April 10, 2013
EVENTS
April 10 and 30
Additional public hearings in Manahawkin, New Jersey, and online via webinar on proposed swordfish measures.
April 15-25 Public hearings on South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's proposed use of Vessel Monitoring Systems in the Snapper Grouper Fishery.
April, May, June
Three Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held in North Carolina, New York, and Florida. All are free.
Six Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be held in Florida, New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island, North Carolina, and Mississippi. All are free.
Thursdays in April
2013 Fish and Fisheries Public Seminars at Maritime Gloucester.
May 7-9
Managing Our Nation's Fisheries-3 conference in Washington, DC.
May 16
Workshop for owners/ operators of vessels and shoreside processors for pollock fishery
FEDERAL REGISTER ACTIONS
Click here for a list of only those actions open for public comment. Scroll search for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For a list of all daily actions, check the Federal Register online.
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As NOAA highlights the importance of healthy habitat this month, check out below the solid progress in restoring oyster habitat in the Chesapeake, the astounding numbers of herring returning to the Acushnet river, and the Fish Friendly Farming program taking place along the Russian River.
New technology will enable scientists to forecast patterns of whale traffic in the Pacific. These forecasts will help ships steer clear of whales and reduce fatal ship strikes.
An interagency working group chaired by the Deputy Secretary of the Interior released a report calling for an integrated management strategy for the rapidly changing Arctic region. The report highlights the need for a streamlined, "whole of government" approach engaging a wide range of Alaska stakeholders, including Alaska Native communities.
By July 3, submit your comments on NOAA Fisheries' Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Implement the Billfish Conservation Act of 2012 (BCA). The BCA prohibits any person from offering billfish or billfish products (excluding swordfish) for sale, selling them, or having custody, control, or possession of them for purposes of offering them for sale. More information is available on the Office of Sustainable Fisheries website.
By June 4, submit your comments on NOAA Fisheries' comprehensive status review of the scalloped hammerhead shark under the Endangered Species Act. Based on the information available, the species comprises six distinct population segments: two warrant listing as endangered, two as threatened, and two do not warrant listing.
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| New England Council to Discuss Quota Increases for Groundfish Stocks
Following the recently reported improvement in white hake stock conditions, the New England Fishery Management Council plans to discuss increasing the white hake quota for the 2013 fishing year at their April meeting. An increase in the white hake quota could help New England groundfish fishermen facing low allocations for other fish stocks.
Summary reports are available for the results of the 56th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop, which assessed both Atlantic surfclam and Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank white hake.
New "Fishways" Lead to Astounding Herring Increases
Since the 2007 installation of two fishways on Massachusetts' Acushnet River, scientists have observed an astounding 1,140 percent increase in the number of migrating herring able to access prime spawning grounds. The third and fourth weeks of April are usually peak herring migration time.
The Maryland Oyster Restoration Interagency Workgroup reports it will complete more than half of the Chesapeake Bay's first tributary-wide oyster restoration project in the fall of 2013.
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By May 6, submit your comments on proposed revisions to regulations under the Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act. The proposed rule would enhance the documentation requirements to support labeling tuna products as dolphin-safe.
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By April 19, submit your comments on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's proposed measures for the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan. The rule would increase the commercial and recreational quotas for red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico for the 2013 fishing year.
By May 6, submit your comments on NOAA Fisheries' announcement that it will establish February 10, 2011, as a control date for the commercial trap sectors of the reef fish and spiny lobster fisheries in the U.S. Caribbean. The control date would be used to manage future access to these sectors. |
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Leaders from the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Region met with anglers to forge a stronger partnership and gather input to enhance fishing opportunities in the region. NOAA hopes to continue engaging the recreational fishing community and to work together to improve data collection, communication, and inclusion in management decisions.
Balancing the Needs of Farmers and Fish
The waters of the Russian River and its tributaries, which flow through the heart of California's wine country, are in high demand. When farmers draw water for their vineyards, streams can dry up, stranding fish. Balancing the needs of both farmers and fish requires good science and innovative management, such as the Fish Friendly Farming program.
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