Portland, ME – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Northern Shrimp Section has revised the total allowable catch (TAC) for the 2012 northern shrimp fishery to 2,211 mt, an increase of 211 mt from the originally established TAC. The Section modified the TAC to address harvester and processor concerns regarding their ability to maintain markets that have been established over the past few seasons. The Section maintained all other fishery specifications for the 2012 season, including the Monday/ Wednesday/Friday landing days and closure of the fishery when landings are projected to reach 95% of the TAC (2,100 mt). Maine may consider conservation equivalency alternatives to the current 1,000 lb trip limit for its trap fishery.
“The Section took its action to partially offset the economic impacts of the reduced season to northern shrimp harvesters and processors,” stated Section Chair Terry Stockwell of Maine. “However, it also cautioned industry that it remains concerned about the projected status of the resource, with below average strength of upcoming year classes, and the potential for restricted seasons in the near future.”
While the new TAC is in excess of the Technical Committee recommended TAC of 1,834 mt, it is projected to equate to a fishing mortality rate consistent with the management program’s fishing mortality threshold (Fthreshold) of 0.41. Any fishing above the Fthreshold would lead to overfishing of the stock. The Section will meet on February 2nd in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to monitor the rate of landings and determine whether any further changes to the season specifications are warranted.
The Section also initiated development of an addendum to consider possible changes to the management program’s biological reference points and rebuilding schedule, as well as to explore issues related to management by area, harvest set asides, limited entry, and catch controls (quotas). The draft addendum will be developed over the next few months.
For more information, please contact Mike Waine, Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at 703.842.0740 or mwaine@asmfc.org.