nearly 20 years working inside the Beltway and within state capitols along the coast, RFA has become known as one of the nation’s most respected lobbying organizations, and our members have a lot to celebrate.

The Recreational Fishing Alliance Headquarters P.O. Box 3080 New Gretna, New Jersey 08224 Phone: 1-888-JOIN RFA toll free Fax: (609) 294-3812

Jim Donofrio Executive Director

Capt. Barry Gibson New England Director

Jim Martin West Coast Director

John DePersenaire Managing Director

Gary Caputi Corporate Relations Director

T. J. Cheek Southeast Director