Big win on the herring accountability front

April 25, 2014

CHOIR UPDATE

As you know, we have been working hard to bring about better accountability in the herring fishery for many years. After much hard work, we had won a big battle in June 2012 when the NEFMC voted in favor of many new rules in Herring Amendment 5 that would bring real change to herring management, including 100% observer coverage, catch weighing, and rules that limit/prohibit dumping of unsampled catch. This, though, was followed by a move by NFMS to disapprove the most important measures.

Since that disapproval, we have been working with NMFS and the NEFMC to try and help craft fixes to the dumping and weighing measures through a management vehicle known as Framework 4. After months of effort, just last week the NEFMC voted overwhelmingly for the updated measures that we had been fighting for. This was a massive step forward.

(While this is a big win, we are still working with NMFS and the NEFMC to ensure that the other big part of Amendment 5, 100% observer coverage, is eventually implemented in full. Stay tuned for ways to help on that issue.)

Below is a press release from the NEFMC explaining what happened last week. Thanks to all that helped us get to this point!

New England Fishery Management Council News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Patricia M. Fiorelli April 23, 2014 978.465.0492, ext.106

Measures to Promote Accountability in the Atlantic Herring Fishery Approved by the New England Fishery Management Council

Mystic, CT While meeting today in Mystic, CT, the New England Fishery Management Council weighed the practical concerns of fishing vessel operations with resource conservation needs as it approved measures that would further regulate the Atlantic herring fleet operating off the coasts of New England and Mid Atlantic region.

The proposals, to be added to the more comprehensive Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan, include additional weighing requirements to more accurately document the herring catch and any species taken as bycatch, and measures to address net slippage. The Herring Plan defines net slippage as catch that is discarded prior to being observed, sorted, sampled, and/or brought on board the fishing vessel.

If the Council’s proposals receive final approval by NOAA Fisheries, the new regulations would call for weighing and reporting procedures to better ensure accurate and verified catch weights. As a disincentive for vessels in the directed herring fishery to slip catch, a 15 nautical mile ‘move along’ measure (to relocate to another area) was adopted. The move along rule would apply to slippage due to safety issues, mechanical failures, and encounters with dogfish schools. An additional requirement for trip termination would apply to other slippage events.

Both sets of rules were supported by the Council to improve catch monitoring, enhance accountability, and reduce bycatch in the fishery. Atlantic herring is not overfished, but as a forage species, it is an important component in the marine ecosystem in the Northeast.

The New England Fishery Management Council, one of eight regional organizations established by federal legislation in 1976, is charged with conserving and managing fishery resources from three to 200 miles off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.