Saving Seafood

Red snapper reopens for federal for-hire permitted boats. Is this good for the fishery?

November 19, 2024 — After one of the longest red snapper seasons in more than a decade, the red snapper federal for-hire season is reopening again.

Although it may be good for a little extra business, Destin charter boat captains are not so sure it will be good for the fishery.

“I think it was a nice gesture, if that’s what you want to call it, and I’m sure it will generate a few trips for some boats, which is great,” said Capt. Justin Destin of the Un Reel. “But I’m more concerned with the well-being of the population of red snapper in our area. There’s a reason we are not catching our quota during the longest season we’ve had in years. More days is not the answer.”

Federal for-hire boats just finished an 88-day red snapper season, June 1 to Aug. 28.

According to a news release from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, “NOAA Fisheries determined that the red snapper recreational federal for-hire annual catch target was not reached during the open season.”

Read the full article at The Destin Log

USDA releases new requirements for government salmon purchases

November 19, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated its guidance for purchasing salmon products, incorporating new requirements from NOAA Fisheries’ Seafood Inspection Program as well as other changes.

The updates were issued through the department’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Supplement 507 document, which outlines the government’s requirements for purchasing salmon products for the country’s National School Lunch Program and other federal nutrition programs. AMS posted its Final Supplement 507 for salmon products 7 November, replacing the previous documentation issued in 2021.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Report finds that America is catching and eating a little less fish

November 18, 2024 — The volume and value of America’s commercial fishing industry both fell according to newly released federal figures, though members of the industry said the decline was to be expected following a recent spike in supply.

The catch at U.S. ports in the 50 states fell 2.6% to 8.4 billion pounds in 2022, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s “Fisheries of the United States” report, which the agency released this month. The same report said the catch was worth $5.9 billion at the docks in 2022, the most recent year with available statistics, and that was a drop of 11%.

America also ate a little bit less seafood in 2022, as per capita consumption fell about 3% to 19.8 pounds in 2022, the report said. However, 2021 was a historically high year for seafood consumption, and the supply of available seafood surged, said Gavin Gibbons, chief strategy officer with the National Fisheries Institute in Reston, Virginia.

Read the full article at the Associated Press

Op-ed: In suing Cooke, Conservation Law Foundation has a short memory

November 18, 2024 — Sebastian Belle is the executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association, and the president of the board of directors of the National Aquaculture Association.

Prior to joining the Maine Aquaculture Association, Belle was the U.S. state of Maine’s state aquaculture coordinator, working for the Maine Department of Marine Resources. He has also served on NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee and on the board of directors of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum, The Island Institute, and the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center. 

The recent announcement by Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) that they intend to sue Cooke Aquaculture is a surprise given the fact that they worked closely with the salmon farmers to develop the very standards they indicate they are going to sue over.

Perhaps this is a case of staff turnover and lack of institutional memory? Or is it yet another example of big city, opportunist law firms trying to cash in on citizen lawsuits?

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NOAA advances efforts to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas

November 15, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA Fisheries released two draft programmatic environmental impact statements (PEIS) to support the identification of proposed Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in Southern California and the Gulf of Mexico. The public is invited to review and submit comments on the draft statements from November 22, 2024, through February 20, 2025.

In Southern California, NOAA experts outlined up to 10 locations as proposed AOAs, with eight situated in the Santa Barbara Channel and two in Santa Monica Bay, each ranging in size from 500 to 2,000 acres and totaling up to 16,500 acres. The draft impact statement considers multiple scenarios, including the potential impacts of seaweed and shellfish aquaculture only, and the potential impacts of seaweed, shellfish and finfish.

In the Gulf of Mexico, the proposed AOAs include three locations off the coast of Texas and one off the coast of Louisiana, each ranging in size from 500 to 2,000 acres and totaling 6,500 acres. The draft impact statement analyzes five areas for various aquaculture types, including shellfish, finfish and seaweed.

“With climate change posing risks to America’s food security, aquaculture offers a pathway to grow climate resilience,” said NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Janet Coit. “Identifying areas suitable for sustainable aquaculture is a forward-looking step toward strengthening climate-smart food systems.” 

The publication of the draft statements marks a major milestone in NOAA’s multi-year initiative to identify areas that may be environmentally, socially and economically viable for supporting multiple commercial aquaculture operations. Taking this step builds upon extensive scientific review, spatial planning and public engagement to ensure responsible ocean stewardship while promoting sustainable domestic aquaculture. 

The location of aquaculture farms is critical to their sustainability. In support of identifying viable areas for aquaculture, NOAA invested in 19 new scientific products on topics including biosecurity and disease, genetic risk, engineering, economics, social vulnerability and the well-being of coastal communities. 

The draft statements also draw from AOA atlases for Southern California and the Gulf of Mexico that provide the most comprehensive spatial analysis ever conducted for U.S. ocean areas, with more than 200 data layers covering environmental, economic, social and cultural considerations. These atlases — together with thorough scientific review and public input collected during the past four years — offer essential insights that guided the development of the draft PEIS. 

NOAA is also working to identify areas in Alaska state waters. Together, these efforts could bolster U.S. food security and coastal communities in the face of a changing climate. While the identification of these areas offers valuable data for aquaculture growers, all proposed operations must still undergo the full state and federal permitting processes before beginning construction. 

“Since its inception, the aquaculture opportunity area process has been rooted in science and informed by public input,” said Danielle Blacklock, director of NOAA’s Office of Aquaculture. “NOAA has made significant efforts to engage constituents each step of the way, by soliciting comments and shaping our actions to best serve the American public.”

About the public comment period

Both draft PEIS are open for public comment via the Federal Register from November 22, 2024, through February 20, 2025. Virtual public listening sessions will be held for both Southern California and the Gulf of Mexico, where the public is welcome to provide comments. Comments received will be assessed and considered by NOAA Fisheries to prepare Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements for both regions. 

More information on the draft PEIS for Southern California and the Gulf of Mexico is available on the NOAA website.

Researchers start estimating fish biomass using DNA

November 15, 2024 — Researchers looking to estimate biomass of multiple Alaska fish species say it is now possible to estimate fish biomass for more than one species at the same time using environmental DNA found in sea water.

In a report released by NOAA Fisheries on Oct. 31, Kimberly Ledger – a research biologist with the Auke Bay Laboratories of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center and lead author of the study – said researchers had learned they could accurately quantify species composition and estimate biomass for different species of cod and pollock at the same time using eDNA.

Read the full article at The Cordova Times

Breathing in Climate Change: International Collaboration to Study Sea Scallops in a Changing Environment

November 14, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

In September 2024, my colleague Shannon Meseck and I took a road trip up north to Canada, to visit a research lab in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. The St. Andrews Biological Station is a part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Canadian equivalent to NOAA Fisheries. Though the oldest of Canada’s Atlantic research facilities, the lab features state-of-the-art seawater systems with capacity to do climate and aquatic research.

This project was a transboundary collaboration with climate scientist Helen Gurney-Smith to study climate change stressors on Atlantic sea scallop larvae. It was funded by the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program. The larval period, typically the first 3 weeks of a sea scallop’s life, is particularly challenging for bivalve shellfish because they are planktonic, or free-floating in the water column. During this period, larvae are subject to heavy predation and are transported through ocean currents. The water they are exposed to is constantly changing with environmental conditions, and pulses of warm and/or low pH water are becoming more common with climate change.

One way we can test how larvae respond to changes in environmental conditions is by measuring their respiration rate. As with all animals, sea scallops breathe oxygen and release carbon dioxide. The oxygen they breathe is dissolved in seawater, and we can measure the drop in the oxygen concentration of that water over time with specialized equipment known as respiration chambers. Changes in respiration rate indicate physiological stress. We hypothesized that respiration rate may change when sea scallop larvae are exposed to non-ideal seawater conditions.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

New England herring fishery restricted through year’s end

November 14, 2024 — Federal fishing regulators are limiting the amount of herring that fishermen can catch off New England until the end of the year. The fish is used for food and bait.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says it’s implementing a 2,000-pound herring possession limit per trip in the inshore Gulf of Maine through Dec. 31. The inshore Gulf of Maine, known as Atlantic Herring Management Area 1A, touches coastal Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.

The agency says it’s taking the step because 92% of the catch limit in the area will have been harvested Wednesday.

The catch limit goes into effect Thursday at 12:01 a.m. Vessels that enter port before 12:01 a.m. Thursday may land and sell more than 2,000 pound of herring from Management Area 1A from that trip, provided that catch is landed in accordance with state management measures.

Also effective Thursday at 12:01 a.m., federally permitted dealers may not attempt to or purchase, receive, possess, have custody or control of, sell, barter, trade, or transfer more than 2,000 pound of herring per trip or calendar day from Area 1A.

NOAA Fisheries has declared Atlantic herring as overfished and has created a plan that will require years for the stock to rebuild.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

2024 Research for Pacific Protected Species

November 14 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

More than $936,000 in Inflation Reduction Act funding supported our team of researchers from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Marine Mammal Laboratory. We collected data on the four species of ice-associated seals in Alaska: the bearded seal, the ringed seal, the ribbon seal, and the spotted seal. By tracking their movements and health, we can better understand how changes in the Arctic—such as reduced sea ice—may be affecting them.

Our team used the charter vessel R/V Norseman II to reach the seals where they haul out onto the sea ice in the Bering Sea. We launched small boats to capture seals on the ice. Then we recorded measurements and weights, collected tissue samples, and tagged seals with satellite-linked biologgers. We also attached satellite tags to some seals to track movements and foraging behaviors.

To detect any contaminants or pollutants the seals might have been exposed to, we collected blood, whiskers, fur, and scat. This also helped us study the seals’ health and diet. Our teams then checked blubber thickness to measure body condition. We used technology such as drones to observe and even measure some seals without disturbing them.

This data, collected during many expeditions, suggests that the body condition of spotted and ribbon seal pups and adult ribbon seals in spring has declined since at least 2007. This decline may be related to observed changes in their environment, including climate change-related reductions in sea ice cover. The loss of sea ice is important to ice-associated seals that use it as a platform for giving birth, nursing, and molting.

Dr. Michael Cameron, Polar Ecosystems Program manager, shared his insights into the survey: “There is so much valuable research work to be done throughout the agency, and not enough time available on NOAA’s research ships, requiring difficult decisions. This year, with the help of Inflation Reduction Act funding, we were able to plan and conduct our ideal research expedition with a dedicated charter vessel for the first time. We extended our expedition to more than 40 days, which allowed us to encompass the periods of both seal pupping and molting. Essentially, we got to plan the cruise that we’ve always wanted.”

“Our repeated presence in this remote area has provided important data for research on issues that are also a great concern to Alaskan native hunters and fishermen,” said Heather Ziel, Chief Scientist for the research cruise from the Polar Ecosystems Program. “It is crucial that we continue conducting these surveys to monitor the environment as it continues to change.”

Green Sea Turtle and Monk Seal Research in the Pacific Island

NOAA Fisheries is bolstering our survey enterprise and accelerating our data collection efforts. This will allow us to better manage protected species such as ice seals, Hawaiian monk seals, and green sea turtles, along with cetaceans such as whales and dolphins off the West Coast. These surveys are increasing the number and types of protected marine resource observations we can make.

An investment of $7.4 million in Inflation Reduction Act funds during the 2023–2024 fiscal year for these surveys is helping to fund research. It is also ensuring we can collect and analyze broader and more accurate data in key marine ecosystems.

Importance of Research Surveys

The key to our science mission is collecting and using the best available data to understand what actions are needed to safeguard America’s valuable marine resources and coastal communities. For marine life facing the effects of climate change, this research marks a vital step in analyzing changing conditions and informing management decisions.

Our at-sea research vessels are an integral part of this effort. In extremely remote locations like the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, securing ship time is challenging. In Alaska, only certain ships can reach distant locations on the ice.

With Inflation Reduction Act funding, we conducted three at-sea surveys for protected resources on charter vessels in three regions this year:

  • Alaska (R/V Norseman II)
  • Pacific Islands (M/V Imua and M/V Kahana II)
  • West Coast (R/V Bold Horizon)

With these surveys, we are taking a fresh approach among the three science centers to collaborate on planning and prioritizing rotating support for protected resource surveys. This new approach allowed our teams to reach otherwise inaccessible areas of sea ice in Alaska and arrive at the ideal time for research. The flexibility of charter vessels also enabled us to plan safer, more efficient trips.

Ice Seal Research in Alaska

More than $936,000 in Inflation Reduction Act funding supported our team of researchers from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Marine Mammal Laboratory. We collected data on the four species of ice-associated seals in Alaska: the bearded seal, the ringed seal, the ribbon seal, and the spotted seal. By tracking their movements and health, we can better understand how changes in the Arctic—such as reduced sea ice—may be affecting them.

Our team used the charter vessel R/V Norseman II to reach the seals where they haul out onto the sea ice in the Bering Sea. We launched small boats to capture seals on the ice. Then we recorded measurements and weights, collected tissue samples, and tagged seals with satellite-linked biologgers. We also attached satellite tags to some seals to track movements and foraging behaviors.

To detect any contaminants or pollutants the seals might have been exposed to, we collected blood, whiskers, fur, and scat. This also helped us study the seals’ health and diet. Our teams then checked blubber thickness to measure body condition. We used technology such as drones to observe and even measure some seals without disturbing them.

This data, collected during many expeditions, suggests that the body condition of spotted and ribbon seal pups and adult ribbon seals in spring has declined since at least 2007. This decline may be related to observed changes in their environment, including climate change-related reductions in sea ice cover. The loss of sea ice is important to ice-associated seals that use it as a platform for giving birth, nursing, and molting.

Dr. Michael Cameron, Polar Ecosystems Program manager, shared his insights into the survey: “There is so much valuable research work to be done throughout the agency, and not enough time available on NOAA’s research ships, requiring difficult decisions. This year, with the help of Inflation Reduction Act funding, we were able to plan and conduct our ideal research expedition with a dedicated charter vessel for the first time. We extended our expedition to more than 40 days, which allowed us to encompass the periods of both seal pupping and molting. Essentially, we got to plan the cruise that we’ve always wanted.”

“Our repeated presence in this remote area has provided important data for research on issues that are also a great concern to Alaskan native hunters and fishermen,” said Heather Ziel, Chief Scientist for the research cruise from the Polar Ecosystems Program. “It is crucial that we continue conducting these surveys to monitor the environment as it continues to change.”

NOAA Fisheries Announces Action Plan to Enhance the U.S. Seafood Import Monitoring Program

November 14, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

In November 2023, NOAA Fisheries launched a comprehensive review of the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) to explore opportunities for improvement. We engaged with a diverse set of more than 7,000 stakeholders, including seafood industry professionals, foreign governments, researchers, and civil society groups. We gathered feedback on how to enhance the program’s effectiveness. This input shaped an action plan designed to strengthen its impact, focusing on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and bolstering seafood traceability.

While implementing the action plan, we will continue to support industry to minimize disruptions in seafood supply chains, reduce compliance challenges, identify supply chain risks, and increase confidence in the process. NOAA Administrator and Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Dr. Richard Spinrad states, “Our goals are to strengthen the U.S. domestic seafood industry by promoting fair trade practices in the global seafood supply chain while building capacity to maintain and grow the Program.  Once implemented, the changes to our Seafood Import Monitoring Program that we are announcing will fundamentally improve our ability to prevent and deter IUU fish and fish products from entering our market and will contribute to U.S. government efforts to address labor abuses in the seafood supply chain.”

Key Action Plan Goals

We will begin to implement parts of its action plan now, while other components will take more time. “NOAA Fisheries remains committed to implementing an impactful tool in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing while upholding the integrity of U.S. seafood imports,” said Alexa Cole, Director of the Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce at NOAA Fisheries. Throughout this process, the existing SIMP requirements and reporting obligations will remain in effect. The actions outlined in the plan aim to achieve several key goals:

Enhance NOAA Fisheries’ Ability to Combat IUU Fishing Through Improved Traceability and Risk Detection, Strengthening the Sustainability of Seafood Globally

We aim to improve seafood traceability and prevent IUU fish and fish products from entering U.S. markets. Key planned actions include:

  • Expanding SIMP traceability requirements to all U.S. seafood imports by creating a two-tier system that prioritizes species based on their risk level
  • Enabling pre-entry screening of SIMP imports
  • Developing a pilot program for a voluntary government-to-government import data program

Contribute to Government-Wide Efforts to Address Forced Labor in the Global Seafood Supply Chain

We will work with partner agencies to take a more proactive approach to identify and prevent products produced with forced labor from entering the U.S. market. This includes:

  • Strengthening partnerships with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Labor
  • Collecting additional data to address forced labor risks in seafood supply chains

“With improved data sharing, transparency, and traceability, SIMP will elevate U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s ability to protect the U.S. economy, global food security, and the sustainability of our shared ocean resources to a new level.  Having more information about seafood shipments earlier in the process will also strengthen our efforts to combat forced labor in the global seafood supply chain,” said AnnMarie R. Highsmith, Executive Assistant Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Trade.

Strengthen the Integrity and Fairness of Global Seafood Supply Chains by Promoting Fair Seafood Trade Practices Around the World

To promote fair trade, the program will address administrative challenges and simplify reporting procedures. This includes:

  • Updating permitting and reporting procedures
  • Modifying current data requirements
  • Developing additional SIMP compliance materials
  • Modernizing the National Permit System

Improve Implementation and Build Capacity to Maintain and Grow the Program

We are strengthening our internal operations by stabilizing and expanding the program team and enhancing data systems to better process and analyze seafood import information. These improvements will increase the program’s ability to identify risks and conduct more thorough reviews.

“The NOAA Fisheries action plan serves as a roadmap to bolster and enhance SIMP. We are fully committed to strengthening confidence in the process, driving greater transparency, and maximizing its overall effectiveness,” says Janet Coit, NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator.

Next Steps

We are prioritizing the implementation of these changes, with plans to issue a proposed rule, with an opportunity for public comment. A final rule will follow thereafter, with internal improvements rolling out as resources allow.

We will host webinars to discuss the action plan and next steps on November 15 at 2:00 PM ET/11:00 AM PT/9:00 AM HST and November 20 at 2:00 PM ET/11:00 AM PT/9:00 AM HST. For those unable to attend a webinar, a podcast will be available on our website November 21, 2024.

For questions, contact: iuu.fishing@noaa.gov