Saving Seafood

Secretary of Commerce Appoints Three New Committee Members to NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee

September 18, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries: 

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo appointed three new members to NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC), bringing the group’s membership to the full complement of 21. The Committee advises the Secretary of Commerce and NOAA on all marine life matters that are the responsibility of the Department of Commerce. The three new members are:                                 

  • Hugh Cowperthwaite, Falmouth, Maine:  Senior Director of the Sustainable Fisheries & Aquaculture Program for the Coastal Enterprises Inc. Fisheries Project      
  • Jennifer Hagen, Forks, Washington: Marine Biologist/Marine Policy Advisor for the Quileute Tribe of La Push, Washington
  • Ryan Prewitt, New Orleans, Louisiana: Chef/Owner, Pêche Seafood Grill and Partner, Gianna Restaurant

 

“I value working with the MAFAC members, their discussions, and the advice that they provide to me and our agency,” said NOAA Fisheries’ Assistant Administrator Janet Coit.

MAFAC members draw on their expertise to evaluate and make recommendations on national marine life policies. The members represent a wide spectrum of fishing, aquaculture, protected resources, environmental, academic, tribal, state, consumer, and other related national interests from across the United States. They ensure the nation’s marine resource policies and programs meet the needs of these stakeholders.

“MAFAC has provided advice and recommendations to NOAA for more than 50 years. These new members will bring invaluable experience and diverse perspectives to the work of this important Committee. I am excited to have them join MAFAC and share their insights,” said Heidi Lovett, the Acting Designated Federal Officer for the committee.

In the past year, MAFAC has been working on:

  • Identifying guiding principles to better define and help NOAA support climate-ready fisheries, fisheries management, and fishing communities
  • Gathering stakeholder knowledge and perceptions about the effectiveness of deterrents to mitigate or eliminate interactions of marine mammals with fishing gear in the water and at docks and related structures
  • Developing recommendations for the agency to build greater transparency and stakeholders support for strategic multi-year investments in core mission critical infrastructure
  • Developing recommendations for the agency to consider when developing an implementation roadmap for using electronically reported recreational fishing data
  • Providing input on the NOAA Fisheries National Saltwater Fishing Policy, the draft National Seafood Strategy, and the draft Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy
  • Providing recommendation on workforce development initiatives that support individuals, businesses, and communities adapting to changing needs and conditions

Nearly $1.2 Million in Funding Will Support Atlantic Salmon Habitat Restoration

September 17, 2023 — The following was released at NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries is awarding nearly $1.2 million in funding for four partners to continue ongoing projects that restore habitat for Atlantic salmon in the Gulf of Maine region. The Gulf of Maine distinct population segment of Atlantic salmon is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and is one of nine NOAA Species in the Spotlight.

Atlantic salmon are an iconic species of the Northeast. They once returned by the hundreds of thousands to most major rivers along the northeastern United States. Now, they only return in small numbers to rivers in central and eastern Maine. These populations comprise the Gulf of Maine DPS.

Degraded habitat is one of the largest obstacles facing the recovery of threatened and endangered species like Atlantic salmon. Habitat restoration helps repair areas that have been destroyed by development, blocked by dams, or otherwise subjected to habitat destruction. Through funding and technical assistance, NOAA supports projects that restore the habitats that threatened and endangered species need to recover.

Restore Habitat Access

The Atlantic Salmon Federation will implement five projects to restore access to Atlantic salmon spawning and rearing habitats in the Kennebec River watershed. They will also conduct a fish passage feasibility study at the Chesterville Wildlife Management Area Dam on Little Norridgewock Stream. ($50,000)

Improving Fish Passage

Project SHARE will replace undersized culverts at 13 sites, connecting habitat for Atlantic salmon across the Dennys, Machias, Pleasant, Union, and Narraguagus River watersheds. They will also conduct fish passage feasibility studies at the Great Works Dam and at Marion Falls fishway. Funding will also support freshwater habitat restoration work in the Narraguagus River watershed. ($264,000)

Restoring and Reconnecting Habitat

The Nature Conservancy will complete the final designs to remove Guilford Dam and restore the adjacent floodplain, which will reconnect habitat for Atlantic salmon in the Piscataquis River watershed. They will also restore access to high-quality habitat by improving fish passage at three high-priority road crossings over streams. ($605,000)

Fish Passage Feasibility Studies

The Downeast Salmon Federation will support fish passage feasibility studies at the Cherryfield Ice Control Dam on the Narraguagus River and the Gardner Lake Dam on the East Machias River, to support future habitat restoration in these watersheds. Funding will also support fish passage improvements at the Gardner Lake Dam. ($277,000)

 

NOAA selects members to new advisory committee to advance area-based conservation

September 17, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA announced the selection of 20 members to serve on the inaugural Marine and Coastal Area-based Management Advisory Committee that will advise agency leadership on science-based approaches to area-based protection, conservation, restoration and management of coastal, Great Lakes and marine places.

NOAA has a wide range of responsibilities and authorities related to area-based management, including through the national marine sanctuary and national estuarine research reserve systems, and through fishery management areas.

“Area-based management is a critical tool in the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to combat the climate crisis and invest in our coastal communities and industries,” said U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves. “These 20 members will lend essential perspectives and expertise to Commerce’s conservation and restoration efforts as we work towards achieving sustainable development, environmental justice and a clean energy future for America’s ocean and coasts.”

The committee will provide valuable advice on how NOAA’s area-based management activities can enhance biodiversity, build climate resilience and expand access to nature and the outdoors for underserved communities. The committee will also advise NOAA on implementation of the America the Beautiful initiative, which aims to conserve and restore the nation’s public lands and waters.

The committee’s unique scope will help NOAA address all types of area-based management in coastal and marine areas, including sites that are managed under different authorities and for different purposes, such as national marine sanctuaries, national estuarine research reserves and areas for fisheries management.

Committee members reflect diverse perspectives and expertise in key areas, including:

  • Resource management for coastal, marine and Great Lakes areas.
  • Commercial and recreational fishing, marine industries, recreation and tourism.
  • Study of the structure, function, human use and management of coastal and ocean ecosystems.

The selected Committee members also represent tribal and Indigenous communities, conservation, philanthropic and non-governmental organizations, and organizations focusing on youth engagement, education, outreach and environmental justice.

“NOAA is pleased to welcome committee members with a wide range of perspectives and expertise — from science, policy, advocacy and industry – and including tribal and Indigenous leaders,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “Effective management of special coastal, Great Lakes and marine areas – and the communities that rely on them — will benefit from their input and advice.”

To provide for staggered membership to ensure continuity, half of the members are appointed to a two-year term (renewable once) and half are appointed to a four-year, non-renewable term, with terms beginning at the committee’s first meeting.The following individuals will serve on the committee:

  • Peter Auster, senior research scientist and research professor emeritus, Mystic Aquarium, University of Connecticut (two-year term).
  • Linda Behnken, executive director, Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association; Acting Director, Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust (four-year term).
  • Jessica Coakley, fishery management specialist, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (two-year term).
  • Jenn Eckerle, deputy secretary for oceans and coastal policy, California Natural Resources Agency; executive director, California Ocean Protection Council (four-year term).
  • Deanna Erickson, reserve director, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve (four-year term).
  • Kirsten Grorud-Colvert, associate professor and senior researcher, Department of Integrative Biology for Oregon State University (four-year term).
  • Martha Guyas, Southeast fisheries policy director, American Sportfishing Association (four-year term).
  • Heather Hall, intergovernmental ocean policy manager, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (two-year term).
  • Mark Hodor, senior legal counsel, Shell USA Inc., Safety, Environment, and Asset Management (two-year term).
  • Jaime Jahncke, director, California Current Group, Point Blue Conservation Science (two- year term).
  • Amy Kenney, executive director, National Ocean Protection Coalition (four-year term).
  • Aaron Kornbluth, owner, Akorn Environmental Consulting (two-year term).
  • Stephanie Mathes, director of special initiatives, The Corps Network (two-year term).
  • Joseph Oatman, deputy program manager and harvest director, Nez Perce Tribe (four-year term).
  • Eric Reid, chairman, New England Fisheries Management Council (four-year term).
  • Donald Schug, socioeconomic analyst, Northern Economics, Inc. (two-year term).
  • Tracey Smart, senior marine scientist, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division (two-year term).
  • Helen Smith, policy advocate, Creation Justice Ministries (two-year term).
  • Peter Stauffer, ocean protection manager, Surfrider Foundation (four-year term).
  • Angelo Villagomez, senior fellow, Energy and Environment, Center for American Progress (two-year term).

For more information, please visit the Marine and Coastal Area-based Management Advisory Committee website.

NOAA Fisheries Supports West Coast States’ and Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Fishing Gear Marking Efforts

September 13, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Nobody wants to catch a whale. By marking their gear clearly, fishermen and other ocean users help reduce the risk of that happening. Entanglement in fishing gear presents a major threat to whales. It can drown individuals, cause long-term injuries that impact their health by limiting their ability to eat, travel and reproduce, and potentially affect population abundance. Entanglement is a pressing concern for whales off the West Coast, where documented entanglements have risen sharply during the past decade. Due to recent changes in ocean conditions there have been some increases in overlap between whales and nearshore fisheries. A better understanding of which fisheries and where the overlap is occurring is crucial.

The West Coast states and Pacific Fishery Management Council have required gear marking in commercial and recreational fisheries. These markings help NOAA Fisheries and our partners identify the origins of entanglements. However, under current requirements only about half of the reported entanglements can be linked to a specific fishery or other type of gear.

Environmental Alliance Challenges Accepted Offshore Sonar Levels

September 13, 2023 — Saying protective distances adopted by the National Marine Fisheries Service for incidental harassment authorizations related to offshore wind sonar work is having the opposite effect, Save the Right Whales Coalition wants the federal government to take emergency action to halt the work.

NOAA Fisheries issues permits for “incidental harassment” of whales and dolphins when it authorizes seabed surveying using high-intensity noise devices.

“Our data shows that the sonar is producing Level B harassment noise levels at distances that exceed those set by NOAA Fisheries,” Lisa Linowes, co-founder of Save the Right Whales Coalition, wrote in a Sept. 8 letter to Richard Spinrad, NOAA administrator and undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere. “Marine mammals are likely getting much closer to the sonar than should be allowed.”

Read the full article at the Sand Paper

Biden-Harris Administration proposes management plan, environmental assessment for Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument

September 12, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries: 

Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA released a draft management plan and environmental assessment for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, as directed by Presidential Proclamation 9496 and reiterated by President Biden in Presidential Proclamation 10287, which restored protections significantly cut back by the previous Administration. The development of a management plan will advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative, which is supporting conservation efforts across the country with a goal to conserve and restore at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. Since taking office, President Biden has protected more than 21 million acres of public lands and waters, and is on track to conserve more lands and waters than any president in U.S. history.

The proposed plan includes agency management roles and responsibilities, and lays out the goals, objectives and management activities needed over the next 15 years to provide proper care for the Monument’s unique ecosystem and natural resources, with a focus on research, education and community engagement. The draft plan also includes an environmental assessment to evaluate the potential impacts of implementing the proposed management actions.

“President Biden’s reaffirmation of the need to develop a management plan for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument further solidifies his commitment to protecting our most vital waters and the marine life that thrives in it,” said Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries Janet Coit. “The management plan will also advance the goals of the Biden-Harris Administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative by safeguarding this special place for years to come.”

In addition to developing a Monument management plan, NOAA Fisheries will undertake rulemaking later this year to incorporate the Monument boundaries and commercial fishing prohibition into the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act regulations in response to the Presidential proclamations. Consistent with Proclamation 9496, recreational fishing in the National Monument may continue.

“The Administration’s continued commitment to the establishment of this Monument helps safeguard its unique ecosystem, rich marine life and natural and historical resources for future generations,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams. “Input from the public and a wide range of partners and other interested parties on this draft plan will help ensure Monument managers can protect and conserve resources, engage the community as stewards of this dynamic system and better understand Monument ecosystems in a changing climate.”

Located 130 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument was established by Presidential Proclamation in 2016, under the Antiquities Act, to protect and conserve its unique and pristine habitats, historic objects and features of high scientific interest for current and future generations of Americans. As the first marine monument in the Atlantic, it is renowned for its rich and unique biodiversity, including deep-sea coral communities and concentrations of marine wildlife. 

The draft Monument management plan, environmental assessment and planning updates can be found on the Monument management planning website. The public can submit written comments on the priorities and objectives described in the Monument’s proposed management plan and environmental assessment through Oct. 26, 2023 via the Federal eRulemaking Portal or by mail to: Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, USFWS, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035.

Following the 45-day public comment period, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA will consider comments and determine if a revision to the draft plan is necessary. The Monument’s management plan and environmental assessment is expected to be finalized in early 2024.

What women of Sea Grant want: science is in, spin is out

September 12, 2023 — Sea Grant is one of aquaculture’s best partners in the U.S. Founded in 1966, it is a joint effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and 34 university-based programs in every coastal and Great Lakes state, plus Puerto Rico and Guam.  

In a world of lobbyists and people tied to screens, Sea Grant stands out for its commitment to unbiased science and real-life connection.

One of its greatest assets is the broad array of women in its ranks. These scientists, lawyers, public outreach experts, educators, and other specialists thrive as an exchange, providing access to science and also transferring the priorities of various stakeholders, from aquaculture producers to local residents, back to their universities. Ultimately, their goal is to support sustainable seafood production, economic growth, and environmental stewardship through research, extension, and education.

Driving innovation
Among Sea Grant’s research initiatives have been those that invest in creating new technologies that will lead aquaculture forward.  In the lab, for example, one project assessed hatchery apparatus to enhance availability of seaweed seedstock.  In the field, another designed and built an open-ocean integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) platform to grow steelhead trout, blue mussels, and sugar kelp.

Lilian Elekwachi, a PhD candidate and teaching assistant at the University of Massachusetts Boston, was selected this year for the prestigious Knauss Fellowship Program. One of 84 fellows, in February she joined the Office of System Architecture and Advanced Planning in Washington, DC, which collaborates with U.S. Government agencies, international partners, and industry to leverage technology to meet NOAA mission needs. 

Elekwachi is visiting ocean farmers nationwide to document the needs they have that technology might solve. “Each state has a unique challenge,” she said. But she sees big opportunities for technology to monitor fish health and water quality.

That was not the case in her native Nigeria, where most of the work was manual.  Still, at 24, she started a successful catfish farm where she fed, harvested, slaughtered and smoked the fish. When she returns to Massachusetts to continue her doctorate after her year-long fellowship, her goal is to perfect a hybrid solar/smoking technology that will be safe, climate-friendly, and cost-efficient.  

Read the full article at Aquaculture North America

Release of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument Draft Management Plan and Environmental Assessment

September 12, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have prepared a draft management plan and environmental assessment for the proper care and management of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, as directed by Presidential Proclamations 9496 and 10287 (September 15, 2016; October 8, 2021).

The plan defines agency management roles and responsibilities and lays out the goals, objectives, and proposed management activities for the next 15 years. The plan includes an environmental assessment to evaluate the potential impacts of implementing the proposed management actions.

The goals and objectives in the plan are derived from the Presidential Proclamations, federal mandates, and public input. The draft plan ensures transparency on management activities and addresses priority management, research, and education needs to foster stewardship of the Monument’s natural, historical, and cultural resources.

How Do I Comment?

The draft management plan and environmental assessment is available for comment on USFWS website. Information about upcoming public meetings will be available on the website as well.

We are accepting public comments on the draft management plan and environmental assessment for the Marine National Monument through October 26, 2023. The public can comment on the plan via mail or regs.gov.

Thank you for your attention to this draft plan and environmental assessment, which will guide NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in protecting and conserving resources, managing environmental threats, and better understanding the Monument ecosystems.

Protecting ‘fisheries dependent communities’

September 11, 2023 — Leigh Belanger, the fisheries outreach coordinator for Businesses for Conservation and Climate Action (BCCA), sent out an email blast on Sept. 7, advising fishermen and other stakeholders that there is still time to comment on NMFS and NOAA’s proposed revision of the guidelines for National Standards 4, 8, and 9, which guide fisheries management.

According to a BCCA letter to NOAA – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – “Current fisheries management undermines ecosystem and community health, violates NOAA’s emergent commitment to equity and environmental justice, and favors short-term economics at the expense of resource and fishery dependent communities.”

Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association represents one of several fishermen’s organizations from all over the country that have signed onto the BCCA letter. “We want to integrate NOAA’s new commitment to equity and environmental justice into the National Standard guidelines,” says Behnken

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

NOAA Issuing Biological Opinion on the Empire Wind Offshore Energy Project

September 10, 2023 — The following was released by the NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA Fisheries is issuing the final Biological Opinion under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) considering the effects of the proposed Empire Wind offshore energy project off the coast of New York on threatened and endangered species.

The agency has concluded that the proposed action is likely to adversely affect, but is not likely to jeopardize, the continued existence of any species of ESA-listed whales, sea turtles, or Atlantic sturgeon or destroy or adversely modify any designated critical habitat. This conclusion was based on NOAA Fisheries evaluation of BOEM’s analysis of the effects of this project on endangered and threatened species, and in consideration of  the best scientific and commercial data available. 

The proposed project includes a number of measures designed to minimize, monitor, and report effects to ESA-listed species, and additional measures are included through the Biological Opinion’s Incidental Take Statement. No serious injury or mortality of any ESA-listed whale is anticipated as a result of the proposed project. All effects to North Atlantic right whales will be limited to temporary behavioral disturbance.

NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Protected Resources is also proposing to issue regulations and an associated Letter of Authorization pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which was evaluated through the Biological Opinion. A notice of the proposed regulations was published in April 2023.

Other authorizations or permits will be required from a number of other federal agencies. BOEM is the lead federal agency for approving the construction, operation, and decommissioning of the proposed Empire Wind offshore energy project.

We will continue working closely with BOEM and other federal agencies to ensure effects from the Empire Wind offshore energy project to NOAA Fisheries’ trust resources are minimized.

The Biological Opinion will be available online upon publication in our libraryin approximately 10 days.