NOAA Fisheries FishNews – April 4, 2018

April 4, 2018 HIGHLIGHTS Make Plans to Celebrate World Fish Migration Day On April 21, organizations around the world will celebrate World Fish Migration Day with events around the common theme of “Connecting Rivers, Fish, and People.” NOAA Fisheries’ Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center will host several World Fish Migration Day events throughout the region. Basking Sharks Gather in Large Numbers off Northeast Coast Groups of basking sharks, ranging from as few as 30 to nearly 1,400 animals, have been observed aggregating in waters from Long Island to Nova Scotia. While individual basking shark sightings are fairly common, such large groups are not. A new study explores possible explanations for the phenomenon. Public Invited to Follow Whale Research Expedition Online Scientists from NOAA and the University of Rhode Island conducting a research cruise off the coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island invite students and the general public to learn about their research on whales and their environment through live interactive broadcasts from the ship at sea on April 5, 6, and 7. Positive Certification of Mexico for Driftnet Fishery NOAA Fisheries issued a positive certification decision to Mexico for taking appropriate corrective actions to address the illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing issues it was negatively certified for in our 2017 Biennial Report to Congress under the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act. The next biennial report to Congress identifying nations with IUU fishing will be in 2019. Reminder: Informed Compliance Provisions for Seafood Import Monitoring Program End April 9 Starting Monday, April 9, all filings for seafood products covered by the Seafood Import Monitoring Program must comply with the electronic filing requirements in order for an entry to receive a "may proceed." For assistance regarding compliance and submissions with SIMP data that has been rejected and cannot be resolved by the filer, please contact SIMPsupport@noaa.gov or call the SIMP Support Line at 301-427-8301, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 pm ET.   West Coast New Recreational Rockfish Fishery off OregonOregon fishermen have more opportunities to catch rockfish, or groundfish, following NOAA Fisheries’ approval of a new ocean fishery that uses selective gear to target plentiful species while avoiding overfished species. This is expected to expand the benefits of a recreational fishery that already generates more than $14 million annually for Oregon’s economy. Science Center Seeks Hardy Volunteers for Fisheries Surveys The Northwest Fisheries Science Center seeks a few volunteers for the 2018 West Coast Groundfish Bottom Trawl Survey, which will be conducted in partnership with NOAA Fisheries scientists and commercial fishermen aboard a commercial fishing vessel. Study Estimates Cost of Salmon Fishery Closure A new economic model estimated that last year’s closure of the West Coast ocean salmon troll fishery cost between $5.8 and $8.9 million in lost income for fishermen, with a loss of 200 to 330 jobs. The model, developed to help policy-makers anticipate closure impacts, estimates the future losses associated with closures based on the way fishermen reacted to previous closures. Model Informs West Coast Salmon Allocation Once salmon migrate to the ocean, they mix freely up and down the West Coast of North America. This makes it a challenge to apply different fishing rates for different populations and to allocate catches among countries, states, and tribes. The Fishery Regulation Assessment Model informs management decisions by analyzing genetic data to determine which fish stocks are present, in what numbers, and where.   Pacific Islands Parasite Poses Growing Threat to Monk Seals NOAA Fisheries released a new infographic and fact sheet explaining how Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite behind toxoplasmosis, spreads from the mountains to the oceans and ultimately harms Hawaiian monk seals. The cat-borne parasite causes numerous other health impacts to wildlife, domestic animals, and people. Southeast Proposed Red Grouper Catch Limits – Open for Public Comment By May 3, please submit your comments on a proposed rule for Abbreviated Framework Amendment 1 to the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan. The rule would reduce the annual catch limits for South Atlantic red grouper in response to the results of the latest population assessment. Proposed South Atlantic For-Hire Amendment – Open for Public Comment By May 13, please submit your comments on a proposed rule to implement the For-Hire Reporting Amendment, which would require those with charter/headboat federal permits for Atlantic Coastal Migratory Pelagics, Atlantic Dolphin and Wahoo, and South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper to submit electronic fishing reports weekly. Informational Webinars for For-Hire Permit Holders The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will host informational webinars twice a month for federal for-hire permit holders to provide information about electronic reporting, the proposed for-hire amendment, and upcoming training sessions. Webinars are scheduled for April 5 and 16 and May 10 and 29. Greater Atlantic Increased Right Whale Monitoring in New England This spring, right whales are congregating in Cape Cod Bay in greater numbers and earlier than usual. In response, researchers at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center have extended their field season, conducting surveys by both boat and aircraft despite the relentless winter weather. Scope of Summer Flounder Amendment – Open for Public Comment By April 30, please submit your comments on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s proposal to narrow the scope of issues addressed in the “Comprehensive Summer Flounder Amendment“ down to summer flounder commercial issues for now, while waiting for updated recreational information. Women’s History Month Interview Series March was Women’s History Month, and even though it’s now April, we didn’t want to miss the final installment of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s series featuring women scientists at NOAA. This week, meet Judy Yaqin Li, a research ecologist at the Milford Lab in Connecticut. She conducts phytoplankton and coastal environmental research with a focus on applications to aquaculture. Events April 5 Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop in Norfolk, Virginia. April 5–7 Live online broadcasts from NOAA and University of Rhode Island researchers at sea on a whale research expedition off New England. April 5–10 North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Anchorage. April 5–11 Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Portland, Oregon. April 5 - May 29Four informational webinars on for federal for-hire permit holders, hosted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. April 10–12 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in Montauk, New York. April 11 and 18 Two public scoping meetingson bluefin tuna bycatch management measures, to be held in New Jersey and Massachusetts. April 11 and 19 Two public scoping meetingson North Atlantic shortfin mako shark measures, to be held in New Jersey (note rescheduled meeting) and Massachusetts. April 11 and 23 Three free Protected Species Safe Handling, Identification, and Release workshops in North Carolina and Massachusetts. April 16–20 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting in Gulfport, Mississippi. April 17–19 New England Fishery Management Council meeting in Mystic, Connecticut. April 21 World Fish Migration Dayevents in the Greater Atlantic Region. June 4 Save the Date for a workshop on community resilience in the Northeast region, to be held in Cape May, New Jersey. Announcements April 10Applications due for Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s advisory panels. April 13Nominations due for 2018 Climate Adaptation Leadership Award for Natural Resources. April 25Applications due for the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee. April 26Applications due for 2018 Chesapeake Bay Office Fisheries Science grants. May 4Applications due for proposals for recreational fishing education, outreach, and conservation projects in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. 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. Corrections or technical questions should be sent to the FishNews Editor at editor.fishnews@noaa.gov. www.fisheries.noaa.gov

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