Saving Seafood

Passive Acoustic Monitoring Reveals More About Sperm Whales off Southeast New England

February 22, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

A new peer-reviewed study suggests that sperm whales are using inshore shallow waters off southern New England near a U.S. offshore wind energy area as seasonal habitat. Scientists from NOAA Fisheries and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography published the study in a special themed issue of the ICES Journal of Marine Science.

Sperm whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and listed as endangered in U.S. waters under the Endangered Species Act. They are best known for using deeper waters on the continental slope and canyons. This study focuses on when they are detected in shallow coastal waters.

“This study is the first to assess year-round acoustic occurrence of sperm whales, and the results indicate that these adaptive and social animals can and do seasonally use inshore shallow waters off of Southern New England.”

“For many years opportunistic sightings and scientific surveys have recorded sperm whales on the continental shelf south and east of southern New England, but whether this was a regularly used habitat or not was unknown,” said Annabel Westell, the study’s lead author and a passive acoustic researcher at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. “This study is the first to assess year-round acoustic occurrence of sperm whales, and the results indicate that these adaptive and social animals can and do seasonally use inshore shallow waters off of Southern New England.”

Sperm whales were present mainly from May through August, with a secondary peak in October–November.

Researchers will use the results to assess ongoing sperm whale presence, especially social groups that may be more sensitive to disturbance. On the continental shelf, near the recording sites, sperm whales observed in these shallow waters are thought to be following migrating squid. Results indicate both adult males and social groups use the region around the offshore southern New England wind energy development area, possibly for breeding as well as foraging.

Offshore wind energy development plays an important role in climate change mitigation. This research is part of NOAA’s ongoing work to ensure the nation’s deployment of offshore wind energy is done in a manner that avoids and minimizes impacts to protected resources and their habitats. Studies like this one provide information essential to crafting effective plans for mitigating the effects of offshore wind energy development on protected species.

 

White House National Science and Technology Council Unveils New Aquaculture Plan, First in 40 Years

February 21, 2o24 — Read the full release at NOAA Fisheries:

For the first time since 1983, the United States is releasing an updated National Aquaculture Development Plan. It will strengthen U.S. commitment to food security, climate resilience, and the protection of threatened and endangered marine and freshwater species

In a changing climate, aquaculture is becoming increasingly important as a climate-smart and healthy means of food production. Seafood farming, if done responsibly—as it is in the United States—is one of the most environmentally sustainable ways to produce healthy food.

In addition to providing a sustainable source of American-raised seafood, aquaculture plays an important role in fisheries restoration. Hatchery-reared fish (seedstock and fingerlings) are released into the wild to help bolster populations of wild marine species. Aquaculture has helped more than 70 endangered or threatened species, including Pacific Salmon, white abalone, and queen conch. In addition, it’s helped restore habitats and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

How to Submit a Public Comment

The National Science and Technology Council, Subcommittee on Aquaculture, is soliciting comments on the draft Overview of the National Aquaculture Development Plan. It includes three strategic plans.

Two of them, the Strategic Plan to Enhance Regulatory Efficiency in Aquaculture and the National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Research, were completed and published in 2022. The third plan, the draft Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Economic Development, is now out for public comment.

Once finalized, together these four documents will comprise an updated National Aquaculture Development Plan that provides a holistic framework describing how federal agencies are advancing the contributions of aquaculture to support public health and nutrition, resilient communities, a strong economy, and a healthy planet.

The 45-day comment period for the draft Aquaculture Development Plan, including the draft Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Economic Development, is open through April 5, 2024.

Comments can be submitted to AquacultureEcoDev@usda.gov.

Working Across Agencies on the Subcommittee for Aquaculture

The Subcommittee on Aquaculture serves as the federal interagency coordinating group to increase the overall effectiveness and productivity of Federal aquaculture research, regulation, technology transfer, and assistance programs.

The Subcommittee on Aquaculture’s Economic Development task force includes partner agencies from:

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Department of Commerce
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Food and Drug Administration
  • Environmental Protection Agency

Learn more about the Subcommittee on Aquaculture and NOAA Fisheries Office of Aquaculture.

Another Year Of Protecting A Precious Population

February 21, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Assessment and recovery camps in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument are essential to guiding the recovery of endangered Hawaiian monk seals. The completion of the 2023 camp contributes to a proud 40-year conservation science legacy. Throughout August and September, the team conducted a 28-day research mission and established short (16- to 20-day) camps at select locations throughout the monument.

During the 2023 camp, NOAA researchers and partners accomplished much in an effort to recover this endangered species, including:

  • Conducting 27 Hawaiian monk seal interventions to improve seal survival
  • Documenting 170 pups born in the monument
  • Releasing five rehabilitated seals back into the wild

NOAA researchers share their successes and reflections from this important mission and other Hawaiian monk seal monitoring efforts over the past year.

Counting Together—and On One Another

One of the most important parts of researching any species, especially a species with low numbers, is to know exactly how many individuals exist in a population. Without a way to tell individual animals apart, this can be incredibly difficult. When monk seal pups wean from their mothers at a few weeks of age, researchers apply colored tags to their hind flippers—a very important field camp task! Once a monk seal is no longer a pup and more mobile, it is very difficult to apply flipper tags. The tags are engraved with a unique number and letter series that, along with color, can be used to identify that particular seal. Tag colors represent the place in Hawai‘i they were born.

Thanks to the ability to uniquely identify individual monk seals, NOAA researchers have estimated the population size of Hawaiian monk seals to be 1,605 (2022). Annual field camps and tagging are necessary for monitoring population estimates. The past year underscored just how important partners are to this large undertaking. The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project all contributed to monitoring and tagging efforts throughout the monument. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rescued a seal without a clear path to the ocean due to aging infrastructure at Sand Island, Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll). The Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project team even removed an eel from the nose of a monk seal pup!

Thanks to the ability to uniquely identify individual monk seals, NOAA researchers have estimated the population size of Hawaiian monk seals to be 1,605 (2022). Annual field camps and tagging are necessary for monitoring population estimates. The past year underscored just how important partners are to this large undertaking. The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project all contributed to monitoring and tagging efforts throughout the monument. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rescued a seal without a clear path to the ocean due to aging infrastructure at Sand Island, Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll). The Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project team even removed an eel from the nose of a monk seal pup!

ALASKA: Biden-Harris Administration announces $1 million to support climate resilience in remote Alaska communities as part of Investing in America agenda

February 21, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced the availability of $1 million for multi-year funding opportunities that will be distributed through the Alaska Fisheries Science Center Indigenous Engagement Program to support remote Alaska communities. This investment — funded by the Inflation Reduction Act — will help NOAA Fisheries advance efforts to promote climate resilience and food security in remote Alaska communities, strengthen collaboration with tribal governments and Indigenous communities and engage Indigenous Knowledge holder voices in NOAA Fisheries science. The Biden-Harris Administration has made historic investments in climate resilience and adaptation, including more than $50 billion from the President’s Investing in America agenda.

“This opportunity will enable entities working to benefit Indigenous Knowledge holders, including tribes and Alaska Native community members to advance equity and environmental justice — including just treatment, equal opportunities and environmental benefits for all people and communities and respect for tribal sovereignty,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Through this effort we hope to support research projects that address community concerns while enabling NOAA Fisheries to meet its research mission through collaborative and co-produced research.”

Up to $500,000 will be available in fiscal year 2024, with remaining funding potentially available in future years for continuation of work. Under this funding opportunity, projects will address one of three priority areas:

  • Support and collaborate with existing Indigenous Knowledge networks to build capacity in remote Arctic communities in line with the NOAA Fisheries Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy.
  • Incorporate Indigenous Knowledge into existing science, where possible, to build climate resilience in communities on the front lines of climate change in the Arctic. This requires NOAA services in the form of partnerships, internships and education opportunities.
  • Conduct collaborative and co-produced research providing opportunities for the co-development of research and knowledge needs with academic, international and Indigenous partners at the Inuit Circumpolar Council. 

“NOAA Fisheries recently produced its first Equity and Environmental Justice Policy with a goal of better serving all communities more equitably and effectively,” said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “Through this funding opportunity, we hope to put that policy into practice by supporting efforts that build partnerships and promote knowledge sharing to advance climate adaptation and planning for Alaska communities on the frontlines of climate change.”

This multi-year funding opportunity aims to provide crucial support for 5-15 innovative projects per year, with individual project funding ranging from $15,000 to $50,000. In an effort to foster impactful and diverse projects, NOAA encourages project proposals within the specified funding range. 

In December 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration issued a first-of-its kind Indigenous Knowledge guidance on incorporating Indigenous Knowledge in federal research, policy and decision-making at the Tribal Nations Summit. The Biden-Harris Administration formally recognizes Indigenous Knowledge as one of the many important bodies of knowledge that contribute to the scientific, technical, social and economic advancements of the United States and our collective understanding of the natural world.

Interested organizations are invited to submit their applications by Friday, April 26, 2024. To access detailed guidelines and submit a proposal, please visit the NOAA Fisheries website. Questions regarding this funding opportunity may be directed to Laura Hoberecht via phone (206) 526-4194 or email Laura.Hoberecht@noaa.gov. NOAA Fisheries will also host public webinars to answer questions regarding this funding opportunity. 

As part of NOAA Climate-Ready Fisheries, NOAA is committed to bolstering the nation’s $370 billion fishing industry and the states, communities and tribes who rely upon it. In addition to the funding opportunity outlined above, NOAA will invest $145 million to address NOAA Fisheries’ data acquisition priorities. More details about this funding will be coming soon. 

Please visit NOAA’s Inflation Reduction Act website for updates on current and future funding opportunities. 

Another death of critically endangered North Atlantic right whale renews calls for shipping regulations

February 20, 2024 — Another death of a critically endangered North Atlantic right whale has renewed calls for regulation of shipping lane speed limits to protect the dwindling species and other marine life.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported a dead right whale floating about 20 miles off the coast of Tybee Island, Georgia, on Thursday. NOAA Fisheries was first alerted to the juvenile female whale, an offspring born to a tracked whale named Pilgrim, the previous Tuesday.

Read the full article at ABC News

Conservation groups ask White House to take over SIMP review

February 20, 2024 — A dozen conservation groups penned a letter to the White House asking for the Executive Office of the President to take over a review of the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) that was initiated by NOAA Fisheries late last year.

NOAA Fisheries terminated its plans for a limited expansion of SIMP – a government program designed to crack down on illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing – late last year in response to public input. NOAA’s expansion would have added new species to the program, which currently covers 13 species groups, but conservation groups heavily criticized the action for not being more ambitious and expanding the program to all imported seafood species.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NOAA Fisheries Implements the Prohibition of Commercial Fishing in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument

February 16, 2024 — The following was released NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries is defining the boundary coordinates of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument area and reflecting the prohibition on commercial fishing in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act regulations.

The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument was established by Presidential Proclamation, under the authority of the Antiquities Act. Presidential Proclamations 9496 and 10287 prohibit commercial fishing in the Monument and direct the Secretary of Commerce to promulgate regulations necessary to implement the commercial fishing prohibition. This final rulemaking incorporates the Monument boundaries and commercial fishing prohibition into the Magnuson-Stevens Act regulations at 50 CFR 600.

This bulletin serves as a Small Entity Compliance Guide, complying with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.

Reviews Find “Nearshore Calculator” Uses Best Available Science in Valuing Salmon Habitat

February 16, 2024 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries: 

Five independent reviewers have found that NOAA Fisheries’ “Nearshore Calculator” is based on the best available science. Our scientists developed the tool to assess the value of salmon habitat in Puget Sound. The professional feedback indicates that the calculator can help accurately estimate the effects of development, and what it will take to offset that impact.

In one of the reviews, Steven J. Cooke of Carleton University praised the way the calculator was “thoughtfully developed drawing upon published literature, grey literature, and expert knowledge.”

NOAA Fisheries developed the calculator to help developers and other project proponents quantify the impact of their projects on the value of salmon habitat. Puget Sound’s nearshore habitat is especially important to juvenile Chinook salmon during their first few months in saltwater, before they leave for years in the open ocean. The larger the fish are when they set off, the better their odds of surviving and returning to their home rivers to spawn.

We published three biological opinions between 2020 to 2022 assessing the impacts of development projects such as bulkheads and piers on salmon habitat. They determined that further losses of nearshore habitat in Puget Sound were likely to jeopardize the existence of threatened Puget Sound Chinook salmon and endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

Following those opinions, the Army Corps of Engineers’ 2022 Salish Sea Nearshore Programmatic Biological Opinion required project proponents to offset the impacts of their projects on the habitat. The Nearshore Calculator provides a scientifically based means of valuing lost salmon habitat so developers know up-front how much they must offset.

Another death of critically endangered North Atlantic right whale renews calls for shipping regulations

February 16, 2024 — Another death of a critically endangered North Atlantic right whale has renewed calls for regulation of shipping lane speed limits to protect the dwindling species and other marine life.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported a dead right whale floating about 20 miles off the coast of Tybee Island, Georgia, on Thursday. NOAA Fisheries was first alerted to the juvenile female whale, an offspring born to a tracked whale named Pilgrim, the previous Tuesday.

Read the full article at ABC News

ALASKA: State reacts to proposed management of Cook Inlet EEZ

February 16, 2024 — According to a letter addressed to NMFS, the State of Alaska has substantial concerns with the proposed federal management of the Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Doug Vincent-Lang, Department of Fish and Game commissioner, signed the letter. He stated that he submitted on behalf of the state in response to a request for public comments NOAA opened regarding the proposed rule.

The rule would implement federal management on commercial and recreational salmon fishing in the Cook Inlet EEZ, previously subject to state regulation. Public comments on the proposal were accepted through Dec. 18. The letter will be included in the Alaska Board of Fisheries’ upcoming meeting on Upper Cook Inlet Finfish. The meeting will be held in Anchorage from Feb. 23 to March 6, and a discussion of the proposed federal management plan is scheduled for the first day of the meeting, according to Homer News.

Read the full article at National Fisherman