Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office: Strategic Plan 2016-2020

October 13, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office:

The National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NOAA Fisheries) mission is the science-based stewardship of the nation’s living marine resources and their habitat. The Alaska Region is one of five regional offices that together support marine resource management in all Federal waters of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (US EEZ: 3-200 miles offshore). The Alaska Region is a bureau of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is housed in the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). The stepped strategic approach (figure 1) of DOC, NOAA, and NMFS informs and reinforces the Region’s science based stewardship mission.

NOAA Fisheries relies on a number of statutory authorities to define its mandate and authorize the execution of its mission. The principal statutes are the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

A study in 2000 reported that NOAA Fisheries is the fourth largest promulgator of regulations in the Federal Government. A proportionally significant amount of this regulatory workload originates from the North Pacific, the overwhelming majority of which are developed under a uniquely participatory management system involving representatives from affected states and stakeholders, including the commercial and recreational fishing sectors. In the case of Alaska, the Region relies on the work of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to ensure sustainable fishery harvest levels, establish conservation measures, and allocate resources among often competing user groups. Fishery management, along with the conservation of marine mammals and habitat, is supported by a robust scientific enterprise led by the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center. It is within this governance and scientific framework that the Region executes its stewardship mission.

Read the full release from NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office

NOAA recommends $900K for UMass Dartmouth fisheries research

June 26, 2015 — WASHINGTON – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recommended a dozen Massachusetts-based marine research programs receive funding this year including more than $900,000 for UMass Dartmouth to conduct four projects whose aim is to  improve the cost-effectiveness and capacity of programs to observe fish.

Some of the money will be used to maximize fishing opportunities and jobs; increase the quality and quantity of domestic seafood; and improve fishery information from U.S. territories.

The programs will be conducted through the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program.

The Department of Commerce must still sign off on the projects before applicants will receive funding.

Read the full story at New Bedford Standard-Times

 

 

NOAA recommends $2.6 million for Massachusetts

June 25, 2015 — WASHINGTON — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday that it has recommended a dozen Massachusetts-based marine research programs receive funding this year through the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program.

The 12 projects are among 88 nationwide that have been recommended to receive funding totaling $25 million. The goal of the research is to maximize fishing opportunities and jobs, improve key fisheries observations, increase the quality and quantity of domestic seafood, and improve fishery information from U.S. territories. The Department of Commerce must still sign off on the projects before applicants will receive funding.

Among the Massachusetts research projects recommended for funding are:

– $497,060 for the Coonamessett Farm Foundation to conduct to research projects that seek to improve ecosystem-friendly scallop dredges and research offshore essential fish habitat of southern New England winter flounder;

– $912,079 for the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth to conduct four projects that will improve the cost-effectiveness and capacity for observations and maximize fishing opportunities and jobs;

– $774,640 for four New England Aquarium projects related to haddock, skates and cusks, and field test an electric decoy for reducing shark bycatch in longline fishing;

– $96,181 for a Center for Coastal Studies project to reduce bycatch in the sea scallop fishery;

– And, $363,604 for Cape Ann Seafood Exchange to support infrastructure and innovation.

Read the full story from the Worcester Telegram

 

2015 Appointments to the Regional Fishery Management Councils

June 22, 2015 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The U.S. Commerce Department today announced the appointment of 30 new and returning members to the eight regional fishery management councils that partner with NOAA Fisheries to manage ocean fish stocks. The new and reappointed council members begin their three-year terms on August 11.

The councils were established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to prepare fishery management plans for marine fish stocks in their regions. NOAA Fisheries works closely with the councils as plans are developed, and then reviews, approves and implements the fishery management plans. Council members represent diverse groups, including commercial and recreational fishing industries, environmental organizations and academia. They are vital to fulfilling the act’s requirements to end overfishing, rebuild fish stocks and manage them sustainably.

“U.S. fisheries are among the most sustainable in the world, and NOAA Fisheries is grateful for the efforts these individuals devote to our nation’s fisheries management and to the resiliency of our oceans. We look forward to working with both new and returning council members,” said Eileen Sobeck, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “Each council faces unique challenges, and their partnerships with us at NOAA Fisheries are integral to the sustainability of the fisheries in their respective regions, as well as to the communities that rely on those fisheries.”

Each year, the Secretary of Commerce appoints approximately one-third of the total 72 appointed members to the eight regional councils. The Secretary selects members from nominations submitted by the governors of fishing states, territories and tribal governments.

Council members are appointed to both obligatory (state-specific) and at-large (regional) seats. Council members serve a three-year term and can be reappointed to serve three consecutive terms. Asterisks preceding a member’s name indicate a reappointment. 

New England Council 

The New England Council includes members from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The appointees for 2015 will fill obligatory seats for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and one at-large seat.

Obligatory seats: 

*Matthew G. McKenzie (Connecticut)

*Terry A. Alexander (Maine)

*John F. Quinn (Massachusetts)

Eric E. Reid (Rhode Island)

At-large seat:

*Vincent M. Balzano (Maine)

Mid-Atlantic Council 

The Mid-Atlantic Council includes members from the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The appointees for 2015 will fill obligatory seats for New Jersey and Virginia and two at-large seats.

Obligatory seats: 

Adam C. Nowalsky (New Jersey)

Peter L. deFur (Virginia)

At-large seats: 

Sara E. Winslow (North Carolina)

*Anthony D. Dilernia (New York)

South Atlantic Council 

The South Atlantic Council includes members from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. The appointees for 2015 will fill obligatory seats from Florida and Georgia and two at-large seats.

Obligatory seats: 

*Benjamin C. Hartig, III (Florida)

*Edward “Zack” Bowen (Georgia)

At-large seats: 

*Charles M. Phillips (Georgia)

*Anna B. Beckwith (North Carolina)

Caribbean Council 

The Caribbean Council includes members from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The appointees for 2015 will fill an obligatory seat for the U.S. Virgin Islands and one at-large seat.

Obligatory seat: 

*Carlos F. Farchette (U.S. Virgin Islands)

At-large seat: 

Carlos J. Velazquez (Puerto Rico)

Gulf Council 

The Gulf Council includes members from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The appointees for 2015 will fill obligatory seats for Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and two at-large seats.

Obligatory seats: 

*Johnny R. Greene, Jr. (Alabama)

*Juan M. Sanchez (Florida)

*Campo E. Matens (Louisiana)

At-large seats: 

Edward W. Swindell, Jr. (Louisiana)

Dale A. Diaz (Mississippi)

Pacific Council 

The Pacific Council includes members from California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The Pacific Council also includes one Tribal seat. The appointees for 2015 will fill obligatory seats for California, Oregon and the Tribal seat. Two at-large seats will also be filled.

Obligatory seats: 

*David M. Crabbe (California)

*Dorothy M. Lowman (Oregon)

Joseph Y. Oatman (Tribal)

At-large seats: 

*William “Buzz” Brizendine, II (California)

Philip M. Anderson (Washington)

North Pacific Council 

The North Pacific Council includes members from Alaska and Washington. The appointees for 2015 will fill two obligatory seats for Alaska and an obligatory seat for Washington.

Obligatory seats: 

*Howard “Dan” Hull (Alaska)

Andrew D. Mezirow (Alaska)

*Craig A. Cross (Washington)

Western Pacific Council 

The Western Pacific Council includes members from American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The appointees for 2015 will fill obligatory seats for Guam and Hawaii.

Obligatory seats: 

*Michael P. Duenas (Guam)

*Michael K. Goto (Hawaii)

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