Saving Seafood

Extended: Voluntary Vessel Speed Restriction Zone South of Nantucket to Protect Right Whales

February 19, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The voluntary vessel speed restriction zone (Dynamic Management Area – DMA) previously established south of Nantucket has been extended to protect an aggregation of 19 right whales sighted in this area on February 17.

This DMA is in effect through March 5, 2019.

Mariners are requested to route around this area or transit through it at 10 knots or less.

Nantucket DMA coordinates:

41 12 N
40 28 N
070 36 W
069 31 W

Active Seasonal Management Areas (SMAs)

Mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less (50 CFR 224.105) are in effect in the following areas:

Cape Cod Bay SMA — in effect through May 15

Mid-Atlantic U.S. SMAs (includes Block Island) — in effect through April 30

Southeast U.S. SMA — in effect through April 15

More info on Seasonal Management Areas

Right Whales Are Migrating

North Atlantic right whales are on the move along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. With an unprecedented 20 right whale deaths documented in 2017 and 2018, NOAA is cautioning boaters to give these endangered whales plenty of room as they migrate south. We are also asking commercial fishermen to be vigilant when maneuvering to avoid accidental collisions with whales, remove unused gear from the ocean to help avoid entanglements, and use vertical lines with required markings, weak links, and breaking strengths.

Right Whales in Trouble

North Atlantic right whales are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Scientists estimate there are slightly more than 400 remaining, making them one of the rarest marine mammals in the world.

In August 2017, NOAA Fisheries declared the increase in right whale mortalities an “Unusual Mortality Event,” which helps the agency direct additional scientific and financial resources to investigating, understanding, and reducing the mortalities in partnership with the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and outside experts from the scientific research community.

More Info

Recent right whale sightings

Find out more about our right whale conservation efforts and the researchers behind those efforts.

Download the Whale Alert app for iPad and iPhone

Acoustic detections in Cape Cod Bay and the Boston TSS

Send a blank message to receive a return email listing all current U.S. DMAs and SMAs.

Details and graphics of all ship strike management zones currently in effect.

Reminder: Approaching a right whale closer than 500 yards is a violation of federal and state law.

Questions? Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, at 978-281-9103

Read the full release here

Recreational Fishing and Boating Community and NOAA Sign Memorandum of Agreement

February 19, 2019 — The following was released by the American Sportfishing Association:

This morning representatives from the recreational fishing and boating community, NOAA Fisheries and NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to develop and expand a framework of cooperation for planning and implementing mutually beneficial projects and activities to promote sustainable recreational fishing and boating conducted within federal marine waters, including national marine sanctuaries.

John Armor, Director of National Marine Sanctuaries for NOAA; Sam Rauch, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs for NOAA; and Frank Peterson, President and CEO of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) signed the MOA at a ceremony during the Miami International Boat Show.

They were joined on stage by Glenn Hughes, president of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

“Recreational fishermen are some of our nation’s most important conservationists. NOAA is excited about our continued collaboration with the recreational sector and the growing support for outdoor recreation as a driver of our Nation’s Blue Economy,” said RDML Timothy Gallaudet, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Acting NOAA Administrator. “This agreement will strengthen the partnership with NOAA, ensuring that sustainable recreational fishing and boating continue to benefit coastal communities and enrich the lives of millions of Americans.”

“We are thrilled to enter this MOA with NOAA and the fishing and boating industry to increase angler recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) efforts that will allow recreation opportunities for children, youth and families,” said RBFF President Frank Peterson. “This partnership will not only help improve fishing and boating experiences overall, but also support the conservation of our marine aquatic resources. It will also help us meet our 60 in 60 goal to grow participation, which benefits the entire industry.”

“The combined efforts of the sportfishing industry, the boating industry and our federal partners working together to promote our sport is beneficial to our economy, the health and well-being of our society and the conservation of our public waters,” said ASA President Glenn Hughes. “I thank NOAA for its willingness to work together with us to responsibly grow recreational fishing in saltwater.”

Read the full release here

NOAA Signs Memorandum of Agreement with Recreational Fishing and Boating Interests

February 15, 2019 — The following was release by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA Fisheries and NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the American Sportfishing Association, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation to cooperate on communications, messaging, and education with regard to sustainable fishing and boating in federal waters, including national marine sanctuaries.

The MOA commits all parties to a series of actions intended to improve communication and engagement around sustainable recreational fishing and boating activities. Commitments include, among others, establishing points of contact, meeting on a regular basis, information sharing, collaborative educational and promotional activities, and working to address barriers to sustainable boating and fishing. The purpose and objectives of the MOA are consistent with the purposes of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to “promote domestic commercial and recreational fishing under sound conservation and management…” The MOA is also consistent with the principle tenets of NOAA Fisheries National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy and planned Agency work to more actively engage the recreational fishing community in 2019-2020. Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries, stated, ” I am proud of the work NOAA Fisheries does to provide opportunities and memorable experiences for saltwater anglers everywhere.”

The MOA is in alignment with ONMS strategic goals, which recognize that public support through partnerships is critical to effective protection, sustainable use and enjoyment of sanctuaries, so they may continue to serve as the basis for thriving recreation, tourism and commercial activities.

We welcome the opportunity to talk with you about the MOA and how to best engage with NOAA Fisheries and NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Please feel free to contact Russell Dunn, National Policy Advisor on Recreational Fisheries or Grace Bottitta-Williamson, National Recreation and Tourism Coordinator/ONMS, for questions regarding NOAA Fisheries or NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, respectively.

You can also contact GARFO’s Recreational Fisheries Coordinator, Moira Kelly, at 978-281-9218.

Read the full release here

Ambitious new plan to save Atlantic salmon has big price tag

February 15, 2019 — The federal government outlined an ambitious, potentially costly new plan to restore Atlantic salmon in the United States, where rivers teemed with the fish before dams, pollution and overfishing decimated their populations.

The Atlantic salmon has declined in the U.S. to the point where the last remaining wild populations of in the U.S. exist only in a handful of rivers in Maine. But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are offering a new recovery plan to bring back those fish, which are listed under the Endangered Species Act.

The plan would take decades to fully implement, and it focuses on strategies such as removals of dams, installations of fish passages and increasing the number of salmon that survive in the ocean. It states that the estimated cost is about $24 million per year, not including money federal departments already spend on salmon recovery work.

How that money would materialize at this point is unclear. But the plan gives the species a roadmap to recovery, said Peter Lamothe, program manager for the Maine fish and wildlife complex for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“It gives all of the partners involved in this what to shoot for — what we collectively need to achieve to recover the species,” Lamothe said. “It gives us a path forward.”

Atlantic salmon are readily available to seafood consumers because of extensive aquaculture, but the wild fish have been declining in the Gulf of Maine since the 19th century.

Back then, 100,000 adult salmon returned annually to Maine’s Penobscot River, which remains the most important river for the species in America.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at the New Bedford Standard-Times

DELAWARE: Governor’s Office seeking Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council nominees

February 14, 2019 — The Office of Gov. John Carney is seeking candidates to be nominated for Delaware’s Obligatory Seat on the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council.

To be eligible for consideration as a nominee by the governor for selection to the MAFMC seat by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, individuals must be Delaware residents and must complete and submit a nomination application kit outlining their fisheries background, experience and ability to serve as a council member.

The MAFMC is responsible for managing fisheries in mid-Atlantic federal waters extending from three to 200 miles offshore from New York through North Carolina. MAFMC members must be prepared to attend six MAFMC meetings a year during a three-year term, with each meeting typically lasting four days. Council members are compensated by the MAFMC for travel expenses for transportation, hotel and meals and receive a stipend of $483.52 per meeting day.

Read the full story at the Dover Post

NOAA Fisheries Approves Modifications to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan

February 14, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Framework Adjustment 6 reduces the current management uncertainty buffer between the annual catch limit and catch target, allowing for a 20-percent increase in the total allowable landings in the wing and bait fisheries for the 2018 and 2019 fishing years. Specifically, the final rule will:

  • Adjust the management uncertainty buffer from 25 percent to 10 percent.
  • Increase the annual catch target for the skate complex to 28,194 mt from 23,495 mt.
  • Increase total allowable landings of skate wings to 10,499 mt from 8,749 mt.
  • Increase the total allowable landings of skate bait to 5,289 mt from 4,408 mt.

To get all the details on these management measures, read the final rule as filed in the Federal Register today and the permit holder bulletin posted on our website. Framework 6 does not make any adjustments to current possession limits.

Read the full release here

Mini baby boom births hope for right whales

February 14, 2019 — It appears that there has been some North Atlantic right whale whoopee going on, but whale researchers on Wednesday cautioned against viewing the recent sightings of six right whale calves as a sure sign of resurgence for the beleaguered species.

Whale researchers on Tuesday confirmed the sighting of the sixth right whale calf off the coast of Florida, elevating the 2018-2019 calving season above each of the past two years, but still well below the 20-year average of 17 calves per calving season.

“It’s definitely not enough to take the view that things have turned around for right whales,” said Philip Hamilton, a research scientist at the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life.

Right whales migrate along the Atlantic coast each year, arriving in New England waters to feed in the late winter and early spring, congregating on Stellwagen Bank and off Cape Cod. They migrate south in the fall to give birth off Florida and Georgia.

Going into this calving season, whale researchers estimated there are only 411 North Atlantic right whales remaining in the oceans, down from about 500 in 2010.

The imperiled state of the North Atlantic right whale stock has thrust fisheries regulators, such as NOAA Fisheries, conservationists and fishing stakeholders into action to try to reverse the dire trend of a shrinking right whale population.

So, producing any right whale calves during the 2019 calving season— which runs roughly from Dec. 1 until late March —remains something of a cause for celebration. It represents a significant improvement over 2018, when none were born, and a (to date) modest increase over 2017, when five calves were born.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

Congressman calls on Trump to pull nomination of Barry Myers to head NOAA

February 14, 2019 — A high-ranking House Democrat called on Wednesday, 13 February, for the Trump administration to withdraw the nomination of Barry Myers to lead NOAA after reports showed his former company paid USD 290,000 (EUR 256,832) in a settlement of sexual harassment claims that happened during his time as its chief executive officer.

Earlier this week, the Centre Daily Times reported the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs determined AccuWeather created a hostile work environment for women. Four women, who left the company between 1 January, 2014, and 21 December, 2017, have already claimed awards. More than 30 other former employees have agreed to the settlement.

In response, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, called on President Trump to pull Myers, citing NOAA’s own history sexual harassment and assault claims. The chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee said in a statement he hopes a new nominee would be able to “improve the agency’s troubling record” on maintaining a safe work environment.

“Federal employees have been subjected to the president’s unpopular ideas about sexual harassment and women in the workplace for the past two years,” Grijalva said. “Trump’s nomination of Mr. Myers sends the wrong message about his care for the agencies and people he oversees. He has a chance to do much better, and he should take it.”

Grijalva’s statement noted NOAA officials recently began taking steps to reduce sexual harassment and assault but the agency still continues to face claims of harassment and retaliation.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Cut in herring quota bodes ill for lobster

February 13, 2019 — Imagine running a trucking business and having your supply of diesel fuel cut by 70 percent.

For all practical purposes, that’s what happened to the Maine lobster industry last week.

On Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fisheries arm announced that it was cutting the 2019 herring quota by about 70 percent. That’s bad news for lobstermen.

While diesel oil is the fuel that powers most lobster boats, herring is the fuel that powers the Maine lobster industry.

Herring is the most popular bait used in the Maine lobster fishery and with the cut in the herring quota from about 110 million pounds last year to about 33 million pounds this year, bait is going to be scarce, and expensive.

The reduction wasn’t unexpected.

Last August, at the request of the New England Fishery Management Council, NOAA reduced the 2018 annual catch limit (ACL) for herring from about 231 million pounds to about 107 million pounds to reduce the risk of overfishing.

Read the full story at the Mount Desert Islander

 

NOAA and USFWS Release Atlantic Salmon Recovery Plan

February 12, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries and USFWS released a joint Atlantic Salmon Recovery Plan today. The Recovery Plan is the primary tool for guiding the species recovery process. The plan outlines needed actions, criteria for determining when the necessary level of conservation has been achieved, and time and cost estimates for meeting these criteria.

Atlantic salmon were once found in North American waters from Long Island Sound in the United States to Ungava Bay in northeastern Canada. Atlantic salmon are anadromous fish, spending the first half of their life in freshwater rivers and streams along the East Coast of North America and the second half maturing in the seas between Northeastern Canada and Greenland. Today, the last remnant populations of wild Atlantic salmon in U.S. waters exist in just a few rivers and streams in central and eastern Maine.

Atlantic salmon have been listed as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act since 2000, having declined from hundreds of thousands returning to New England rivers to around 1,000 individuals returning in 2017.

Through this recovery plan, NOAA Fisheries together with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is committed to giving Atlantic salmon their best chance to recover.

The recovery plan and a web story that explain more about Atlantic salmon conservation and our role in their recovery are available on our website.

As 2019 is the International Year of the Salmon, this Recovery Plan comes at the perfect time.