Pelagic Strategies

Pelagic Strategies is thrilled to once again be serving as a Field Liaison for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Program Request for Proposals. The program awards grants that catalyze the implementation of electronic technologies for fisheries catch, effort, and/or compliance monitoring, and improvements to fishery information systems in U.S. fisheries. For more details, visit https://bit.ly/EMRRFP2024. Proposals are due on Wednesday, October 2 by 11:59 pm ET, and NFWF will be hosting an informational webinar this Wednesday, July 31 from 3:00-4:00 pm ET. Register here: https://bit.ly/EMRWebinar. As Field Liaison, our role is to assist prospective applicants with project scoping, identification of partners, and technical/logistical support through the grant application process. Please reach out to Willy Goldsmith at [email protected] with any questions about this grant opportunity.

Pelagic Strategies Founder and Principal Willy Goldsmith recently had the opportunity to join NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Janet Coit on a sampling trip as part of the Recreational Biological Sampling Program (RecBio). A joint effort among Pelagic Strategies, the New England Aquarium, NOAA Fisheries, The Nature Conservancy, and charter captains, RecBio aims to collect length and age information from important recreational species (Atlantic cod and winter flounder, to start) to help fill key data gaps in stock assessments. Sailing aboard Capt. Rick Bellavance's "Priority Too" out of Pt. Judith, RI, Coit and Goldsmith were joined by NOAA Fisheries National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries Russ Dunn, NOAA Fisheries stock assessment scientist Alex Hansell, and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management RIDEM Deputy Director for Natural Resources Jason MacNamee. In addition to catching cod, the team had a great time encountering a variety of other bottom dwellers, including black sea bass, pictured here. We look forward to this continued collaboration--and eagerly await future opportunities to contribute to the sampling effort on the water!

HLS and Pelagic Strategies are back on the road in Edison, NJ for the Saltwater Fishing Expo to educate recreational anglers on tilefish reporting requirements. If you target tilefish, make sure to get your tilefish permit through GARFO Fish Online, then download HLS' eFin reporting tool to report. #fisheriesmanagement

Golden and blueline tilefish are popular targets for offshore anglers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. But due to their deep-water environment and unique lifestyle, they are not typically captured using traditional abundance estimation methods such as trawl surveys. As a result, both species are considered data-poor from Virginia northward. To improve understanding of the recreational fishery and improve future assessment and management efforts, in 2020 the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council implemented a mandatory permitting and reporting program for private recreational vessels targeting tilefish in waters north of North Carolina. Pelagic Strategies is excited to be working with Harbor Light Software Inc. to raise awareness of the program at fishing shows and clubs this winter. For more information, check out this article published by On The Water Media.

Pelagic Strategies is thrilled to be partnering with the New England Aquarium, NOAA Fisheries, The Nature Conservancy, and members of New England's for-hire recreational community to launch a new cooperative cod research program! Through the Recreational Biological Sampling Program (or RecBio for short), participating captains will contribute critical cod length and age data to inform stock assessments and fishery management strategies for this iconic species. For more details, check out this article published by On The Water Media: https://lnkd.in/efkJ2nEg

Pelagic Strategies and ESP Advisors are teaming up to bring the Boston ocean community together! Join us Thursday, January 18 for a casual meetup for ocean science and policy professionals in the Boston area. Please share widely with your Boston-area networks and enjoy an opportunity to have some good times with old and new connections in the ocean community. Friends, colleagues, partners, and kids etc. are welcome. Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024 Time: 4-7pm Location: Carrie Nation Cocktail Club *back room* (11 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108) Please RSVP to [email protected] if you are planning to attend. "Sea" you there!