New State Regulations Target Aquatic Invasive Species

Boaters Using DEC Lands to Launch Boats or Other Watercraft Are Now Required to Clean and Drain Boats Prior to Launch

As part of an aggressive effort to prevent invasive species from entering and damaging New York water bodies, the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today adopted new regulations that require boaters to remove all visible plant and animal materials from boats, trailers and associated equipment, and to drain boats prior to launching from DEC lands.

The regulations, which are effective today, pertain to all DEC boat launches, fishing access sites and other DEC lands where watercraft such as boats, kayak or canoes, can be launched into the water.

"New York State continues to work with its state, local, federal and environmental partners to protect water bodies from destructive invasive species," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. "Boats, trailers and associated equipment are common pathways for spreading aquatic invasive species. These new regulations will help reinforce the message that boaters need to clean their equipment of any clinging plant and animal materials and drain their boats prior to launching at lands administered by DEC."

Boaters should take the following steps to ensure that their boat, trailer and equipment are free of aquatic invasive species:

• Visually inspect the boat, trailer and other fishing and boating equipment and remove all mud, plants and other organisms that might be clinging to it. Materials should be disposed of in one of the Nuisance Invasive Species Disposal Stations installed at many DEC boat launches, in the trash or at an upland location away from the launch ramp.
• Drain the boat's bilge and any other water holding compartments such as live wells, bait wells and bilge tanks. This does not apply to water associated with sanitary systems or drinking water supplies.

Drying boats is also highly recommended but is not required under the new regulations. Boaters who are unable to dry their boats between uses should flush the bilge and other water holding compartments with water, preferably at a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Microscopic larval forms of aquatic invasive species, such as zebra mussels and spiny waterflea, can live in as much as a drop of water. To ensure that these organisms are not accidentally spread, anything holding water should be dried, flushed or disinfected with hot water to ensure that these aquatic invasive species are not spread. Additional information on AIS and disinfection recommendations can be found on the DEC website.

The new regulations are available on the DEC website.

Boaters intending to boat on Lake George this year are also reminded that the Lake George Park Commission has enacted new regulations that require all boats to be inspected for aquatic invasive species prior to use. Additional information on this new mandatory boat inspection program can be found on the Lake George Boat Inspection site (which can be found in the right hand column of this page).

 

NY DEC Seeks Volunteers and Local Coordinators for Stream and River Monitoring

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is actively recruiting citizen scientists to conduct water quality assessments in Lake Ontario and the Niagara, Genesee, Delaware, Hudson and Mohawk River watersheds as part of the Water Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators (WAVE) project, DEC announced today.

While DEC regularly receives data and information from the public to consider in its water quality assessments, the WAVE Program provides information about how to collect data most useful to the agency. WAVE data is used to augment the work of the DEC Stream Biomonitoring Unit, which samples streams and rivers across the state to create an inventory of stream water quality.

"Responsible environmental stewardship starts with everyday residents who have an interest in protecting and conserving natural resources we all rely on," said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. "I invite volunteers to register for this worthwhile training to work alongside DEC professionals to identify water quality concerns."

Citizen scientists provide DEC with valuable information to assist in identifying healthy stream sites and flagging sites that potentially have water quality concerns. This data is included in federal and state water quality reports and helps to target professional assessments and local restoration and conservation efforts to where they are most needed.

This year, citizen scientists can participate in the WAVE project in one of two ways: citizen scientists can join a local WAVE group lead by a trained local coordinator or they can sample independently. For the first time, DEC is offering training sessions for local coordinators so that they may train and coordinate their own team of WAVE participants. Citizen scientists working under a trained local coordinator do not need to attend a WAVE training session. Citizen scientists who wish to work independently must attend a WAVE training session.

Citizen monitors will visit stream sites once per year, anytime between July and September, and collect macroinvertebrates - insects and other small organisms - from the rocks and rubble on the stream bottom. If six or more of the "Most Wanted" organisms are found, the stream segment is assessed as having no known impacts and fully supporting aquatic life. If mostly "Least Wanted" organisms are found, then the stream segment will be flagged for possible investigation by professionals.

The WAVE training sessions are rotated throughout the state's 17 major drainage basins on a five-year schedule, targeting those basins that will be sampled by the DEC Stream Biomonitoring Unit in the following year (see the professional monitoring schedule). This year, DEC is offering WAVE training sessions in the Niagara River, Lake Ontario and Mohawk River basins.

Local Coordinator and basic WAVE training sessions are scheduled for May and June at locations in the following counties:

• Schenectady County, Alplaus, (May 17)
• Wayne County, Huron, (May 23)
• Jefferson County, Ellisburg, (May 24)
• Erie County, West Seneca, (May 31)
• Chautauqua County, Village of Westfield, (June 1)
• Schoharie County, Esperance, (June 14)
• Wyoming County, Wyoming, (June 21)
• Oneida County, New Hartford, (June 29)

For more information, or to register for a training session, visit DEC's website.

NOAA Fisheries Commits to Developing a National Recreational Fishing Policy

Spurred on by the sportfishing and boating community, the new policy
will better integrate recreational fishing into NOAA Fisheries' mission

 

An announcement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that NOAA Fisheries will develop a national recreational fishing policy was greeted enthusiastically by sportfishing and boating leaders, who have urged the agency to adopt exactly this approach to define and coordinate efforts throughout the federal government, and particularly the National Marine Fisheries Service, to advance saltwater recreational fishing.

NOAA Fisheries' announcement capped off its national Saltwater Recreational Fishing Summit held April 1-2, in Alexandria, Va. Leaders from the saltwater recreational fishing and boating community met with NOAA Fisheries' leadership to assess recent progress, identify goals and strengthen ties between NOAA and stakeholder groups.

"With the 'Vision for Managing America's Saltwater Recreational Fisheries' report as our guiding document, we came to the NOAA Summit with a clear vision for where saltwater recreational fisheries management must go," said American Sportfishing Association President and CEO Mike Nussman. "NOAA is clearly listening, as evidenced by their immediate commitment to accomplish the first goal of the report: to establish a national policy for saltwater recreational fisheries management. We're looking forward to working with NOAA to accomplish this goal, as well as the other key recommendations presented in the report."

The announcement comes on the heels of a recent series of meetings on Capitol Hill during which the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management, co-chaired by Johnny Morris, founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, and Scott Deal, president of Maverick Boats, presented recommendations from "A Vision for Managing America's Saltwater Recreational Fisheries." This new report outlines recreational fisheries management issues that need to be addressed in the congressional reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, the law that governs the nation's marine resources. Chief among those recommendations is the establishment of a national policy for recreational saltwater fishing.

"In order for our nation to understand and embrace the positive aspects of recreational saltwater fishing in this country - be they the economic, cultural or quality-of-life benefits - our fisheries managers need to have policies and laws that reflect recreational interests," said Deal. "NOAA has demonstrated it is ready to develop those policies."

The commission, composed of anglers, scientists, former agency administrators, conservationists and economists, as well as prominent members of the industry, wants to ensure that saltwater recreational fishing becomes a priority of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service. In 2011, approximately 11 million Americans saltwater fished recreationally, making them one of NOAA's largest organized constituencies and one with a substantial economic impact.

"America's 11 million saltwater recreational anglers spent $27 billion in 2011, generating more than $70 billion and sustaining 450,000 jobs," said Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. "The importance of this economic sector - and its contributions to fisheries habitat and conservation via excise taxes, donations and license fees - cannot be ignored. We commend NOAA Fisheries for acknowledging it."

Contributors to the work of the commission include the American Sportfishing Association, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Berkley Conservation Institute, Center for Coastal Conservation, Coastal Conservation Association, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, International Game Fish Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and The Billfish Foundation, as well as Bass Pro Shops and Maverick Boats 

FOR TWITTER - Use #MarineVison2014 to comment on this landmark report.

Read "A Vision for Managing America's Saltwater Recreational Fisheries."

Read the TRCP 2014 Conservation Policy Agenda.

One Fish Photo Could Make You a Big Winner

There’s a lot to pack before you head out for the spring fishing season. Just don’t forget the camera to take shots of your catch to submit to the BoatUS Angler “Catch of the Month” photo contest at BoatUS.com/angler/contest, which kicks off today and runs monthly through October 31, 2014.

Courtney Bacco of Orlando, Florida, won a bass mount in last year’s BoatUS Angler photo contest

Monthly winners, one freshwater and one saltwater, will receive a one-year basic BoatUS Angler membership which includes $50 on the road and $50 on the water towing, a $50 Visa gift card and a “prize pack” filled with fishing and BoatUS Angler gear. In addition, winning photos will appear in BoatUS Angler Magazine and Tacklebox fishing e-newsletter.

Monthly winners will be automatically entered to win the grand prize in November: an upgrade of their BoatUS Angler membership to include Unlimited on water towing and on road towing assistance from Trailer Assist, a high-quality fish replica of their winning catch from FishReplicas.com and a $50 gift certificate from BoatNameGear.

Trailer Assist, BoatUS Angler’s roadside assistance service for boat trailers and tow vehicles and the BoatUS on water towing service helps anglers spend more time fishing and less time worrying about breakdowns. Anglers can also check out all of the photos submitted at BoatUS.com/angler/contest.

About the Sponsors:
FishReplicas.com offers the highest quality in fish replicas today. By combining 40 years of molding experience and today's technology, the Pierce Brothers and crew are able to create the most life-like fish replicas money can buy. BoatUS members save 10% on replicas of their favorite catch.

BoatNameGear offers a unique, hand-picked selection of high-quality personalized gifts, clothing and gear.

BoatUS members enjoy a 10% discount on all products plus free shipping on all orders of $99 or more.

Significant Waterfowl Die Off Event in Lake Erie & Niagara River

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that thousands of dead ducks observed along the near shore waters of Lake Erie and the Niagara River died from starvation.

DEC's Wildlife Health Unit examined hundreds of dead birds and found that starvation is the primary cause of this die-off the result of extensive ice cover and cold temperatures that blocked access to the food diving ducks need to sustain themselves.

"This winter has been harsh to all wintering waterfowl, but especially to diving, fish-eating ducks, who can't access food in ice-capped waters," said DEC Senior Wildlife Biologist Connie Adams. "Wintering waterfowl usually need to eat an amount of food equivalent to about 20 percent of their weight every day, and in extreme conditions or harsh temperatures, they need to consume more to sustain themselves. Because of cold temperatures and iced over waters, many birds have suffered food deprivation since early winter, and are only now starting to die off in great numbers. The small pockets of open water can't provide enough food to sustain the massive concentrations of waterfowl."

DEC estimates that 150,000 to 200,000 waterfowl are wintering on eastern Lake Erie and the Niagara River.

Beginning the second week of January, unusual numbers of dead ducks were observed in the Niagara River, and then in areas of Lake Erie. Sightings of dead ducks have been reported as far east as Irondequoit Bay on Lake Ontario. Diving ducks in particular are drastically affected by starvation this winter, but most types of waterfowl species commonly found in this area have been impacted. The majority of affected waterfowl observed have been red-breasted mergansers and greater scaup, but the harsh winter conditions also has caused distress for other birds, including American coots, lesser scaup, common mergansers, long-tailed ducks, white-winged scoters, bufflehead, goldeneye, canvasback, redheads, pied-billed grebes, horned and red-necked grebes.

This die-off appears to be a natural, weather-related event due to the extreme and prolonged cold temperatures. Diagnostic testing by DEC's Wildlife Health Unit did not reveal any infectious diseases. Hundreds of weakened diving ducks have been recovered by private citizens and taken to New York State-licensed wildlife rehabilitators. The ducks are ravenous and also suffer from a lack of waterproofing, an apparent side effect of starvation. The rehabilitators provide medical attention and food, and most ducks are released back to the wild after their conditions improve.

Helicopters Assist to Reintroduce Brook Trout to Remote Adirondack Pond

Transport of Lime Part of Effort to Mitigate Effects of Acid Rain and Create Hospitable Habitat for Brook Trout in Hawk Pond

Helicopters delivered 34 tons of lime to an acidified pond in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area in the town of Webb, Herkimer County, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Judy Drabicki announced.

On March 6 and 7, approximately 40 DEC staff and New York State Police helicopter crews conducted the liming operation, which included 46 helicopter flights to transport 1,500 pounds of lime from a staging area near the boat launch at Stillwater Reservoir to Hawk Pond. The lime was deposited on the ice at the pond and later spread across the frozen surface. The liming of acidic lakes or ponds is a management tool used to neutralize the water's acidity and create water quality that is more favorable for fish and aquatic life. When the pond thaws this spring, the lime will enter the water and reduce its acidity level.

"Each year, fisheries staff select an Adirondack pond for liming to reintroduce brook trout in the Adirondacks," Regional Director Drabicki said. "This effort involves months of planning and coordination with DEC operations staff, forest rangers and forestry staff, along with State police helicopters, pilots and crews. This joint effort is critical to reclaim waters impaired by acid rain and restore native habitats to these Adirondack waters."

This operation is the first lime treatment for Hawk Pond. This fall, two strains of brook trout will be stocked in the pond: the Horn Lake strain of brook trout, and a heritage/domestic cross. Once the fish have had the chance to spawn, biologists will be able to use the genetics for each strain of the stocked fish to determine which parents are producing offspring and which strain is performing the best in the pond. This research will help guide future management decisions involving Adirondack brook trout ponds.

DEC fishery staff is optimistic that these operations will successfully return brook trout to some large Adirondack ponds and lakes. Larger water bodies in the Adirondacks maintain a deep cold water layer right through the summer (referred to as stratification), unlike the smaller ponds where water layers mix, which results in warmer water temperatures that are not as suitable for brook trout.

For additional information on DEC's liming program or a list of Adirondack trout ponds, contact the Watertown fisheries office at 315-785-2263.

How's My Waterway?

The American Council for Technology and the Industry Advisory Council recently gave high praise for the Environmental Protection Agency's How's My Waterway?  website and App. This was the first annual Igniting Innovation awards, and out of 30 government agencies and finalists, nothing received more votes than this App.

Both the app and website make it easy to find your local waterways and quickly find their status as to water quality and more. It's all in plain English. The search function makes it easy to select data either via your physical location or by entering the city, state or zip code for the are you're looking for.

Check it out here: http://watersgeo.epa.gov/mywaterway/ and then go check out your waterways!

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Requests Public Comment on Managing Oil and Gas Development on National Wildlife Refuge System Lands

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today announced the start of a public process and the opening of a 60-day comment period seeking input on managing non-federal oil and gas development on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands.

This effort is part of the Service’s ongoing commitment to avoid or minimize adverse effects on natural and cultural resources and wildlife-dependent recreation, ensure a consistent and effective regulatory environment for oil and gas operators, and protect public health and safety.

“Throughout the process, the Service will work with the public, the oil and gas industry and conservation groups to ensure we are using the best management practices and other industry standards for the conservation of fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats,” said Director Dan Ashe. “Working in collaboration with these stakeholders will improve the agency’s ability to ensure landscapes capable of supporting sustainable populations of fish and wildlife while providing for the energy needs of local communities – now and in the future.”

On many Service lands, including wildlife refuges, the federal government does not own the rights to subsurface minerals. Instead, mineral rights are owned by private individuals or other entities, which have the legal authority to develop their oil and gas resources.

Additionally, some refuges had existing oil and gas wells and associated infrastructure and pipelines when they were acquired by the Service, which has allowed operations of oil and gas facilities to continue. Based on the Service’s best available data, more than 200 refuges have oil and gas operations, including more than 5,000 wells, almost 1,600 actively producing oil and gas wells, and almost 1,300 miles of pipelines.

In 2003 and 2007, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued reports to Congress recommending that the Service clarify permitting authority for non-federal oil and gas operations by adopting regulations similar to the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service. These regulations would provide a consistent and reasonable set of regulatory controls over the oil and gas activities occurring on refuges to protect the public’s surface interests and provide reliable processes for industry.

Due to recent technological advances in drilling technology, the NWRS is experiencing an unprecedented level of interest in accessing formations such as the Marcellus in the eastern U.S. and the Bakken in North Dakota and Montana, both previously uneconomic to develop. Refuges that lie above these formations are being impacted at rates much higher than in the past. Existing oil and gas regulations do not fully address these challenges.

Written comments and information can be submitted by one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments to Docket No. [FWS–HQ–NWRS–2012–0086]; or
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: [FWS–HQ–NWRS–2012–0086]; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.

Since this is a formal rulemaking process with subsequent National Environmental Policy Act support, the Service anticipates this effort will take at least three years to complete.

The notice will publish in the Federal Register on February 24, 2014. Comments must be received within 60 days, on or before April 25, 2014. The Service will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means the agency will post any personal information provided through the process. The Service is not able to accept email or faxes.

Comments and materials, as well as supporting documentation, will be available for public inspection at http://www.regulations.gov under the above docket number. In addition, more details on the kinds of information the Service is seeking is available in the notice and will be posted online at http://www.fws.gov/refuges/oil-and-gas/.

The National Wildlife Refuge System protects wildlife and wildlife habitat on more than 150 million acres of land and water from the Caribbean to the Pacific, Maine to Alaska. Refuges also improve human health, provide outdoor recreation and support local economies. Visit our home page at www.fws.gov/refuges. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Recipients of the 2014 Orvis Customer Matching Grants to Protect Nature

The Orvis Company, Inc. of Manchester, VT announced the four recipients of its annual Customer Matching Grant program. Targeted to raise $360,000 or more, these grants are the cornerstone of Orvis’s annual commitment of 5% of its pre-tax profits to protecting nature. In total, Orvis will raise and contribute more than $1 million to conservation initiatives in 2014.

Orvis has awarded cash grants—to match its customers’ contributions up to equal amounts—to the following organizations:


Trout Unlimited, to continue its multi-year collaboration with Orvis to establish the Orvis/Trout Unlimited 1,000 Miles Campaign, which will reconnect 1,000 miles of stream passage for fish in watersheds throughout the United States over ten years. This project will open up waterways through the repair, modification and/or removal of culverts and other obstructions.(Photo courtesy of jimyuskavitchphotography.com)

The Petfinder Foundation, for its programs benefitting shelters and providing homes for rescued dogs across America. Another repeat, this program, whose goal is to ensure that no adoptable pet is euthanized for lack of a loving home, is so popular with Orvis customers that it more than doubled its goal in both 2012 and 2013. (Photo courtesy of RAGOM)

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation to benefit its Oyster Restoration Program, which works to restore native oyster reefs in Maryland and Virginia. Restored reefs improve water quality and fish habitat in Chesapeake Bay. (Photo courtesy of johnwerry.com)

Rare, for its Fish Forever program in Belize. Fish Forever empowers local communities to sustainably manage their fisheries, thereby increasing food security, conserving important marine habitats and species, safeguarding local jobs and creating coastal climate resilience. (Photo courtesy of Jason Houston)

“Protecting the natural world and a love of the outdoors is not just a corporate commitment, but a way of life that resonates with our customers and all of us here at Orvis,” says CEO Perk Perkins. “That’s why we contribute 5% of pre-tax profits to protect nature. With our matching grants, we invite customers to participate with their own donations, and we match their contributions dollar for dollar.”

Throughout 2014, Orvis will feature each of the four grant programs in its catalogs, website, and retail stores, as well as in other print and online promotions, social media and its conservation blog. The in-kind value of this exposure exceeds $600,000 on top of the cash grants awarded, according to Bill Eyre, Orvis Director of Corporate Marketing and Conservation. These promotional efforts, coupled with the matching funds from Orvis, provide a remarkable opportunity for customers, organization members and the general public to amplify their contribution to the protection of nature through these programs.

In addition to its Customer Matching Grants, Orvis donates smaller, non-matching grants to organizations that preserve and restore fish and wildlife habitat, support communities, and advance canine health and well-being. Key 2014 projects include habitat restoration on upstate New York’s Sands Creek through a grant to Friends of the Upper Delaware; preservation work on California’s fabled Hat Creek through a grant to CalTrout; and a variety of other projects with partners such as The Nature Conservancy, American Rivers, World Wildlife Fund, Casting for Recovery, Project Healing Waters, Ducks Unlimited and the Morris Animal Foundation.

Over the past 20 years, Orvis has raised and donated in excess of $15 million for a wide variety of conservation programs, from Kodiak Island, AK to the Florida Everglades; from the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda to the great Coral Triangle of the South Pacific; and in dozens of vital fisheries through America and the world. Details of this and past year’s Orvis Customer Matching Grant projects can be seen at www.orvis.com/commitment. A brief synopsis of each of this year’s grant recipients follows:

Trout Unlimited – The Orvis/TU 1,000 Miles Campaign
For the third year in a row, Orvis will match its customers’ contributions up to $90,000 as part of a campaign to repair or modify culverts throughout the United States to reconnect 1,000 miles of streams across the US in 10 years. A compelling new video about this program can be viewed at: www.orvis.com/1kmiles. Outdated, damaged or impassable culverts—the passages that connect streams underneath roadways everywhere—are a major threat to all species of trout and other coldwater fish, often blocking passage to vital upstream spawning habitat. Compared with dam removal, these relatively low-cost, high-impact projects, “make fixing a culvert so that fish can pass one of the best investments we can make in trout recovery,” according to Trout Unlimited President and CEO Chris Wood. Funds raised through the Orvis/TU 1,000 Miles Campaign will go toward the engineering and removal of culverts. Each year TU determines a list of watersheds that will most benefit from a concerted effort to replace culverts. In the program’s first two years, more than 20 culvert projects have been completed or started from Maine to Oregon, Virginia to Wisconsin, and points in between.

Petfinder Foundation
Each year, five out of every ten dogs in shelters across the United States are euthanized for the simple reason there is no one to adopt them. Nationwide, there were an estimated 8 million new pets added to the shelter system this year. The Petfinder Foundation is a nonprofit charity whose mission is to ensure that no pet is euthanized for lack of a home. Founded in 2003, the foundation helps homeless pets through adoptions, helping shelters prepare for and recover from disaster, and working to make shelters across the country more sustainable. The foundation supports more than 14,000 animal-welfare organizations, providing direct funding, as well as training, education, and grants of equipment and supplies so that homeless pets have happier lives. In 2014, Orvis will match customers’ donations up to $30,000 to support and protect these vulnerable pets.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation-Oyster Restoration
Saving the Chesapeake Bay is uniquely tied to restoring the native oyster. The oysters in the Chesapeake were once so plentiful they could filter a volume of water equal to that of the entire Bay (some 19 trillion gallons) in three days. Today it would take the current oyster population more than a year to perform the same task. In fact the Bay’s native oyster population has been reduced to as low as 1% of historic levels, making restoration critical to the improvement of the Bay’s water quality. In 2014 Orvis will match customer donations up to $30,000 to enable CBF to restore native oyster reefs, utilizing a unique method of “setting” juvenile oysters on reef balls which will then be deployed into sanctuary reefs, protected from harvesting. This project will not only further oyster restoration, but will enhance both water quality and fish habitat, benefiting the entire Chesapeake ecosystem.

Rare-Fish Forever in Belize
Around the world a billion people depend on fish as their main source of protein. Most of these small-scale fisheries are poorly managed and overfished. Rare, in cooperation with the Environmental Defense Fund and the University of California, Santa Barbara, has developed Fish Forever, an innovative program designed to empower coastal communities to sustainably manage their own fisheries. A $30,000 grant from Orvis, coupled with a match from customers, will generate $60,000 to help develop the first national system of this type of managed fishery in Belize, inspiring change and improving the lives of thousands of Belizeans, while incubating a replicable model of sustainability for the rest of the world.

About The Orvis Company
Founded in 1856, Orvis pioneered the mail order industry in the United States, currently mailing nine catalog titles and three websites offering the world’s finest fly-fishing gear, quality men’s and women’s apparel, gifts, home furnishings, luggage, pet accessories, and wingshooting gear, as well as sporting schools and travel adventure services. Orvis operates more than 80 retail stores in the U.S. and the U.K. including its Flagship store in Manchester, VT, and serves a network of over 400 independent dealers worldwide. Orvis commits 5% of pre-tax profits each year to protecting nature, supporting communities and advancing canine health and well-being. Orvis headquarters are in Manchester, Vermont. Learn more at www.orvis.com.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approves 2014 – 2018 Strategic Plan

At its 2014 winter meeting the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved its 2014 – 2018 Strategic Plan. The plan establishes seven major goals and related strategies that will be implemented through annual action plans.

The Commission Chair Dr. Louis B. Daniel, III of North Carolina stated, "“The document revises the Commission’s long-term vision, values, driving forces, and goals to better respond to new challenges and opportunities in Atlantic coast fisheries management. The Commissioners’ goal, through the review process, was to strengthen the Strategic Plan to make it more effective, concise, and accessible to the public."

More than 4,500 comments were submitted during the public comment period with the majority of the comments supporting the direction of the Commission.

The Plan’s seven goals are:

1. Rebuild, maintain, fairly allocate, and promote Atlantic coastal fisheries
2. Provide the scientific foundation for and conduct stock assessments to support informed management
actions
3. Promote compliance with fishery management plans to ensure sustainable use of Atlantic coast
fisheries
4. Protect and enhance fish habitat and ecosystem health through partnerships and education
5. Strengthen stakeholder and public support for the Commission
6. Advance Commission and member states’ priorities through a proactive legislative policy agenda
7. Ensure the fiscal stability & efficient administration of the Commission

The 2014 – 2018 Strategic Plan is available on the Commission website at
http://www.asmfc.org/files/pub/2014-2018StrategicPlan_Final.pdf