Saving Seafood

Slow Zone Southwest of Martha’s Vineyard to Protect Right Whales

July 6, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries announces a new voluntary right whale Slow Zone.  On July 2, 2021, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution acoustic buoy detected right whales southwest of Martha’s Vineyard.  This Slow Zone is in effect through July 18, 2021.

Mariners are requested to route around this or transit through it at 10 knots or less.

Slow Zone Coordinates:

Southwest of Martha’s Vineyard, July 2-18, 2021

41 23 N
40 44 N
071 16 W
070 23 W

See the coordinates for all the slow zones currently in effect.

Active Seasonal Management Areas 

Mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less (50 CFR 224.105) are in effect in the following areas:

Great South Channel, April 1 – July 31

Find out more and get the coordinates for each mandatory slow speed zone.

Give Right Whales Room

North Atlantic right whales are on the move along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. NOAA is cautioning boaters and fishermen to give these endangered whales plenty of room. We are also asking all fishermen to be vigilant when maneuvering to avoid accidental collisions with whales and remove unused gear from the ocean to help avoid entanglements. Commercial fishermen should use vertical lines with required markings, weak links, and breaking strengths.

Right Whales in Trouble

North Atlantic right whales are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Scientists estimate there are only about 400 remaining, making them one of the rarest marine mammals in the world.

North Atlantic right whales are NOAA Fisheries’ newest Species in the Spotlight. This initiative is a concerted, agency-wide effort to spotlight and save marine species that are among the most at risk of extinction in the near future. 

In August 2017, NOAA Fisheries declared the increase in right whale mortalities an “Unusual Mortality Event,” which helps the agency direct additional scientific and financial resources to investigating, understanding, and reducing the mortalities in partnership with the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and outside experts from the scientific research community.

Read the full release here

Informational S-K Grant Program Webinar on July 14 at 4 pm

July 6, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Please join NOAA Fisheries on Wednesday, July 14 from 4-5 pm ET for an informational webinar hosted by the Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Grant Program discussing the FY22 S-K Grant Competition Notice of Funding Opportunity, which published on grants.gov on June 18.

FY22 S-K Webinar Info:

Register: https://noaanmfs-meets.webex.com/noaanmfs-meets/j.php?RGID=r8051d97353275edb994727fac155c572
Time: Wednesday, July 14, 2021 @ 4:00 pm (1 hour duration)
Event number: 199 806 0963
Event password: noaa (6622 from phones)

Read the full release here

ALASKA: 2019 Norton Sound crab fishery gets disaster status

July 6, 2021 — The 2019 Norton Sound red king crab fishery has been determined by Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo to qualify for disaster status.

Positive determinations make this and other fisheries eligible for disaster assistance from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They may also qualify for disaster assistance from the Small Business Administration.

Raimondo worked with NOAA Fisheries to evaluate the fishery in the Nome area. A declared fishery disaster must meet specific requirements under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act or the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act. For example, there must be commercial fishery economic impacts and declines in fishery access or biomass resulting from specific allowable causes due to the fishery disaster event.

Read the full story at The Cordova Times

Transboundary Resource Assessment Committee Meeting

June 30, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The Transboundary Resources Assessment Committee (TRAC) will meet on July 12-14. This year, TRAC will consider the assessment for Georges Bank Yellowtail Flounder, an update of biological and fishery indicators for Eastern Georges Bank Haddock and Atlantic Cod, an overview of the data limited methods tool (DLMtool) application to Atlantic Cod and the subsequent advice, and an update for Allocation Shares. Results of the 2021 TRAC assessment meeting will be reported to management agencies in both countries.

If you wish to attend, please confirm your participation at the meeting via MS Teams with your respective TRAC co-chair Tara Trinko Lake (U.S. Co-chair) or Tara McIntyre (Canadian Co-chair) by Monday, July 5th.

About TRAC

TRAC was established in 1998 to peer review assessments of transboundary fishery resources in the Georges Bank area, in order to ensure that the management efforts of both Canada and the United States of America, pursued either independently or cooperatively, are founded on a common understanding of fishery resource status.

Secretary of Commerce Approves Disaster Declarations in Four U.S. Commercial Fisheries

June 29, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA:

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced today her determination that fishery disasters occurred in four fisheries in 2018, 2019, and 2020 — for two states, Alaska and New York, and for two Tribes, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis, in Washington.

“Fisheries are essential to our communities and economy and we want to ensure America is in a position to remain competitive on the global stage,” Secretary Raimondo said. “These determinations allow us to lend a helping hand to the fishing families and communities that have experienced very real and difficult setbacks in the last few years.”

The Secretary, working with NOAA Fisheries, evaluates each fishery disaster request based primarily on data submitted by the requesting state or tribe. A declared fishery disaster must meet specific requirements under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and/or the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act. For example, there must be commercial fishery economic impacts and declines in fishery access or biomass resulting from specific allowable causes due to the fishery disaster event.

The Secretary found that the following fisheries met the requirements for a fishery disaster determination:

  • 2019 Norton Sound Red King Crab in Alaska
  • 2019/2020 Peconic Bay Scallop in New York
  • 2018 Port Gamble S’Klallam Puget Sound Coho Salmon in Washington
  • 2019 Chehalis and Black River Spring Chinook Salmon in Washington

Positive determinations make these fisheries eligible for disaster assistance from NOAA.They may also qualify for disaster assistance from the Small Business Administration. The Department of Commerce has balances remaining from previously appropriated fishery disaster assistance and will determine the appropriate allocation for these disasters.

The Secretary also determined, working with NOAA Fisheries, that red tides in Florida did not cause a fishery disaster for Florida fisheries between 2018 and 2019.

Learn more about fishery disaster assistance.

Final Rule Increases Gray Triggerfish Catch Limits in the Gulf of Mexico

June 29, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Key Message:

NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule for gray triggerfish in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). This rule increases the gray triggerfish catch limits for the commercial and recreational sectors.

When Rule Will Take Effect:

  • Regulations will be effective July 29, 2021.

What This Means:

  • The gray triggerfish total catch limit will be 456,900 pounds (lbs) whole weight (ww).
  • The gray triggerfish sector allocation of 79% recreational and 21% commercial is retained.
  • The recreational annual catch limit will be 360,951 lbs ww and the commercial annual catch limit will be 95,949 lbs ww.
  • The recreational annual catch target will be 274,323 lbs ww and the commercial annual catch target will be 88,273 lbs ww.

Formal Federal Register Name/Number:  86 FR 34159, published June 29, 2021

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

Department of Commerce Announces 2021 Appointments to the Regional Fishery Management Councils

June 29, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced the appointment of 31 members to the regional fishery management councils that partner with NOAA Fisheries to manage marine fishery resources.

Established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, councils are responsible for developing region-specific fishery management plans that safeguard and enhance the nation’s fisheries resources. Council members represent diverse groups, including commercial and recreational fishing industries, environmental organizations, and academia. They are vital to fulfilling the act’s requirements to end overfishing, rebuild fish stocks, and manage them sustainably.

NOAA Fisheries works closely with the councils through the process of developing fishery management plans. We also review, approve, and implement the plans.

Each year, the Secretary of Commerce appoints approximately one-third of the total 72 appointed members to the eight regional councils. The Secretary selects members from nominations submitted by the governors of fishing states, territories, and tribal governments.

Council members are appointed to both state-specific and regional seats—also known as obligatory and at-large seats, respectively.  Council members serve a three-year term and may be reappointed to serve three consecutive terms.

Read the full release here

New Protected Species Handling and Reporting Information for the Shrimp Trawl Fisheries

June 29, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Key Message:

In an effort to strengthen sea turtle conservation efforts, NOAA Fisheries has produced new outreach materials for the safe handling, release, and reporting for protected species incidentally captured by shrimp trawlers. The outreach placards for sea turtles, smalltooth sawfish, and giant manta ray are attached to this bulletin, and are also available on our website.

Any captured sea turtle in a comatose or lethargic state must be retained on board, handled, resuscitated, and released according to our established procedures, as deemed practicable and in consideration of best practices for safe vessel and fishing operations. Fishers are legally required to follow these procedures per regulations at 50 CFR 223.206(d)(1). The continued use of turtle excluder devices, in addition to the proper handling, resuscitation, and release of incidentally-captured sea turtles in the shrimp fisheries, are key reasons for the ongoing recovery of threatened and endangered sea turtle species.

Likewise, smalltooth sawfish and giant manta ray must be released in a manner that avoids further injury, to the maximum extent practicable.  Proper handling of any protected species incidentally caught during fishery operations is essential to increase the likelihood of its survival.

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

Read the full release here

NOAA Releases Animated Video to Shine Spotlight on Endangered Atlantic Salmon

June 28, 2021 — NOAA Fisheries has partnered with Puckerbrush Animation to create a new animated video about Atlantic salmon and the threats that have led to their endangered listing.

The video is part of NOAA’s “Species in the Spotlight” series, which highlights nine species that are considered the most at risk of extinction in the near future. Besides Atlantic salmon, NOAA’s “Species in the Spotlight” series also includes Central California Coast coho, Cook Inlet beluga, Hawaiian Monk Seal, Pacific Leatherback, North Atlantic Right Whale, Sacramento River Winter-Run Chinook Salmon, Southern Resident Killer Whale, and White Abalone.

Read the full story at Seafood News

NOAA Fisheries Announces 2021 Regional Fishery Management Council Appointments

June 28, 2021 — NOAA Fisheries announced 2021 regional fishery management council appointments on June 28. The Administration broke down the appointments by region. Find the full list of appointments below.

New England Council

2021 appointees will fill four obligatory seats for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island and one at-large seat:

Mark Alexander (Connecticut), Geoffrey Smith (Maine), Michael Pierdinock (Massachusetts) and Eric Reid (Rhode Island) *.

The At-large seat will belong to Kristin ‘Togue’ Brawn (Maine).

Read the full story at Seafood News