Saving Seafood

FLORIDA: Marco Rubio, Rick Scott urge NOAA to drop proposed right whale protection rule

November 2, 2022 — Organized pushback against federal efforts to reduce North Atlantic right whale deaths continues to grow in South Atlantic states as shipping and charter fishing interests try to stall or stop the implementation of new speed restrictions for vessels of 35 feet or larger.

As the days wound down on NOAA Fisheries’ public comment period, U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott teamed up with fellow Republican Senators from the Carolinas to oppose the new rule.

Their main beef with the rule is it alters “the long-standing and effective navigation safety ‘deviation clause’ contained in the current regulations.’ With regard to port safety and commercial viability, the rule was originally amended in 2008 to provide a navigation safety deviation clause that would allow large commercial ships to safely navigate within the confines of the narrow offshore Federal Navigation Channels (FNC) along the U.S. east coast.”

Read the full article at Florida Politics

Pilot System Could Return Endangered Salmon to Their Historic Habitat

November 2, 2022: The following was released by NOAA Fisheries: 

State and federal biologists and engineers, in partnership with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, have begun testing an experimental system in Shasta Reservoir. It could help collect young salmon from the McCloud River in future years and return them to their historic habitat.

The Juvenile Salmonid Collection System is a pilot project 6 years in the making. It is part of a long-term effort to help fish better survive California’s hotter, drier future and more extreme droughts. The collection system will float in the McCloud River arm of the reservoir and guide cold water toward a collection point. This cold water flows down from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The initial testing is running from September to mid-November. It will not involve salmon but will use temperature and hydraulic measurements to assess the operation and performance of the collection system.

If successful, the system will be tested in future years with salmon to determine its efficacy and if it can be a critical part of winter-run salmon reintroduction. Biologists expect that juvenile salmon will follow the colder water to that collection point. They can be retrieved there and transported downstream around the dam to continue their migration to the ocean.

System to Collect Juvenile Salmon

Recovery plans call for returning endangered Chinook salmon to their original spawning grounds in the cold McCloud River above Shasta Reservoir. The fish may better survive drought and climate change in that cooler habitat. Juvenile salmon hatched in the river need to be collected as they migrate downstream before or just after they enter the reservoir. The reservoir is home to warmer waters and predators.

“This is an innovative and important project that comes at a critical time for endangered winter-run Chinook salmon,” said Scott Rumsey, Acting Regional Administrator for NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region. “While we will need a few years to move this ahead, we have no time to waste in preparing this native California species for the rising challenges of climate change.”

Reintroduction efforts strive to reestablish endangered winter-run salmon in colder, high-elevation rivers where they once spawned before reservoirs blocked their migration. This would improve their resilience to a changing climate and could allow for more flexibility in managing water in the Sacramento River.

An important component of the project has been the commitment of state, federal, and regional authorities to Tribal engagement. Strategic efforts and planning have been enhanced with the support and commitment to developing a partnership with the Winnemem Wintu Tribe. The participation of the Tribe brings unique perspectives and incorporates Tribal knowledge to the project.

Important Step for Imperiled Species

This is the first step in creating the infrastructure necessary to connect winter-run Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River with cold-water spawning and rearing habitat in the McCloud River.

The testing of the collection system is a separate effort from the transfer of about 40,000 winter-run eggs from the Livingston Stone National Fish Hatchery to the McCloud River. They incubated in the hatchery throughout the summer. That effort, supported by project partners, was an urgent response to the severe drought and will improve the salmon’s odds of survival this year.

The testing of the system will require intermittent restricted access for boats in the upper McCloud arm of the reservoir, as the system spans the entire channel. California Department of Water Resources and contractor staff will be on site.

Partners on the project include:

  • Shasta-Trinity National Forest
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • California Department of Water Resources
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Winnemem Wintu Tribe

MAINE: Lobster union looks to White House for help

October 31, 2022 — A local Maine Lobstering Union member expects to meet personally with President Joe Biden to ask him to prevent the destruction of Maine’s lobster industry.

Ginny Olsen, MLU’s political liaison, said she will ask President Biden to prevent federal agencies from imposing draconian whale-protection rules. The White House meeting hasn’t been scheduled yet, she said, but she is meeting virtually with representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on October 27.

“I’m throwing any Hail Mary I can think of,” Olsen said in a phone interview.

Getting the president’s attention

Olsen sent a letter last month to Biden saying NOAA is denying climate-change science that shows right whales moved out of the Gulf of Maine.

She further pointed out Biden has ordered federal agencies to review regulations issued during the Trump presidency to make sure they are in line with the science. In Executive Order 13990, Biden directed agencies to address those rules that don’t comply with his administration’s policies—which include listening to climate-change science and creating good-paying union jobs. NOAA and the National Marine Fisheries Service have ignored that order, Olsen wrote.

She said she was hoping to appease both environmentalists and lobster fishermen with that argument.

After the letter was sent, she said, “We were contacted for further information, which we provided.”

Something else may have gotten the White House’s attention—a letter and press release from Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, calling out Biden for reneging on his campaign promise to save Maine’s lobster fishery.

“You cannot espouse being a president for working people while simultaneously overseeing the destruction of an entire blue-collar fishery and its community’s heritage and way of life,” wrote Golden in a letter dated October 5. He asked for a meeting with Maine’s congressional delegation and lobster industry representatives.

Read the full article at Penobscot Bay Press

Feds unveil plan to grow wind power while sparing rare whale

October 31, 2022 — The federal government has outlined a strategy to try to protect an endangered species of whale while also developing offshore wind power off the East Coast.

President Joe Biden’s administration has made a priority of encouraging offshore wind along the Atlantic coast as the U.S. pursues greater energy independence. Those waters are also home to the declining North Atlantic right whale, which numbers about 340 in the world.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management released a draft plan this month to conserve the whales while allowing for the building of wind projects. The agencies said the ongoing efforts to save the whales and create more renewable energy can coexist.

Read the full article at the Associated Press

Biden admin picks up pace on Endangered Species Act rewrite

October 28, 2022 — The Biden administration could be done with its rewrite of Trump-era Endangered Species Act rules by May 2024, an official noted in an update for a federal judge overseeing a crucial legal challenge.

Samuel Rauch III, NOAA Fisheries’ deputy assistant administrator for regulatory affairs, stated that he had previously estimated the final ESA rule changes could be published two years after the judge rules on the lawsuit, first filed in 2019. Now, he says definitively that the final rule changes could be done by May 2024.

“Since my [earlier estimate] was filed, the Services have been further examining and clarifying an anticipated timeline for a rulemaking to propose revisions to the 2019 rules,” Rauch wrote in the administration’s most recent legal filing.

Read the full article at E&E News

NOAA Announces 5-Year Strategic Plan for Aquaculture

October 27, 2022 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA published its first-ever 5-Year Strategic Plan for Aquaculture to guide the agency’s work from 2023-2028. The Strategic Plan was developed by the NOAA Aquaculture Program, which includes the NOAA Fisheries Office of Aquaculture, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research’s National Sea Grant Program, and the National Ocean Service’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.

“Through this plan, NOAA will support a thriving, resilient, and inclusive U.S. aquaculture industry as part of a competitive domestic seafood sector,” said NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Janet Coit. “This plan will act as a framework to guide NOAA’s Aquaculture Program, set priorities to achieve our mission, and support NOAA’s vision of healthy and resilient ecosystems, communities, and economies.”

The Strategic Plan articulates a vision for an industry that supports jobs, expands access to nutritious domestic seafood, and reinforces healthy coastal and ocean ecosystems in a changing environment. This is supported by the Program’s mission of providing science, services, and policies that create conditions for opportunity and growth of sustainable U.S. aquaculture.

Four Goals to Expand Sustainable Aquaculture

The Strategic Plan is designed to support collaboration and align goals and objectives across the NOAA Aquaculture Program and with our partners. It includes the following components:

  • Vision and Mission to guide our work
  • Core Values to illustrate who we are and our philosophy as a program
  • Four key goals, which outline our top priorities over the next five years

Goal 1. Manage Sustainably and Efficiently

Improve the regulatory processes for sustainable coastal and marine aquaculture through collaboration with partners.

Goal 2. Lead Science for Sustainability

Use world-class science expertise to meet management and industry needs for a thriving seafood production sector and share this knowledge broadly.

Goal 3. Educate and Exchange Information

Build awareness and support for coastal, marine, and Great Lakes aquaculture through two-way communication with diverse stakeholders and partners.

Goal 4. Support Economic Growth and Viability

Facilitate a robust aquaculture industry that thrives as a key component of a resilient seafood sector.

“Sustainable aquaculture encompasses the “triple bottom line” of economic viability, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility,” said David O’Brien, Acting Director of the Office of Aquaculture. “As the demand for seafood continues to increase, and climate change continues to pose a threat to food security, NOAA will continue supporting efforts to grow seafood on land, in coastal waters, and the open ocean in harmony with a healthy and resilient environment.”

NOAA’s Aquaculture Program

The Strategic Plan was developed collaboratively by the NOAA Aquaculture Program and the public. Input was sought through public listening sessions, and feedback was incorporated to ensure the plan reflects the needs of a diverse range of users and stakeholders. This is the first Strategic Plan developed by all three Line Offices in the NOAA Aquaculture Program, highlighting the strong shared goal to support resilient U.S. aquaculture.

The NOAA Aquaculture Program consists of:

“Our aquaculture team strives to advance sustainable aquaculture development in the United States through science, service, and stewardship. We will seek to provide ongoing opportunities for public input to ensure results that are community-driven,” said O’Brien.

 

NOAA awards USD 18.9 million towards research in harmful algal bloom across the US

October 27, 2022 — NOAA has announced it will be allocating USD 18.9 million (EUR 18.9 million) toward research projects and monitoring activities surrounding harmful algal bloom (HAB) across the coastal United States and Great Lakes.

Investments in the effort are being coordinated by the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) and the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System within the NOAA National Ocean Service.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Statement from the NOAA Administrator on the 50th anniversary of the MMPA, NMSA and CZMA acts

October 25, 2022 — Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries:

“In 1972, in response to the dire state of our environment and growing public concern, Congress passed a series of bedrock conservation acts to safeguard our nation’s coasts, shores, and marine ecosystems.

“This week marks the 50th anniversaries of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, and the Coastal Zone Management Act. These historic laws provide a foundation for the nation’s ocean and coastal conservation efforts and shape how many Americans view the environment. But most importantly, these past 50 years have demonstrated our nation’s ability to work collectively to spur economic opportunity, protect our natural resources and wildlife, and ensure that future generations are able to enjoy their splendor.

“Today, our conservation and restoration efforts are undertaken with an increasing sense of urgency in the face of the climate crisis. Across NOAA, from the National Marine Fisheries Service to the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the Office for Coastal Management, we’re working to build climate resilience into how we manage and protect our resources and marine environments. We’re committed to ensuring that the next 50 years of our conservation efforts build on our heritage and address existing and future threats with the best available science and data.

“To honor the legacy of these acts, I encourage you to visit noaa.gov, as well as the websites for NOAA Fisheries and NOAA Sanctuaries, to explore our resources and explainers on their achievements.”

— Dr. Rick Spinrad

Lobstermen may get temporary delay on new right whale restrictions

October 25, 2022 — Maine lobstermen may get a temporary break on new rules aimed to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales. But it will be up to a federal judge in Washington, D.C. to decide.

The lobster industry, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) are involved in federal court negotiations over imposing new and tougher restrictions on fishing.

Read the full article at News Center Maine

North Atlantic Right Whale and Offshore Wind Strategy Open for Public Comment until December 4

October 25, 2022 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management released a joint draft strategy to protect and promote the recovery of North Atlantic right whales while responsibly developing offshore wind energy. The draft strategy is now available for public comment no later than December 4, 2022. It outlines how the agencies will collaborate and improve science and information to support the Administration’s goal of developing offshore wind while protecting biodiversity and promoting ocean co-use. The draft strategy will also provide offshore wind developers with guidance on mitigation measures that will assist them in navigating the regulatory process.

“As we face the ongoing challenges of climate change, this strategy provides a strong foundation to help us advance renewable energy while also working to protect and recover North Atlantic right whales, and the ecosystem they depend on,” said Janet Coit, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries and Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere at NOAA. “Responsible development of renewable energy sources and protecting endangered North Atlantic right whales are priorities both agencies share.”

NOAA Fisheries and our partners are dedicated to protecting and recovering North Atlantic right whales. Their population includes fewer than 350 individuals and fewer than 70 reproductively active females and has been experiencing an Unusual Mortality Event since 2017. Climate change is affecting every aspect of right whales’ survival—changing their habitat, their migratory patterns, and the location and availability of their prey. It is even increasing their risk of becoming entangled in fishing gear or being struck by vessels.

Offshore wind development is also rapidly expanding along the Atlantic coast of the United States, especially from Massachusetts to North Carolina. North Atlantic right whales’ habitat and migration routes are primarily in Atlantic coastal waters on the continental shelf where offshore wind leases exist or are planned. Working together on this draft strategy leverages the resources and expertise of both agencies and allows the agencies. It will allow us to collect, apply, and use the best available scientific information to inform offshore wind management decisions.

“This draft strategy focuses on improving the science and integrating past, present, and future efforts related to North Atlantic right whales and offshore wind development,” said Dr. Jon Hare, the Director of NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center and one of the lead authors of the draft strategy. “We also identify preliminary mitigation measures related to offshore wind energy project planning, leasing, and siting, site characterization,  and unexploded ordnance surveys, construction and operation, and project-specific monitoring, and are looking for public comment on these measures and on the strategy overall.”

The draft strategy also identifies project-specific and regional preliminary monitoring measures. These mitigation measures include the types of requirements that regulatory agencies and project proponents consider for individual projects, thereby assisting offshore wind developers to navigate the permitting process. The list of measures is not comprehensive and does not supersede measures that may be required by the agencies during regulatory processes such as construction and operations plan approvals, Endangered Species Act consultations, or incidental take authorizations.

Following review of public comments, the draft strategy will be finalized. The final strategy will be a living document, periodically evaluated and updated as new information becomes available.

View the draft strategy and information on how to submit comments

The ambitious deployment of offshore wind energy is a critical component of U.S. efforts to combat the climate crisis and build a clean energy economy. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to addressing the nation’s climate crisis by deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.

BOEM is the lead federal agency responsible for offshore energy exploration and development in the United States. To date, BOEM has leased approximately 1.7 million acres in the northeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S. Outer Continental Shelf for offshore wind development. There are 25 active leases in the Atlantic from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras.

NOAA Fisheries works with BOEM, other federal agencies, tribes, state agencies, and stakeholders to assess how offshore wind projects affect endangered and threatened species, marine mammals, fisheries, marine habitats, and fishing communities, and protect these important resources.