Saving Seafood

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

Food supply for Bay’s predatory fish seems adequate, for now

May 30, 2024 — When it comes to important but unheralded Chesapeake Bay species, it may be time to praise the polychaete.

The bottom-dwelling worms turn out to be the most important food for a wide range of important fish predators, and their abundance seems to be holding steady in recent decades.

On the other hand, there may be reason for concern about lowly mysids, small shrimplike crustaceans that are a tasty treat for many Bay fish but have been in decline for years.

One thing is certain: There is cause to worry about the shoreline hardening around the Bay and its tidal tributaries. Despite efforts to promote “living shorelines,” the spread of bulkheads and riprap is taking a bite out of critical habitats for polychaetes, mysids and many other forage species that constitute the lower levels of the Chesapeake’s food web.

Those are some of the findings from a recent Forage Status and Trends Report from the state-federal Bay Program. It’s the first attempt to analyze if the Chesapeake is producing enough food for striped bass, weakfish, summer flounder, Atlantic croaker and other predators.

Read the full article at the Bay Journal

NOAA’s 2023 Status of Stocks highlights successful management

May 29, 2024 — NOAA Fisheries has released the Annual Report to Congress on the Status of U.S. Fisheries. The report highlights the successful management of U.S. fisheries and the broad economic impact of commercial and recreational fisheries on the U.S. economy.

Sustainable U.S. fisheries play an essential role in the nation’s economy. They provide commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing opportunities and sustainable seafood for consumers.

NOAA Fisheries’ 2023 Status of Stocks shows continued progress in science and management for U.S. fisheries. Key takeaways include:

  • The number of stocks on the overfishing list decreased by three stocks, reaching an all-time low number of 21 stocks on the overfishing list
  • The number of stocks on the overfished list decreased by one stock to 47
  • 94 percent of stocks were not subject to overfishing, an all-time high
  • 82 percent were not overfished
  • Since 2000, 50 stocks have been rebuilt

Read the full story at National Fisherman

Biden awards USD 20 million for regional fishery management council projects

May 29, 2024 — The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has awarded USD 20 million (EUR 19 million) in Inflation Reduction Act funding to regional fishery management councils around the country as part of its ongoing Investing in America agenda.

“Regional fishery management councils are some of NOAA’s most critical partners that help develop conservation and management measures for our nation’s marine fisheries,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said. “This USD 20 million investment, made possible thanks to President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act, will support councils in their important work to incorporate fishery management measures and processes necessary to improve climate resiliency and responsiveness as we tackle the impacts of climate change.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource