January 12, 2021 — On Monday 11 January, a group of environmental organizations sent notice to Trump administration officials that the U.S. government is violating the Endangered Species Act, and giving notice they plan to take legal action as a result.
The Endangered Species Act requires a 60-day notice when groups plan to sue.
January 12, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
We are proposing to amend the regulations implementing the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan to reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury to North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis), fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in northeast commercial lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fisheries to meet the goals of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.
To give the public an opportunity to learn about the proposed rule and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, we are holding 4 public information sessions. Everyone is welcome to attend and ask questions about the proposed rule.
See our summary fact sheet for more information on the proposed rule.
Please note, there will be an opportunity to provide comments at our public hearings in February. You may also provide comments online through the Regulations.gov comment portal. The comment due date is March 1, 2021.
Public Information Sessions
The information sessions run from 6:30-9 pm and are designed to orient participants to the documents and the review process, and to answer questions about what the proposed rule and DEIS contain. Public comments will only be accepted if time permits.
We will be opening the sessions at 6 pm for troubleshooting, so please log on early.
The sessions are focused on the proposed requirements for particular areas, though you may attend any session, and ask questions about any area.
If you are unable to attend, you may access a pre-recorded version of the slides to learn more about the rule.
January 12, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries announces a new Slow Zone (voluntary vessel speed restriction zone) southeast of Atlantic City, New Jersey. On January 9, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Atlantic City Buoy acoustically detected the presence of right whales 20nm southeast of Atlantic City, New Jersey. This new Slow Zone is in effect until January 24, 2021.
Also, on January 8, a New England Aquarium aerial survey team detected the presence of right whales south of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. This slow zone is extended through January 23.
Mariners, please go around these areas or go slow (10 knots or less) inside this area where right whales have been detected.
The South of Martha’s Vineyard Slow Zone is in effect through January 23 for waters bounded by:
41 25 N
40 44 N
069 59 W
070 55 W
The Southeast of Atlantic City Slow Zone is in effect through January 24 for waters bounded by:
39 25 N
38 44 N
073 44 W
074 36 W
See the coordinates for all the slow zones currently in effect.
January 11, 2021 — Lobsters are big business in Maine. In 2019 alone, the state netted almost US $500-million from this popular crustacean. Profits would likely be even higher, though, if the seafood industry could reduce “shrink”—the number of lobsters that die on their way through the supply chain. Every one percent in shrink means almost $5-million in unrealized income, says Eric Thunberg, an economist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. “Those aren’t small losses.”
“There’s a lot of interest in reducing shrink,” says Rick Wahle, a zoologist at the University of Maine. “Unfortunately,” he says, “there’s very little hard data to work with.”
“In most cases, it’s not going to be rocket science to mitigate these problems,” says Wahle. “It may just be shorter handling times, reducing time between the dock and the holding tank, dropping more aerators in the water, or lowering storage density.” The question is where along the supply chain those changes should be applied.
A new project, led by Wahle and supported by NOAA, is now tackling that question with two purpose-designed technologies to record the health and environment conditions of lobsters as they move from trap to distributor. One sensor package, called MockLobster, measures temperature and acceleration of a crate of lobsters as it’s moved around. The team wants to add other sensors for dissolved oxygen and acidity, but these features are still being prototyped.
January 11, 2021 — The following was released by the Seafood Nutrition Partnership:
Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) is pleased to announce new leadership of its Board of Directors with the appointment of Jim Motos of Rich Products Corp. as the Chair of the Board and Paul Doremus of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the Vice Chair. Steve Hart of Global Aquaculture Alliance will move to Immediate Past Chair and Judson Reis, formerly of Gorton’s Inc., will remain as Treasurer. The Board welcomes Jason Driskill, Senior Director of Seafood for Texas-based retailer H-E-B.
Full press release can be found here
January 11, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
On behalf of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Cooperative Research Branch, I am pleased to invite you to attend the “Cooperative Research: Facing the Challenges of COVID-19” workshop series.
Two 90-minute WebEx virtual workshops for researchers, industry partners, and field scientists will be held on February 25 and March 4, 2021.
The first webinar will focus on how cooperative research field work was adapted to ensure safe operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The second webinar will focus on how fishermen worked with researchers to independently collect scientific data during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it may be used to bridge data gaps.
These virtual workshops are designed to foster a dialogue about how cooperative research has adapted and continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, including exchanging experiences from the field.
Each workshop will include brief presentations by organizations and industry partners involved in cooperative research across the region, and discussions moderated by the NEFSC Cooperative Research Branch Chief, Dr. Anna Mercer.
No RSVP is needed. On the days of the events, login to the Webex platform using the credentials found on our Event Page. I look forward to having you join with other community partners to take a close look at how operations changed in 2020.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch.
Sincerely,
Giovanni Gianesin, NEFSC/Cooperative Research Branch
January 8, 2021 — The North Pacific marine heat wave of 2014 to 2016 and subsequent algae bloom severely tested California fishing communities dependent on Dungeness crab – and demonstrated how they could adapt to sudden climate changes, according to a new study by West Coast scientists.
The bloom produced high levels of the biotoxin domoic acid, forcing a delay in the 2015-2016 crab season when “roughly two-thirds of all vessels stopped fishing temporarily while others switched to different fisheries or moved to more favorable locations,” according to a summary from Oregon State University, where researchers worked with colleagues at the University of Washington and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center.
The study used network analysis to examine impacts from the season delays across fisheries, and understand how seven affected fishing communities responded, according to James Watson, one of the study’s co-authors and an assistant professor at OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.
January 8, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries is implementing an amendment recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council to establish an Atlantic herring acceptable biological catch (ABC) control rule and prohibit the use of midwater trawl gear in inshore waters from Canada to Connecticut.
Acceptable Biological Catch
The ABC control rule is intended to ensure sustainable herring harvest and account for herring’s role as forage in the ecosystem. The control rule sets herring ABC for 3 years, but allows ABC to vary year-to-year with projected estimates of biomass.
Prohibiting Midwater Trawl Gear Inshore
This amendment prohibits the use of midwater trawl gear inshore of the 12-nautical mile territorial sea boundary from the U.S./Canada border to the Connecticut/Rhode Island border and inshore of 20 nautical miles off the east coast of Cape Cod (see map).
The year-round inshore midwater trawl restricted area will reduce midwater trawl vessel overlap with other user groups (i.e., commercial fisheries, recreational fisheries, ecotourism) that rely on herring as forage. The restricted area may also reduce catch of river herring and shad, reduce fishing pressure on the inshore herring stock, and help ensure herring are available to predators.
January 8, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Today, we are sharing two messages from our leadership team that wrap up 2020, recognize some of the successes and challenges we encountered, and look ahead at both our science and management priorities for 2021.
Questions?
Contact Allison Ferreira, Regional Office, 978-281-9103
January 7, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries is proposing to designate critical habitat in U.S. waters off the coast of Alaska for Arctic ringed seals and the Beringia distinct population of bearded seals. Both species are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
The ESA requires that NOAA Fisheries designate critical habitat for listed species in areas within the jurisdiction of the United States. Critical habitat identifies geographic areas that contain features essential to the conservation of a listed species.
Designating critical habitat does not create a preserve or refuge, and would not affect subsistence harvest of ringed or bearded seals by Alaska Natives.
Read more.