June 2008 Lobster Tales Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen’s Association Whale Rope Funding Still Keeping Us on the Edges of our Seats! By Bonnie tion date is still October 5, 2008 pass in a fairly similar format sever- I know you are all very concerned (see page 7 for information on the al weeks down the road. about the cost of the new sinking NMFS proposed date change), this Another sticking point is that the groundlines. As I am sure you are funding doesn’t seem extremely language states that NOAA will aware, I have been working dili- helpful to the lobster industry. receive $75 million for projects, gently with Senator Reed’s (RI) Since offering the 2009 language, one of which is to help lobstermen staff to bring about some relief, in Senators Snowe and Reed devel- with the purchase of new ground- the form of federal funding, for the oped language for the 2008 Sup- lines. The language isn’t specific as purchase of new line. Senator plemental Appropriations Bill. to how much funding will go to Reed put language in the 2009 That language, in two separate this project, therefore, we need to Appropriations Bill for $14 million, forms, passed both the House and wait, as we were asked to do by however those funds would not Senate in the last few weeks. Typi- our Congressional representatives, be available until at least October cally the two Houses would con- to see what “shakes out.” Should 2009. Since NMFS’s implementa- ference and a similar Bill would funding become available, I will move forward to be signed by send out information shortly there- President Bush (who will no long- after with instructions on how to er be our President in a few apply for the funds. If you have Inside this issue: months ☺). Unfortunately, the purchased sinking groundlines Whales—Pgs 2‐7 Supplemental Bill is the “War Bill” after 2006—don’t worry, you will that our President has threatened not lose out, I anticipate that reim- Skates– Pg 8 to veto if other funding requests bursement will be available with are included, SO, we are waiting Habitat—Pg 8 certain criteria. Further details to to see what happens. However, I follow as soon as we know more. Olfish—Pgs 9‐ 10 am told that if he vetos it, it will AOLA Website—Pg 11‐16 Noces—Pgs 17‐18 News Highlights…. SAVE A STAMP (and a forest) Hauler Update—Pgs 19‐25 July 1 2008 Gauge Changes Lobster Tales USCG Noces—Pgs 27‐29 now available as a full Area 3 minimum gauge in‐ color, hyperlinked, digital version Arcles of Interest—Pgs 30‐40 crease to 3 1/2 inches. Area delivered directly to your email. To Lobster Laughs—Pg 41 3 instutes maximum gauge get added to our emailing list, and forgo your paper copy email hei‐ Adversements—Pgs 42‐52 of 7 inches . di@offshorelobster.org See In depth stories inside Lobster Tales Page 2 Gear Recycling BY BONNIE Covanta Energy has worked in the past with the New York Covanta currently has one “test” site in the port of New Department of Marine Fisheries, Massachuses DMF, and Bedford, where they have placed containers to dispose of IFAW, on the NOAA’s Marine Debris to Energy Program. all types of used gear. Any fisherman can dispose of gear This program collects used fishing gear, which Covanta at the port, where it is stockpiled unl Covanta is contact‐ burns to create electricity that it provides to its custom‐ ed to pick it up. If you would like to dispose of gear now ers. I am presently working with the Naonal Fish and in New Bedford, you can do it by appointment only by Wildlife Foundaon (NFWF), the agency that administers contacng Tommy Vital @ 508‐989‐1195 or Victor @ 508‐ the program for NOAA, to work out a recycling program 400‐3687. If they do not answer just leave a voice mail that will work for Area 3 parcipants. message and they will return your call. I have explained to NFWF the complicaons associated I am also working on geng something started specifically with disposing of offshore lines; such as the length and for Area 3 parcipants in the near future. This would be weight of the lines, as well as the issue of trying to fit sig‐ another recycling opportunity, that may work in much the nificant amounts of gear in a pick‐up truck to be trucked same way as the Marine Debris Program, however it's too to a container. I believe they are finally beginning to un‐ early to say at the present me exactly what the program derstand. Hence, we are working to get a “roving” con‐ will look like. You can be sure I will keep you updated as tainer that will spend a month or so at each port, to allow soon as there is something to update you with! For both all fishermen to dispose of whatever gear they may have programs, disposal will be free, and I believe that rope, stockpiled. Then, further down the road, Covanta plans to traps, and other types of gear will be accepted into the place permanent containers in a subset of ports along the containers, as they are in New Bedford. coast for gear to be discarded. Large Whale Take Reduction Team Meeting BY BONNIE The TRT meeng was held the last week of sense to the environmentalists and NMFS, April and lasted three days. NMFS original and is receiving further study. “...the reduction reason for holding the meeng was to dis‐ Other exempons were discussed, includ‐ cuss next steps (aer sinking groundlines) in gear in Area ing ours and those for other small areas. to protect whales. The meeng, however The Area 3 exempon areas request was 3 was due to focused mostly around Maine’s proposal not given a great deal of aenon, howev‐ ‘lobster for an expanded exempon area. Maine er, since I was unwilling to “trade”. Since provided informaon on the frequency of Maine had idenfied groundlines that management whales seen in the areas where they are would not be fished if they were permied and not requesng exempons. They also in‐ their exempon, NMFS immediately formed NMFS and other TRT members that protection for grasped onto an “endline trade‐off” as the if they were forced to fish sinking ground‐ common denominator by which all exemp‐ the whales, lines in the Maine rocky terrain, the regula‐ on plans should be measured. When I therefore it on would essenally force fishermen to presented our exempon plan I was asked fish singles, to avoid the sink line enrely; what addional measures would be “given didn’t count.’’” however, if they were given the exemp‐ up” as a “trade‐off,” my response was on, they would fish longer trawls with ten - NMFS/TRT response “NONE.” Aer seling everyone down, I fathoms between traps, thereby, theore- explained to the TRT that since 2002, Area to Area 3 trap cally , taking 10,000 miles of line out of the 3 lobstermen have reduced the number of reductions ocean as compared to fishing singles. This traps being fished offshore by over 62,000, manner of thinking seemed to make some thereby ALREADY removing 3,171 endlines CONTINUED NEXT PAGE Lobster Tales Page 3 Take reduction team Meeting continued from the water column, and therefore, the endlines re‐ consideraon REAL trap reducons and the ACTUAL re‐ maining equate to approximately 0.05 per square naucal moval of gear from the water. I pointed out that there is mile over the enre 127,000+ naucal square miles of NO BETTER METHOD to protect whales than to take gear Area 3. I was horrified to get the response that the reduc‐ out of the water. I also informed the team that we had no on in gear in Area 3 was due to “lobster management other intenons other than our gear reducons, to pro‐ and not protecon for the whales, therefore it didn’t tect whales. I informed them, also, that lobstermen are count.” red of being “guinea pigs” for experimental methods to This was said just before the meeng ended, so I took the protect whales, and that it was me for ships and environ‐ opportunity to get on my soapbox and remind the “team” mentalists to do their part, either through migaon that the new Final Rule allowed for measures implement‐ efforts or financial commitments! I was asked to quickly ed in the fishery management process to be considered in draw up a document presenng my views. That docu‐ the protecon of large whales, and that it was incorrigible ment follows below: that the “team” and NMFS was not currently taking into Area 3 Sinking Line Exemption Document 1. Rational The basis on which the Area 3, offshore industry requests sinking line exemptions in the offshore fishery hinges on safe- ty factors, time constraints, and economic considerations as a result of a complete groundline replacement process. Sinking groundline poses a problem to fishermen who fish in jagged and rocky habitat in the canyons. Hang-downs and snags off the deepwater canyons can pose a serious safety factor in both hauling and grappling back gear. Gear that remains unfound has been known to pose a serious safety factor to whales when “ghost fishing.” While most of the industry has begun to change-over some gear, most line has not yet been changed. Since the Area 3 industry has re- ceived no financial assistance, many in the industry have been waiting for some help to arrive.