Methods: CCE will continue successful operation of their Bycatch Avoidance Communication Network (“Network”) which relies on near real-time reporting by an established proactive fishing fleet to identify “hotspots” of 9 bycatch species concentrations. A total of 73 vessels are currently participating in the Network. These vessels will continue to supply CCE with daily real-time communications via their Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) about incidental catch rates of butterfish, river herring (blueback, alewives), shad (American, hickory), windowpane flounder, yellowtail flounder, red hake and haddock during fishing activities. Vessels will provide the precise location of bycatch interactions as well as the catch level. CCE will monitor incoming reports, compile the information and send it back out to active fishing vessels via VMS and online, providing spatial and temporal specific data on catch rates of bycatch species. This information will allow the fishing fleet to avoid bycatch “hot spots” and adjust fishing practices accordingly. The Network will continue to serve the SNE and GB squid, whiting, scup small mesh fisheries, groundfish fisheries (sector and common pool), and small mesh multispecies fisheries.  CCE began the Network in 2012. Since the Network’s inception, new species have been added as the stock status declines, quotas are reduced or management measures are implemented. This voluntary communication system helps fishermen avoid high concentrations of bycatch species thereby preventing quota overages, avoiding implementation of management measures restricting fisheries, and proactively preserves the resource while still allowing for full utilization of the resource where available. CCE staff will work closely with current participants to improve daily reporting rates which requires consistent reminders and frequent communication through VMS, email, website and social media posting. CCE will continue to recruit additional vessels to the Network for increased reporting. CCE staff will coordinate and conduct 5 at-sea observer days with participating vessels and captains in order to monitor and facilitate proper procedures in reporting bycatch events and to provide assistance with troubleshooting in reporting hotspots via the Boatracs Macro program.

Project Outcome(s): The main outcome of the project is bycatch reduction of the 9 species mentioned above.

Haddock - The anticipated outcome of including haddock in the Network is to proactively protect the resource and allow vessels to continue to be exempted from the minimum mesh size by catching less than 5% of “regulated” large mesh species which includes haddock. 

Northern Red Hake - AMs for the small-mesh multispecies fishery require the reduction of the possession limit adjustment trigger when the fishery exceeds a stock's ACL. If the catch of a small-mesh multispecies stock exceeds its ACL in a given fishing year, the in-season possession limit adjustment trigger is reduced in a subsequent fishing year by 1 percent for each 1 percent by which the ACL was exceeded. A project outcome is the avoidance of possession limit adjustment triggers by avoiding ACL overages.

Butterfish - Avoiding butterfish bycatch continues to be a priority for the longfin squid fleet since the fishery operates under a butterfish bycatch mortality cap. Preventing the closure of the squid fishery by avoiding reaching the butterfish mortality cap is an anticipated outcome of the project.

River Herring (alewife, blueback herring)/Shad (American/hickory)- Reducing river herring/shad bycatch is a project outcome and priority since the species is currently a NMFS species of concern and harvest is prohibited or severely restricted throughout the range.

Windowpane Flounder - For windowpane flounder, the Northern stock is considered overfished and Accountability Measures have been implemented which will restrict trawl vessels to certain gears in designated areas. Avoiding the trigger of AMs is an anticipated outcome of the project.

Yellowtail Flounder - The three stocks of yellowtail flounder are overfished and overfishing is occurring. Due to concerns for the declining quota and increasing significance of small-mesh discards of GB yellowtail flounder, Framework 48 to the NE Multispecies FMP adopted a GB yellowtail flounder sub-ACL for small mesh fisheries. The measure was intended to control the catch of GB yellowtail through AMs that would be triggered if the small mesh fisheries allocation is exceeded. For SNE yellowtail, if the previous years quota is exceeded, then any overages of the Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) including bycatch are deducted from the following year’s quota. An anticipated outcome of the project is avoiding trigger of AMs and overages of the ABC. Within catch share fisheries (SNE/MA groundfish) the avoidance network will enable fishermen to know where hotspots of yellowtail are occurring so they can effectively self manage the fishery for full utilization and species protection. 

The bycatch avoidance network approach, which has operated successfully over the last seven years, has improved fishing practices through changes in fishermen behaviors and quantified bycatch reductions resulting in more targeted fishing efforts. Proactively reducing bycatch encounters has helped to prevent shut down of the fisheries when quotas are reached, reduce the likelihood of triggering AMs that would affect fishing practices or reduce the following year’s quota for any overages, while allowing for full utilization of the resource in catch share fisheries (yellowtail flounder in the SNE/MA groundfish fishery). Thousands of “hot spot” reports have been received to date. Through continuation of the project, a larger, more-continuous data set will be collected which will allow for greater measurement of project success since project activities will cover complete fishing years allowing time for results to be realized. The established avoidance network structure and function provides an opportunity for a cost effective and efficient project continuation. Without continued funding, this highly successful program will come to an end.