WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
National – Aquaculture Research Plan Available for Public Comment through Aug. 27
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| NOAA and USDA have released the draft 'National Aquaculture Research and Development Strategic Plan' for the United States for public review and comment. This plan will provide a framework for federal agencies to develop programs for research and development that affect the production of aquatic organisms such as finfish, crustaceans, mollusks, and algae. We are soliciting public comment in regard to priorities, vision, and goals. The opportunity to provide input closes on August 27 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Read more or submit a comment. |
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National – Teacher Shows Us the Science behind Marine Protected Areas
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| This year, 25 teachers from across the country will set out to sea to work and live alongside NOAA scientists through the NOAA Teacher At Sea program—a program that bridges science with education. One of those teachers is Marsha Skoczek, a teacher at Olathe North High School in Olathe, Kansas. She sailed on NOAA Ship Pisces, which conducts surveys on a wide range of sea life and ocean conditions, including fisheries. We asked her to share some highlights of her trip with us. Read more |
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National – A New Way to Classify Marine Habitat
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NOAA is proud to announce a new standard language for characterizing habitats that has the potential to revolutionize how scientists study and manage our coasts, oceans, and Great Lakes. NOAA teamed with federal and non-federal partners to develop the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard—a type of dictionary of marine habitat terminology—for use in planning, monitoring, and managing our natural resources.
Whether we're working to protect coral reefs, researching how marine life uses its environment, or restoring coastal areas, we need to know that we, and our fellow habitat scientists, are speaking the same language. With adoption of the new classification standard, we can be assured that local, state, federal, and international entities can make apples-to-apples comparisons among data collected from different sources, locations, and tools. Read more |
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Northeast – Captain Brings Fishermen to Striped Bass and More
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| Capt. Kalil Boghdan of Hamilton, Massachusetts, started Downriver Charters 15 years ago after a career as a principal and science teacher. He brings small groups of anglers on Kingfisher, his shallow-draft outboard vessel, to fish for striped bass and bluefish in the coastal waters off the North Shore of Massachusetts. Read our recent interview with Capt. Boghdan in our latest Voices from the Waterfrontfeature. |
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Southeast - NOAA Seeks Comment on Proposed Increase in Annual Catch Limits for Golden Tilefish in the South Atlantic; Comments Due Aug. 20
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NOAA Fisheries is seeking comments on a proposed rule for South Atlantic golden tilefish. A new assessment indicates the golden tilefish stock is healthy and annual catch limits can be increased. The rule, if implemented, would set the annual catch limit at 541,295 pounds gutted weight for the commercial sector and 3,019 fish for the recreational sector.
This proposed rule would also modify the accountability measures for the golden tilefish recreational sector. The recreational sector would close when the annual catch limit is projected to be met, and recreational landings would be monitored in the year following an overage. If high landings persist, the fishing season would be shortened as necessary. More information, including Frequently Asked Questions, can be found online. Written comments on this proposed rule must be received no later than August 20, 2012. Read more or submit a comment. |
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Southeast – Midwest Drought Brings Fourth Smallest Gulf of Mexico 'Dead Zone' since 1985
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NOAA-supported scientists have found the size of this year's Gulf of Mexico oxygen-free 'dead zone' to be the fourth smallest since mapping of the annual hypoxic, or oxygen-free area began in 1985. Measuring approximately 2,889 square miles, the 2012 area is slightly larger than Delaware.
The survey also found a patchy distribution of hypoxia across the Gulf differing from any previously recorded. This is in stark contrast to last year, when flood conditions, carrying large amounts of nutrients, resulted in a dead zone measuring 6,770 square miles, an area of the state of New Jersey. The last time the dead zone was this small was in 2000 when it measured 1,696 square miles, an area slightly smaller than Delaware. Read more |
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Southeast – NOAA Research Expedition Map Fish Spawning Habitats West of Key West
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| Scientists from Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and partner agencies will depart Key West Thursday aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster to map fish spawning sites between Key West and the Dry Tortugas. Data collected on this 10-day research cruise will enhance scientific understanding of fish spawning locations, as well as fish movements in and around the sanctuary's Tortugas Ecological Reserve. Read more |
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Southeast – Casitas in Florida Keys Sanctuary Endanger Lobsters and Their Habitat
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Casita—Spanish for "little house"—sounds like a nice, cozy shelter, that when placed in the seagrass beds of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, would be the perfect home for the spiny lobster (absent the picket fence). But this artificial habitat makes easy pickings for poachers to harvest thousands of lobsters a day, and it's destroying the seagrass beds and hardbottom communities that lobsters, fish, and other marine life need to survive.
Enforcement of casitas has been a top management priority for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary for a number of years. NOAA law enforcers have removed more than 2,000 of these illegal structures. While the actual number of illegal casitas is unknown, there are reliable estimates that as many as 20,000 have been placed throughout the Sanctuary and adjacent waters. Read more |
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Alaska – NOAA Proposes Second Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Longline Catcher Processor Subsector of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Non-Pollock Groundfish Fishery; Seeks Public Comment through Aug. 29
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| NOAA Fisheries is proposing regulations to implement a second fishing capacity reduction program and an industry fee system to repay a $2.7 million loan for a single latent permit within the Longline Catcher Processor Subsector of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands non-pollock groundfish fishery. The purpose of this action is to permanently reduce the greatest amount of fishing capacity at the least cost. This should result in increased harvesting productivity for the permit holders remaining in the fishery. The loan for this program will be added to the previous program loan of $35,700,000 authorized by the FY 2005 Appropriations Act. Comments must be submitted in writing on or before August 29, 2012. Read more or submit a comment. |
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Alaska – Trawl Gear Modification—Preserving Fish Habitat in the Bering Sea
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Flatfish trawl gear isn't what it used to be—and that's a good thing. In the Bering Sea, traditional trawl gear had long sweeps, or cables running from the doors to the wings of the net, which moved across the bottom of the seafloor to herd flatfish into the center of the net. NOAA Fisheries scientists and partners like Alaska Seafood Cooperative and Bering Sea flatfish fishing industry members collaborated to modify the gear so it reduces the damage to important bottom habitat.
The team tweaked the gear by raising the sweeps off the seafloor at various spacings—2 to 4 inches—and studied the impact this had on catch rates and seafloor habitat. The results were positive; the raised sweeps successfully maintained flatfish catch rates, minimized negative effects on bottom habitats, and reduced crab mortality rates—a plus for Alaska's crab industry. The new gear reduced seafloor contact by a whopping ninety percent, further protecting floor animals that are important habitat for fish and crabs. Read more |
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Northwest – Northwest Fisheries Science Center Announces New Deputy Director
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Dr. Mark Strom, current Acting Deputy Director and Program Manager for Microbiology at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, has been named its new permanent Deputy Director. The Northwest Center is one of six regional science centers in NOAA Fisheries.
Mark is an accomplished microbiologist and has led the Microbiology research activities at Center since 1995, first as team lead and then as Program Manager starting in 2006. Under his leadership, the program conducts a mix of basic and applied research on bacterial pathogens of humans and fish, with a focus on mechanisms of virulence, genomics, microbial ecology, and development of needed diagnostic tools. His recent research focuses on applying genetic and genomic approaches to differentiate disease-causing and non-disease-causing strains of bacteria, with the goal of combining this with environmental information to build next generation early warning, forecasting, and risk assessment tools. Dr. Strom has a demonstrated history of scientific acumen and operational proficiency that will serve the Center well into the future. We welcome him in his new role at the Center. Read more |
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Northwest – Fish Jumping to Get Back to White Salmon River
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| For the first time in a century, migrating fish have been spotted in the upper White Salmon River, Washington. Scientists with Yakama Nation Fisheries and the U.S. Geological Survey spotted jumping fish—believed to be adult steelhead—at two locations well upstream of Condit Dam, which was partially breached last October. That means fish are making their way from the Columbia River, past the mouth of the White Salmon, through the opening at the bottom of Condit Dam, and into 33 miles of previously unavailable habitat. Read more |
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Northwest – Fish Already Returning to Elwha River after Dam Removal
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| In September 2011, the largest dam removal in U.S. history began on the Elwha River in Washington—home to all five species of Pacific salmon. Just a few short months after the 108-foot tall Elwha Dam was removed, fish have already begun to return to their restored habitat. Part of the restoration process includes releasing tagged fish into the river above the lower dam. This will jump start the recolonization of the habitat, which had been cut off from migratory salmon for almost a hundred years. So far, we've released about 60 steelhead and 600 salmon into the river upstream of the former dam site. These fish have already begun to spawn. We have also seen the return of wild, un-tagged fish—that found their own way up the river without our help—which means that they sense that the river is open again. This encouraging news confirms what we suspected: once the barriers are removed from the Elwha, fish can recolonize the river without assistance and at a faster pace than we anticipated. Read more |
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Northwest - Raising Pacific Lamprey Eggs at Mukilteo Research Station
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| A new program to develop culture methods for Pacific lamprey is underway at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center's Mukilteo Research Station. Dr. Mary Moser is working with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to conduct experiments and improve culture methods for this imperiled species throughout the summer. Read more |
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Northwest – Recreational Anglers Finding Innovative Ways to Protect Marine Fisheries
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One way to conserve our fisheries and enhance the sport of fishing is a technique called catch-and-release fishing—using appropriate gear and timely release of fish to minimize the catch of non-targeted fish and improve the survival of released fish. It's a great way for anglers to fish for healthy stocks without negatively affecting depleted species. However, ensuring they survive after release is challenging. Because marine recreational fishing usually occurs in deeper water than fishing in lakes or streams, some released fish suffer from a condition called barotrauma. Barotrauma is caused by gases expanding in fish as they are brought to the water's surface from deep waters. These gases prevent released fish from swimming back down to their natural depths.
To increase the survival of these released fish, marine anglers are developing devices, such as release weights and baskets, to manually lower fish to the appropriate depth before releasing them. Known as recompression, lowering fish to their natural depths in a controlled manner allows the gas to be reabsorbed into their bodies. This increases their survival rate. On the West Coast, research suggests recompression technology is more effective for many Pacific species than traditional techniques of manually releasing gas from the fish's body. For example, pilot projects on recompression techniques for Pacific rockfish have shown mortality can be reduced by as much as 90 percent. This technology has the potential to open fisheries that currently are constrained by species that are overfished. NOAA Fisheries is working with the recreational fishing community to explore these and other technologies, because enhancing the survival of released fish is critical to sustainable fisheries management. Read more |
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Pacific Islands – NOAA Proposes Quota for Deep 7 Bottomfish for 2012-13 Fishing Year; Seeks Public Comment through Aug. 17
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| NOAA Fisheries proposes to specify a quota (annual catch target) of 325,000 lb of Deep 7 bottomfish in the main Hawaiian Islands for the 2012-13 fishing year, based on a proposed annual catch limit of 346,000 lb. When the quota is projected to be reached, NOAA Fisheries would close the commercial and non-commercial fisheries for main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 bottomfish for the remainder of the fishing year. The proposed specifications and fishery closure support the long-term sustainability of Hawaii bottomfish. Comments on the proposed quota are due August 17, 2012. Read more or submit a comment. |
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Pacific Islands – NOAA to Conduct Status Review of Green Turtles, Consider Management of Hawaii Turtles as Distinct Population Segment
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NOAA Fisheries will work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a global status review of green turtles, which have been listed under the federal Endangered Species Act since 1978. As part of this review, NOAA and FWS will also assess whether Hawaii's green turtles should be listed as a distinct population segment (DPS), and if so, whether they should be removed from the list of species protected under the ESA.
NOAA and FWS will thoroughly review the best scientific and commercial information available on green turtles throughout their range worldwide, including information and comments from researchers, non-governmental organizations, industries, other federal, state, and local government agencies, and any interested individuals or parties. You may submit comments, information, or data on green turtles or their critical habitat until September 30, 2012. Read more or submit information. |
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Pacific Islands – Award-Winning Scientist Pioneers Turtle Research
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| NOAA Fisheries research ecologist Kyle S. Van Houtan, Ph.D., has taken sea turtle science into new territory with research showing that changes in the ocean environment and climate have profound effects on sea turtle populations. In fact, he has just been honored by the White House with a prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Van Houtan, who leads NOAA Fisheries' Marine Turtle Assessment Program in Honolulu, Hawaii, has found that long-term warming and cooling ocean cycles are the largest influence to nesting sea turtle populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The ocean cycles regulate the turtles' food supply and thus affect two key life stages—the hatchlings' survival and the nesting females' capacity to migrate and lay eggs. Read more |
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EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOAA Fisheries Announces Workshops on Protected Species Release, Disentanglement, and Identification and Atlantic Shark Identification in August and September 2012
Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be held in July, August, and September of 2012. Certain fishermen and shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet regulatory requirements and maintain valid permits. Specifically, the Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop is mandatory for all federally permitted Atlantic shark dealers. The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop is mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear, and who have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits. Additional free workshops will be conducted during 2012 and will be announced in a future notice. Click here for dates, times, and locations. Note: The date of the Atlantic Shark Identification workshop originally scheduled for August 9, 2012, in Rosenberg, TX, has been changed to August 16, 2012. The August 16, 2012, workshop will be held from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at LaQuinta Inn & Suites, 28332 SW Freeway 59, Rosenberg, TX 77471.
NOAA Fisheries Announces Electronic Dealer Reporting System Workshops to be Held from July through September 2012
On June 28, 2011, NOAA Fisheries published a proposed rule that considered requiring, among other things, Federal Atlantic swordfish, shark, and tunas dealers (except for dealers reporting Atlantic bluefin tuna) to report commercially-harvested Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack (tunas through one centralized electronic reporting system. This electronic reporting system will allow dealers to submit Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and BAYS tuna data on a more real-time basis and more efficiently, which will reduce duplicative data submissions from different regions. NOAA Fisheries proposed to delay the effective date of the electronic reporting requirements until 2013 in order to give sufficient time for dealers to adjust to implementation of the new system and the additional requirements. On December 14, 2011, NOAA Fisheries conducted an initial training workshop in the Caribbean area in order to introduce the new reporting system to HMS dealers. NOAA Fisheries is now announcing the date and location for additional training workshops in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic regions in order to continue introducing HMS dealers to the new electronic system. Training workshops for the new electronic dealer system will be held from July through September 2012. Read more for specific dates, times, and locations.
NOAA Fisheries recently announced the date and location for an additional training workshop in the Caribbean. The additional training workshop will be held on August 29, 2012, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands (U.S.V.I.) at the following address: Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Office of the Commissioner, 8100 Lindberg Bay, Suite #61, Cyril E. King Airport, Terminal Bldg., Second Floor, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., 00802.
Deadline Aug. 9: NOAA Fisheries Seeks Proposals for Research and Development Projects that Optimize the Use of Fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and off the South Atlantic States
NOAA Fisheries Southeast Region, is seeking proposals under the Marine Fisheries Initiative Program (MARFIN) for research and development projects that optimize the use of fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and off the South Atlantic states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida involving the U.S. fishing industry (recreational and commercial), including fishery biology, resource assessment, socioeconomic assessment, management and conservation, selected harvesting methods, and fish handling and processing. Approximately $2.0 million may be available in fiscal year (FY) 2013 for projects. This amount includes possible in-house projects. Actual funding availability for this program is contingent upon Fiscal Year 2013 Congressional appropriations. NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office anticipates awarding approximately ten projects that will range from $25,000 to $175,000 per year for each project (not to exceed $175,000 per year). The total federal amount that may be requested shall not exceed $175,000 for a one-year project, $350,000 for a two-year project, and $525,000 for a three-year project. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time on August 9, 2012 to be considered for funding. Read more or submit an application.
Up to $600,000 Available to Support Research on Northern Bluefin Tuna; Applications Due Aug. 20
The Bluefin Tuna Research Program provides opportunity to compete for financial assistance for projects which seek to increase and improve the working relationship between fisheries researchers from NOAA Fisheries, state fishery agencies, universities, other research institutions and U.S. fishery interests (recreational and commercial) focusing on northern bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean. The program is a means of advancing research objectives to address the information needs to improve the science-based fisheries management for Atlantic bluefin tuna. Approximately $600,000 may be available in fiscal year (FY) 2013 for projects. Actual funding availability for this program is contingent upon FY 2013 Congressional appropriations. NOAA's Southeast Fisheries Science Center estimates awarding approximately 5 projects that will range from $25,000 to $300,000. The expected average award is $125,000. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 20, 2012 to be considered for funding. Read more or submit an application.
Aug. 21-23: Pacific Islands Recreational (Non-Commercial) Fishing Summit
NOAA Fisheries will host a two-day meeting of 35 invited fishermen from American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and Hawaii to help the agency identify fishery projects for possible implementation in FY-2013. The meeting will be held at the Harbor View Center at Pier 38 from August 21-23, 2012. Public is welcome to attend. The meeting will run from 1-4 pm on August 21, from 9am-4pm on August 22, and from 9am to noon on August 23.
NOAA Fisheries has completed nearly all of last year's recreational fishery projects including:
1. An agreement developed by the State of Hawaii to exchange fisheries information with NOAA
2. Hiring a full-time marine recreational fishery specialist in the Pacific Islands Regional Office
3. Starting a boat-based recreational fishing survey to characterize reacreational fishing activities.
Read more
Deadline Aug. 24: NOAA Fisheries Seeking Proposals for Cooperative Research in the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean; $2 Million in Funding Available
The Cooperative Research Program provides opportunity to compete for financial assistance for projects which seek to increase and improve the working relationship between fisheries researchers from NOAA Fisheries, state fishery agencies, universities, and the U.S. fishing (recreational and commercial) in the Gulf of Mexico (FL, AL, MS, LA, TX), South Atlantic (FL, NC, SC, GA) and Caribbean (USVI and Puerto Rico). The program is a means of involving commercial and recreational fishermen in the collection of fundamental fisheries information in support of management and regulatory options. Proposals must address one of the priority areas. Approximately $2.0 million may be available in fiscal year (FY) 2013 for projects. Actual funding availability for this program is contingent upon FY 2013 Congressional appropriations. The NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center estimates awarding approximately eight projects that will range from $25,000 to $300,000. The average award is $150,000. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 24, 2012 to be considered for funding. Read more or submit an application.
Crimes Against Marine Mammals—NOAA-Sponsored Exhibit in D.C. Open through Sept. 3
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Marine Mammal Protection Act through an eye-opening exhibitthat showcases different violations of the Act, how law enforcement agents investigate those violations, and how you can help protect marine mammals. Created by NOAA Fisheries and the Crime Museum in D.C., the exhibit runs through September 3, 2012. Read more
Through Sept. 28: NOAA Fisheries Brings Back Summertime Tours of Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute
Discover the science behind the success of Alaska's fisheries, with a tour of one of NOAA's leading science facilities—the Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute—located in Juneau. NOAA Fisheries is once again offering free daily tours of the 60,000 square foot facility, located north of Juneau at Lena Point. Juneau residents are invited to share this local secret with their out-of-town guests. Free behind-the-scenes lab tours will be offered once daily at 1 p.m. each weekday throughout the summer beginning Monday, June 4 and continuing through September 28, except for holidays. Read more
Due Oct. 1: Nominations to the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
NOAA Fisheries is soliciting nominations to the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) as established by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). NOAA FIsheries is also soliciting nominations for technical advisors to the Advisory Committee's species working groups. Nominations must be received by October 1, 2012.Read more or submit a nomination.
Due Oct. 3: FY13 Prescott Grant Funding Opportunity for Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance
The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program, or Prescott Grant Program, provides grants or cooperative agreements to eligible stranding network participants for:
• recovery and treatment (i.e., rehabilitation) of stranded marine mammals,
• data collection from living or dead stranded marine mammals, and
• facility upgrades, operation costs, and staffing needs directly related to the recovery and treatment of stranded marine mammals and collection of data from living or dead stranded marine mammals
Eligible applicants are currently active, authorized participants or researchers in the National Marine Mammal Stranding Network. An applicant cannot be a current full- or part-time DOC or DOI employee. Eligible applicants must be:
1. Stranding Agreement (SA) holders or their designee organizations
2. holders of researcher authorization letters issued by a NMFS Regional Administrator; or
3. an eligible Federal, state, or local government personnel or tribal personnel (pursuant to MMPA Section 109(h) (16 U.S.C. 1379(h))
Proposals should be submitted through Grants.gov, the online portal to all Federal grant opportunities. Only submit your proposal by mail if you have extenuating circumstances and are unable to submit online. Electronic submissions through Grants.gov must have been received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 3, 2012; proposals submitted by mail must have been postmarked by October 3, 2012.
Oct. 17-18: Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to ICCAT Will Hold Its Fall Meeting in Silver Spring, MD
In preparation for the 2012 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting, the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to ICCAT is announcing the convening of its fall meeting. The meeting will be held October 17-18, 2012. There will be an open session on Wednesday, October 17, 2012, from 9 a.m. through approximately 1:30 p.m. The remainder of the meeting will be closed to the public and is expected to end by 5 p.m. on October 18. Interested members of the public may present their views during the public comment session on October 17, 2012. The meeting will be held at the DoubleTree/Hilton Hotel, 8727 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Written comments should be sent via email (Rachel.O'Malley@noaa.gov). Comments may also be sent via mail to Rachel O'Malley at NMFS, Office of International Affairs, Room 12622, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Read more
FEDERAL REGISTER ACTIONS
For a list of only those actions open for public comment, go to http://www.regulations.gov and scroll search for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For a list of all daily actions, check the Federal register online
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