Saving Seafood

ALASKA: Next year’s SE pink salmon harvest could be closer to average

November 24, 2020 — Next year’s catch of pink salmon in Southeast Alaska could come in a little below average, although that would be an improvement following several years of weak returns.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is forecasting a harvest of 28 million pinks in the region next summer. Andy Piston, the department’s pink and chum salmon project leader for Southeast, said that would still put the catch a little below the recent 10-year average.

“That forecast for 28 million harvest for 2021, that’s actually for an odd year that’s quite a bit below what we’ve seen in most recent years with the exception of 2019,” Piston said. “And in 2019, the parent year for 2021’s return, that was the first year in a long time where we saw a really poor odd-year harvest.”

Pink salmon spawn two years after they’re born. Southeast has been in a cycle of weak returns for even years but better numbers in the odd years. This year’s catch wound up at eight point one million pinks (8.1 million), roughly the same harvest from two years ago. The region hasn’t seen catches that low since 1976.

Fish and Game’s forecast is based in part on trawl surveys that catch young pinks heading to sea each year. Those are conducted in partnership with NOAA Fisheries researchers in the northern panhandle.

Read the full story at KFSK

NOAA Fisheries Announces Atlantic Herring Management Area 1B Sub-ACL Harvested

November 24, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Effective 00:01 hours on November 25 through December 31, 2020

Under the New England Fishery Management Council’s Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan, no person may fish for, possess, transfer, receive, land, or sell more than 2,000 lb of herring per trip or calendar day from Area 1B for the remainder of the fishing season, as of 00:01 hours on November 25, 2020.  We project that 92 percent of the Area 1B Atlantic herring catch limit will be harvested by November 25, requiring a closure of the directed fishery. At 00:01 hours on November 25, 2020, a 2,000-lb herring possession limit per trip or calendar day will become effective for Management Area 1B and will be in effect through December 31, 2020.

Additionally, federally permitted dealers may not purchase, possess, receive, sell, barter, trade or transfer more than 2,000 lb of herring per trip or calendar day from Area 1B.

This action is in effect through 24:00 hr local time, December 31, 2020, except for vessels carrying more than 2,000 lbs of herring from Area 1B that enter port before 00:01 local time on November 25, 2020.

Read the full release here

World Fisheries Day: A Message from Alexa Cole, Director of NOAA Fisheries Office Of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection

November 23, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

World Fisheries Day explores moves countries are taking together to find solutions to the increasingly inter-connected problems in our fisheries. Because fish and other marine wildlife cross national boundaries, the way countries manage their marine resources affects the status of fish stocks and protected and endangered species.

NOAA Fisheries’ international affairs work builds strategic fishing partnerships with foreign nations to promote sustainable and responsible management of fisheries and other relevant marine resources. Our efforts shone this year—from tackling the scourge of IUU fishing, to setting global standards to decrease marine mammal bycatch—all while representing America’s interests.

Tackling Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported Fishing

Illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing practices damages nations’ economies, hurt fishermen who play by the rules. They threaten global food security, and rob us all of precious ocean resources. These activities can occur at various points through the international seafood supply chain. For that reason, our efforts to combat them must be multi-pronged.

​In 2018, we established the first-ever U.S. Seafood Import Monitoring Program. The program requires documentation from the point of harvest to the point of entry into U.S. commerce for 13 species of seafood particularly vulnerable to IUU fishing. This provides a way to trace seafood entering our domestic supply chain—deterring and combating illegal fishing activities. In 2020, we released a new accompaniment to the program—the SIMP-Compliant Importers List. The list recognizes U.S. importers with a demonstrated history of excellent audit compliance with the SIMP requirements. It reduces costs to both the government and industry while incentivizing importers to maintain the reporting and recordkeeping requirements of SIMP.

Globally, NOAA Fisheries is a leader in analyzing foreign fishing activities on the high seas. Every two years, we issue a Report to Congress that identifies nations whose vessels have been identified as engaging in IUU fishing. We then work with those nations to correct the identified problems. We will release our next report in 2021.

Read the full release here

Meet the 2020 Women of Color in STEM awardees from NOAA

November 23, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA:

Four NOAA employees were recognized at the annual Women of Color in STEM conference, which was held virtually October 8-10, 2020. These awards highlight significant achievements in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

“Congratulations to NOAA’s inspiring award recipients,” said Louisa Koch, Director of NOAA Education. “These women were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in their NOAA careers. As a woman in STEM myself, I am proud to work for an organization that is committed to building a talented, diverse, and inclusive workforce. These experts work tirelessly to support NOAA’s mission of science, service, and stewardship.”

Get to know these NOAA employees as they share their paths to a career at NOAA and their advice for future STEM leaders.

Dr. Jeanette Davis, Technology Rising Star Award
Policy Advisor
Deputy Under Secretary for Operations

1. How did you get your start at NOAA?

I started my career at NOAA as a 2015 John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow. I am a marine microbiologist by training and was interested in using my knowledge as a scientist to help manage ocean resources. I’ve learned that scientists are not limited to a laboratory or fieldwork but should actively be involved with decision-making. It’s important to bridge the gap between science and policy.

2. Do you have any advice for early-career STEM professionals or students who are interested in STEM?

My advice to those interested in a career in STEM is to ensure that your work or research is aligned with your personal vision. This will make your work meaningful and enjoyable. I would also add that you are not restricted by people’s limited perceptions. You are the most creative and produce the best work when you are authentic.

Read the full release here

Temporary Rule for Emergency Action to Extend Portions of the Fishing Year 2019 Carryover Provisions in the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan

November 23, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Effective November 29, 2020

NOAA Fisheries announces the renewal of a temporary rule to extend portions of the fishing year 2019 carryover provisions in the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan into fishing year 2020.  On June 1, 2020, at the request of the New England Fishery Management Council, NOAA Fisheries published an emergency action to implement these measures.

The June 1, 2020 action:

  • Allowed limited access general category individual fishing quota vessels to carryover all fishing year 2019 unharvested quota into fishing year 2020.
  • Allowed any access area carryover pounds and unharvested research set-aside compensation pounds from fishing year 2019 to be available for harvest through August 31, 2020.
  • Closed the Nantucket Lightship-West to scallop fishing beginning on September 1, 2020.

Although access area carryover pounds and unharvested research set-aside compensation pounds from fishing year 2019 expired on August 31, 2020, extending the previous action:

  • Provides additional time for Limited Access General Category Individual Fishery Quota vessels to land the 2019 carryover allocation granted by the original emergency action.
  • Provides the New England Fishery Management Council additional time to develop a plan for the management of the Nantucket Lightship-West Access Area while it remains closed.

Read the temporary rule as filed in the Federal Register, and the permit holder bulletin.

Read the full release here

U.S. investing $500,000 to help reduce threats to North Atlantic right whales

November 23, 2020 — There has been a recent spray of positive news for the beleaguered right whale.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in the United States announced nearly $500,000 in investments to help reduce threats to the North Atlantic right whales and other marine life off the coast of New England.

NFWF said in a release that it is working in partnership with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Shell to provide funding to support gear advancement and to improve the region’s ability to transition to on-call gear that does not require a buoy-line.

Marine animals such as right whales often become entangled in lines used to mark the location of fishing nets or traps in the ocean.

Innovative technology can offer a viable alternative to track gear while reducing risks to whales.

Read the full story at SaltWire

NOAA awards $850,000 for tracking, reporting lobster harvests

November 20, 2020 — Grant funds continue to flow into the Maine commercial lobster fishery on the heels of $2 million research grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative announced in September. NOAA is also behind these awards directed at monitoring the fishery: 

  • A grant of$250,000 to further test and develop vessel monitoring systems for lobster vessels. According to the Maine Department of Research, the funds will purchase 20 monitoring devices, cover staff verifying data generated by the trackers and fund integration of monitoring data with the new DMR harvester reporting application currently being created. 
  • A grant of$600,000 to meet the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASFMC) requirement to have 100 percent lobster harvest reporting in place by January 2024. The DMR plans to use the funds to support yearly maintenance on a new harvester reporting application, and to hire more staff. 

Read the full story at the Mount Desert Islander

A New Generation of Autonomous Vessels Is Looking to Catch Illegal Fishers

November 20, 2020 — The first time engineers from Open Ocean Robotics pushed Scooby, a three-meter robotic boat, onto a lake near their office in Victoria, British Columbia, the small craft drove straight into the bushes. Clearly, the team had more work to do on the vessel’s autopilot.

Since that early mission last year, the start-up has won innovation awards, secured seed funding, and “spent tons of time on the water” ironing out the kinks in their autonomous vessels, says Julie Angus, the company’s CEO and cofounder. The 12-person team is now up against Connecticut-based tech company ThayerMahan and Marine Advanced Robotics from Silicon Valley in a cutting-edge design challenge to build a robot that can police illegal fishing in marine protected areas (MPAs). Scooby‘s successor (named after another character) completed the first stage in the multiyear project: a three-day field demonstration using surveillance technology to track boats, detect fishing activity, and collect evidence.

To protect marine wildlife and ecosystems and sustain fisheries, the United Nations, governments, and NGOs are pushing for more and bigger MPAs. But without a clear means of enforcing the regulations that govern them, these areas often draw criticism for being little more than paper parks. In partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), these three robotics companies are racing to prove that uncrewed vessels are up to the task.

Originally, the trial was planned for the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary off Santa Barbara, California, but pandemic restrictions meant the participants tested their prototypes separately from around North America and presented the results to the judges remotely. Justin Manley, founder of Just Innovation, the Massachusetts-based marine robotics consultancy coordinating the project, says the upside of the disparate testing is that it let them see how effectively the robots detected different types of fishing boats.

Read the full story at Smithsonian Magazine

Pacific cod in Marine Stewardship Council limbo: Gulf of Alaska fishery meets standard, but eco-label still suspended

November 20, 2020 — The Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Pacific cod fishery will be recertified to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard after a 15-day review period starting Thursday, but the area’s actual MSC status remains in limbo while regulators determine the health of the stock.

Certifier MRAG released a draft final report on Thursday recertifying a slew of Alaska whitefish fisheries, including Alaska pollock, and among the areas that received recertification was the GOA Pacific cod fishery.

However, the group’s certification remains in “suspension” pending a decision to allow directed fishing on the stock, MRAG Americas Director of Fisheries Certification Amanda Stern-Pirlot, confirmed with IntraFish.

The MSC suspended the Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod fishery certificate in April after National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries researchers made the decision in 2019 to close the area to harvesting after research found the available biomass would not likely be able to handle fishing pressure.

Read the full story at IntraFish

Slow Speed Zone Southeast of Atlantic City, New Jersey to Protect Right Whales

November 20, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

In Effect Through December 5

NOAA Fisheries is triggering a Slow Zone (voluntary vessel speed restriction zone), southeast of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

This Slow Zone was triggered on November 20, 2020, when the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute acoustic monitoring buoy detected right whales in the area.

Mariners, please go around this areas or go slow (10 knots or less) inside this area where right whales have been detected.

Southeast of Atlantic City, New Jersey

39 25 N
38 44 N
073 44 W
074 36 W

Other Slow Speed Zones

Southeast of New York City Slow Zone is in effect through December 2

40 41 N
40 01 N
073 03 W
073 55 W

South of Nantucket, MA DMA  is in effect through November 30

40 59 N
40 23 N
069 05 W
069 52 W

Active Seasonal Management Areas November 1- April 30

Mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less (50 CFR 224.105) are in effect in the following areas:

  • Block Island Sound
  • Ports of New York/New Jersey
  • Entrance to the Delaware Bay
    (Ports of Philadelphia and Wilmington)
  • Entrance to the Chesapeake Bay
    (Ports of Hampton Roads and Baltimore)
  • Ports of Morehead City and Beaufort, NC
  • Within a continuous area 20-nm from shore between Wilmington, North Carolina, to Brunswick, Georgia.

Read the full release here