Saving Seafood

Judge to consider injunction on turtle excluder rule for US shrimpers

August 16, 2021 — A federal judge in the U.S. state of Louisiana will hold a hearing on Tuesday, 24 August to determine if an injunction should be issued against NOAA Fisheries that would require the agency to postpone implementing a rule mandating shrimp fishermen install turtle excluder devices on their inshore skimmers.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry sought the restraining order after NOAA Fisheries failed to continue a delay on a 2019 final rule that called for the excluder devices. In an announcement on 20 December, 2019, the agency said the final rule would take effect on 1 April 2021.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Fish councils prepare for climate change

August 16, 2021 — The New England Fishery Management Council is joining other East Coast marine management councils to plan for a future marked by the continuing detrimental impacts of climate change.

The project, called East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning, is a response to the accelerating and debilitating impacts on fish stocks and marine habitats caused by the effects of climate change.

“No one knows for sure what the future holds, but a continuation or acceleration of climate change has the potential to strain our existing fishery management system and alter the way fishermen, scientists, and the public interact with the marine environment,” the NFMC stated. “Scenario planning is a way of exploring how fishery management may need to evolve over the next few decades as climate change becomes a bigger issue.”

The other organizations participating in the initiative are the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, NOAA Fisheries’ Gloucester-based Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

The Northeast Regional Coordinating Council, which consists of leadership from the MAFMC, NEFMC, ASMFC, GARFO, and NEFSC, will be the primary decision-making body for the initiative, with the addition of South Atlantic representatives.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

A How-To Guide for Reporting Potential Marine Wildlife Harassment in Hawai‘i

August 13, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Imagine you’re scrolling through social media and a video pops up of a Hawaiian monk seal resting on the beach. The first few seconds of video capture the natural beauty of the wild seal, peacefully slumbering on the sand. But suddenly, someone appears from the side of the frame and starts to mischievously tiptoe toward the sleeping seal. You shout through the screen and try to stop this person from what is inevitably going to happen. But despite your efforts, another one of our Hawaiian monk seals is touched and disturbed.

Reports of people disturbing protected marine wildlife have significantly increased over the last decade. And over the past few years, multiple incidents involving potentially illegal encounters with protected marine species have gone viral on social media, including two recent videos of people touching and disturbing monk seals. These concerning and disrespectful images and videos have, understandably, upset many people in Hawaiʻi and across the country. Incidents like these should be reported to NOAA Fisheries or the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Here’s what you need to know about reporting potentially illegal marine wildlife interactions, how NOAA responds to reports, and what the laws are regarding protected marine wildlife.

Read the full release here

Turtles, Tourism, and Traffic – Keeping Hawaiʻi Honu Safe

August 13, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Sea turtles have long been a key part of the cultural and natural resource heritage of Hawaiʻi. Once sought for their meat, Hawaiian green sea turtles, or honu, suffered a sharp population decline from overharvest in the early 20th century. Today, honu in Hawaiʻi are making a comeback thanks to the support of dedicated community members, and state and federal protections. Increasing numbers of honu in Hawaiʻi mean there is more opportunity for observing them on beaches and in nearshore waters, and where their behavior can be predictable, honu have become a sought-after tourist attraction.

The convergence between turtles, tourists, and traffic can create challenges in areas where the infrastructure may not be sufficient to support large numbers of wildlife viewers. For instance, residents of the North Shore of Oʻahu have expressed concerns about traffic congestion near the popular turtle viewing beach of Laniākea. This situation is not unique to Oʻahu. Communities throughout the Hawaiian Islands are experiencing similar issues that require collaborative solutions.

As the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation works to address traffic and pedestrian safety issues at Laniākea, we at NOAA Fisheries continue to study the basking honu population and work collaboratively on the management and conservation of honu at this and other locations throughout the state.

Read the full release here

National Fisheries Institute Statement on NOAA’s IUU Report to Congress

August 13, 2021 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

NOAA’s 2021 Biennial Report to Congress on Improving International Fisheries Management, released today, is an example of a tool used to effectively fight Illegal Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing.

The report identifies 31 nations and or entities that are either engaged in pirate fishing or not doing enough to stop destructive fishing practices.

Enforcement of rules that deny dubious actors entry to U.S. ports and institute import restrictions are key to successfully rooting out IUU. At the same time, the report lauds countries like Ecuador and Korea for redoubling their efforts to stop IUU fishing in their waters.

NOAA Fisheries’ commitment to cracking down on IUU is on display in this report and should be applauded.

Safe Boating Means Safe Fishing. Avoid Whales.

August 12, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network has received an uptick in reports of humpback whales hooked or entangled in monofilament and tuna fishing gear. This notice is to remind boaters and fishermen that fishing too closely to whales is dangerous for you, your passengers, and the whales. Getting too close can result in whales being struck, vessels damaged, and gear loss when whales get entangled or hooked in fishing gear. Additionally, injuring or potentially injuring a whale is a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the federal law that protects all marine mammals from human activity that negatively impacts their ability to live and thrive naturally.

While many monofilament entanglements are shed over time, some of these entanglements can be detrimental to the animals. Any puncture of the skin in the marine environment leaves vulnerable animals open to infection— particularly stressed animals that have had previous entanglements or injuries, and calves.

Experienced fishermen don’t troll or cast near feeding whales, because they know tuna aren’t going to get caught up in the bubble clouds or aggregations of feeding whales. These fishermen know that approaching humpback whales* closer than 100-300 feet is not worth the risk.  If you happen to hook a whale with your gear or hit one with your boat, report it right away to NOAA’s Greater Atlantic Marine Animal Reporting Hotline: 866-755-NOAA (6622) or to the US Coast Guard.

*North Atlantic right whales are protected by federal regulations that prohibit vessels from approaching within 500 yards (1500 feet) of right whales, with limited exceptions. If a right whale is sighted within the 500 yard buffer, then the vessel must depart the area immediately unless they are a commercial fishing vessel in the act of hauling back gear.

Read the full release here

East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Webinars

August 12, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

In order to help fishing communities and fishery managers prepare for an era of climate change, numerous fisheries management bodies along the Atlantic seaboard have teamed up to launch the East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning project.

The project is being organized by a core team of representatives from the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and NOAA Fisheries.

The team has lined up three kick-off webinars to introduce stakeholders to climate change scenario planning, explain the benefits of participating in the process, outline additional ways to become involved, and begin collecting stakeholder input.

Webinar dates and times are listed below and advance registration is strongly encouraged.

  • East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Kick-Off Webinar #1
    Aug 30, 2021 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Register for Webinar #1
  • East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Kick-Off Webinar #2
    Sep 1, 2021 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM Register for Webinar #2
  • East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Kick-Off Webinar #3
    Sep 2, 2021 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Register for Webinar #3

eVTR Announcements: Upcoming Webinars and Web App Update

August 12, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The next instructional eVTR webinars will be held Thursday, August 19 and Tuesday, August 24 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. These webinars will provide vessel operators and others with a walkthrough of the eTrips Mobile 2, Fish Online Apple iOS and Fish Online Web App as options for submitting your eVTRs.

How Do I Join?

More information can be found on our webpage for this series: How to Use Electronic Vessel Trip Reporting Apps. This page includes webinar login information.

Read the full release here

 

From Problem to Plan: Restoring Migratory Fish in the Merrimack River

August 11, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The Merrimack River watershed is the fourth largest in New England, and historically supported great runs of migratory fish. Over the past 200 years, their numbers have dramatically declined, negatively impacting the ecology of the watershed and coastal waters. Along with our partners, NOAA Fisheries has developed a comprehensive management plan for the watershed aimed at restoring these important fish, and the habitats on which they rely.

Dams, Fish, and Why They Don’t Mix

Diadromous fish spend part of their life in freshwater, and part in saltwater. Prior to pervasive dam construction in the late 18th and early 19th century, they were abundant in the Merrimack River watershed. Species that were seasonally present in great numbers included:

  • American shad, river herring (alewife and blueback herring)
  • Sturgeon (Atlantic and shortnose)
  • American eel
  • Striped bass
  • Atlantic salmon
  • Sea lamprey

The annual migrations of these fish were anticipated by local people and wildlife alike. Eagles, osprey, otters, and many other native species would rely on this seasonal abundance of fish for food. They often adapted their breeding season to coincide with the arrival of the vast schools of fish. In fact, diadromous fish are one of the few food sources that can travel inland from the ocean, against the flow of rivers and streams. When the young fish and surviving adults swim back to the ocean, they also play a crucial role in the marine food web as both predators and prey.

Dam construction began throughout the watershed shortly after the arrival of European settlers as a way to harness the power of the river. They reduced habitat connectivity and the abundance of diadromous fish. Widespread industry in the watershed, including many paper and textile mills, resulted in degraded water quality. This further exacerbated the effects of decreased habitat connectivity and lack of access for fish to their natal waters. These combined factors resulted in a severe reduction in fish abundance. It effectively removed diadromous fish from the habitats upstream of Essex Dam, the first dam on the Merrimack River. For Atlantic salmon, the habitat alteration and associated impacts proved too much, with 10 individuals or less returning to the river in each of the last five years. Atlantic salmon are now listed as endangered and are one of NOAA Fisheries’ Species in the Spotlight. Modern restoration efforts have resulted in some improvements; however, the abundance of diadromous species remains a small percentage of historical levels.

Read the full release here

Six Steps to Sustainable Sharks

August 11, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries ensures that United States fisheries are some of the most sustainable in the world, including sharks. Of the 479 fish stocks or stock complexes we manage, 43 are shark species in the Atlantic Ocean. Here we’ve broken down our management approach into six steps:

Step One: Research

Scientists spend months at sea and in the lab every year, collecting vital data on different marine species, including sharks. Shark research is conducted on NOAA’s fleet of research ships, or through its cooperative research programs. That’s where NOAA researchers work in conjunction with university scientists, the fishing industry, or other stakeholders to perform research activities. To see some of our shark research in the Atlantic, click below:

Step Two: Assessment

Using the data collected about shark stocks, our scientists in coordination with other scientists and partners complete a stock assessment to measure the impact of fishing on these stocks. Assessments use the best information available, which may include data from fisheries landings, scientific surveys, and biological studies. They predict catch levels that maximize the number of fish that can be caught every year while preventing overfishing (removing too many fish). These limits protect the marine ecosystem and, where necessary, rebuild overfished (depleted) stocks. Results of stock assessments are used for setting sustainable levels of fishing under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Read the full release here