Article by News Briefs
NOAA Fisheries Revises 2019 Summer Flounder Specifications
NOAA announced increases to the summer flounder catch and landings limits for the 2019 fishing year in response to new information from a benchmark stock assessment.
Final assessment results became available to managers in February 2019. The assessment included the incorporation of revised Marine Recreational Information Program estimates of recreational catch, which has an important impact on estimated spawning stock biomass for summer flounder. The assessment determined that the summer flounder stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring, enabling anglers to increase catch and landing limits for 2019 .
Acceptable Biological Catch in millions of pounds:
Previous = 15.41
Revised = 25.03
Variance = +62%
Commercial Harvest Quota
in millions of pounds*:
Previous = 6.67
Revised = 10.98
Variance = +65%
Recreational Harvest Quota
in millions of pounds:
Previous = 5.15
Revised = 7.69
Variance = +49%
*After accountability measures have been applied.
This action also revises the previous commercial fishery accountability measures in response to the improved status of the stock. NOAA is revising the previously implemented accountability measure for a 2017 overage from 1.04 million pounds to 547,000 pounds. With this new accountability measure applied, the commercial Annual Catch Target is reduced from 13.53 to 12.98 million pounds. Commercial state allocations for summer flounder are also revised.
This action does not change the current commercial management measures, including the minimum fish size (14-inch total length), gear requirements and possession limits. The 2019 recreational management measures for summer flounder are being developed in a separate concurrent action, but according to local officials, the 2019 recreational flounder regulations are unlikely to change.
Maryland Sets 2019 Recreational Cobia Regulations
The season, catch limit and minimum size for the recreational cobia fishery in Maryland State waters will be:
•The season is open June 1 through September 30, 2019. It is closed all other dates.
•Recreational anglers may keep 1 cobia per person per day or up to 3 cobia per vessel per day if there are 3 or more individuals on the vessel.
The recreational minimum size for cobia is 40-inches total length.
MD DNR Releases 2019 Summer Update on Installation of Offshore Meteorological Tower
Catherine McCall, Director, Office of Coastal and Ocean Management for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources released an update on the installation of U.S. Wind’s MET tower. The update read:
“Since offshore renewable wind emerged as a new ocean industry a decade ago, Maryland has engaged stakeholders, resource managers, federal agencies, regional partners and scientists to compile and collect data and information on ocean resources and uses and understand priorities and concerns. I am reaching out today to provide an update on the meteorological tower (MET tower) installation work anticipated in summer 2019.”
“Beyond 3 nautical miles from Maryland’s shore, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) manages offshore energy leasing and development. In December 2014, BOEM’s offshore renewable wind energy lease for an area offshore Maryland’s coast went into effect with U.S. Wind. In March 2018, BOEM approved U.S. Wind’s Site Assessment Plan (SAP) that details methods and procedures for how the Company would collect and analyze meteorological and oceanographic data and other information about ocean conditions in the lease area. “
“Maryland has and continues to engage with BOEM and U.S. Wind as offshore wind energy progresses to inform the process; evaluate state and regional issues associated with the development of offshore wind; and support studies that advance our understanding of natural resources off the coast.”
“It is our understanding that U.S. Wind completed construction of its MET tower and has provided an anticipated installation update for 2019:
•A barge carrying the MET tower is anticipated to leave their facility around June 24.
•Installation is anticipated to start around July 14.
•Installation is anticipated to be completed by August 8, with the last phase of work focused on installation of equipment on the tower itself.”
“When installed, the MET tower will stand at the same height as the turbine nacelle, around 328 feet. The SAP provides detailed information about the lease and project schedule, including viewshed analysis in Section 3.11. “
“During this time, Maryland remains committed to supporting environmental studies requested by constituents for black sea bass and marine mammals. Maryland is working with our fellow Mid-Atlantic states to ensure that the best available data and information is available through ocean mapping tools such as the Maryland Coastal Atlas and the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal.”
“Additional information about the offshore renewable wind energy project off Maryland’s coast can be found at: www.boem.gov/Maryland/.”
“We expect to be able to provide schedule updates and additional information about vessel safety in the coming weeks and hope to be back in touch.”
Sincerely,
Catherine McCall
