Saving Seafood

US government halts seafood imports over deadly fishing concerns: ‘It’s about time we started’

February 27, 2025 — In a major win for ocean conservation and ethical seafood sourcing, the U.S. government has agreed to halt seafood imports linked to deadly bycatch that harms whales, dolphins, and other marine life.

This landmark decision strengthens protections for marine ecosystems while giving consumers greater confidence in the sustainability of their seafood choices.

The agreement, announced this week, will prevent seafood from entering U.S. markets if it is sourced from fisheries that do not meet American standards for reducing bycatch — the unintentional capture of non-target species like marine mammals and endangered sea turtles.

This move addresses long-standing concerns from environmental groups and consumers who want to ensure their seafood purchases do not contribute to harmful fishing practices.

Read the full article at TCD

NEFMC Solicits Contractor Proposals to Support Work on Climate-Resilient Fisheries Initiatives

January 16, 2025 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council is issuing three separate requests for proposals (RFPs) to support projects that address climate-resilient fisheries through Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: The application deadline for all proposals is February 21, 2025.

WHAT ARE THE PROJECTS: The three RFPs are independent of each other but all aim to support the Council’s work in advancing fishery management under changing ocean conditions as follows.

  • Developing a Holistic Strategic Plan for Climate-Resilient New England Fisheries Management: The contractor will develop a holistic strategic plan to guide Council activities for climate-resilient fisheries management. The strategic plan will include a detailed implementation roadmap and performance metrics to ensure near-term and long-term Council activities are responsive to climate change and the risks and challenges within and across fishery management plans. Details are outlined in the RFP.
  • Portfolio Approach to Inform New England Fisheries Management: This project involves an evaluation of applying portfolio theory to inform climate-resilient fisheries management in New England. The contractor will focus on identifying harvest portfolios, including species managed on the East Coast, which may result in increased revenue and reduce the risk of foregone yield. Results from the portfolio analysis will be used to inform management approaches that increase flexibility, including possible changes to permit regulations and restrictions. Details are outlined in the RFP.
  • Evaluating the Council’s New Risk Policy and Development of Groundfish ABC Control Rules: The contractor will focus on integrating the Council’s revised Risk Policy with the groundfish acceptable biological catch (ABC) control rule.  The Council has initiated efforts to modify the current groundfish ABC control rule already. Details are outlined in the RFP.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Interested professionals are encouraged to submit a letter of interest, current resume or CV, examples of similar work completed for other organizations or publications, and budget with expected expenses. Address materials to: Cate O’Keefe, NEFMC, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA  01950.

  • Email submissions are highly encouraged. Send to cokeefe@nefmc.org.
  • Questions about any of the requests for proposals should be addressed to Cate O’Keefe at cokeefe@nefmc.org.

Pacific salmon restoration efforts see massive influx of funding from US Congress

December 30, 2024 — As Pacific salmon navigate their way upstream to spawn along the U.S. West Coast, they desperately need patches of cold water to rest and replenish.

Historically, log jams provided many of these fish refuge by diverting the flow of rivers and creating deep, cool pools of water for salmon to recover on their epic journey. Due to human interference, many of those naturally occurring barriers and the adjacent wooded areas that created them are gone, degrading salmon habitats and making passage more difficult for the species.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NOAA gets $147M to help create ‘climate-ready fisheries’

November 29, 2024 — The Biden administration will spend an additional $147.5 million to modernize NOAA’s scientific programs aimed at fostering “climate-ready fisheries,” the agency announced Wednesday.

The Inflation Reduction Act funding, delivered in the final weeks of the Biden presidency, comes on top of $1.2 billion NOAA Fisheries received in June 2023 to advance the agency’s knowledge of how climate change is affecting marine life, including commercial and recreational fish stocks and endangered marine mammals like whales.

NOAA Fisheries will use $107.5 million to enhance science and data collection to account for the effects of climate change and improve fish and marine mammal stock assessments, while $40 million will go to the agency’s Climate, Ecosystems and Fisheries Initiative, which seeks to create a “nationwide decision support system” to help fishermen, fisheries managers, coastal communities and ocean-based industries to reduce climate impacts and improve resilience to changing ocean conditions.

Read the full article at E&E News

Biden-Harris Administration announces $34 million to modernize NOAA Fisheries’ data, infrastructure and workforce

August 15, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced more than $34 million in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding towards grants, cooperative institutes, contracts and federal employment to modernize NOAA Fisheries’ data, infrastructure and workforce. This effort aims to meet the pace of climate-related mission demands and is a key component of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. 

“Rapidly changing oceanic conditions, such as shifts in marine species’ distribution and abundance greatly impacts businesses and coastal communities that rely on these resources,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This investment, made possible thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, will help modernize data delivery in support of the nation’s $370 billion fishing industry. “

Across the U.S., NOAA is tackling the challenge of understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change on coastal and marine resources, while striving to safeguard habitats, restore endangered species and build healthier and more resilient ecosystems. 

This investment will optimize workflows and integrate technological advancements such as cloud computing and Open Science solutions to ensure data accessibility. It will also fund training efforts to reskill the workforce — preparing them to adopt new technologies that provide open, accessible and responsive information systems that meet rapidly evolving mission demands associated with climate change. Modernizing NOAA Fisheries’ data systems will streamline access to digital information, giving fishing industry practitioners the real-time tools they need to make decisions and advance sustainability in the face of climate change.

“NOAA Fisheries’ short-term data modernization efforts will drive significant long-term changes by enhancing our capacity to deliver mission-critical information, meeting survey and fishery data requirements and transition into a modern data era,” said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “This investment aligns with NOAA Fisheries’ existing data work, supplements appropriated funding and supports other regional priority efforts.”

Projects will leverage longstanding cooperative institute partnerships with universities across the country to provide scientific and analytical expertise. Using advanced technology and integrating social science will create more accessible and dependable data collection platforms and tools for the future.  

NOAA Fisheries is beginning the distribution of these funds by awarding the organization Openscapes approximately $1 million to support the adoption of open science practices, which will help modernize the way NOAA Fisheries collaborates on data-intensive science and improve the efficiency and quality of their scientific products.

This funding is part of the historic $3.3 billion in Inflation Reduction Act investments to NOAA, first announced in June 2023, which is focused on ensuring America’s communities and economies are ready for and resilient to the effects of climate change. 

Visit the Inflation Reduction Act website to learn about current and future funding opportunities.

Biden-Harris Administration, NOAA to provide $600,000 for citizen science

August 5, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced a $600,000 funding opportunity for members of the public to conduct science that helps fisheries and fishing communities prepare for climate change. These funds are made possible by the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in U.S. history. 

NOAA Fisheries is seeking proposals for citizen science projects, marking a unique collaboration with members of the general public who will actively participate in the scientific process, alongside researchers, to address real-world questions. These projects aim to produce information that could help to address data gaps in assessing the health of marine fish stocks or how fisheries and fishing communities may be impacted by changing environmental conditions. 

By harnessing the power of citizen science, NOAA seeks to expand the breadth and depth of observations available, accelerating data collection and delivery. 

“Given the impacts of climate change on fisheries, it’s crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of shifts in commercial, recreational and subsistence fishing, as well as their associated communities,” said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “Observations from people living in affected communities, what we call citizen science, has the potential to give us a better understanding of climate impacts and help us navigate those challenges.”

These funds are expected to support three to eight different projects at approximately $75,000 to $200,000 per project during fiscal years 2025-2026. This research will help increase the number and types of observations NOAA can make, accelerating the collection and delivery of data, and contributing to timely and accurate management decisions for vulnerable species and sustainable fisheries.

How to apply for funding

Applications can be submitted through the Grants.gov website by 11/4/2024. Projects should be designed with scientific quality and data credibility as core considerations and are available to applicants including individuals, academic institutions, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, state governments and tribal and local organizations. Additional information for applicants is available on the NOAA Fisheries website.  

This funding opportunity follows NOAA Fisheries’ June 2023 announcement highlighting the agency’s intentions for $145 million of Inflation Reduction Act funds focused on transforming our data enterprise.

More: Visit NOAA’s NOAA’s Inflation Reduction Act web portal to learn about current and future funding opportunities. 

Climate Change Efforts Forge Ahead Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act

February 24, 2024 — Read the full release at NOAA Fisheries:

As we proceed into 2024, we want to make sure you’re caught up on our efforts toward mitigating climate change. In 2023, we received historic funding under the Inflation Reduction Act, which has allowed us to prioritize and tackle several critical areas impacted by climate change. A major priority for NOAA Fisheries is accelerating the pace of our response to rapidly changing oceans. The infusion of these funds allows us to focus on several critical areas.

North Atlantic Right Whales ($82 Million)

This funding, coupled with supplemental funds appropriated in FY23, provides us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address the North Atlantic right whale crisis with new technologies and new approaches. Human impacts, including climate change, continue to threaten the survival of this species.

Learn more about the North Atlantic right whale funding

Recently announced:

Red Snapper ($20 Million)

We will improve state and federal recreational fisheries surveys for red snapper and other reef fish in the Southeast. Our plans for red snapper are focused on improving recreational catch and discard estimates from federal and state surveys. Changing oceans will require enhancing data collection and monitoring efforts to better track the distribution and abundance of important species like red snapper.

Learn more about red snapper investments

Habitat Restoration and Fish Passage ($484 Million)

We continue our work to support fisheries and coastal communities across the country impacted by climate change through large-scale competitive funding opportunities and expert technical assistance.

Explore more about habitat restoration under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act

Tribal Fish Hatcheries ($300 Million)

Tribal initiatives include funding to support hatcheries across the West Coast. Funding will address deferred maintenance and repairs to hatcheries that produce Pacific salmon and steelhead in partnership with federally recognized tribes.

Learn more about the Columbia River Basin Hatcheries maintenance under the Mitchell Act

Regional Fisheries Management Councils ($20 Million)

Support to the councils will assist regulatory responses to current climate challenges. We need to implement more timely dynamic fishery management measures and increase fishing community resiliency to fishery changes caused by anticipated climate impacts.

Learn more about working with regional fisheries management councils to respond to climate change

Pacific Salmon ($42 Million)

We are enhancing our efforts to conserve, restore, and protect Pacific salmon in the face of climate change. Part of the funding for Pacific salmon will go to the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (announced in 2023). Part will go to science and research that supports transformative modeling to identify and prioritize high-impact restoration.

Learn more about the Pacific salmon science investment we just announced

Expect More in 2024

Data Acquisition and Management ($145 Million)

We will invest in advanced technologies, modern data systems, and infrastructure that expand and modernize stock assessments to account for climate change. This will increase the number and types of observations we can make, which will move us toward the greater sampling required to manage the nation’s large marine ecosystems.

Recently Announced:

Climate, Ecosystems, and Fisheries Initiative ($40 Million)

A cross-NOAA effort that will develop predictive capabilities of our oceans and associated ecosystems in support of actionable climate-informed advice to decision-makers.

Inflation Reduction Act Headlines Recap

April 2023

June 2023

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February 2024

Navy to build $146.7 million NOAA marine operations center in Rhode Island

December 6, 2023 — The U.S. Navy awarded a $146.7 million contract to New York-based Skanska USA to design and build a new National Oceanic and Atmospheric base on Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island, with plans for the facility to eventually be homeport for NOAA’s Marine Operations Center – Atlantic. 

Design details are still being finalized, according to a brief prepared statement issued by NOAA late Tuesday. requirements include having a pier that will accommodate four large vessels, a floating dock for smaller vessels, space for vessel repairs and parking and a building to be used for shoreside support and as a warehouse. Construction is anticipated to be completed by 2027. 

Design and construction of the NOAA port will be “funded in part by the Inflation Reduction Act — a historic $3.3 billion investment to help communities, including tribes and vulnerable populations, prepare, adapt and build resilience to weather and climate events in pursuit of a climate-ready nation,” according to the agency. “The act also supports improvements to weather and climate data and services, and strengthens NOAA’s fleet of research airplanes and ships.”

Read the full story at National Fisherman 

Biden-Harris Administration makes $106 million available for Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund as part of Investing in America Agenda

December 5, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA:

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA are announcing the availability of up to $106 million in funding through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) for Pacific salmon and steelhead recovery and conservation projects. This funding — which includes funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) — will support state and tribal salmon restoration projects and activities to protect, conserve and restore these fish populations and their habitats.

“Restoring Pacific salmon populations and their habitats is vital for communities on the West Coast and in Alaska,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This funding — supported  by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, a key pillar of Bidenomics — will power transformational, high-impact projects and support efforts by states and tribes to protect and conserve salmon populations.”

Read the full release from NOAA

Biden administration announces USD 20 million in funding for fisheries management addressing climate change

October 28, 2023 — The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and NOAA announced an additional USD 20 million (EUR 18.9 million) in funding for NOAA to assist regional fishery management councils with tackling the impact of climate change on fisheries management.

The funding, according to a release from NOAA, will be provided via the Inflation Reduction Act to support the various councils’ work on climate-related fisheries management and implementation.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource