Fisheries
Menhaden symposium aids in shedding conflict
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Rhode Island Sea Grant and the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM) cosponsored a Menhaden Science and Policy Symposium on November 30 at the Village Inn in Narragansett. Topics included menhaden biology, life history, feeding practices and filter rates, a history of the menhaden fishery, a current coast-wide stock assessment, a current stock assessment for Narragansett Bay and the ecological value of menhaden.
Scientists, fishermen, policy makers and politicians gathered in an effort to bring varied groups together to learn about and discuss menhaden, or pogies, the herring-like fish that swarm into Narragansett Bay in schools of varying size each summer. Menhaden have been the center of controversy for some time between recreational fishermen, who have sought limits on the menhaden fishery, and commercial lobstermen who use the menhaden in their traps for bait. By the end of the day Friday, it seemed most participants agreed that some of the conflicts had subsided, with both commercial and recreational fishermen saying they sought a common goal: a healthy Narragansett Bay with an abundance of fish for all.
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Workshop: Sector Allocation as a Management Tool takes place in January 
On January 15-16, 2008, a regional workshop will focus on providing education and information on sector allocation (allocation of quota to a group of fishermen to be fished in accordance with an approved plan) as a management tool, and exploring how this method might be applied to New England’s quota-managed fisheries. The workshop is intended to answer questions on how sectors function, and to discuss the pros and cons of this approach. Presenters will include commercial fishermen, fisheries managers, government agency spokespersons, and members of the private sector and academic institutions.
The workshop will be held at The Village Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 1 Beach Street, Narragansett. Please Note: This workshop is free and open to the public, but space is limited, so advance registration is required. There will be a block of rooms available at the Village Inn at a fixed rate until January 9, 2008. Each person is responsible for his or her own accommodations. To reserve a room call (401) 783-6767 and mention “Sector Allocation.”
The workshop is being organized by the Rhode Island Sea Grant Sustainable Fisheries Extension Program at the University of Rhode Island, in partnership with Sea Grant Extension Programs in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and New York; the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC); NOAA Fisheries Science Center, Woods Hole and Northeast Regional Office; the Marine Affairs Institute, School of Law, Roger Williams University; Bradley Fund for the Environment; and Environmental Defense. For more information, visit the website at seagrant.gso.uri.edu/fisheries/sector_allocation.
Commercial Fisheries Center November newsletter on-line
V-notching, a toy drive, shellfish closures, an update on the Point Judith Fishermen Memorial, and sector management are just a few of the topics covered in the latest issue of the Commercial Fisheries Center (CFC) newsletter. CFC members include the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, the Ocean State Fishermen’s Association, the Rhode Island Commercial Fishermen’s Association, the
Rhode Island Lobstermen’s Association, and the
Rhode Island Shellfisherman’s Association. Visit seagrant.gso.uri.edu/fisheries/cfc/news.html.
New invention - “The Eliminator” - exploits fish behavior to haul in haddock, while keeping other fish out of trawls, and garners $30,000 prize for International Smart Gear Competition winners from Rhode Island
A team of Rhode Island inventors was recently awarded the grand prize in the International Smart Gear Competition by the World Wildlife Fund and its partners for a fishing gear innovation that could save thousands of fish and other sea creatures from dying accidentally in fishing nets each year. The winners were officially announced in Seattle in November at the Pacific Marine Expo.
The Grand Prize winning team consists of University of Rhode Island Fisheries Center researchers and Rhode Island Sea Grant Sustainable Fisheries Extension staff Laura Skrobe and David Beutel and fishermen Jon Knight, Phil Ruhle Sr., Phil Ruhle Jr., and Jim O’Grady. Their invention—aptly named “The Eliminator”—captures haddock while reducing the accidental netting of other marine species. The device works by taking advantage of the haddock’s tendency to swim upward but not over the headrope when encountering the large mesh net invention, instead of swimming downward where they can escape the net, which is the tendency of other fish. The Grand Prize winners beat out more than 70 other contenders from 22 countries.
“The collaborative design and development of the Eliminator trawl is a great example of industry and scientists working together with managers to develop innovative solutions to reduce or eliminate bycatch,” said Beutel. “We’re excited to be receiving this award and look forward to continuing to research effective ways of reducing bycatch in fishing.”
Every year millions of tons of fish die and are discarded as unwanted catch, called bycatch. Hundreds of thousands of marine animals are also killed through destructive fishing practices.
“WWF created the International Smart Gear Competition to reward and inspire innovative ideas to reduce fisheries bycatch,” said Ginette Hemley, senior vice president of World Wildlife Fund. “Bycatch is a critical environmental and economic problem. These inventions have shown to be effective solutions in our efforts to make fishing ‘smarter’ and we’re pleased to honor their creators.” More information on the Eliminator is on-line at seagrant.gso.uri.edu/fisheries/haddock.
Welcome back to Laura Skrobe
Laura Skrobe, extension leader for fisheries programs, recently returned from maternity leave after the birth of her daughters, Dylan and Ella. Laura was the staff spotlight feature in July.
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