Saving Seafood

Joel Moribe, Endangered Species Biologist

May 26, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

What do you do at NOAA Fisheries?

I am an endangered species biologist for the Pacific Islands Regional Office, based out of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. I do Section 7 consultations, natural resource program coordination, acoustics, effects analysis, effect minimization, and species protection.

Would you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I have more than 20 years of experience as a marine scientist, Endangered Species Act expert, and effects and project analyst. Before coming to the Pacific Islands Region, I spent 14 years in the Pacific Northwest conducting project analysis for the protection of salmon and killer whales. I also spent 3 years with the Navy as an endangered species project manager. And I actually do some fieldwork … sometimes!

What are a few words that describe you?

Hawai‘i born and raised, turtle lover, monk seal lover, coral lover and rescuer, entanglement and debris hater, scuba diver, free diver, University of Southern California Trojan, corgi lover, poi eater.

Why did you get into this field?

I’ve been fishing on O‘ahu since I was a very young child. Over the years I had noticed that fish were more difficult to catch, and conditions of the habitat were worsening. I routinely witnessed people violate laws, even within my own family. I knew I had to do something, or we would lose everything.

Read the full release at NOAA Fisheries

Sexual Harassment Conviction Underscores NOAA Fisheries Observer Safety Commitment

May 26, 2021 — A message from Acting NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Paul Doremus broke down how a recent conviction involving the sexual harassment of a federal fishery observer shows the agency’s commitment to observer safety.

Doremus noted that on May 3, 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.

Read the full story at Seafood News

NOAA Fisheries Announces Proposed Rule for the 2021-2023 Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Specifications

May 26, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries proposes Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish quotas for the 2021-2023 fishing years and reaffirms 2021 chub mackerel specifications as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

This action would:

  • Maintain the 2020 specifications through 2022 for Atlantic mackerel, (19,184 mt ABC), through 2021 for Illex squid (30,000 mt ABC), through 2023 for longfin squid (23,400 mt ABC).
  • Reduce the butterfish allowable catch by 72 percent, from the current 22,752 mt to 6,350 mt in for the remainder of 2021. Allowable catch for butterfish in 2022 would increase to 11,495 mt. Given recent catch trends, this reduction is not expected to negatively impact the commercial fishing industry.
  • Maintain the 3,884 mt butterfish catch cap in the longfin squid fishery.
  • Implement 48-hour Illex reporting after July 15 for commercial dealers for the remainder of the fishing year (the current requirement is weekly reporting.).
  • Change the Illex closure threshold to 94 percent from 95 percent.
  • Reaffirm the previously approved 2021 through 2022 chub mackerel specifications.

Read the proposed rule as published today in the Federal Register. Supporting documents for this rule are available on the MAFMC website.

Comments on this rule must be received by 5 pm on June 10, 2021 and may be submitted though the online portal.

Questions?

Industry: Aly Pitts, Regional Office, 978-281-9352

Media: Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, 978-281-9103

Amendment 14 to the FMP for the Salmon Fisheries Off Alaska

May 26, 2021 — The following was released was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Summary

Amendment 14 would incorporate the Cook Inlet EEZ Subarea into the Salmon FMP’s West Area, thereby bringing the Cook Inlet EEZ Subarea and the commercial salmon fisheries that occur within it under Federal management by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and NOAA Fisheries. Amendment 14 would manage the Cook Inlet EEZ Subarea by applying the prohibition on commercial salmon fishing that is currently established in the West Area to the newly added Cook Inlet EEZ Subarea. The Council submitted Amendment 14 to the Salmon FMP to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) for review.

Federal Register

Restoring Habitat to Support Coastal Communities: A Look Back at the Recovery Act—Part 1

May 25, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, NOAA funded 125 habitat restoration projects in coastal areas throughout the country. Now, more than a decade later, we’re taking a look back at some of the projects we funded. We’ll explore the benefits this restoration work continues to bring to communities and ecosystems across the country.

In Part 1 of this 3-part series, we’re highlighting examples of the jobs, recreation, and other community benefits that Recovery Act projects have supported. Part 2 will focus on benefits to coastal and marine species. Part 3 will explore how Recovery Act-funded projects laid the groundwork for continuing habitat restoration efforts.

NOAA received $167 million from the Recovery Act to restore coastal habitat and help jumpstart the nation’s economy. We established 50 cooperative agreements that funded 125 high quality habitat restoration projects in 24 states and territories. The projects spanned from New England’s salt marshes to the coral reefs of the Pacific Islands.

Coastal restoration projects can bring many benefits to local communities, including jobs, recreation, flood protection, and higher property values. For example, an analysis of Recovery Act restoration projects found that restoration projects create an average of 15 jobs for every million dollars invested. That’s a higher rate than those of other infrastructure projects like road construction.

Below, learn about three Recovery Act projects and the benefits they have brought to coastal communities across the country.

Read the full release here

NOAA Fisheries seeks predictive analytics and dedicated staff for SIMP

May 25, 2021 — NOAA Fisheries has published a report on the implementation of the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) and detailed how the initiative to deter illegal and unregulated seafood products from entering the country can be fine-tuned in the years ahead.

Among the possibilities is the use of predictive analytics, which other government agencies have used to fight fraud. The report states that giving authorities that technology will help it better identify shipments for inspections or audits.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

2021 Atlantic Cod Stock Structure Workshops

May 25, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The New Hampshire Sea Grant, New England Fishery Management Council, and NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center will be hosting a series of workshops on Atlantic cod from June 1-July 1.

This four-part series will focus on the science driving the decision to split Atlantic cod stocks into five distinct biological stocks, instead of the two that are currently managed. Stemming from the 2020 report by the Atlantic Cod Stock Structure Working Group, this series will focus on the current science and management approaches to this fishery.

Presentations by technical experts will be followed by an open public discussion ensuring information is available to best inform the cod stock assessment process. There will be a follow-up series on the management implications of this split.

Registration is required to participate.

NOAA Fisheries Announces Final 2021 Mid-Atlantic Blueline Tilefish Commercial and Recreational Fishery Specifications

May 25, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries is finalizing blueline tilefish quotas for the 2021 fishing year, which began on January 1, 2021. Approved measures include acceptable biological catch (ABC), annual catch limit (ACL), and total allowable landings (TAL) for the commercial and recreational fisheries, as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

In 2020, the commercial sector landed 108% of the commercial TAL. By regulation, a commercial overage is deducted from the quota the following year. As a result, the commercial quota has been adjusted because of the overage in 2020. The recreational TAL was not exceeded so the recreational quota remains status quo.

All other requirements remain the same.

For more details, read the final rule as filed in the Federal Register today and the permit holder bulletin.

Read the full release here

MASSACHUSETTS: New Bedford is nation’s top-earning port for 20th consecutive year

May 24, 2021 — The Port of New Bedford was the nation’s highest value port for the 20th consecutive year, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced Thursday.

The agency, better known as NOAA Fisheries, released its report with 2019 fisheries data. New Bedford brought in $451 million with 116 million pounds of seafood in 2019, up from $431 million and 114 million pounds in 2018.

New Bedford’s high value is due in large part to its scallop fishery, the report said. Sea scallop landings account for 84% of the value of landings in the city’s port.

Dutch Harbor in Alaska, which was the highest port in volume, brought in nearly 6.5 times more weight than New Bedford, but only $190 million in value.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

New Reports Available to Help the Public Better Understand Recreational Party and Charter Fishing Impacts Associated with Offshore Wind Development Along the U.S. Atlantic Coast

May 24, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries has developed new analyses and reports to help the public better understand the impacts on recreational party and charter boat fishing associated with offshore wind development along the U.S. Atlantic Coast.  The new reports complement the previously developed analyses and reports of commercial fishing impacts associated with offshore wind development in the same region.

To help analyze how party and charter boat fishing operations may be impacted by offshore wind energy projects, NOAA Fisheries compared vessel logbook fishing location data from 2008-2018 to current offshore wind energy project areas.  We identified where and when fishing occurred relative to these areas and developed reports of potential socioeconomic impacts from each offshore wind project area based on the historic data. These reports include information on the amount of primary species retained, number of party and charter boat trips, number of angler trips, revenue associated with party and charter boat trips, and communities affected by each offshore wind development project area.  These reports will help estimate the potential impacts of such development on managed recreational fisheries and associated fishing communities.

The socioeconomic impact reports are now available online.  All data included in reports have been aggregated, as necessary, to protect data confidentiality.

Read the full release here