Saving Seafood

NOAA awards $5.8 million in grants to support endangered, threatened species recovery

Application period for 2018 grants now open

August 11, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA announces the award of $5.8 million in species recovery grants to states and tribes to promote the recovery of endangered and threatened marine species, ranging from large whales to tiny shellfish.

This year’s awards include almost $1.1 million for six new grants to four states and one federally recognized tribe. The remaining $4.7 million will support 22 continuing projects for 20 states and two tribes.

Species Recovery Grants provide funding to states and tribes to support management, research, and outreach efforts designed to recover vulnerable species to a point where Endangered Species Act protections are no longer necessary. Funding may also support monitoring of species under consideration for protection or species recently removed from the list of endangered and threatened species.

Both new and continuing projects focus on the recovery of extremely vulnerable species as part of NOAA’s Species in the Spotlight initiative, including Cook Inlet beluga whales, Atlantic salmon, white abalone, and Southern resident killer whales.

“Helping these species recover means bringing partners to the table to tackle critical conservation challenges at the local level,” said Donna Wieting, director of NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources. “These grants are an effective way for us to help states and tribes work with us to recover our most vulnerable marine species.”

In the Greater Atlantic Region, we awarded funds for one new grant:

  • Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries: Right Whale Surveillance and Habitat Monitoring in Cape Cod Bay and Adjacent Waters

And awarded continuing grants to:

  • Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control: Conservation andRecovery of Juvenile Sturgeons in the Delaware River
  • Maine Department of Marine Resources: Migratory characterizations of Atlantic salmon smolts and adults in the Penobscot River, Maine
  • Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Reproductive Habitat of Chesapeake Bay DPS Atlantic Sturgeon in the Nanticoke Estuary
  • New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife: New Jersey Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeon Research and Management
  • Penobscot Indian Nation: Atlantic Salmon Management and Outreach Project
  • Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries: Assessment of critical habitats for recovering the Chesapeake Bay Atlantic sturgeon distinct population segments – Phase II: A collaborative approach in support of management

In addition, the 2018 call for proposals is now open, with a continued focus on recovering NOAA’s Species in the Spotlight. Tribal applications and state applications are due November 1, 2017. To apply, please visit www.grants.gov.

Reminder to Scallop Fishermen: Closed Area II Access Area Closes August 15

August 10, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The Scallop Closed Area II Access Area will close at 12:01 am on August 15 and will remain closed through November 15. All vessels must be out of the area prior to the time of the closure.

Any unharvested Closed Area II pounds can be harvested once the area reopens on November 16.

For more information, see our new story map that describes the scallop fishery regulations for 2017, or see our large map of the scallop management areas (also below).

NEFSC 2017 Groundfish Assessment Port Meetings Scheduled

August 10, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Northeast Fisheries Science Center stock assessment and cooperative research staff will visit several groundfish ports between August 15 and September 7.

We’d like to talk to commercial and recreational fishermen.

Please join us for an informal explanation of the stock assessment process, the cooperative research program, and ways that your concerns can be addressed by the science center. We’re listening to what you have to say.

See the full schedule of confirmed meetings.

Find out more about the assessments and meeting schedules.

Reminder: Recreational Sector for Atlantic Cobia (Georgia Through New York) in Federal Waters Remains Closed Through 2017

August 10, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

KEY MESSAGE:

Recreational:

NOAA Fisheries reminds the public that the 2017 Atlantic cobia season for the recreational sector remains closed in federal waters as announced on January 25, 2017 (FB17-004). The recreational Atlantic cobia season is scheduled to re-open on January 1, 2018, at which time the new regulations outlined in the bulletin released on August 4, 2017 (FB17-044), will become effective. NOAA Fisheries will announce any changes to the 2018 season through a Fishery Bulletin.

Commercial:

In addition, the 2017 commercial Atlantic cobia season remains open in federal waters. The regulations for the commercial sector outlined in bulletin number FB17-044 are effective on September 5, 2017.

Where can I find more information on Atlantic cobia regulations?

  • Contact NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office

By Mail: Karla Gore
NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office
Sustainable Fisheries Division
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-5505
By FAX: (727) 824-5308
By Phone: (727) 824-5305

Additional information on management of cobia in the South Atlantic may be found at: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_sa/cmp/index.html.

ALASKA: NOAA to Offer Fishermen Option for Electronic Monitoring in 2018

August 9, 2017 — Beginning in 2018, Alaska fishermen, some of whom may not have the space on their vessel or life raft capacity for a NOAA Fisheries observer, will have the option to use an electronic monitoring (EM) system instead.

NOAA Fisheries is integrating EM into the North Pacific Observer Program for the 2018 fishing year. An EM system uses cameras and associated sensors to passively record and monitor fishing activities-work traditionally accomplished by human observers placed onboard commercial fishing vessels to collect data.

Information collected by observers while aboard commercial fishing vessels is crucial to sustainable management of Alaska’s multi-billion dollar fishing industry. NOAA Fisheries restructured the North Pacific Observer Program in 2013 to-for the first time-place fisheries observers on small boats between 40 and 60 feet, and boats harvesting halibut in Alaska.

Some small boat owners and operators identified unique issues with carrying an observer.

They advocated for the choice to use an EM system instead of carrying an observer.

Read the full story at Alaska Native News

Tuna won’t be listed as endangered, Trump administration says

August 8, 2017 — Rejecting a petition from environmental groups, the Trump administration announced Monday that it will not list Pacific bluefin tuna — a torpedo-shaped fish that can grow to 1,000 pounds and which sells for $100,000 or more per fish in Japanese sushi markets — as endangered, despite that fact that the animal’s population has fallen 97 percent.

Even with heavy fishing pressure, the steely fish, which swim 6,000 miles between California and Asia, still number about 1.6 million, officials from NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said Monday.

“The Pacific bluefin tuna does not meet the definition of threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act; that is, it’s not likely to become extinct either now or in the foreseeable future,” said Chris Yates, assistant regional administrator for protected resources at the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region in Long Beach.

“The population has been at low levels before and has rebounded,” he added.

Environmental groups, however, were disappointed. They have compared bluefin tuna to elephant tusks or shark fins — products that come from an important, but vulnerable, species and command high prices for status value.

Read the full story at the Mercury News

NOAA Seeks Nominations for Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Consultative Committee

August 8, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA is soliciting nominations for individuals to serve as members of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Consultative Committee. NAFO is a regional fisheries management organization that coordinates scientific study and cooperative management of the fisheries resources of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, excluding salmon, tunas/marlins, whales and sedentary species (e.g., shellfish). NAFO was established in 1979 by the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries. The United States acceded to the Convention in 1995, and has participated actively in NAFO since.

NOAA is also announcing a meeting of the NAFO Consultative Committee on August 30, 2017.

For more information, read the Federal Register notice.

NOAA Fisheries Announces Northern Red Hake Possession Limit Reduction

August 8, 2017 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The northern red hake commercial possession limit is reduced from 3,000 lbs per trip to 400 lbs per trip. Effective immediately, federally permitted vessels may not possess on board or land more than 400 lb of northern red hake per trip for the remainder of the 2017 fishing year (i.e., through April 30, 2018).

This reduction is required because the northern red hake fishery is projected to have reached or exceeded 37.9 percent of the total allowable landings.

Vessels that have started a fishing trip when this possession limit reduction becomes effective may retain northern red hake under the previous possession limit of 3,000 lb for the remainder of that trip.

Dealers issued federal dealer permits for small-mesh multispecies may not purchase more than 400 lbs of northern red hake per trip from federally permitted vessels for trips started after August 7, 2017. Federally permitted dealers must continue to report all fish purchased from any vessel.

Read the rule as filed today at 4:15pm and the permit holder letter on our website for more information.

Final Rule to Modify the Commercial Permit Restrictions for King and Spanish Mackerel in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Federal Waters

August 3, 2017 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

KEY MESSAGE:

NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule to allow fishing for and retaining the recreational bag and possession limits of king and Spanish mackerel in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), South Atlantic, and Mid-Atlantic on a vessel with a federal commercial permit for king or Spanish mackerel when commercial harvest of king or Spanish mackerel in that zone or region is closed.

WHEN RULE WILL TAKE EFFECT:

  • The final rule will be effective on August 31, 2017.

WHAT THIS MEANS: 

  • Previous regulations prohibited a person aboard a vessel with a federal commercial permit for king or Spanish mackerel from recreationally fishing for king or Spanish mackerel in federal waters if commercial harvest for the species is closed.
    • An exception allowed a person aboard a vessel with both a valid coastal migratory pelagic charter vessel/headboat permit and a valid federal commercial permit for king mackerel or Spanish mackerel to recreationally fish when the commercial season is closed, if the vessel is operating as a for-hire vessel.
  • No such restriction exists for any other species in the Gulf or South Atlantic.
  • This rule removes the restriction entirely, allowing vessels with commercial king or Spanish mackerel permits to fish recreationally for king or Spanish mackerel when the commercial season is closed, regardless of whether they are fishing in a private or for-hire capacity.

FORMAL FEDERAL REGISTER NAME/NUMBER:

82 FR 35658, published August 1, 2017

This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional information about Framework Amendment 5 including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and a copy of the complete Fishery Bulletin is available from the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office website.  Information on management of king and Spanish mackerel is also available from the website.

Bills would open snapper harvest out to at least 25 miles

August 3, 2017 — Louisiana senators and representatives have introduced companion legislation in Congress that would give states management authority of red snapper out to 25 miles or 25 fathoms, whichever is greater, off their coastlines. Currently, states control red snapper out to nine nautical miles.

Both Louisiana senators, Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, introduced the bill in the Senate, while Reps. Garret Graves, Cedric Richmond and Clay Higgins joined seven other representatives to propose the House bill.

The legislation is designed to ensure Gulf of Mexico anglers have broader access to rebounding red snapper stocks during 2018 and beyond. This year, the Commerce Department gave recreational anglers 39 additional days in federal waters after NOAA Fisheries set a three-day recreational season.

That move is being contested in court, and without legislation to address the issue, recreational anglers could be locked out of the fishery in 2018.

Graves said the need for legislation is overdue.

“Something has to change,” he said. “It is time to replace the status quo with a management system that more accurately reflects today’s red snapper private recreational fishery.”

Read the full story at the New Orleans Times-Picayune