Saving Seafood

Groups File Petition for Additional Speed Limits Along Atlantic Coast to Protect Right Whales

August 13, 2020 — Earlier this month a number of conservation groups came together to file a petition seeking additional speed limits along the Atlantic Coast to protect North Atlantic right whales. The letter, submitted to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Chris Oliver on August 6, begs the National Marine Fisheries Service to take action to prevent and mitigate the continuing threat of vessel strikes.

The call for action comes shortly after the death of a calf this past June. As SeafoodNews reported, the deceased North Atlantic right whale was spotted off the coast of Elberon, New Jersey, on June 25. The whale was ultimately identified as a male calf of whale #3560. A necropsy conducted by NOAA revealed evidence of at least a pair of vessel collisions.

Read the full story at Seafood News

Make ship speed limits mandatory to protect right whales, advocates say

August 11, 2020 — Vessel speed limits must be mandatory offshore when endangered northern right whales are present, because ship strikes are a leading cause of deaths in the whale population now down to only around 400 animals, ocean conservation groups say in an appeal to the U.S. government.

“The unprecedented number of recent deaths and serious injuries warrants the agency acting quickly to ensure that this endangered species receives the protections necessary to reduce the risk of vessel strikes and ensure its continued existence throughout its range,” the groups state in a petition submitted Aug 6 to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Chris Oliver, administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

“The time has come for NMFS to follow through on the promises it made in 2008 to expand the ship speed rule based on the best available scientific data to address the urgent crisis the right whale faces,” according to the groups Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund.

“While the species faces a plethora of threats, collisions with marine vessels remains one of the two primary threats inhibiting the species’ recovery and threatening its continued existence,” according to the groups. “Since 2017, just over half of the known or suspected causes of mortality for the species have been attributed to vessel strikes, closely followed by incidental entanglements in fishing gear.”

Read the full story at National Fisherman

Overfishing In U.S. Reaches All-Time Low, NOAA Says

July 29, 2020 — While overfishing continues to remain a serious problem globally, its rate in the U.S. has reached an all-time low, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which said the outlooks for fish populations “continue to be strong, successful and achieving long-term sustainability goals.”

KEY FACTS

  • 7% of fish stocks, populations of fish in specific areas, with a known status, were subject to overfishing in 2019, according to NOAA—the lowest rate ever reported
  • Overfishing occurs when the harvest rate for a fish stock is too high.
  • The scientific knowledge of fishing impacts has continued to improve, according to NOAA, which appears to be a major reason behind the American progress in rebuilding fisheries over the years.
  • The overall outlook for fish stocks in the U.S. is strong, according to NOAA, though the fishing industry in the U.S. and around the world has taken a hit from the coronavirus pandemic.
  • In the CARES Act, the coronavirus stimulus package signed into law in March, $300 million was set aside specifically to help the fishing community.

CRITICAL QUOTE

“It’s important we acknowledge the achievements in sustainable fisheries made in recent years by fishermen, industries, scientists, managers and conservationists across our nation. These updates are a testament to their outstanding work,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.

Read the full story at Forbes

NOAA reports indicate U.S. fisheries sustainable, robust economically

July 28, 2020 — NOAA Fisheries on 28 July released an annual report, and gave a preview of a report slated for release later this year, that both indicate U.S. fisheries are robust and in many cases improving  – both in terms of sustainability and revenue.

NOAA Fisheries has released the 2019 Status of U.S. Fisheries Report, an annual publication that outlines the status of the country’s 461 managed stocks or “stock complexes” in the U.S., to showcase which stocks are overfishing, overfished, or have been rebuilt.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Recent U.S. fishing years marked by economic gains, milestones in sustainability

July 28, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA:

Two announcements today from NOAA Fisheries offer a ‘snapshot in time’ of the population status of U.S. federal fisheries in 2019, and the economic performance of commercial fishing, recreational fishing, and related businesses in 2017. Scientists find that the vast majority of U.S. fish stocks continue to be strong, successful and achieving long-term sustainability goals. Data from these reports help governments, communities, fishery managers, and many others assess the state of the U.S. fisheries management system and plan ahead for future years.

“It’s important we acknowledge the achievements in sustainable fisheries made in recent years by fishermen, industries, scientists, managers, and conservationists across our Nation. These updates are a testament to their outstanding work,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “To that end, President Trump has announced the availability of $300 million to support U.S. fishing communities that have been particularly hard-hit by COVID-19. The Department of Commerce stands with U.S. fishermen and coastal industries as we work to increase America’s competitiveness in the seafood industry and protect our seafood supply chain.”

The 2019 Status of U.S. Fisheries Report outlines the status of 461 managed stocks or stock complexes in the U.S. to determine which stocks are subject to overfishing, are overfished, or are rebuilt to sustainable levels.

A stock is on the overfishing list when the harvest rate of that species is too high, and for 2019, scientists find that list reached a record low. Of 321 stocks for which a determination can be made, 299 (93%) are not subject to overfishing. Conversely, a stock is on the overfished list when the population size of a stock is too low. That list rose slightly in 2019; one stock was removed from the overfished list in 2019 (Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder), but four were added. Stocks added to the list this year include ones that continue to experience poor reproduction despite closed fisheries (Pacific sardine/northern population), stocks that we now have improved scientific understanding of fishing impacts (Atlantic Coast bluefish), and stocks for which there are ongoing efforts to accurately estimate stock size (Gulf of Maine white hake and George’s Bank winter flounder).

Additionally, two once-overfished species have been rebuilt. Those stocks include American plaice, a right-eyed species of flounder native to the Gulf of Maine, and Southern California cowcod, an orangish-colored rockfish now the ninth recovered West Coast groundfish species. This brings the number of rebuilt stocks to 47 since the year 2000. Once stocks are rebuilt, expanded market opportunities often follow, as catch limits are increased.

Also available is key economic data from the 2017 Fisheries Economics of the U.S. Report, which provides an update on the economic performance of U.S. fisheries. The numbers illustrate fishing as a positive economic driver for our nation, with combined commercial and recreational fishing generating $244 billion in annual sales (up 11%), contributing $111 billion to the gross domestic product (up 8%), and supporting 1.74 million jobs (up 3.3%). The full report will be made available later this year.

View the 2019 Status of U.S. Fisheries Report and 2017 Fisheries Economics of the U.S. key economic data.

NOAA Seeks Input on Recommendations for a Comprehensive Interagency Seafood Trade Strategy

July 10, 2020 — The following was published in the Federal Register:

On May 7, 2020, the White House issued an Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth. As part of this effort, the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) are co-chairing the Interagency Seafood Trade Task Force (Seafood Trade Task Force), which will develop recommendations to provide to USTR for the development of a comprehensive interagency seafood trade strategy. On behalf of the Seafood Trade Task Force co-chairs, NOAA requests written input from interested parties on how best to achieve the objectives of the Seafood Trade Task Force as described in the Executive Order, including improving access to foreign markets for U.S. seafood exports through trade policy and negotiations; resolving technical barriers to U.S. seafood exports; and otherwise supporting fair market access for U.S. seafood products. In addition, interested parties are requested to respond to the questions listed below in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section as appropriate. The public input provided in response to this request for information (RFI) will inform the Seafood Trade Task Force as it works with Federal agencies and other stakeholders to develop recommendations to USTR in the preparation of a comprehensive interagency seafood trade strategy.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before August 1, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Responses should be submitted via email to SeafoodTrade.Strategy@noaa.gov. Include “RFI Response: Interagency Seafood Trade Task Force” in the subject line of the message.

Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. Respondents need not comment on all listed objectives. For all submissions, clearly indicate which objective is being addressed. Email attachments will be accepted in plain text, Microsoft Word, or Adobe PDF formats only. Each individual or institution is requested to submit only one response. The Department of Commerce may post responses to this RFI, without change, on a Federal website. NOAA, therefore, requests that no business proprietary information, copyrighted information, or personally identifiable information be submitted in response to this RFI. Please note that the U.S. Government will not pay for response preparation, or for the use of any information contained in the response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andrew Lawler, Andrew.Lawler@noaa.gov, 202-689-4590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On May 7, 2020, the President signed a new Executive Order promoting American seafood competitiveness and economic growth. Specifically, the Executive Order calls for the expansion of sustainable U.S. seafood production through: More efficient and predictable aquaculture permitting; cutting-edge research and development; regulatory reform to maximize commercial fishing; and enforcement of common-sense restrictions on seafood imports that do not meet American standards.

As outlined in Section 11 of the Executive Order, the Secretary of Commerce is establishing a Seafood Trade Task Force to be co-chaired by the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative (Co-Chairs), or their designees. In addition to the Co-Chairs, the Seafood Trade Task Force will include the following members, or their designees: The Secretary of State; the Secretary of the Interior; the Secretary of Agriculture; the Secretary of Homeland Security; the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy; the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy; the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers; the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade; the Commissioner of Food and Drugs; the Administrator of NOAA; and the heads of such other agencies and offices as the Co-Chairs may designate.

The Seafood Trade Task Force will provide recommendations to USTR in the preparation of a comprehensive interagency seafood trade strategy by identifying opportunities to improve access to foreign markets for U.S. seafood products through trade policy and negotiations, resolve technical barriers to U.S. seafood exports, and otherwise support fair market access for U.S. seafood products. USTR will then submit a comprehensive interagency seafood trade strategy to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, within 90 days of the receiving the recommendations from the Seafood Trade Task Force.

Read the full notice here

Department of Commerce Announces 2020 Appointments to the Regional Fishery Management Councils

July 2, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced the appointment of 22 members to the regional fishery management councils that partner with NOAA Fisheries to manage marine fishery resources.

Established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, councils are responsible for developing region-specific fishery management plans that safeguard and enhance the nation’s fisheries resources. Council members represent diverse groups, including commercial and recreational fishing industries, environmental organizations, and academia. They are vital to fulfilling the act’s requirements to end overfishing, rebuild fish stocks, and manage them sustainably.

NOAA Fisheries works closely with the councils through the process of developing fishery management plans. We also review, approve, and implement the plans.

Each year, the Secretary of Commerce appoints approximately one-third of the total 72 appointed members to the eight regional councils. The Secretary selects members from nominations submitted by the governors of fishing states, territories and tribal governments.

Council members are appointed to both state-specific and regional seats—also known as obligatory and at-large seats, respectively.  Council members serve a three-year term and may be reappointed to serve three consecutive terms.

Read the full release here

Federal Agency Tells Employees ‘No Reference To Anything COVID Related’

June 26, 2020 — A federal fisheries management agency has barred some of its employees from making formal references to the COVID-19 pandemic without preapproval from leadership, according to an internal agency document.

The National Marine Fisheries Service, part of the Commerce Department, manages federal fish stocks in partnership with appointed regional councils. Fishing crews and seafood businesses have been asking the agency to relax regulations as the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated their operations. There have also been outbreaks among industry workers.

The National Marine Fisheries Service’s guidance document, dated June 22, says it applies to the agency’s formal rules and management announcements.

The four-page memo says the agency’s “preferred approach” is making “no reference to anything COVID related,” and it offers preapproved replacement phrases such as “in these extraordinary times.”

Read the full story at NPR

Maine’s governor objects to petition requesting vertical-line prohibition

June 26, 2020 — The U.S. state of Maine’s governor, Janet Mills, has written a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross objecting to a recent petition that aims to prohibit the use of vertical lines in the American lobster and Jonah crab fisheries in four areas off the New England coast.

The petition was submitted by The Pew Charitable Trusts earlier this month, with the intention of protecting the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale. Right whales are one of the most endangered mammal species in the world, and entanglement with vertical lines have led to new regulation that the Maine Lobstermen’s Association has objected to.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Pew petitions for vertical-line fishing closures off New England “to protect right whales”

June 18, 2020 — The Pew Charitable Trusts submitted a petition for rulemarking to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on 18 June urging him to take immediate action “to protect North Atlantic right whales from entanglement in federal waters off of New England.”

In a letter to Ross, Pew proposed a series of fisheries closures it says are “designed to afford the greatest protections for right whales, while minimizing the impact on fishermen.” The organization identified four areas off of New England where fisheries employ high-risk gear – such as lobster and crab traps with thick vertical ropes – and suggested that Ross designate closures during times when right whales are likely to be present.

Read the full story at Seafood Source