Saving Seafood

West Coast whale entanglements up in 2024

December 20, 2024 — Whale entanglements in fishing gear off the Pacific Coast rose in 2024 despite state and federal measures to reduce such incidents, including efforts to deploy “ropeless“ fishing gear that could eliminate risk of entanglements.

Preliminary data from NOAA Fisheries shows 34 whales became entangled in 2024, the highest number since 2018. Another entangled whale was reported off Orange County, California, earlier this month but has not been seen since last week, NOAA said.

NOAA spokesperson Nick Rahaim confirmed the latest entanglement numbers for California, Oregon and Washington state, which were released to the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group on Wednesday and will be publicly released next year.

Read the full article at E&E News

Endangered whales found entangled in rope off Massachusetts

December 19, 2024 — Two endangered whales have been spotted entangled in fishing gear off Massachusetts, and one is likely to die from its injuries, the federal government said.

They are North Atlantic right whales, which number less than 400 and face existential threats from entanglement in gear and collisions with ships. An aerial survey found the whales swimming about 50 miles southeast of Nantucket on Dec. 9, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.

One of the whales is a juvenile that has a thick line that passes across its head and back and is likely to succumb to the injury, the agency said in a statement. The other whale is an adult female who biologists think has suffered a sublethal injury from the entanglement, NOAA said.

Read the full article at the Associated Press

NOAA cuts 2025 Atlantic herring catch limits

December 19, 2024 — NOAA Fisheries has announced a significant reduction in Atlantic herring catch limits for 2025, effective January 1, 2025, in response to a recent stock assessment indicating that the herring biomass is approximately 25 percent of the level needed to support maximum sustainable yield.

The revised 2025 specifications are as follows:

  • Overfishing Limit (OFL): Reduced from 40,727 metric tons (mt) to 18,273 mt.
  • Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC): Decreased from 28,181 mt to 6,741 mt.
  • Annual Catch Limit (ACL): Lowered from 23,961 mt to 2,710 mt.
  • Area 1A Sub-ACL: Reduced from 6,925 mt to 783 mt.
  • Area 1B Sub-ACL: Decreased from 1,030 mt to 117 mt.
  • Area 2 Sub-ACL: Lowered from 6,661 mt to 753 mt.
  • Area 3 Sub-ACL: Reduced from 9,345 mt to 1,057 mt.

The following was released by the National Fisherman

Biden admin calls on Supreme Court to reject Vineyard Wind case

December 17, 2024 — The Biden administration is urging the Supreme Court to turn away a petition calling for more analysis of how a major offshore wind project off Massachusetts could affect an endangered whale.

The Bay State group Nantucket Residents Against Turbines has claimed in its appeal to the high court that federal agencies failed to account for the cumulative effects of offshore wind development planned on the East Coast would affect the survival of the North Atlantic right whale when it approved Vineyard Wind 1.

In a brief to the court last week, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said the Supreme Court should not consider the case because the group had not raised the issue before two lower courts in its lawsuit over the NOAA Fisheries and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management analysis of the project.

Read the full article at E&E News

US government finalizes its first aquaculture development plan in 40 years

December 17, 2024 — The White House National Science and Technology Council has finalized the federal government’s new aquaculture plan, the first in 40 years.

On 16 December, NOAA Fisheries revealed that the council had finalized the Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Economic Development, which outlines the government plans to invest in infrastructure, establish new research and development programs, and provide capitol to the domestic aquaculture sector.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

ESA protections will continue for Pacific salmon, steelhead

December 17, 2024 — Federal protections for four West Coast salmon and steelhead species will remain in place for at least another five years, even as some populations have made progress toward recovery, according to NOAA.

The decision, based on formal status reviews, means restoration of salmon runs will continue for California coastal chinook salmon, central California coast steelhead, California Central Valley steelhead and Southern Oregon/Northern California coast coho salmon.

The combined fishery, which extends from the San Francisco Bay to the southern Oregon coast, includes key river runs from California’s Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada. Those habitat areas continue to “suffer from habitat loss as development and other threats compromise spawning and rearing habitat [that are] particularly important in preparing young salmon for a life at sea,” NOAA Fisheries said last week.

Read the full article at E&E News

How the 2024 Hurricane Season Impacted Recreational Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico

December 19, 2024 — The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ended on November 30, showcased above-average activity. It had a profound impact on recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, causing recreational fishers to face challenges and interim closures. Hurricanes Beryl, Helene, and Milton caused devastating effects in many Gulf Coast fishing communities—many of which are still working to recover.

The aftermath of this hurricane season is still being felt by many key industries that contribute to the coastal economy— including the recreational fishing community. NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Recreational Fishing Coordinator, Sean Meehan has spoken with key members in the industry to learn the full scale of this hurricane season’s impacts.

“Hurricanes can upset coastal marine ecosystems, but they also have the ability to negatively impact the economy in the Gulf,” Sean Meehan says, “Many business owners rely on tourism to keep their tackle shops and charter operations running smoothly. I’ve met with several members of the recreational fishing community here in Florida who have shared the challenges they’re facing in the wake of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. Rebuilding efforts are underway and it’s only up from here.”

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Sea Grant launches new projects to combat contaminants in coastal waters

December 16, 2024 —  The NOAA Sea Grant program has recently announced the launch of new projects designed to address growing environmental and community health concerns related to contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). These contaminants, which include a wide range of substances that may be present in the environment but have not yet been thoroughly studied or regulated, pose significant risks to coastal and marine ecosystems as well as public health. With the funding of these projects, Sea Grant is taking a proactive step to mitigate these risks, especially in vulnerable communities that rely heavily on the health of their surrounding natural resources.

What Are Contaminants of Emerging Concern?

Contaminants of emerging concern are chemicals or pollutants that are not well understood, are often not regulated, and may have unknown environmental impacts. Some of the most concerning CECs include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and industrial chemicals that have been detected in waterways and marine environments. While research on CECs is still in its early stages, there is growing evidence that these substances can accumulate in aquatic species and harm ecosystems, human health, and the economy, particularly in regions that rely on seafood harvesting and recreational water activities.

New Sea Grant Projects Focused on Community Impact

The new projects funded by NOAA’s Sea Grant program address these concerns in coastal communities. The initiative will focus on enhancing the understanding of how CECs affect water quality, wildlife, and human health, particularly in areas where communities depend on clean water and marine resources for their livelihoods.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Searching for Right Whales During Our Annual Research Survey

December 13, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

This fall, myself and 10 others set off on our annual North Atlantic Right Whale Shipboard Survey. Our goal was to collect data around groups of endangered North Atlantic right whales, including:

We surveyed a number of areas in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean that included south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, the Gulf of Maine, the northern edge of Georges Bank, Browns Bank, and the Bay of Fundy. Our home during the survey was an offshore supply ship M/V Captain Joseph E. Pearce. This is where we ate, slept, and conducted our research. During the survey, we scanned the horizon from dawn to dusk looking for marine mammals using high-powered binoculars. We looked for any signs of life—blows, bodies, splashes—and recorded the marine mammals we saw.

When we spotted whales, we’d launch our small boat, R/V Coriacea, from the back deck of the Pearce. We use the Coriacea to get closer to the whales and collect data. The back deck was also outfitted with two shipping containers. One was our science lab and the other stored our gear. We are completely set up for research!

This year, high winds kept us at the dock much of the time. We did get some lucky breaks when the weather and whale sightings aligned. Here are some notable highlights from our lucky breaks.

Biden-Harris Administration, NOAA make $20 million available for habitat restoration and resilience for tribes and underserved communities

December 13, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced the availability of $20 million in funding for projects that will advance coastal habitat restoration and climate resilience priorities of tribes and underserved communities. Of the $20 million of funding available, 15% is specifically available to U.S. federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native corporations and organizations that represent tribes. This is the third and final round of funding for this initiative under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for habitat restoration focused on tribes and underserved communities. 

NOAA seeks to support opportunities for tribes and underserved communities to meaningfully engage in coastal habitat restoration activities, such as removing outdated dams and restoring coastal wetlands. These activities can help improve communities’ ability to adapt and recover from the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events. 

“Tribes and underserved communities are at the forefront of the climate crisis, and are often affected the most by hazards such as coastal storms and flooding,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are making sure tribes have the resources they need for habitat restoration efforts that strengthen ecological and economic prosperity.”

This funding opportunity will support the following activities:

  • Capacity building, including activities such as participation in municipal or regional-scale resilience planning, project planning and feasibility studies, community engagement or proposal development for future funding. 
  • Restoration, including activities such as demonstration projects, engineering and design, permitting and on-the-ground restoration.

“NOAA is committed to advancing equity in everything we do,”said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “Through meaningful engagement and coalition-building, these investments will allow tribes and underserved communities to restore the lands and waters that support their economies and cultures.” 

Through historic investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation has awarded more than $985 million for 214 projects across the country. The Office of Habitat Conservation has a long history of conducting habitat restoration efforts with large-scale competitive funding opportunities and expert technical assistance through its Community-based Restoration Program. 

Applications are due by May 12, 2025. For more information about this opportunity, visit the Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Tribes and Underserved Communities webpage. 

Visit the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law webpage to learn about current and future funding opportunities.