Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Announces Proposed 2020-2021 Summer Flounder Specifications and Interim 2020 Scup, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish Specifications

July 30, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

We are proposing the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s recommended 2020-2021 summer flounder specifications and initial 2020 specifications for the scup, black sea bass, and bluefish fisheries.  The initial 2020 specifications for scup, black sea bass, and bluefish will be re-evaluated in early 2020 following the results of an operational assessment for all three species.  The proposed specifications for all four species is identical to what is in place for the 2019 fishing year.

How Do I Comment?

Read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register, and submit your comments through the online portal. You may also submit comments through regular mail to:

Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930

The comment period is open through August 26.

Read the full release here

Scientists say Vineyard Wind project poses little risk to endangered whales

July 30, 2019 — Marine scientists say concerns expressed by opponents of a Massachusetts offshore wind project overstate the potential risk to endangered North Atlantic right whales.

“There are so many other things that we cumulatively are doing that are having a much more profound and direct impact on the population,” said Chris Clark, a scientist in the bioacoustics research program at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York.

The Vineyard Wind project is a planned 84-turbine wind farm to be sited about 15 miles southwest of Nantucket. It is expected to be the first major offshore wind installation in the United States. The state of Massachusetts has chosen the project to provide up to 800 megawatts of power.

The project needs more than 25 local, state, and federal permits to begin construction. Among these is an Incidental Harassment Authorization from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries division, which would establish limits on the numbers of marine mammals that could be injured or whose activities could be disturbed by the construction.

Read the full story at Energy News Network

Below Average Season Predicted for 2019 Gulf of Mexico Brown Shrimp Harvest

July 29, 2019 — SEAFOOD NEWS — Scientists at the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center’s Galveston Laboratory have prepared the following information on prospects for the 2019 brown shrimp season (July 2019–June 2020) in the western Gulf of Mexico.

According to NOAA fisheries, although local environmental factors (temperature, rainfall amounts, and tidal heights) should have contributed to favorable conditions for brown shrimp recruitment and growth in Texas, freshwater inflow into Galveston Bay (on which the forecast model is based) from the Trinity River watershed resulted in salinities near zero in much of the bay. Subsequently, the availability of suitable nursery habitat was limited to West and Lower Galveston Bay. Likewise, growth may have been affected by the lower salinities.

They add, similarly, early spring temperatures in Louisiana would have suggested favorable conditions for an average production. However, Louisiana was inundated with freshwater runoff due to unprecedented Mississippi River flows this spring. These freshwater events have offset the early spring favorable conditions to a much less favorable environment for brown shrimp production.

Overall, the western Gulf of Mexico could expect an annual brown shrimp production of approximately 40.6 million pounds during the 2019–2020 season.

This story was originally published on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

Nineteen Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Projects Recommended for 2019 NOAA Funding

July 29, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

To restore habitat for coastal and marine species, NOAA’s Restoration Center is recommending $10.4 million in funding to 19 partners through our Community-based Restoration Program Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Grants. These investments will restore habitat in 11 states and territories, leading to lasting results for communities, the economy, and the environment.

By reopening rivers to fish passage, reconnecting rivers to their floodplains, and reducing coastal runoff, these projects will support oysters, corals, and several fish species, as well as three NOAA Species in the Spotlight—Atlantic salmon, Central California Coast coho salmon, and the Southern Resident killer whale. One of the projects recommended for support is also in a NOAA Habitat Focus Area.

In addition to supporting underwater species, investing in habitat restoration leads to tangible, measurable differences for communities by reducing flooding, providing commercial and recreational opportunities, and improving water quality.

NOAA’s Restoration Center, housed within the Office of Habitat Conservation, invests in restoration work that helps recover threatened and endangered species, support sustainably managed fisheries, and strengthen the resilience of coastal communities. Since 1996, our Community-based Restoration Program has partnered with more than 2,900 organizations to take on more than 2,150 projects. These efforts have restored more than 90,000 acres of habitat and opened up 4,070 miles of streams and rivers to fish migration.

Read the full release here

Shark Week: Celebrating U.S. Science and Sustainability

July 29, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

If you love sharks like we do, join us in celebrating Shark Week 2019! Did you know that sharks are one of the top ocean predators? They play an important role in the food web, helping to ensure balance in the ocean’s ecosystem.

We manage commercial and recreational shark fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean and we work with three regional fishery management councils to conserve and sustainably manage sharks in the Pacific Ocean. By conducting research, assessing stocks, working with U.S. fishermen, and implementing restrictions on shark harvests, we have made significant progress toward ending overfishing and rebuilding overfished stocks for long-term sustainability.

Explore the sharktastic features below to glean something new about these amazing creatures. And while you’re at it, get a closer look at how we study sharks and manage their populations.

Read the full release here

Federal agency to assess oil and gas development’s impact on endangered species in the Gulf

July 29, 2019 — A federal lawsuit filed last year calling on the National Marine Fisheries Service to assess the impacts of oil and gas development on federally protected species and critical habitat in the Gulf of Mexico ended last week with a settlement agreement under which the service agreed to finish an assessment by November.

Under the Endangered Species Act, the fisheries service is required to gauge the impacts of federally authorized oil and gas operations on species listed as threatened and endangered, as well as habitat designated as critical.

It has been 12 years since the fisheries service did such an analysis of energy development in the Gulf, called a “biological opinion.” That opinion was intended to cover the five-year period from 2007 to 2012.

After the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion in 2010, the Department of Interior requested that the fisheries service update its 2007 opinion, taking the huge resulting oil spill into consideration. The assessment process began in 2013, but an updated opinion still hasn’t been issued.

Read the full story at NOLA.com

NOAA Fisheries Explores Electronic Reporting as Supplemental Source of Recreational Fishing Data

July 29, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

This month, NOAA Fisheries submitted a report to Congress (PDF, 19 pages) describing the Marine Recreational Information Program’s (MRIP) efforts to explore the suitability of electronic reporting as a method of collecting data from saltwater anglers.

Electronic reporting is a method of data collection that can include smartphones, tablets, and other technologies used to record, send, and store data. In some cases, electronic reporting allows samplers to use tablets instead of paper and pencil to record and submit data collected in the field. In others, electronic reporting allows anglers to record and submit data through a website or mobile device.

Electronic reporting has the potential to reduce data collection costs and improve the quality of reported information, and several states—including Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi—have adopted mandatory or voluntary angler reporting apps. But the challenges associated with using these technologies to collect data from private anglers—especially when anglers are asked to voluntarily report their data through a website or mobile app—have the potential to bias resulting estimates.

Opt-in angler reporting programs can experience low recruitment and retention rates, as well as a tendency for more avid angler to participate. To correct for these and other potential biases, independently conducted shoreside sampling must be used to confirm or correct missing or misfiled angler electronic reports. Shoreside validation is crucial, but adds cost and time to the data collection process. More research will help us understand how angler-submitted electronic data can best supplement the data the MRIP partnership collects through other means.

Read the full release here

Council Seeks Input on Proposed Changes for Red Snapper Season

July 29, 2019 — The following was released by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is soliciting public input on proposed changes to regulations for red snapper affecting how the current limited openings should be handled. A series of public hearings will be held via webinar from August 12-15, 2019 with listening stations established along the South Atlantic coast (see schedule below). The proposed changes include: 1) removing the minimum number of days for the South Atlantic red snapper seasons; 2) modifying the start date for the recreational red snapper season; 3) revising the days of the week recreational harvest of red snapper would be allowed during an open season; and 4) modifying the start date of the commercial season. The changes are proposed in Regulatory Amendment 33 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. Note that the proposed changes would not extend recreational or commercial seasons, increase the annual catch limits for red snapper, or change the recreational bag limit or commercial trip limit.

Each year, NOAA Fisheries uses data collected by the states to predict how long to allow harvest of red snapper the following year. Catch rates are applied to annual catch limits (for recreational and commercial sectors) to predict how long harvest can be open. The red snapper allocation is divided 72% recreational and 28% commercial, with a recreational annual catch limit of 29,656 fish and commercial limit of 124,815 pounds. Catch rates can vary based on factors such as day of the week (e.g., more angler fish on weekends), geographic location, weather, etc. Currently, commercial and recreational harvest of red snapper is not allowed if predictions indicate the season would last three days or fewer. The Council is considering removing this limit to maximize fishing opportunities for red snapper.

The commercial red snapper season begins each year on the second Monday in July and the recreational season begins on the second Friday in July. The Council is considering alternatives to modify the days of the week that are open to red snapper recreational harvest, should harvest be allowed, to help maximize opportunity in the event of bad weather. In addition, fishermen have expressed concern that harvest is being allowed during summer months while red snapper are spawning. Modifying the start date for the commercial season is being considered to maintain fairness and equitability between the sectors.

Public Hearings

The public hearings are being held via webinar. Listening stations will also be available at various locations. Attendees participating via webinar must register prior to each hearing. The hearings will begin at 6:00 PM. Council staff will provide an overview of the actions and alternatives included in the amendment via webinar. Area Council members will be present at each listening station. Formal public comment will be accepted during the hearings. Written comments will also be accepted. Additional details, including the public hearing document and presentation and registration links­­­­ are available from the Council’s website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/.

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Scallop Research Proposals

July 26, 2019 — NOAA Fisheries, in coordination with the New England Fishery Management Council, is soliciting research proposals under the Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Program.

Successful applicants are awarded pounds of scallops that have been “Set aside” to pay for research expenses.

Researchers and fishermen partner to harvest awarded scallops, and the proceeds are used to fund the research and compensate fishing industry partners.

The New England Fishery Management Council sets the research priorities and NOAA Fisheries administers the competition, oversees awarded projects, and oversees set-aside harvest activities.

Read the full story at CapeCod.com

West Coast Salmon Vulnerable to Climate Change, but Some Show Resilience to Shifting Environment

July 26, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Several of the West Coast’s prime salmon runs are highly vulnerable to climate change, but intensified habitat restoration and other measures can help support their natural resilience and adaptability. The new NOAA Fisheries report, published this week in PLOS ONE, is the first comprehensive climate vulnerability assessment for West Coast salmon and steelhead.

Certain Chinook, coho, and sockeye salmon population groups are the most vulnerable to expected environmental shifts with climate change. These include more extreme high and low flows and hotter oceans and rivers. Steelhead, pink and chum salmon face less risk, either because they are more adaptable to varying conditions (steelhead) or spend less time in freshwater (pink and chum).

Species-specific results are available for each population group.

Authors noted that salmon have long thrived in the region, proving themselves resilient to past shifts in climate. However, climate is now changing at an unprecedented rate. Most populations now lack access to habitat that once provided refuge from climate extremes.

“Salmon have always adapted to change, and they have been very successful—otherwise they wouldn’t still be here,” said Lisa Crozier, a research scientist at NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center and lead author of the assessment. “What we are trying to understand is which populations may need the most help with anticipated future changes in temperature and water availability, and what steps we can take to support them.”

Read the full release here