Saving Seafood

NOAA report accuses nine nations, including China and Taiwan, of supporting illegal fishing

September 5, 2023 — The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released a report identifying several nations it alleges are engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing or that have not done enough to eliminate the use of forced labor within their domestic fleets.

Angola, Grenada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, The Gambia, and Vanuatu were all alleged to have participated in IUU fishing in 2020, 2021 and 2022, according to the report. Mexico, China, and Russia were given negative certifications for failing to remedy IUU fishing activities, which could lead to the U.S. denying those nations’ access to American ports and waters or import bans.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NOAA Fisheries releases national seafood strategy

September 5, 2023 — A national seafood strategy to guide how the federal government regulates the entire seafood sector, from wild-harvest fisheries and aquaculture to market access and building a stronger sector, has been released. NOAA Fisheries developed and released the plan in August as world oceans began experiencing marine heat waves and the Gulf of Maine recorded its warmest year in history.

Climate change is rapidly altering species location, size and composition, while extreme weather affects infrastructure that brings, for example, lobsters landed in Stonington to processors and markets not close to home.

Offshore wind development and its effects also factor, and concerns over what the report describes as “significant” labor shortages and aging infrastructures. So do the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular on supply chains that still limit access to some seafood varieties and decrease overall revenues.

The U.S. lands about 10 billion pounds of seafood each year, with a dockside value of $6.3 billion and $165 billion in sales, while supporting 1.2 million jobs, according to reports.

Read the full at Mount Desert Islander

NOAA Calls Out Seven Nations for IUU Fishing

September 5, 2023 — Last week, NOAA Fisheries (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) released its regular report on international fisheries management, citing several nations for IUU fishing and bycatch of protected living marine resources. For the first time, the report also included forced labor and shark catch in its IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishing identifications.

The biennial report is part of the NOAA’s statutory requirement to the U.S Congress under the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act. Countries negatively certified for IUU fishing under the report could be denied U.S port privileges. The report also helps the U.S government to collaborate with identified countries in dealing with their problematic fisheries issues.

In this year’s report, seven nations were identified for IUU fishing and two nations for shark catch without having a regulatory program comparable to that of the U.S.

Read the full article at the full The Maritime Executive

Biden-Harris Administration makes $45 million available for coastal habitat restoration and resilience for tribes and underserved communities through Investing in America agenda

September 2, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries: 

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced the availability of up to $45 million in funding for projects that will advance coastal habitat restoration and climate resilience priorities of tribes and underserved communities. This funding is available as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, through the Inflation Reduction Act — the largest climate investment in history — and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

NOAA seeks to support opportunities for tribes and underserved communities to meaningfully engage in coastal habitat restoration activities, such as removing outdated dams and restoring coastal wetlands, which can help improve communities’ ability to recover from and adapt to the impacts of extreme weather and the climate crisis. Of the $45 million in funding available, $20 million is specifically available to U.S. federally recognized tribes. The remaining $25 million will be available to all eligible applicants to support opportunities for tribes and underserved communities. 

“Across the country, tribes and underserved communities rely on our coastal habitats and ecosystems for commerce and culture. But too often, they don’t have access to the resources, capacity, and support they need to protect and restore our coasts and adapt to climate change,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, this program will support community-driven habitat restoration efforts and ensure that the benefits of these efforts flow back to these communities — helping to protect their ways of life and making their communities more climate resilient.”

Projects selected through this opportunity will span several types of activities, including capacity building, actionable science support, and restoration: 

  • Capacity building includes activities such as participation in municipal or regional-scale resilience planning, project planning and feasibility studies, stakeholder engagement or developing proposals for future funding.
  • Actionable science support includes activities such as the collection or analysis of climate, habitat or other community or conservation-related data that informs planning, decision-making or future restoration.
  • Restoration includes activities such as demonstration projects, engineering and design, permitting and on-the-ground habitat restoration work.

“NOAA is committed to the goals of advancing equity and supporting tribes and underserved communities through our work,” said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “Through this funding, we’ll work to ensure that the needs and priorities of these communities are at the center of locally-based habitat restoration and coastal resilience efforts.”

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act provide a historic opportunity for NOAA to continue making an impact for fisheries, protected resources and coastal communities. To date, NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation has awarded more than $480 million for 109 projects across the country through this funding. The Office of Habitat Conservation has a long history of conducting habitat restoration efforts with large-scale competitive funding opportunities and expert technical assistance through its Community-based Restoration Program. 

Applications are due by December 19, 2023. For more information about this opportunity, visit the Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Tribes and Underserved Communities webpage. 

This funding opportunity is aligned with actions outlined in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Ocean Climate Action Plan and the America the Beautiful initiative. It also advances President Biden’s Justice40 initiative, which aims to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, energy and other covered investments to disadvantaged communities marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

Please visit the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act webpages to learn about current and future funding opportunities. 

HAWAII: Hawai‘i Marine Animal Response Earns 2023 Partner in the Spotlight Award

August 31, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

In 2023, we recognized Hawai‘i Marine Animal Response as a Partner in the Spotlight for expanding and enhancing recovery of Hawaiian monk seals. These seals are one of our most imperiled marine species.

Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response works with Hawaiian monk seals and other marine protected species on the islands of O‘ahu and Moloka‘i. Since partnering with NOAA in 2016, their more than 80 volunteers, interns, and staff have spent countless hours conducting field responses for seals on shore and at sea. They have:

  • Responded to stranded seals and newborn pups
  • Monitored injured and compromised individuals
  • Collected important health and stranding response data
  • Developed unique projects to educate public community members

“We feel honored to be able to take an active role in the recovery of the Hawaiian monk seal population and to be a key NOAA partner in this endeavor,” expressed HMAR founder and president Jon Gelman.

Outreach and education are key to HMAR’s mission. Their efforts to educate the public in the field is complemented by their work in schools and at local events around the islands. Educational programs in schools include the naming of monk seal pups using protocols developed by Hawaiian educators. This creates a strong sense of kuleana (responsibility) and stewardship of monk seals for students and teachers.

These monitoring and outreach efforts have been especially valuable when seals are born in highly populated areas. In 2017, we all got a big surprise when RH58 (Rocky) gave birth to RJ58 (Kaimana), the first pup ever born in busy Waikīkī. This was the beginning of adaptive management for Waikīkī pupping. Four Waikīkī pups have been born since then, most recently in 2023. HMAR volunteers and staff continue to be the boots on the ground to work alongside NOAA and other entities, creating a safe environment in this high-traffic beach area.

“Our team works incredibly hard 12 hours a day, 7 days a week,” Gelman said. “And it’s worth every ounce of effort we put in because we’re all so committed to the recovery of this species. Hawaiian monk seals are special biologically and culturally, and it’s a happy day any time we’re able to help even one seal.”

 

NOAA identifies, certifies nations and entities to improve international fisheries management

August 31, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA released its 2023 Report to Congress on Improving International Fisheries Management. The report identifies seven nations and entities engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, including two with issues related to forced labor, and two nations that target or incidentally catch sharks without regulations comparable to those of the United States. The United States will work with the identified parties to address IUU fishing and forced labor activities and support effective management of protected species and shark catch.

IUU fishing is a serious global problem that threatens ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries that are critical to global food and economic security — putting law-abiding fishermen and seafood producers in the United States and abroad at a disadvantage. There are also growing concerns regarding the exploitation of many shark stocks in international fisheries. 

Effective management of shark catch — both targeted and incidental — is critical for shark conservation. Nations and entities that do not have regulatory programs to effectively manage shark catch or to reduce or mitigate bycatch threaten the sustainability of shared ecosystems and living marine resources. 

“IUU fishing and other unsustainable fishing practices undermine U.S. and global efforts to sustainably manage fisheries and conserve marine resources,” said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “Combating these practices is a top priority of the United States, and we’ll work with each identified nation and entity to remedy these activities and strengthen their fisheries management and enforcement practices.”

This is the first time, as part of this report, that NOAA Fisheries identified nations for shark catch. It’s also the first time the agency considered forced labor in the seafood sector when making IUU fishing identifications. Key elements of the report include the following: 

  • Angola, Grenada, Mexico, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, The Gambia and Vanuatu were identified for alleged IUU fishing in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
  • The IUU fishing identifications for the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan include information related to the production of seafood-related goods through forced labor.  
  • The People’s Republic of China and Vanuatu were identified for shark catch without a comparable regulatory program to that of the United States.

The Report also includes certification determinations for the 31 nations and entities identified in the 2021 Report, certifying if they took actions to remedy their IUU fishing activities and/or bycatch of protected living marine resources.

  • Costa Rica, Guyana, Senegal and Taiwan received positive certification determinations for taking actions to remedy the IUU fishing activities for which they were identified in 2021.
  • Mexico, the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation received negative certifications for failing to take actions to remedy their reported IUU fishing activities.
  • Of the 29 nations and entities identified in 2021 for protected living marine resource bycatch, 14 received positive certifications for taking corrective actions: Croatia, Egypt, the European Union, Grenada, Guyana, Japan, Mauritania, Morocco, the People’s Republic of China, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa and Taiwan.
  • 14 nations received negative certifications for not having a regulatory program comparable to that of the United States to reduce bycatch of sea turtles in pelagic longline fisheries: Algeria, Barbados, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Namibia, Senegal, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia and Turkey. Additionally, Mexico received a negative certification for its lack of a comparable regulatory program to reduce or minimize bycatch of endangered North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles.  

Negatively certifying a nation or entity may result in certain measures, such as denial of that nation’s or entity’s fishing vessels’ U.S. port privileges and entry into navigable waters of the United States, and potential prohibition of imports of certain fish or fish products from that nation or entity into the United States.

“NOAA Fisheries is committed to working with nations and entities to address these activities by encouraging implementation of effective fisheries management and enforcement practices globally,” said Alexa Cole, director of NOAA Fisheries Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce. “These collaborative efforts help to ensure that the fish and fish products we import are sustainably and legally caught.” 

The report illustrates how NOAA works to improve international fisheries management by: 

Read the 2023 Report to Congress on Improving International Fisheries Management.

Our 2023 College-Supported Students Share Insights

August 30, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Since 2006, NOAA has partnered with colleges to provide undergraduate students college-funded summer internship opportunities. Students enrolled in one of the partner colleges participate and apply through that college. NOAA also collaborates with other universities to offer internship opportunities to help them fulfill their degree requirements.

This year, our science center hosted four students from three states and four different colleges and universities. Projects focused on endangered species, coastal fish distribution, aquaculture gear as fish habitat, and oral histories.

In each profile, students outline their project, explain why it’s important, and—always the most compelling part—share insights they’ve gained into marine science as a career during their time with us.

 

NOAA Fisheries Announces Large-scale Study on its Recreational Fishing Effort Survey

August 30, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries has conducted a pilot study on our recreational Fishing Effort Survey. The study is part of our commitment to continuous improvement and to producing quality recreational fishing data. These preliminary results suggest that the order of the questions in the survey may lead to overestimation of fishing effort, though a more robust study is necessary to confirm findings. It will be implemented in 2024.

The survey is a household mail survey administered from Maine to Mississippi and in Hawaii. It collects recreational fishing trip information for boat and shore fishing from private anglers. It’s part of a group of NOAA Fisheries’ surveys used to estimate total recreational catch. This information provides one piece of critical data that helps inform stock assessments and fisheries management decisions.

“We listened to the concerns of our recreational fishing community, and we took action to investigate their concerns further as part of our ongoing research process,” said Dr. Evan Howell, director of NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Science and Technology.

Evaluating and Improving the Current Survey

The Fishing Effort Survey was designed through an extensive research and peer-review process. The sequence of questions is based on a well-researched and standard survey practice to ask easier questions prior to more challenging questions. However, findings from our 6-month pilot study suggest this may not always be optimal. Changing the order of questions in the pilot study led to fewer observed reporting errors and illogical responses uncovered during our standard data review process. The resulting effort estimates were lower for shore and private boat fishing than estimates produced from the current design. However, results varied by type of fishing and state.

“The findings from this limited pilot study should not be taken as a final answer, and the results cannot be generally applied to all fisheries and fishing areas,” said Howell. “We have to do our due diligence in conducting a full-scale study prior to assessing the need for design changes or making large-scale changes to assessments or management measures.”

The planned follow-up study will be conducted over a longer duration with a larger sample size. This will help us gain a clearer understanding of the differences in effort estimates between the current design and a revised design that changes both the question order and increases the frequency of sampling. The revised design will be administered throughout all of 2024 alongside the current survey to compare the results.

“The switch to monthly sampling will have positive impacts to recreational fishing science and management, and is a very important piece to this study,” said Howell. “Monthly survey administration will produce more frequent effort and catch estimates, which is a priority of our regional partners. A shorter respondent recall period may also minimize reporting error in the survey.”

Supporting Informed Fisheries Management

Our staff and our partners at regional fishery management councils, marine fisheries commissions, and states use a combination of fisheries data to make informed fisheries management decisions.

“We won’t have all the answers regarding potential impacts to catch and effort estimates or stock assessments until we’ve completed the follow-up study,” said Howell. “We recognize that changes to a survey method can cause disruption to stock assessments and fisheries management decisions, and are committed to working openly and transparently with our partners throughout this process.”

If the agency shifts to a revised design—based on the findings of the follow-up study—the magnitude of historical estimates may change, but critical catch and effort trend information are expected to remain similar. It’s important to note that stock status determinations are relatively consistent when trend information hasn’t changed.

We will work closely with our partners to make informed decisions on how to proceed in light of the pilot study findings. Until we have the full-scale study results in hand, data from the Fishing Effort Survey remains the best—and sometimes the only—available science for tracking relative year-to-year and long-term effort trends.

Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council members recently initiated a collaborative approach for determining which stock assessments and fisheries management actions may be impacted by these study findings and for identifying potential solutions in the short, medium, and long term.

“We are pleased with the fisheries management councils’ actions to determine which decisions may be impacted, and we fully commit to working with them, our marine fisheries commissions, and our other partners moving forward,” said Dr. John Walter, NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Fisheries Science Center, deputy director for Science and Council Services. “We are also pleased to work with our state partners to find effective solutions.”

Adapting to Survey Improvements

It is a standard practice for government agencies that produce statistics to evaluate their current survey methods and develop new or improved methods. As with all of the surveys we administer, we have extensively tested the Fishing Effort Survey for various other common survey biases that can impact data accuracy. These include non-response and adequate coverage of the recreational fishing population.

The evolution of surveys through pilot studies is not uncommon. We are prepared to review and analyze the results of the 2024 follow-up study in our continuous effort to improve recreational data collection.

“We have initiated important discussions with our partners on how to become more adaptive in our fisheries assessment and management processes in light of continuous survey improvements and data uncertainty,” said Howell. “We will continue working collaboratively with our partners on programmatic improvements to the state-regional-federal partnership for recreational data collection, including leveraging recent Inflation Reduction Act investments.”

NOAA Fisheries law enforcement plans on subscribing to commercial database

August 29, 2023 — NOAA Fisheries plans on subscribing to an existing commercial database to support its law enforcement division, giving the agency access to more public and propriety information as it conducts its investigations.

In July, SeafoodSource reported that NOAA Fisheries was considering creating or purchasing a new national database that would enable law enforcement officers to search vehicle registrations, phone records, social media accounts, and more. According to a June 2023 notice, NOAA wanted the centralized repository to be capable of creating custom reports showing “connections between people, businesses, assets, and locations.” The agency also wants access to license plate recognition technology and automatic alerts when data on subjects of interest is updated.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NORTH CAROLINA: 2023 commercial red snapper season closed

August 28, 2023 — The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries and NOAA Fisheries announced that the commercial harvest of red snapper in state and federal waters of the South Atlantic was closed on August 18, 2023. All sales and purchases of red snapper will be prohibited during the commercial closure.

The North Carolina Proclamation FF23-053 states that “it is unlawful to possess red snapper taken from waters under the jurisdiction of North Carolina or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Unless specified otherwise, the fishery will re-open July 8, 2024.”

Read the full article at the National Fisherman