NMFS new proposals

[Ron.38 Special]

Interesting, NMFS has had three possible very volitile proposals out ther for nearly a week, and no discussion yet?

Laymans terms of all three proposals that I believe affect our swordfishery.

1. For lots of reasons, the EFP research fishing in the closed zone with longlines is not going so well. So the researcher has asked for a years extension to the permit to let them finish the maximum permitted number of sets over the rest of the year instead of the Feb28,2009 expiration of the permit.
2. Also, it seems that they want to fish closer to land than proposed originally so instead of fishing the Eastern wall of the gulfstream, they want access to the Western wall so they can "anchor" the gear in the slow moving water on the shelf and let the gear swing with the current. Interesting where they want to move the line to , its the 79 degree 50 minute line. Yep, the old 79 50. Of course right now, they would still be restricted to North of Ft. Pierce only.
3. NMFS has been dying to figure out a way to catch the quota so the new proposal is to allow current permit holders to lease their permit to a foreign vessel under a charter agreement and give unlimited quota to that boat for the term of the charter agreement. Any monetary gain would be between the permit holder and the contracting party. In essence, a permit holer could sell his permit temorarily to a foreign coutry (or vessel) to fish for US quota on the high seas. The vessel would have to fish under us regulations and only on the high seas.


Oh, I have opinions about these three jewels, but I will hold my opinion for a later date.

You can read the details on the NMFS site at the usual locations NOAA Fisheries - National Marine Fisheries Service, then go to sustainable fisheries, then HMS, then breaking news for the links.

Ron Coddington

[quack quack]

Thanks for the update Ron.The swing set was the way they used to do it out front. The anchor side sure gets a lot of soak time.The west side of the gear is in the water twice as long.During the swing the gear will end up in the middle of the stream but mostly on the west side.

If they let the foreign boats catch our quota it will be closed in 6 or 7 months!! that is not good for us.

[CaptKen]

Ron We are lucky to have you, Thanks for all you do.

[Disco Lady]

NMFS=


DL,

[quack quack]

On further thought let the permit go another 6 months. Let them set on the west side as well. Lets get it over with so to speak. The discards will shoot up as well as the sailfish and marlin bycatch. A few more turtles will be caught too. Then it will be shut down for good.

But no way should we lease any quota!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Disco Lady]

[golfcane]

Originally Posted by Disco Lady

:a pplause:


Keep the forieng poachers out of here!

[Darkside]

It seemed the closer they got the worse the catch was so why would they want to come closer? Their catch stats were pretty bad to begin with why would they want to go back to the same general area, seemed they always did better offshore. NMFS seems to screw things up like its their job, hopefully something good comes of the EFP. Leasing quota to other country's will be no good for us, don't understand why they would do something like that when we are almost catching or quota as it is?

[Disco Lady]

NMFS needs to and stop the

DL,

[WhItEoUt 23]

[iriesoul]

Thanks for keeping us up to date!

[RiskTaker]

From Ron's initial post above, here is the link that will get you to the breaking new section straight away - Office of Sustainable Fisheries
Highly Migratory Species

There are several documents worth reading up on:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/new...ail_Notice.pdf

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/new...ice%202009.pdf

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/new...ail_Notice.pdf

Office of Sustainable Fisheries - Highly Migratory Species



NMFS Requests Comments on the Issuance of Exempted Fishing Permits,
Scientific Research Permits, Display Permits, and Chartering Permits for the
Collection of Atlantic HMS and a Boundary Change for the Pelagic Longline
Research Conducted in Closed Areas
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces its intent to issue Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs), Scientific Research Permits (SRPs), Display Permits, Letters of Acknowledgement (LOAs), and Chartering Permits for the collection of Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) in 2009. In general, EFPs and related permits would authorize collections ofa limited number oftunas, swordfish, billfishes, and sharks from Federal waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico for the purposes of scientitic data collcction and public display. Chartering permits allow the collection of HMS in the high seas or in the Exclusive Economic Zone of other nations.
The HMS Management Division issued 41 such permits in 2007 and has issued 31 such permits
in 2008 to date. These permits were issued to vessels and authorized samplers participating in
at-sea observer programs, NMFS and non-NMFS scientists collecting data on HMS, educational institutions, public aquaria, and collectors acquiring HMS for display, among others.
Exempted fishing applications would continue to be considered in 2009 for bycatch reduction research in closed regions of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea to test gear modifications and fishing techniques aimed at avoiding incidental capture ofnon-target species. The HMS Management Division will seek additional public comment, as necessary, on any such specific proposals where research is not being conducted solely from bonafide research vessels.
On January 3, 2008, NMFS announced a final decision to issue EFPs to conduct research in
portions of the East Florida Coast (EFC) and Charleston Bump closed areas using a limited
number of pelagic longline (PLL) vessels. The goals of the research are to collect baseline data
in closed areas under current PLL fishery conditions; evaluate existing PLL bycatch reduction
measures; and, collect data to examine the effectiveness of existing PLL area closures to meet
current conservation and harvesting goals. The EFPs expire on February 28, 2009; however,
since only approximately 18 percent of the research sets have been completed thus far, NMFS
will likely re-issue or extend the permits in 2009. In addition, NMFS is considering a request
from the Principal Investigator for an additional 10 nautical mile (nmi) westward extension of
the experimental research area of the EFC closed area. The requested extension of the boundary
10 nmi to the west of the currently authorized research area would enable setting of the gear to
mirror historical fishing patterns in the EFC and to fulfill the scientitic objectives of the research
by providing PLL vessels with sufficient space to conduct the authorized PLL research. Details
on completed trips, catch associated with the research, and the boundary extension ,are explained
in a separate Federal Register notice. Based on an analysis of historical data from the PLL
logbook and PLL observer program from 1995-2000, NMFS has determined that the potential
increase in catch of target and non-target species in the proposed area extension would be
minimal.
*Printed on Recycled Paper
Written comments on these proposed collection, research, and fishing activities will be considered by NMFS when issuing EFPs, SRPs, Display Permits, and Chartering Permits if received on or before December 15,2008. Please send comments to Craig Cockrell, Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/SFl), NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The permit applications and copies of the regulations pertaining to EFPs, SRPs, LOAs, Display Permits, and Chartering Permits may also be requested from this address. Comments may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to (301) 713-1917 or bye-mail to HMSEFP.2009@noaa.gov.
This notice is a courtesy to individuals interested in HMS fisheries activities to keep you informed about the fishery. Official notice of Federal fishery actions is made through filing such notice with the Office of the Federal Register. For further information, contact Jackie Wilson at
(240) 338-3936 or Craig Cockrell at (301) 713-2347.

Where do we stand on the percentage of allocated quota harvested in 2008?

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/new...ngs_Update.pdf

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/new...te_by_Gear.pdf

The announcement seems to indicate that the US has harvested about 32.8% as of September 30, 2008 figures. The notice also states that these figures do not include any 2007 underharvest figures. From what I have understood at NFMS public meetings is that under harvests are allowed to be rolled over from year to year. If that is the case I would suspect that the total harvest for 2008, from adjusted figures may drive the percentage allocation lower than the presently stated numbers. Bear in mind reports for fish harvest in Q4/2008 still need to be published.

Perhaps that may provide some more insight for reasons why NMFS is getting creative to harvest more fish.

NMFS requests public feedback by December 15, which doesn't leave much time to formulate a balanced opinion.

[Broadbill-Pro]

Ok, here's the real Laymans terms:

1. The extension has nothing to do with success or failure, it has to do with the experiment being incomplete due to problems with Observers and lack of fish in the EFP area during the months that were tested. The areas fished may and probably will have much different results depending on time of year fished.

2. The "anchor" theory is so far off it reminds me how little most know about PLL'ing. Never in the history of PLL'ing in the Straits has any vessel completed a trip setting from West to East. The "anchor" is on the East side of the stream and the preferred set is to the Southwest. Setting to the East would be a devistating mistake when a set busts out of the fast water. A Captain would spend most of his next day chasing the gear to the North.

3. The "Lease" option was first proposed by a very good friend of "Darkside" and the company all of you buy your lights, mono and electric reels from. The entire HMS Advisory Panel including Ron who was sitting next to me agreed that it may be a good idea considering we can not catch our quota. Dr. Hogarth was in the room with us at the time and he also thought more consideration should be applied to that option. NMFS HMS is acting upon a request from South Florida.



In summary,

1. If the EFP is not complete it will leave the door open for another proposal in the future.

2. The additional 10 miles to the West will have little to no effect on the result of the EFP. Again, if it is not tested now it will be proposed again later.

3. Probably not a good idea unless there is a trigger to pull the permits back in short time. Don't blame HMS for researching an idea that we developed.