January 21, 2022 — U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced Friday, 21 January, 2022, her office has approved disaster declarations for eight Alaska fisheries.
The rulings means those fisheries are now eligible to federal assistance through NOAA. No funding total was mentioned in the NOAA release, with the amounts to be determined at a later date.
January 19, 2022 — Chebeague Island lobsterman Jeff Putnam has been on the hunt for small plastic links that will meet new requirements set to go in effect this spring to help protect right whales.
Starting on May 1, lobstermen, depending on where they fish, will have to add inserts that will weaken their ropes or use ropes that are rated to break at 1,700 pounds of force to comply with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regulations to help protect the endangered species.
The links are designed to weaken the fishing ropes that run between his buoys and lobster traps. But Putnam and other lobstermen say that they can’t find the gear they need to comply with the new rules, leaving them uncertain how they will proceed.
“I haven’t seen them at any stores yet,” Putnam said.
January 19, 2022 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Key Messages:
•NOAA Fisheries is requesting public comments on a proposed rule for Amendment 53 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources in the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 53) to revise the Gulf of Mexico red grouper sector annual catch limits and sector annual catch targets.
•Amendment 53 would also:
◦ Modify the allocation of Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) red grouper catch between the commercial and recreational sectors,
◦ Specify a new overfishing limit and acceptable biological catch.
•NOAA Fisheries requests your comments regarding the changes the proposed rule would make to Gulf red grouper management in federal waters. Comments are due by February 18, 2022.
•NOAA Fisheries also published a notice of availability for Amendment 53 and is requesting comments on the amendment.
•Comments on both the proposed rule and amendment will be considered in the final rule.
•Although the most recent red grouper population assessment did not show red grouper was undergoing overfishing (too many fish being caught) or being overfished (the populations is too low), the assessment did find the population was below a level that could support the optimal harvest.
•Additionally, there is evidence the red grouper population was hurt by recent red tide events along the west Florida shelf.
Summary of Proposed Changes in Proposed Rule and Amendment 53:
•Revise the Gulf red grouper allocation from 76% commercial and 24% recreational, to 59.3% commercial and 40.7% recreational.
•Revise the recreational annual catch target buffer from 8% to 9%.
•Revise the overfishing limit, acceptable biological catch, sector annual catch limits, and sector annual catch targets as indicated in Table 1 below.
Table 1. Current and proposed overfishing limit (OFL), acceptable biological catch (ABC), population annual catch limit (ACL), sector ACLs, and sector annual catch targets (ACT) in million pounds gutted weight. Note that current recreational ACLs and ACTs are in Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Coastal Household Telephone Survey (CHTS) units and the proposed recreational ACLs and ACTs are in MRIP Fishing Effort Survey (MRIP-FES) units. The reduction shows the percent change in the proposed commercial and recreational ACLs and ACTs (recreational values are in MRIP-FES units).
OFL
ABC
Population ACL
Commercial ACL
Recreational ACL
Commercial ACT (quota)
Recreational ACT
Current
14.16
13.92
4.16
3.16
1.00
3.00
0.92
MRIP-FES equivalent
(5.26)
(2.10)
(1.93)
Proposed
4.66
4.26
4.26
2.53
1.73
2.40
1.57
Reduction
19%
20%
18%
20%
19%
How to Comment On the Proposed Rule:
The comment period for the proposed rule is open now through February 18, 2022. You may submit comments by electronic submission or by postal mail. Comments sent by any other method (such as e-mail), to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA Fisheries.
Formal Federal Register Name/Number: 87 FR 2737, published January 19, 2022.
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
1.Go to: https://www.regulations.gov/document/NOAA-NMFS-2021-0098-0037
2.Click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields.
3.Enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Peter Hood, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is NOAA Fisheries announcing today?
•NOAA Fisheries is announcing a public comment period for a proposed rule to revise the Gulf red grouper sector annual catch limits and annual catch targets.
•The comment period is open from January 19, 2021, through February 18, 2022.
•This action sets the red grouper sector specific annual catch limits and annual catch targets consistent with the Gulf Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee’s recommendations.
What are the proposed sector catch limits and catch targets and how were they determined?
•The sector annual catch limits were determined by applying the new allocation of 59.3% commercial and 40.7% recreational to the population annual catch limit.
•For the commercial sector, the annual catch target was maintained at 5% below the commercial annual catch limit to allow for red grouper and gag multi-use shares to be used in the individual fishing quota program.
•For the recreational sector, the buffer between the annual catch target and annual catch limit was determined by the Gulf Council’s annual catch limit and annual catch target control rule.
◦ The control rule uses a number of factors about recreational harvest to develop an appropriate buffer between the annual catch limit and annual catch target.
◦ The control rule recommended the buffer be changed from 8% to 9%.
Why does this action propose that the recreational sector should have a higher percentage of the annual catch limit?
•The Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) population assessment for red grouper used updated recreational catch and effort data from the MRIP Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS) and FES, which collectively estimate larger than previously calculated catch and effort for the recreational sector.
•Because MRIP-FES was used in the red grouper SEDAR population assessment, estimates of historic recreational landings were greater than in previous assessments.
•Therefore, when comparing recreational and commercial landings, recreational landings were proportionately larger than past comparisons.
Why did the Gulf Council recommend changing the allocation between the commercial and recreational sectors?
•A Gulf red grouper population assessment was completed in late 2019 through the SEDAR process.
•The Gulf Council decided to use landings from1986 through 2005 to set the new sector allocations. These are the same years of landings used to set the current allocation of 76% commercial and 24% recreational and represent historic participation in the reef fish fishery.
•The Gulf Council used a new recreational survey to estimate 1986 through 2005 landings (see question above).
•This new survey was used in the population assessment and estimates higher recreational effort and landings than previous surveys.
•Using the new survey led to proportionally more red grouper being caught by the recreational sector.
•The resulting allocation is 59.3% commercial and 40.7% recreational.
What are the next steps?
•The public comment period for the proposed rule is open for 30 days, from January 19, 2022, through February 18, 2022.
◦ NOAA Fisheries is also soliciting public comment on Amendment 53 through a notice of availability. This comment period is open for 60 days, from December 9, 2021, through February 7, 2022.
•NOAA Fisheries will prepare the final rule and address comments received during the proposed rule and notice of availability comment periods.
•NOAA Fisheries will issue a fishery bulletin alerting constituents to any regulatory changes being implemented and advising of a 30-day cooling off period providing time to prepare for the new regulations.
What is the difference between the recreational surveys used to estimate recreational landings?
•NOAA Fisheries created Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistical Survey (MRFSS) in 1979 to estimate recreational landings and MRFSS collected recreational data on catch and effort, including red grouper, beginning in 1981.
•MRFSS included both telephone surveys and interviews at marinas and other points where recreational anglers fish.
•In 2008, MRIP replaced MRFSS to meet increasing demand for more precise, accurate, and timely recreational catch estimates. MRIP included telephone surveys of households and for-hire vessel operators that collected information about recreational fishing activity, and an angler intercept survey that collected information about the fish that were caught.
•In 2013, MRIP began using APAIS, which was designed to address concerns that trips recorded during a given time period are representative of trips for a full day.
•Beginning in 2015, MRIP-CHTS moved to a new mail survey, MRIP-FES, to overcome issues that arose from shifts in phone usage as cellular telephones became more popular.
•The mail-based FES uses angler license and registration information to identify and contact anglers
•Because FES and CHTS are so different, NOAA Fisheries conducted side-by-side testing of the two methods from 2015 to 2017 to develop a calibration model.
•In general, total recreational fishing effort estimates generated from FES are higher — and in some cases substantially higher — than CHTS estimates because FES is designed to more accurately measure fishing activity than CHTS, not because there was a sudden rise in fishing effort.
•NOAA Fisheries developed a calibration model to adjust historic effort estimates so that they can be accurately compared to new estimates from FES.
•More information on recreational survey methods can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/recreational-fishing-data.
Where can I find more information on Amendment 53?
•Contact NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Regional Office
By Mail: Peter Hood
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
•Amendment 53 and the Notice of Availability may be found online at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office Web site at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/amendment-53-red-grouper-allocations-and-catch-levels.
Sign Up For Text Message Alerts – Find Out About Immediate Openings and Closures
NOAA’s Text Message Alert Program allows you to receive important fishery related alerts via text message (SMS). Standard message & data rates may apply. You may opt-out at any time.
Text alerts you may receive include:
•Immediate fishery openings and closures
•Any significant changes to fishing regulations that happen quickly
Sign up for one or more of the following groups:
•Gulf of Mexico Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
◦ Text GULFRECFISH to 888777
•Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
◦ Text GULFCOMMFISH to 888777
•South Atlantic Recreational Fisheries Related Alerts
◦ Text SATLRECFISH to 888777
•South Atlantic Commercial Fisheries Related Alerts
◦ Text SATLCOMMFISH to 888777
•Caribbean Fisheries Related Alerts
◦ Text CARIBFISH to 888777
Other Contacts
Media: Kim Amendola (727) 551-5705, Allison Garrett (727) 551-5750
January 12, 2022 — The following was released by the U.S. Department of Energy:
The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the release of a report that outlines regional and national strategies to accelerate U.S. offshore wind deployment and operation. The report summarizes the current status of offshore wind in the United States, describes challenges to accelerating its deployment, and identifies strategies to secure United States global leadership in the industry.
Implementing the strategies discussed in the report could help the country achieve the interagency goal to deploy 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030, which would support 77,000 good paying jobs, catalyze $12 billion per year in capital investments, revitalize ports, cut 78 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and unlock a pathway to 110 GW offshore wind by 2050.
“The Offshore Wind Energy Strategies Report outlines strategic priorities and actionable information to accelerate offshore wind deployment and achieve the Administration’s goal of 30 gigawatts by 2030,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Kelly Speakes-Backman. Meeting the goal of 30 GW by 2030 will create good-paying American jobs, reduce carbon emissions, and bolster the nation’s global clean energy leadership.”
Prepared by DOE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, the report lays out strategies and actions needed to accelerate cost-effective, reliable U.S. offshore wind deployment and operation. The five strategic priorities areas are:
Each strategic priority area is supported by several focus areas and detailed initiatives. The report also includes initiatives specific to offshore wind in four U.S. coastal regions—Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Great Lakes.
The report was developed with input from other agencies, including the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the Transportation Department’s Maritime Administration, the Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as DOE’s Office of Electricity, Loan Programs Office, and Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy.
Read the report, or for more information on DOE’s work to advance offshore wind energy, see DOE’s Offshore Wind R&D web page.
January 12, 2022 — The following was released by NOAA Communications:
Today, NOAA and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) signed an interagency memorandum in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious offshore wind energy goals to advance wind energy responsibly while protecting biodiversity and promoting cooperative ocean use. Offshore wind energy development plays an important role in how the U.S. is leading the charge to combat the climate crisis, and build a clean energy economy and climate-ready nation.
The Administration set a goal of significantly increasing the nation’s offshore wind energy capacity. This new agreement underscores NOAA’s and BOEM’s commitment to responsibly deploy 30 gigawatts of wind energy production capacity in Federal waters by 2030. The memorandum will help leverage the responsibilities, expertise, and relationships of both NOAA and BOEM in support of the goal by outlining areas of cooperation, and creating a framework to develop future, more detailed agreements related to specific program areas.
“This agreement is powerful and timely as we face climate change head on. It will help ensure coordination, collaboration, and alignment by NOAA and BOEM at key decision points in support of the Administration’s offshore wind energy goal,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “It will also provide specific pathways for NOAA data and services while protecting our ecosystems and marine resources.”
“We are already seeing the impacts of climate change on communities across the country and the ocean resources that we manage. Now is the time to act. Working together, we will further advance offshore wind, which can play a critical role in meeting our country’s energy needs while combating climate change and creating new family supporting jobs,” said BOEM Director Amanda Lefton. “This agreement and the collaboration between NOAA and BOEM shows that fighting climate change and responsible resource management go hand-in-hand.”
The research, planning, and regulatory mechanisms in the offshore wind and clean energy industry will provide for new, good paying jobs while also advancing the scientific understanding of the potential impacts of offshore wind development. Surveying, spatial modeling, mapping, oceanographic assessments, and characterization of ocean regions and jurisdictional boundaries are all critical elements to the successful development of this growing industry.
Read today’s full memorandum and learn more about BOEM and NOAA Fisheries’ Federal Survey Mitigation Program launched in 2021 in support of Biden-Harris Administration wind energy goals.
January 5, 2022 — The Maine Department of Marine Resources has been granted intervenor status in a federal lawsuit brought over new lobstering restrictions intended to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a new set of rules for the lobster fishery last summer with a goal of reducing the entanglement risk for the remaining 336 North Atlantic right whales.
But Maine’s governor said that it’s misguided to impose restrictions on the state’s signature seafood.
“There’s never been a known right whale mortality associated with the Maine lobster fishery, and there have been zero known right whale entanglements associated with Maine lobster gear in almost two decades,” said Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills.
December 27, 2021 — Maine lobstermen have a new ally in the fight against federal fishing regulations.
The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association filed a motion to join the Maine Lobstermen’s Association’s lawsuit, challenging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 10-year right whale protection plan. The plan requires lobstermen to make significant changes to prevent whales from getting tangled in their gear.
The group filed the motion in Washington D.C. District Court, looking to join the lawsuit as a third party.
Massachusetts lobstermen said they want to get involved because they believe federal actions like this could directly impact their livelihoods.
The court still needs to approve the motion.
Some, including Maine’s lobster unions, have claimed the closure by NOAA falls during the peak fishing season.
According to data from the Maine Department of Marine Resources, lobstermen statewide hauled most consistently from July to October last year. They brought in a whopping 20 million pounds in October at peak, before numbers steadily fell back down through January.
Read the full story and watch the video at News Center Maine
December 22, 2021 — This month NOAA Fisheries released a report analyzing the impacts that COVID-19 had on the U.S. seafood and for-hire fishing sector in 2020. The report looked at wild harvest and aquaculture, as well as the recreational charter/ for-hire sectors. And according to NOAA, their analysis showed that the COVID-19 public health crisis “created a turning point for the U.S. and the global seafood industry.”
Here are 4 key takeaways from the report:
Commercial Fishing Landings Revenue Declined in 2020
Regional landings revenue from March to December 2020, relative to the 5-year-baseline (2015-2019), declined 15% in the Atlantic HMS, 18% in the Northeast, 27% in the Southeast, 29% in Alaska and the West Coast; and 36% in Hawaii. There was no increase in monthly landings revenue relative to the baseline until October 2020. At that point the Northeast posted a 4% increase. The following month the Atlantic HMS fishery posted a 21% increase.
December 21, 2021 — An updated analysis of the covid-19 pandemic’s effect on the U.S. fishing and seafood industry shows an across-the-board 22 percent decline in commercial landings revenue during 2020 compared to the previous five-year average, NMFS experts said.
The previously growing aquaculture sector “continued to struggle despite the incremental re-opening of restaurants beginning in May 2020,” while the recreational sector saw a 17 percent decline in trips during 2020, the NMFS report states.
“Our analysis shows that the covid public health crisis created a turning point for the U.S. and the global seafood industry,” agency officials said in releasing the new report, updating the original analysis from January 2021. “It created new long-term challenges to expanding our sustainable domestic seafood sector.”
Food service sales fell 40 percent in the “first quarter of covid-19,” defined as March through May 2020, relative to average sales in the three preceding quarters, the report states.
December 16, 2021 — NOAA Fisheries announced that for the 2022 fishing year, the total target at-sea monitoring overall level will be 99% of all groundfish sector trips subject to the at-sea monitoring program.
NOAA said it considered a “variety of factors” when it determined the coverage level for 2022 and wrote a letter to the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) to explain their decision.
In a bulletin, NOAA also said it has the funds to reimburse the industry for its at-sea monitoring costs. Plus, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will continue to administer the reimbursement program for Fishing Year 2022 as in prior years.