Saving Seafood

Building Bridges to Restore Connectivity: Penobscot Nation and NOAA Fisheries Improve Atlantic Salmon Resilience

November 6, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The Penobscot Nation conserves and recovers endangered Atlantic salmon and facilitates their return to Tribal lands. The Nation completes these conservation efforts with help from the NOAA Fisheries’ Species Recovery Grants to Tribes Program. Their latest project focuses on restoring aquatic habitat connectivity to promote the species’ resilience in the face of climate change.

The Importance of the Penobscot River Watershed

For thousands of years, the Penobscot River has served as a highway for the Penobscot people, who live along its banks. To this day, the river provides food for the community, is central to their culture, and is considered a Tribal citizen. “We hunt and fish and gather there, and we respect the river as our relative who provides sustenance to us,” said Chuck Loring, a member of the Penobscot Nation and the Director of the Tribe’s Department of Natural Resources. The Penobscot River is now one of the last places in the United States where endangered Atlantic salmon live. The species is important to the Nation.

Atlantic salmon once migrated inland by the hundreds of thousands to rivers in the northeastern United States. Beginning in the 1800s, dam construction along the Penobscot River severely reduced fish passage. Later, undersized culverts prevented fish passage throughout tributaries including headwater streams. Atlantic salmon face many threats in the northeast United States due to dams, including warming waters, high predation from species such as smallmouth bass, and modified habitats.

Free-flowing and connected rivers are vital to anadromous fish such as Atlantic salmon, providing uninterrupted migration between freshwater and the ocean. This connectivity ensures that the salmon can hatch in the river, mature in the ocean, and return to spawn in the waters in which they were born. Sea-run fish also play an important role in the ecosystem by carrying nutrients and energy from the ocean to the rivers. For example, when they die, Atlantic salmon bodies provide nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus to the river system. Maintaining connected rivers is essential not only for the survival of Atlantic salmon but also for the health and productivity of the ecosystem.

Dams Block Salmon from Reaching Habitat

Dams and barriers can block, delay, and kill Atlantic salmon and destroy freshwater spawning and nursery habitats, unless they are removed or equipped with adequate fish passage. Today, more than 400 dams along rivers and streams block or impair migration corridors and alter habitat conditions that impede both the survival and recovery of Atlantic salmon.  Salmon populations have greatly diminished, with around 1,500 fish returning to Maine rivers in 2023. The West Branch of the Penobscot River was one of the most important, abundant, and historical salmon habitats. However, today it largely remains inaccessible to salmon because of numerous dams that lack fish passage; dams are one of the principal causes of their decline. The Penobscot Nation’s efforts aim to restore these vital “highways” for salmon and other sea-run fish to thrive.

Ongoing Efforts to Restore Salmon Habitat

Culverts can block fish passage or impair migration and destroy habitat by changing streamflows and altering stream channels. However, bridges support more natural stream features, such as water depth and flow speed. This enables fish passage, improves Atlantic salmon habitat, and provides protection for Atlantic salmon eggs. Under the Species Recovery Grants to Tribes program, the Penobscot Nation has successfully replaced culverts with bridges at two road-stream crossings in the Mattamiscontis Stream. Support from the program has allowed the Nation and project partners to complete another 16 connectivity projects since 2011. Together, these projects are helping to reconnect the upper reaches of Mattamiscontis Stream to the Penobscot River.

The Penobscot Nation has also increased their participation in the Atlantic Salmon Collaborative Management Strategy. The Strategy establishes a platform for effective communication and collaboration between multiple partners. The Nation’s voice is important in this process. Their involvement facilitates the implementation of the 2019 Final Recovery Plan for the Gulf of Maine Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic Salmon. This work is critical in supporting ecosystem-wide restoration for the recovery of Atlantic salmon and requires the collective efforts of many partners.

The Nation’s participation in the Strategy provides an opportunity for the integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (also known as Indigenous Knowledge). This allows the Nation to voice their cultural perspectives, while advocating for essential dam fish passage structures and operational practices. Traditional Ecological Knowledge offers a profound understanding of local environmental changes and ecological patterns that modern science alone might not fully capture.

As Dan McCaw, the Fisheries Program Manager for the Penobscot Nation, emphasizes, “The Tribal people stewarded these rivers since time immemorial and had some of the most robust fish runs in the world. They continue to manage forests very conservatively. There’s a huge benefit of bringing in Traditional Ecological Knowledge and weaving it with modern science in a very respectful way. This integration is not always simple or easy, but it ensures that the Tribe has an important voice in the recovery effort.”

In 2023, the Nation’s (and their partners) efforts led to the highest return of Atlantic salmon to the Penobscot River in more than a decade. These efforts also have benefits to other sea-run species. Improved fish passage on the Mattamiscontis Stream enabled river herring (alewives and blueback herring) to reach spawning lakes that could support nearly 800,000 fish. River herring are prey for many birds and other fish, such as bald eagles and striped bass, so their resurgence may serve to buffer juvenile Atlantic salmon from predators.

NOAA Fisheries further supports the Penobscot Nations’ work through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. This funding supported construction of fish passage projects on Birch Stream, a tributary of the Penobscot River. These projects will improve access to additional cold-water habitat for Atlantic salmon. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding will also support the construction of a hiking trail along Sam Ayers Stream on Tribal lands later this year. The trail will highlight recent and future restoration projects through informational kiosks. The Penobscot Nation is hopeful that increasing opportunities for Tribal and non-tribal members to see and access the restored lands and kiosks will continue public support and engagement for important ongoing and future restoration projects.

Building Resilience for Climate Change

Climate change exacerbates the urgency of the Nation’s restoration work to increase Atlantic salmon’s resilience. Restoring free-flowing rivers and streams aligns with traditional practices and enhances ecosystem and infrastructure resilience in the face of climate change. Projected increases in precipitation and more frequent intense storms in the Northeast United States pose significant risks. For example, flooding in December 2023 highlighted the growing threats associated with these changes in Maine. These road-stream crossing projects help to mitigate flood risks by supporting wider ranges of water flows and improving fish passage. By integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge into the management of the river system, the Penobscot Nation is better prepared to address these climate challenges. As climate change intensifies, these proactive restoration efforts are crucial for sustaining Atlantic salmon populations and maintaining the health of the ecosystem while protecting critical infrastructure.

Despite significant progress, much work remains to recover Atlantic salmon populations in Maine. With support from NOAA’s Species Recovery Grants to Tribes Program, the Penobscot Nation continues its restoration efforts for Atlantic salmon populations in the Penobscot River watershed. These efforts align with NOAA Fisheries’ broader vision to restore habitats and reopen migratory routes, ensuring fish access to healthy environments.

Chuck Loring highlights the Penobscot Nation’s commitment to restoration: “The Tribe takes a seven-generation approach to conservation. That’s our motivation to work hard now. I might not be able to see the results, but my descendants will.”

Biden administration announces USD 95 million for fish passage projects

November 5, 2024 — The U.S. government has announced another USD 95 million (EUR 87 million) in funding for new fish passage projects, some of which is specifically dedicated to Tribal priorities.

“These investments reflect a continuation of decades of work by NOAA Fisheries to recover threatened and endangered migratory fish and support the sustainability of commercial, Tribal, and recreational fisheries,” NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Janet Coit said in a statement. “Our work with Tribal organizations to improve fish passage is vital for building long-term tribal capacity to sustain and manage culturally significant resources and habitats.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

‘A post-Chevron world’: DC Circuit wrestles with agency authority in fishing boat spat

November 5, 2024 — A D.C. Circuit panel grappled Monday with the fallout from the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn a longstanding legal doctrine which allowed federal judges to defer to a government agency’s interpretation of a challenged statue.

The high court ruled 6-3 in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo that the doctrine, known as Chevron deference, should be overturned and that federal judges themselves should instead “exercise their independent judgment” when an agency oversteps its authority.

That case was originally argued before the D.C. Circuit in 2021, the appellate circuit that deals the most with challenges against federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and, in this case, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

In its decision to overturn Chevron, the high court remanded the case to the three-judge panel to reassess claims by a coalition of fishing companies that the government was wrong to require they pay the wages of independent “at-sea monitors.”

Read the full article at Courthouse News Service

What’s in the Water Might Be A New Way to Measure the Amount of Fish Present

November 1, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Around the world, standard ways to measure fish abundance and biomass to manage commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries rely heavily on deriving estimates from fish caught in research surveys and commercial fishing nets and other collected biological data. In a new study, NOAA Fisheries scientists, in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, show that it is possible to estimate fish biomass for more than one species at the same time, using environmental DNA (eDNA). They found they can estimate the abundance of ecologically and commercially-important Alaska fish species—Arctic cod, walleye pollock, and Pacific cod—which are difficult to distinguish in eDNA samples.

eDNA is the genetic material shed by organisms into the surrounding environment. For example, as a fish swims through the ocean, its DNA is shed and accumulates in the water around it. Some sources of eDNA include scales, skin cells, mucus, feces, and gametes. This genetic material can be recovered from environmental samples.

“Through our laboratory studies, we learned that we could accurately quantify species compositions and estimate biomass for different species of cod and pollock at the same time using eDNA,” said Kimberly Ledger, lead author and research biologist with Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Auke Bay Laboratories. “It is possible to apply these methods to other species to improve the quantitative utility of eDNA.”

Benefits of Using eDNA Studies for Stock Assessments

A central goal of managing species is understanding where they live (their distribution) and how many of them exist (their biomass or abundance). Accurately estimating this information is difficult. It relies on making inferences about an entire community based on observations of a subset of individuals. NOAA Fisheries gets this information from fish collected in nets during research surveys and from data collected by fishery observers on commercial fishing boats and in processing plants.

With eDNA scientists are able to detect and quantify fish DNA from the environment to help estimate species abundance and biomass from just a sample of water. This revolutionary new method that relies on eDNA is highly versatile, capable of detecting and identifying a wide range of species, and minimally disruptive to sensitive species.

Scientists caution that it doesn’t replace standard trawl surveys or actual sampling by fisheries observers. We we still need to collect important biological data including size, age, sex, sexual maturity and diet information, which is important for stock assessments.

However, eDNA researchers are actively working to identify ways to use this information to support management decisions with the help of stock assessment authors and quantitative ecologists.

Advancing International Atlantic Salmon Conservation by Engaging Indigenous Peoples

November 1, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Atlantic salmon hold, and have held for thousands of years, cultural and subsistence value to many Indigenous Peoples across the North Atlantic for thousands of years. Indigenous Peoples maintain tremendous knowledge passed down through generations, and this body of knowledge continues to evolve and grow. NOAA Fisheries collaborates with indigenous communities to enhance knowledge and improve Atlantic salmon restoration efforts, including our work with Wabanaki Nations on Atlantic salmon restoration. However, engagement in international efforts has been limited—until now.

International Cooperation to Conserve Salmon

The Atlantic salmon that are born and spawn in Maine rivers, traverse long distances— spanning borders and cultures—across the North Atlantic to the west coast of Greenland. There, they share feeding grounds with salmon from Canadian and southern European rivers. We need to work collectively to share knowledge that will support management decisions to support Atlantic salmon, their native habitats, and the many cultures that depend on them.

Established in 1984, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) is a regional fisheries management organization composed of:

  • Canada
  • Denmark (in respect to the Faroe Islands and Greenland)
  • European Union
  • Iceland
  • Norway
  • Russian Federation
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

These countries have come together to conserve, restore, and sustainably manage Atlantic salmon through international cooperation. In 2022, the participating countries recognized the importance of including Indigenous Knowledge and perspective in international efforts. They agreed to prioritize enhancing the participation of Indigenous Peoples in NASCO. At their 2023 annual meeting, they invited Indigenous Peoples throughout the North Atlantic to share their perspectives and roles in Atlantic salmon conservation. NASCO repeatedly heard about the need to include—and the benefits from including—Indigenous voices and perspectives and Indigenous Knowledge, into their decision-making processes. Incorporating these voices and knowledge systems would lead to better informed conservation decisions.

The United States was excited to learn more about how to best enhance Indigenous engagement in NASCO. We invited discussion on this topic with federally recognized tribes in New England. We heard perspectives from representatives of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Penobscot Nation, and the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik. We then advocated for independent participation in NASCO by all interested indigenous communities. NASCO rules now allow representatives from all tribes to participate in meetings, committees, and working groups.

“The Penobscot Nation is very excited to engage in discussions at this level with NASCO members to take care of our relative, the Atlantic salmon, throughout their entire range. There is a depth of indigenous knowledge that has been absent from management discussions on the U.S. side since the inception of NASCO. Although some of our partners have done well at trying to communicate for us, there is no replacement for direct discussions with each of the Wabanaki nations,” commented Chuck Loring, Director of Penobscot Nation’s Department of Natural Resources.Image

Moving Forward Together

This unprecedented decision makes NASCO the first regional fisheries management organization in the world to formally recognize and incorporate Indigenous Peoples into their work. “NOAA Fisheries is committed to honoring the unique relationship we have with Tribal Nations,” said Shannon Dionne, head of the U.S. delegation to NASCO and NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region. “The rules that NASCO adopted in June are a significant step forward towards inclusivity and representation and strengthen our ability to conserve and responsibly manage Atlantic salmon. We look forward to strengthening our relationships with Indigenous Peoples in this forum as we work together on these important issues.”

U.S. wild-caught shrimp is a sustainable choice

November 1, 2024 — U.S.-harvested shrimp has long been an economic backbone and cultural icon for commercial fishing communities, particularly in the Gulf and Southeastern coasts. Known for being nutritious and downright delicious, it’s a sustainable choice that’s not just good on the plate but also responsibly harvested. With the United States setting the global standard for shrimp trawl bycatch reduction, our shrimp fishery is designed to safeguard both marine ecosystems and the fishing industry’s future. But despite this commitment to sustainability, our shrimp industry is struggling to keep afloat. Let’s break down the facts about wild-caught U.S. shrimp and why this fishery is worth supporting.

What Makes Wild-Caught U.S. Shrimp Sustainable?

Thanks to solid science and a dynamic management approach, U.S. fisheries are among the largest and most sustainable in the world, and our shrimp fishery is no exception. NOAA Fisheries carefully manages shrimp harvested here to protect the long-term health of the shrimp populations and their ecosystems. White, pink, and brown shrimp are the backbone of the industry in the Southeast, providing jobs and sustaining generations of fishing families.

Shrimp are fast-growing crustaceans, often hitting 7 to 8 inches within just two years, making them resilient to overfishing. Monitoring programs like fishery-independent surveys and stock assessments help NOAA Fisheries determine the shrimp populations’ health and manage their harvest. Temporary closures are sometimes enforced to allow shrimp to migrate offshore and reach larger, more valuable sizes, ensuring they meet economic goals while maintaining population levels.

Read the full article at National Fisherman

Two NOAA Fish Passage Funding Opportunities Now Open, One Focused on Tribes

October 31, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA is announcing two funding opportunities for fish passage, including one funding opportunity focused on tribes. This significant funding is available under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Projects selected through these opportunities will help support sustainable fisheries, recover threatened and endangered migratory fish, and strengthen the resilience of coastal and Great Lakes communities and tribes. This is the third and final round of these funding opportunities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Through these two competitions, we will prioritize projects that were developed with inclusive practices and incorporate meaningful strategies to engage a diverse range of community groups, including tribes.

Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal

Up to $75 million in funding is available through the Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal funding opportunity. Projects selected through this opportunity will reopen migratory pathways and restore access to healthy habitat for fish around the country.

This funding will support the locally led removal of dams and other in-stream barriers. Selected projects will sustain our nation’s fisheries and contribute to the recovery of threatened and endangered species. They may also provide community and economic benefits, such as jobs and climate resilience.

NOAA will accept proposals between $750,000 and $8 million for the entire award, with typical funding anticipated to range from $3 million to $5 million. Applications are due by February 10, 2025.

Restoring Priority Tribal Fish Passage through Barrier Removal

Concurrently, up to $20 million in funding is available for fish passage and tribal capacity building through the Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal funding opportunity. This funding will support U.S. federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, and tribal organizations in implementing on-the-ground fish passage work and in building tribal organizational capacity.

Selected projects will reopen migratory pathways and restore access to healthy habitat for tribally important species. They may also enhance community climate resilience by removing or improving aging infrastructure.

NOAA will accept proposals between $300,000 and $6 million for the entire award, with typical funding anticipated to range from $500,000 to $4 million. Applications are due by February 27, 2025.

Tribes are eligible to apply to both funding opportunities.

Fish Passage and NOAA

Every year, millions of fish migrate to their spawning and rearing habitats to reproduce. Some fish need to swim thousands of miles through oceans and rivers to reach their destinations. They are often blocked from completing their journey by barriers like dams and culverts. When fish can’t reach their habitat, they can’t reproduce and maintain or grow their populations. As a result, many fish populations have declined.

NOAA works to reopen these migratory pathways, restoring access to healthy habitat for fish. Our efforts help recover threatened and endangered migratory fish and support the sustainability of commercial and recreational fisheries. They can also eliminate or reduce public safety hazards, improve climate resilience, and provide opportunities for recreation such as fishing and boating.

NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation has a long history conducting habitat restoration efforts with large-scale competitive funding opportunities and expert technical assistance through our Community-based Restoration Program. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act provide a historic opportunity for us to continue supporting fisheries, protected resources, and coastal communities. To date, we have funded 214 awards totaling $985 million through two rounds of funding competitions.

New Tool Provides Insight into Coastal Community Well-Being

October 30, 2024 — NOAA Fisheries is working to integrate equity and environmental justice into all we do. Gaining a better understanding of the people who rely on fisheries in the United States has never been more important.

NOAA Fisheries social scientists have launched the new Community Environmental Justice Explorer web tool. It describes environmental justice concerns for nearly 5,000 coastal communities in the United States. By visualizing indicators, such as fishing dependence, gentrification pressure, and poverty, this tool creates a dashboard to explore and compare the different pressures coastal communities can face.

This web tool helps managers, researchers, and the public understand environmental justice concerns. One future user, Corey Ridings, who represents the open California Seat of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, shares her perspective: “Equitable and just U.S. fisheries require a transparent understanding and knowledge of who is benefiting from our ocean. Tools such as the Community Environmental Justice Explorer can help us get there by supporting communities in educating themselves, participating in decision-making, and holding their government accountable.”

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

MAINE: Maine groups receive federal grants to help train the next generation of fishers

October 30, 2024 — NOAA Fisheries has awarded USD 387,404 (EUR 356,478) to two Maine-based groups to help train the next generation of fishers.

“Maine is known around the world for our proud fishing heritage thanks to the generations of hardworking men and women who have sustained it,” Maine’s congressional delegation said in a joint statement. “These investments in youth workforce development will help ensure that young Mainers entering the commercial fishing sector have the skills and support they need to succeed, preserving the strength of this vital industry now and into the future.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource