August 25, 2020 — The federal government is expanding the recreational fishing season for cod in the Gulf of Maine in the coming year.
Cod fishing is tightly monitored because the fish’s population off the Northeast has dramatically declined in recent decades. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a statement the recreational fishing rules “can be liberalized somewhat” without risking exceeding fishing quotas.
August 24, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Over recent decades, Alaska’s fisheries have undergone many regulatory, environmental, social, and economic changes, which have differentially affected dynamics in fishing families. Researchers from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center explored these changes and their effects on fishing families in a series of focus groups held throughout Gulf of Alaska fishing communities in 2017 and 2018. These focus groups covered three topics examining family roles and gender division of labor; impacts of management, environmental, economic and social conditions on these roles; and, the future of fishing families and women in Alaska’s fisheries. The research demonstrates the integral work of women in fishing families and their dynamic roles in Alaska’s fisheries more broadly. It further showcases how fishing families have, and continue to, adapt to multifaceted conditions in Alaska’s fisheries. This research has resulted in several scientific journal publications and web stories (which are available below), and is an ongoing effort to document novel conditions, adaptations, and resilience.
Thanks to Sarah Marrinan, North Pacific Fishery Management Council staff, for help with conducting these focus groups.
August 24, 2020 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:
NOAA Fisheries recently implemented new permitting and reporting requirements for recreational tilefish fishermen. All recreational vessel operators (including for-hire operators using their vessels on recreational trips) targeting or retaining golden or blueline tilefish from Virginia to Maine are now required to obtain a free permit from NOAA Fisheries and submit electronic vessel trip reports (eVTRs) within 24 hours of returning to port.
A new app has been released to make the reporting process easy and convenient. Harbor Light Software’s eFin Logbook has received certification from NOAA Fisheries as an approved application through which anglers can report their trips. Funded by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, eFin Logbook is a user-friendly application designed specifically for recreational tilefish anglers. The app is available for use on all Apple and Android mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, Android phone, and Android tablet).
“During our initial outreach efforts, many anglers told us that the existing NOAA-approved reporting systems were too complicated for recreational reporting,” said Mid-Atlantic Council Executive Director Chris Moore. “Recreational stakeholders are generally supportive of the need for improved data collection on tilefish but have stressed the need for a simpler, more user-friendly interface. In response to this feedback, we collaborated with Harbor Light Software on the development of eFin Logbook, the first NOAA-approved electronic reporting system designed specifically for recreational fishermen.”
At present, eFin Logbook can only be used by tilefish recreational anglers to satisfy reporting requirements. Future modifications may expand its capabilities to other reporting and personal fishing log applications. For-hire operators, many of whom have other reporting requirements, are encouraged to choose different software. To learn more about other electronic reporting options and decide which one is right for you, visit the NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region Electronic Reporting Web Page.
August 24, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries is announcing a reduction in the southern red hake in-season possession limit adjustment trigger from 90 percent of the total allowable landings (TAL) to 40.4 percent (123.2 mt) of the TAL because of a 2018 overage of the annual catch limit (ACL). In 2018, the fleet caught 49.6 percent more than the ACL allowed triggering the accountability measure that reduces the in-season possession limit adjustment trigger by 1 percent for each percent the ACL was exceeded.
Review of catch reports indicate that the new in-season possession limit trigger, that will be put into place by this action, has been reached (i.e., 145 mt of southern red hake have been harvested). As a result, the possession limit for southern red hake will be reduced from 5,000 lb to the incidental possession limit of 400 lb for the remainder of the fishing year.
This rule becomes effective August 25, 2020. For more details, please read the rule as filed in the Federal Register, and our permit holder bulletin.
August 21, 2020 — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday chose the Gulf of Mexico as one of two places where it will look to grow offshore fish farming.
The gulf joins Southern California in becoming a region for “Aquaculture Opportunity Areas,” the first two in the United States. President Donald Trump issued an executive order earlier this year outlining the concept as a way of boosting the country’s seafood industry and reducing its reliance on imported fish. The selection covers federal waters but does not identify more specific locations.
“The creation of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas will foster the U.S. aquaculture industry as a needed complement to our wild capture fisheries,” said Chris Oliver, the assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries, in a statement. “This type of proactive work creates opportunities for aquaculture farmers and maintains our commitment to environmental stewardship.”
August 21, 2020 — The following was released by The White House:
Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key positions in his Administration:
Andrew J. Lawler, of California, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
Andrew J. Lawler is a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Fisheries at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He serves concurrently as Alternate Federal Commissioner to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission.
Prior to joining the Department of Commerce, Mr. Lawler was the editor and publisher of numerous publications focused on general business topics, international trade, fishing, and ranching. He received his B.A. from the University of Southern California.
August 21, 2020 — Senators Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren are adding their names to the list of politicians questioning NOAA over their decision to reinstate at-sea monitors and observer coverage in the Northeast.
Observers and at-sea monitors for those in the Northeast were reinstated this past Friday, August 14. The requirement to carry observers on board had been waived for months due to health and safety concerns surrounding the coronavirus. However, NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Chris Oliver announced last month that the waiver would be lifted because “observers create no more risk than crew members.”
August 21, 2020 — A federal district court judge, in a decision issued on Aug. 19, gave the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) nine more months to craft new rules to protect endangered right whales from entanglement in lobster fishing gear.
Judge James E. Boasberg also denied a request by conservation organizations for an immediate ban on lobster fishing in a vast area of the ocean south of Nantucket Island in Massachusetts.
In April, Boasberg ruled that NMFS violated the federal Endangered Species Act in 2014 when it adopted new rules governing the lobster fishery by failing to adequately consider the risk that endangered right whales could be seriously injured or killed if they become entangled in the vertical end lines that connect lobster traps on the sea floor to marker buoys on the surface. The judge vacated the NMFS “biological opinion” required by the Endangered Species Act, which supported continuation of the lobster fishery. Two weeks ago, the court heard arguments on what should be done to remedy the situation.
The conservation organizations that originally filed the lawsuit in 2018 asked the court to give NMFS a Jan. 31 deadline to adopt a new biological opinion and to order an immediate end to lobster fishing in a vast area of southern New England waters. NMFS and several intervenors representing various segments of the lobster industry in Maine and Massachusetts asked for the court to delay its order vacating the biological opinion until May 31, 2021.
August 20, 2020 — NOAA Fisheries has announced that federal waters off the coast of Southern California and in the Gulf of Mexico will be the first two regions investigated for future Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in the U.S.
The areas were chosen for initial assement following on an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump issued with the goal of increasing domestic aquaculture production in the U.S. One part of the order stipulated the identification of “at least two” geographic areas within federal waters that would be suitable for commercial aquaculture within a year of the order.
August 19, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Andrew Jones was deep into an explanation of why pushing the boundaries of knowledge often involves interacting with people who have different ideas. He paused to sip his coffee, then his face changed from affable to deeply serious. He jumped from his chair, and moved out of the video conference frame.
Five seconds later he popped back into view to explain. He had to make a quick course correction for his youngest daughter who is learning to crawl.
“I’m afraid she’s going to flip over backwards on her head. It’s like, just be safe!” he said.
A thoughtful explanation, coffee after a run, and a teleconference baby cameo appearance crammed into these 30 seconds sum up Jones’ daily routine over the last few months. In a way, they’re also indicative of his approach to his new job: kindness and curiosity, led by analytical thinking.
Andrew, who goes by Andy, joined the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Cooperative Research Branch as fishery biologist in March. He now leads the branch’s research projects that depend on working directly with the fishing industry. His goal is to advance the application and usefulness of data the branch collects with commercial fishermen. He also wants to develop new projects that can address scientific and fishing industry needs.
“I am excited to work with Andy to expand our collaborations both within the center, and with the cooperative research community in the region,” said Anna Mercer, chief of the Cooperative Research Branch. “As time goes on, Andy will be an amazing resource to our industry partners—give Andy an observation to explain or a question to answer and he’ll get right on it!”