Saving Seafood

Sport angling community concerned by potential data errors in NOAA fishing survey

September 23, 2023 — The sportfishing community is calling on NOAA for an overhaul of the methods researchers use to estimate fish stock after an internal study from the association found that a coastal survey could be overestimating the amount of recreational fishing going taking place.

NOAA — the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — published a study in August called “Evaluating Measurement Error in the MRIP Fishing Effort Survey,” which found a 30-40 percent discrepancy between the data from the administration’s current Fishing Effort Survey (FES) and a differently formatted test survey that was issued as part of the study.

Researchers concluded that the discrepancy is likely an overestimate of coastal fishing activity.

The study was one of a handful that researched possible biases in the continual Fishing Effort Survey, which is run by the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), a state, regional and federal partnership that is part of NOAA. MRIP is tasked with compiling recreational catch data, which is then used to direct management strategies for fish populations.

Read the full article at OC Today

 

The 2023 Hawaiʻi Bottomfish Survey Harnesses Community Power for Sustainable Fisheries

September 23, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries: 

Hawai‘i bottomfish are a significant cultural and commercial resource, and represent the profound connection between the local community and their surrounding waters. Ensuring their sustainability is important to continuing traditions, practices, and livelihoods. The annual Bottomfish Fishery-Independent Survey in Hawai‘i kicked off August 1 and runs through November 30, 2023. It aims to provide managers with the best available information to set commercial catch limits and help ensure a sustainable Deep 7 fishery. The success of the survey hinges on collaborative efforts between the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center and local fishers working together to gather this important data.

The Deep 7

The Deep 7 are the most sought-after and important group of deep-water bottomfish in Hawai‘i. The group is made up of six snappers and one grouper that typically live at depths of 75 to 400 meters. The Hawai‘i Deep 7 consists of:

  • Ehu (squirrelfish snapper)
  • Gindai (Brigham’s snapper)
  • Hapuʻupuʻu (Seale’s grouper, Hawaiian grouper)
  • Kalekale (Von Siebold’s snapper)
  • Lehi (silverjaw snapper
  • Onaga (longtail snapper)
  • ‘Ōpakapaka (pink snapper)

These species prefer deep waters and the nooks and crannies of hard seafloor habitats. Bottomfishing is a unique tradition in Hawaiʻi that requires a tremendous amount of knowledge and skill. Fishers and chefs alike prize the ‘ōpakapaka and onaga for their premium texture and mild flavor. Gindai rarely make it to market; this pink and yellow-striped snapper instead is typically found at the kitchen table being enjoyed by family and friends.

NOAA Fisheries Releases Updated National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy

September 21, 2023 —  The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries has released an updated National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy and multi-year national and regional implementation plans. They identify actionable commitments to advance our policy goals.

Saltwater recreational and non-commercial fishing is an integral part of American coastal life. It is both a cultural cornerstone and an important economic driver in the United States. With millions of saltwater anglers—from Maine to Guam, Alaska, and the Caribbean—the American saltwater recreational fishing community is as diverse and widespread as the species it pursues. Recreational fishing supports 594,000 jobs, generates $98 billion annually in sales impacts, and contributes $54.9 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product. Sustainable saltwater fisheries can only be achieved with trust and collaboration between scientists, managers and the recreational fishing community.

“The recreational fishing community is a valued constituency and critical stewardship partner for NOAA Fisheries and the nation,” said Janet Coit, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “We are excited to release the updated National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Policy and implementation plans that reflect and reinforce our commitment to anglers and sustainable recreational fisheries. We look forward to achieving a vibrant, sustainable future for recreational fishing through partnership.”

Updates to the Recreational Fisheries Policy

The updated policy will help guide NOAA Fisheries’ approach to recreational fisheries by articulating our goals and principles. The original policy was released in 2015 and required an update to remain relevant in our changing oceans.

Key additions to the goals and principles include:

  • Climate change
  • Equity and environmental justice
  • Greater focus on expanding offshore industries (such as aquaculture and wind energy)

Incorporating Public Input

Following the 2022 National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Summit, we received substantial public input for how to update the policy from the recreational community and our management partners. We developed the implementation plans that accompany the policy to address the particular needs of the recreational fisheries we serve. These initial implementation plans contain almost 150 agency commitments and are intended to be periodically updated as needs and priorities change. We will monitor their implementation to ensure follow through and accountability.

Policy and Implementation Plans

Policy

Implementation Plans

Collaborative Rockfish Survey Yields Promising Results

September 21, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

This is the third year of a successful pilot project in the Gulf of Alaska. NOAA Fisheries scientists, academic scientists at Alaska Pacific University’s FAST lab, and rockfish fishermen are working together to provide survey data in formerly inaccessible rocky areas of the Gulf. Called the Science/Industry Rockfish Research Collaboration in Alaska (SIRRCA), the team collected a variety of data on several species of rockfish. There is little data available for some of these species.

In the Gulf of Alaska, there are more than 30 species of rockfish. The focus of this study is on Pacific ocean perch, dusky rockfish, and northern rockfish.

Based on previous NOAA Fisheries annual surveys, Pacific ocean perch numbers have increased in recent years. Dusky and northern rockfish numbers have been low. However, the habitats of all three of these species include rough, rocky areas, which are inaccessible to the NOAA Fisheries bottom trawl survey gear. This makes it difficult to get complete data on these populations. These hard-to-reach areas make up about 18 percent of the Gulf of Alaska seafloor. By working with fishermen, the science team was also able to collect needed biological information on fish condition (i.e., length, weight) for stock assessments.

Limited Data can Limit Fishing Opportunities

For dusky and northern rockfish, data from the bottom trawl survey is limited. This leads to greater uncertainty in the assessment models. When models are less precise, management measures require a much more conservative approach to prevent overfishing the fish stocks. If these stocks are healthy, this precautionary management may limit sustainable fishing opportunities.

“Sampling these rocky areas is necessary to improve our understanding of rockfish distribution and abundance and provide more accurate stock assessments so resource managers can set sustainable fishing quotas,” said Dr. Madison Hall, fisheries biologist, Alaska Fisheries Science Center who is leading the effort. “Our fishing industry partners involved in SIRRCA are fully invested in this effort to advance sustainable management for these long-lived, late maturing rockfish species. They recognize that collecting SIRRCA data and improving assessment models may ultimately increase or decrease fishing opportunities (via higher or lower fishing quotas) depending on model outcome. Better models means better management, and good management is important for sustaining both the fishery and the fish populations in the long-run. We are all on the same page about that.”

Restoring Estuary Habitat After Oil Spills and Other Disasters

September 20, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

National Estuaries Week takes place each September—this year, from September 16 to 23. It’s a chance to highlight the importance of some of the most productive ecosystems in the world. Estuaries provide habitat for wildlife and fish, create protective breeding grounds, and allow for migratory resting spots. Estuaries also provide ecosystem services such as natural filtration of pollution and flood protection.

NOAA’s Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program works to protect, restore, and maintain habitat after oil spills and toxic waste releases. We conduct extensive restoration work among estuarine habitat. Read on to learn about recent projects that include estuary restoration.

Calcasieu Estuary (Louisiana)

Restoration activities are currently underway to restore nearly 400 acres of Long Point Marsh. The marsh restoration project consists of 392 acres of marsh and 8 acres of tidal creeks, as well as an 18-acre oyster reef project in the Calcasieu Lake.

A 2006 oil spill in Lake Charles, Louisiana—a city rich in Creole culture—contaminated more than 150 miles of shoreline including beaches, residential and industrial waterfront, and marsh. Twenty-one million gallons of oil waste from storage tanks at the Citgo Refinery wastewater treatment plant spilled into the Calcasieu Estuary.

Additional estuarine restoration projects stemming from a different case settlement are in the restoration planning phase in Bayou d’Inde. Contaminants have polluted the bayou, a major tributary of the Calcasieu River, since the 1920s.

Federal Report Confirms Offshore Wind Effect on Whales Produces ‘Temporary Behavioral Changes’

September 20, 2023 — With offshore wind projects being blamed for the increase in deaths in whale species in New Jersey and along the East Coast in 2023, the NOAA has issued a final determination on the effects of sonar mapping and wind farms on marine wildlife.

This week, the federal agency issued a ruling on a Virginia offshore wind project. The opinion says effects the wind farm projects has on whales is only ‘temporary behavioral changes’, adding that the uptick in whale deaths is unrelated to projects being touted by the Biden administration.

Read the full article at Shore News Network

Lt. Governor wraps up the two-day NOAA PRIA Workshop

September 19, 2023 — At the close of the event Lt Governor Talauega E. V. Ale emphasized the importance of the potential effects of the sanctuary designation for American Samoa, noting that it goes beyond economics and extends to the preservation of the Samoan people as a fishing community.

At the close of the event Lt Governor Talauega E. V. Ale emphasized the importance of the potential effects of the sanctuary designation for American Samoa, noting that it goes beyond economics and extends to the preservation of the Samoan people as a fishing community.

“The importance of the tuna industry in American Samoa and our local cannery cannot be overstated,” Lt. Gov Talauega said. “It is the pillar of our economy, it is the employer of thousands, and it is what feeds our families. Any action that threatens the survival of the fishing industry threatens the survival of our fragile economy,” he is quoted saying in a press release issued by the Governor’s Office.

He also expressed appreciation for the conservation efforts being made in the Pacific and highlighted the value of the natural marine resources of the territory. “I have confidence in finding a solution that would ensure the preservation of oceans without crippling the fishing industry, the economy, and the unique culture of American Samoa.”

Read the full article at Samoa News

$82M will help protect whales from vessel strikes after over 60 strandings on Atlantic Coast

September 19, 2023 — The tragic and recurring trend of large whales washing up on the Atlantic Coast has not stopped.

Nor have investigations to determine why they keep happening — although ship strikes have been to blame in many cases.

In the meantime, officials hope new federal money will help to surveil and protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale and benefit other ocean species in the process.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fisheries division, or NOAA Fisheries, on Monday said $82 million from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act will help “to conserve and recover” endangered North Atlantic right whales.

Read the full article at NJ.com

NOAA announces plan for IRA funding for North Atlantic right whales

September 19, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA announced its plans for the historic $82 million to conserve and recover endangered North Atlantic right whales.

NOAA Fisheries received this funding under the Inflation Reduction Act, allowing the agency to prioritize several critical areas focused on tackling the impacts of climate change on marine resources, including endangered North Atlantic right whales.

North Atlantic right whales are approaching extinction with a population of fewer than 350, including less than 70 reproductively active females remaining.

With the IRA funding, NOAA states “that we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address the North Atlantic right whale crisis with new technologies and approaches.” Specifically, they will invest the IRA funds into four significant activities during the next three fiscal years.

Monitoring and Modeling: $35.8 million will be invested in monitoring and modeling efforts.

  • A large portion of this funding, $17.2 million, will go toward furthering passive acoustic monitoring along the U.S. East Coast.
  • $3.5 million will go toward a satellite tagging monitoring program, in addition to $5.6 million for high-resolution satellite artificial intelligence.
  • $5.2 million will be used for modeling advancements.

Vessel Strike Risk Reduction: $20.1 million will be invested toward vessel strike risk reduction efforts.

On-Demand Fishing Gear: $17.9 million will be invested to support furthering on-demand fishing gear technology.

  • Much of the funds allocated for on-demand fishing will be used for staff support. We also expect to spend $7.4 million on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission vessel reimbursement for over 50 vessels and $2 million on training for use of on-demand systems.

Enforcement Efforts: $5 million will be invested in enforcement efforts.

  • Funding invested in enforcement efforts will support new equipment, such as Doppler units, radar plotting aids, and marine monitor shore-based units, in addition to contracts for operations.

For more information and updates, visit the NOAA Fisheries website.

NOAA Fisheries Awarded $10.28 Million to Pacific Islands Region Projects

September 19, 2023 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries: 

In fiscal year 2023, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office awarded approximately $10.28 million to 32 projects via grants and cooperative agreements. The projects support our efforts to achieve healthy marine ecosystems. They focus on:

  • Stability for fisheries resources
  • Recovery of threatened and endangered species
  • Enhanced opportunities for commercial, recreational, and cultural activities in the marine environment

Awardees include 25 U.S. and international agencies whose projects span American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawai‘i, and other U.S. Pacific Islands.

Examples of project activities include:

  • Conducting community outreach to engage underserved communities
  • Restoring loko iʻa (Hawaiian fishponds) and native wetlands
  • Repairing and improving boat ramps for local fishermen
  • Collecting and assessing fishery data to support sustainable fishery management
  • Protecting and monitoring leatherback and hawksbill turtle nesting beaches

We will continue to work with communities to develop innovative projects that help us steward living marine life through science-based conservation and management.

View the 2023 Federal Programs Office Annual Report to learn about our funding programs and this year’s projects. We are excited to see what these awards will accomplish!