STRIPED BASS SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE Making Waves Making Waves Summer Winter 2016 2020
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M A K I N G The Official Publication of the Recreational Fishing Alliance
What is 30/30 and Why You Should Know? Seakeeper - The Death of Rock & Roll Get the Most from Circle Hooks New: Regulatory Updates Release 'em Right
Winter 2020
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PROUD SPONSOR
M A K I N G
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Making Waves Making Waves Summer Winter 2016 2020
The Official Publication of the Recreational Fishing Alliance
FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK By Gary Caputi
It
would seem that 2020 will go down in the record books for a whole laundry list of bad news, but it is almost over and hopefully our lives will regain some degree of normalcy in 2021. During the shutdowns and demand for social distancing, fishing has actually seen an increase in participation and with the advent of fisheries management via Zoom, regulatory and legislative issues have barely slowed down. The RFA has been vigilant and active this year and there are issues on the horizon that could have profound impacts on the sport and industry. As a result of the new mandate for the use of circle hooks when fishing for striped bass we offer a special section that includes features on getting the most out of circle hook use, and on best practices for landing and releasing of these popular gamefish. There is interesting commentary by John DePersenaire on the 30/30 Initiative that could be the precursor of a new push for more extensive marine protected areas. You can check out the first of our sponsor product overview features too, this one on the remarkable benefits of having a Seakeeper on your boat. There's even a tongue-in-cheek look at a NOAA Fisheries article that claims, "Dogfish eat cod." Glad they finally figured that out. If you haven't already enter the Trip of a Lifetime to Guatemala, you didn't miss out. COVID impacts forced us to set it back until 2021. More details on entering will be announced in the Spring Issue of Making Waves.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Publisher’s Desk
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Exec. Director's Report: Rules of the Road
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Breaking News: Buccaneer Cup Update
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Commentary: Is 30/30 Sweeping the Globe?
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Circle Hooks for Stripers It's the Law!
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Tips on Landing & Releasing Striped Bass
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29 Commentary: Menhaden Quota Reduction Mandate
Maryland Striper YOY Report - More Bad News
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Breaking News: Amendment 21 Implementation
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Sponsor Product Overview Seakeeper
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NOAA Report on Predator - Prey Interactions
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NOAA Revelation - Dogfish 50 each Baby Cod.fish Fish Habitat Partnership Signed by Pres. Trump
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Regulator Updates
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News & Views
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About the Cover
This 54-lb. bass was caught and released in Chesapeake Bay last January aboard the Tyman by Chuck Many and crew. One of 19 over 50-lbs. for them last season.
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Executive Director's Report by Jim Donofrio
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f you grew up on the water, before you ever got behind the wheel of your first boat you probably had a good understanding of what are loosely termed the “Rules of the Road” and much of what is considered basic seamanship. Many years ago, my dad handed me a copy of Charles Chapman’s Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling. It was, and still is, the Bible that blueprints the techniques and strictures that form the basis for safe boat handling. The book instilled in me a respect for the seriousness of navigating a boat on public waterways and it should be required reading for anyone who plans on operating a boat. One of the most important theories we learned early on is that speed on the water can kill if it is not used prudently and judiciously. Photo Courtesy: NBC 6 South Florida
Today, there is a new generation of fishermen and boaters that seem to ignore even that most basic rule. Many of them have a fascination with speed. They feel the need to go fast all the time, even in tight channels, crowded inlets and when overtaking or approaching other vessels. With the prevalence of multi-outboard boats built on hulls that just a few years ago were restricted to use on boats built specifically for racing the problem grows in complexity. Even today’s family cruising boats are capable of speeds that just 20years ago would have been considered radical. Operating fast boats in crowded waterways where you can encounter kayaks, paddle boarders and personal watercraft in addition to an armada of boats of all sizes and shapes has become commonplace. Incidence of collisions, groundings and increased injuries and loss of life are on the increase and it is often the result of too much speed in the hands of uneducated and inexperienced boat operators. The number of near misses has become far too commonplace.
All of us at the RFA want to see a vibrant marine industry however more must be done to not just encourage new boat owners to learn and practice the rules of the road, but to further mandate their Too much speed in the hands of an inexperienced implementation. It is in the inoperator can cost more than your boat, it can cost lives. terest of everyone’s safety on the water.
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A major problem is operating a vessel in reduced visibility situations. Without radar its a gamble at best. But even with radar, which has become much more affordable and is found on most offshore capable boats, in the hands of someone not familiar its operation it can be confusing . If you are new to radar, make sure you use it every day, not just at times of reduced visibility, to familiarize yourself with every target type and the appearance of inland landscapes on the screen at various ranges. A simple mistake of not being aware of the range your radar unit is set for and believing another vessel is farther away than it actually is can cause a collision. Only through experience can you remain relaxed and in control when you do get socked in with fog instead of having to operate in panic mode or worse.
Making Waves Winter 2020
other vessels in reduced visibility conditions.
I have fielded a growing number of complaints this year from very experienced operators, some professional captains, others seasoned private boat owners, taking to task this new generation of vessel owners. Some of the stories they tell are truly frightening and others were even witnesses to vessel collisions due to boats run too fast under questionable conditions by operators who obviously didn’t know the rules of the road or were too inconsiderate of other people’s safety to implement them. It seems far too many go fast boat owners are in too much of a hurry to get to the next bite to show consideration to other boaters and it is leading to more near misses, collisions and harm to themselves and others. They apparently have way more speed at their command If you are running offshore without the benefit of than common sense about how to use it and as radar you are putting yourself, your crew and our waterways become more crowded that is a other vessels in danger. GPS can only show you very scary proposition. your location on a chart, but not the location of
What it could look like after the fog lifts and you've been running without radar.
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Time to Register for the 58th Annual Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament
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he 58th Annual Buccaneer Cup Tournament is slated for January 20-23, 2021. Given all 2020 brought our way, more than ever we are looking forward to a new year and a little normalcy.
In order to keep the historic tournament a “social� event we have arranged to host our Captains Meeting (January 20) at The Viking Service Center in Riviera Beach, where there will be multiple food trucks
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and stations available for dining as well as “physically distanced” tables and areas where teams can safely gather to receive their team gifts and shirts. All this is being done with an eye toward CDC guidelines and your safety while making it possible to enjoy the camaraderie that is synonymous with the Buccaneer Cup. We have worked closely with the Sailfish Club of Florida to be able to put on our highly anticipated awards dinner and seafood extravaganza, one of the highlights of the tournament. The Club has implemented all required safety protocols and will limit table sizes while providing team’s table with their own seafood platters and meals. The cocktail hour will be moved onto the outside veranda and lawns overlooking the marina to allow for increased social distancing. Given all these minor logistical changes – we have never felt so fortunate as to live, work and play in such a beautiful place. We anticipate a great week of fishing as the sails have been snapping here in South Florida since early November. And with record participation in tournaments leading up to the Buc Cup we are eager to see what 2021 holds for us. Registration is open now! Be sure to reserve your teams spot as the Sailfish Club dinner, which will be limited to the first 30 boats registered. For questions and more information please contact Tournament Director Courtney Bowden at director@buccaneercup.com or by calling 561-909-7868. We look forward to supporting both the Recreational Fishing Alliance and The Billfish Foundation in the New Year as they need our help more than ever. Please visit buccaneercup.com for more information and to register online.
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Commentary by John DePersenaire, RFA Fisheries Specialist
Is 30/30 Sweeping the Globe? A New United Nations Initiative with Possible Negative Impacts on Recreational Fishing
A
new initiative was spawned earlier this year at the United Nations which is rarely good news for recreational fishing. It adopted the catchy and somewhat descriptive name of 30/30, an acronym based on the objective’s goal to protect 30 percent of all lands and waters of the Earth by the year 2030.
tal crimes, and transition to sustainable food production methods. Much of this is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
While the concepts are reasonable, and I would suspect most fishermen would support sustainable fishing or protecting lands important for fish habitat or hunting, sportsmen should be wary of The initiative will charge member nations with such a broad, all encompassing proposal without proactively addressing the loss of biodiversity and having clear details on how it would be impleits effects on climate change, among other mented and what it would mean for fish and fishthings. The think tank at the UN suggested that ermen. RFA has long advocated that restricting one of the primary tools to achieve this lofty goal recreational fishermen from areas of the ocean as it relates to the world’s oceans will be an exwith the use of widespread marine protected aretensive implementation of No-Take Marine Proas and marine reserves is simply not a sciencetected Areas. based management approach. It does little to achieve management goals that otherwise could Leading up to the September 2020 Convention be achieved through traditional management on Biological Diversity, 64 countries signed a techniques such as seasons, size limits and bag pledge to embrace the initiative and commit to its limits, and does a lot to hurt the socioeconomic ten-point pledge. In its current form, the initiabenefits achieved from well-managed recreationtive, as discussed during the Summit, is largely al fishing with open access. This position was conceptual and merely puts forward broad goals, and continues to be supported by a large body of but the pledge includes acknowledgement by scholarly research found in numerous peer rethe signing nations to promote sustainable land viewed publications. and forest management, stop unsustainable fishing practices, significantly reduce pollution, stop The United States was not one of the 64 counharmful government subsidies, end environmen- tries that signed the pledge, however, that does
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not mean that this initiative will not find its way into U.S. policy and legislation. Bills have already popped up with the goal of implementing the agenda under State and Federal law and regulation. AB3030 was introduced in the California Assembly in May and was written using nearly identical language to the 30/30 initiative and if enacted, 30% of California lands and oceans would be “protected.” Significant opposition ensued based on the vague language and how it would negatively impact sportsmen and recreational fishermen and the bill died when the legislative session ended in August. The South Carolina legislature introduced a bill with its take on the 30/30 initiative but with a slightly more pragmatic approach by establishing a task force which would measure existing progress toward these goals. This bill would also compile an inventory of existing protections to determine where the state was in terms of the 30-percent goal. In Congress, retiring Senator Tom Udall(D-NM) introduced a 30/30 bill in the Senate which is not expected to gain much traction before the session ends in January.
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for our fisheries. We believe the most appropriate and effective way of dealing with these changes in the US is through more conventional management techniques. During a recent Congressional hearing that discussed the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act, a bill that adopted much of the 30/30 ideology and called for the establishment of marine protected areas in three percent of US waters, Dr. Ray Hilborn, a professor at University of Washington and a highly respected fisheries scientist, stated in his testimony that, “Such marine protected areas are simply the wrong tool for adapting to climate change,” and said further that “No-take areas are an inflexible, static tool whereas the agency management we already have can respond to climate change in real time.”
It was widely understood that the Trump administration did not embrace many international climate and environmental policies as evidenced by the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. It is unlikely that this sentiment will continue under the incoming Biden Administration. We expect significant policy changes both on the international stage and within Federal agencies in the While the intent of the 30/30 may have merits coming months. Senator Tom Udall, who introand might be in line with the general feeling of duced the 30/30 bill in the US Senate, is on the the average sportsman, the application of this pol- President-elects shortlist for Secretary of Interior icy is what is most concerning. The goals could and there are rumors circulating about possible be appropriate in seeking much needed protec30/30 type Executive Orders being enacted withtion for lands and waters in countries that do not in Biden’s first 100 days in office. have the same conservation ideology or management measures in place in the United States RFA believes that it will be important for the inwhich is widely regarded as having the best natu- dustry to remain vigilant for emerging 30/30 initiral resource management in the world. This apatives at the State and Federal level in the coming proach may also benefit US fisheries such as yelmonths. While it may not be possible to stop this lowfin, bluefin tuna, bigeye tuna, and marlin ideological push, it will be necessary for the recrewhich are highly migratory species and fall under ational fishing and boating industry to demonsignificant fishing pressure while outside of US strate that recreational fishing is consistent with waters. But, to force the additional 30% closure long standing conservation values. The new Adof US waters and lands is clearly not a manageministration should be forcefully reminded that ment approach that RFA would support. the effects of climate change on marine fisheries and fish habitat can be addressed most effectively RFA acknowledges that global warming is occur- addressed for our user group through traditional ring, and our climate is changing—it has never management approaches and not through the been in a static state throughout the history of extensive use of No-Take MPAs. the planet—and this clearly has major implications
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Circle Hooks for Stripers Page 18
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It's the Law!
by Gary Caputi
There is a lot more to fishing a circle hook than just tying one on, but they are effective fish catchers that significantly reduce release mortality.
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f you are not already on the circle hook bandwagon, the new striped bass regulations taking effect in January 2021 are going to force the issue. Circle hooks will be mandatory when fishing any type of natural bait. That means worms, eels, menhaden, herring, sand fleas, crabs and clams, any cut bait used for chunking or cast from shore. For our members in New England who troll the time-honored tube and worm, you must either replace the J-hook with a circle hook or forego the worm altogether. Same goes for rigged eels and possibly a bucktail with a pork rind trailer. The actual regulations are being implemented on a state-by-state basis, but there is no wiggle room for change. There is some pushback from some states so pay careful atten-
tion to how the regulations evolve in your state. A small cadre of anglers started experimenting with circle hooks many years ago because they had the potential to do less damage to fish being released. Along the way we discovered that they also have the potential to increase hookups and landing ratios, too. I worked with Eagle Claw in the early 2000’s during the development and testing of their line of recreational circle hooks and found they had varying degrees of effectiveness depending on the species of fish being targeted and the techniques being used. Early prototypes had offset points that proved less effective at reducing deep hooking of fish. To fix that problem I would use pliers to bend the hook
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point in line with the hook shaft, like the circle hooks I had seen used by commercial longliners. The incidence of deep hooking dropped dramatically and was reported back to Eagle Claw. Today, non-offset circle hooks are the norm and are the only circles to meet the requirements under the new ASMFC regulations that take effect in January. During early testing I found that circle hooks worked well for some fish and poorly for others. They proved most effective on “round fish” and far less effective on “flat fish.” The compressed mouth structure of flounder does not allow the hook to rotate easily and offers too many internal points for the circle hook to latch onto. So just how do circles work?
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pletely different manner and an understanding of the dynamics is important to increasing your success when using them. A circle hook has an eye for line attachment, a shank, bend, point and barb like a J hook, but that is where the similarity ends. The point of circle is bent inward directly toward the shank of the hook. When a fish grabs a bait with a properly sized circle hook and begins to move away, as the line comes tight the bait and hook start pulling it back out toward the opening of the mouth. The inward design of the point prevents it from snagging on internal structures like the sphincter muscle of the gullet or gill rakers, but once it reaches the hard bones of the jaw an interesting thing happens. The point catches on the edge as it is exiting the mouth causing the hook to wrap securely around it. This occurs most frequently in the corner of the mouth, but it can also “set” around any part of the outer mouth structure—top, bottom, or sides. And once it sets it rarely comes out like J hooks are prone to do in a prolonged fight. There is a barb on a circle hook, but it is usually much smaller than those on J hooks and much less important to the overall function of the hook.
Circle hooks and J hooks have little in common in the way they function. J hooks hook a fish by penetrating any fleshy part of the fish, inside or outside the mouth, and the penetration is accomplished either by the fish pulling against the pressure of the drag and impaling itself, or by the angler detecting the fish’s presence and “setting” the hook with a sharp tug on the line. In either case the potential for the hook penetrating the fish’s delicate gill structure or soft tissues of the stomach or gullet if it swallows the bait exists. And J hooks have additional drawbacks. Even if the hook sets in the mouth area it might not penetrate past the barb or become embedded in an area of soft tissue that might tear if too much pressure is applied. It can wear a large hole at the point of penetration during a prolonged fight and fall out if the fish manages to get slack in the line. Circle hooks can alleviate these problems because of how they hook a fish and Soft baits do not impede the ability of a circle hook to wrap a hold once in place. striper's jaw. This whole clam is hung on a 6/0 Charlie Brown A circle hook works in a com- Octopus circle hook for early spring schoolie bass.
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Circle hooks with big live baits work just fine for stripers . Jim Hutchinson shows off a nice one that was caught and released aboard the author's boat.
Since the inside of a striper’s mouth is cavernous it is extremely rare for a circle hook to implanted in critical structures like the gills. And since they slip past the inner mouth and wrap the jaw by design, every angler’s favorite thing to do—yank on the rod to set the hook—becomes not only unnecessary but will often pull the hook out of the fish’s mouth altogether. When a fish takes a baited circle hook the proper procedure is to either let it pull the line tight as it moves away, or to reel in any slack if it is moving toward you, and then raise the rod smoothly into fighting position. Anglers who have tried circle hooks and found them ineffective have usually made at least one
of a few mistakes. The most common is using a circle hook that is too small. Striped bass have large jaw structures that require a large circle hook to catch and wrap around it. The type of bait being used plays into hook size selection, too. So does the size of the stripers being targeted. You wouldn’t use the same size circle hook when fishing for schoolies with worms or clams as you would when fishing for large bass with live menhaden or chunk baits. You must assess whether your hook is large enough to easily wrap the jaw structure of the fish you’re likely to encounter, but you also have to be mindful of the type and size of the bait you are using, which if it is too big, can block too much of the gap between the hook point and the shank preventing it from catching on the fish’s jaw.
While there are many brands of circle hooks the ones I've found to work best for me are light wire, wide gap models, and my favorite for years has been the Charlie Brown Octopus Circle Hook by Quickrig (www.quickrig.com). I keep a selection on the boat in sizes 6/0 to 10/0 to cover all the bases from targeting schoolies with soft baits to trophysize fish using large live baits. For live-lining menhaden I use 9/0 or 10/0 impaling the bait through the nostrils for drift or slow trolling them, or in the soft area just aft and above the anal vent when I want to swim a bait down and really make them struggle and send out that frantic pulsing to attract big bass. The
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cleaner hook operation and Quickrig has a tool and clips that make it fast and easy. Check that out on their website, too. With live eels you can go slightly smaller in hook size because an eel hooked from the bottom jaw up through the top does little to impede the wrapping process and when the hook is too large the eel can turn on it and get the point imbedded in its body making hooking a bass impossible. Other mistakes that will make your circle hook experience less than ideal include not bringing the line tight after a fish takes a bait or trying to jerk set the hook. Once you get the hang of using circles those problems will go away with experience. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the one thing you can’t do anymore is leave ‘em. Circle hooks are now the law of the land when using bait for stripers and I would not be surprised if they find their way into the regulatory process for other species, too. Recreational hook and release mortality is responsible for the largest source of overTwo examples of bridle-rigging a menhaden using a all mortality in the striped QuickRig bridling tool and clips. If you want even more bass fishery and easily surswing in the hook you can add a short rubber band be- passes mortality from fish legally harvested and commertween the clip and the hook, although I have found cial harvest combined. That’s this setup works just fine out of the box. because the more regulators impose size limits and reduce hooks have ample gap to wrap the jaw after a allowable landings the more fish will have to be bass grabs the bait and starts running off with it. released. Welcome aboard the circle hook bandYou can also bridle-rig large baitfish for an even wagon, we hope you enjoy the ride.
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Tips for Landing & Releasing Stripers
By Captain Barry Gibson
Anglers are releasing more striped bass than ever before. Here’s a guide to fish-friendly tactics for safely landing and getting them back in the water to grow and fight again.
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n light of 2019’s “slot limit” on striped bass, which in most states is between 28” and 35”, many anglers are now releasing more stripers than they have in years past. So, it might be useful to review some effective techniques for safely landing a bass and getting it back into the water unharmed. In my opinion, a landing net is the best tool for capturing a hooked striper and lifting it into a boat. I use an inexpensive aluminum model with a hoop measuring 18” by 24” that sports a 36” handle and a twine mesh bag that’s 24” deep. It works fine for bass up to about 40 inches or so.
For truly huge stripers, the kind Making Waves publisher Gary Caputi routinely catches, heavyduty nets such as the new carbon fiber models offered by Bubba Fishing Tackle, cost a little more but will handle fish up to 75 pounds. Some manufacturers offer “release” nets made with smooth, knotless rubber mesh that’s less likely to scrape off the fish’s protective slime as it flops around. In addition, many release nets feature bags with flat bottoms that help support the fish horizontally while the hook is removed. Release nets are very fish-friendly. However,
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where it could also become impaled in your thumb. I also like to wear one of those non-skid, rubber-palm gloves on my left hand to help grip the fish’s jaw and to save my thumb from the sandpaperlike teeth.
Get a Grip A lot of folks use those mechanical lip-grippers such as the Boga Grip and its clones, to hold the fish up for photos or measuring. But I don’t like them, for two reasons. First, the stainless steel pincers can tear the lower jaw membrane as you lift the fish. Second, the models that feature a scale and/or measuring tape encourage anglers to hold the fish up vertically for too long, hanging by its jaw to be measured or weighed, or while a photo is taken or the hook is removed. This is tough on the fish. Its entire body is designed to be supported by the liquid in which it swims. However, smaller bass can be removed from the net by gripping when purchasing one, be sure to look at the depth of the bag. Some are too shallow, allowing them by the lower jaw with your thumb and forethe rubber mesh to actually act like a trampoline finger for a quick de-hooking and immediate reso that the fish can bounce itself out as its being lease, with little adverse effect. lifted from the water. If the bag is 24” or more When holding a larger striper, though, for measdeep you should be all set. uring or a photo, it’s better to cradle the fish horiYour own hands are actually an effective tool for zontally, with the lower jaw between your thumb and forefinger, and your other hand under its landing stripers. I’ll often squat down on the belly to support the internal organs. Have your boat’s engine bracket and grab the fish’s lower buddy remove the hook. If you’re alone, carefully jaw with my left thumb and forefinger. Then I’ll place the bass on a wet towel on deck and decradle the fish’s underside with my right hand, hook it there, as mentioned above. and lift it into the boat. The only thing you need to watch out for is the One thing you don’t want to do is drop the fish, hook, especially if it’s imbedded in the lower jaw and I see it happen all the time. That can cause all
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remove the hook, then carefully guide it to deeper water where it can swim off by itself. Quick is Key The key to a striper’s survival is to get it back into the water as soon as possible. Every second that goes by as someone fumbles with the camera phone controls or waits for the sun to come out from behind a cloud, reduces the fish’s chances. The rule on my charter boat is if the photo isn’t snapped within about 20 seconds, the fish goes back over the side reFor a quick picture, hold the bass by the jaw and support gardless. A good rule of thumb is to keep the fish the body horizontally. Then back in the water. out of water no longer than you can hold your breath. If you can’t breathe, the fish can’t kinds of unseen yet serious injuries. If you’re lipbreathe. gripping a fish that is to be de-hooked and released, have a buddy hold the net underneath it Large stripers, especially those in the 40-inch-plus in case it flops out of your fingers. A small bass range, sometimes become exhausted from the can be held over the side of the boat to be defight and may need some extra help upon rehooked, so if it wrestles itself from your grasp it lease. I’ll often lean over the side and grab the will fall harmlessly into the water. fish by the lower jaw with my left thumb and forefinger, and grasp it just ahead of the tail with Watch Those Spines! my right hand. Then I’ll slowly move it back and Very small striper under 18 inches or so can be a forth to get water moving through its gills. challenge to lip-grip. They have smaller mouths so inserting your thumb is trickier, plus they If the bass still appears sluggish, I’ll have my mate thrash around to beat the band. In many cases I’ll put the boat in gear at idle speed and I’ll hold the simply grab the fish behind the head and work fish just under the surface to force water into its my hand back, smoothing down the sharp dorsal mouth and out through its gills as the boat moves slowly along. spines, until I get a good grip. Speaking of sharp dorsal spines, never, ever, kick When I feel the fish clamp its jaws on my thumb, I a striper back into the water when fishing the know it ready to go. Sometimes I can spur this on beach or shoreline. The spines can easily punc- by squeezing the tail section, as bass seem to exture a wader boot and be driven into your toe or hibit a natural reaction to escape whatever is trytoes. The usual result is a trip to the emergency ing to prevent it from swimming forward. room. Watching a big striper swim back down into the When landing a bass from a beach or shallow depths after a hard-fought battle sure is a satisfyshoreline, leave it in a few inches of water as you ing sight!
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Guest Commentary by Jeremy Cox, Courtesy Bay Journal
Menhaden Catch Cut to Help Striped Bass, But is it Enough? by Jeremy Cox, Bay Journal
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ne of the most crucial fish in the Chesapeake Bay’s aquatic food web is getting more protection from potential overfishing, but not as much as some environmentalists and state fishery managers had wanted. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission agreed Oct. 20 to cut the allowable commercial harvest of Atlantic menhaden 10% from what it has been the last three years.
The vote by the commission’s Menhaden Management Board was 13–5 in favor of the 10% reduction, with state delegations from Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Rhode Island in opposition.
That means the maximum commercial harvest in all East Coast waters for 2021 and 2022 would be 194,000 metric tons. A 51,000-metric ton cap on how much of the menhaden catch can come from the Chesapeake Bay would remain unThe commission’s decision marked a historic shift changed. in the way it establishes catch levels. Traditionally, policymakers have relied on abundance and During the annual meeting of the commission, death rates of a single species to make that call. which regulates migratory species in state waIn August, commission members switched to an ters, backers of a measure to reduce catches by “ecological reference point” that accounts for 20% fell short of the support required for approvmenhaden's value as food for predators, especial- al. ly striped bass. “In any good marriage, there has to be a comproWhile the menhaden population is considered mise,” said A.G. "Spud" Woodward, a retired relatively robust, striped bass numbers are low. Georgia fisheries manager who is the board’s The big dilemma for regulators: Should the small, chairman. oily fish be managed for the small striped bass population that exists now or the larger one they Every Chesapeake Bay watershed state on the board — Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylenvision building? vania and Virginia — sided with the 10% cut.
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Most of the Atlantic menhaden harvested from the Chesapeake Bay and along the Atlantic coast are caught in purse seines like these deployed by a fishing fleet operating for Omega Protein Corp. of Reedville, VA. Photo: Dave Harp A gradual reduction in the annual catch will help soften the economic blow to the seafood industry, said Steven Bowman, a board member and head of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the state’s tidal fishery regulator.
phon about $1 million annually from the fishing industry in New Jersey alone, said Jeff Kaelin, former chair of the ASMFC board’s advisory panel and a government relations specialist with Lund’s Fisheries in New Jersey.
“We have to consider the people that are involved in this as well,” he said. Virginia is home base of Omega Protein Corp., the largest menhaden harvester in Chesapeake and Atlantic waters. It employs 260 people at its processing plant in Reedville, VA.
“It’s millions of dollars coastwide to not realize the catches we had last year and in previous years,” he added.
The steepness of the harvest reduction may have been a point of contention at the meeting, but the use of the new ecological reference point While most of the menhaden harvest gets prowasn’t. Justin Davis, assistant director of Connecticessed into animal feed and human dietary supcut’s marine fisheries program, called the change plements, a significant portion of the catch is used “a brave step” that should lead to a more cautious as bait for other fisheries. A 20% cut would siapproach toward menhaden’s management. He
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called on his fellow board members to adopt the 20% cut. At that level, the seafood industry would have a 50-50 chance of causing more menhaden deaths than the goal set by the commission, according to the agency’s scientists. With the 10% cuts, the chances of that happening rise to 58% in 2021 and 52% in 2022, they said. But other members pushed back, stating that there are plenty of menhaden for the current number of striped bass, which are also known as rockfish. And the annual menhaden catch routinely falls short of the regulatory limit, providing an extra buffer, they said. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other environmental groups have urged regulators for years to look beyond menhaden’s economic value to
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consider their importance to predators. The newly reduced harvest limits demonstrate that the new tack is working, said Chris Moore, a Bay Foundation ecosystem scientist. “The new lower limit will help ensure that striped bass will have an abundance of forage, which is vitally important to a successful rebound of this population,” Moore said in a statement. “The new quota will also support a healthier ecosystem for a variety of fish, bird, and marine mammal species that fuel the success of many local businesses.” Omega Protein maintained after the meeting that it preferred no change in the catch. But the 10% decrease “is not an unreasonable step toward moving to ecological management of the species,” the company said in a statement.
They might not look like much, but in their millions menhaden are critical to the health of Chesapeake Bay and other estuaries, in addition to the health of the striped bass populations that reside there.
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Chesapeake Bay Young-of-Year Survey Results Released Striped Bass Among Species Below Average, Others Flourish Reprinted Courtesy Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Maryland DNR scientists examine juvenile striped bass for the annual index, before carefully releasing them back to the water.
T
he Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced results of the most recent juvenile striped bass survey, which tracks the reproductive success of the state fish in Chesapeake Bay. The 2020 young-of-year striped bass index is
2.5, below the long-term average of 11.5. Although the size of the striped bass population has decreased recently, the number of mature fish is not believed to be a limiting factor in repro-
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duction. Striped bass are known for highly variable annual reproduction that is often influenced by environmental factors. Other species with spawning strategies similar to striped bass such as white perch, yellow perch, and river herring also experienced lower reproductive success. “We have implemented sound conservation measures to enhance the striped bass population in recent years and will continue to monitor and protect this important and iconic resource,” said Bill Anderson, Department of Natural Resources assistant secretary for Aquatic Resources.
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The Department of Natural Resources has monitored the annual reproductive success of striped bass in Maryland’s portion of Chesapeake Bay since 1954. During the survey, biologists collected more than 36,000 fish of 59 different species, including 327 young-of-year striped bass.
Twenty-two survey sites are located in four major spawning areas: the Choptank, Nanticoke, and Potomac rivers and the Upper Chesapeake Bay. Biologists visit each site three times per summer, collecting fish with two sweeps of a 100-foot beach seine net. The index represents the averThe mild winter appears to have favored species age number of recently hatched striped bass, that spawn in the fall off the coast, such as Atlan- commonly called rockfish, captured in each sample. tic croaker and spot. The survey documented a resurgence in abundance of these sought-after The Virginia Institute of Marine Science conducts species. Spot abundance was the highest since a similar survey in the southern portion of Chesa2010 and Atlantic croaker abundance was the peake Bay. highest since 1998.
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NOAA Fisheries Implements Amendment 21 to the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan NOAA Fisheries is implementing Amendment 21 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan, also known as the Summer Flounder Commercial Issues Amendment. This final rule implements the measures in the amendment. Amendment 21 changes the state-by-state commercial quota allocations when the coastwide quota exceeds 9.55 million lb, and updates the fishery management plan goals and objectives for summer flounder. When the coastwide quota is 9.55 million lb or less, the quota would be distributed according to the current allocations. In years when the coastwide quota exceeds 9.55 million lb, any additional quota beyond this threshold would be distributed in equal shares to all states except Maine, Delaware, and New Hampshire, which would split 1 percent of the additional quota.
Read the bulletin and final rule as filed in the Federal Register.
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Seakeeper
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And the Death of Rock and Roll
RFA Sponsor Product Overview by Gary Caputi
I
n the first Making Waves look at an RFA sponsor’s products and services we are focusing our attention on a company that has created an entirely new category of products for the recreational marine market—boat stabilization systems. Since 2008, Seakeeper has gone from being a novelty to possibly the most sought-after option on new boats to ever come down the pike, and with their growing product line and simplified installation, retrofitting existing boats is easier than ever.
that designed and manufactured motion control systems for high-speed commercial vessels. The two got together in 2002 to try and wrap their heads around a vexing problem. How do you take the anxiety out of recreational boating and grow the market?
The duo identified what they felt was the greatest cause of angst among potential boat buyers— boat roll. You know, the side-to-side movement a boat exhibits when at rest or in motion that causes the dreaded seasickness for some folks. They envisioned a gyroscopic stabilization system Seakeeper is the brainchild of co-founders Shep McKenney and John Adams, who between them aimed specifically at the recreational market, but have decades of experience in the marine indus- little did they realize, they were embarking on a try. McKenney is a former co-owner of the Hinck- multiyear project that would require a giant leap in design and manufacturing technology to make ley Yacht Company and was responsible for the development of their groundbreaking JetStick™ their vision a reality. fly-by-wire control system, which sparked a revo- McKenney and Adams began research and devellution in electronic navigational systems. Adams opment in 2003, but it would take over five years is an expert naval architect who had been imbefore they showcased their first demo unit to an mersed in the mechanics of vessel stabilization for initial group of boat builders, right in the middle decades. He led Maritime Dynamics, a company of the Great Recession. Still, their fledgling sys-
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tem’s ability to reduce vessel roll was so impressive that several boat builders with a forward looking perspective placed orders and Seakeeper was in business. As the recession eased and word started getting out, more orders started rolling in (pun intended), and soon Seakeeper was hard pressed to keep up with demand. Today the company offers units large enough to accommodate yachts weighing up to 100 tons (or larger with multiple units) and small enough to mount under the leaning post of a 23-foot center console, with sizes for every recreational craft in between.
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their intended job and how incredibly reliable they are in actual long-term operation in the marine environment. It is a testament to the level of commitment the company has put into research and development, engineering, and manufacturing.
Over the years I have been on dozens of boats equipped with Seakeeper systems. Most of the earliest encounters were on larger sportfishing boats, but as the popularity of the systems grew, the company continually downsized and simplified the systems so So how does a Seathey could be inkeeper work? A stalled on smaller outwhisper quiet flyboard-powered wheel spins horizonboats. With the introtally at speeds up to duction of their latest 9750 RPM in a vacuachievement, the Seaum created inside keeper 1, the technolthe unit’s ball-shaped ogy is now available housing. The housfor boats as small as ing is mounted on a 23 feet and it takes cradle with computup so little space that er-controlled hydrauit can easily fit underlic rams that rotate it neath the helm seat forward and back in or in a small belowline with the long deck compartment. axis of the boat, the The unit is tiny, powsensors timing the ered entirely by the movement to the roll boat’s onboard 12rate of the hull. The volt system and force generated by draws about the the moving gyro nesame amperage as gates up to 95% of hull roll, and instead the boat the onboard stereo system. It spins up to operatgently rises and falls as the waves pass beneath. It ing speed in 15 minutes and does for a small boat might sound simple, but the technology and what the larger models have been doing for big manufacturing behind it are anything but. The diesel-powered vessels since the original models precisely balanced flywheels are machined to tol- were put into operation back in 2008. erances of 1/10,000 of an inch and ride on aerospace bearings while the housing maintains a One of my early experiences with a Seakeeper sealed vacuum chamber that allows it to spin fast- came during a boat test I was conducting for er, requiring far less electrical power to achieve Marlin Magazine some years ago aboard a just the velocity needed to accomplish the task. Solaunched 65’ convertible. I was with Russ Garufi, phisticated computer components and sensors owner of Titan Boats, a custom sportfishing yacht are required to drive the hydraulic rams. With all builder out of Ocean City, Maryland, and this was this amazing technology, much developed specif- the first of his boats to be equipped with a Seaically by or for Seakeeper, the true wizardry bekeeper and he was dying to give it a try. He ran hind it all is just how unobtrusively the units do the boat off to an area of shoals several miles off-
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shore where large swells formed into steep 4 to 6foot waves when they struck the shallows. He turned the boat broadside to the sea and took it out of gear. In no time it was rolling violently forcing us to maintain a tight grip on the helm chairs as the flybridge moved from side to side. It sort of makes you feel like a bobblehead doll as your whole body is exposed to the G-forces and the muscles in your back, hips and legs tense and work overtime to maintain balance.
Over the ensuing years I have experienced the same results on every boat, large and small, that I have tested or fished that was equipped with a Seakeeper. Spending time on a boat with one is so much easier on the human body as to be nearly miraculous and if you think it works great on a larger boat, I think the benefits are is even more appreciable on smaller outboard fishing boats. Spending long days on the water is more demanding than we realize until we experience the alternative. Just the effort to stay balanced as a “Here goes,” he said as he engaged the Seakeep- boat is rolling all day whether drifting, trolling or at anchor, even if the seas are relatively calm and er, and in a matter of seconds the boat stopped rolling completely and simply rose and fell gently the roll is modest, is physically stressing. The shifting back and forth takes a toll on your back, hips, as the waves passed under the hull. and legs and when it gets really bumpy, your shoulders, arms and hands from having to hold “I still just can’t believe it,” he muttered over dinon. You might not realize it, but you are burning ner later that evening. “That has to be the great- up energy because your muscles are constantly est development in boating I’ve seen in my lifeworking. The magic of a Seakeeper is its ability to time. I’ll never build another boat without one.” maintain a stable platform under your feet and And Russ was not alone in his conviction as the that is a major stress reliever. The first long offdemand from yacht builders continued to grow shore run I made on a boat with one was an eye at a frenetic pace. OEM customers were standing opener. I got off the boat after being aboard for in line to get them. 20 hours of running, trolling in rough water and
This overhead shot shows a factory installed Seakeeper in a specially designed compartment below under the cockpit sole of an 80' Viking Convertible .
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dancing around the cockpit fighting fish, and realized I was not anywhere near as tired as I normally would be. My back didn’t ache, my muscles weren’t sore, and there was way more bounce in my step. Pat Healey, the president of the Viking Yacht Company and an avid tournament angler, had this to say on the subject. “When I would fish a multi-day tournament before the advent of Seakeeper my ass would be dragging by the end of day two and my hips and legs would be aching. When we installed the first Seakeeper in one of our demo tournaments boats I noticed an immediate change. By the end of day two I was so much less physically stress and tired, the difference was dramatic. The entire crew noticed the difference and we haven’t launched a demo without one since.”
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the customer or dealer’s request, and of the 20% that don’t order one a good portion are back to have one retrofitted in a matter of months,” Healey said. “Lucky for them we design all of our diesel boats with dedicated space below the cockpit sole specifically for the appropriately sized Seakeeper, so the retrofit is pretty easy. With the introduction of the smaller 12-volt line for outboard boats we are experiencing the same demand for the units with our Valhalla center consoles. Over 80% are ordered with a factory-installed Seakeeper.”
If you would like to learn more about these remarkable systems, I suggest you hop over to www.seakeeper.com and check out the consumer resources that explain in detail how they are built, how they work and what unit is applicable for your existing boat, or that new one you’re planning to purchase. I can assure you that once “Over 80-percent of the Vikings we sell leave our you fish with one, you will never want to go fishNew Gretna facility equipped with a Seakeeper at ing without one again.
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Predator-Prey Interaction Study Reveals More Food Does Not Always Mean More Consumption Decades of data allow researchers at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center to look at predator-prey interactions in a different way: among multiple species throughout the water column.
Article Courtesy NOAA Fisheries Scientists at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center have developed an unusually rich picture of who is eating whom off the Northeastern United States. The findings, published recently in Fish and Fisheries, provide a close look at fish feeding habits for 17 fish species, predators, and their prey.
sand dollars, and sea urchins. “We have the largest, continuous dataset of fish feeding habits in the world at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, and that enabled us to do a study of this scale and scope,” said Brian Smith, a food habits researcher at the center and lead author of the study. “We focused on common and important prey for the many predatory fishes of interest, and hopefully filled in some gaps in information relating prey availability to predation.”
The predators are divided into 48 predator-size categories, and 14 prey species. Fish predators included Atlantic cod, Atlantic herring, haddock, goosefish, pollock, spiny dogfish, winter flounder, Feeding patterns within and among different and yellowtail founder among others. Prey spegroups of fishes vary by the size of the fish, the cies included forage fish, squid, zooplankton, abundance or density of the prey, and other facshrimp-like crustaceans, shellfish, brittle stars, tors. Researchers who study marine ecosystems
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need to account for this predation in their models. Few studies, however, have looked simultaneously at the feeding patterns among different groups of predatory fish — fish feeders, plankton feeders, and benthic or bottom feeders. The study also looked at how those groups interact with their prey throughout the water column. Smith and co-author Laurel Smith tested three models using decades of fisheries data that included diet and prey density. The data were collected on the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf during benthic surveys in the 1950s and 1960s, and during ecosystem sampling surveys beginning in 1973. For this study, the data were used to gain insight into:
Atlantic cod is a groundfish, meaning it lives near the
• The relationship beocean floor. Its prey changes as it grows. Photo: NOAA tween the amount of prey available in the envi- Fisheries ronment • Consumption rates among multiple prey species
known commercial fishes.
High densities of invertebrate prey, however, revealed decreased feeding by fish that were planktivores and benthivores — plankton and bottom feeders. For these fish, more food did not transAmong the study findings: most of the late to more consumption. Researchers found fish responded to changing abundance of prey that denser prey may disorient or confuse the by switching prey, or through a “learning period” planktivores, reducing their feeding on zookwhen the prey in highest abundance was targetplankton. The planktivores include Atlantic hered. That response helps stabilize prey popularing, Atlantic mackerel, and smaller sizes of poltions, and was prevalent among piscivores (fish lock, silver hake, spiny dogfish and white hake. eaters). It was often observed for predators with Their feeding response is not often considered in less-specialized feeding habits. Those predators studies of marine ecosystems. included goosefish and larger sizes of other wellFeeding patterns within and among different groups of fishes that eat similar items.
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The benthivores studied included smaller sizes of Atlantic cod, red hake, and winter skate, and all sizes of haddock, ocean pout, and several flounders and a few other species. These fish ate small benthic invertebrates as small and medium-sized fish. Larger individuals of those same species, however, ate mostly fish and had a different predatorprey relationship. The study findings provide insight into predation on and by commercial fishery species throughout the water column. This will help with ecosystem modeling since predation needs to be accounted for as competition, or as a direct removal of commercially and ecologically important prey species. Refining the model inputs can also increase our understanding of continen- A forage fish, Atlantic herring often move in schools and tal shelf ecology, and im- eat plankton. Photo: NOAA Fisheries prove decision-making for ecosystem-based fisheries management.
For more information, please contact Shelley Dawicki. More Information Research article (subscription) Food Web Dynamics in the Northeast Ecosystem Dynamics and Assessment Population and Ecosystems Monitoring and Analysis in the Northeast Population Dynamics in the Northeast
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NOAA Shares a "DUH" Moment...
Spiny Dogfish Eat Atlantic Cod: DNA May Provide Some Answers
Courtesy NOAA Fisheries As dogfish populations recover fromArticle overfishing, questions remain about how much Atlantic cod they are eating and its impact on the struggling cod population. Innovative genetic techniques help shed some light on the situation.
S
piny dogfish have little consumer demand in the U.S. They are a major seafood export to Europe, where they are commonly used as the fish in "fish and chips".
from New Bedford, Gloucester, Plymouth and Newburyport in Massachusetts stepped up. All participate in the Study Fleet, a program in the center’s Cooperative Research Branch. Spiny dogConventional observations show that spiny dog- fish were collected on 15 fishing trips during norfish in the western North Atlantic rarely eat Atlan- mal trawling operations between May 2014 and May 2015 in the Gulf of Maine and on Georges tic cod. However, some believe the rebuilding Bank. dogfish populations are limiting depleted cod numbers by competition or predation. To find out “This was an excellent example of how cooperatwhat is going on, NOAA Fisheries scientists ing fishing partners supplied fish for a pilot study looked to genetic testing to confirm cod presence of interest, and have helped advance this field of study,” said Richard McBride, chief of the center’s in dogfish stomachs. To get the samples they needed, scientists at the Population Biology Branch and a co-author of the study. “We were able to demonstrate that identiNortheast Fisheries Science Center asked local fying cod in predator stomachs with environmenfishermen for help. Commercial fishing boats
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tal DNA works. It let us show fishermen that these lected by the science center’s bottom trawl surinnovative laboratory techniques can work on veys from 1977 to 2017. This suggests low predation rates on cod. However, small cod are much samples collected in the open ocean." more likely to be well-digested when the samples Interactions More Common than Obare taken. If dogfish have eaten these smaller cod, served it is difficult to identify the species by observation alone. Molecular-level studies, using DNA, offered Study findings, published in Ecology and Evolution, reveal rates of interactions between cod and some answers. spiny dogfish are higher than previously thought. In the recently published study, researchers examined the stomach contents of 295 dogfish samples collected throughout the year. Using the conventional visual method, they observed 51 different prey types and nearly 1600 individual prey items. NOAA Fisheries scientists paired these visual observations with a laboratory technique (real-time polymerase chain reaction, or PCR) to detect small amounts of cod DNA. Using this technique, researchers examined 291 of the 295 available samples and detected cod DNA in 31 of them. Fishermen have also reported seeing dogfish eating cod during fishing operations. Sometimes this is dogfish actively foraging on live prey. Other times it is due to dogfish depredation ---- dogfish
Sorting a catch containing spiny dogfish during one of the science center's bottom trawl surveys in 2008. “Although not directly comparable, the number of dogfish stomachs with cod detected was higher than that observed by conventional surveys,” said Brian Smith, a food habits researcher at the science center and a co-author of the study. “This is likely due to several potential mechanisms, ranging from active predation and scavenging during fishing operations to dogfish and cod sharing common waters. This also illustrates the high power of detection using molecular versus visual methods." Dogfish primarily eat other fish, but also jellyfish, squid and bivalves in some locations. Cod as dogfish prey is rare. Only 14 cod have been visually observed in the stomachs of 72,241 dogfish col-
Baskets of cod sorted from the catch during a bottom trawl survey.
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eating the fish in the net before it can be brought aboard the fishing vessel. In this study, 50 percent of the sampling trips where cod was eaten indicate scavenging by spiny dogfish.
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ing to better integrate factors such as predatorprey relationships into stock assessment models used to estimate both current and future fish population numbers.
Members of the study fleet who helped collect Researchers say the next step is to use a statisticalthe samples recognize the value of their participa- ly robust sampling design to examine a population in the study. tion-level assessment of the effects of dogfish predation on cod population size. Estimates of spiny “It's always good to have more information on dogfish digestion rates, and ways to consider the species that live in our waters. I'm happy to contribute to work that furthers our understand- dogfish scavenging during fishing operations, are also needed. ing of these populations, especially in regard to cod,” said Captain Jim Ford of the F/V Lisa Ann III from Newburyport. “I know there are some different opinions on what role dogfish play in the ecosystem, so the more data we can provide to inform that, the better.” Next Steps
“The Northeast Fisheries Science Center has the laboratory facilities to detect cod DNA in predator stomachs, and a bottom trawl survey that is designed to measure population level effects among groundfish,” said McBride. ”We just need to put these two pieces together to estimate the effect of spiny dogfish predation on Atlantic cod. Easier said than done, but all the pieces are there."
While the findings suggest higher interaction rates between dogfish and cod than previously For more information, please contact Shelley observed, further study is needed to determine Dawicki. just how much cod dogfish eat. Studies are ongo-
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National Fish Habitat Partnership Signed into Law By President Trump (Washington, DC)
L
ast week, President Trump signed S. 3051, The America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE Act) into law at the White House. The ACE Act passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support and unanimous consent. Now enacted into law, this bill reauthorizes the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) and codifies the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP), two of the most successful voluntary conservation efforts in the nation. The law also reauthorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program and creates funding authorizations for other crucial conservation programs.
tat and aquatic communities at regional and local levels. Annually, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides funding and technical assistance to the 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships to implement aquatic conservation projects nationwide. The work of the National Fish Habitat Partnership is also supported by many federal, state, and local agencies as well as regional and national conservation organizations.
Upon signature into law, the National Fish Habitat Partnership is authorized from FY21- FY25 at $7.2 million annually. The National Fish Habitat Board will report to Congress, particularly the Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransporThe National Fish Habitat Partnership is an untation and the Committee on Environment and precedented effort to protect, restore, and enPublic Works of the Senate, and the Committee hance fish and aquatic communities in the U.S. on Natural Resources of the House of RepresentaSince 2006, NFHP has completed over 1,000 pro- tives. jects in 50 states. From freshwater to estuarine and coastal projects, NFHP protects, restores, and The law expands the National Fish Habitat Board enhances fish habitat nationwide, leveraging fed- to 26 members, broadening the membership to eral, state, tribal, and private funding resources. include representation from the following NFHP is comprised of 20 individual Fish Habitat groups: a national private landowner organizaPartnerships, which focus on improving fish habi- tion, an agricultural production organization, lo-
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cal government involved in fish habitat restoration, corporate industries, and a private sector or landowner representative of an active Fish Habitat Partnership. On an annual basis, the Board will submit a priority list of projects for funding consideration to the Secretary of the Interior. Technical and Scientific Assistance funds are authorized to be appropriated for FY21 – FY25 up to $400,000 annually to each of the following agencies: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Geological Survey in support of the National Fish Habitat Partnership. Within one year of enactment, the agencies receiving Technical and Scientific Assistance funds, led by the Department of the Interior, will develop an interagency operational plan outlining the implementation needs and interagency agreements. “Today, with President Trump’s signing of the ACE Act, we celebrate the culmination of over a decade of effort to codify the National Fish Habitat Partnership with organic legislation. The Partnership, and the thousands of people involved in local, grassroots projects, have done remarkable work protecting, enhancing, and restoring fish habitat across the country,” said Ed Schriever, Chairman of the National Fish Habitat Board. “This Congressional recognition of the program marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for the Partnership and the American people whose pleasure, passion and livelihoods are derived from healthy habitat and vibrant fishery resources.” “Americans are continuing to utilize public lands and waters in record numbers, many of them for the first time,” said Sara Parker Pauley, Director of the Missouri Department of Conservation and President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “The ACE Act will be indispensable to our natural resources, enabling stewards to ensure our citizens experience the outdoors the way they deserve, with healthy habitats and flourishing species. We thank Congress for recognizing the success and necessity of existing programs while taking steps to address urgent needs
such as chronic wasting disease through this bill.” “NOAA Fisheries is excited for the National Fish Habitat Partnership to be recognized by Congress,” said Samuel Rauch, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, NOAA Fisheries. “We look forward to continuing to protect, enhance, and restore important fish habitats across the coastal U.S. in support of sustainable fisheries and communities as a proud NFHP partner.” A coalition of conservation organizations commended the sponsors of this bipartisan legislation for their commitment to fish and wildlife conservation: Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE), Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) as well as Rep. Mike Thompson (DCA), Rep. Robert Wittman (R-VA), Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC), Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX), and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) in getting it to the President’s desk for signature during this Congressional session.
About the National Fish Habitat Partnership: Since 2006, the National Fish Habitat Partnership has supported over 1,000 projects benefiting fish habitat in all 50 states. The National Fish Habitat Partnership works to conserve fish habitat nationwide, leveraging federal, state, tribal, and private funding resources to achieve the greatest impact on fish populations through priority conservation projects of 20 regionally-based Fish Habitat Partnerships. For more information, visit: http:// fishhabitat.org/ Ryan Roberts National Fish Habitat Partnership Program Manager Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies 1100 First Street, NE (Suite 825) Washington, DC 20002 PH: 202-838-3466 Fax: 202-350-9869 www.fishhabitat.org
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Regulatory Updates Changes to Management Plans and Recreational Specifications Changes Coming for South Atlantic Cobia Management The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s South Atlantic States/Federal Fisheries Management Board approved Addendum I to Amendment 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia. The Addendum modifies: (1) the allocation of the resource between the commercial and recreational sectors, (2) the methodology to calculate the commercial trigger for in-season closures; and (3) and commercial and recreational de minimis measures.
states with enough time to close the fishery via their administrative processes without exceeding the quota.
Changes to de minimis measures, which are applied to states with relatively small commercial or recreational harvest, include adjusting the commercial allocation set aside and recreational regulations. For de minimis measures, the Addendum establishes a commercial de minimis set aside of 4% of the commercial quota with a maximum cap of 5,000 pounds to account for potential landings in de minimis states not tracked in-season against the quota. States that are de minimis for their recreational fisheries may choose to match the recreThe Addendum changes the allocation of the re- ational management measures implemented by source between the recreational and commercial an adjacent non-de minimis state (or the nearest non-de minimis state if none are adjacent), or limfisheries from 92% and 8% respectively to and it its recreational fishery to 1 fish per vessel per 96% and 4% respectively. The change was primarily based on new recreational catch estimates trip with a minimum size of 33 inches fork length that resulted from changes in survey methodolo- (or an equivalent total length of 37 inches). gy by the Marine Recreational Information ProStates are required to implement the new gram. The new catch estimates were, on average, measures by January 1, 2021. For more inforabout two times higher than previously estimat- mation, please contact Savannah Lewis, Fishery ed, impacting the allocation between the two Management Plan Coordinator, at slewsectors. In considering the new allocation peris@asmfc.org or 703.842.0740. centages, the Board took into account the increase in the recreational catch and the harvest levels of the commercial fishery in recent years. The new commercial allocation allows the fishery Change Florida King Mackerell Limit to operate at its current level with some room for Increased in Altantic Waters landings to increase as the stock range expands The recreational bag limit for king mackerel has further north. been increased to four fish per person per day The Addendum also modifies the calculation of through March 16, 2021, in all Atlantic state and the commercial trigger, which determines when federal waters from Miami-Dade through Nassau an in-season coastwide commercial closure occounties. curs. The approved trigger is set up to provide
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This change is consistent with recent changes in 2021 Bluefish State Commercial Quota AlAtlantic federal waters to address forgone fishing locations opportunities to the recreational fishing community. Learn more about these changes in federal Percent Quota Allocation waters at Fisheries.NOAA.gov by searching for State Share (lb) “king mackerel emergency rule.” Maine 0.67 18,503 Learn more about recreational fishing at MyFWC.com/Marine by clicking on “Recreational New Hamp0.41 11,473 Regulations.” shire
NOAA Fisheries Announces 2021 Atlantic Bluefish Specifications Effective January 1, 2021
NOAA Fisheries announces final 2021 specifications for the Atlantic bluefish fishery, as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council in cooperation with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. These specifications are similar to 2020. The only change is a reduction of 1.14 million pounds in the recreational harvest limit to account for higher than projected recreational discards in 2019. The final 2021 coastwide commercial quota is 2,767,793 pounds, and the final recreational harvest limit is reduced to 8,344,914 pounds. There is no transfer between recreational and commercial sectors because the recreational fishery is expected to fully attain this harvest limit. This action does not change any other management measures, including the daily recreational bag limit of 3 fish per person for private anglers and 5 fish per person for for-hire (charter/party) vessels. The commercial state allocations for 2021 are provided in the following table. No state exceeded its allocated quota in 2019, nor is projected to do so in 2020; therefore, no commercial accountability measures are required in 2021.
Massachusetts 6.72
185,904
Rhode Island
6.81
188,434
Connecticut
1.27
35,049
New York
10.39
287,438
New Jersey
14.82
410,082
Delaware
1.88
51,985
Maryland
3.00
83,084
Virginia
11.88
328,800
For more details please read the rule as filed in the Federal Register and the bulletin.
Atlantic States Approve Menhaden Harvest Reduction Last week, the Atlantic States Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Atlantic Menhaden Management Board voted to reduce the Atlantic menhaden quota by 10 percent, establishing a quota of 194,400 metric tons for the 2021 and 2022 fishing years. Atlantic menhaden are a primary food source for numerous sportfish populations, especially striped bass. The harvest reduction comes in response to a recent fundamental shift in Atlantic menhaden management. In August, ASMFC unanimously — which considers the needs of predator species
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which considers the needs of predator species and is set up to help rebuild the striped bass population. Last week’s decision on menhaden is especially important to the recreational angling and boating community because it represents a follow through on the commitment by ASMFC to implement this new ecological management system. Implementing responsible conservation practices across all fisheries is essential to the long-term wellbeing of marine ecosystems and we appreciate this decision to help rebuild the striped bass population,” said Nicole Vasilaros, NMMA senior vice president of government and legal affairs. “While we recognize additional work will be needed, healthy and sustainable menhaden and sportfish stocks are critically important to the recreational boating and fishing community and this decision is an important step toward protecting and rebuilding both of these critical populations.” Several recreational fishing and boating organizations — including NMMA— recently sent a letter to ASMFC urging the adoption of a conservative coast-wide total allowable catch that will help rebuild the iconic striped bass fishery.
Making Waves Winter 2020
count for updated discard estimates. The quota for the individual fishing quota (IFQ) fishery would remain status quo. A summary of the Council’s recommended specifications is shown in the following table. Proposed Golden Tilefish Specifications 2020
2021
Projected 2022
million lb mt
million lb mt
million lb
mt
ABC
1.636
742 1.636
742 1.636
742
ACL
1.636
742 1.636
742 1.636
742
IFQ ACT
1.554
705 1.554
705 1.554
705
Incidental 0.082 ACT
37
37
37
IFQ TAL
705 1.554
705 1.554
705
33
32
32
1.554
Incidental 0.073 TAL
0.082
0.070
0.082
0.070
ABC=Acceptable Biological Catch, ACL=Annual Catch Limit, ACT=Annual Catch Target, TAL=Total Allowable Landings
NMMA will continue to monitor the progress of these efforts. For more information, please contact NMMA director of federal government relations, Clay Crabtree at ccrabtree@nmma.org.
NOAA Fisheries Announces Proposed 2021 and 2022 Golden Tilefish Specifications and Emergency Action NOAA Fisheries is proposing the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s recommended catch specifications for the 2021 Northeast/MidAtlantic golden tilefish fishery. These proposed catch limits are mostly status quo, with only a slight change in the final incidental quota to ac-
. All other management measures and requirements would remain unchanged. This includes the incidental landing limit of 500 lb (whole weight) or 50 percent (by weight) of all fish being landed, including tilefish, whichever is less. The recreational trip limit of eight fish per angler is also unchanged.
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For more details on the proposed specifications, read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register or contact Douglas Potts, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 978-281-9341
Final 2021 Summer Flounder State-by-State Allocations, in pounds
State Share
NOAA Fisheries Announces Final 2021 Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Specifications We are implementing the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s recommended 2021 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass specifications. The final 2021 catch limits are increasing relative to previously approved 2021 quotas because the Council revised its risk policy, which defines the acceptable risk of overfishing. The revised catch limits still minimize the chance of overfishing, while providing more opportunities for fishermen. No additional changes to the federal commercial management measures were made.
PrelimiAdditional Initial nary Final Alloshare above Allocation 2020 cation 9.55 m lb lb Over- lb (4,332 mt) age
ME
0.04756
0.333
14,342
14,332
NH
0.00046
0.333
9,844
9,834
MA
6.82046
12.375
1,015,179
1,015,179
RI
15.6829 8
12.375
1,861,550
1,861,550
CT
2.25708
12.375
579,376
579,376
NY
7.64699
12.375
1,094,113
1,094,113
NJ
16.7249 9
12.375
1,961,062
1,961,062
DE
0.01779
0.333
11,499
MD
2.0391
12.375
558,559
558,559
12.375
2,399,576
2,399,576
12.375
2,984,903
2,984,903
VA NC
21.3167 6 27.4458 4
-52,307
-40,818
Summary of the Final 2021 Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Specifications, in millions This rule also announces the final 2021 summer of pounds flounder commercial state quotas, which include any necessary deductions for overages that ocSummer Black Sea curred in 2019. The final state quotas use the new 2021 Specifications Scup Flounder Bass allocation method approved through AmendOverfishing Limit (OFL) 31.67 35.30 17.68 ment 21 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. Acceptable Biological 27.11 34.81 17.45 Catch (ABC) Commercial Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Commercial Annual Catch Target (ACT)
14.63 14.63
27.15 27.15
9.52 9.52
Commercial Quota
12.49
20.50
6.09
Recreational ACL
12.48
7.66
7.93
Recreational ACT
12.48
7.66
7.93
Recreational Harvest Limit
8.32
6.07
6.34
For more information, read the final rule as filed in the Federal Register, and our permit holder bulletin.
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NEWS & VIEWS Connecticut Atlantic Salmon Stocking Continues The annual fall stocking of our specially produced Atlantic salmon continues. Two lakes, Mount Tom Pond (Washington) and Crystal Lake (Ellington) were stocked earlier this fall, and now the very popular Atlantic Salmon Management Areas on the Naugatuck River and the Shetucket River have each been stocked on two separate occasions over the last few weeks. About 25% of these fish produced each fall are stocked into the lakes and 75% into the rivers. Stocking of more and bigger Atlantic Salmon will continue throughout November!
required to FISH in both the Naugatuck River and Shetucket River Atlantic Salmon Management areas. Official Posting of ATLANTIC SALMON FISHING REGULATIONS by Commissioner Dykes
In the Naugatuck, Housatonic and Shetucket Rivers, from September 1 through December 15, angling for Atlantic salmon is restricted to catchand-release only. From December 16, 2020, through March 31, 2021, the daily creel limit for Atlantic salmon will be one. During the open season in the rivers, the legal method for taking Atlantic salmon is limited to angling using a single fly, or an artificial lure with a single free swinging hook and no additional weight can be added to For more on this program please visit our Atlantic the line above the fly or lure. Also, from SeptemSalmon Management Area webpage. ber 1st through March 31st, fishing for other species in the designated Atlantic Salmon It is important to understand that these fish are “Broodstock Areas” is restricted to the gear legal not part of any restoration effort, they are produced specifically to provide a unique recreation- for Atlantic salmon. al fishery. The Fisheries Division can only stock On the Shetucket River, anglers can fish for salmthese fish in waters outside of the Connecticut on downstream from the Scotland Dam River Watershed (it is illegal to fish for Atlantic (Windham) to the Water Street Bridge in Norsalmon within the CT River Watershed). wich (the first bridge upstream of Norwich Harbor). The salmon are stocked into one designated Regulations for these waters can be found on Atlantic Salmon “Broodstock Area”, from the Scotpage 28 of the 2020 Fishing Guide. land Dam to the Occum Dam. For the lakes, the daily limit is one salmon per Anglers are allowed to fish for salmon in the Nauperson per day. A trout and salmon stamp is gatuck River from the confluence of the East and needed to keep these fish. West Branches (Torrington) downstream to the For the rivers, fishing is catch and release until Housatonic River (Derby). Anglers may also fish December 16, 2020. A trout and salmon stamp is for Atlantic salmon in the Housatonic River
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Making Waves Winter 2020
downstream of Derby Dam. The salmon are typically stocked into two designated Atlantic Salmon Broodstock Areas on the Naugatuck River, the “Campville Section” of the upper Naugatuck River from Route 118 downstream to the Thomaston Flood Control Dam (Litchfield-Thomaston) and the “Beacon Falls Section” of the lower Naugatuck, from Prospect Street (Naugatuck) downstream to Pines Bridge Road (Route 42 bridge, Beacon Falls). From September 1st through March 31st, fishing for other species in these designated Atlantic Salmon Broodstock Areas is restricted to the gear legal for Atlantic salmon.
nels more frequently than it does through other forms of communication. This is critical to understanding how information is shared within the recreational fishing community.
The regulations for Atlantic salmon released into lakes and ponds are different from the regulations for salmon on the Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers. In each lake, the regulations for methods, seasons and minimum lengths for salmon will be the same as for trout in that specific water body but the daily creel limit will be one salmon per day. (Please refer to the 2020 CT Angler’s Guide for trout regulations).
• While avid anglers tend to consult friends and bait and tackle stores most frequently for fishing information, they also consult a wider variety of sources, and consult them more frequently than less avid anglers.
New Study of Recreational Anglers Identifies Most Trusted Information Sources? A new survey of saltwater recreational anglers looked at their sources of information when it comes to fishery management and data collection. It found that their most used and trusted sources were friends, family, bait and tackle shops, and state and federal agency information such as websites and regulation guides. NOAA Fisheries conducted the mail survey of 10,000 randomly sampled licensed saltwater recreational anglers on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Maine to Mississippi. Results will help us better understand how information flows through recreational fishing communities and inform our strategies for engaging with anglers. Other key findings include: • The important role of friends, bait shop employees, and family members suggests that fishery information likely flows through social chan-
• Information sources that likely involve direct interactions (e.g., family, bait and tackle shops, and for-hire captains) were more trusted than online or broadcast sources (e.g., blogs and message boards). • Social networks are important for information sharing and, potentially, opinions about fishery management.
• More avid anglers have larger angler networks and could serve as information pathways. • Anglers involved with fisheries management and who describe themselves as familiar with fisheries regulations also have larger angler networks. They could potentially serve as information pathways themselves. • Anglers who say they understand the fisheries management process, and believe fisheries managers share their values and respond to their concerns, are more likely to trust management. • Opinions on the effectiveness of current fisheries management are tied to trust in management, shared values, and perceptions of management responsiveness. This mail survey was conducted from June– September 2020. It was the first phase of a social network analysis designed to help identify relationships, networks, channels, and information flow within the recreational fishing community. The study (PDF, 111 pages) examined how recreational anglers gather, share, and evaluate information on topics related to fisheries data collection. Survey Objectives
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Making Waves Making Waves Summer Winter 2016 2020
The survey collected data on:
project.
More Information • Where saltwater recreational anglers go to gather information on saltwater recreational fishAbout the Marine Recreational Information Proing issues including fishing regulations and data gram collection • Angler trust levels associated with different sources of information on saltwater fishing regulations and data collection issues • Angler understanding of and confidence in saltwater recreational fisheries management, data collection, and data analysis
New Jersey: $11.2 Million Available to Help Fishing Businesses
TRENTON – The Murphy Administration is making $11.2 million in financial assistance available to commercial and recreational fishing businesses impacted by the COVID-19 public health emer• Angler opinions and beliefs on the current state of saltwater recreational fisheries manage- gency, Governor Phil Murphy and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Cathement and data collection rine R. McCabe announced Thursday. The fundThese findings helped develop and plan for the ing is available as grants to eligible businesses second phase of the study: an in-person survey of that document a 35-percent loss in revenues as a 180 anglers among three coastal communities. result of the pandemic. We are currently assessing the timeline for conducting this phase in light of COVID-19. The mail “Fishing is an integral part of New Jersey’s identity and a critical component of our economy”, said survey helped identify sources and pathways Gov. Murphy “This grant program will help these used in information gathering and focused on businesses recover losses they have incurred durdiscovering broad trends. The in-person intering very difficult times. And we can all play a role views will collect more detailed information about specific angler social networks and interac- in supporting New Jersey’s fishing industry by tions. In particular, it will provide an opportunity buying from local seafood suppliers and enjoying fishing through charter boat operations and bait to more fully detail how anglers: and tackle shops.” • Communicate about fishery data collection “The DEP is pleased to assist in bringing this and management issues much-needed financial support to New Jersey’s • Identify trusted information sources valuable fishing industry and communities, which have been hard hit by the COVID pandemic,” • Understand the drivers of their attitudes tosaid DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. ward different sources of information “We are especially grateful to New Jersey’s legisThe social network analysis was informed by the lative delegation and our federal partners at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra2017 National Academies of Sciences review of tion for their support of this program.” the Marine Recreational Information Program and MRIP’s five-year strategic plan (2017The funding comes from a $300 million alloca2022) to expand two-way dialogue with the rection for fishing industries in coastal states providreational fishing community. The project was deed by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and veloped by NOAA Fisheries staff and ECS conEconomic Security (CARES) Act. This assistance is tractors, in consultation with researchers from made possible through the collaboration of the the University of Florida and the Illinois-Indiana Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Sea Grant College Program. the members of the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Watch a NOAA Central Library Seminar on the
Council. The New Jersey Division of Fish and
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Making Waves Winter 2020
Wildlife’s Marine Fisheries Administration will review applications and administer financial assistance to eligible business. Estimates place the economic value of commercial and recreational fishing in New Jersey at some $2.5 billion annually. As part of its efforts to assist the commercial industry, the DEP and New Jersey Department of Agriculture have launched a Support New Jersey Seafood website. It provides the public and consumers with information and an interactive map of businesses that sell seafood products that have been landed, grown or harvested in New Jersey. A similar on-line tool is This led to a crash in the red drum population, being developed for recreational fishing business- and a move on both state and federal levels to es. regulate the fishery. On the federal level, they made it against the law to possess a red drum in Program Details for Applicants federal waters. The states developed laws that put An online application will be available Monday, bag limits of no more than five or six fish in slots October 19, 2020, through DEP’s electronic that varied between 20 and 27 inches. grants management system, NJDEP SAGE at How well did this work? Just ask any surf fisherhttps://njdepsage.intelligrants.com. man who works the Outer Banks of North CaroliDetails on the specific information that must be na. Or a shallow-water angler who works the provided are available at the Marine Fisheries Ad- marshes of Louisiana. They and thousands of othministration’s CARES website at er fishermen from Virginia to Texas are reaping www.njfishandwildlife.com/cares_info.htm. Appli- the benefits of this conservation. cations will be posted here, as well as other updates to the program. Questions may be submitted by email to njfisheriesaid@dep.nj.gov.
NOAA Web Page for Fishermen Resources Now Available
Red Drum, Speckled Trout Show up in Delaware By Eric Burnley - Cape Gazette
Visit our web page Resources for Fishing in the Greater Atlantic for information on how to comment on recent rules, apply for permits, complete your reporting requirements and much more!
While not in great numbers yet, their presence is Bookmark this page for easy access or find it by just another example of the rising water temperanavigating from our home page and clicking on tures in the ocean and bays. the Fishing Industry Home Page. The red drum, or channel bass, are also the result Let us know if you have suggestions of other links of a very successful conservation program that you'd like to see included on this resource page has increased their biomass to the extent that for easy access. they are expanding their range. Some may remember the craze for blackened redfish that Questions/Comments? Contact Jennifer Goeswept the country and resulted in a concerted bel, Regional Office, 978-281-9175 effort by commercial fishermen to fill the orders they had for all the red drum they could catch.
Making Waves Making Waves Summer Winter 2016 2020
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Chairman Robert T. Healey Jr. Treasurer John Kasinski Board Members Bob Healey, Sr. Pat Healey Nick Cicero Mike Leech Nate Odum Andrew Semprevivo Tony Novelli Jim Motsko Mark Odom Carl T. Huffman Bob Flocken Martin Peters Bob Shomo Jr. Andy Dormois
Making Waves Winter 2020
Viking Group Viking Yacht Company Viking Yacht Company Viking Yacht Company Folsom Corporation World Cup Blue Marlin Tournament Mexico Beach Marina & Outfitters Seakeeper, Inc. Contender Boats Ocean City White Marlin Open Main Street Properties Elec-Tra-Mate, Inc Hi-Liner/Diamond Fishing Products Yamaha Marine Group Johnson and Towers Inc AmeraTrail Trailers
M A K I N G
Making Waves Making Waves Summer Winter 2016 2020
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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. “Anti-fishing 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
The Recreational Fishing Alliance Headquarters P.O. Box 3080 New Gretna, New Jersey 08224
Jim Donofrio
John DePersenaire
Gary Caputi
Executive Director
Managing Director
Communications Director
Barry Gibson
Jim Martin
Sharon Scaltrito
New England Director
West Coast Director
Office Manager
