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Martha's Vineyard Surfcasters
Martha's Vineyard
Surfcasters Association
P.O. Box 3053
Edgartown, MA 02539
By dbalon on 12/29/2012 10:22 AM
Last Friday was a very good day for our fish!

This past Friday, December 14, 2012 was a very good day for our fish! After over a century of fishing without catch limits, there is now a cap on the fishery! We all listened intently as many solid ecosystem based decisions were made at a special Atlantic Menhaden meeting held by the Atlantic States marine Fisheries Commission in Baltimore, Maryland.

 

The meeting was exciting and tense at times, especially when Omega’s yellow shirted unionized employees circled the room at decision time. Pro conservation anglers and citizens held bright yellow signs overhead. There were over 200 people in the room from both sides and the Chairman was very strict to avoid outbursts of any kind and repeated at times, that he will “empty the room”.

 

ASMFC Board Chair Louis Daniel of North Carolina states “Given the stock is experiencing overfishing and is most likely overfished based on the newly adopted reference points, it was incumbent upon the Board to reduce landings in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the resource and the fisheries that depend on it.”

The key points from Friday are:

·         New total allowable catch limit for the entire fishery was set at 170,800 metric tons. This TAC begins in 2013 and is based upon a 20% reduction from the past three years landings. Important to note that the Chesapeake Bay cap that was set back in 2006 will also be reduced by 20%.This is great news for our ailing MYCO infected stripers!

·         New biological reference points for biomass based on maximum spawning potential (30% MSP) were adopted. This will help the bunkers increase in abundance, increase the spawning stock biomass as well as bunker availability as a forage species.

·         Fishery allocation breakdown is as follows: 85% to reduction (Omega) and 15% to the Bait sector. Allocation will be on a state by state basis.

·         The Amendment also establishes requirements for timely reporting and improved biological monitoring.

For more information, contact captpaul@menhadendefenders.org

By dbalon on 12/29/2012 10:07 AM
By dbalon on 12/21/2012 4:34 PM

Study: Don't Blame The Seals

WOODS HOLE — Water quality on beaches close to where large groups of gray seals congregate has not declined in the nearly 10 years the state has been analyzing and collecting water samples, according to a report released this week by scientists with the Northeast Seal Consortium.

The consortium, which includes scientists and fishermen among others, conducts research on various aspects of the Cape's rapidly growing seal population, including human interactions.


Click here for the full article.
By dbalon on 12/21/2012 4:26 PM
Cape sport fishing gutted by seals


PROVINCETOWN -

Rich Wood knows the names and faces of the people from New Jersey, New York and Connecticut who used to come here in the fall to surfcast for giant striped bass with the magnificent white dunes as a backdrop and a wild frothy ocean before them.

They don't come anymore to the beaches along the back side of the Outer Cape, Wood said, because it's too hard to catch anything with the number of seals feeding there.

Click here for the full article.

By dbalon on 12/16/2012 1:43 PM
This issue came up kind of quickly. Oak Bluffs has asked if we could send in letters of support for their seawall project (which the fishing pier will connect with).  A sample letter is attached directly below at the link named "North Bluff support letter". Just clink on the link to download the sample letter.


North Bluff support letter.docx


This is a sample letter that could be modified for each individual's use. Any basic letter of support would be great and it does not have to be as long or detailed as the sample.

We would ask that if you are in support of this project to please take some time to get your own version of the letter written and sent in as soon as possible.

We will most likely send in one from the MVSA club but it would be great to have individual letters sent in from each of our members, friends and all supporters of this great project!

Thanks in advance.

By dbalon on 12/10/2012 2:19 PM

Iconic Gay Head Lighthouse threatened by erosion

Beacon on Vineyard's red clay cliffs about to fall into the sea

by Walter Brooks

Gay Head Lighthouse has saved thousands of ships from wrecking on the island shore. Cape Cod TODAY photo.The Globe reports that the historic lighthouse at the Gay Head cliffs on Martha’s Vineyard is in need of urgent action by the federal government to save it from falling nearly 130 feet into the ocean because of the erosion of the red clay cliffs upon which it sits looming over the Atlantic at the western tip of the island.

Click here to read the full story with links.

By dbalon on 12/7/2012 8:46 PM
Fellow MV Surfcaster and club officer Peter Johnson is back home in Vineyard Haven after having successful reconstructive surgery on his jaw just before Thanksgiving.  He’s happy to be back home to rest, read, and get ready for the return of the schoolies this coming spring.  He would welcome visitors.
By dbalon on 12/4/2012 3:21 PM
Norton Point- Norton Point remains closed.

Chappy- East Beach to Lelands on Chappy is now open. Ocean facing beaches North of Dike Bridge on Chappy are still closed.
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