Saving Seafood

U.S. Coast Guard Needs Money And White House Attention To Tackle Depredatory Chinese Fishing

May 25, 2021 — President Joe Biden sketched out the business case for a larger U.S. Coast Guard last week, addressing new graduates at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. But that busy future may not get the cash it needs to become reality.

The mismatch between rhetoric and resources—always a challenge with the “can-do” Coast Guard—is particularly stark in the battle to constrain depredatory deep-sea fishing. Motivational speeches are nice to hear, but as Joe Biden’s Pentagon embraces a high-tech vision for America’s national security, the unprecedented emergence of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as a major national security issue risks being overlooked, sunk under a hail of hypersonics, artificial intelligence and robots that big defense contractors with big pockets really, really want the U.S. to pursue.

For some of President Biden’s newly appointed Pentagon leaders, disinterest in illegal fishing may well be a case of “not invented here.” And that’s a shame. One of the bigger surprises of the Trump administration is that illegal fishing managed to go “viral” during one of the most environmentally unfriendly administrations in American history. The policy focus was developed behind the scenes, ignored as high-level Trump administration officials focused on almost everything else but the sea. The issue was quietly advanced via a low-key confederation of oft-ignored professionals in the State Department, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, elements of the Department of Defense as well as certain intelligence agencies.

Read the full story at Forbes

2021 Atlantic Cod Stock Structure Workshops

May 25, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The New Hampshire Sea Grant, New England Fishery Management Council, and NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center will be hosting a series of workshops on Atlantic cod from June 1-July 1.

This four-part series will focus on the science driving the decision to split Atlantic cod stocks into five distinct biological stocks, instead of the two that are currently managed. Stemming from the 2020 report by the Atlantic Cod Stock Structure Working Group, this series will focus on the current science and management approaches to this fishery.

Presentations by technical experts will be followed by an open public discussion ensuring information is available to best inform the cod stock assessment process. There will be a follow-up series on the management implications of this split.

Registration is required to participate.

NOAA Fisheries Announces Final 2021 Mid-Atlantic Blueline Tilefish Commercial and Recreational Fishery Specifications

May 25, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries is finalizing blueline tilefish quotas for the 2021 fishing year, which began on January 1, 2021. Approved measures include acceptable biological catch (ABC), annual catch limit (ACL), and total allowable landings (TAL) for the commercial and recreational fisheries, as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

In 2020, the commercial sector landed 108% of the commercial TAL. By regulation, a commercial overage is deducted from the quota the following year. As a result, the commercial quota has been adjusted because of the overage in 2020. The recreational TAL was not exceeded so the recreational quota remains status quo.

All other requirements remain the same.

For more details, read the final rule as filed in the Federal Register today and the permit holder bulletin.

Read the full release here

MASSACHUSETTS: New Bedford is nation’s top-earning port for 20th consecutive year

May 24, 2021 — The Port of New Bedford was the nation’s highest value port for the 20th consecutive year, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced Thursday.

The agency, better known as NOAA Fisheries, released its report with 2019 fisheries data. New Bedford brought in $451 million with 116 million pounds of seafood in 2019, up from $431 million and 114 million pounds in 2018.

New Bedford’s high value is due in large part to its scallop fishery, the report said. Sea scallop landings account for 84% of the value of landings in the city’s port.

Dutch Harbor in Alaska, which was the highest port in volume, brought in nearly 6.5 times more weight than New Bedford, but only $190 million in value.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

New Reports Available to Help the Public Better Understand Recreational Party and Charter Fishing Impacts Associated with Offshore Wind Development Along the U.S. Atlantic Coast

May 24, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries has developed new analyses and reports to help the public better understand the impacts on recreational party and charter boat fishing associated with offshore wind development along the U.S. Atlantic Coast.  The new reports complement the previously developed analyses and reports of commercial fishing impacts associated with offshore wind development in the same region.

To help analyze how party and charter boat fishing operations may be impacted by offshore wind energy projects, NOAA Fisheries compared vessel logbook fishing location data from 2008-2018 to current offshore wind energy project areas.  We identified where and when fishing occurred relative to these areas and developed reports of potential socioeconomic impacts from each offshore wind project area based on the historic data. These reports include information on the amount of primary species retained, number of party and charter boat trips, number of angler trips, revenue associated with party and charter boat trips, and communities affected by each offshore wind development project area.  These reports will help estimate the potential impacts of such development on managed recreational fisheries and associated fishing communities.

The socioeconomic impact reports are now available online.  All data included in reports have been aggregated, as necessary, to protect data confidentiality.

Read the full release here

8 Things You Might Not Know About Threatened & Endangered Species in the Pacific

May 24, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

It’s Endangered Species Day! This is a time to celebrate the threatened and endangered species in the Pacific Islands region and renew our dedication to protecting and conserving them! With that in mind, we’re bringing you some interesting—and perhaps surprising—facts about our protected species. We’re and sharing how you can help make sure they’re around for future generations to enjoy.

Here’s why we think the threatened and endangered species in the Pacific Islands region are some of the most interesting animals on the planet!

1. False killer whales like to share!

These closely bonded animals not only share their prey with one another, but they’ve also been known to approach human snorkelers and divers with offerings from their fresh catch.

False killer whales are the least abundant species of toothed whale in Hawai‘i. And of the three populations that live here, the main Hawaiian Islands insular population is listed as endangered with fewer than 200 individuals remaining. While encounters are rare, we encourage you to report sightings at the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline: (888) 256-9840.

Check out the 2020 field update from our partners at Cascadia Research Collective

2. Male hawksbill sea turtles spend their lives at sea and are rarely observed or tagged.

The hawksbill population of Hawaiʻi may be the most endangered turtle population in the world. There are fewer than 200 known adult female hawksbill sea turtles (honuʻea) in Hawaiʻi, but scientists don’t know how many males are out there. They suspect the number may be small because only around 20 percent of Hawaiʻi hawksbills that strand (are dead or injured) on the beach are male. What’s more, incubation temperature determines a hatchling’s sex: high temperatures produce females, suggesting fewer males will be born as global temperatures increase. Report all honu‘ea sightings to RespectWildlife@noaa.gov.

Learn to distinguish honu‘ea from the more common honu (green sea turtle) by their narrow heads and pointed beaks

Read the full release here

Seasonal Prohibition on All Fishing (Commercial and Recreational) for or Possession of Queen Conch in Federal Waters off St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

May 24, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

What Is Happening And When:

NOAA Fisheries reminds the public of the upcoming seasonal prohibition on fishing for or possession of queen conch on board a fishing vessel.

  • This annually recurring prohibition will take effect at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2021.
  • The queen conch harvest season will reopen at 12:01 a.m., local time, on November 1, 2021.
  • The closure applies in federal waters east of 64°34′ W longitude, including that portion of the Lang Bank area falling within those federal waters (see map below).
  • Remaining federal waters are closed year-round to all fishing for queen conch.
  • Possession of queen conch in U.S. Virgin Island jurisdictional waters (0-3 nautical miles) is prohibited June 1 through October 31.
  • Possession of queen conch in Puerto Rico jurisdictional waters (0-9 nautical miles) is prohibited August 1 through October 31.

Why This Closure Is Happening:

This seasonal closure protects queen conch when they are spawning (reproducing) and therefore more vulnerable to fishing pressure.

During the open season (November 1 – May 31), fishing for queen conch in U.S. Caribbean federal waters is only allowed in waters east of 64°34′ W longitude.

Read the full release here

NOAA Announces Projects Recommended for Saltsontall-Kennedy Funding

May 24, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries has recommended more than $11 million for 43 projects under the 2021 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Grants Program. The projects fall into two categories:

  • Promotion, Development, and Marketing and Science
  • Technology that Promotes Sustainable U.S Seafood Production and Harvesting

For more than 40 years, NOAA has awarded grant funding for projects under the Saltonstall-Kennedy program to individuals, institutions, organizations, and businesses across the country. These funds help address the needs of fishing communities, support economic opportunities, and build and maintain resilient and sustainable fisheries.

The goal of the Saltonstall-Kennedy program is to fund projects that:

  • Address the needs of fishing communities
  • Optimize economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries
  • Increase other opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable

These 43 proposals represent the top projects best positioned to meet this goal.

Demand for funding was high again this year. Initially, NOAA received 276 pre-proposals. Out of that number, at least three subject matter experts reviewed 158 full proposals requesting more than $42 million during the technical merit review phase. The top proposals in each NOAA Fisheries’ region were recommended for 2021 funding.

At this point in the selection process, the application approval and recommended funding is not final. Divisions of NOAA and the Department of Commerce, NOAA’s parent agency, must still give final approval before successful applicants receive funding.

Read the full release here

Number of overfished stocks in US on the decline

May 21, 2021 — The number of US fisheries deemed “overfished” declined in 2019, with 22 stocks subject to overfishing versus 2018’s status of 26 stocks — a sign some rebuilding efforts are showing results.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Report to Congress on the Status of US Fisheries, released Thursday, surveys fisheries in US territorial waters annually to determine the status of stocks deemed troubled under NOAA’s management guidelines.

In its report, NOAA designates fisheries under excessive pressure as either “overfished” or subject to “overfishing.”

Read the full story at IntraFish

MASSACHUSETTS: Pandemic, new NOAA rules sink tuna tourney

May 21, 2021 — The COVID-19 restrictions on personal protections and public gatherings are easing. They just didn’t ease in time to save this summer’s Bluefin Blowout tuna fishing tournament.

The organizers of the popular Gloucester-based tournament, which raised $366,000 in charitable donations in the last year the tournament was held in 2019, have canceled the 2021 tournament that was to run July 29 to 31 at the Cape Ann’s Marina Resort off Essex Avenue.

It would have been the ninth year the tournament was held. Now, it is the second consecutive year it has been canceled because of the pandemic and its impacts.

“As restrictions to the COVID pandemic loosen up, it is apparent that we have to make a decision based on current conditions facing the tournament,” Warren Waugh, the producer and driving force behind the Bluefin Blowout, said Wednesday in a statement. “Presently, we understand that NOAA regulations are very restrictive for a weekend tournament and there are changes proposed that would make the tournament very difficult to pull off.”

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times