Saving Seafood

MASSACHUSETTS: Regional Officials Push For NOAA To Stay In Woods Hole

September 29, 2023 — As the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration studies next steps for its Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, Barnstable County and state officials have joined forces to urge the agency to stay in the village.

To that end, the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners endorsed a letter to NOAA from state Representative Dylan A. Fernandes (D-Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket) on Wednesday, September 27.

“Moving NOAA’s facilities out of Woods Hole would not only fragment our scientific community, but would also further silo research, impede collaboration and the sharing of best practices between institutions, and negatively impact the oceanic sciences in our region for generations to come,” said the letter, which was co-signed by several other state legislators representing the Cape.

NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center was founded in 1871; a permanent facility was built on Water Street in 1885. The current building, still in the original location, dates back to 1961.

Read the full article at The Enterprise

Activists urge reforms after Bering Sea trawlers haul up 9 dead orcas

September 28, 2023 — Federal officials are looking into the deaths of nine orcas that were hauled up by groundfish trawlers in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands fisheries this year, and conservation groups say more needs to be done to prevent such deaths.

According to NOAA Fisheries, a tenth whale was released alive, but the nine other orcas incidentally caught in trawl nets weren’t so lucky.

“NOAA Fisheries is analyzing collected data to determine the cause of injury or death and determine which stocks these whales belong to through a review of genetic information,” said Julie Fair, public affairs officer with the federal agency’s Alaska office, reading from a statement published Thursday. She declined to be interviewed, except to read the statement aloud.

Killer whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which requires boat owners or operators to report the deaths and injuries of the mammals during commercial fishing and survey operations.

Fair said NOAA Fisheries monitors bycatch of protected species to determine whether the animals were dead before being caught or were killed or seriously injured by commercial gear.

The vessels involved in these incidents weren’t named, but Fair said the boats involved were all required to carry two federal observers on board.

This isn’t the first time killer whales have been caught in trawl gear off Alaska, but the numbers seem to have spiked this year.

Read the full article at KYUK

United States Leads Conservation Gains in Eastern Pacific Fisheries, Benefiting Sharks and Tuna

September 28, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Sharks and North Pacific albacore tuna—some of the ocean’s top predators—won new protections from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). The actions marked conservation successes for the U.S. delegation, who helped negotiate their passage.

“These were important collaborative successes because we had to help bring countries together to support the measures,” said Ryan Wulff, head of the U.S. delegation to the IATTC and Assistant Regional Administrator at NOAA Fisheries. “These measures reflect a united step  forward for sustainable albacore fisheries and shark conservation.”

The Commission is an organization of 21 countries and alliances that govern fishing across the eastern Pacific Ocean. They collectively set conservation measures for tuna, “tuna-like” species, and other highly migratory species such as sharks. Another regional organization, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, oversees fishing in the western Pacific.

 

 

Commerce Secretary Announces Fishery Disaster Determinations for Yurok Chinook Salmon

September 27, 2023 — The Secretary of Commerce determined that a commercial fishery failure due to a fishery resource disaster occurred in the 2021 and 2022 Yurok Tribe Chinook Salmon Fishery. The determination is in response to requests from Chairman Joseph L. James of the Yurok Tribe.

Secretary of Commerce, Gina M. Raimondo, working with NOAA Fisheries, evaluates each fishery resource disaster request based primarily on data submitted by the requesting official. A fishery disaster determination must meet specific requirements under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. For example, there must be economic impacts and an unexpected large decrease in fish stock biomass or other change that results in significant loss of access to the fishery resource resulting from specific allowable causes due to the fishery resource disaster event.

This positive determination makes these fisheries eligible for disaster assistance from NOAA. Fishery participants may also qualify for disaster assistance from the Small Business Administration. The Department of Commerce has fishery disaster assistance funding available and in the near future will determine the appropriate allocation for these disasters.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

NOAA could designate cod habitat around Cox Ledge, wind power sites

September 27, 2023 — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is considering whether to outline a “habitat area of particular concern’ in and around offshore wind lease areas off southern New England.

The proposal, originated by the New England Fishery Management Council over concerns of how wind development will affect essential fish habitat, would include Cox Ledge, an important bottom area for cod spawning. NOAA, the Bureau of Offshore Energy Management, fishermen and wind power developers have grappled for years over how to build turbine arrays while protecting cod habitat in the region.

The often-bitter debate was one factor in the Sept. 1 mass resignation of the Rhode Island Fishermen’s Advisory Board, whose members charged the state Coastal Resource Management Council is too deferential to wind development interests at the expense of habitat and fisheries impacts.

NOAA Fisheries on Sept. 26 published the proposal for a formal habitat of particular concern (HAPC) designation around Cox Ledge and wind energy leases in the Federal Register, opening a 30-day public comment period.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Veteran Interns Build Their Skills Supporting NOAA’s Habitat Restoration Efforts

September 27, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

For years, NOAA and partners have worked to provide opportunities for military veterans to build their skills and work experience contributing to habitat and fisheries restoration projects along the West Coast. Through paid internships and training programs, veteran interns have worked with NOAA to:

  • Support the recovery of threatened salmon and steelhead
  • Learn about the science and policy of habitat restoration and salmon recovery
  • Network and collaborate with agency, tribal, and nonprofit partners
  • Build a portfolio of outreach and communications products
  • Advance their GIS skills

NOAA partners with several groups to recruit, hire, and support veteran interns throughout Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska. In 2023, we have several interns supported by one of these groups, Mt. Adams Institute. This Washington-based non-profit is dedicated to providing diverse internship opportunities for veterans. Their VetsWork program is an 11-month career development internship program for military veterans interested in the natural resources management, public lands, and environment sector.

Through this collaboration, NOAA is hosting three veteran interns this year:

  • Jodie Robinson in Portland, Oregon
  • Garret Engelke in Seattle, Washington
  • Jeremy Thatcher in Anchorage, Alaska

Below, Jodie, Garret, and Jeremy share their experiences and perspectives from their internships so far.

Proposed Rule to Designate a Habitat Area of Particular Concern Offshore of Southern New England

September 26, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on the proposed designation of a Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) in and around offshore wind lease areas in southern New England, including Cox Ledge. The New England Fishery Management Council recommended the HAPC designation due to concerns about the potential adverse impact on essential fish habitat (EFH) from the development of offshore wind energy projects.

The proposed designation would focus on important cod spawning grounds and areas of complex habitat that are known to serve important habitat functions to federally managed species within and adjacent to offshore wind development areas. Complex benthic habitat provides shelter for certain species during their early life history, refuge from predators, and feeding opportunities.

The proposed HAPC, if adopted, would provide additional conservation focus when NOAA Fisheries reviews and comments on federal and/or state actions that could impact Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and HAPCs, as part of the EFH consultation process. EFH consultations provide non-binding conservation recommendations to the implementing (action) agency to avoid, minimize, and mitigate the impacts of federal actions on EFH. 

For more information, read the proposed rule as filed in the Federal Register. The comment period is open through October 26, 2023. You may submit comments via our online portal.

NOAA Fisheries to Revise Critical Habitat for Right Whales in Alaska

September 26, 2023 — Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries has concluded that a revision of endangered North Pacific right whale critical habitat is warranted. We intend to proceed with a revision, including initiating the rulemaking process. There are only an estimated 30 eastern North Pacific right whales remaining.

Our decision is in response to a petition we received on March 10, 2022, from the Center for Biological Diversity and Save the North Pacific Right Whale. It requested that we revise the critical habitat designation for the species.

Critical habitat for North Pacific right whales was designated in 2008. It consists of two areas, one in the Southeast Bering Sea, the other in the Gulf of Alaska off the coast of Kodiak Island (Figure 1). The areas are approximately 35,460 square miles and 1,175 square miles, respectively.

The petition requests we revise critical habitat to connect the two existing critical habitat areas. This would entail extending the Southeast Bering Sea boundary west and south to the Fox Islands, through Unimak Pass to the edge of the continental slope. It would also extend east to the Gulf of Alaska critical habitat area off the coast of Kodiak Island. We have not yet decided whether to propose the specific revision recommended by the petitioners or some other revision to the critical habitat designation.

What’s Next? The Process to Revise Critical Habitat

On July 12, 2022, we published a positive 90-day finding that the petitioned revision may be warranted. We also initiated a review of currently designated critical habitat and solicited public comments during a 60-day period.

We conducted a review of the petition using the best scientific data available. We also considered information we received during the comment period. Our review indicates that a revision to North Pacific right whale habitat is warranted.

To identify what areas qualify as critical habitat for this species, we will conduct and analysis and synthesis of:

  • Available acoustic mooring data
  • Visual sightings
  • Observations of right whale feeding behavior
  • Spatial and temporal patterns in right whale prey

We will also consider potential economic, national security, and any other relevant impact of designating any particular areas as critical habitat.

Based on the data supporting critical habitat, we will then revise the critical habitat. We will develop a proposed rule that will undergo public comment and a final rule that addresses information and comments received during the comment period.

NOAA Fisheries Confirms 90 Percent Coverage Target for 2023 At-Sea Monitoring for Northeast Groundfish Sectors

September 26, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA Fisheries confirm that groundfish vessels in the Northeast will be required to have human at-sea monitors on 90 percent of all vessel trips subject to the groundfish sector monitoring program in fishing year 2023 (May 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024). We preliminarily announced this increase in coverage in March. This does not apply to vessels that are using electronic monitoring to satisfy the monitoring requirements of their sector.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will continue to reimburse 100 percent of sector at-sea monitoring costs, including electronic monitoring. The ASMFC will continue to administer the reimbursement program for fishing year 2023.

Rewriting the Disaster Narrative in New Orleans through Collaboration and Community

September 25, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, locals in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward call the Bayou Bienvenue Wetlands Triangle a “ghost swamp.” The area was formerly a cypress forest with trees so close together people could canoe through them without paddles. Now, standing by a sign commenorating the the forest, you’ll see open water with a few bone white tree trunks jutting out. Through its grant program for underserved communities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, NOAA Fisheries is providing $1.2 million to galvanize the efforts of local groups to restore the habitat.

The original Bayou Bienvenue forest stood within the 30,000-acre Central Wetlands Unit in Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes. It provided residents with a place to fish and hunt, collect wild onions and herbs, and escape from the heat and noise of the city. Its towering cypress trees and live oaks, together with the marsh grass and aquatic plants, also buffered the wind and waves from hurricanes.

However, after the construction of a massive shipping channel through the wetlands in the 1960s, salt water entered the ecosystem. As the salt killed off the freshwater plants, the channel, dubbed the “Hurricane Highway,” also gave storm surge coming off the Gulf of Mexico a direct path into the wetlands and surrounding community. In 2005, storm surge from Hurricane Katrina inundated the area in up to 15 feet of saltwater, destroying homes and killing many people. In the 18 years since then, despite the development of a restoration plan and efforts to revitalize the communities, both remain a shell of their former selves.

With new NOAA funding, these groups, working in partnership with foundations and city and state governments, will:

  • Plant 15,750 trees, 18,000 plugs of marsh grass, and 20 plots of aquatic vegetation in the Central Wetlands Unit.
  • Create a nature-based engineering and design plan for additional restoration work in the Bayou Bienvenue Wetlands Triangle
  • Engage residents of the Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish in all aspects of restoration work and project planning to improve the health and sustainability of the community

“We feel grateful that we’re stewards of these congressionally-appropriated dollars for coastal and community resilience,” says John Barco, Marine Habitat Resource Specialist for NOAA. “We’re excited to work with these partners and the community to build off the work they’ve already accomplished.”