April 23, 2021 — President Biden has picked Rick Spinrad, an oceanographer with decades of science and policy experience, to run National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the government’s leading agency for weather, climate and ocean science.
Biden nominates Rick Spinrad to head NOAA
April 23, 2021 — U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that he has nominated Rick Spinrad, a professor of oceanography at Oregon State University and the former chief scientist for NOAA, for the position of NOAA administrator.
The nomination comes as NOAA is amidst the longest period without a Senate-confirmed administrator since its creation in 1970. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had nominated Barry Myers – the former CEO of AccuWeather – to the position in 2017, but his nomination was never brought to a full vote before Myers ultimately withdrew from consideration.
High Density of Right Whales in Massachusetts Waters
April 23, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Update from Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is closely monitoring the presence of North Atlantic Right Whales in Massachusetts coastal waters. From the period of April 6, 2021 through April 20, 2021 aerial and acoustic surveillance conducted by the NOAA Fisheries and the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies (PCCS) has detected moderate to high densities of right whales in Massachusetts coastal waters including; Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts Bay, Stellwagen Bank, state waters on the backside of Cape Cod, and the nearshore federal waters south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Trap fishermen in Lobster Management Area 1 and Outer Cape Cod are reminded that the state waters portion of these areas are closed to lobster trap fishing until May 15, 2021. NOAA Fisheries and PCCS are conducting routine aerial surveillance throughout Massachusetts’ coastal waters and adjacent federal waters multiple times per week. DMF will continue to monitor surveillance information and could open portions or all of state waters as early as May 1, 2021 if less than 3 right whales are detected in an area.
Mariners are reminded that there is a 10-knot small vessel (less than 65’ overall) speed limit in Cape Cod Bay to protect endangered right whales from the threat of ship strikes that remains in effect until April 30, 2021. During the late winter and early-spring, right whales migrate into and aggregate in Cape Cod Bay where they feed on zooplankton. As we move into the spring, these whales begin to feed closer to the surface and become more susceptible to ship strikes. Ship strikes are a significant source of mortality to these endangered whales. However, the lethality of ship strikes is greatly reduced when vessels are operating at less than 10-knots speed.
This small vessel speed limit— established in 2019—applies from March 1 – April 30 within those waters of Cape Cod Bay south of 42° 08’ north latitude, as well as those waters north of Cape Cod that are west of 70°10’ west longitude. A complementary federal speed limit applies to all vessels 65’ overall length and greater. DMF may extend or rescind this seasonal small vessel speed limit based on the continued presence or absence of whales. This small vessel speed limit does not apply to emergency and enforcement personnel, including federal whale disentanglement teams. Additionally, small vessel traffic operating within the inshore waters of Plymouth, Duxbury, Kingston, Barnstable and Wellfleet Harbors are exempt.
NOAA Fisheries Announces an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Consider the Use of Turtle Excluder Devices by Skimmer Trawl Vessels Less than 40 feet in Length in the Southeastern U.S. Shrimp Fisheries
April 22, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
KEY MESSAGE:
- NOAA Fisheries is publishing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to request comments on requiring Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) on skimmer trawl vessels less than 40 feet in length.
- As part of our efforts to conserve and recover threatened and endangered sea turtle populations, an existing final rule that becomes effective August 1, 2021 will require TEDs that allow the release of small turtles to be used by skimmer trawl vessels 40 feet and greater in length in the Southeastern U.S. shrimp fisheries.
- An abundance of small sea turtles in shallow, coastal waters is attributed to numerous ongoing conservation efforts, such as the protection of sea turtle nesting beaches and the required use of TEDs in otter trawls participating in the shrimp fisheries.
- We have continued testing and analysis of TED designs and use on small skimmer trawls, and now have effective designs that would reduce sea turtle bycatch.
- We are seeking comments on the potential expansion of TED requirements for skimmer trawl vessels less than 40 feet (12.2 meters) in length, the feasibility of employing these TEDs on smaller length vessels, input on the associated costs of any new TED requirements, and other potential environmental impacts. Comments are due by May 20, 2021.
- Skimmer trawl operators are currently allowed to use tow times instead of turtle excluder devices, but tow times are not as effective at reducing sea turtle mortality and are difficult to enforce.
HOW TO COMMENT ON THIS ADVANCED NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING:
The Comment period is open now through May 20, 2021. You may submit comments by electronic submission (described below) or by postal mail. Comments received after the end of the comment period may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.
FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 86 FR 20475 published April 20, 2021.
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
- Go to https://www.regulations.gov/search?filter=2021-08108
- Click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields.
- Enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Michael Barnette, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Where can I find more information on TEDs, the TED rules, and how to comply with them?
- The ANPR, recent TED rules, frequently asked questions, and fishery bulletins may be found online at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/bycatch/turtle-excluder-device-regulations.
- Email at the following: info@noaa.gov
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council raises Red Snapper catch limit
April 21, 2021 — The Great Red Snapper Count has concluded and the population of snapper in the Gulf is now estimated to be three times larger than previous studies suggested.
As a result, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has issued new guidance for the 2021 Red Snapper season. The overfishing limit has been set at 25.6 million pounds, while the acceptable biological catch, or ABC, has been set at 15.4 million pounds. As far as the ABC is concerned, this is a 300,000 pound increase, although frankly that just won’t trickle down to the charter industry.
“The 300,000 isn’t very much,” said Captain Bob Zales, president of the National Association of Charterboat Operators. “I mean it sounds like a lot, but in the overall scheme it just isn’t very much. On the commercial side, they get 51% of the increase so they’ll get around a 160,000 pound increase, which will be another trip or two for most of the commercial guys. For the charter sector, our percentage of the other 49% is the least amount.”
According to Zales, the charter increase won’t even equate to a single extra day of the Red Snapper season, at least for this year. More information will be submitted to the Scientific and Statistical Committee later this summer.
Federal government makes 22,000 more H-2B visas available this year
April 21, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday, 20 April announced that it would make another 22,000 H-2B visas available for businesses, such as seafood processors, that rely on seasonal laborers.
In a statement, the federal agency said feedback from businesses that rely on the visa program to staff summer operations led to the expansion. DHS said many of those businesses were unable to hire American workers to fill critical positions.
NOAA Fisheries Sets Fishing Year 2021 Management Measures for the Common Pool Groundfish Fishery
April 21, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Effective May 1
We are setting common pool possession and trip limits to ensure that the common pool groundfish fishery is able to fully utilize its available quotas. Effective on May 1, these possession and trip limits were developed based on the common pool sub-Annual Catch Limits set by Framework Adjustment 59 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. We also considered preliminary 2021 sector rosters, expected common pool participation, common pool fishing activity in previous fishing years, and that Framework 61 is still being considered for approval. During the fishing year, we will monitor common pool catches, and will adjust common pool management measures, as necessary.
Additionally, Northeast multispecies vessels may not target yellowtail flounder within the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock Special Access Program (SAP) in fishing year 2021. Northeast multispecies vessels are not allowed to fish in this SAP using flounder trawl nets, but may fish in this SAP to target haddock with a haddock separator trawl, a Ruhle trawl, or hook gear. This SAP is open from August 1, 2021, through January 31, 2022.
Lastly, the Regular B Days-at-Sea (DAS) program is closed for fishing year 2021. During this closure, Northeast multispecies vessels may not declare or use regular B DAS.
For more details, read the notice as filed in the Federal Register and the permit holder bulletin.
Request for Comments: Proposed Rule to Increase the Gray Triggerfish Catch Limits in the Gulf of Mexico
April 21, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Key Message:
NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on a proposed rule for gray triggerfish in the Gulf of Mexico. Comments are due by May 21, 2021.
Summary of Proposed Changes:
- The proposed rule increases the gray triggerfish catch limits by 151,600 lbs whole weight (ww) going from 305,300 lbs ww to 456,900 lbs ww.
- This proposed rule retains the current sector allocation of 79% recreational and 21% commercial.
- The recreational annual catch limit would increase to 360,951 lbs ww and the commercial annual catch limit would increase to 95,949 lbs ww.
- This proposed rule would increase the buffers between the sector annual catch limits and annual catch targets to 24% for the recreational sector and 8% for the commercial sector.
- The resulting annual catch targets would increase to 274,323 lbs ww for the recreational sector and 88,273 lbs ww for the commercial sector.
How to Comment on the Proposed Rule:
The comment period is open now through May 21, 2021. You may submit comments by electronic submission or by postal mail. Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.
FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER: 86 FR 20649, published April 21, 2021
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
- Go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2021-0030.
- Click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields.
- Enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Kelli O’Donnell, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Gulf of Mexico Greater Amberjack Recreational Fishing Season Reopens May 1-31, 2021
April 21, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Key Message:
NOAA Fisheries reminds recreational fishermen that the Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack recreational fishing season reopens 12:01 a.m., local time, on May 1, 2021 and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2021.
What this Means:
- Preliminary landings indicate the recreational greater amberjack quota has not been met or projected to be met allowing the recreational fishing season to reopen May 1, 2021.
- The recreational fishing season for greater amberjack will close for the remainder of the fishing year during its second seasonal closure, starting June 1 through July 31.
- The 2021/2022 recreational greater amberjack fishing year will start on August 1, 2021.
Greater Amberjack Recreational Management Measures:
- Fishing Year: August 1 – July 31
- Seasonal Closure: November 1 – April 30 and June 1 – July 31
- Minimum Size Limit: 34 inch fork length
- Accountability Measures: Inseason closure and payback of any overage of the annual catch limit
- Bag Limit: 1 fish per person
- 2020/2021 annual catch limit: 1,309,620 lbs whole weight
- 2020/2021 annual catch target: 1,086,985 lbs whole weight
NOAA Fisheries Releases New Species in the Spotlight Priority Action Plans
April 21, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Today, NOAA Fisheries released nine new Species in the Spotlight Priority Action Plans, two of which are for species in the Greater Atlantic Region. These plans highlight the most vital actions that NOAA Fisheries and our partners can take to reverse the declining populations of nine endangered marine species that are most at risk of extinction. Building on the successes of the past five years, NOAA Fisheries is renewing the initiative through 2025 to sustain momentum toward recovery.
GARFO’s two Species in the Spotlight are:
- Atlantic Salmon Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment (DPS)
- North Atlantic Right Whale (added in 2019)
NOAA’s seven other Species in the Spotlight are:
- Central California Coast Coho Salmon Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU)
- Cook Inlet Beluga Whale DPS
- Hawaiian Monk Seal
- Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle
- Sacramento River Winter-run Chinook Salmon ESU
- Southern Resident Killer Whale DPS
- White Abalone
Established in 2015, the Species in the Spotlight initiative has since helped us achieve important milestones toward recovery. Watch the video.
We invite you to review the Species in the Spotlight Action Plans for 2021-2025 and learn more about our partners and what we have accomplished in the past 5 years. We appreciate all of our current partners and collaborators, as the steps we need to take to stabilize these species would not be possible without them.
Read our webstory to learn more.
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