Whale tags support research and rescues

Whales are among the largest and oldest animals on Earth. They can be found in every ocean and range in size from the small dwarf sperm whale to the massive blue whale, the largest animal on the planet.

Scientists at NOAA Fisheries attach electronic tags to individual whales to safely and remotely collect powerful data. Marine animal telemetry allows the scientists to monitor the movement and behavior of a tagged whale and learn how whales use their ocean habitats. For an article with photos on whale tagging, visit Follow the Whales: How Tagging Supports Whale Research and Rescue | NOAA Fisheries.

Messaging mariners to reduce whale strikes

A new real-time messaging network uses a well-established maritime navigation safety technology — the Automatic Identification System — to reduce the risk of vessel strikes involving North Atlantic right whales. For details on AIS systems to reduce whale vessel strikes, see the article at AIS Alert Network | NOAA Fisheries.

New England Saltwater Fishing Show

The New England Saltwater Fishing Show will be held at the Rhode Island Convention Center, 1 Sabin St., Providence, on Friday, March 6, from 1 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You won’t want to miss special show pricing, more than 300 manufacture booths and outstanding seminars on fishing tactics, strategies and fish conservation on all the species anglers like to catch, eat and/or release.

Tickets are $15 at the door, children 11 and under are admitted free and can visit the kid’s casting area. Sunday, March 8, is Family Day with all women admitted free. Visit https://www.nesaltwatershow.com for show details.

NOAA releases fisheries reports 

NOAA Fisheries announced the release of the 2023 editions of Fisheries of the United States and Fisheries Economics of the United States. These reports provide detailed information on commercial landings, recreational catch, trade, and economic Impacts. U.S. commercial fishing, seafood, and recreational fishing industries continue to have a broad, positive impact on the economy, collectively generating $319 billion in sales and supporting 2.1 million jobs in 2023.

Public hearing on fishing regs

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has added a second virtual public hearing to address commercial and recreational fishing regulations. The second hearing was added for Wednesday, March 4, at 6 p.m. via Zoom. The written public comment period will also be extended through Friday, March 6. Submit all written public comment by e-mail (marine.fish@mass.gov) to the attention of Director Dan McKiernan.

The purpose of these public hearings and comment period is to hear from stakeholders on a series of proposed regulations affecting commercial and recreational fisheries. Of particular interest to anglers will be a proposal to increase the recreational bluefish possession limits by two fish. Specifically, the proposal would amend the existing daily bag limits of 3 fish per angler when fishing from shore or a private/rental vessel (“private modes”) and 5 fish per angler when fishing from a charter or party boat (“for-hire modes”) to 5 fish per angler in the private modes and 7 fish per angler in the for-hire modes.

This proposal is consistent with recent actions of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to liberalize the recreational fishing limits in response to a 40% increase in the recreational harvest limit (RHL) for 2026 and an expected underutilization at the current fishing limits.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management will have the exact same regulation go before the RI Marine Fisheries Council for consideration, which was already vetted at a public hearing in February.

Other agenda items at the Massachusetts meeting will include amendments to: (1) adjust the commercial fishing limits for summer flounder, black sea bass, and scup; (2) reallocate quota from the horseshoe crab bait fishery to the biomedical fishery; (3) standardize sea scallop maximum dredge width across state and federal jurisdictions; (4) eliminate superfluous regulated fishing permit endorsements; and (5) modify Offshore and Coastal Lobster permit rules.

Additional details on these proposals are available on DMF’s proposed regulations at Proposed amendments to Division of Marine Fisheries regulations | Mass.gov.

Right Whale slow zone

On Feb. 28, the New England Aquarium aerial survey team re-detected the presence of right whales southwest of Nantucket, Mass. The right whale Slow Zone is in effect through March 15.

As a reminder, four additional Slow Zones are also currently in effect in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region. There are also Slow Zones currently active in the Southeast Region. Visit the Right Whale Slow Zones and Dynamic Management Areas website for a full list of active Slow Zones.

Mariners are requested to avoid or transit at 10 knots or less inside the following Dynamic Management Areas and Slow Zones where endangered right whales have been detected. Vessel strikes are one of the primary causes of injury and death for right whales. Slower speeds are known to reduce the severity of impacts to whales when strikes occur and may provide boat and vessel operators an opportunity to avoid a collision.

Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net, visit www.noflukefishing.blogspot.com or www.noflukefishing.com