NOAA Fisheries FishNews – May 1, 2019

Senior Advisor for Seafood Strategy, Story of Swordfish, and More

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. May 1, 2019 HIGHLIGHTS NOAA Names Senior Advisor for Seafood Strategy NOAA Fisheries announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Rubino as the agency’s new Senior Advisor for Seafood Strategy. In this new role, he will lead the development of markets for U.S. fisheries products and facilitate new and expanded domestic aquaculture production. The Surprising Story of Swordfish You May Not Know After declines in the 1980s and 1990s, today’s North Atlantic swordfish stock is fully rebuilt and maintaining above-target population levels. But there’s work to be done to ensure management measures better support the fishing industry. Swordfish – It’s What (Could Be) For Dinner If you’re eating swordfish caught in U.S. waters, you can be confident that you’re supporting some of the most robust environmental standards in the world. Team Reaches Consensus on Large Whale Measures The Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team met in Providence last week to develop additional measures to reduce impacts from fishing gear. The team reached nearly unanimous consensus on a package of measures aimed at achieving at least a 60 percent reduction of serious injury and mortality in each of the lobster management areas. NOAA Announces Great Lakes Restoration Funding NOAA Fisheries works with the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to invest in coastal habitat restoration projects that will support healthy ecosystems and resilient communities in the Great Lakes. This year, $7.43 million in funding will support two of NOAA’s Michigan partners in bringing ongoing projects into to their next phases. Announcing the 2019 MAFAC AppointmentsSecretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has appointed three new advisors to NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, bringing the group’s membership to the full complement. MAFAC advises the Secretary and NOAA on all living marine resource matters that are the responsibility of the Department of Commerce. Alaska Science Blog: Alaska Salmon Travels This year, Alaska Fisheries Science Center researchers and partners are studying the effects of tagging on hatchery-reared salmon, continuing 30 years of salmon aquaculture research at the Little Port Walter field station in Alaska. Read the latest two installments of their blog here and here. Pacific Islands Teacher Workshop at Pacific Islands Regional Office In March a group of middle school science teachers came to NOAA’s Pacific Islands Region facility to participate in a first-of-its-kind all-day workshop. A joint effort between the Regional Office and the Science Center, the workshop filled the day with hands-on activities on fish dissection, sea turtles, and advanced technology. Students Learn How to Survey Coral Reefs The QUEST program—Quantitative Underwater Ecological Surveying Techniques—trains students in American Samoa in underwater methods for surveying coral reefs. Many QUEST participants go on to get bachelor’s degrees and then return to American Samoa for jobs with local agencies. Southeast Florida Trustees Initiate Restoration Planning The Florida Trustee Implementation Group for the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment is drafting a restoration plan for the third phase of the Florida Coastal Access Project to address lost recreational use due to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The public will be invited to comment on the draft plan when it is released later this year. Greater Atlantic Watch Out for Whales South of Martha’s Vineyard NOAA Fisheries established a voluntary vessel speed restriction zone south of Martha’s Vineyard to protect a group of three right whales sighted in the area on April 29. This zone is in effect through May 15. Taking Giant LEAPS for Salmon Throughout 2019, the International Year of the Salmon, we invite you to join us and our conservation partners in taking "LEAPS" for Atlantic salmon. Atlantic Herring Research Set-Aside Support The Northeast Fisheries Science Center and the New England Fishery Management Council selected one project for support through the 2019–2021 Atlantic Herring Research Set-Aside Program. This award will enable the research team to continue a river herring shore-based sampling and avoidance program first supported in 2014. NOAA Approves 16 Groundfish Sector Plans NOAA Fisheries approved 16 operations plans for groundfish sectors in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, including one new sector, as well as 19 regulatory exemptions to improve efficiency and flexibility. We also allocated annual catch entitlements (quotas) for fishing year 2019 based on catch limits established in Framework 57. These quotas may be modified later by Framework 58, if approved. Proposed MMPA Authorization for Vineyard Wind – Open for Public Comment NOAA Fisheries proposes issuing an Incidental Harassment Authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow the take of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to construction of the Vineyard Wind offshore wind project. Please submit your comments on information for us to consider in the final authorization by May 30. Proposed Illex Squid Quota – Open for Comment By May 31, please submit your comments on NOAA Fisheries’ proposed 8 percent increase in the 2019 commercial Illex squid quota, based on updated data. Previously approved quotas for longfin squid and butterfish would not be changed by this action. Events May 2 and 15 Two free Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification workshops in North Carolina and Louisiana. May 6–21 Three public meetings on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s 2020–2024 Strategic Plan. May 7 Informational webinar on Sea Grant’s Highly Migratory Species federal funding opportunity. May 7 and 9 Two scoping webinars on proposed additions to theDolphin-Wahoo Fishery Management Plan, hosted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. May 21–23 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel meeting in Silver Spring, Maryland. May 23 Free Atlantic Shark Identification workshop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. June 3–6 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting in Miramar Beach, Florida. June 3–10 North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Sitka, Alaska. June 4–6 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in New York City. Announcements May 8 Proposals due for recreational fishing projects supporting the mission of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. May 10 Applications due for open advisory panel seats and the System Management Plan Workgroup for the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. May 15 Letters of intent due for projects supporting Sea Grant’s Highly Migratory Species research initiative. 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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