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Articles:    DNR Marine Resources deputy director elected ASMFC chair (Capt_Keith)
Federal Fisheries Management Council Approves Measures to Protect Largest Deepwa (Capt_Keith)
| Most recent article: DNR Marine Resources deputy director elected ASMFC chair
by: Capt_Keith
2009-11-10 22:10:11 November 6, 2009
DNR Marine Resources deputy director elected ASMFC chair
Member states of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) elected Robert H. Boyles, Jr. of South Carolina as the new Chair of the Commission during their meeting in Newport, Rhode Island on Nov. 4.
Boyles has worked at the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for over ten years, serving since 2003 as its Deputy Director for Marine Resources. Previous experience includes work with the Sea Grant program and various research positions. Commissioner Boyles holds a Master of Marine Policy from the University of Delaware and a Bachelor's in Mathematical Economics, and has authored several published papers.
In assuming the chairmanship, Commissioner Boyles spoke enthusiastically about his new position, "I am honored to be elected and look forward to working with my colleagues from the 15 Atlantic coast states, federal marine fishery management agencies, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, and the District of Columbia to ensure the continued conservation and management of Atlantic coast marine fishery resources."
Boyles spoke about the legacy he intends to follow, "The Commission recently completed an extensive strategic planning effort, culminating in the development of the 2009-2013 Strategic Plan. This document recommits the 15 Atlantic coast states to their shared vision of stock rebuilding and sustainable resource management. It formalizes, for the first time, Commissioner values in pursuit of the Commission's vision and mission, and reaffirms the Commission's commitment to transparency and accountability in its decision-making processes. During my two-year term, I hope to build upon these accomplishments, furthering the Commission's long-term vision for healthy, self-sustaining marine fishery resources by 2015, which in turn allows for healthy fisheries from these stocks."
DNR Agency Director John Frampton says the election is a high mark for both Boyles and the agency, "Robert's election as Chairman of this important Commission is a reflection on his national credibility, outstanding leadership qualities and his exemplary professionalism. Also, it is a reflection on the caliber of employees within our agency and the respect that other states have for Robert Boyles. Robert has rapidly gained the recognition within the entire Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission because of his leadership skills and knowledge of our ocean and fishery resources and his service to the Commission will most definitely be an asset to our agency and our commercial and recreational anglers."
The ASMFC was formed by the 15 Atlantic coast states in 1942 in recognition that fish do not adhere to political boundaries. The Commission serves as a deliberative body, coordinating the conservation and management of the states shared near shore fishery resources – marine, shell, and anadromous – for sustainable use.
South Carolina's natural resources are essential for economic development and contribute nearly $30 billion and 230,000 jobs to the state's economy. Find out why Life's Better Outdoors. read more... |
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Articles: Conservation Zones Spared (Dawg)
| Most recent article: Conservation Zones Spared
by: Dawg
2007-09-06 07:25:36 Conservation Zones Spared
National Marine Fisheries Service denies request to open key conservation areas to commercial longlines
WASHINGTON, DC - Conservationists are hailing a decision by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to deny a request to allow longline fishing boats into conservation zones off South Carolina, Georgia and Florida that have been closed to the destructive commercial fishing gear since 2001.
The request to open these established conservation zones, known as an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP), was proposed by the Blue Water Fishermen’s Association purportedly as a way to test the efficacy of circle hooks on longlines for reducing bycatch. Coastal Conservation Association actively opposed the request, citing it as a blatant attempt to allow vessels to target swordfish in conservation zones under the guise of a bycatch study. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also opposed the EFP application, and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist followed by sending a letter to Dr. Bill Hogarth, director of NMFS, requesting that the agency deny the request.
“The Atlantic Ocean is a big place, and there are lots of places to test gear other than an established conservation zone that was created to prevent billfish and other highly migratory species from being subjected to longline gear in the first place,” said Fred Miller, chairman of CCA’s National Government Relations Committee. “The acceptable level of bycatch in this instance is zero, and we commend NMFS for denying this request.”
In issuing its denial, however, NMFS left open the possibility of considering a revised request in the future to study the effectiveness of circle hooks on longlines to reduce bycatch of juvenile swordfish, billfish, turtles and species of shark.
“In general, we are supportive of any effort by the commercial longline industry to reduce the indiscriminate destruction of non-targeted and threatened species which is inherent in its operations,” said David Cummins, CCA president. “Efforts like this to reduce bycatch are a long time coming for the longline industry, but they lose all credibility when the industry uses it as a pretense to fish in a conservation zone. Circle hooks can be studied in the areas they currently fish. To say they need to try them in protected areas is laughable. We will oppose any effort to allow longliners into those conservation zones under any circumstances.” read more... |
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 | NOAA News · Total News: 13 · Total Reads: 4526 |
Articles: Catch Share Drafted policy for Public review and comment (Capt_Keith)
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species News (Capt_Keith)
NOAA Fisheries Publishes a Final Rule for South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Amendme (Capt_Keith)
NOAA Fisheries Provides Additional Clarifications on Guidelines Designed to End (Capt_Keith)
NOAA Seeks Public Comment on a Proposed Interim Rule to (Capt_Keith)
Bill Hogarth Departs NOAA (Dawg)
Measures for Recreational Summer Flounder Fisheries Announced (Dawg)
NOAA Fisheries Calls for Temporary Ban on Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Blu (Dawg)
Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel Nominations received until December 3, 2 (Dawg)
Comment Sought on Pelagic Longline Experimental Fishing off Florida and South Ca (Dawg)
· More --> | Most recent article: Catch Share Drafted policy for Public review and comment
by: Capt_Keith
2010-03-07 08:36:52 NOAA has drafted a catch share policy for public review and comment
The public comment period will end on April 10, 2010.
NOAA Proposes Draft Catch Share Policy
NOAA is developing a national catch share policy to promote future consideration and adoption of catch share programs as a management strategy in U.S. fisheries where appropriate. In June 2009, NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco appointed members from NOAA and each of the Regional Fishery Management Councils to a Catch Share Task Force to support this priority. NOAA has drafted a catch share policy for public review and comment, and is seeking broad input on its draft policy through this website.
Background
In fisheries managed with catch shares, individuals or groups of fishermen are allotted a share of the total allowable catch of a fish stock. These fishermen then decide how to catch their allotment when weather, markets and individual business conditions are most favorable, and they must ensure that they do not exceed their catch limits. Catch shares have been used in some U.S. fisheries since 1990. Experience here and in other countries has shown they can effectively achieve annual catch limits, eliminate overfishing, reduce the negative biological and economic impacts of the race for fish, and result in safer and more profitable fisheries while also addressing other social objectives. While catch shares are not appropriate for all fisheries, NOAA believes it is in the public interest to encourage and support the evaluation of catch share programs in the context of the challenges facing U.S. fishery managers.
Purpose
NOAA's goals are to: help reduce any administrative or organizational impediments to the consideration of catch shares; inform and educate stakeholders of the different options and capabilities of catch share programs; and help organize collaborative efforts with interested Councils, states, communities, fishermen and other stakeholders on the design and implementation of catch share programs.
Draft Policy
The Draft NOAA Catch Share Policy.
Submit A Comment
NOAA has drafted a catch share policy for public review and comment, and is seeking broad input on its draft policy from interested commercial and recreational fishermen, communities, state and local governments, tribes, businesses, associations, non-governmental organizations and the general public. The public comment period will end on April 10, 2010. Use the form below to submit your comment.
Alternately, comments may be submitted via the following methods. Email: catchshares@noaa.gov; Fax: (301) 713-1940, Attn: Catch Shares; Mail: Office of Policy, NOAA Fisheries Service, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
*Because Americans of all ages use our website, we ask all those who elect to submit a public comment to conduct themselves in a civil manner -- to refrain from posting threats, obscenity, other materials that would violate the law if published here, abusive language, and sexually explicit material.
*In accordance with our Online Privacy Policy , we treat your name, city, state, and any comments you provide as public information. We may not publish comments that constitute spamming, are off-topic, threats, obscenities, or material that would violate the law if published.
Link to NOAA has drafted a catch share policy for public review and comment:
Link to Submit A Comment: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/catchshare/comments/
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Articles: Tell EPA to Deny Waiver Petition to Allow E15 (Capt_Keith)
| Most recent article: Tell EPA to Deny Waiver Petition to Allow E15
by: Capt_Keith
2009-04-29 21:13:41
Tell EPA to Deny Waiver Petition to Allow E15
EPA Should Not Allow Increased Ethanol Blends |
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NMMA needs your help.
Ethanol Advocates are mobilizing their forces to submit 20,000 favorable comments to EPA requesting that the Agency grant a waiver for E15.
Let's beat them at their own game. There are 18 million boats currently in operation in the U.S., and none of them has been designed, certified or warrantied to run on anything above E10, the current maximum legal blend level. Boaters know very well that increased ethanol blends will cause performance problems with their boats and engines, increase maintenance costs, potentially pose safety risks and increase air pollution. E15 will also void manufacturer warranties.
And yet, neither EPA nor any other federal agency has done a single test on the impacts of E15 on marine engines, fuel systems, or components. We ask you to support a science first approach and urge EPA to deny the ethanol industry's E15 waiver request unless and until independent and comprehensive scientific testing is completed on a full range of marine engines and other products.
Scroll down to quickly and easily submit Comments to EPA. The deadline for comments is May 21, 2009.
Click here to read EPA's Federal Register Notice for Public Comment.
Click here to read NMMA's Policy Brief on Ethanol.
For more information contact Mat Dunn, NMMA Legislative Director, at mdunn@nmma.org; (202) 737-9760.
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0211
I am writing to strongly urge EPA to deny the petition submitted on March 6, 2009 by Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers requesting a waiver under Clean Air Act Sec. 211(f)(4) to allow ethanol-gasoline blends containing up to 15 percent ethanol by volume (E15). There is insufficient data to justify approving any increase in the ethanol blend limit, particularly for marine engines and recreational vessels for which there has been literally no testing done by EPA or the Department of Energy regarding durability, performance concerns, or emissions concerns associated with higher ethanol blends.
It is well-known that for marine and other small gasoline-powered engines that are designed, calibrated, and certified to run on not more than E10, higher concentrations of ethanol in fuel pose serious problems, including (1) Performance issues, such as drivability (i.e. starting, stalling, fuel vapor lock); (2) increased water absorption and phase separation of gasoline and water while in tank; (3) fuel tank corrosion, leading to oil/fuel leaks; (4) increased emissions, because the ignition of E15 creates a higher temperature than straight gasoline or E10; (5) damage to valves, push rods, rubber fuel lines and gaskets. All of these concerns raise significant safety issues with any increased ethanol blend, particularly for boaters who operate in harsh marine environments, often miles from shore.
EPA must thoroughly and comprehensively test recreational marine engines, fuel systems and components and demonstrate that E15 will not defeat marine engine air emissions devices, poses safety risks to boating consumers, bring engines out of warranty, or otherwise damage the more than 18 million recreational boats currently in operation in the United States prior to approving E15. To date, such testing has not been conducted, nor will it be conducted prior to the waiver deadline of December 31, 2009.
Additionally, EPA should not approve a “partial” or “conditional” waiver allowing E15 or other increased ethanol blends for only certain vehicles. This will cause enormous consumer confusion, misfueling, and put consumers and their products at risk. There is clearly insufficient scientific and technical data to justify granting the Growth Energy petition at this time. Again, EPA should deny this waiver petition unless and until sufficient testing is completed, and until it is affirmatively demonstrated that higher ethanol blends will not damage marine engines, their air emissions devices, or pose safety risks to consumers.
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Articles: Fishermen’s fear: Public's 'right to fish' shifting under Obama? (Capt_Keith)
Coastal Saltwater Anglers 2nd Annual Seminar (Capt_Keith)
HR1584/S1255 – ADDING “FLEXIBILITY” TO OUR FEDERAL FISHERIES LAW (Capt_Keith)
SC GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAYS “NO” TO FISHING CLOSURES (Capt_Keith)
HORRY COUNTY Council PASSED Resolution R-26-10 (Capt_Keith)
Very Important. HORRY COUNTY TO ADOPT RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE.. (Capt_Keith)
Coastal Saltwater Anglers 2nd Annual Seminar (Capt_Keith)
FISHERMEN TO MARCH ON WASHINGTON (Capt_Keith)
Fishing Rights Alliance (FRA) today filed a lawsuit to stop Amendment 16 (Capt_Keith)
Free Charter Boat Ads (Capt_Keith)
· More --> | Most recent article: Fishermen’s fear: Public's 'right to fish' shifting under Obama?
by: Capt_Keith
2010-03-11 00:05:00 Fishermen’s fear: Public's 'right to fish' shifting under Obama?
Atlanta – The Obama administration has proposed using United Nations-guided principles to expand a type of zoning to coastal and even some inland waters. That’s raising concerns among fishermen that their favorite fishing holes may soon be off-limits for bait-casting. In the battle of incremental change that epitomizes the American conservation movement, many weekend anglers fear that the Obama administration’s promise to “fundamentally change” water management in the US will erode what they call the public’s “right to fish,” in turn creating economic losses for the $82 billion recreational fishing industry and a further deterioration of the American outdoorsman’s legacy. Proponents say the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force established by President Obama last June will ultimately benefit the fishing public by managing ecosystems in their entirety rather than by individual uses such as fishing, shipping, or oil exploration. “It’s not an environmentalist manifesto,” says Larry Crowder, a marine biologist at Duke University in North Carolina. “It’s multiple-use planning for the environment, and making sure various uses … are sustainable.” (Amateur outdoorsmen have been fighting for their rights for years, as the Monitor reports here.)
New way to manage marine resourcesFaced with the prospect of further industrialization along America's coasts and the Great Lakes (wind turbines and natural-gas exploration, for example), the task force is charged with putting in place a new ecosystem management process called marine spatial planning. Marine spatial planning (MSP), according to the United Nations, is “a public process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives that usually have been specified through a political process." That kind of government-speak scares Phil Morlock, director of environmental affairs at the reel-and-rod maker Shimano. Mr. Morlock points to references by the ocean task force to “one global sea” as evidence that what’s really being proposed are broad changes to America's user-funded conservation strategy, potentially affecting even inland waters. “I suggest that the task force recommend our model to the United Nations rather than us adopting the United Nations model,” he says in a phone interview. “The American model is the best in the world, so our question is: Why seek the lowest common denominator?”
Protections for recreational fishermenMr. Obama has said he will not override protections put in place by Presidents Clinton and Bush that established recreational fishermen as a special class.
But critics still worry about the Obama administration’s ties to environmental groups that espouse “anti-use” policies that put some habitats out of reach even for rod and reel fishermen, who take only 3 percent of America’s landed catch every year. “Angling advocates point out that senior policy officials on the task force seem inclined to ally themselves with preservationists and environmental extremists who want to create ‘no fishing’ preserves, with no scientific justification,” writes ESPN.com’s Robert Montgomery. On the other hand, nonpartisan experts say the task force has already made strides in better recognizing various stakeholder groups, including recreational fishermen, and that it doesn’t intend to undermine the ability of states to manage their natural resources, as many fishermen fear. “There’s been huge progress by the task force in terms of being more inclusive in thinking about economic, ecological, social, and political concerns,” says Mr. Crowder at Duke. “The paranoia – and there is paranoia on all sides – is that the process will be captured. My hope is that mutual concern gets people to the table.” The final report of the task force is expected in late March. Congress will decide its fate, unless Obama issues an executive order establishing MSP as the law of the water.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20100309/ts_csm/286232 read more... |
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Articles: fishing permits (Casey)
Federal Agencies Announce Availability of Sea Turtle Five-year Status Reviews (Dawg)
| Most recent article: fishing permits
by: Casey
2007-12-06 23:04:14 Atlantic Tunas Permit (Commercial) Description
All owners/operators of vessels (except charter/headboats and recreational vessels) fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic tunas (Atlantic bluefin, yellowfin, skipjack, albacore, and bigeye tunas) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic tunas permit. Atlantic tunas permits cost $28.00. In the regulations implementing the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks, NMFS changed the fishing year for Atlantic tunas to January through December of the same year in order to facilitate timely implementation of international fishery recommendations. Therefore, 2007 Atlantic tunas permits will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2008.
Atlantic HMS Angling Permit (Recreational) Description
All owners/operators of vessels fishing recreationally for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit. Similar to Atlantic tunas permits, 2007 Atlantic HMS permits cost $28.00 and will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2008.
Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat Permit Description
All owners/operators of charter/headboat vessels fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit. Similar to Atlantic tunas permits, 2007 Atlantic HMS permits cost $28.00 and will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2008. read more... |
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Articles: Coast Guard's intention to begin termination of Loran C Feb 8, 2010 (Capt_Keith)
Coast Guard and NOAA make fisheries bust in protected area (Capt_Keith)
Coast Guard and NOAA make fisheries bust in protected area (Dawg)
boating safety (Casey)
CRUISE SHIP SPIRIT OF NANTUCKET RE-FLOATED (Dawg)
CRUISE SHIP SPIRIT OF NANTUCKET INVESTIGATION CONTINUES (Dawg)
| Most recent article: Coast Guard's intention to begin termination of Loran C Feb 8, 2010
by: Capt_Keith
2010-01-07 18:28:56 Federal Register Volume 75, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: X10-260107]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2009-0299]
Terminate Long Range Aids to Navigation (Loran-C) Signal
AGENCY: U.S. Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On October 28, 2009, the President signed into law the 2010
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The Act allows for
the termination of the Loran-C system subject to the Coast Guard
certifying that termination of the Loran-C signal will not adversely
impact the safety of maritime navigation and the Department of Homeland
Security certifying that the Loran-C system infrastructure is not
needed as a backup to the GPS system or to meet any other Federal
navigation requirement. Those certifications were made; and the U.S.
Coast Guard will, commencing on or about February 8, 2010, implement
plans to terminate the transmission of the Loran-C signal and commence
a phased decommissioning of the Loran-C infrastructure. These plans
include ending transmissions at 18 Loran stations located in the
contiguous United States and 6 Loran stations in Alaska. The Department
of Homeland Security anticipates that all Loran stations will cease
transmitting the Loran-C signal by October 1, 2010.
DATES: Transmission of the Loran-C signal and phased decommissioning of
the Loran-C infrastructure will commence on or about February 8, 2010.
All Loran stations are expected to cease transmitting the Loran-C
signal by October 1, 2010.
ADDRESSES: To view this notice go to http://www.regulations.gov insert
USCG-2009-0299 in the ``Keyword'' box, and then click ``Search.'' If
you do not have access to the internet, you may view the docket online
by visiting the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the
ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an
agreement with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket
Management Facility.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice,
contact Mr. Mike Sollosi, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland
Security, telephone (202) 372-1545, Mike.M.Sollosi@uscg.mil
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Purpose
The U.S. Loran-C system is a low frequency hyperbolic
radionavigation system. A Loran-C receiver measures the slight
difference in time it takes for pulsed signals to reach a ship or
aircraft from the transmitting stations within a Loran-C chain to
develop a navigational position. Loran-C is approved for use in the
U.S. Coastal Confluence Zone and as a supplemental air navigation aid.
Loran-C is operated and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Loran-C system was a valuable position and navigation system
when it was established in 1957. As a result of technological
advancements over the last 20 years and the emergence of the U.S.
Global Positioning System (GPS), Loran-C is no longer required by the
armed forces, the transportation sector, or the nation's security
interests, and is used only by a small segment of the population.
The Loran-C system was not established as, nor was it intended to
be, a viable systemic backup for GPS. Backups to GPS for safety-of-life
navigation applications, or other critical applications, can be other
radionavigation systems, or operational procedures, or a combination of
these systems and procedures. Backups to GPS for timing applications
can be a highly accurate crystal oscillator or atomic clock and a
communications link to a timing source that is traceable to Coordinated
Universal Time.
With respect to transportation to include aviation, commercial
maritime, rail, and highway, the Department of Transportation has
determined that sufficient alternative navigation aids currently exist
in the event of a loss of GPS-based services, and therefore Loran
currently is not needed as a back-up navigation aid for transportation
safety-of-life users.
The Department of Homeland Security will continue to work with
other Federal agencies to look across the critical infrastructure and
key resource sectors identified in the National Infrastructure
Protection Plan assessment to determine if a single, domestic system is
needed as a GPS backup for critical infrastructure applications
requiring precise time and frequency. If a single, domestic national
system to back up GPS is identified as being necessary, the Department
of Homeland Security will complete an analysis of potential backups to
GPS. The continued active operation of Loran-C is not necessary to
advance this evaluation.
On January 22, 2009 (74 FR 4047), the U.S. Coast Guard began a
public review process for its Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement (PEIS), under the National Environmental Policy Act, which
evaluated the environmental impacts of several alternatives for the
Loran-C system, including termination of the Loran-C signal. The U.S.
Coast Guard considered comments received in response to the Draft PEIS
and released a Final PEIS on June 12, 2009 (USCG-2007-28046). A public
notice will be issued to announce the Record of Decision.
This announcement is for the purpose of informing the public of the
Coast Guard's intention to begin termination of the broadcast of the
Loran-C signal starting on or about February 8, 2010. All Loran
stations will cease transmission by October 1, 2010.
The Department of Transportation was consulted regarding the
preparation of this notice. This notice is issued under the authority
of 6 U.S.C. 111, 14 U.S.C. 81, and 5 U.S.C. 552.
Dated: January 4, 2009.
Kevin S. Cook,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Prevention Policy.
[FR Doc. 2010-83 Filed 1-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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