Saving Seafood

Video Highlights Importance of Fishing in American Samoa

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

NOAA Fisheries is proud to release We Fish! American Samoa. We collaborated with local fishermen and fishing communities to tell the story of recreational and non-commercial fishing in American Samoa. The video offers a lens into Samoan culture, and gives a glimpse into the different types of fishing methods common in the territory. Interviews with local fishermen help stress the importance of these activities in daily life.

“It is an expected part of life that we rely on the ocean and on the land for food and for provisions of families’ livelihood,” says Sili Satatua from the Village of Fagasa on Tutuila Island, American Samoa.

We Fish! American Samoa reveals the traditional Samoan practice of sharing within the community, and the need to act as stewards of local marine resources. It highlights the importance of non-commercial and recreational fishing—both in American Samoa and across the Pacific Islands region. It is a resource for food, an outlet for fun and education, and a way to perpetuate cultural family practices and the conservation of marine resources for future generations.

Watch the video here

New study triples estimate of red snapper in Gulf of Mexico

March 24, 2021 — There are about three times as many red snapper as previously estimated in the Gulf of Mexico, according to a study released Wednesday about the popular game and table fish over which recreational anglers and federal regulators have fought for years.

The $12 million Great Red Snapper Count estimated that the Gulf holds about 110 million adult red snapper — those at least 2 years old. A 2018 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration marine fisheries’ estimate was about 36 million.

“This new information should translate into greater access and longer fishing seasons for families,” Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy said in a news release Wednesday.

Clay Porch, director of NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center Director in Miami, said peer reviewers will be going over the science for the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council, which is likely to consider revising quotas in April, Porch said Tuesday.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at the Star Tribune

Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishing Year 2021 Default Management Measures Begin April 1

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

Effective April 1

Beginning April 1, 2021, we are implementing default management measures for the scallop fishery until we can implement final specifications in Framework Adjustment 33 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (if approved).

The New England Fishery Management Council voted on final 2021 allocations in Framework Adjustment 33 on January 27, 2021, and, if we approve the action, we will adjust scallop allocations according to Framework 33. We have noted these Framework 33 allocations and the default measures in our recent bulletin so you can consider these adjustments when planning your fishing activity between April 1 and the implementation of Framework 33.

Questions?

Industry: Contact Travis Ford, Sustainable Fisheries, 978-281-9233

Media: Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, 978-281-9175

Industry-Funded Monitoring Coverage in the Atlantic Herring Fishery Will Begin on June 1, 2021

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

NOAA Fisheries will begin selecting vessels with Category A or B herring permits fishing on declared herring trips for industry-funded monitoring (IFM) coverage of trips departing on or after June 1, 2021. Vessels issued a Category A or B Atlantic herring permit will be required to secure and pay for at-sea monitoring coverage on trips that are selected for IFM coverage. The IFM coverage target for the herring fishery is 50 percent of trips.

Notification, Reporting, and Monitoring Requirements

Vessels must follow all Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS) requirements for the herring fishery. For more information on notification and reporting requirements, please see the Notification, Reporting, and Monitoring Requirements for the Atlantic Herring Fishery bulletin from March 31, 2020. For more information about PTNS, please contact the PTNS team at nefsc.ptns@noaa.gov or (855) 347-4371.

Approved IFM Providers

In April 2020, NOAA Fisheries approved four companies to provide IFM services to herring vessels in 2020 and 2021. Please see the IFM in the Northeast webpage for a list of approved providers, services provided, and contact information.

Vessels issued a Category A or B Atlantic herring permit must log into their PTNS web account to review the list of approved providers in PTNS and rank them in order of preference. Vessels should rank their providers in PTNS by May 20, 2021.

For more information about ranking preferred providers, please contact the PTNS team at nefsc.ptns@noaa.gov or (855) 347-4371.

Fishing in Groundfish Closed Areas

A vessel may fish with midwater trawl gear inside certain Groundfish Closed Areas on a herring trip if:

  1. The vessel is assigned Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) coverage on the trip in PTNS, and
  2. The vessel carries a NEFOP observer on the trip.

If the vessel is issued a coverage waiver for the trip for any reason, the vessel is not permitted to fish inside a Groundfish Closed Area during that trip.

Midwater trawl vessel owners may purchase observer coverage to satisfy the requirement of carrying an observer to access Groundfish Closed Areas. Vessels carrying an IFM at-sea monitor are not allowed to fish with midwater trawl gear inside the Groundfish Closed Areas. For more information about purchasing observer coverage, please contact the PTNS team at nefsc.ptns@noaa.gov or (855) 347-4371.

Midwater Trawl Electronic Monitoring (EM) Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP)

Some herring vessels chose to use EM and portside sampling instead of at-sea monitoring to satisfy IFM coverage requirements in 2021. EM coverage will be provided by Saltwater Inc. through a contract with NOAA Fisheries. Participating vessels will be required to secure portside sampling services from an approved provider on trips that are selected for IFM coverage. Participating vessels will also be required to land at a NOAA Fisheries-approved sampling station on trips that are selected for portside sampling. Consistent with the NOAA Fisheries COVID-19 protocols for deploying human observers and monitors, vessels participating in the midwater trawl herring EM EFP will temporarily not be assigned Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) coverage. For questions about the EFP, please contact Maria Fenton at maria.fenton@noaa.gov or (978) 281-9196.

Read the full release here

Cod fishing season to reopen in Gulf of Maine

March 24, 2021 — Federal fishing regulators are reopening the recreational fishery for cod in the Gulf of Maine for two weeks while they consider the future of the industry.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday that recreational anglers and for-hire vessel operators can harvest cod from the Gulf of Maine from April 1 to April 14. They’re limited to one cod per day.

Cod fishing was once the backbone of the New England economy, but the fishery collapsed after years of overfishing and is vulnerable to environmental changes. The New England Fishery Management Council has recommended status quo measures for recreational Gulf of Maine cod fishing for the 2021 fishing year, which starts May 1.

Read the full story at the Associated Press

Nearly $100 Million Proposed to Restore Gulf-wide Resources Impacted by Deepwater Horizon

March 23, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA and the Deepwater Horizon Regionwide Trustee Implementation Group is seeking public input on their first draft restoration plan (PDF, 346 pages). The group, exemplifying collaboration and coordination among the trustees, includes all four federal agencies and all five Gulf states restoring the environment after the 2010 oil spill. Wildlife and other natural resources affected by the spill often live and migrate across jurisdictional boundaries, which requires a region-wide approach to restoration. This approach also links projects across regional jurisdictions.

The plan proposes $99.6 million for 11 restoration projects across all five states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. It also targets specific locations in Mexico and on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Comments will be accepted through May 6, 2021 and the trustees are hosting two public webinars on April 15, 2021.

Proposed Project Alternatives

The draft restoration plan evaluates projects to restore natural resources injured by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It proposes a portfolio of projects restoring sea turtles, marine mammals, oysters, and birds. The 11 proposed projects include:

  • Four projects ($18.6 million) will restore sea turtles through projects focusing on nesting beaches, enhancing stranding and salvage networks, and collaborating with recreational and commercial fisheries to reduce bycatch and to gather information to inform potential future restoration projects
  • One of the sea turtle projects, the “Restore and Enhance Sea Turtle Nest Productivity” project, includes components located on key sea turtle nesting beaches on the Atlantic coast of Florida and in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico
  • Three projects ($7.2 million) will restore marine mammals through enhancing stranding and salvage networks and working with fisheries, including collaborating with shrimp fishing communities to reduce dolphin entanglements in gear, and hook-and-line fisheries to reduce dolphin injuries and deaths
  • One project ($35.8 million) will increase the resilience of and restore oyster reefs by linking brood reefs and sink reefs in each of the five Gulf of Mexico states
  • Two projects ($31 million) will restore birds through habitat restoration and nesting colony management
  • Additionally, one project ($7 million) will restore both sea turtles and birds through the removal of marine debris

The estimated combined cost of the proposed projects is $99.6 million. The broad geographic areas covered ensure restoration efforts are comprehensive and effective for the entire ecosystem. The proposed projects in the draft plan may also complement projects planned or underway in other restoration areas.

We appreciate the great response to our request for project ideas. We screened than 5,100 project ideas for consistency with priorities identified in the request and the Trustee Council’s Programmatic Restoration Plan.

Read the full release here

NOAA Fisheries Releases the 2017 National Report of Marine Mammal Strandings in the United States

March 23, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Protected Resources, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program has prepared a report on marine mammal strandings and emergency response in the United States for calendar year 2017.

In 2017, there were 5,764 confirmed strandings in the United States. Of these, 1,426 were in the Greater Atlantic Region. While more than 30 different species of marine mammals can be found in the waters of New England and the mid-Atlantic states, the majority of stranding reports involve seals. To read more about strandings in the Greater Atlantic Region check out the regional report.

What Can We Learn From Strandings?

Every marine mammal stranding event is unique and poses different challenges. Organized stranding response by highly trained and authorized personnel best serves the well-being of the stranded animals, and helps manage risks to public health and safety. The U.S. Marine Mammal Stranding Response Network is comprised of more than 100 organizations that provide first response capabilities for cetaceans and pinnipeds (except walrus) that are sick, injured, in distress, or dead.

Data collected from stranded and rehabilitated marine mammals provides valuable information on the biology, physiology, and disease risks of those species, and the lessons learned with species from stable populations can greatly help conservation of threatened or endangered species. For some species, the only information available about its biology and natural history has been gained from stranded specimens. Data collected from live or dead stranded animals can also provide important information regarding human impacts on marine mammals such as interactions between marine mammals and fisheries, vessels, marine debris, or the effects of pollution (oil spills, contaminants, and heavy metals).

Thanks to our Stranding Network partners for the valuable work that they do.

How to Report a Stranded Marine Mammal

If you come across a stranded marine mammal, remain a safe and legal distance from the animal. Please report the animal to the 24/7 hotline 866-755-6622.

The most important information to collect is the date, location of stranding (including latitude and longitude), number of animals, whether the animal is alive or dead, and species, if known.

Questions?

Media: Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, 978-281-9175

NOAA Announces the 2021 Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Recreational For-Hire Season

March 23, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

WHAT/WHEN:

The 2021 red snapper fishing season for vessels with federal for-hire reef fish permits is 63 days in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf).

  • The season for federally permitted for-hire vessels will begin at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2021, and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 3, 2021.
  • Private Anglers Note: Each Gulf state will set the private angling season for state and federal waters.  Please check with your state agency for specific dates.

HOW THE SEASON WAS DETERMINED:

  • The red snapper total recreational quota is 7,399,000 pounds whole weight. 7% is allocated to the private angling component and 42.3% is allocated to the for-hire component.
  • For the for-hire component:
    • The 2021 quota for the federal for-hire component is 3,130,000 pounds whole weight.
    • The annual catch target for the federal for-hire component is 2,848,000 pounds whole weight, which is 91% of the quota.
    • The number of days for the federal for-hire component to harvest its annual catch target was projected using recent catch rates and mean weights.

REGULATIONS FOR FISHING IN FEDERAL WATERS:

  • Vessels with a Federal Gulf Charter/Headboat Permit for Reef Fish:
    • Persons aboard a federally permitted for-hire vessel cannot fish for or possess red snapper in federal or state waters when the federal for-hire season is closed.
    • If the federal permit is transferred off the vessel, persons aboard the vessel cannot, at any time during that fishing year, fish for or possess red snapper in federal waters when the federal for-hire season is closed.
    • These restrictions apply even if the vessel is not acting as a charter vessel; for example, the captain is taking his family fishing.
    • These restrictions apply regardless of any other permit on the vessel.
    • Relevant regulations: 50 CRF 622.39(c) and 622.41(q)(2)(iii)(B).
  • State licensed for-hire vessels without a Federal Gulf Charter/Headboat Permit for Reef Fish:
    • The delegation of management to the Gulf states for the red snapper private angling component does not allow for-hire vessels to fish for or possess red snapper in or from federal waters without a federal for-hire permit.
    • Please see state regulations relative to fishing for red snapper in state waters.
  • Vessels with a Federal Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish Permit:
    • Persons aboard the vessel can recreationally fish for red snapper when the private angling season is open if they declare they are recreationally fishing when they hail out through the vessel monitoring system (VMS), or call-in system.
      • This does not apply if the vessel also has a Federal Gulf Charter/Headboat Permit for Reef Fish (see above).
    • While on a recreational trip, each person aboard is restricted to the bag limit, no commercial quantities of any reef fish species can be on board, and the fish may not be sold.
    • Relevant regulations: 50 CFR 622.39(b), 622.28(e), 622.38(a)(2).

White House appoints former NOAA leader Jane Lubchenco to key climate change role

March 23, 2021 — The White House has appointed Jane Lubchenco, a well-known marine scientist at Oregon State University and former head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to a high-level position coordinating climate and environmental issues within its Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

The announcement scheduled for Friday marks another step in the Biden administration’s all-of-government approach to tackling climate change.

Lubchenco is serving in the renamed position of deputy director for climate and the environment, which in previous administrations had been known as the head of “energy and the environment.” The renaming signifies the emphasis the Biden Administration is placing on climate change.

Lubchenco’s portfolio encompasses a broad set of issues that President Biden asked OSTP officials to address in a letter on Jan. 15. In the letter to Eric Lander, nominated to serve as presidential science adviser, Biden tasked OSTP with finding climate change solutions that will help improve the economy and health, “especially in communities that have been left behind.”

Read the full story at The Washington Post

Release of the North Atlantic Right Whale Scenario Planning Summary Report

March 22, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA has released the North Atlantic Right Whale Scenario Planning Summary Report, which provides the discussions and recommendations from a NOAA Fisheries-led exercise. During the exercise, experts explored plausible future conditions for North Atlantic right whales and developed possible options to address these conditions to improve recovery. This exercise complements and enhances the many important ongoing efforts to recover right whales.

NOAA Fisheries will consider the priority actions identified from this exercise, as well as other relevant information, in its efforts to help with right whale recovery. NOAA will continue to work with our partners to optimize North Atlantic right whale recovery in the future.

Questions?

Contact Diane Borggaard, NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region or Dori Dick, NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources.