ASMFC Focuses on Mackerel/Herring Quota and Lobster Stock Assessment

During the last month there has been a fair amount of discussion about accountability measures in the Atlantic mackerel fishery and potential impacts to the herring fishery. As a reminder, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) oversees the fishery management plan for Atlantic mackerel.

In February of this year, the river herring/shad catch cap was harvested in the Atlantic mackerel fishery, prompting a 20,000-pound trip limit in the mackerel fishery to be implemented. At the same time, it was reported that roughly 89% of the mackerel quota for 2018 was caught. This is a much faster rate of landings than was experienced in previous years. Currently, regulations state that when 100% of the mackerel quota is projected to be caught, a zero-possession limit is implemented for mackerel. This is concerning given that herring and mackerel can mix, even at minimal levels, and a zero-possession limit for mackerel could hinder the operation of the herring fishery.

To address this concern, several actions have been taken by the MAFMC, which address both short-term and long-term solutions. First, a framework action was initiated to consider possession limits in the mackerel fishery for the remainder of the 2018 fishing year. Some of the options being considered are a 5,000 pound and 10,000-pound trip limit. Final action on this framework is expected in June.Second, a separate framework action was initiated as a part of the 2019-2021 specification process for mackerel. Through this process, the MAFMC is considering trip limits, which would be progressively implemented as a greater percentage of mackerel quota is caught.

For example, one option might be that when 80% of the quota is caught, a 40,000-pound trip limit is implemented; when 95% of the quota is caught, the trip limit is reduced to 5,000 pounds. Final action on this second framework is expected this fall. Overall, action has been initiated to address potential restrictions in the mackerel fishery; they should be implemented prior to 100% of the mackerel quota being caught. The Lobster Technical Committee (TC) also met May 14-17 in Narragansett, RI, to begin work on the 2020 Lobster Stock Assessment.

The meeting focused on reviewing new research pertaining to the life history of lobsters and assessing data sources for inclusion in the assessment model. Some of the new research reviewed included work on the progression of epizootic shell disease, larval connectivity between inshore and offshore regions, methods to age lobsters, and resiliency of the species to environmental changes. Types of data reviewed included ventless trap surveys, trawl surveys, landings data, sea sampling, and port sampling. The Lobster TC will meet via conference call throughout 2018 to continue work on the stock assessment, and it is expected that the next in-person meeting will be in January 2019.