NOAA Fisheries FishNews – September 20, 2017

September 20, 2017

HIGHLIGHTS National Estuaries Week It’s National Estuaries Week! Estuaries are places where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with saltwater from the ocean. These transitional areas provide vital habitat for commercial and recreational fish species, shellfish, birds, wildlife—and people. Estuary Videos Celebrate National Estuaries Week with us by checking out some of our videos on estuaries, fish habitat, and habitat restoration: Healthy Habitat: The Foundation of America’s Seafood and Fisheries Habitat Restoration at NOAA: 25 Years Restoring Fisheries Through Habitat Restoration Treasuring the Choptank:Residents and Scientists Envision a Healthier Chesapeake Bay Estuary Story Maps Virtually explore our habitat restoration work at an estuary near you! Washington:  The Fisher Slough Restoration Project California: Russian River Habitat Focus Area Gulf of Mexico: Gulf Spill Restoration Projects Florida:  Biscayne Bay Habitat Focus Area Mid-Atlantic: Choptank River Complex Habitat Focus Area Great Lakes: St. Louis River Estuary Habitat Focus Area National: NOAA Restoration Atlas . Photo: Christin Khan / NEFSC, Permit #17355 New Model Confirms Recent Right Whale Decline NOAA Fisheries researchers and their colleagues at the New England Aquarium have developed a new model to improve estimates of abundance and population trends of the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Their new method confirms a recent decline in right whale abundance every year since 2010. Alaska Image courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory Exploring the Bering Sea’s Changing Colors This week, NOAA Fisheries scientists hope to witness the changing colors of the Bering Sea as they investigate why it happens (hint: plankton blooms) and what it means for the ecosystem that supports the nation’s biggest fisheries. West Coast Photo: Blane Bellerud / NOAA Fisheries New Plan Charts Path for Eulachon Recovery NOAA Fisheries finalized a recovery plan for the southern distinct population segment of eulachon, a small smelt that spawns in coastal rivers like the Columbia River Estuary. Recovery of eulachon would not only benefit the ecosystem, but also restore a resource of enormous cultural significance for tribes and coastal communities. Photo: Greg Williams / NWFSC New Puget Sound Species Database Informs Ocean Acidification Research A new study by NOAA Fisheries scientists has produced a detailed, searchable database of almost 3,000 species found in Puget Sound. The study unravels some earlier assumptions about how vulnerable some species may be to ocean acidification—namely, that whether or not an organism builds a shell may not be the best indicator of their sensitivity. Groundfish Programs Review – Open for Comment Following the requirements of its groundfish fishery management plan, the Pacific Fishery Management Council is undertaking a 5-year review of the trawl catch share program (Amendment 20) and intersector allocations (including Amendment 21). Comments on the draft of the catch share program 5-year review are due October 17. Pacific Islands Story Map: Hawaiian Island Cetacean Survey Scientists aboard NOAA ships Oscar Elton Sette and Reuben Lasker are participating in a 187-day Hawaiian Islands Cetacean and Ecosystem Assessment Survey to study whales and dolphins, seabirds, turtles, and habitat around the Hawaiian Islands. They share their sightings in this new story map. Photo: Courtney Couch, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology Reef and Watershed Management in West Hawaii In July, NOAA awarded $250,000 in funding to The Nature Conservancy to continue efforts to manage coral reefs and watersheds in West Hawaii. The award builds upon the partnership between NOAA and TNC established in 2014 as part of the West Hawaii Habitat Focus Area, one of 10 Habitat Focus Areas across the country. Photo: Paula Ayotte / NOAA Fisheries First Collaborative Climate Science Workshop Staff from NOAA Fisheries, NOAA Satellites, and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council are meeting this week in Honolulu for the first Annual Collaborative Climate Science Workshop. A component of the Pacific Islands Regional Action Plan for climate science, the workshop aims to identify climate-related management questions for the Pacific Islands and the science needed to address them. Greater Atlantic NOAA Fisheries Announces Scup Quota Increase NOAA announced an increase in the commercial scup quota and possession limit for the period November 1 to December 31. This increase rolls unused quota from January–April into the upcoming season. Photo: Northeast Observer Program / NOAA Sector At-Sea Monitor Provider Applications Companies interested in receiving approval to provide at-sea monitoring services to sectors in fishing year 2018 must submit an application by October 1. Companies already approved to provide at-sea monitoring services for both the 2017 and 2018 fishing years need not reapply to service 2018, and future opportunities will grant approval to provide services over 2-year periods. Photo Credit: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Mid-Atlantic For-Hire Vessel Permitting, Reporting The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has received questions about for-hire (party/charter) vessel permitting and reporting requirements. Read more about required Vessel Trip Reports, which must be submitted electronically beginning March 12, 2018.

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