Senior officials from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) will hold a public information session and discussion about offshore federal wind energy development southwest of Martha's Vineyard on Wednesday, September 21 at 5 p.m. at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, 54 Spring Street, Vineyard Haven.

On August 18, 2011, BOEMRE published the Area of Mutual Interest (Rhode Island and Massachusetts) all for Information and Nominations and corresponding Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment in the Federal Register.

The purpose of this Wednesday’s meeting is to explain these proposals, the next steps in the process, and to gather input from the public, state, local and tribal leaders, representatives of the fishing industry, as well as members of the public. BOEMRE officials will explain the commercial leasing process and provide the public with additional opportunities to provide input on important environmental, socioeconomic issues and alternatives to be considered in the Environmental Assessment (EA).

This is an important opportunity for members of the federal Wind Energy Task Force, Selectmen, planning board members, members of the Wind Energy Plan for Dukes County Work Group, and other interested organizations and people to discuss these issues with senior officials from the federal and state governments. BOEMRE officials are expected to participate include Maureen "Mo" Bornholdt, Program Manager, and Jessica Bradley, Project Coordinator, at the Office of Offshore Alternative Energy Programs. BOEMRE Director

Michael R. Bromwich said “It’s important that we hear from stakeholders who will be affected by offshore wind development to ensure that we do it in the right way and in the right places. We are determined to make sure that relevant interests and concerns are appropriately considered early in the planning process.”

Save the Date: On Wednesday, October 5, at 5 p.m., representatives from the Ocean Conservancy will hold a meeting on Martha's Vineyard to discuss how Martha's Vineyard and other areas along the coast are dealing with BOEMRE’s approach to wind energy development. It will include how to best seek the appropriate balance between moving ahead with renewable energy development versus the desire to carry out adequate marine spatial planning in advance of decisions about where to locate development. More details, including the location, will follow.

(Note: The MVC is sending out this reminder to make sure that all interested parties are aware of this Wednesday’s meeting, but the Commission is not organizing this meeting.)

Day 1 of the 2011 MV Derby has shown fishermen there has been a lot of changes to the Martha's Vineyard shoreline since Hurricane Irene passed through New England. One of the most drastic changes that will affect fishermen is the Wasque boardwalk area. The lower half of the boardwalk, that used to be a nice scenic walk around Swan Pond, has been completely blown apart by the storm surge of Hurricane Irene. Even worse is the tranquil Swan Pond is now completely gone and filled in with sand. It is difficult to imagine but Swan Pond is now just a memory and part of the Wasque beach front.

Click here to see photos taken by Ron Domurat.

River herring were so common during colonial times that wagons couldn't cross rivers during spawning runs without crushing them. Today, their numbers are so depleted that an environmental group says they should be protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Saying that river herring populations are a "tiny fraction" of their historic size along the East Coast, the Natural Resources Defense Council filed a petition Aug. 1 asking that they be listed as a threatened species under the act.

Click here for the full article.

For the first time, fishery managers are poised to limit the amount of Atlantic menhaden that can be caught along the East Coast.

The small oily fish has been the center of a heated dispute for more than a decade, with recreational anglers and environmentalists contending that commercial harvests were leaving too few menhaden - a major source of food for striped bass and other species - for other fish to eat.

Click here to read the full article

In order to fish recreationally for finfish in Massachusetts marine waters, including up to the first dam in rivers and streams that flow to the ocean saltwater fishermen must have a saltwater fishing license. This is also a requirement for the 2011 Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. 

You are required to have: 

A MA Recreational Saltwater Fishing permit, or

A recreational saltwater fishing permit from a state that has a reciprocity agreement with Massachusetts. 

As of February 17, 2011, Massachusetts has reciprocity agreements with:
     New Hampshire
     Rhode Island
     Connecticut

 

Click here to link to the official MA Division of Marine Fisheries to obtain a license and review all the regulations.

This is how the Chappy Breach looked right after Hurricane Irene passed through New England. Please be careful fishing any of the Vineyard waters now or during the Derby as conditions have changed dramatically.

Thanks to Fran Clay for providing this information and the great aerial view.

Click here to view the photo.

Wasque point, the surrounding beach area and the boardwalk from the parking lot have been severely washed out by Hurricane Irene. We will have to see what happens in the coming weeks before the derby. Please be careful in this area and check it out first during the day at high tide.

Thanks to Bob Clay for this information and the photos he provided.

Click here to see photos.

Click here to read the full article.

The curious case of the piping plover

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Field and Stream had announced late yesterday that they would be following up after reaching Connecticut striper angler Greg Myerson, who, late Thursday while fishing in Long Island Sound, caught a rockfish bigger than the current International Game Fish Association all-time world record.

Myerson's fish is 3 pounds heavier than the current record caught in 1982 by New Jersey's Al McReynolds.

Field and Stream's Joe Cermele finally tracked down Myerson last night, interviewed him, and took more pictures of this remarkable catch.

Click here to read the full article and view photos.