MENHADEN: Reporting links & Instructions for LEEDS

Good afternoon,

 

The menhaden have arrived! Many phone calls received have been questions on reporting, so this notice will provide the links below and the 'how-to' guides are attached. Please review before you set sail!  Additionally, the Atlantic Menhaden Management webpages have been updated. 

 

MENHADEN HARVEST DETAILS FOR FY2020

New for 2020: 

• Directed fishing for menhaden occurs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
• Harvesters that have received the Personal Use/No Sale permit, please adhere to the restrictions listed on the permit
• Carrier vessels require a Carrier License through LEEDS
• Daily reporting, 24 hrs after landing, electronically through LEEDS for State only permit holders
  • FEDERAL permit holders - report through NOAA Fish Online 
  • Note: Daily electronic reporting replaces the monthly paper logbook; paper reports will not be accepted. 

Status quo for 2020: 

• Daily landing limit is 120,000 lbs with a weekly cap set at 160,000 lbs
  • This applies to both HARVESTER and CARRIER vessels
• One landing event per 24 hour period
  • This applies to both HARVESTER and CARRIER vessels
• Harvesting and landing of menhaden is restricted to Maine state waters
• Commercial pelagic license holders may target menhaden in both the quota fisheries (state allocation and episodic event) and the small scale fishery
  • Only the small scale fishery has a size restriction on purse seine: less than 150 fathom by 8 fathom deep

 

PLEASE REPORT ELECTRONICALLY FOR FY2020

 

Any person that holds a Commercial Pelagic and Anadromous Fishing License issued under 12 M.R.S. §6502-A and a Menhaden Harvester Permit under that license must submit daily catch reports during the state and episodic fisheries; and, weekly catch reports during the small scale fishery. Catches from fixed gear must be included in these reports. Any person that holds more than one Commercial Pelagic and Anadromous Fishing License with the Menhaden Harvester Permit must report for each license they hold. Reports are required even if the menhaden caught during the week have not been landed. 

 

Reporting requirements are listed in Chapter 8.20(M) and also pasted below. This is the information that you will be providing during your daily reporting on LEEDS, Fish Online or the Maine harvester reporting app (available early August). 

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Menhaden Harvester Permit

Any person that holds a Commercial Pelagic and Anadromous Fishing License issued under 12 M.R.S. §6502-A and a Menhaden Harvester Permit under that license must submit daily catch reports during the state and episodic fisheries; and, weekly catch reports during the small scale fishery. Catches from fixed gear must be included in these reports.  Any person that holds more than one Commercial Pelagic and Anadromous Fishing License with the Menhaden Harvester Permit must report for each license they hold.  Reports are required even if the menhaden caught during the week have not been landed.  The report shall include the following data elements:

1. Harvester name (as it appears on the harvesting license) and landings number
2. Boat name and state vessel registration number or Coast Guard number (if a boat was used)
3. Designate negative report period if no harvesting activity occurred
4. Date fished & landed
5. Number of crew (including captain)
6. Gear type and quantity
7. Number of sets/tows
8. Set time (the average time your gear fished)
9. Average depth
10. Latitude and longitude
11. Sea time (including travel)
12. Pounds by species of all species caught (including discards)
13. Landings number of dealer sold to, or if not sold to a licensed dealer, disposition of catch and whether catch was carred
14. Port landed
15. Signature written or electronic

Menhaden reports are not required from menhaden carrier vessels. 

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Failure to report daily would be considered an act of non-compliance and is grounds for suspension from the Atlantic menhaden fishery.  Please note that electronic reporting does not require additional monthly logbooks! Paper logbook reports will not meet reporting compliance for your Commercial Pelagic and Anadromous License. 

 

For information on how to report electronically online through LEEDS, there are several how-to's created to provide detailed instruction for reporting a negative report (or did not fish) and reporting a positive landing report for menhaden. 

 

It is anticipated that the electronic harvester reporting application, suitable for either iOS or Android phones and tablets, will be available August 1. More details on this new reporting feature will be made available in the coming months.

 

Need help with electronic reporting?  Please contact Marissa.L.DeCosta@maine.gov or 207-633-9566. 

 

For any questions on the menhaden fishery, please contact Melissa.Smith@maine.gov or 207-624-6558.

• File Negative Landings Report.pdf
• File Positive Landings Report_Menhaden.pdf