Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Announces Changes in its Alaska Survey Portfolio

June 10, 2024 — NOAA Fisheries is engaged in a multi-year effort to strategically respond to climate-driven changes in the environment, maintain operating efficiencies and modernization efforts, and mitigate shifting survey needs. We continue to balance national priorities against a challenging economic environment where the rising cost of mission execution demands strategic pivots within survey activities to ensure critical data collection needs can be met.

This year, the Alaska Fisheries Science Center will redesign and reprioritize effort in several of its surveys, while advancing the use of modern methods and technologies to more efficiently collect data and accomplish its research mission to support sustainable fisheries management. It will also suspend one survey resulting from shortfalls in cost-recovery related to losses in the economic value of the catch.

“Alaska marine ecosystems are changing and our science has to change with them,” said Robert Foy, Alaska Fisheries Science Center Director.

Over the past several years, Alaska scientists have observed extreme marine heatwaves and high variability in marine environmental conditions. This has altered fish distributions and caused structural changes in Alaska marine ecosystems.

Alaska Fisheries Science Center staff have been engaged in strategic planning over the past several months to:

  • Restructure internal operations
  • Prioritize survey efforts
  • Identify more efficient ways to collect data to support resource management decisions

These efforts are guided by the need to continue to meet thresholds of data collection and provision of scientific information.

To maintain their scientific integrity, we are re-evaluating all aspects of our research surveys including the overall design, spatial coverage, timing, and gear. We want to streamline our survey operations and identify new ways to collect critical information on fish and shellfish species.

To strengthen our ability to maintain continuity of survey operations, we reorganized our Groundfish Assessment Program into three operational survey teams. These teams better align with the three primary Large Marine Ecosystems where they primarily conduct survey operations. This realignment provides obvious points of contact to stakeholders for all bottom trawl survey regions. It also creates an operational structure that increases cross-training across teams to better address staffing needs

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

U.S. marine economy continues upward trend

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

The American marine economy continued to bolster the nation in 2022 as demonstrated by increased sales and jobs, according to the most recent statistics from the annual Marine Economy Satellite Account (MESA) released by two Department of Commerce agencies — NOAA and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

The marine economy contributed a total of $476 billion in economic impact in 2022, making up nearly 2% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). It generated $777 billion in sales, and supported 2.4 million jobs in 2022. MESA provides valuable insights on how the marine sector contributes to the nation’s economy. 

“A strong, sustainable marine economy helps build a greater, more Climate-Ready Nation,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said. “The Biden-Harris Administration and the Department of Commerce are committed to enhancing the marine economy, and helping communities and ecosystems grow and thrive.”

“These figures show how essential the Blue Economy is to American prosperity,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “The ocean and the Great Lakes are integral to the overall health of America’s economy, and they impact our lives in numerous ways.”

The largest contributors to GDP are tourism and recreation, with $163 billion; national defense and public administration, with $149 billion; and offshore minerals, with $62 billion.

The sales sectors that showed the most growth for 2022 include:
• Ship and boat building, up 14.6%;
• Coastal tourism and recreation, up 8.1%; and
• Marine transportation and warehousing, up 7%.

For the first time, MESA includes information on wind energy and alternative power generation, allowing for a greater understanding of the offshore wind industry’s importance to the nation’s economy. Wind farm construction totaled $161 million in sales, and alternative power generation totaled $10 million in sales.

MESA is in its seventh year, as NOAA and the BEA produce statistics that improve national estimates for ocean, coastal and major water bodies’ economic activity by major industry, accounting for inflation. The data comprises 10 sectors that represent businesses dependent on America’s ocean, coasts and the Great Lakes.

“This report underscores the critical need to do whatever we can to support and bolster the marine sector,” said NOAA’s National Ocean Service Assistant Administrator, Nicole LeBoeuf. “Our nation’s marine economy influences many aspects of our economic landscape and our daily lives, affecting regions far beyond our coasts.”

These data reflect a period from 2017 to 2022 and is the most comprehensive and accurate produced to date. The marine economic statistics validate previous estimates of the marine economy’s value.

The 10 sectors, ranked by sales, adjusted for inflation, and percentage change compared to the previous year:
• Tourism and recreation, $220 billion, up 8.1%.
• National defense and public administration, $194 billion, down 2.5%.
• Offshore minerals, $66 billion, down 1.3%.
• Transportation and warehousing, $56 billion, up 7%.
• Living resources, $31 billion, down 6.7%.
• Ship and boat building, $20 billion, up 14.6%.
• Coastal utilities, $15 billion, down 3.2%.
• Research and education, $12 billion, up 4%.
• Professional and technical services, $8 billion, down 5.5%.
• Marine construction, $7 billion, up 3.1%.

“We can continue building a thriving marine economy for America by investing in restoration, sustainability and working closely with stakeholders,” said NOAA Chief Economist Monica Grasso, Ph.D. “A thriving, resilient marine economy uplifts our communities and drives our nation forward.”

The report, data and other information are available at NOAA’s Digital Coast website and on the BEA Marine Economy website. MESA’s statistics reflect 2022 data, given data availability and the analysis process.

NOAA Shares Plans to Re-envision Recreational Fishing Data Collection

June 5, 2024 — Nationally coherent, regionally specific.

This is the primary goal of our current federal-state effort to re-envision the recreational fisheries data collection program.

We collect recreational fishing data from anglers through our network of surveys. These data result in estimates of recreational catch and effort. Alongside commercial, observer, and biological data, they help inform stock assessments and resulting fisheries management advice. Our aim is to provide optimal fishing opportunities while balancing the need to protect marine fisheries resources.

While our current data collection program has its strengths—including tracking long-term patterns in recreational fishing activity—we acknowledge the program’s challenges. We recognize the need to re-evaluate our approaches and strive for a new collaboratively developed vision for recreational data collection that builds on the strengths of our state and regional partners. This will produce better data and better recreational catch estimates. Alongside our partners, the involvement of the recreational fishing community is crucial to the success of this process.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Recreational Fishing Communities Help to Protect and Restore Habitat through National Fish Habitat Partnership

June 4, 2024 — This year, NOAA Fisheries is funding three projects to restore habitat through the coastal National Fish Habitat Partnerships. These projects will actively engage local communities– including anglers—who make critical contributions to fish habitat conservation nationwide. The projects demonstrate our commitment to restoring fish habitat and supporting access to sustainable saltwater recreational fishing, a popular pastime that boosts the U.S. economy.

Recreational Anglers Collect Data to Help Protect Groundfish Habitat in Oregon

Sponsoring Partnership: Pacific Marine & Estuarine Partnership

Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife will partner with recreational anglers from underserved communities to collect long-term data in unique nearshore Oregon coastal habitat. The data collected will be part of monitoring projects that help inform how to best manage coastal waters into the future. During hook-and-line surveys, anglers will measure the size and count the abundance of fish caught in Oregon’s Cascade Head Marine Reserve. The reserve is part of a system of five marine reserves in the waters along the state’s coast. They were designated to help conserve marine habitats and biodiversity. They also serve as living laboratories to learn about Oregon’s nearshore ocean environment and the effects that protections have on these areas over time.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

3 Takeaways From NOAA’s FY23 Report On SIMP

June 4, 2024 — Late last week NOAA Fisheries released an update regarding the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), sharing a review of the program’s effectiveness.

SIMP was first implemented in 2018 as a way to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The program established reporting and record-keeping requirements for imports of 13 seafood species groups: abalone, Atlantic cod, blue crab (Atlantic), dolphinfish (Mahi Mahi), grouper, King crab (red), Pacific cod, red snapper, sea cucumber, sharks, shrimp, swordfish and tuna (albacore, bigeye, skipjack, yellowfin, bluefin).

The implementation of the program was hotly contested, and when there was a proposed rule to expand SIMP, members of the seafood industry banned together to oppose the action. In November 2023 NOAA ended up withdrawing its proposal to expand SIMP following the public comment period. The agency also announced that it would review the program to “enhance and strengthen its overall impact and effectiveness.”

Read the full article at Seafoodnews.com

Shark Depredation: A Frustrating Experience for Fishermen in the Atlantic

June 4, 2024 — Shark depredation is the partial or complete removal of a hooked fish by a shark directly from an angler’s line before the line can be retrieved. It is a growing concern for recreational anglers. NOAA Fisheries is taking steps to better understand the frequency of depredation events and the circumstances around these interactions.

Research shows several possible reasons for an increase in shark depredation.

  • More sharks: Populations of some shark species have recovered from overfishing thanks to NOAA Fisheries’ conservation efforts under the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
  • More anglers: Increasing numbers of anglers releasing more fish—possibly injured or dead—which can attract sharks.
  • Learned behavior: Some evidence suggests sharks can learn from previous interactions and begin to associate the sounds of fishing boats with easy meals.

It is important to consider that sharks are not the only animals capable of depredation. Dolphins, seals, groupers, and other large fish are all known to feed on anglers’ catch. While sharks are easy to blame, they are not always the culprit.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

Exploring Innovative Strategies to Reduce Red Snapper Discards

June 3, 2024 — Fishing is a favorite pastime and an economic driver, especially in the Southeast. NOAA Fisheries recognizes that recreational and commercial fishers, fishery managers, and others are frustrated by short fishing seasons for South Atlantic red snapper and high levels of dead discards. Last year the season was just 2 days.

The most recent South Atlantic red snapper population assessment indicates the species is recovering. However, it is experiencing too much fishing mortality—largely as a result of the number of fish that are discarded and subsequently die.

“We understand anglers are frustrated.  We as managers are also frustrated and see the need for new, innovative management strategies to reduce snapper-grouper dead discards, including red snapper,” said Andy Strelcheck, NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Administrator. “We also need to better realize the social and economic benefits for the snapper-grouper fishery, and provide additional fishing opportunities as we recover fish stocks.”

NOAA Fisheries is recommending five projects for funding, totaling $879,211. These projects will explore new, innovative approaches to better understand and reduce red snapper dead discards, and increase fishing opportunities in the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

Current Conditions of the Northeast U.S. Shelf Ecosystem: Spring 2024 Update

June 3, 2024 — “Current Conditions” is a biannual report on ecosystem and fisheries data for the Northeast U.S. continental shelf ecosystem. The report includes measurements of temperature and salinity indicators of seasonal warming and cooling patterns. We derive indicators describing phytoplankton distribution and blooms from satellite remote sensing data. Northeast Fisheries Science Center bottom trawl surveys provide upper trophic level indicators of fish and macroinvertebrate habitat and distribution dynamics. See archived reports here.

Summary 

  • During the last half of 2023, sea surface temperatures in the Northeast U.S. Shelf Ecosystem cooled appreciably, especially along the shelf break, or eastern boundary, of the ecosystem. The only ecoregion remaining at the elevated temperatures typical of recent years was the Gulf of Maine ecoregion.
  • Fall phytoplankton blooms appeared to develop in the Gulf of Maine and the Scotian Shelf ecoregions.
  • Elevated chlorophyll concentration associated with the dinoflagellate Tripos spp. bloom were also evident, especially in the Gulf of Maine ecoregion.
  • The fall thermal transition date shifted to earlier in the year with cooler temperature conditions, reversing the trend of later transitions seen in recent years.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

NOAA Fisheries Releases Reports to Congress on Efforts to Combat IUU Fishing

June 2, 2024 — NOAA Fisheries released a report to Congress summarizing efforts to prevent and deter the import of seafood harvested through illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Another report summarized our efforts to investigate, enforce, and prosecute IUU fishing.

We use many tools to combat IUU fishing and prevent the movement of IUU fish and fish products through the seafood supply chain. They include regulatory programs, diplomatic efforts, capacity building, and enforcement technical assistance. Efforts range from preventing IUU fishing at its source to detecting and intercepting IUU fish and fish products at the border.

Seafood Import Monitoring Program

The Seafood Import Monitoring Program is both a screening mechanism and a deterrent against the entry of IUU fish and fish products and misrepresented seafood into the U.S. market. The report provides an overview of seafood imports subject to SIMP and associated audit findings and enforcement action associated with SIMP imports. The report also reviews NOAA’s advancement in automated screening and analysis of SIMP imports and the ongoing comprehensive program review.

NOAA Fisheries is committed to the ongoing development of SIMP as part of our comprehensive approach to combating IUU fishing and seafood fraud. To achieve this, we are working to further enhance and strengthen the program’s overall impact and effectiveness through a thorough and detailed program review.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

Biden-Harris Administration invests $2.1 million for measuring surface ocean carbon through the Investing in America agenda

June 2, 2024 — Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced the award of $2.1 million to support surface ocean and atmospheric carbon observations and monitoring through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. These funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will allow NOAA to expand a global network of sensors to track carbon dioxide in the ocean. They will also serve to improve the understanding and forecasting of global climatic and environmental changes.

“Thanks to President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this investment of over $2 million will help NOAA continue leading the way on the vital work to observe and forecast the impacts of climate change globally,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “It will also create innovative partnerships with private companies to improve carbon emissions tracking and strengthen the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations.”

Monitoring changes in surface ocean and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is key to understanding the impact of human-caused emissions on climate change and ocean health. The ocean naturally absorbs approximately a quarter of carbon dioxide released by fossil fuel burning and other human activities. This natural absorption reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that remain in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change. However, the increase of concentration of CO2 in the ocean can also have negative implications for the broader marine ecosystems, notably ocean acidification.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries