FishNews - November 2, 2016 - New Antarctic Marine Protected Area, Climate Impacts on Fish Stocks and Fisheries, and More

Subscribe FishNews Archive NOAA Fisheries    November 2, 2016       EVENTS       November 3  Last day of Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting in Silver Spring, Maryland.  November 3  Quantitative Ecology and Socioeconomics Training (QUEST) Webinar on using internet search volume to improve quota monitoring for the Gulf of Mexico red snapper recreational sector. November 4 Informational webinar about NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office's FY 2017 Fisheries Research Program federal funding opportunity.    November 4 and 7  Two free Protected Species Safe Handling, Identification, and Release workshops in North Carolina and Florida. November 7 - 9 Workshop on Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office's Discard Methodology Review. November 10 Free Atlantic Shark Identification workshop in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. November 10 and 18  Public hearing conference calls/webinars on Draft Amendment 10 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. November 15 - 17 Three public hearings on New Jersey Special Management Zones, hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.     November 15 - 17 New England Fishery Management Council meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. November 15 - 21 Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Garden Grove, California. December 5 - 9 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.       ANNOUNCEMENTS   November 18 Nominations due for the 2017 Climate Adaptation Leadership Awards. November 25 Last day to respond to Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee's survey on climate information needs of stakeholders. December 9 Applications due for the 2017 Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program. December 19 Proposals due for 2017 Marine Debris Researchgrants. January 19 Applications due for NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office's FY 2017 Fisheries Research Program federal funding opportunity. January 30 Applications due for NOAA Climate Program Office's Climate Impacts on Fish Stocks and Fisheries federal funding opportunity.      FEDERAL REGISTER ACTIONS   Visit regulations.gov 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.          HIGHLIGHTS New Marine Protected Area in Antarctica's Ross Sea The United States and 24 other countries approved the creation of the world's largest marine protected area (MPA) to date in Antarctica's Ross Sea. The Ross Sea Region MPA will safeguard one of the last unspoiled ocean wilderness areas on the planet. Read a statement from Dr. Kathryn Sullivan on NOAA's role in the MPA's creation.   NOAA Calls for Proposals on Climate Impacts on Fish Stocks and Fisheries NOAA Fisheries and NOAA Research announce the 2017 federal funding opportunity for new research to understand climate impacts on fish stocks and fisheries to inform sustainable management. Funded projects will directly address actions called for in the NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy, which aims to increase decision-makers' access to climate-related information needed to reduce impacts and increase resilience.   Survey: Tell MAFAC Your Climate Information Needs The Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) has launched a survey to learn about the types of information fisheries stakeholders need regarding changing environmental conditions. Please tell us what information is most useful to you and how you would like to receive it. Feel free to share the survey with other stakeholders.   Final Determination on International Stock of Belugas NOAA Fisheries issued a final determination to designate the Sakhalin Bay-Nikolaya Bay-Amur River stock of beluga whales as a depleted stock of marine mammals pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This action comes as a result of a status review we conducted in response to a petition. West Coast Groundfish Specifications - Open for Public Comment By November 28, please submit your comments on proposed 2017­-2018 harvest specifications and management measures for groundfish off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. The proposed rule would also implement Amendment 27 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan.   Snake River Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Plan - Open for Public Comment By December 25, please submit your comments on a proposed recovery plan for Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon and steelhead, two species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The recovery plan is not regulatory, depending instead on voluntary actions by states, tribes, federal agencies, and local citizens. Southeast Gulf Council Update October 2016 The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met in Biloxi, Mississippi, October 17-20 to discuss a number of fishery issues. Topics included a gray triggerfish rebuilding plan, data reporting for federally permitted for-hire vessels, and appointments for the Ad-Hoc Private Recreational Advisory Panel. Greater Atlantic Catch Limits for Atlantic Herring Fishery NOAA Fisheries announces the final catch limits for the Atlantic herring fishery for the 2016-2018 fishing years. These limits are slightly lower than the 2013-2015 limits in response to the most recent assessment. We are also implementing higher catch cap limits for river herring and shad (outside the Gulf of Maine) to allow greater access to the fishery while maintaining sufficient protection for the species.   Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel Members Witness Bigelow Survey Operations Three members of the Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel and several of their colleagues made a day trip on NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow last month to observe bottom trawl operations on the research vessel. Witnessing the operations first-hand gave the panel members a better understanding of the agency's survey and data collection methods. NOAA Fisheries | laurel.bryant@noaa.gov

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