Saving Seafood

Pacific Hake Researchers Hustle to get U.S. Data into Stock Assessment After Government Shutdown

February 1, 2019 — SEAFOOD NEWS — The Pacific Hake Joint Technical Committee, comprising both U.S. and Canadian scientists, is hustling to include U.S. Pacific hake age data in the coastwide draft stock assessment, the Committee said in an email to interested parties this week.

The researchers made the update this week after the partial U.S. government shutdown ended. U.S. scientists Ian Taylor and Aaron Berger, both with the NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center, were furloughed during the shutdown. The JTC is responsible for producing the coastwide whiting stock assessment upon which both countries’ allocations are based.

At the time of the shutdown in December 2018, U.S. age data was not included in the modelling. Canadian researchers said then they would do their best to produce the stock assessment based on information they had at the time. The draft assessment is due for publication on Feb. 6.

In this week’s email notice, the JTC said it will “present the assessment based on the modelling done so far, without 2018 age data included for the base model and sensitivities. The Executive Summary will be based on the model which does not include 2018 age data.”

However, they are still hoping to get 2018 U.S. age data included.

“If this happens within the next few days, the model with 2018 age data included will be run as an MCMC and presented as an appendix with all projections and decision tables, the same as what appear in the Executive Summary,” the JTC said in the email. “It will be subject to review and can be chosen to be the model for providing advice by the [Scientific Review Group] should they choose to do so.”

The SRG is scheduled to meet Feb. 19-22 in Vancouver, British Columbia, to review the assessment.

This story was originally published by SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

Another Government Shutdown Could Sink Scallop Fishery Profits

February 1, 2019 — The world is smitten with scallops. Their subtle sweetness and firm but somehow delicate bite has many wanting more. When I previously worked in seafood sales, I couldn’t believe how much chefs in Los Angeles would pay to put the great New Bedford sea scallop on their menus. We’re talking over $35 per pound for the big ones. I’d think to myself, “These chefs know there are scallops in the Pacific, right?”

They did know, of course, but Pacific scallops lack one thing that consumers have grown to demand – heft. The Atlantic sea scallop is the largest commercially fished scallop species, with meat weights of up to 70 grams. This means restaurants can put four on a plate and sell their dish for $30 or more, and still make a profit.

For the most part, scallopers are thriving. Scallops caught in the U.S. each year are worth more than $430 million – making them one of the most valuable seafoods in the nation. But recently, there has been a major setback.

During the longest government shutdown in American history, fishermen and businesses in the seafood industry struggled to stay afloat. Until the partial closure ended on January 25, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the federal agency in charge of regulating fishermen’s operations, was closed, with only “essential” personnel working. This caused cascading effects all the way down the seafood supply chain, from processors to distributors to restaurants. Without the full NMFS workforce available, scientific data collection was put on hold, which restricted the ability of fisheries managers and federal workers to do their jobs.

Read the full story at Forbes

Mid-Atlantic Boaters: Watch out for Whales!

January 31, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

As large whales migrate along the Eastern Seaboard, remember to follow responsible wildlife viewing guidelines to keep everyone–whales and people– safe!

Whales are large and need lots of space to feed, travel, and rest. In an underwater world, noisy boats can interrupt their activities, make whales nervous, or make them leave an area. Getting too close raises the risk for the whale of being hit by a boat or a propeller, and can cause injuries to boaters as well.

Reduce your risks and increase your chances of seeing natural, uninhibited whale behaviors by keeping a safe distance (100 feet for most whales, 1,500 feet for right whales). Use your zoom or a telephoto lens to capture the experience, or just relax and enjoy the awesome experience of sharing the water with whales.

If whales leave the area, it’s their way of telling you they’ve had enough attention. Respect their space. It’s also illegal to chase or in any way change a whale’s natural behavior.

Read the full release here

2019 Federal Funding Opportunity for NOAA’s New England Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Grants

January 29, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

he NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region has released details of the FY19 New England Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program funding opportunity. A total of roughly $250,000, subject to appropriations, may be available to fund three to five projects.

Applications are due by February 19, 2019. The full Federal Funding Opportunity is now available; it includes comprehensive information about eligibility and the application process. Information on the application process can also be found on grants.gov and our funding opportunities page.

B-WET is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning for K-12 school students. B-WET administers a competitive funding process that promotes Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). MWEEs are multi-stage activities within formal K-12 programs that include learning both outdoors and in the classroom. Funded projects provide MWEEs for students and related professional development for teachers.

New England B-WET focuses on the priorities and challenges facing New England watersheds by helping students and teachers apply scientific methods and tools to understand and appreciate their local watershed system. B-WET encourages students to become more interested in science, technology, engineering, and math. By focusing on watersheds where they live and by participating in personally relevant stewardship projects, students and teachers can become knowledgeable stewards of their local environment.

Read the full release here

NOAA after shutdown: Priority getting fishermen back to work

January 29, 2019 — Furloughed NOAA Fisheries staffers returned to work Monday from the partial shutdown of the federal government and commenced the task of playing catchup as a new fishing season beckons.

In Gloucester, the furloughed workers, sent home 35 days ago, resumed their duties at the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office on Great Republic Drive as Regional Administrator Mike Pentony acknowledged the shutdown’s impact on fishing stakeholders and set the overarching agenda moving forward.

“We will have three priorities as we ramp back up to full and normal operations: getting fishermen back to work; completing consultations so federally permitted projects in your communities can move forward; and ensuring that adequate monitoring and protections are in place for our protected resources,” Pentony said in a statement.

Pentony conceded the shutdown has left the agency behind schedule for completing several essential actions as the 2018 fishing season winds down and the May 1 start of the 2019 season moves closer.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

CALIFORNIA: The Battle over Anchovy

January 29, 2019 — A little over a year after a federal judge overturned a catch limit for the central population of north anchovy, nothing has changed.

Now a judge has issued an order that a new federal rule must be made within 90 days, before April 18.

This is the latest development in a battle that began in 2016 when the National Marine Fisheries Service defined the catch level using a study that only included data collected through 1990 instead of a study that included more data extending through 2011.

Read the full story at The Mercury News

Reminder: Closed Area 1 North Seasonal Closure for All Vessels Begins February 1

January 29, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

On February 1, the Closed Area I (CAI) North seasonal closure goes into effect, through April 15. See below for map and coordinates.

The closure applies to all commercial and recreational vessels except:

Vessels that are transiting;

  • Vessels fishing with exempted gears (spears, rakes, diving gear, cast nets, tongs, harpoons, weirs, dip nets, stop nets, pound nets, pots and traps, purse seines, surfclam/quahog dredge gear, pelagic hook and line, pelagic longlines, or single pelagic gillnets);
  • Vessels participating in the mid-water trawl exempted fishery; and
  • Vessels fishing with scallop dredges.

 

Agreement to end government shutdown brings relief to US seafood industry

January 28, 2019 — Workers at NOAA Fisheries and other federal agencies returned to their jobs Monday, 28 January, for the first time in more than a month, thanks to an agreement reached Friday between the U.S. Congress and the administration of President Donald Trump.

However, the resumption could be short-lived, as the deal to fund several government agencies lasts for only three weeks. That means another shutdown could happen next month if lawmakers and President Trump cannot finalize spending priorities for the 2019 fiscal year or approve another temporary bill.

While the talks hinge on whether the president gets funding for a border wall, numerous other policies and initiatives have been affected by the impasse. That includes some tied to the seafood industry.

For example, while the Food and Drug Administration maintained inspecting foreign seafood imports during the shutdown, funding for additional inspections remains in limbo.

Last July, the Senate passed a bill that would add more than USD 3 million (EUR 2.6 million) in funding for such inspections. However, the House failed to pass the bill, which would increase inspection funding by 26 percent, before Congress’ term ended at the beginning of this month.

Since the new Congress convened, the House has passed a bill that includes the funding, first proposed by U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana). That bill has yet to pass in the Senate.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Statement from the GARFO Regional Administrator on the Government Shutdown

January 28, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

On behalf of all the staff here at GARFO, let me say how happy we are to be back to work! This has been a trying time for our staff, our families, and our communities. While we are thankful the shutdown is over and we’re able to get back to serving the American people, we are now coming to grips with the full effect and impact of the shutdown on the people, communities, industries, and resources we serve.

We recognize and understand this shutdown didn’t just affect our federal staff and contractors; it also had, and continues to have, significant impacts on many of our partners and stakeholders. Fishing vessels have been unable to fish because they couldn’t get permits or transfer quota; projects couldn’t move forward without the required consultations; and there were inadequate resources to fully monitor and assess our protected resources.

Several fisheries have not been able to operate at full capacity because we haven’t been able to finalize the regulations that would increase quotas or fully restore the expected specifications. Some of these actions are past due, and some are due very soon. Frankly, we are behind schedule on many, many critically important actions. While our dedicated staff would like to get everything done on time, we simply will not be able to. The impacts of a shutdown of this scope and duration cannot be remedied quickly.

We will have three priorities as we ramp back up to full and normal operations: Getting fishermen fishing; completing consultations so federally permitted projects in your communities can move forward; and ensuring that adequate monitoring and protections are in place for our protected resources.

What does this mean? At least initially, some actions will not be prioritized and, even for our highest priorities, it will take staff time to work through the significant backlog of time-critical work that has accumulated over the last month. We ask for your patience and understanding as we work as quickly as possible to address all the priority actions that would have been completed during the shutdown, and on the actions that are needed in the coming weeks.

We are in this together!

Respectfully,

Michael Pentony

Read the full statement here

Marine Mammal Stranding Center still running amid government shutdown

January 25, 2019 — While many federal agencies that regulate wildlife have had to stop working during the government shutdown, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center continues to rescue and treat animals in waterways across the state.

The nonprofit rescue and rehabilitation center has a permit and authorization from the state and federal governments, but operates with its own paid staff and volunteers to respond to strandings of whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles.

All funding comes through donations, memberships and its own fundraising efforts.

“I feel for the people that are being furloughed and can’t collect a paycheck, but it doesn’t affect what we’re doing,” founder Bob Schoelkopf said.

The center is currently looking after three seals it rescued during the shutdown from Beach Haven, Long Branch and Harvey Cedars.

Typically, the Stranding Center would also have to submit its final health report to the National Marine Fisheries Service when releasing an animal. Even though the service won’t be around to process the material, the center said it will continue to follow procedure.

Read the full story at the Press of Atlantic City