Saving Seafood

Celebrating Pride Month with Safe Space and Community

June 3, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

June is Pride Month—an entire month dedicated to uplifting LGBTQ+ voices, celebrating their culture, and supporting LGBTQ rights. It started with the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969 when New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar located in Greenwich Village in New York City, New York. The uprising helped launch LGBT political activism and led to creation of many of today’s gay rights organizations.

LGBTQ is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning and is used to describe someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The “plus” is often seen as “+” after the Q. It’s used to signify all of the gender identities and sexual orientations, including Two-Spirit, a pan-Indigenous American identity, and Non-Binary.

To celebrate Pride Month we’re highlighting our science center’s recently created Employee Resource Group called the LGBTQ+ ERG. We interviewed the ERG’s co-chairs Paul Clark, biological sciences technician at our Milford Lab, and Patricia “Trish” Clay, anthropologist in our Social Sciences Branch, to learn more about the ERG, their goals, what kinds of topics and issues they’re addressing, and why they decided to lead the ERG.

What is the LGBTQ+ ERG, why and when did it form, and why is it important?

Paul: First and foremost, the LGBTQ+ ERG is a safe, welcoming, and affirming space for folks working at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. In this safe space, we’re able to create a sense of community, provide support, and discuss issues and topics specific to our demographic without fear of judgement or discrimination. It was formed in December 2020 to support policies that will help make our science center a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization.

What are some of the ERG goals? 

Trish: We’re looking to create a safe space for LGBTQ+ people within our science center to get to know each other and offer mutual support. We’re also bringing in speakers to talk about LGBTQ+ topics and issues. We’re holding virtual movie-watching get-togethers and other events to help our whole science center better understand and respect the LGBTQ+ community.

Paul: Yes, our goal is to create a safe and welcoming environment where we can discuss topics and issues specific to our demographic. We also want to effect change, provide educational opportunities, and promote diversity, equality, and inclusion within our science center. Our activities, events, and the issues we’re addressing are quite fluid. We want to listen to our ERG members and work toward effective solutions to problems, issues, policies, and concerns they have. We’re just 6 months into this new initiative and we’ve already started to address critical needs and create a path forward to meet them.

Trish: Exactly. We’re still new, but we are excited by where we are so far, and the support we’ve received from science center leadership and employees.

Read the full release here

Limiting Chinook Fishing in Low-Return Years to Help Killer Whales: What Do You Think?

June 3, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries is asking for public input on a Pacific Fishery Management Council recommendation to reduce impacts from fishing off the West Coast. The recommendation would be implemented if salmon numbers fall too low to provide enough prey for the 75 endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

NOAA Fisheries is proposing to adopt the Council’s recommendation, and conducted a consultation under the Endangered Species Act. This consultation ensured that the amended fisheries management plan does not jeopardize the continued existence of threatened or endangered species, or negatively impact designated critical habitat. It incorporated recent research that revealed new details of when and where the whales forage, and their preferred prey.

The Council created a workgroup of representatives from West Coast states, tribes, and NOAA Fisheries to examine the issue. The workgroup completed a risk assessment evaluating the impact of fisheries on West Coast Chinook salmon abundance and, in turn, on the Southern Residents, and developed recommendations.

Late last year the Council adopted the workgroup’s suggestions. They included limiting commercial and recreational fishing in certain places off California, Oregon, and Washington when estimated Chinook salmon numbers north of Cape Falcon, Oregon, fall below a certain level of abundance.

The workgroup recommended that level be set as the average of the seven lowest years of forecast salmon abundance off the northern Oregon and Washington coasts. This average is currently estimated at 966,000. Chinook numbers have remained above that level in recent years; 2007 was the last year when forecasts would have fallen below the threshold.

Read the full release here

New Strategy Applies Local Knowledge and Science to Salmon and Steelhead Recovery in Northern California

June 2, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Salmon and steelhead in Northern California have been in trouble for more than 100 years, primarily because of habitat damage and loss resulting from human activities. Climate change has only worsened these habitat problems. For the last 50 years, communities have worked to restore this habitat in hopes of reversing the fortunes of these fish. Scientists and local restoration communities are seeking new ways to maximize the benefits of habitat restoration so that rivers and streams can support healthy fish populations again.

One new approach to maximize these benefits is the Salmonid Habitat Restoration Priorities (SHaRP) process. The process creates a strategy to rebuild salmon and steelhead within a watershed by focusing on restoring its healthier, less impaired areas. Scientists expect that improved fish survival and reproduction in these restored areas will enable faster recolonization of the more degraded areas.

“The SHaRP process builds upon existing recovery plans and identifies very specific actions to create real wins for declining species. This approach to conservation offers the restoration community a seat at the table to design a near-term recovery strategy to maximize restoration impacts for their watershed,” said Barry Thom, NOAA Fisheries West Coast Regional Administrator.

NOAA Fisheries and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) developed the SHaRP process. They first applied it to the South Fork Eel River, a few hours drive north of San Francisco Bay. Historically, the Eel River supported hundreds of thousands of Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead. Today, these three species reflect only about 5 percent of their historical numbers.

Read the full release here

Attention Federal Lobster Permit Holders: ROV Inspections

June 2, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Throughout the year, the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement will be inspecting lobster gear in federal waters off New England and the mid-Atlantic using remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs). The purpose of these inspections is to check lobster gear for compliance with federal requirements related to trap tags, gear markings, weak links, sinking ground lines, escape vents, ghost panels, and other conservation measures.

Please ensure you are familiar with the regulations governing lobster gear: Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan regulations and American Lobster Fishery Management Plan regulations. For a summary of lobster gear requirements, go to our American lobster webpage, and refer to the management and commercial fishing tabs. You should also explore the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan compliance guides and Maine Department of Marine Resources’ recent updates to gear marking requirements for Maine fishermen. These guides may assist you in understanding the current requirements, but are not a substitute for the regulations.

Federal lobster gear requirements ensure a sustainable lobster fishery and protect endangered whales from entanglements. When these requirements are ignored or willfully violated, it threatens important marine resources and puts law-abiding fishing businesses at a competitive disadvantage.

NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is committed to protecting our shared marine resources and ensuring a level playing field. If you fail to comply with federal gear requirements, your gear may be seized and forfeited, your Federal fishing permits may be suspended or revoked, and monetary penalties may be imposed upon you. Please take this opportunity to ensure that your gear is in compliance.

For more information about our ROV operations read our web story.

Read the full release here

Gulf of Mexico Individual Fishing Quota Program Reminder

June 2, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Key Message:

  • NOAA Fisheries is sending this reminder to ensure Individual Fishing Quota program (IFQ) participants are informed about new and important requirements, such as IFQ system functions and how to participate in the program.
  • For further information, IFQ participants can contact Catch Share Support at (866) 425-7627 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday excluding federal holidays.

U.S. Postal Mail Delay:

  • Catch Share staff are working remotely.
  • As a result, processing any mail received through the U.S. Postal Service may be delayed.
  • Catch Share Support is available via telephone and email during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time).

New Catch Shares Online System:

  • In December 2020, NOAA Fisheries launched an updated Catch Shares Online System. The new system is hosted in a cloud application that should decrease unexpected down-times.
  • The new online system functions in a similar manner as the previous online system and there are some improvements, including:
    1. Mobile phone and tablet compatibility.
    2. Accepts multiple entries per species in landing transactions to allow for different prices per pound. Previously, separate transactions were required.
    3. Enhanced security through stronger PIN requirements and secret questions. See FB20-064 for further details.
  • The website address has changed to https://secatchshares.fisheries.noaa.gov/.
    1. Remember to update all bookmarks.
    2. NOAA Fisheries will redirect from the old website for the foreseeable future.

Approved Landing Locations:

  • Vessels landing IFQ species must only land at approved IFQ landing locations. Gulf for-hire sites are not approved for commercial vessels.
  • Landing locations must be approved in advance to ensure the sites actually exist and law enforcement agents can access these sites.
  • Landing locations should have a street address. If there is no street address on record, global positioning system (GPS) coordinates for an identifiable geographic location must be provided.
  • IFQ Landing locations must be publicly accessible by land and water, and must satisfy the following criteria:
    1. Vehicles must have access to the site via public roads.
    2. Vessels must have access to the site via navigable waters.
    3. No other conditions may impede free and immediate access to the site by an authorized law enforcement officer. Examples of such conditions include, but are not limited to: a locked gate, fence, wall, or other barrier preventing 24-hour access to the site; a gated community entry point; a guard animal; a posted sign restricting access to the site; or any other physical deterrent.
  • Failure to adhere to the above specified requirements will result in landing locations being disapproved.

Federal Finance Program (FFP):

  • The IFQ program is now set up to track and monitor loans from the FFP relating to the purchase of permits and/or IFQ shares, or utilizing IFQ shares as collateral for other FFP loans.
  • The FFP provides long-term fixed rates for specific fisheries related loans. The maximum loan term for borrowing with no prepayment penalties is 25 years at a fixed rate interest of 2% above the Treasury Rate.
  • The FFP provides loans relating to:
    1. Refurbishing, modernization or purchasing of existing fishing vessels, fisheries facilities, or aquaculture facilities.
    2. Harvesting privileges in federally managed limited access systems (Catch Shares).
    3. Refinancing existing debt incurred for these purposes. The FFP will not finance a vessel refurbishing project that materially increases a vessel’s harvesting capacity.
  • For more information, contact the Southeast Financial Services Branch at 727-824-5377.

Pre-Landing Notifications:

  • When using the 24/7 call service to report your pre-landing notification, please provide your vessel’s Coast Guard documentation or state registration number. This will ensure the pre-landing notification is given for the correct vessel instead of another vessel with a similar name.
  • If you make a pre-landing notification and any details change, including estimated pounds onboard, you must make a new, revised pre-landing notification.
    1. If the landing location changes or an earlier time than previously submitted is needed, then the new notification will need to be submitted at least 3 hours prior to landing.
    2. If the change is to the dealer, the weights, or an arrival time that is later than previously submitted, the new notification does not require the vessel to wait an additional 3 hours.
      • For vessels that make a pre-landing notification before a day trip, you must update the estimated pounds onboard before you land.
    3. Only one “change” to a landing notification can be made before the vessel is required to wait an additional 3 hours.
  • For more information about IFQ pre-landing notifications, including example scenarios, refer to Frequently Asked Questions on the catch share online system.

Dealer Landing Transactions With No Landing Notifications:

  • When dealers complete a landing transaction, step 4 on the landing transaction page specifies to select a notification confirmation to link the vessel’s pre-landing notification with the landing transaction.
  • For a variety of reasons, sometimes there are no notifications to select. In this case, the dealer must select “No Notification Meets Criteria” to complete the landing transaction.

Transferring Allocation to Another Shareholder’s Vessel Account:

  • When transferring allocation to another shareholder’s vessel account, use the vessel’s Coast Guard documentation or state registration number in the search box.
  • Many vessels have similar names and this will ensure the correct vessel receives the allocation.

Read the full release here

Recent Conviction Confirms Our Commitment to Observer Safety

June 1, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Part of our job at NOAA Fisheries is ensuring a level playing field for commercial fishermen. Fishery observers and at-sea monitors play a critical role in that process. Observers are professionally-trained biological scientists whose work helps monitor fisheries, assess fish populations, set fishing quotas, and inform management. Their work is vital to our mission.

For observers to be effective, their working conditions must be safe and professional. Although U.S. fisheries are among the safest in the world, we understand the inherent risks that observers face while working in remote and offshore locations. As our eyes and ears on the water, they spend days, weeks, or even months out at sea. Their work can be dangerous and puts them in vulnerable situations. It is our job to make sure their unique workplaces are as safe as possible.

Preparing observers for safe deployments requires an active partnership among NOAA Fisheries, observers, observer providers, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the fishing industry. Since the inception of the observer program in the 1970s, we have continually worked to develop and institute world-class training and safety protocols. This includes a zero tolerance policy for observer harassment or assault.

As part of their training, observers are encouraged to report inappropriate behavior. They are given examples of unacceptable behavior and taught what steps they can take if something inappropriate happens. Violators are subject to civil and criminal penalties of up to six months in prison and a $130,000 fine.

On May 3, 2021, Galen Burrell, a commercial fishing deckhand, was sentenced in the Eastern District of North Carolina to six months in prison after pleading guilty to sexually harassing a federal fishery observer. This prosecution is the result of collaboration between NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, the Office of General Counsel, the Observer Program, and the Department of Justice. The successful prosecution of this case highlights our commitment to observer safety, and demonstrates that bad actors can—and will—be held accountable.

The NOAA Office of Law Enforcement will continue to pursue any and all credible allegations concerning an observer’s safety.

Any observer who has experienced harassment or assault should feel empowered to take action. Our Law Enforcement Hotline is always open at (800) 853-1964. There are numerous victim advocacy resources available such as NOAA’s Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment Helpline and RAINN.

Lobster industry still waiting for precise rules from feds to protect right whales

June 1, 2021 — Maine’s lobster fishermen are anxiously waiting to learn exactly what they will have to change to meet new federal requirements to protect the endangered right whale. On Thursday, the federal agency NOAA Fisheries released their final biological opinion about the threat to right whales, saying there have to be major changes by New England fishermen so whales won’t get tangled in fishing gear and die.

Fishermen have been worrying about and waiting for federal guidelines for more than two years. They had some of their fears confirmed by the latest report from NOAA, but still are waiting to get the needed details.

The big target to protect whales is called risk reduction, primarily by cutting the number of vertical ropes in the water that connect traps to buoy.

The National Marine Fisheries Service, part of NOAA Fisheries, said those ropes pose a big risk of tangling right whales, so they have to be reduced 60 percent right away. How that should happen is one of the details fishermen are waiting to learn, but previous documents from NMFS suggested a primary method should be requiring longer trawls, meaning putting many more traps on each line, in addition to using sections of weaker rope that can break away if snagged by a whale.

Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association said Maine is being unfairly penalized for whale deaths actually happening in Canada and those from whales being hit by ships at sea. She said that while lobstermen will have to follow the rules, the industry will continue to pressure NMFS to improve its data and create more fair regulations.

Read the full story at News Center Maine

2021-2022 Northeast Fisheries Observer Sea Day Schedule Now Available

May 28, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The 2021-2022 sea-day schedule for trips selected for observer coverage is now available. Two new information reports that support the schedule are also available. View or and download the schedule and reports here.

We did not conduct a discard analysis this year because of an observer data gap caused by observer coverage waivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s sea day schedule is instead based on last year’s analysis, incorporating the effects of FY21 funding and sea scallop compensation rate.

There are 3,248 agency-funded days for fishery monitoring, 3,096 days fewer than required. We have used the prioritization process described in the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology Omnibus Amendment to allocate available funds to fishing fleets monitored using these sea days.

For groundfish vessels in this fishing year, we estimate that 699 Northeast Fisheries Observer Program sea-days can offset the days required for at-sea monitoring, and that 100% of vessel costs for at-sea monitoring will be reimbursed with funds specifically appropriated by Congress in FY2019 and FY2020 for this purpose.

Read the full release here

Surveys Will Collect Data Crucial for Managing Alaska Fisheries and Monitoring Alaska Marine Ecosystems

May 28, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Scientists from NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center and partners have begun another busy survey season off the Alaska coast. Eight surveys are planned in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, and Chukchi Sea to monitor fish, crab, marine mammals, and marine ecosystems.

“Information collected as part of these surveys and other available data on oceanographic conditions, fisheries, and protected species are integrated to provide a more comprehensive understanding of Alaska marine ecosystems to support sustainable resource management and conservation,” said Robert Foy, science and research director, NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center.

During surveys, NOAA scientists sort, weigh, and count species collected by longline or trawl. They will also collect specimens and data on various species, as requested by cooperating scientists, agencies, and institutions.

Longline Survey of the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska

The annual longline survey is an important data source for producing timely resource assessments for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. The 2021 survey continues a 44-year time-series of sablefish and other groundfish species stock trends. The survey is being conducted from May 28 to September 1 aboard the F/V Alaskan Leader, which is a 150-foot freezer longliner.

The 2021 survey begins in Dutch Harbor and makes port calls in Ketchikan, Yakutat, Cordova, and Kodiak. The survey samples the Gulf of Alaska every year, the Bering Sea in odd-numbered years, and the Aleutian Islands in even-numbered years. It surveys at depths from 200 to 1,000 meters. The survey produces catch rates, species compositions, length, and age data for:

  • Sablefish
  • Pacific cod
  • Several rockfish species
  • Shortspine thornyhead
  • Sharks
  • Grenadiers
  • Greenland turbot

The survey also tags and releases a subsample of sablefish, shortspine thornyhead, and Greenland turbot for studying movement behavior and life history. The survey operates on a cost-recovery basis: proceeds from the catch are sold to offset the cost of the vessel charter.

Read the full release here

Commercial Closure of the Golden Tilefish Hook-and-Line Component in South Atlantic Federal Waters on June 1, 2021

May 27, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

What/When:

The commercial hook-and-line component for golden tilefish in federal waters of the South Atlantic will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2021.

Why this Closure is Happening:

The 2021 commercial catch limit for the golden tilefish hook-and-line component is 82,935 pounds gutted weight.  Commercial landings are projected to reach the commercial hook-and-line catch limit and harvest must close to prevent the catch limit from being exceeded.

During and After the Closure:

  • The closure prohibitions for the commercial hook-and-line component apply in both state and federal waters for vessels that have a federal commercial South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper permit.
  • The South Atlantic golden tilefish commercial longline component closed on February 10, 2021, and reopened for 11 days beginning March 20, 2021, and closed at 12:01 a.m., local time, on March 31, 2021, for the remainder of the fishing year. Therefore, all commercial harvest and sale of South Atlantic golden tilefish will be prohibited effective at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 2021.  Harvest or possession is limited to the golden tilefish recreational bag and possession limits when the recreational sector is open, without regard to where the golden tilefish was harvested (i.e. in state or federal waters).
  • Golden tilefish bag and possession limits and the prohibition on sale/purchase apply in the South Atlantic on board a vessel for which a valid federal commercial or charter vessel/headboat permit for South Atlantic snapper-grouper has been issued, without regard to where such species were harvested, i.e., in state or federal waters.
  • The prohibitions on harvest or possession and sale or purchase during the closure do not apply to fish that were harvested, landed ashore, and sold prior to 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2021, and were held in cold storage by a dealer or processor.
  • The 2021 fishing season for golden tilefish commercial hook-and-line component in the South Atlantic will open on January 1, 2022, with a commercial catch limit of 82,935 pounds gutted weight.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations.  The complete list of regulations can be found in the Federal Register or at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=383bc195ccbeab4fd6bec1c24905df34&node=sp50.12.622.i&rgn=div6.