February 12, 2024 — An interstate management board has approved fishing size limits for Atlantic striped bass that formalize an emergency order put in place over the summer.
Scientists look for clues to right whale death on Martha’s Vineyard. It could take weeks.
February 10, 2024 — For about half her life, the North Atlantic right whale that washed up dead Jan. 28 on a Martha’s Vineyard beach lived with fishing rope wrapped around her tail and flukes, making her existence increasingly difficult and painful as she grew.
A team of more than 20 scientists last week conducted a necropsy on the 3-year-old female whale, looking for clues about her cause of death, which has yet to be determined, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Division. Researchers at the New England Aquarium‘s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life were able to identify her as the 2021 calf of the right whale known as Squilla, the now approximately 17-year-old’s only known calf.
The dead whale is listed in the North Atlantic right whale catalog as #5120 and was last seen alive in Cape Cod Bay in January 2023. Found washed up on Jan. 28 just south of Joseph Sylvia State Beach — a barrier beach along Nantucket Sound between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown — she was moved to Aquinnah for the investigation.
MAINE: Maine Grants $2.1 Million for preserving the working waterfront
February 10, 2024 — Maine Legislature approved $2.1 million in funds for working waterfront protection. Lands for Maine’s Future (LMF) and the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) will accept proposals for projects to protect further and secure commercial fishing access in Maine. Proposals will be accepted through a June 28 deadline.
The Working Waterfront Access Protection Program (WWAPP) funds given to winning proposals can be used to purchase property dedicated only to commercial fisheries or aquaculture use. Mixed-use properties must be clearly defined in support of a commercial fishing operation.
Applicants who are eligible for proposals include nonprofit land conservation organizations, private landowners, counties, cities, towns, and state agencies. Private businesses directly involved or other qualified organizations must provide permanent access for use by commercial fisheries. Potential applicants can contact Melissa Britsch, senior planner with the Maine Coastal Program, at 207-215-6171.
“For landowners who are willing to restrict future development of their property, the WWAPP could provide access to funds that can be used to build in a way that is resilient to the effects of a changing climate. This program will preserve and protect the valuable coastal facilities and infrastructure necessary to ensure a strong and durable coastal economy for Maine.” LMF board chair and DMR commissioner Patrick Keliher stated in a press release.
New England marshes and seagrasses have huge potential to combat climate change
February 8, 2024 — As states across New England rush to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, a massive carbon reservoir sits just below the tide: reed marshes and seagrass beds.
Scientists call these coastal habitats “blue carbon,” because the plants, and importantly, the sediment underneath them, can sequester a lot of carbon — several times more than a terrestrial forest, for example.
At least 7.5 million metric tons of carbon are held beneath New England’s salt marshes and eelgrass meadows, tall grasses that grow beneath the water, according to a first-of-its-kind report published by the US Environmental Protection Agency last year.
The EPA’s findings were highlighted at an event celebrating a new temporary exhibit at the New England Aquarium on Wednesday. Massachusetts has by far the most blue carbon habitats in New England — more than 112,000 acres, or about half of the region’s total salt marshes and seagrass beds.
NOAA designates fish habitat around New England wind power leases
February 8, 2024 — A swath of ocean off southern New England between Nantucket and Block Island – including tens of thousands of acres marked for offshore wind energy development – will be designated a ‘habitat area of particular concern’ by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NOAA Fisheries will finalize the action March 6, implementing a proposal by the New England Fishery Management Council over its concerns of how wind development will affect essential fish habitat, including Cox Ledge, an important bottom area for cod spawning.
The designation itself does not impose new conditions on the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and wind developer plans for energy projects. The HAPC brings additional conservation focus when NOAA Fisheries reviews and comments on federal and/or state actions that could impact essential fish habitat – such as BOEM’s reviews of offshore wind energy construction and operations plans.
“EFH consultations provide non-binding conservation recommendations to the implementing (action) agency to avoid, minimize, and mitigate the impacts of federal actions on EFH,” according to the NOAA Fisheries Feb. 2 notice in the Federal Register.
NOAA cites ‘chronic entanglement’ in death of juvenile right whale that washed up on Martha’s Vineyard
February 7, 2024 — Rope entanglement appears to be a factor in the death of a juvenile North Atlantic right whale that washed up on Martha’s Vineyard on Jan. 28, federal officials said Monday.
NOAA Fisheries said in a statement that the whale “had a chronic entanglement and was seen in poor health before its death. Experts are examining the rope and other samples collected from the whale.”
The deceased whale washed up near Joseph Sylvia State Beach on the Vineyard, officials said. NOAA Fisheries worked with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and other partners to recover the carcass and conduct a necropsy.
Council Recommends 2024 Recreational Measures for Cod and Haddock; Discusses Upcoming Atlantic Cod Transition Plan
February 7, 2024 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:
The New England Fishery Management Council voted on recreational fishing measures for three groundfish stocks when it met January 30-February 1, 2024 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The proposed measures, which are in the form of recommendations to NOAA Fisheries, include bag limits, fishing seasons, and minimum fish sizes for Gulf of Maine cod, Gulf of Maine haddock, and Georges Bank cod. NOAA Fisheries will strive to implement final measures by May 1, which is the start of the 2024 fishing year for groundfish.
The Council also received a presentation from NOAA Fisheries on its Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), which included a status update on the agency’s Fishing Effort Survey Pilot Study and next steps.
Additionally, the Council:
• Discussed the upcoming management track stock assessments for the four new Atlantic cod biological units and received an overview of what to expect next with the Atlantic Cod Transition Plan;
• Received a progress report on the Groundfish Plan Development Team’s work to develop metrics to evaluate the groundfish monitoring program in Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan; and • Reviewed a quarterly outlook for the year ahead.
Fishing regulators say no to catching more of this most valuable species
February 6, 2024 — Fishermen who harvest one of the most valuable marine species in the U.S. hoped for permission to catch more baby eels next year, but regulators said Monday the tight restrictions that have been in place for several years are likely to stay the same.
The tiny baby eels, which are often worth more than $2,000 per pound, are also called elvers. They are a critically important link in the worldwide supply chain for Japanese food. They are harvested from rivers and streams in Maine, sold to aquaculture companies and raised to maturity, then resold as food.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission needs to set a new quota for next year and beyond because the current management plan is expiring. The commission said Monday it’s only considering one option for next year’s limit and that is a little less than 10,000 pounds (4,535 kilograms), the same the level fishermen have been allowed to catch for several years.
Examination Continues into Cause of Whale’s Death on Martha’s Vineyard
February 6, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
On January 28, 2024, NOAA Fisheries was notified of a deceased female North Atlantic right whale near Joseph Sylvia State Beach on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. We worked closely with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Stranding Network partners, and local responders to recover the carcass and conduct a necropsy.
Preliminary observations indicated the presence of rope entangled near the whale’s tail. State law enforcement officials collected some of the rope and turned it over to NOAA’s Office Law Enforcement. It is now being examined by gear experts.
Whale Identified as #5120
Last week, scientists at the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life reviewed several images of the dead North Atlantic right whale. They matched it to whale #5120 in the right whale catalog based on clear matching features, such as callosity patterns and markings. This right whale, the only known calf of Squilla (#3720), was born during the 2021 calving season.
Necropsy Confirms Chronic Entanglement
A stranding response team completed the necropsy of North Atlantic right whale #5120 on February 1, 2024. From the necropsy, experts confirmed a chronic entanglement, with rope deeply embedded in the tail, and thin body condition. The necropsy showed no evidence of blunt force trauma. Cause of death is pending further histological and diagnostic testing of collected samples, which can take weeks to complete. We will share more information as it is available.
Large whale experts at the International Fund for Animal Welfare led the necropsy, with the assistance of more than 20 biologists from:
- Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)
- Atlantic Marine Conservation Society
- Whale Dolphin Conservation
- New England Aquarium
- Center for Coastal Studies
- Marine Mammals of Maine
- Virginia Aquarium
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative
Previous Entanglements
Aerial survey teams had previously seen right whale #5120 several times with entanglements, including August 2022 and January 2023.
Whale #5120 was last seen in June 2023 by Northeast Fisheries Science Center aerial observers, 60 miles northeast of Shippagan, New Brunswick. She was feeding with other whales. Her overall condition had declined and the wounds from the wraps of rope at the peduncle appeared to be more severe. No trailing line or buoys were seen.
Studies suggest that more than 85 percent of North Atlantic right whales have been entangled at least once. About 60 percent have been entangled multiple times. Entangling rope can cut into a whale’s body, cause serious injuries, and result in infections and mortality. Even if gear is shed or removed through disentanglement efforts, the time spent entangled can severely stress a whale, weaken it, and prevent it from feeding. It can sap the energy it needs to swim, feed, and reproduce.
MASSAHCUSETTS: USCG responds to fishing vessel that ran aground
February 5, 2024 — The United States Coast Guard responded to a fishing vessel that ran aground on Friday at Ballston Beach in Cape Cod.
The incident happened around 2:30 a.m. when USCG Sector SE New England was notified by the fishing vessel Miss Megan. There were three people onboard a the time.
USCG Station Province Town, USCG Air Station Cape Cod and USCG inspections and pollution response staff were called to the scene.
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